Kingdom Hearts: Simple and Clean

by SoKai4ever

The beginning of an adventure that will change lives, both for the good and the bad. A novelization of the first Kingdom Hearts.

12. Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Sora, Donald, and Goofy pushed open the doors that led to the First District in Traverse Town. The doors creaked open and within the trio couldn't believe their eyes. It was packed. People milled about everywhere. Strolling through the streets, frequenting the shops, and dining and imbibing at the cafe or restaurants.

"Whoa..." Sora sighed.

Donald agreed, "It's worse than last time."

Goofy nodded along, "Alot worse. How many worlds do ya think are dissappearin', every day?"

Donald sighed, "Too many."

Sora frowned, "Yeah. Let's get moving, guys."

With that they began to navigate the crowd. They jack knifed, excused, and bumped their way up the stairs and around the back of the accessory shop. There, at the outdoor stall that Sora had seen when he first began to explore Traverse Town, Cid stood, smoking and selling his wares.

"Gummi blocks, right here. Mechanic and technician! Get your Gummis!"

Sora smiled, "Gramps! Business boomin'?"

Cid returned the grin and opened his arms wide, "Kid! Good to see ya. How goes it? What brings ya back here?" He asked, taking a long drag from his cigarette.

"We found another navigation Gummi!" Goofy said.

"Well I'll be damned. Lemme see it." Cid replied. Sora produced the block and handed it to Cid, across his stall.

The grizzled mechanic gave it the once over, "Swell. You boys found you one choice Navi Gummi, here. You want me to install it?"

Sora smirked, "Nah, we just came by for some second hand smoke. What do you think?"

Cid chuckled, "Smart ass. Alright. I'll get it installed. It might take me a while, though." He said pocketing the piece. "Grab a bite down at that new little bistro or somethin'. You look starved." Sora looked down, as did Donald and Goofy.

Indeed their stomachs were growling. Afterall, they hadn't eaten in quite some time. What with being so keen on getting to Hollow Bastion, Donald had accidentally and nearly burnt the Gummi Ship's galley to the ground. With that dinner was ruined and they were almost back here anyway.

Cid shuffled off, toward the town gates and Sora shrugged his shoulders, "You guys up for it?" Donald nodded, whilst Goofy did the same.

"You two go get a table, I'll go resupply and meet you there." Donald quacked.

"Okay, see ya in a minute. C'mon Goofy." Sora replied before they went their separate ways. Donald slipped into the shop down a level whilst Sora and Goofy made for the little outdoor restaurant. They took their seats and after a moment or two were brought menus by a nice waitress. They thanked her before beginning to flip through the pages.

"Gawrsh, I'm famished."

Sora raised an eyebrow and snickered, "'Famished'? What's that mean?"

Goofy read his menu, but replied, "Uh, pretty much like when you're real hungry."

Sora smiled, "Oh. Cool. Now I know a new word for hungry." They shared a chuckle.

"What're you thinkin'?" Goofy asked.

"I'm not sure. There's so many choices." Sora replied.

Goofy agreed, "I know."

Sora did have his eye on the fish sandwich though. Being an islander, he was always in the mood for good seafood. Goofy on the other hand liked the look of one of the unique chicken dishes. Chicken, oatmeal, broccoli, and sweet potatoes, all cooked together to make a casserole. Sora though had much more on his mind than food.

That much was clear.

He couldn't stop thinking about her, and their current predicament. Sora was usually cheerful, but the past couple of days had taken their toll on him. He was beginning to wonder if they'd ever catch up or catch a break. He appeared to be reading the menu, but if one knew him better, as Goofy had come to, he was looking through it. He was blue. Plain and simple.

"You okay, pal?" Goofy asked.

Sora frowned, "Honestly?" He asked. "Not really..."

Goofy laid his menu down, "Aww, Sora. Remember what Donald said. No frowning. No sad faces."

Sora leaned back in his chair and set his menu down as well, "How can you be so cheerful, Goofy?" He asked. "I mean, there's no sign of your King, Kairi's lost her Heart, and Riku's totally turned against me. He's taken her to some world that we have no idea how to get to and by the time we figure it out and show up, who's to say him and that witch Maleficent haven't already left for another one? Aren't you worried?" Goofy thought for a moment, before settling on a good answer.

"Well, the King told us to go out and find the Key bearer, and we found you. I know you're worried about Kairi and even Riku, but I promise Sora. So long as we stick together, it'll all work out okay. Ya just gotta believe in yourself, is all!" Goofy laughed that signature laugh of his and Sora felt a little warmer inside. He really did care for the old Knight and to hear those affirming words meant alot to Sora.

"Just believe..." he repeated, softly.

"Well sure! I remember when we first landed on that world, oh, what was it..." Goofy struggled for the right word. "Olympus! I watched you trainin' and I just knew right then and there you were a hero. See, me and Donald..."

Sora could hear Goofy, but his words were beginning to sound further and further away, as if garbled. He suddenly felt light headed. His vision was beginning to fade, and with that, Sora simply fell out of his chair, down to the cobbled street.

He heard one last thing before he blacked out. The sweetest of sounds, for him. It was her voice and she said only one thing.

"I believe in you..."

---

Sora suddenly felt the same sense of weightlessness as he did in Neverland, when flying. He looked around and found himself in a library of sorts, but couldn't move. The place had ornate, stained glass windows and beautiful brown marble floors. The book shelves were tall and well built, housing a plethora of books from all genres and authors. A large staircase wrapped itself along the back of the wall and the windows, leading up to a matching second floor.

