Episode 272: Ansem the Wise

After winning her third Contest Ribbon, Sora, Kairi, Riku, Naminé, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Lisia, Pikachu, Angel, Eevee, Azurill, and Marill have taken their leave and started to make their way to Petalburg City.

"To get to Rustboro City from here, we're gonna have to make it through the Rusturf Cave just up ahead," Rei said.

The group were about to go through when a wild Lunatone attacked them with an Ice Beam.

"What was that?!" Ethan exclaimed.

"A Lunatone!" Kairi gasped. She stepped in and she turned to Angel. "You ready to go, Angel!"

"Vee!" Angel said.

"Okay, go get it!" Kairi said. Angel rushed right over to Lunatone to battle it. Lunatone fired another Ice Beam right at Angel. "Dodge and use Iron Tail!" Angel avoids Lunatone's Ice Beam and jumped. She swings her tail and lands a hit on the Meteorite Pokémon. Lunatone then unleashed a Rock Throw right at Angel. "Use Quick Attack to dodge!" Angel managed to avoid Lunatone's Rock Throw with her Quick Attack. "Use Iron Tail!" Angel jumped and swings her tail at Lunatone, hitting it. Lunatone goes down for the count. Kairi took out a Pokéball and threw it. Lunatone flows inside and the Pokéball wobbles around and around. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. Kairi's Pokémon Box goes off asking her if she wants to keep Lunatone with her. She chose to send Lunatone over to Professor Oak's lab. "Good job, Angel."

"Eevee," Angel said.

"Nice catch," Kris said.

"Sure is, Kairi," Lyra said. "Angel has gotten so much faster than the last time I saw her."

"Well, Angel and Pikachu had a lot of practice with their speed," Kairi said.

With that said, the group have continued on and came across the Rusturf Cave.

"Well, here's the cave," Ethan said.

"It's the only way to get to where we need to go," Riku said.

"Eevee," Eevee said.

"Let's go," Naminé said.

With that said, the group entered inside the Rusturf Cave and proceeded. Inside the cave, there were wild Whismur. They were wary of the visitors. The group were aware of the Whismur, and if there were Whismur, then there had to be Loudred their, too. But they should be fine as along as they didn't provoke them.

They made it out of the Rusturf Cave right to the other side.

"Rustboro City should be down this way," Lisia said.

"And we'll get there by tonight if we keep going," Sora said.

"Pikachu," Pikachu said.

"I agree. Let's go," Rei said.

With that said, the group continued on their way towards Rustboro City. It took them a few hours, but they managed to reach Rustboro City by the time the sun started to set.

"Here it is. Rustboro City," Kairi said.

"Eevee," Angel said.

"Say, you think Mr. Stone is doing okay?" Sora asked.

"He's probably sneaking out of his meetings again," Kairi said, almost giggling.

"But I am wondering if Ash, Brendan, May, Leaf, and Max are here yet," Ethan said.

"They're probably at the Pokémon Center, and that's where we need to go," Sora said.

Everyone agreed with him and started to make their way towards the Pokémon Center. Just when they were walking down the streets of Rustboro City, Brendan, May, and Max were in the same area yet.

"You think Sora, Kairi, and the others made it here yet?" May asked.

"If they did, then they'll be at the Pokémon Center, and knowing them, they'll be thinking that we'll be there, too, so we shouldn't disappoint them," Brendan said.

"I can hardly wait to see them," May said.

Over to Ash and Leaf, they have made it to Rustboro City at last.

"Well, Sora and the others should be meeting up with us at the Pokémon Center," Leaf said.

"Yeah. I'm sure Kairi has at least Three Contest Ribbons by now anyway, and Sora will be needing our support," Ash said.

"But how do you think May and Brendan's families will react if they hear that they now have Keyblades just like we do?" Leaf asked.

"The typical shocked routine," Ash said. "I don't think they'll understand until Master Rei explains it to them."

"I hope you're right. Speaking of Master Rei, how do you think she'll react if she hears about your recent visions?" Leaf asked.

"We're going to find out when we get there. That's if we see them there first," Ash said.

Ash and Leaf were walking down the streets as they bumped into Brendan, May, and Max.

"Ash, Leaf!" Brendan said.

"Hey, guys. We were just talking about you," Ash said.

"So were we," May said.

"Did you see Sora and the others yet?" Max asked.

"No. We only just got here," Leaf said.

"And I can bet my Pokéballs that they had just got here, too," Ash said.

"So could I," Brendan said. "Glad to see you're doing okay."

"Yeah, okay," Ash said. He didn't want to reveal to them about the visions since he never told them, or the others about them. "Let's go to the Pokémon Center. Sora and the others are waiting."

"You're right," May said. "I wanna see them."

With that said, Ash, Leaf, Brendan, May, and Max walked down the streets and they arrived to the Pokémon Center, but at the same time as Sora, Kairi, Riku, Naminé, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Lisia, Rei, Pikachu, Angel, Eevee, Azurill, and Marill.

"Good to see you made it," Sora said.

"I was thinking the same thing, Sora," Ash said.

"So how have all been?" Leaf asked.

"How about we talk about it inside?" Sora suggested.

"Good idea. We can talk while we're inside," Rei said.

With that said, everyone entered the Pokémon Center to rest for the night. As they stepped inside, Ash tapped on Rei's shoulder.

"Master, think we can talk in private?" Ash asked.

"Sure," Rei said.

"Is everything okay, Miss Sakura?" Max asked.

"Just fine," Rei answered. "The rest of you get settled in, I'll have a word with Ash."

"Okay," everyone said. Ash and Rei went somewhere private to talk. Rei knew what it was all about, so she had to hear from him.

"Okay, Ash, what did your visions show you?" Rei asked.

"Well, it's like this," Ash started to explain. He shared what he gathered from his recent visions about how Ventus, Terra, and Aqua were related to Cascade, Viento, and Gaia, and shared with her about Gaia fighting Viento, intending to protect him from Eraqus when he learned about the X-blade, and the battle that took place in the Keyblade Graveyard, and Xehanort taking control of Gaia's body. Rei was disturbed by what Ash had told her. "And that's about it, Master. And after a few nights, I haven't been having any, so I don't know anything else after all that."

"But you know it's troubling, Ash," Rei said.

"Do you know what the X-blade is or know anything about a Keyblade War?" Ash asked.

"No. But if this Keyblade War happened as your visions say, then it might have been long forgotten, but Xehanort wants the worlds to remember it. As for the X-blade, I never seen it in any of the books regarding the Keyblade, so I have no idea what it looks like, but you saw it in one of your last vision. If the X-blade is a dangerous weapon, they probably don't want us to know about it for a very good reason," Rei said.

