Chapter 20: Moving the pieces together

Subaru and the group all started to make their way into the Mathers territory with Subaru introducing Waraki and Yabuto to his master, wanting to show his master of the friends he made in the capital. Waraki and Yabuto were both interested in the fact that Sora looks much younger than Subaru, starting to tease the temporary knight that a younger boy is much stronger than him. They all laughed before they arrived at the woods, making Subaru realize that the witch cult would be able to detect him. Having recalled his talk with Petelgeuse in his previous timelines, they would be able to tell where he is, making him realize that he needs to separate from the group and give them time to get the people of Arlem village out of there.

"Sora, can I trust you with something?"

"Sure, what is it Subaru?"

"I would need to separate from the group for a moment but I need you to get the villagers of Arlem village to evacuate while I get the witch cultist away from the village."

"You sure about that? I could tag along."

"Don't worry Master Sora, I will have a couple of warriors backing me up."

As Subaru said this, Ricardo and a couple of his crew arrived at quo to ask the young boy if they should start their search of the area. Subaru nodded at them at them, knowing that they are going to need to move around quickly and avoid the main base of the Witch cult. Subaru had a feeling that they would need to challenge Petelgeuse last. As Ricardo and some of his people went into the forest, he prepared to separate from the group as well.

"Hold up Subaru."

"Oh, what's up Emilia-tan?"

"Are you sure you want to go alone? Puck and I can give you a hand!"

"I appreciate it Emilia-tan, with all my heart, but I want you to help Master Sora in getting the villagers out of the village and into safety."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I trust you Emilia-tan."

"Okay but be careful out there Subaru."

"Don't worry Emilia-tan, I will return to you."

Emilia blushed when she heard him say that before nodding with a smile, leaving Subaru some confidence in himself as he separates from the group. Three groups are formed, Subaru with the stench of the witch would draw the witch cultist away while Ricardo and his forces look for any of the witch cultists in the forest and lastly Sora and his group prepare to evacuate the village. As Subaru was going on his own into a part of the forest which was away from the village, he pulled out his keyblade for a moment, wondering if he should have Sora by his side. As he pondered this, a couple of heartless appeared out of nowhere and started to attack him.

"Okay, I guess I could warm up my skills before facing the boss himself."

Subaru pulled out his keyblade and started to take on the heartless on his own, confident that he has gotten strong enough to face off the heartless on his own. A bunch of the heartless were simple shadows and soldier type yet a few were guardians. Subaru realized that he was going to have a much tougher time on his own yet he was confident in his abilities that he can still fight without any help, using the strength of his friends and Emilia to help him push his limits.

Ricardo and his group all looked around the first for the witch cultist yet they were constantly being attacked by random heartless appearing, annoying the group for a bit until Yabuto finally spoke his mind.

"Damn these creatures are getting persistent. It's as if they don't want us getting to the witch cultists."

"They are persistent but against us, they stand no chance."

"You are right, Mercenary, but we still have to be on our guard."

Ricardo nodded at what Yabuto said while easily taking down a couple of more heartless, confident that his group will be able to break through the swarm of heartless. As they were taking down the weaker and stronger heartless without any casualties, they all started to hear someone crying out for help. Ricardo and Yabuto both look at each other and nod before they all start heading towards the voice that was crying for help.

As they arrive at the large area, they see witch cultists holding a merchant in green hostage as if they were about to kill him. Ricardo sent the two little warriors known as Mimi and Tivey to stop the witch cultists from killing the merchant. They nodded at Ricardo before using Resonance Wave together to send air waves at the witch cultists to stop them from killing the merchant. As they save the merchant, Yabuto and Ricardo both led the group to attack the witch cultist. Ricardo was able to take care most of the cultists with Yabuto coming a close second in taking down the most cultist, having been able to deflect most of their attacks.

"Ha ha, you trying to outmatch me in numbers, knight?" Ricardo spoke with quite a curious tone of voice as he saw Yubato keeping up with him in killing many witch cultists.

"Of course, Mercenary. Let's see you keep up with me!"

"Ha, alright then knight, let us see!"

Both Yabuto and Ricardo started to take down many witch cultists with everything they got with Ricardo having the lead.