The sun shone brightly here and there was a warmth that enveloped one like a much needed hug. It was a testament to knowledge and what a room it was, even to someone like Sora, who reading usually bored. Underneath the large staircase sat a quaint little table and at it an elderly woman sewing. She had the thinnest and most content smile upon on her face.

'Where am I?' Sora wondered.

Just then, a young girl, maybe only six or seven ran into frame. She wore a frilly white dress with blue edges and she had short, red hair. Sora knew her immediately, but how? It was Kairi, no doubt about it.

'Wait, is this...?'

Sora watched as she spoke, so excitedly, "Please, Grandma! I wanna hear it again! Please?" The older woman laid her needlework down and tilted her head to the side.

"My, my. Again, dear? Alright..." She cleared her throat and leaned forward, ever so slightly, "Long ago, people lived in peace, bathed in the warmth of Light." Little Kairi took her seat at her Granny's feet and smiled. How she loved to listen to her talk.

"Everyone loved the Light. So much so, that they began to fight over it. Some wanted to keep it, all for themselves, instead of sharing." Her Grandmother frowned, "Thus, Darkness was born. The Darkness spread, swallowing many people's Hearts. It covered everything and the world dissappeared, entirely." Sora watched as Kairi frowned.

Her Grandmother smirked, "But, small fragments of Light survived and do you know where?"

Kairi nodded along, "In the Hearts of children!"

Her Grandma smiled, "That's right, dear. With these fragments the children rebuilt the world. It's the world we live in now, my sweet." She turned to look out of the window, "But the true Light sleeps, deep within the Darkness. That's why the worlds are still scattered. They're divided from one another. But, someday, a door to that innermost Darkness will open. And the true Light will return. So, let that be our lesson my child. Even in the deepest Darkness, there will always be a Light, to guide you." She turned back to face little Kairi.

"Believe in the Light and the Darkness will never defeat you. Your Heart will shine bright and push away the Darkness. Do you understand, Kairi?"

She nodded, "I do, Grandma. I do." Sora smiled, but watched as suddenly a pair of guards, one with long black hair and another with short red hair entered the room. They whispered something to the elderly woman and within moments she and Kairi were ushered off, quickly.

Sora reached for them, 'Wait!' He cried without a voice. Sora's vision began to fade again.

---

"Sora! Sora!" The Keyblade Master could hear Goofy and Donald as he began to come to. What had happened to him? His eyes slowly fluttered open and there his companions were, knelt by his side as a crowd had gathered.

"Is he okay? What happened to him? Kids and their diets these days..." the comments as varied as the people that surrounded them.

"Hey, back off! Give him some space, will ya!?" Donald quacked, shooing a few lookie loos away. Goofy helped Sora into a seated position.

"You alright pal? What happened?"

Sora shook his head and grabbed at it with his right hand, "I'm not sure. I-I think I'm okay..." he groaned. Donald returned to the two.

"I just finished up having the supplies delivered to the Gummi ship when I saw you out cold. What's going on?" The pair helped him to his feet and back to his chair. Goofy handed him a glass of water, which Sora took and drank mightily.

"Did ya black out?" Goofy asked.

Sora's breath was still short, "Yes? No? Sort of..." he replied.

Donald sighed, "Don't scare us like that!"

Sora smirked, "It wasn't exactly my choice, Donald. I saw..." he paused, "I don't know what I saw. It was weird." Goofy took his seat, whilst Donald pulled up his own from a table nearby. "I was floating in a library and I saw like, a memory or something."

Goofy cocked his head to the side, "A memory?"

Sora nodded, "Yeah, I don't know. I saw Kairi and her Grandma in this library, only--"

Sora was cut off, "Dreamin' about her, huh?" Donald teased. Sora was serious this time, however.

"No, you don't get it. She was a little kid. She always said she didn't remember a thing about her folks, or where she came from or anything. So, how did I see what felt like a memory of something that neither she or I could possibly remember? She never talked about having a Grandma or parents or anything other than her adoptive Dad, the mayor."

Goofy scratched his head, "Hmm..." he puzzled aloud. "Well, maybe it's a memory that she has deep inside? One she can't remember, but her Heart can?"

Donald shook his head, "But how? This is Sora we're talking about. Not Kairi."

Goofy frowned, "Oh, right."

Sora leaned back in his chair, "I don't get it..." Goofy wasn't ready to give up, just yet.

"What if it's because you and Kairi are so close, or connected? Maybe your Hearts can share stuff?" Sora and Donald looked at the Knight as if he was crazy.

"But, Kairi's Heart is lost..." Sora said softly.

Donald thought for a moment, "Right, Sora. He might be on to something, though. Maybe her Heart is calling out to you, wherever it is."

Sora's eyes shot open and he looked up into his friend's eyes, "Yeah? You think that's possible?"

Goofy shrugged, "Pal, have you been payin' attention? Anything has gotta be possible at this point!" He laughed, that signature chuckle of his Donald nodding in agreement.

Sora smiled, "Right. You just gotta believe. Kairi..." he stood and looked up into the night sky, "Did you call me? I'm coming for you, Kairi. I swear." His hands tightened into determined fists. An audible sigh could be heard from behind the trio and lo and behold the waitress could be heard swooning at such a romantic thought.

Donald quacked, "Have you been standing there the whole time?"

With that she was snapped from her romantic day dreaming, "Hm? Oh, sorry. What can I get you?"

Donald furrowed his brow, "Nosey. Just bring me some water for starters." He picked up Sora's menu and began to thumb through it.