"I guess you're right, Master. But when I do get my next vision, you'll be the one I tell," Ash said. Rei nodded as she understood. Ash and Rei rejoined the group as they were about to have dinner in the mess hall and check in the rooms. Everyone all went to sleep, but for some reason, Ash didn't have a vision from the past. He didn't understand why they're not showing him anything. He wondered what was going on. On the next morning, just when everyone were about to leave for Petalburg City, Ben has arrived to the Pokémon Center. He spotted Rei with the group.

"Rei!" Ben exclaimed with delight. Rei spotted Ben and smiled.

"Ben Blaze! I'm so happy to see you after so many years!" Rei said.

"Words cannot describe how happy I am to see you," Ben said.

"Who's he?" May asked.

"This is Ben Blaze. He was my dad's friend back when they were kids. I actually met him before when I was little," Sora said.

"Well, it looks like you got yourself quite a class, Rei. It's nice to meet the rest of you," Ben said.

"You too, sir," Brendan said.

"Have you come to watch Sora's Gym battle against the Gym Leader?" Ethan asked.

"As much as I wish I could attend, but I was actually looking for you, so my instincts told me to come here," Ben said.

"You were looking for us? Why?" Kairi asked.

"Well, because I have come to inform you that I know where to find Ansem's computer," Ben said.

"Ansem's computer?" Sora asked.

"Yes," Ben replied. "The location of the computer is in the castle in Hollow Bastion. I only made this discovery just very recently, and I have been looking for you because I wanted you to know."

"You think there might be some info about the Organization and about Vanitas?" Kris asked.

"I assume so. And I'm certain there could be a clue to Ansem's current whereabouts," Ben said.

"Ansem isn't anywhere, because Ansem's dead. Kairi, Ethan, and I defeated him back in the realm of darkness," Sora said.

"Perhaps, I should explain," Ben said.

"You think it can wait? We need to know about what Ansem knows first," Rei said.

"Agreed. Ansem's research files should be stored in that computer," Ben said.

"You said it's located in Hollow Bastion, so how are we going to get there?" Lyra asked.

"Marill," Marill said.

"I can open up a portal by using my Keyblade, and I can take us all there. I suspect that the castle is infested with Heartless, so we'll have to be on high alert," Ben said.

"You could try it in one of the rooms we're staying in, Ben. I mean, it's private and no one can come and see anything," Sora said.

"But the problem is, someone will have to stay behind because we'll have a hard time explaining if someone comes by and sees our stuff behind and nobody in it," Riku said.

"Also, we can keep an eye on things until you come back," Naminé added.

"That's a good idea," Rei said, agreeing with Riku and Naminé. "You two can stay behind and keep a lookout until we come back."

"Okay," Riku said.

"We'll do our part," Naminé said.

With that said, Riku and Naminé shuts the door after making sure no one was looking. Once Ben got the okay, he summoned his Magnus Storm and he held it. A beam of light shoots from the Keyblade.

"The portal is opened. Let's go," Ben said.

With that said, Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, May, Max, Lisia, Rei, Pikachu, Angel, and Marill stepped inside the portal. Ben followed them inside before the portal closes.

"I hope they make it back in one piece," Naminé said.

"Me too, Naminé. We did volunteer for this anyway," Riku said.

A portal of light opened in front of the castle's gates in Hollow Bastion, so they all stepped out of the portal, so Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, May, Max, Lisia, Rei, Ben, Pikachu, Angel, and Marill all stepped out. The portal closes.

"So this is Hollow Bastion," Ethan said.

"It looks kinda creepy," May said.

"With the Heartless occupying this world, what did you expect?" Sora asked.

"This castle is worse than I remember," Leaf said.

"How could the Heartless do this?" Max asked.

"Everything the Heartless touches dies, that's what you need to remember," Ben said.

"How do we reach the computer inside this castle?" Brendan asked.

"I have a map you can use," Ben said, handing a map to Rei. "Just follow it and you'll find Ansem's study."

"You're not coming with us?" Kris asked.

"I explored every inch of the castle, so I can find it with ease better than I did the first time. And splitting up saves time. I have to make sure the Heartless are in check," Ben said.

"If you say so," May said.

"Come on, everyone. We have a computer to find. Let's follow this map and get there," Rei said.

The group agreed with her and went along with it.

"Max, stay close," May said, taking her brother by the hand.

The group followed the map as throughly as they could. There were times they almost gotten lost, and they were certain they would run into some Heartless. They did see some Heartless. These Heartless all looked like mushrooms. This kind of Heartless has a spherical, pitch black head with two glowing yellow, beady eyes. It wears a round, red cap on its head that sports two black, angular spirals on its front. It also seems to wear an off-white smock that completely covers its legs and thin, fingerless arms. Its Heartless emblem is present on the front of this smock. This Heartless is known as the White Mushroom. Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, May, and Rei summoned their Keyblades, ready to engage the White Mushrooms.

"Stay alert, apprentices!" Rei said. They waited for the White Mushrooms to attack, but for some reason, they weren't attacking at all, surprising them.

"Um, I'm new to exploring the worlds and all that, but shouldn't they have attacked us by now?" May asked.

"I'm with May, what gives?" Ash asked.

"I don't know, but whatever it is, they don't seem to be interested in us, or maybe they're just dumber than any average Heartless. Either way, we can just walk by them," Rei said.

"Maybe they might attack if they're provoked," Lyra said.

"You might be right, Lyra. We're on an important mission, and we can't stop now," Rei said.

With that said, the group walked past the White Mushrooms. They were making some strange movements, confusing the group. They eventually made it to Ansem's study, so they walked in. They saw how a mess it was. They saw a portrait of a familiar face.

"Ansem," Sora said.

"That's Ansem?" May asked.

"The same Ansem who tried to open the Door to Darkness?" Lisia asked.

"Yeah. The same Ansem who we fought back in the realm of darkness," Sora said.

"Pika," Pikachu said.

"But where's his computer?" Kairi asked.

"Maybe it's behind the painting," Brendan said.

"It's worth a look," Ethan said.

"Okay, let's move it," Ash said as he, Ethan, and Brendan moved the painting to find a door to open. They didn't find any, but instead, it was some sort of diagram. Some of the ink were faded, but DTD were visible. He tried finding a button to push or something, but he found nothing. "So much for that theory."

"Typical," Max sighed.

"It would have been too easy anyway," Lyra said.

"So now what?" Lisia asked.

"Maybe there's a clue around this room, and we just have to find it," Brendan said.