As Ricardo and his group took on the witch cult to save the merchant, Sora and his group arrived at the village with Emilia wearing her coat in order to not be recognized. As they entered the village, the villagers at first felt threatened but when they saw Sora they were all calm since they assumed that they were being invaded at first. As Sora noticed the villagers, he started to ask for them all to gather around. The chief of the village did this and quickly asked Sora with all villagers present what is the meaning of the knights all arriving at the village.

"We just want to know what is wrong, Sora."

"The truth is that there will be an attack on the village and we need to get you all to safety."

Sora quickly explained the situation to the villagers, wanting them to know that the situation Subaru explained to them is dire. The villagers were shocked by this but trusted Sora's judgement and quickly with the help of the knights began to evacuate. As they were evacuating, Sora could feel that something was wrong, making him go around the outside of the village to check the area only to find some odd looking people with a villager speaking to someone. Sora could feel a dark presence around them. This caused him to pull out his keyblade and to speak to the couple of people standing near the village near a large cliff.

"Who are you all?"

"Huh? It's the keyblade wielder! Kill him!" The villager said, causing the witch cultists there to charge at the keyblade wielder. Sora noticed this and without any hesitation he took down the witch cultists, scaring the evil villager and causing him to run. Seeing that he is evil and is probably going to alert the others, Sora starts to chase the evil villager. As he was chasing him, he threw his keyblade directly at him and managed to knock the villager to the ground. As the evil villager was on the ground, Sora points his keyblade directly at the man and quickly knocks him out, knowing that he cannot let him escape. As he knocks him out, Julius and Felix both arrive to see that Sora was checking the knocked out villager.

"What are nyow doing, Sora-kyun?"

"This villager was with some bad people, I think he is a witch cultist."

Julius and Felix were alerted by this and quickly looked around before the three took the villager with them for interrogation. As they were taking the evil villager with Julius carrying him, Sora had felt something in Felix's heart and wished to speak with him.

"Felix, is it okay if we speak privately for a moment?"

"Sure..." Felix answered, a bit unsure on what the Keyblade Wielder would want with him yet curious. Julius told the two that he would be in one of the villagers houses to interrogate the person they have.

"What would nyow like to talk about?"

"I can tell that you hate yourself."

"Huh?" Felix was a bit thrown off by this, not expecting Sora to say that let alone know that he thinks himself little.

"I...I don't know what nyow are talking about..."

"I can tell because you and Subaru both have that in your hearts. You both do everything you can because you don't want to be weak. With him during our time I saw the fear he had in himself of failing everybody, wishing and doing his best to improve. Even though we haven't talked a lot, I can feel the same feeling you give off like him."

Felix was stunned by this at first, feeling anger at Sora as if he knows what being a weakling is. His attitude shifted from curious to anger.

"And what do nyow know?! Nyow don't know what weakness is, so what the hell would you know!"

Sora could feel the anger in Felix's words yet the anger was not fully directed towards him but towards the cat boy himself. He can feel the self hatred he has for himself which prompted him to tell the cat boy that he was once a weakling, explaining the time he lost his keyblade to his best friend and how even when he was weak, he trusted in his bond with friends and won back the keyblade.

"That still doesn't change that I'm weak! Nyow still got back your strength! Nyow don't know what hopelessness is!"

"I do know, because I failed the Mark of Mastery."

"Mark of Mastery?"

"Riku and I took it together to become keyblade masters, to gain the power to save those who were lost yet the Organization took over the test and I almost was one of them until my friends came to save me while I was in a deep sleep. After Riku saved me from my slumber, I realized that all of the power I had gained was gone but that didn't stop me because I knew that I had my friends by my side."

Felix was paused when he heard this, he was sure that nothing could defeat Sora after having proven to be able to land a hit on Reinhard despite having his divine protections on. Hearing Sora having experience weakness made him even more angry at himself for not being able to get stronger.

"Why are nyow telling me this?! Why?!"

"Because I want you to know that you are not weak."

"And why is that?!"

"Because you are able to heal people. That may not serve combat but it does serve as a big importance. You are also a knight, be proud of who you are."

Felix was a bit surprised by this and just stood silent, he was unsure on why someone like Sora was attempting to make him feel better. All Felix did was stay silent and begin to leave, not wishing to discuss this anymore. Sora noticed this and wanted to help him yet he knew that on his own he wouldn't be able to do much.