---

Sora laid his fork down after having barely picked at his meal. Goofy meanwhile was picking his teeth and Donald would be unfastening his top button if he had one. They were stuffed, yet Sora had no appetite.

Goofy noticed this too, "Gee pal, I thought you'd be starved."

Sora smiled playfully, if a bit wistfully, and looked up from his plate, "Famished? Nah, I'm not really hungry." Donald frowned. He hated seeing him like this. Fetching some munny from his pocket he left enough to cover the bill and a very small tip. She'd been eves dropping after all.

He stood, "Let's go check on Cid and see if he's done." Sora liked that idea and stood with enthusiasm. Goofy too stood, yet waited a moment. Ensuring Donald wasn't looking, he left a little extra munny behind for the waitress. The service had been good, afterall!

Climbing the stairs and moving through the crowds they made it back to the Gummi stall and there Cid was, hocking his wares again. Donald approached the stall, "Hey! What's the big idea? How long have you been done?"

Cid smiled and took a drag, "Eh, half hour or so."

Sora was uncharacteristically irritated, "Why didn't you come tell us?"

Cid blew a cloud of smoke into the air, "Well, you boys looked like you were enjoying your meal. I didn't wanna interrupt. Besides, you just got a choice Navi Gummi installed in your ship, for free. Don't be rushin' free help, junior."

Sora rolled his eyes and sighed, "So it's done? We can go?"

Cid sighed and doused his one cigarette, before lighting another, "Sure, you can go. But that place you're goin', it's crawlin' with Heartless, you know. Don't say I didn't warn ya." Sora summoned forth the Keyblade in a glorious display of light and boy did it look different.

Gone was the black wrought iron and in its place was a light colored wood. The chain now sported a charm at the end the resembled little Tinker Bell herself, and at the tip, several little flutes from a Pan flute gave it the signature look of the Keyblade. It was light and much shorter than previous iterations and even made Sora feel as if he could cast better spells. It had a leather handle, as well.

"We can handle a few Heartless gramps. Let's go." He said to Donald and Goofy.

Cid frowned, "I'm just lookin' out for ya. What's got your goat, kid? Acting like a punk again." Sora walked off, whilst Donald followed, already irritated as well. Goofy shrugged innocently and gave an apologetic look to the mechanic, before following behind the other two.

They left town and boarded the Gummi ship and for Sora, not one second too soon. He was ready to get to this Hollow Bastion and he was ready to face Riku. He knew he could talk some sense into him and he knew he could save Kairi, but he also knew that he couldn't do anything whilst sitting at a little bistro in Traverse Town. It was time to go and with a whir of the engines that was just what they planned to do.

The next stop, Hollow Bastion.

---

The Gummi ship flew for its destination and it was a quiet flight. Donald and Goofy had tried to get Sora to catch a little sleep, but he wouldn't have it. He wasn't tired he claimed, but the bags under his eyes said otherwise. His body was hungry, but his mind wasn't. It was thirsty and tired, but his mind wasn't. His mind was focused and determined and until he'd settled matters with Riku and saved Kairi he wasn't going to rest. He was so close. He couldn't possibly stop or slow down now.

Besides, how could he sleep or eat with his mind racing like this? What was this place like? Would Riku even be there? What was he going to say when he saw him? Where was Kairi? Was she safe? Was that Maleficent there? Sora needed these answers and very shortly he would have them.

"Okay, we're in orbit. You guys ready?" Donald asked.

Goofy smiled, "As I'll ever be, good buddy."

Sora nodded, "Let's do this."

With that, the Gummi ship began to enter the atmosphere and within seconds had broken through the cloud cover that perpetually covered this world. The sun still shone, here, unlike Halloween Town, but whenever it did it was always overcast. Which gave the world a grey, dreary, and even ghostly atmosphere. Hollow Bastion was broken and mostly uninhabited. A perfect place for a villain's hideout or lair.

Unfortunately the only suitable landing spot that was anywhere near the most intriguing part of this world, the giant and dilapidated castle, was in a canyon of sorts that had been carved into its sprawling ocean. The Gummi ship set down on one of the many shattered, large stones and from the loading ramp, the trio stepped out. Sora immediately smelt the salt water and goosebumps found their way all along his skin. This place was cold and the rushing water all around them was no source of warmth. Quite the opposite.

Several stones floated upward leading to a platform with an archway and even further than that, another that seemingly led to the huge castle in the distance.

Goofy pointed up at it, "Wow. Wouldja look at that..." Sora might have felt the chill in the air, but he certainly didn't inside. As horrible and desolate as this place seemed, Sora actually felt a sensation inside of him that was pleasant.

"I-I know this place..." he muttered.

Goofy cocked his head to the side, "Huh? That's strange. How?"

Sora shook his head, "I don't know, but, there's this warmth. Right here." He said softly, grasping at his chest.

Donald was his usual dismissive self, "Aw, you're just hungry."

Sora looked down at him, "Hey! I'm seriou--"

He was cut off as all heads snapped in the direction of an alarming sound. A loud, angry, and animalistic roar echoed throughout the canyon and seemed to come from just ahead, on the first platform. All summoned their weapons.

"Heartless?" Donald asked.

"I don't know. But I guess we're about to find out. Let's go." Sora replied. With that, they began the somewhat treacherous journey of hopping along the floating and non floating stones that led upward to the platform they'd heard the roar from. It became evident to Sora that some of these blocks were actually blocks of ice and could prove quite slippery. Sora nearly slipped off of one, but Goofy had the wherewithal to grab his wrist.