"If there is, then we'll have to find it," Rei said.

"Let's find it," Sora said.

With that said, they searched for the way to reach the computer. May was feeling around a wall on the their left. She felt something and the wall just vanished.

"Found it!" May said.

"Way to go, May!" Kairi said.

"How did you do that?" Lisia asked.

"Um, it was actually an accident," May said, blushing.

"And what a happy accident it was," Sora said.

"Sora's right. Let's see where this path leads," Rei said. They walked inside and saw a huge computer in front of them. "So this is Ansem's computer."

"Where it all happened," Ethan added.

"Let's see," Sora said. He tried typing on it, but it pulls up a password bar. "Ah, it's asking for a password."

"Isn't it weird that there's a computer in an old castle like this one?" Max asked.

"I'm with you, Max. How could they have technology in such an old place?" Ash asked.

"Maybe technology was all in the range in this world before it came to our world," Rei said.

"Maybe there could be a clue in some of those papers in the study," Max said.

"You know, Max is right. Something Ansem wrote down might give us an idea," Sora said.

"Okay, let's have a look," Kairi said.

Everyone stepped out of the computer area and looked around the study, trying to find a clue. All except for Ash. He looked around for a clue of his own. He went over to the next area, and he felt something. He summoned his Keyblade and he aimed it down to the floor. The floor opened and it revealed a set of stairs. He followed the stairs and walked past a series of doors, but there was one he was particularly interested in. He reached it and he aimed at his Keyblade at the keyhole and unlocked it. He walked inside and he saw Cascade's armor and Keyblade.

"Cascade's Keyblade and armor," Ash said. He walked up to them. He kneeled down and he picked up the Rainfell Keyblade. He dismissed the Keyblade and he took out a small sack he gotten from Teol. It's a bag that has spacial magic which allowed Ash to place anything he wanted to, and he knew the armor was just perfect. He placed the bag in his backpack and he summoned the Rainfell in his hand. "Cascade, I know you have Eraqus's Keyblade, but I'll hold on to yours until you get out. Until then, wait for me." He dismissed the Rainfell and he proceeded to climb back up the steps. He rejoined his friends in the search.

"Hey, where did you disappear to?" Brendan asked.

"Um, nowhere in particular," Ash said, stating the half-truth. "Anyway, find anything yet?"

"No, not yet," Brendan said. Ash got to searching with the others.

So far, they haven't find a thing. Everyone were disappointed. Kairi looked at the wall with the diagram and she sighed. As she looked at the diagram, saw the faded ink were spelling out "Door to Darkness". She then exclaimed, alerting everyone.

"Kairi, what's up?" Leaf asked.

"I was just looking at the wall, and I immediately thought of something! Look at the wall! DTD!" Kairi said.

"Yeah, so?" May asked.

"Yeah, what does that have to do with anything?" Ethan asked.

"Everything. DTD are the first letters that spells the 'Door to Darkness'!" Kairi said.

"You know, she's right. Ansem did try to open that before!" Kris said.

"Well, that's a good clue, but that doesn't tell us the password," Sora said.

"Maybe not, but we already know what it takes to open the Door to Darkness," Kairi said.

"The seven Princesses of Heart," Sora said, realizing what she meant.

"How is that an answer?" Brendan asked.

"Well, we're about to find out," Sora said. They went back to the computer and Sora typed in Princesses of Heart as the password and it went through. "It worked!"

"You think you can ask about the Nobodies?" Max asked.

"Okay, let's do that," Sora said. He typed in Nobodies. The screen reads "ERROR".

The data is corrupt.

"Seriously? After all that?" Ash asked.

"Okay, let's try the Organization," Sora said. He typed in Organization XIII and it gave the same results.

The data is corrupt.

"Stupid computer!" May hissed, banging the keyboard.

"Easy, you wanna break it?" Leaf asked.

The computer screen shows a man with a short mustache and goatee. His eyes are bright orange. He wore a wore a periwinkle labcoat. Underneath this, he wore a dark grey vest, white collared shirt, and a violet ascot, as well as black pants and shoes. He also draped a red sweater or coat of some sort over his shoulders.

"Who's that?" Lisia asked.

"No idea," Sora said.

"Master, do you know?" Kairi asked.

"No, I don't," Rei said. Ben walked in the computer area.

"I trust you got things going," Ben said.

"Yeah, but we got a problem," Sora said.

"What sort of problem?" Ben asked.

"We tried to get info on the Nobodies and the Organization, but we got nothing," Ethan said.

"The computer's been telling us it's corrupt," Max said.

"Also, we got a picture of some guy we don't know," Sora said. Ben looked at the picture and gasped.

"Ansem the Wise!" Ben exclaimed. Everyone were confused.

"You're not serious, are you?" Sora asked.

"Have you forgotten what Ansem looks like?" Kairi asked.

"No, I haven't! This is Ansem! I am certain of it!" Ben said.

"Sora said that they defeated Ansem, Ben," Rei said.

"No, they didn't," Ben said. Sora took Ben by the arm.

"Excuse us, could you come with us, please?" Sora asked.

"What could this be about?" Ben asked.

Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, May, Max, Lisia, Rei, Pikachu, Angel, and Marill stood before the portrait of Ansem, thinking Ben was getting mixed up with Ansem's identity.

"Look, this is Ansem. The guy who Kairi, Ethan, and I defeated when we were in the realm of darkness," Sora said.

"Oh, I never got a chance to explain," Ben said.

"Explain? Explain what?" Lyra asked.

"Rill?" Marill asked.

"The man in the painting is the same one who attempted to open the Door to Darkness, and conquer Kingdom Hearts. But who you actually defeated was his Heartless. You see, he wasn't really Ansem. He was only introducing himself as Ansem," Ben explained. Everyone looked among themselves and then they exclaimed in shock when they learn that the Ansem they knew was a fake.

"What? You mean we won't through all that over an impostor?" Sora asked.

"Yes, a fake. All the same, he had to be stopped," Ben said.

"I don't believe it," Ethan said with disbelief.

"It's quite a shocker," Kris said.

"None of this makes any sense. If he's a fake, then what happened to the real Ansem?" Kairi asked.

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," Ben said. "Ansem the Wise should know all about Organization XIII's plans and why the worlds are in danger," Ben said. "So I've been looking for him for years."

"But how can you be certain Ansem is even alive? For all we know, he could have died before this guy even took over," Leaf said.

"I am not so certain. He was most likely sent into the realm of darkness. Time does not exist there, so he wouldn't have aged at all, nor would he have died, unless the Heartless had gotten to him. Miraculously, he survived. And I have zero doubts he has made his escape from the realm of darkness some years ago," Ben said. May stroked her chin.