Sora and Felix caught up with Julius to interrogate the villager yet when they arrived, they noticed the village was being attacked by heartless with Felt and Old Man Rom both leading the defense of the village. Sora pulled out his keyblade and was about to join in yet he knew that he wanted to make a point to Felix. He tossed his keyblade to Felix which the cat boy caught, unsure of what he was wanting him to do with a very odd looking weapon.

"Felix, I want you to fight."

"What?"

"I want you to use my weapon while you can to hit the heartless, I believe in you."

Felix was unsure what to do with the keyblade yet when a heartless attempted to attack him, his instinct was to hide but the anger he felt in himself made him swing directly at the shadow heartless, managing to take it out with a heart appearing for a moment before disappearing.

"Wha-?" Felix looked up and saw that he managed to defeat an opponent with his own strength, which made him be conflicted with how he should feel. Before he could try to return the kingdom key to Sora, he pulled out Diamond Dust and quickly went to fight the heartless with Julius using his free hand to also fight off the heartless.

'This battle...this feeling...is amazing, nya!'

Felix felt powerful when swinging the kingdom key, feeling a sense of power that he has never felt before. As he was handling the weakest of the heartless, Sora with another keyblade attacked the more stronger heartless, opening a path for Julius to tie up the evil villager in one of the houses in order to properly join in on the fight. As Julius enters a villagers house, Sora and Felix both stand back to back with Felix uncertain if he can be any useful, knowing that he isn't strong and hating himself for it.

"Nya! Take nyower weapon back...I can't-!"

"I know you feel weak but I believe in you, just as you and Crusch believe in each other. Think of her, of your friends, have them be your power!"

Hearing this made Felix gain some composure on himself, thinking about Reinhard and Julius first, how they treated him like a friend before going to Crusch. He owed her his life for all the things she did for him, giving him a resolve to fight the heartless, despite feeling like a weakling that can't fight. Sora followed Felix and the two together worked to push back the heartless with Felix being able to take down only the shadow and soldier type while Sora took on the rest. As the two were able to take care of the heartless, Felt and Old Man Rom along with the knights and Waraki were able to take care of the other heartless with sheer will power. Emilia and Puck were both forced to face a heartless that was like a phantom, attempting to use all of their skills to take care of the heartless boss. As the battle was almost over, a few guardian heartless appeared in front of the knights and gave them trouble. Just as the heartless were about to take them out, Ram quickly appeared and using her most powerful wind magic she defeated most of the heartless. Sora quickly noticed the Phantom heartless and quickly joined Emilia and Puck in taking down the heartless. Sora having learned how to defeat it due to having faced him with Peter Pan, Donald, and Goofy on Neverland he waited until he summoned the correct magic. Once the heartless was about to be defeated, Emilia and Puck both fired their strongest ability to give it the finishing blow.

As the battle was finished, all the villagers continued to evacuate with more determination while Julius and Waraki both went to interrogate the evil villager. Emilia and Sora both chatted for a bit with Emilia beginning to be concerned of Subaru's welfare since he is on his own.

"Should we go to check on Subaru?"

"I know the plan is for him to have this Sin archbishop distracted long enough for the villagers to escape yet I feel the same way."

"Then let us go see him-"

"Emilia, I know you want to check on him but we need to trust that he will make it back alive. After all he won back his keyblade, that proves just how strong he is. Believe in him just as he believes in you."

Emilia was left silent by this since she is worried that he might be pushing himself too far but Sora's confidence in his apprentice allowed her to gain some confidence in him as well. As the two stayed quiet, Felix approached Sora and was about to hand Kingdom Key back to the boy only for the keyblade to disappear from his hand and back to its owner.

"Why did nyow do this?"

"To allow you to see that you can fight, that you aren't as weak as you think."

"..." Felix stood silent as he really did enjoy feeling powerful for once but knowing that it was borrowed power, he disliked it. He knew deep down he was weak but having had the taste of the keyblade, he now had a small desire to wish to gain a power similar to what both Sora and Subaru have. Felix nodded before leaving Emilia and Sora.

"What was that all about?"

"I just wanted to help someone who saw themselves as weak."

"You have a kind heart Sora, no wonder Rem loves you."

"You are kind hearted as well Emilia, haven't you noticed how much Subaru cares about you."

"W-What do y-you mean?"

"He is always fighting impossible odds to save you because he cares about you deeply."