"Careful, buddy!" Goofy said with a smile, before Sora took a deep breath and replied, "Thanks. That was a close one."

The floating piece of rock just ahead of them was where Donald stood and once they hopped aboard alongside them, he held out a hand, stopping them in their tracks.

"Shh!" He hushed, before pointing just above and in front of the trio. There, they spotted him.

The creature from which the roar came. He was massive. Over twice the size of Sora and over twice as wide, the gang was able to view him in just the right way so that he couldn't see them, but they could see him. His face was scowling and he had two sets of sharp, large, white fangs. He had two, small, black horns atop his round head and hulking, muscular shoulders. A thick layer of brown, tattered, and blood soaked fur covered his entire body, and he wore a pair of torn, purple trousers and a ripped up, matching cape. His hands, or paws, looked as if they could crush Sora's head and had long, sharp, black claws. His feet sported these same claws and all in all, he was a terrifying, menacing, and angry looking monster.

Yet, Sora could see his eyes.

They weren't beady, dead, or yellow. He was no Heartless, that much was clear. Whether or not his Heart was filled with Light, or Darkness was still yet to be seen. He growled at something, or someone just out of the trio's sight, but Sora's blood ran cold when he heard a voice speak to the creature.

"No vessel, no help from the Heartless. So tell me, how'd you get here?" Sora would know his voice anywhere. It was Riku and he tried to move forward, only to be held back by Donald and Goofy.

Perplexed, he looked down at Donald, who seemed to say, 'Wait for the right moment!', without actually saying it. He struggled against them, before hearing the Beast ahead respond.

He growled, clutching at his huge chest, "I simply believed. There's nothing more to it. When our world fell, into Darkness, Belle was taken from me. I vowed I would find her again, no matter the cost. I believed, in the darkest moment that I would find her. Then, I ended up here. So, she must be here as well. I've endured. I know who took her and I know who destroyed my world. I know you work for the witch and I will have her BACK!" He hollered, causing everyone's ears to ring.

His voice was low and gravelly, but when he shouted it felt as if your chest would explode. He was quite the presence and yet, Riku seemed totally unfazed. Typical Riku, Sora thought.

Sora could even visualize the smug smirk on his face, "Take her, if you can." He'd replied boldly. The Beast growled again and bent his knees.

With that he leapt forward to the platform that Sora could only assume Riku stood atop. Donald and Goofy finally let Sora free and all three now leapt to the platform ahead for a better view. They watched as Riku easily flipped backward, avoiding the attack. The Beast wasn't finished however.

He lunged forward and swiped with his large claws, but Riku had moved first. With his lightning fast reflexes, he'd managed to cut a large gash in the side of the creature, causing him to holler in pain and grab at his newest wound. Riku twirled back around and held his sword above the hurt and heavy breathing monster.

He was ready to deliver the finishing blow but halted, when he heard Sora exclaim, "Stop!" Donald and Goofy by his side, Keyblade in hand, Sora stood, ready to fight and defend the hurt creature. Riku lowered his weapon and threw it to the ground with a clatter.

"So, you finally made it. Good. I've been waiting for you." Sora stood only a few feet from Riku, but mentally, it felt as if they stood on opposite ends of this world. Their eyes met and both frowned.

"What's happened to you? You've changed, Riku." Sora replied.

Riku waved a dismissive hand, "Maybe. Or, maybe I can just see things a little clearer now. Maybe you've always been ready and willing to cross me out for someone new."

Sora's free hand tightened into a fist of rage, "I'd never betray you. You know that. No, maybe you haven't changed. Maybe you've just become more of the man you really are." Riku smirked at that.

"Maybe. We've always been rivals, at our cores, haven't we? I mean, I've always pushed you as you've always pushed me."

Sora shook his head, "Rivals, sure, but friendly ones. I've always seen you as my best friend, Riku. Not my biggest competition."

Riku remained unmoved, "Well, either way, it all ends here, Sora. There can't be two Keyblade Masters." Sora's grip on the Fairy Key tightened.

"What are you talking about?" Riku smiled. The look on his face didn't even register to Sora. It was totally foreign. Maybe it was his lack of sleep, or extreme hunger, but Riku didn't even sound like himself, to Sora.

"Let the Keyblade choose..." Riku said sternly. "...it's true Master!" He shouted. The Keyblade vanished from Sora's hand and reappeared with the same look as when Sora had first acquired it.

In Riku's hand.

Sora was confused.

He looked down at his now empty hand and shook his head. His mouth felt like cotton, his knees felt weak and his head was swimming.

What just happened?

How the hell did Riku do that? There was an ache in Sora's chest now and he fell to his hands in knees in pain.

"Wak!?"

"Huh!?"

Donald and Goofy were just as shocked. They couldn't believe their eyes! What was going on!? Riku held the Keyblade in his hand and sighed with pleasure.

"My God. Maleficent really was right..." he mused aloud as he looked his weapon over now. "You don't have what it takes to save Kairi. You don't have what it takes to wield the Keyblade. You don't even have what it takes to actually be here now. You've been carried the whole time, by someone or other. Only the true Keyblade Master can open the door, and change the universe." He said as if in awe of his own power.

"B-But..." Sora's tongue felt like paste, "This is impossible. H-How..." his head shot upward, "I'm the one who fought here with the Keyblade! I'm it's true Master!" He hollered, coming to one knee now, trying to stand with Goofy and Donald's help.

"No." Riku said with a humorless and humiliating chuckle. "You were just the delivery boy. Your part is over now." Riku produced from his back pocket something Sora recognized instantly. How had he held onto it during the island's destruction? A wooden sword clattered in front of Sora and with that he went back to all fours.