"May, don't tell us that there's more to it," Ash said.

"Well, I was just thinking. You said that when a person with a strong heart turns into a Heartless, a Nobody gets created, isn't that right?" May pointed out.

"Yes," Kairi said.

"Why bring that up, May?" Max asked.

"Well, he looked like the type of person who has a strong heart. Since he became a Heartless, wouldn't there be a Nobody that could have gotten created when it happened?" May asked.

"Yes, May, that's exactly right. There is a Nobody, just as you say. And that Nobody is the leader of the Organization," Ben confirmed. A collection of gasps followed around.

"That I didn't want to know," Ash said.

"Things are always going to get worst before they get better," Rei said.

"Have you even met this fake Ansem before, Mr. Ben?" Lisia asked.

"I have, but only a few times. And I have seen the Organization's leader, too. You can say it's like being around the same person, but at the same time, it's not," Ben said. Ash looked right at the painting again and he was almost certain there was something familiar about him. Apart from his dark skin and golden eyes.

"I know I've seen him, and I don't mean the fight Sora, Kairi, and Ethan had," Ash said in his thoughts. Sora looked over to Ash.

"Ash, is something up?" Sora asked. Ash didn't answer him. It was like he didn't hear him. "Ash!" Ash snapped back into his senses.

"Huh? What?" Ash asked.

"You kinda spaced out for a second," Sora said.

"Oh, uh, I was just thinking," Ash said. "You think maybe Ansem the Wise knows the identity of the impostor?"

"I do think that. There are still several puzzle pieces missing, but I am certain he has most of the remaining pieces," Ben said.

"Man, I don't believe this. He's the reason that the Heartless are out on the loose. Ben, is there a way for us to get to the Organization's stronghold and wipe them out?" Sora asked.

"No, Sora. That is one of the pieces I'm hoping Ansem the Wise has. Whatever they're trying to achieve, we cannot allow their plans to succeed. We shall take the fight directly to them," Ben said. Everyone felt the room rumble.

"But it looks like we have to start our fight here!" Rei said.

Rei and Ben rushed out of the room as Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, May, Max, Lisia, Pikachu, Angel, and Marill followed them.

As they got to the castle hallway, they're greeted by Heartless, Nobodies, and Unversed. The Heartless consisted of Silver Dragons, Cyclodactyls, Octoshells, Emblem Seahorses, Wreckadillos, Mandipedes, Uni-Walruses, and a new Heartless.

It greatly resembled a teddy bear, but not as cuddly. It has brown fur and a tan underbelly. The Heartless emblem is located on the underbelly, and it has sharp claws, and yellow eyes. This Heartless shall be known as the Dreaddy Bear.

The Nobodies consisted of Dusks, Creepers, Dancers, Fighters, Vikings, and Gladiators.

And there were some Unversed as well. The Unversed consisted of Scrappers, Bruisers, Sonic Blasters, Chrono Twisters, Axe Flappers, Tank Topplers, Turtletoads, and a couple of new Unversed.

One of them has a body that resembles a large, black boot. This boot has a cyan strap, a silver sole, and other cyan and silver additives. The Shoegazer's blue, spherical head peeks out of the top of the boot. It has two curved horns on the top of its head, both of which point forward. Its red eyes are set in a sorrowful expression and the Unversed logo is emblazoned on the front of the boot's leg. This Unversed is known as the Shoegazer.

Another is a black-skinned, humanoid Unversed with a teal wheelbarrow in place of its lower body. This wheelbarrow has silver highlights and a single, black wheel for locomotion. Its head is round and vaguely triangular and sports two short ears or horns on the top of its head. Another antenna sprouting out of its forehead suspends a cylindrical, blue lamp. Its arms both end in gold and silver pickaxes. Its red eyes are set in an angry expression and the Unversed emblem is emblazoned on the front of its wheelbarrow. This Unversed is known as the Monotrucker.

"This is great! Heartless, Nobodies, and Unversed!" Sora exclaimed.

"Pika!" Pikachu said.

"Take them down! All of them!" Leaf said.

Not needing to be told again, the Keyblade wielding Pokémon Trainers summoned their Keyblades and engaged the Heartless, Nobodies, and Unversed.

The Silver Dragons spewed flames as the Dreaddy Bears came at them, swinging their claws. The Emblem Seahorses blew a strong gust at the Keyblade wielders as the Dancers grabbed Kris by the hand and swings her around. It then let's go of her, but Ethan caught her. They fought off the Heartless, Nobodies, and Unversed. More and more of the monsters were coming.

"There's too many!" Kairi exclaimed.

"Let's bolt!" Brendan said.

With that said, Sora, Kairi, Ash, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Max, Lisia, Pikachu, Angel, and Marill ran off as the Heartless, Nobodies, and Unversed gave chase. They caught up with Ben and Rei as they engaged the Heartless.

"Ben, Master! There's too many Heartless! We gotta get back!" Sora said.

"I agree! Back to Rustboro City!" Ben said as he quickly opened a portal of light. They all ran in it. The portal closes just when the Heartless, Nobodies, and Unversed got close.

Back in the Pokémon Center, Riku, Naminé, Eevee, and Azrull were waiting for them to come back when they saw their friends run back in the room. The portal then closes. Everyone all panted heavily since they were doing all the fighting and running.

"That was too close," Leaf panted.

"At least we made it back," May panted.

"Yeah, we would have been goners if Ben hadn't gotten out in time," Ethan panted.

"What happened in there?" Riku asked.

"Did you find out what anything?" Naminé asked.

"Yes, and no," Sora said. Riku and Naminé were confused by what Sora meant by that. Sora and the others explained to Riku and Naminé about that they couldn't find out about the Nobodies or the Nobodies, but they did find out about the Ansem who they thought was Ansem was a fake, and figuring out the faker's identity.

"Okay, let me see I got this right. The Ansem whom you thought you beaten was the Heartless who took his name and tried to open the Door to Darkness and take over Kingdom Hearts, and his Nobody is the Organization's leader?" Riku asked.

"That's pretty much it, Riku," Sora said.

"Pikachu," Pikachu said.

"Well, there goes the neighborhood," Riku said.

"Eevee," Eevee said.

"So what do we do? If Ansem the Wise is alive, then he should know who the faker is," Kris said.

"The problem is, we don't know where to look. He could be in a different world for all we know," Ash said.

"Ash is right. He could be at the Kanto region, or maybe the Unova region, or maybe he could be on Mobius, or maybe in Hyrule or the Mushroom Kingdom. Until then, we don't know. I mean, it's not like he's just gonna show up and tell us," Sora said.