Sora smiled when he heard himself speak those words, finally understanding better the love Rem has for him and how deeply he cares for not just Rem and his other friends from this world and from the other worlds but also for Kairi. He died once to free her heart and took the punishment of abusing the power of waking all to save Kairi, making him realize the love he has for the girl. As Sora and Emilia were both silent for a moment, the village chief approached the two to ask Sora where they should head towards. Sora was unsure himself until Ram came in to suggest that half go to sanctuary and the other go to the capital. Wilhelm agreed as they wouldn't be able to protect all the villagers if they all went to the capital.

"What do you think, Emilia-sama? I can lead one half to the capital while Sir Wilhelm Van Astrea leads the other to the capital. Lord Roswaal is already heading to the Sanctuary to arrange things."

"I think it is a good plan."

"You should go with them to the capital, Emilia."

"Huh? What do you mean, Sora?"

"Subaru would want you safe."

Emilia was silent by this and before she could chim in her thoughts, Puck along with Wilhelm and Ram encouraged the idea of having Emilia be safe considering that Subaru had warned Wilhelm and Sora of how the Witch Cult is after her. Before Emilia or anybody could say anything, a familiar voice spoke,

"You twerp! This time I will kill you!"

"Larxene!" Sora shouted as he turned to face her with Kingdom Key in hand. Everybody got their guards up yet Sora told everyone to start leaving, having confidence that he can defeat Larxene on his own. Wilhelm and Ram both nodded before prompting Emilia to leave with Felt, Old Man Rom, Waraki, and three knights staying behind to make sure that they took care of any witch cultists that arrived at the village. As everyone started to leave, Larxene laughed at this thought that Sora was fighting her alone.

"Hahaha! You think that alone you can beat me? Please, this time I will make you regret ever wielding a keyblade."

"I can handle you alone!"

"I wouldn't say she is alone." Another familiar voice spoke before revealing itself to be Marluxia. Sora noticed this and was quick to realize the problem he was facing until Julius, Waraki, Old Man Rom, and Felt joined in on the mix.

"You guys, you don't have to join in on this."

"Boy, you saved Felt and I in the loot house from that crazy girl a while back. This is me repaying you for having saved us."

"Yeah! What Old Man Rom said but also you are my friend, I would never let you fight alone!"

"Yes, as my friend's master, I must be obligated to assist you."

"Not to mention that I have a score to settle with Marluxia."

Each one gave a reason to why they were fighting alongside Sora, making him realize that although he isn't with his previous friends, he made a huge impact on the ones he made on this new world he found himself in.

"My, the hero is loved by many...I wonder how long that'll last when I kill you all!"

"You don't frighten me bitch!" Felt spoke out against Larxene before charging directly at her with her wind speed, beginning the battle. Sora joined in with Felt to protect her from Larxene while Julius used his spirit arts to charge at Marluxia with Waraki and Old Man Rom joining him.

Meanwhile, Subaru managed to arrive at the witch cult base after having barely beaten the heartless on his own. Once having arrived there, he remembered the loop where everybody was killed and the anger his master felt. This was something that haunted him for a moment but then he remembered that he can survive this loop, after all he defeated the white whale in one try. He smiled and regained his confidence but as he approached the place, he saw that Petelgeuse was already there.

'Seems like I will be facing him now. I can do this.'

Subaru approached the sin archbishop with his mind focused on how he is going to beat him on his own, knowing that he has counted on other people for far too long and that he should start fighting on his own to prove that everything he has gone through was worth it. As he stops on his tracs, he waits until Petelgeuse begins to speak.

"I have been waiting to see you face to face, believer in love. I'm a Sin Archbishop of the witches cult representing Sloth, Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti."

Subaru stood looking at Petelgeuse with a serious look of determination, annoyed by his presence since he caused so much pain in many loops yet he continued on with his plan to distract him long enough for Ricardo and the others to reach his point once they had taken care of the other witch cultists in the area. As he waited for that, he approached the sin archbishop in a friendly manner.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Great Sin Archbishop of sloth, if you could find it within you to add my body and soul as a part of your ranks to carry out the ordeal, there would be no greater honor."

"HOW WONDROUS, HOW VIVACIOUS YOUR FAITH IS! To think there was such a devout believer. PLEASE FORGIVE MY SLOTH, FOR FAILING TO FIND HIM."

Petelgeuse started to hit his head on the rock with great force, bleeding with every hit which only confirmed to Subaru that he needs to be cautious about this since the madman is crazy and can be unpredictable.