"Go play hero with this and leave me alone. Leave us alone." Riku said coldly, before turning and ascending some steps that lead higher. Sora's world was falling apart right before his eyes, all over again. A single tear escaped his eye, before another did. His hands gripped into fists on the cold, damp concrete and he tried to scream in frustration, but all that came out was a whimper.

The tears began to flow freely from his eyes, blurring his vision and wetting his cheeks. They weren't tears of sadness, but of frustration and despondency. He felt broken and as if this was it. He'd lost and he couldn't figure out how to get up and fight back.

Not alone, anyway. Thankfully--

"Goofy. Let's go." Donald quacked. Sora's eyes shot open from their tightened position and he turned his head to see the duck was no longer by his side, but in front of him.

"What?" Goofy asked in genuine shock and confusion.

"We have a mission, Goofy. The King told us to find the Key bearer, but he also told us to stick with him." Donald pitter pattered forward, eyes still fixed ahead. Unbeknownst to Sora, or Goofy a tear had escaped his eye.

"But, Dona--"

"Goofy, pick your side right now, because this..." Donald coldly gestured to all three of them, "...is over."

Goofy was torn and it wasn't a clean tear. It was painful. He was loyal to the King and always would be and he always listened to Donald, but leaving Sora when he needed them most just felt wrong.

Rotten. Bad.

"I..." Goofy mumbled softly, before taking a step forward.

Then another.

And another.

With one final look back, Goofy turned and left Sora. In a moment he'd be ashamed of for the rest of his life, Goofy was afraid.

Afraid to stand up for what he felt was right. Afraid of being called a traitor. Afraid of standing up to Donald, and afraid to fight for what he believed in.

He walked past Donald without a word and he wasn't only ashamed of himself. He was ashamed of the Mage as well.

How could they be doing this? Leaving Sora, right now, of all times? In the name of loyalty? To the King? Was this really what he'd want?

Donald too felt conflicted. This felt wrong, though he was harder to read. It felt wrong, sure, but doing the right thing didn't always feel right.

Right?

Being loyal was just that, wasn't it? Staying loyal, even when you were doing the wrong thing? The pair's mind raced as they left their friend behind, in the name of fulfilling their mission. Donald, unlike Goofy, had the courage to turn and face Sora. He'd fallen flat, and curled up into the fetal position. He was sobbing, uncontrollably, and Donald struggled to fight back tears of his own. How horrible he felt, for this.

"Sora..." he quacked softly. The former Keyblade Master didn't acknowledge him.

"I'm sorry..." Donald apologized, softly, before following behind Goofy as the King's pair tried to catch up to Riku.

---

Sora felt as if he was being carried. Wait, was he being carried? His eyes slowly crept open and he groaned as he came to. He must've blacked out, but what was happening now? Where was he? What was going on? His vision was still blurry, but the world looked almost inverted. And why was his face fuzzy?

"Huh?" He mumbled, before trying to lift his head. He was being carried! By the monster!

"Whoa!" He hollered. Apparently, that was enough to cause the Beast to stop. He had Sora slung over his shoulder and apparently was carrying him to the castle gates, via a path he'd found.

"Hmm?" He grunted, before setting Sora down on his feet.

Still a bit woozy, he had to hold onto the monster's arm to steady himself, "Wh-What's going on?" He asked, softly.

"You okay?" The monster asked in a deep and bellowing voice.

"I think so..." Sora replied.

The Beast spoke again, "You passed out after everything settled down. What are you doing here?" He asked. Sora took note of his surroundings.

They were much closer to the castle now, and following a rocky path that this Beast had found, apparently. He must've been out for a while.

"I'm looking for someone. Did you..." Sora trailed off, somewhat nervously. It wasn't that he didn't trust this monster, but he was an intimidating being.

The Beast looked up at the castle, "Yes. I listened to your talk with the other young man. He's lost his way and you haven't. You needed help when your 'friends' left you. I..." it was his turn now to be lost for words. Sora reckoned that even he wasn't sure why he'd helped him, but he had done just that.

"Thank you." Sora said quietly. The Beast nodded.

"Can you walk? I think we're close to finding a way in." Sora was beginning to feel a little stronger.

"Yeah. Let's go." The odd pair began to walk further along the path. "You got hurt pretty bad. Riku, he..." Sora paused, "I'm sorry about what he did. Are you okay?" The Beast's foot steps seemed to make everything around rumble and shake, he was that large and imposing.

"I'll live. I came for Belle, and I'll either find and save her, or die trying." Sora was impressed and motivated by his will and strength.

"You lost your world, too?"

The Beast nodded, "An awful storm, late one night. I saw them taking Belle, these monsters. I followed and after everything went dark, I awoke here. I was tired, beaten, bloody, and broken, but I was alive." Sora patted the Beast's shoulder, reaching high up to do so.

"You're tough. We'll make it. Together." They'd made it, finally to the foot of the castle. A large marble wall separated them from the front entrance and some kind of defunct lift seemed to be the only way up. "Looks like we need to get that thing operating." Sora commented.

"Let's check over here." The pair looped around and found to the left of the wall, a mess of gears, wires, and pipes. This place was run down, but hopefully still capable of working, at least somewhat. "Who are you here for?" The Beast asked.

"Her name's Kairi." Sora replied.

The Beast grunted, "Did you lose her when you lost your world as well?"

Sora frowned, "Yeah. I didn't wake up here though. I've been looking for her for a while now and I've been close. But this is it. I know she's in this place somewhere and I have to save her." It was the Beast's turn to be impressed. This young man was as determined to save this girl, as he was to save Belle.