"I agree. Finding Ansem the Wise without knowing where to look isn't something we can get done with ease. It might take us years to figure it out, and that's time we don't have," Rei said.

"But we still can't do nothing about it," Ethan said.

"I agree," Ben said. "If Ansem the Wise is in this world, then I suspect he might have some other studies besides the one in Hollow Bastion. And he could be moving about in order to evade detection from the Organization."

Everyone started thinking about it, wondering what Ansem knew about the Organization, but then an alarm starts going off.

"Now what?" Sora asked.

The group all rushed out as Rustboro City was now overrun with Heartless. The Heartless consisted of Shadows, Soldiers, Air Soldiers, Large Bodies, Red Nocturnes, Blue Rhapsodies, Yellow Operas, Green Requiems, Silver Rocks, Emerald Blues, Crimson Jazzes, Armored Knights, Minute Bombs, Hammer Frames, Aeroplanes, Hot Rods, Loudmouthes, Tornado Steps, Creeper Plants, Cannon Guns, Rapid Thrusters, Surveillance Robots, Morning Stars, Earth Cores, Flame Cores, Water Cores, Flutterings, Creepworms, Silver Dragons, Cyclodactyls, Octoshells, Emblem Seahorses, Wreckadillos, Mandipedes, Uni-Walruses, and Dreaddy Bears. People and Pokémon were running as the Heartless attacked them.

"Great! Heartless!" Sora exclaimed. The Keyblade wielders all summoned their Keyblades and held them tight.

All over the city, the Heartless attacked some of the people who didn't get away.

A Shadow came to a woman in her car, making her scream in fright.

Some Shadows and Soldiers approaching a man backing away.

"What are they?!" The man asked. He turned to see a Large Body "No!"

Roxanne and her Nosepass were dealing with the attacking Heartless.

"Nosepass! Use Zap Cannon!" Roxanne ordered. Nosepass fired Zap Cannon at the Heartless, destroying a handful of them. Roxanne had to make sure that the students made it to the shelters as soon as they attacked.

A Soldier jumped on a woman and dug its claws in her chest. She screamed as her heart is pulled out.

"Did that Heartless just do that?" Max asked. A Shadow came at him, much to Max's dismay, but May struck down the Shadow before it could get him.

"Don't touch my brother!" May said.

"Take out every Heartless you see!" Rei shouted.

"Don't hold back!" Ash shouted.

They started to run and struck down the Heartless that came their way.

The Rustboro City police and their Pokémon were fighting off the Heartless. The Pokémon consisted of several Growlithe, several Arcanine, Tangela, Parasect, Bayleef, Hitmonchan, Tauros, a Primeape, a Scyther, and a new Pokémon.

It is a robotic Pokémon with teal, metallic skin. It has a disc-shaped body with a pair of flat, gray spikes on either side toward the rear. There is a gray spike in the middle of its face, similar to a nose. A pair of red eyes reside in two holes in its metallic skin. While it appears to lack legs, it has a pair of thick arms with three claws on the ends. The arms are considerably thicker below the elbow and have a flat, blunt protrusion extending over the joint. This Pokémon is known as Metang.

"Take them down!" One of the police officers said. The police and their Pokémon kept fighting off the Heartless to the best of their abilities. Wes and Rui had their hoods up, so they engaged the Heartless with their Keyblades, but not alone. They didn't just have Espeon and Umbreon with them, but they also have a Hariyama, a Meganium, a Typhlosion, a Feraligatr, a Togetic, a Shuckle, a Smeargle, a Misdreavus, a Magcargo, a Noctowl, an Ampharos, a Jumpluff, a Quagsire, a Yanma, an Octillery, a Mantine, a Qwilfish, a Dunsparce, a Medicham, an Altaria, a Sudowoodo, a Hitmontop, an Entei, a Ledian, a Suicune, an Ursaring, a Gligar, a Sneasel, a Piloswine, a Stantler, an Ariados, an Aipom, a Murkrow, a Forretress, a Granbull, a Flygon, a Raikou, a Sunflora, a Delibird, a Heracross, a Skarmory, a Miltank, an Absol, a Houndoom, a Tropius, a Tyranitar, and a new Pokémon.

It's massive, robotic Pokémon with a turquoise, disc-shaped body, and four legs. The main body appears to serve as both head and body, and this Pokémon's overall construction gives it the appearance of a mechanized arachnid. It uses its heavy body to pin down its prey before consuming them with its large mouth. A large, metallic cross is situated in the center of its face. On either side of the cross, a red eye peers out from a space in its metallic armor. Its four legs are joined to the main body by ball-and-socket joints. While the upper portion of the legs is relatively thin, they are considerably thicker below the knee. Each leg has three short claws on the end and a flat, blunt protrusion extending over the knee. This Pokémon is known as Metagross.

The Heartless came right at Wes and Rui, but they struck them down. Wes struck down a Surveillance Robot with his Colosseum of Light and an Armored Knight with his Colosseum of Darkness. Rui struck down a Crimson Jazz as a Hot Rod rushed to run her over, but Absol slashed at it, destroying it. The Pokémon took down just about every Heartless that came their way. A few Armored Knights came at Rui, but Wes slashed at the Heartless by doing an X cross.

Xipak and Celeste are seen fighting the Heartless, unleashing their attacks. Xipak and Celeste lands a hit on a Morning Star with an Iron Tail combo, destroying it.

Over to the group, they saw that the Heartless had stopped.

"What's with them?" Sora asked.

"I don't know," Ben said. They were looking around, and Namine spotted something. It was Xemnas coming in through a corridor of darkness.

"Look!" Naminé exclaimed. They spotted Xemnas on top of a building, looking down at the group.

"It's him!" Lyra said.

"The fake Ansem!" May said.

"You mean, his Nobody!" Ethan said.

"The leader of Organization XIII," Sora said.

"So the head honcho shows himself at last," Riku said. Ash just looked right at him, and he then receives a headache. Ash held his head.

"Ash, what's wrong?" Kairi asked with concern.

"Are you okay?" Leaf asked.

"I don't know!" Ash exclaimed. He screamed as his eyes began to glow pure white.

Ash receives another vision of the past, this time, wide awake. Ash saw Cascade and Viento in the tower.

Cascade woke up and she looked around.

"Where am I?" Cascade asked. She saw she was in Fusoya's tower.

"Good, you're alive," Zest said.

"You lost consciousness. Fortunately, Zest, Teol, Flora, Zauver, Fritz, and Tomok found you and Viento in the Lanes Between and brought you back to me to receive proper care. I am sorry, but there was no sign of Gaia," Fusoya explained as Cascade looked at Viento sitting on the floor next to her.