"Please stop, Sin Archbishop."

"Ah...but, but, but...I have no way to atone for my sloth and foolishness but by punishment."

"Now hold on, the witch wouldn't want her sin archbishop hurting himself. She would want you to complete the ordeal!"

"You are exactly right! Yes, the ordeal! What she needs from me is the Ordeal!" Petelgeuse jumps towards Subaru's position and gives him a hug. "Your words have opened my eyes. Thank you! Thank you! With this Ordeal, we must test her...to learn if this half-devil is worthy vessel, if she is worthy to put the witch into."

"Put the witch into? Vessel?"

"If she is, the witch will possess her. If not, reject her. If she proves an unworthy vessel for the witch, then the witch will be reborn into this world on the coming fated day..."

Subaru clenches his fist with anger as he sees that the sin archbishop doesn't care of Emilia's safety yet he manages to control his anger much quicker as he knows that he is only buying time. The hugging stops when Petelgeuse steps back to pull out a book.

"The words inscribed in the Gospel tell of her love. All of it guides my path! Show me your Gospel!"

Subaru paused himself for a moment, having noticed that the book Petelgeuse is holding is a gospel, making him realize that he is in a bit of trouble since he concludes that having the gospel makes you a part of them. Without one, you are basically an outsider. Seeing that he has no choice but to fight, he first creates a plan to distract the Sin Archbishop by having him be distracted.

"Before I can show you my gospel, Great Sin Archbishop, let me ask you something."

"And what is that, my boy?"

"Do you know what a Keyblade is?"

"Key...blade?"

"Yeah, shouldn't your gospel tell you about the holy weapon known as the keyblade?"

Petelgeuse pauses for a moment, not being familiar with the weapon Subaru was telling him which caused him to start looking at the gospel for anything that is referred to as a keyblade. As he looked and looked, he did not find anything.

"There is nothing of a 'Keyblade' in the gospel!"

"Then...you have a false gospel!"

"What?!" Petelgeuse looked at Subaru with a surprised and slightly angry facial expression when he heard the boy accusing him of having a false gospel. This caused him to ask for the boy's gospel in a rude manner.

"Why? So you can take it from me? No way!"

"How dare you...who are you?! My brain trembles!"

As Petelgeuse is losing his mind, Subaru took the opportunity to punch the sin archbishop, surprising him since he did not expect the boy to attack him after having shown to be a believer of love. He looked at Subaru with rage before starting to send his unseen hands directly at Subaru yet the boy was able to dodge the attacks.

"How? How do you see my authority?!"

"Don't know but you won't leave here alive!"

Subaru summoned his keyblade and started to destroy the unseen hands with ease, disappointed that the unseen hands are weaker than the guardian type heartless. As Subaru was taking care of the unseen hands, Petelgeuse looked at Subaru's weapon to realize that it was the keyblade the boy was speaking of.

"You are...a fake believer of love! How Dare You!"

Petelgeuse bit down on all of his fingers before summoning a barrage of unseen hands, forcing Subaru to start fighting more seriously. As he was pushing all the unseen hands back, he eventually went to charge at Petelgeuse only for Ricardo and his crew to finally arrive and join up with the young boy.

"You guys...finally made it."

"Sorry for the hold up, Newbie. We were helping this merchant."

"Hey, I have a name you know."

"Sorry merchant, I guess I forgot your name again."

"It's Otto Suwen! Stop forgetting my name!"

Subaru looked at Otto and remembered him from previous loops, making him glad to see him once again. He asks Ricardo if he can protect Otto while Mimi, Tivey, Yabuto, and himself take on Petelgeuse. Ricardo nodded at this and quickly went to take Otto to some safe place while the others prepared for their fight against the Sin Archbishop.

"Okay Petelgeuse, this is the end for you!"

Here will be my chance to answer some questions:

1. We will see other kingdom hearts characters but they will not be in this world since the events here take place right after Kingdom hearts 3 Re:Mind and before Kingdom hearts 3 Limitcut episode (one year time skip).

2. I will include stuff from Melody of Memories but not in this arc.

3. For those curious or want to know, Subaru is roughly as strong as Sora in Kingdom Hearts at the end of his first visit in Traverse Town roughly.

I will fix any grammar issues or errors I've done and all will be answered as the story goes on. I hope you all continue to support my story as this is the first I've ever done.