Sora crawled under a large metal pipe and slipped inside of what he could only assume was the basement of this place. The Beast couldn't fit in there and that might've been a good thing as suddenly a few Heartless materialized just outside surrounding him. He growled, lowering to all fours and Sora could only hear what was going on.

"Hey! Everything okay?"

The Beast lashed out at one of the monsters and responded, "Fine! Just get that lift working! I'll handle these..."

Sora nodded, "Good luck!" With that Sora slipped down a hallway and began his search.

---

Donald and Goofy followed behind Riku as they neared the front doors. "So, what door is it you plan on openi--"

Donald was cut off, "Shut up. You're lucky I'm letting you two live, let alone follow behind me like a pair of sick, lost, little puppy dogs. Maleficent will decide what to do with you." He sneered. Donald was shocked, yet, Goofy still seemed lost in thought, as if he hadn't even heard anything that was said.

He walked along, following Riku and Donald, but his mind was still back with Sora, already apologizing to him for this. He couldn't stop thinking about what he'd done. The guilt was enough to consume Goofy, and only one thought continued to dominate.

'If I get the chance, Sora, I'll make this right. I promise, buddy. I'm so sorry...'

Donald noticed his distant expression. "Goofy. Be ready in case this kid tries something, or the witch. We might have to fight our way out of here." He whispered. Goofy didn't even acknowledge the duck.

"Goofy? Goofy?" Donald quacked louder. He hated being ignored, but for once, he actually felt it was deserved. Donald's mind too raced, especially after Riku spoke.

He'd turned his back on their friend and convinced poor, sweet, innocent Goofy to do the same, and now he'd potentially lead them to their death by doing so? How terrifically he'd made a mess of things. If only the King were here. He'd know what to do. He'd fix everything.

Speaking of his Majesty, where was he? The pair needed him now, more than ever.

---

Sora threw the large lever with a grunt and wiped some sweat from his brow. The gears began to turn, the lights flickered on, and the machines began to whir. He wasn't sure what exactly, but he'd certainly turned something on, after navigating the tangled nest of wires and pipes. He'd broken the wooden sword Riku had thrown at him earlier and used the pieces to mark which way he'd turned at which hallways so that now, when he was leaving, he'd be able to find his way back to where he'd crawled in.

"Okay..." he sighed, "Let's see what happened. Hopefully something." He groaned, before following his little wooden trail. Backtracking was easy and, through some broken tiled floors and even a few spots where the basement had taken on water, he was back to the large metal pipe.

He crawled back out and found the Beast, breathing heavy and having recently demolished the last of the Heartless. The monsters were strong here, but this Beast was nothing to underestimate. He was strong, that was for sure.

"You okay?" Sora asked, running to his side and placing a hand on his large arm.

"Sure. What did you do? The whole place started humming..." he groaned as he straightened back up to his hind legs.

"I'm not sure. I hope I got that lift working..."

The Beast nodded, "Let's see." They made it back to the large marble wall and lo and behold, the platform was gone. It was rising higher and higher and within a few minutes would, hopefully, be descending back down so that they could board.

"Alright!" Sora pumped his fist.

The Beast nodded again, "Good. Once we're up there, I don't think the front gates will be far off."

Sora agreed, "Yeah, should be close from there. Sorry, by the way."

The Beast turned, "For what?"

Sora rubbed the back of his neck, "I'm not one to run from a fight, but, without the Keyblade..."

The Beast looked back up, "It's okay. You don't need your weapon, though."

Sora cocked his head to the side, "What?"

"You don't need it. Your Heart is what's gotten you this far. That 'Keyblade' has just been a manifestation of your Heart's strength."

Sora was confused, "I don't get you."

The Beast's gaze was still fixed above them, "We've only known each other a short while, but I can tell. You have incredible will and a strong Heart. You're like me, only you're good."

Sora patted his shoulder, "Thanks, but, you're good, too."

The Beast shook his head, "You don't know me. I'm far from good. I'm a vessel of bitter anger and regret. I'm selfish and short tempered. I'm a monster, but, like you I have a strong Heart and en extraordinary will." Sora felt saddened by this Beast's self assessment. How poorly he thought of himself. What was his story, before all this?

"You're right, I don't know you. So, maybe you are those things. But, you're also the only person here who saved me. You carried me when I was nothing but dead weight and you helped me get back on my feet. You're my friend, when I need one most." The Beast looked down into Sora's eyes and Sora didn't feel afraid, or intimidated.

"Friend?" He asked. Sora nodded.

"Yeah. I'm Sora." The Beast grunted his approval.

"I haven't had a name for a long time, but I'll fight for you Sora, and together, we'll save them." The platform finally reached the ground level again, and the pair boarded. Within a moment, the large, circular piece began to move upward, seemingly straining under the weight of the Beast.

"Well, here we go..." Sora said through a nervous sigh. The lift brought them to a platform that was high in the sky. It was a grey marble with a large guardrail that ran the length until stopping abruptly at a tall, stone archway. They stepped off and began to head for the small, wide flight of stairs that lead to the base of the archway. A pair of black, wrought iron gates had been pushed open, and there was a corner to take after them.

Sora felt uneasy and anxious without his Keyblade, but as the Beast had told him, he was strong without it. Sora just needed to believe that. The pair walked up the steps and through the gate, before taking the corner to the right. Another platform, this one L shaped, had its own set of guardrails, but most pressingly, a large pair of doors.