"I see…" Cascade sadly said. She looked at Viento and shook him. "Viento! Viento!" He didn't wake up.

"Why isn't he waking up?" Teol asked.

"Is he dead?" Flora asked with concern.

"No," Fusoya said, shaking his head. "His heart sleeps."

"His heart is sleeping?" Fritz asked.

"Will he wake from this?" Cascade asked.

"I could not say. It is almost as though his heart has left. Should it return, he may very well wake. Should it not, then he may sleep like this for all eternity," Fusoya said.

"No...I'll keep him safe...until he wakes. Forever if I have to," Cascade said.

"I will tell you what your friend needs right now. It is not your protection," Fusoya said as he sat down in his chair. "He needs you to believe. You see, Viento's heart hangs in the balance. It sleeps in the place between light and darkness. From all I can perceive, that means he will be looking for a friend. One who believes in him, to show him the way home. Just as long as you love him...Then Viento will be able to find you when he wakes. He can follow that love back to where he belongs." He turned to Cascade. "The realm of light." Zest and the other warriors all smiled.

"I believe in Viento, too," Zest said.

"We all do," Tomok said.

"He's been as good a friend to us as anybody. And if all of us believe in him with all our hearts...then he'll have seven lights to follow instead of one," Zest said.

"Eight lights. Don't forget Gaia," Cascade said.

"But…" Zest paused.

"Gaia's gone," Fritz said.

"Probably for good," Zauver said.

"And even if he made it out, we have no idea where to look for him," Zest said.

"I do," Cascade said. She took out her Wayfinder and looked at it. "I know how to find him."

"We'll come with you," Teol said.

"No, Teol. You're too exhausted from our fight from earlier, and this is something I need to do alone. But first, I have to take Viento somewhere safe. Somewhere I can look after him," Cascade said. She sighed as she thought of her husband and her daughter. Ash knew she was asking them to forgive her. Ash knew Xehanort was to blame for this.

"Cascade, what you're gonna see next will kill you," Ash said.

The scene switches to outside the tower where Cascade is carrying Viento's body.

"Viento needs a safe place," Cascade said. Suddenly, Viento's hand moves up and his Keyblade appears. It fires a beam, creating a portal. Cascade nods to herself. Alright… If that's where you wanna go." She walks into the portal, carrying Viento. Ash followed them inside. When she walks out of the portal, she gasps. She saw the ruined Land of Departure. She looks around, then sighs. She saw Eraqus' Keyblade, the Master Defender, and picks it up. She remembers what she told her Master. Ash knew this was something Cascade had to do.

She placed Viento safely on the throne. She takes the Master Defender and a Keyhole appears. She aims the Keyblade at the Keyhole and a ray of light appears on its tip. A ray of light engulfs the entire room. When the light dies down, the room transforms into a white room.

"She placed Viento at home, and she transformed the Land of Departure to protect it, and its secrets," Ash said.

"This room shall be known as the Chamber of Waking, and the castle shall be known as Castle Oblivion," Cascade said. She looks at Ven and pets the back of his head. She took off outside of Castle Oblivion. Ash followed her. "Gaia, tell me where to find you." She followed Gaia's light right back to Radiant Garden. Ash remembered this part since he and Leaf met her in the realm of darkness. Up in the sky, dark clouds have formed in the sky. She eventually found Gaianort at the Central Square. She ran up to him. "Gaia?"

"Cascade, no! That's not Gaia!" Ash shouted.

Gaianort looks at her and slowly reaches out to her. She backs away, but Gaianort grabs her by the neck. A dark aura glows around him.

"Who am I?" Gaianort asked.

"Such a...terrible...darkness… Fight it… Gaia… Please!" Cascade pleaded as she struggled. He lets go of Gaia. She pants heavily. Gaianort puts his hands over his face.

"Gaia's heart has been extinguished… Smothered by the darkness within him!" Gaianort shouted as he summoned the Gazing Eye. He was about to strike her, but she jumped out of the way. Cascade summoned her Keyblade and held it in her hand.

"My name is Master Cascade. Return my friend's heart or pay the price!" Cascade demanded.

The fight between Cascade and Gaianort has begun as they clashed Keyblades at each other.

"Yield!" Gaianort shouted as he fired spheres at her. Cascade managed to dodge most of them, but she was hit by a few of them. She casts a reflect spell to make the dark spheres bounce off. She came at Gaianort by swinging her Keyblade at him, but he blocked. He dove in the ground in a black and red aura and came under her. He sends out a huge hand to grab her. "Enough!" Cascade managed to dodge. "What?!"

"Take that!" Cascade shouted, swinging her Keyblade at him. Gaianort blocked the attack with his Keyblade and he pushes her back. Gaianort backed up from her.

"Not yet!" Gaianort said.

"What now?" Ash asked.

"I will guide you into the depths of darkness!" He summoned a Dark Figure, much to Ash's horror.

"What is that thing?" Ash asked. He watched as Cascade came at Gaianort and the monster of darkness. Gaianort's Dark Figure fired several dark orbs right at her. She managed to dodge it. The Dark Figure detaches itself from Gaianort to attack Cascade from below several times. Cascade managed to dodge it, but the Dark Figure grabbed and then slammed her down at the ground, creating a large shockwave. Cascade came at Gaianort, and he managed to dodge her attack. The Dark Figure detaches from him again. Suddenly, the battlefield changes to a yellow warped space. The Guardian is throwing giant dark orbs at Cascade, but she dodges them. She saw Gaia and ran up to him.

"Gaia, I knew you were still in there," Cascade said.

"I have to have full control of my body! To do that, Xehanort must be stopped," Gaia said.

"Right. Let's do this together," Cascade said.

"Light!" Gaia and Cascade shouted as they both combined their Keyblades to form a giant sphere of light. The light damages the Dark Figure and sends Cascade back to the battlefield, but not Gaia. Ash knew Xehanort wasn't going to let go of Gaia without a fight, and he figured Cascade knew that as well. Cascade fired a beam of light from her Keyblade and it struck Gaianort in the chest.

"Why…?" Gaianort asked as he is struck. An aura of light surrounds Gaianort's body. Ash could tell the real Gaia was trying to take control.

"That's it, Gaia. Fight him," Ash said.

"Stop fighting back!" Gaianort demanded.

"Gaia, I know you're in there!" Cascade called out. Gaia struggled to move the Gazing Eye right to his chest, but Xehanort wasn't having it. He held the Keyblade, holding it by the edge.

"This will teach you! Get outta my heart!" Gaianort shouted as he stabbed his own chest with the Gazing Eye, much to Ash's surprise. The aura of light dies down. Ash gasped when he saw it.

"NO!" Ash shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Gaia!" Cascade gasped. Gaianort dropped the Gazing Eye, making it vanish. The Dark Figure disappeared as well, It sinks into a giant puddle, making Gaianort sink into it too. Cascade ran to the puddle and jumps into it. Ash then followed her inside it. Suddenly, a ray of light came out of the portal. Cascade was in her glider, trying to catch up to Gaianort. "The darkness can't have you!" She makes her glider accelerate even faster. She grabs Gaianort's hand. She flew up to the light while carrying Gaianort. "I have to do something, or we'll both be lost!" Suddenly, her armor separates from her body. Ash figured out it was when she fell into the realm of darkness. Her armor was carrying Gaianort. She puts her Keyblade in his hand. "I'm with you! Go!" Her armor flew away with Gaianort. "Viento, I'm sorry… I might not make it back as soon as I thought. But I promise I'll be there, one day, to wake you up. And Richter, please forgive me, and take care of our baby girl." She fell into the darkness.

"Cascade…" Ash said.

The scene switches back to the Central Square. He spotted Briag, leading Ansem the Wise and what looks like Xaldin.

"Right this way," Braig said. He leads Ansem the Wise to Gaianort and Cascade's armor. He picks him up.

"Young man, what ails you?" Ansem the Wise asked. Gaianort opens his eyes. "Can you speak? Tell me your name."

"Xeha...nort…" Gaianort weakly replied.

"Xehanort?" Ansem the Wise asked. Braig grinned. "Quickly, get him to the castle!"

"You can count on me," Briag complied. He picks Gaianort up. He turns to Xaldin. "Dilan, get those for me." Dilan turned to the armor and the Keyblade. He walked up to the armor and Keyblade, and picked them up.

The scene switches to Ansem the Wise in his study. We see Ansem the Wise sitting on his desk in his studies, eating some sea salt ice cream and going over the reports of his research.

"This is all so troubling. My research may have brought chaos to many worlds other than this one. I'm finding it difficult to stave off the urge to test it. I'm concerned about the stability of the worlds. The doors that appeared. The place the Heartless seek. I can only hope this foolish quest for knowledge hasn't gone too far," Ansem the Wise said to himself. A knock is heard. "Enter." Stepping in his study is Xehanort, his newest apprentice. He bows his head, out of respect.

"Master Ansem. Regarding the experiment I presented the other day… With your permission, I'd like to proceed—" Xehanort requested.

"I forbid it!" Ansem the Wise exclaimed, standing up and pounding on the table. "Forget this talk of doors, and the heart of all worlds. That place must not be defiled!"

"But, Master Ansem! I've been thinking…" Xehanort tried to argue, but Ansem the Wise just shook his head.

"Xehanort...Those thoughts are best forgotten," Ansem the Wise sternly stated.

Xehanort restrains himself, bows again, and leaves, closing the door.

The vision fades as Ash looked up to Xemnas.

"I know everything now!" Ash exclaimed. Everyone looked at him, not knowing what he was talking about, except for Leaf.

"Know everything? What are you talking about?" Sora asked.

"I know who the impostor is!" Ash said. Sora, Kairi, Riku, Naminé, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, May, Max, and Lisia looked at one another as did Pikachu, Angel, Eevee, Azurill, and Marill.

"If you know who he is, then tell us! Who is he?" May asked.

"Xehanort! Ansem's apprentice!" Ash said. "The leader of Organization XIII is Xehanort's Nobody!"

"And you know this, how?" Brendan asked.

"It doesn't matter right now!" Rei said. Sora, Kairi, Riku, Naminé, Ash, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Lisia, Max, and the Pokémon all looked at her. "What matters is chopping off the Organization's head while we have the chance!"

"Right!" Sora, Kairi, Riku, Naminé, Ash, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, and May agreed. Rei and Ben ran off after Xemnas. Just when the younger Keyblade wielders were about to follow them, the Heartless quickly surrounded them.

"Move it!" Sora shouted.

"We can't let Xehanort get away!" May said.

"She's right! We gotta get to him!" Ash said.

With that said, the Keyblade wielders and the Pokémon engaged the Heartless in combat. Riku summoned his Braveheart and his Soul Eater. Leaf summoned her Leaf Green Venusaur and a new Keyblade. This Keyblade is shaped like one of Blastoise's cannons. The teeth are shaped like Blastoise's foot. The guard has the design of Blastoise's shell. The Keychain token is a miniature Blastoise. This Keyblade shall be known as the Water Blue Blastoise.

As they fought the Heartless, Wes's Espeon, Umbreon, and the other Pokémon joined right in and helped dwindle the numbers of the Heartless.

The fight raged on for what seems like hours right until the last of the Heartless were defeated.

Sora, Kairi, Riku, Naminé, Ash, Leaf, Ethan, Kris, Lyra, Brendan, May, Max, Lisia, Pikachu, Angel, Eevee, Azurill, and Marill caught up with Rei and Ben as they each struck down an Armored Knight. Rei and Ben stood right behind Xemnas, holding their Keyblades. The rest of the group have caught up.

"Xehanort!" Ash shouted.

"How long has it been since I abandoned that name?" Xemnas asked.

"We got you right where we want you, Nobody!" Sora said.

"Do you, now? You think you have me cornered, or perhaps it is I who have you?" Xemnas said.

"Enough!" Ben shouted as he jumped towards Xemnas. Xemnas leaves through a corridor of darkness, taking Ben with him.

"Ben!" Sora shouted. He attempts to go after him, but Rei stopped him.

"No, Sora! That's what they want!" Rei said.

"You should listen to her, kiddo," a familiar voice said. The Keyblade wielders turned to see Axel. Sora, Kairi, Riku, Naminé, Ethan, Kris, and Lyra growled as they held their Keyblades tight.

"Axel!" Ethan exclaimed.

"This attack was cooked up by Organization XIII. Xemnas was hoping to use this attack to lure you in and finish you," Axel said.

"Xemnas?" Leaf asked.

"The guy you just saw. He's their leader. Got it memorized? X-E-M-N-A-S," Axel said, spelling Xemnas's name.

"Why does Organization XIII wanna get rid of Sora so badly?" Max asked.

"It's because of Roxas, and that's it," Axel said. Sora was shocked to hear him mention Roxas.

"Roxas?" Sora asked.

"What does Roxas has to do with any of this?" May asked.

"I'm not telling," Axel said.

"Tell us!" May demanded.