Ornately carved iron and woodwork, they were enormous. Sora could only guess, but he figured they had to be the front door. That's where Riku had gone and that's where he'd chase him to. He wasn't about to give up. Not now. Despite everything, Sora was still driven. He was motivated to save her. His stint as the Keyblade Master may've been over, but that didn't change how he felt about her.

He'd find her here, save her, and then figure out the rest later. Typical Sora. Yet, he was also driven by a desire to see the Beast he'd befriended find this Belle he spoke of.

Finding Kairi was important, but he wouldn't abandon his new friend if he did. She wouldn't want that, anyway. Maybe, they'd actually get to work together to help this Beast be reunited with his Belle. What a wonderful thought to Sora. Working together with her, to help another. And as for Riku, well...

Sora still held out hope that he'd be able to get through to Riku. Past all the Darkness and hate and rage and apparent jealousy. He'd finally be able to convince him to knock all this off. So what if they didn't have any islands to go back to? They'd go somewhere else!

Everyone could all live in Traverse Town! It didn't matter what they had to do, or where they had to go, they could figure it out. Sora knew they could. They'd always done it before.

As for Donald and Goofy, Sora struggled with the thought of facing them most, perhaps. He'd be lying if he tried to say he wasn't hurt. They left him in his darkest hour. However, they had a mission. From their King, whom they'd known much longer and always been loyal to. They owed him much more than they did Sora.

Even though Sora was the one they'd been traveling with all this time. Not this King.

So Sora was conflicted, really. He wanted to be angry with them, but ultimately felt it wasn't his place to judge them for their actions. They made it clear from the beginning. Their goal was to unite his Keyblade and their King. They were the Royal Magician, and the Captain of the Guard. They were also his friends though.

Or so he thought. Maybe that was more his indiscretion than theirs. They knew where their loyalties lied. Sora wished he could say the same about Riku. Still, it was all about to come to a head.

Right now.

Sora had butterflies in his stomach as the Beast pushed open the right door. A loud creak echoed throughout as he pushed harder.

"C'mon." He grunted, allowing Sora to slip in ahead of him.

---

Much deeper inside, at Hollow Bastion's broken Heart, Maleficent crept. She walked down a sunken hallway, with red carpet, and golden statues on either side. The walls were adorned with six crystal coffins, three on either side. Unfortunately, they were full.

Belle.

Alice.

Aurora.

Jasmine.

Snow White.

Cinderella.

All their worlds had fallen and all because of the power they held. Six of the Seven Princesses of Heart, who once brought together, legend held that their Hearts would unlock the ancient and mysterious Door. What power it must've held behind it. What strength. What secrets.

The evil, horned witch walked along the carpet, up a small flight of stairs and turned, after approaching a wall. A fork in the room, as to her left and her right stairs extended upward. They looped around to the same platform, however, and it was there that a heart shaped apparatus on the wall seemed to glow from within.

High above the elevated rise in the room the final crystal casket was embedded in the wall. Inside was the seventh Princess of Heart. The princess that Maleficent had sought for years. An island girl.

Kairi.

"O, purest of Hearts. Reveal to me, the Keyhole!" Maleficent hollered, raising her hands high above her. Her black cloak rose with her arms, almost giving her a bat like appearance.

Or dragon like.

From each of the crystal coffins shot forth a terrific beam of sparkling white light. The Light shot inside of the giant heart shape carved into the metal and pipes on the far wall and the glow from within began to get stronger and brighter. How close Maleficent was.

Now where was that boy? Where was the Key?

---

Sora looked around and was surprised. From the outside this castle looked as if it was ready to fall down, but apparently, extensive work had been done inside to make repairs. The tile floor was completely intact and Sora and the Beast had walked in and past four large, stone pillars that had beautiful gold trim. Ahead of them directly a pair of stairs wrapped around a flowing fountain that was shaped like the head of a lion. At the top of those stairs, more matching pillars stood that all supported a balcony above them. Where, a beautiful and ornate chandelier hung.

The place was ostentatious, but somehow not gaudy. It seemed from a time, long gone and forgotten. A time when craftsmanship and hard work meant more than fast, easy, and cheap results. Sora would've been impressed had it not been for the current circumstances. The Beast however, wasn't so keen on it.

His gaze fixed ahead, he growled, "They're close. The creatures. I can smell them. Are you ready?"

Sora nodded, "Let's go. I'll bet there's a way further in, up those stairs." He and the Beast began to move forward together, but the massive being himself stopped dead in his tracks. He could've swore he heard a voice. A whimper, or a calling. It was Belle's voice and he was sure of it.

"Belle?" He asked, turning to see the door still fixed ajar. In the doorway, there she stood. Still dressed the same as that horrible night and as beautiful as ever.

"Belle..." he said softly and stepped toward her.

But it wasn't her.

He watched as the darkness enveloped her and in her place, a small, twitching, dead and yellow eyed Heartless crept forward. It was only an apparition. A mind game, just to toy with him. It was meant to get him away from Sora by using his temper and quick to rage fierceness and it had worked. With a low growl that turned into a full fledged roar, he shot forth ready to obliterate the little Heartless and as he did, the large doors slammed shut loudly behind him.

A large, booming lock could be heard overhead, and Sora watched as a beam of light shot into the door as it did. The Beast's anger had overwhelmed him and Sora was left all alone when it did. He turned quickly and there, just above the fountain, at the head of the pair of stairs, Riku stood. With Donald and Goofy behind him.

They'd been waiting for him, or the Beast, Sora reckoned and he didn't like the look on Riku's face. He was scared, in this moment, but he was determined. And he was strong. He just needed to believe.