"Stand down, all of you," Rei said, dismissing her Keyblade.

"What?" Riku asked.

"You've got to be kidding!" Sora exclaimed.

"Do as I say," Rei said. "Dismiss your Keyblades at once." Seeing no choice, her apprentices complied with their Master. "Now, Axel. Tell us what you know." May looked at Rei and right at Axel. She could tell something was going on between them. Before Axel could speak, he heard a familiar voice.

"Axel!" The voice yelled. Axel flinched because he knew whose voice it was. Saïx appeared right before them. Ash gasped when he recognized his face.

"Isa!" Ash gasped.

"Saïx!" Axel exclaimed.

"You've committed a capital offense in the Organization, Axel. You and Roxas both! And for that, you and Roxas must receive the maximum punishment," Saïx said.

"You'll have to catch me first, Saïx," Axel said, leaving through a corridor of darkness.

"Why are you doing here, Saïx?" Rei asked.

"I was only retrieving one of the deserters. I should have known Axel will not allow himself to be easily caught, but I knew he would show up to you sooner or later," Saïx said. "The same can be said for Roxas."

"Not unless we deal with you, Saïx!" Rei said as she and her apprentices summoned their Keyblades.

"You shall try," Saïx said as he took out his Lunatic. He swings it right at the ground, almost blowing them away. He rushes right at the group, and he greatly overpowered them. "Hmph. Your methods are poor."

"Care to say that again, Isa?" Ash asked. Saïx looked right at him.

"How did you know that? How did you know my real name?" Saïx asked.

"You sound surprised," Ash said. "I didn't think Nobodies had the heart to be surprised." Saïx chuckled.

"Perhaps we don't, but it makes no difference if you know or not," Saïx said, swinging his claymore right at Ash, so he blocked with his Keyblade. The two pushed at each other. Leaf casts a thunder spell, hitting him. Sora and Kairi swung their Keyblades at the Organization's second-in-command and hit him. Saïx looked at Sora and Kairi. "Sora and Kairi. Roxas and Xion. You four should watch your backs. Until we meet again." Saïx took his leave through a corridor of darkness.

"Hey, wait!" Sora called out.

"Forget it, Sora," Ash said. "He's gone."

"He's right," Rei agreed. "The Organization's not going to let us get away with this." She looked down below and the Heartless vanishing. "And it looks like the Heartless are gone, but not forgotten."

"Yeah," Sora said. He looked down to the ground. "But... Ben..."

"Ben will be okay, Sora. He's tough," Rei assured. "The Organization won't ever break him." Sora knew she was right and he had to have faith in him.

Over to the World That Never Was, the Organization have their own meeting about their failure to dispose of Sora.

"So much for that idea. Not only it drew out Sora and the other key-slingers, but it drew out Axel, too," Xigbar said.

"Yeah, but the point was to take him out. And look at how well that went," Larxene said as she scowled.

"Sora is not going to allow himself to be defeated with ease. We each had a chance to defeat him and we each failed to do so," Lexaeus said.

"That is true on so many levels," Luxord agreed. "The game would have been dreadfully boring if it was so easy."

"Sora, Kairi, and the others have each grown so much stronger in the short amount of time. Even the professor's son and the Gym Leader's daughter have proven themselves to be a handful," Zexion said.

"Perhaps, but they are still only children. Children or not, we cannot afford to leave them unchecked," Xaldin said.

"I agree. Will there be another new method in dealing with our enemies?" Marluxia asked.

"Yeah. Something to get them out of our hair for good?" Demyx asked.

"There is," Xemnas said. The other Organization members looked up to their leader. "Vexen has prepared a new project and it is currently in progress."

"Indeed. It will take some time, but I shall have it done soon. And you, Lord Xemnas, shall be the first to know," Vexen said.

"I expect it," Xemnas said.

"We shall leave it to you then," Saïx said.

"I shall continue at once," Vexen said.

"Very good. You are all dismissed," Xemnas said as the Organization members have taken their leave.

Back in Rustboro City, media vans have come all over the city, getting coverage of the Heartless attack. When they came up to Sora, Kairi, and their friends, they gave no comment about what happened. But other people were being interviewed and they ran over the number of casualties the city suffered.

The group stayed for one more night to rest from the Heartless attack. Sora and Kairi expect that Rustboro City will go back to normal like nothing happened, but they were thinking about Roxas and Xion. So Ash was sitting before the group. They wanted to know about how Ash knew so much.

"Is this really necessary?" Ash asked.

"We just wanna know, Ash. First of all, how did you that guy's name? The fake Ansem's real name," Sora said.

"And what was up with you earlier?" Riku asked.

"You might as well tell them, Ash," Rei said.

"Okay," Ash said as he took in a deep breath. "Back in the Johto Pokémon League, ever since your battle against Gary, I have been having these visions in my sleep." They all looked at each other funny.

"Visions?" Naminé asked.

"You mean like of the future?" Max asked.

"Yeah, but the thing is, they're not visions of the future, they're visions of the past," Ash said.

"Okay, what exactly did you see in your visions?" Ethan asked.

"Well, I saw that there were other Keyblade wielders other than all of us here," Ash said.

"Other Keyblade wielders?" Brendan asked.

"You mean there are others besides us, Vanitas, and Zell?" May asked.

"Yeah, that's what I mean. Gaia, Viento, and Cascade. Gaia and Cascade were having the Mark of Mastery exam and Cascade was named a Keyblade Master while Gaia failed his. On some nights, I have been getting them little by little," Ash said. "And from my last vision, I saw Ansem the Wise along with two guards found a young stranger in the Central Square. The stranger called himself Xehanort, so Ansem took him in as an apprentice, not realizing the mistake he was making. And then, it showed me that Xehanort was doing some kind of experiment, but Ansem wouldn't allow it and told him to forget it."

"Why didn't you tell us about them, Ash?" Sora asked.

"I didn't want to add it to your list of problems," Ash said.

"I can't believe Ansem would take someone like Xehanort in like that," Brendan said.

"Me neither," Kris said. Before Ash could tell them more, Rei stepped in.

"And that'll be enough for now," Rei said. "What he mentioned is what you need to know for the time being. Besides, I believe you have a Gym battle to prepare for."

"Yes, Master," Sora and Brendan said at once.

"But for now, we rest, because we had a hard day," Rei said.

With that said, the group all got to sleep after a hard day of fighting the Heartless and learning of Ansem the Wise. Sora had hoped Rei was right about Ben being okay, but he couldn't help but worry about him. The focus will be Sora earning his fifth Gym Battle from Norman in Petalburg City, so stay tuned for more.