Riku looked down upon Sora, and the trio were a bit too far away for Sora to get a good read on any of their faces.

"I told you to leave, Sora. I've given you multiple chances to live." Sora watched in horror as he leapt down from his elevated position, to the middle of the room, just under the chandelier. He summoned forth the Keyblade and as he did, Darkness enveloped him.

After it had cleared, Riku had transformed. He was now wearing a body suit of sorts that made it appear as if his muscles were his skin. It was black, with the Heartless emblem emblazoned on his chest and around his waist was wrapped a grass skirt of sorts. He was unrecognizable to Sora, apart from his eyes and signature silver hair and he was menacing.

Donald pitter pattered down one flight of stairs, whilst Goofy ran down the other, "Sora?" They both exclaimed in shock.

"Sora, what're you doing? Get outta here! He'll kill you!" Donald quacked.

"Shut up!" Riku demanded. "Enough! I better not hear another word from you two..." Riku growled. Sora's eyes met Donald's and he saw something in them. He was still hurt by Donald's willingness to leave him earlier, but he saw fear in the duck's eyes. He knew why, too.

As loyal as Donald had to remain to his cause and his King, he still cared for Sora. He still didn't want to see Sora hurt. Goofy's eyes meanwhile read something different. He was relieved Sora wasn't hurt, but there also seemed to be a determination behind them. Almost as if Sora was the single person Goofy wanted to see most right now.

"I can't, Donald." Sora replied. "I came here to save her and I don't give up so easily. Besides, Riku and I need to have a little chat." Riku frowned.

"No, we don't Sora. I'm telling you, right now. This is it. For old times sake, I'm giving you one last chance, Sora. Leave, right now. Go try and live a peaceful life for as long as you can. Go. Away." Riku growled. Sora shook his head.

He was nervous and downright afraid, but there was no fear in his voice, "No. I'm not leaving without her. I want all of us to go. You, me, her, Donald, Goofy, everyone here. I still think of you, all three of you, as my friends, but the choice is yours. Kairi never had one when she was brought here. Neither did someone named Belle. That Beast out there? He's here to save her. So that's it, Riku. I want everyone to leave, but I'm not leaving unless Kairi and Belle can leave with me." Riku's grip on the Keyblade was so tight he might've feared he'd break it, if his mind wasn't so clouded by anger and jealousy.

"Belle? What, you seriously think it's just her and Belle? Your little friend Jasmine is here too. And Alice, the girl from before? She's here too. You have no idea what's going on, Sora! Everything here is so far above your head!" He hollered in response. Sora was shocked at this revelation, but he wasn't about to let Riku revel in that.

"Then I want them safe too. Like I said, Riku, you're here by choice. Donald and Goofy are here by choice. I'm here, by choice. They're not."

Riku stepped forward, "The Darkness will destroy you. I'll destroy you, Sora."

He warned. Sora shook his head, "You're wrong, Riku. The Darkness may destroy my body, but it can't touch my Heart." It was Sora's turn to step forward, "My Heart is with my friends! It'll never die!" He exclaimed in response. Riku had heard just about enough.

"Really..." he growled. "Is that what you want then? You want me to kill you? Fine. Let's see just how strong your Heart really is!" He shouted, before lunging forward and extending his arm.

A dark fire shot forth from his opened palm. It was fired directly at Sora's chest and it was hurling toward him fast. Yet, time seemed to slow for Sora. He felt the strangest sensation. He felt almost at ease, or peaceful. He didn't want to die, but equally, he wasn't afraid of it. He knew, deep down, that he'd be okay, somehow, even if it all seemed like the end, right here, right now. He closed his eyes.

He thought of her.

Her smiling face, and with that a warmth came over him. Maybe, in this final moment, he'd be able to see her again. He also felt a sudden swoosh of air, directly in front of him.

Then, he heard a terrific explosion and when he opened his eyes, he watched as the dark orb of fire was redirected upward, toward the ceiling. With the explosion, it tore a hole in the ceiling, allowing what little sunlight it could in. Once the dust had settled, Sora's gaze was now fixed ahead of him.

Goofy stood, shield in hand.

He'd protected him.

He'd deflected that attack! Sora gasped.

Goofy looked directly into Riku's eyes, "Sora ain't gonna go anywhere." He said firmly. Riku stepped back and scoffed. He couldn't believe his own eyes.

Was Sora really that charismatic? Was he really worth throwing one's life away for?

Riku didn't care about the Knight, or that ridiculous Mage, but his willingness to defend Sora, even when he wasn't the Keyblade Master angered Riku.

"So..." he began, "You'd betray your King. For him!? A fool, who can't accept when he's beat!?" Riku hollered.

Goofy stood firm, shield still raised, "Not on your life." He replied. "But, I'm not gonna betray Sora either, because he's become one of my best buddies after all we've been through, together. He's taught me so much stuff. Like how to be strong and when to stand up for what ya think is right, even when everyone else says it's wrong! If His Majesty can't understand why I'd stand up and fight for Sora, then maybe it's time I stepped down from the Royal Court." Goofy shouted.

He went on, "See ya later, Donald! Could ya tell the King I'm real sorry? Oh, and, uh, to hand in my resignation, I suppose!" Goofy asked of his old friend. Donald appeared ready to respond, before he stopped himself short.

"Goofy, I..." he said softly.

Riku turned and smirked, "Okay then. So, what? It's two on two and you can't fight without a weapon, Sora. Mage." Riku commanded, "End them. In the name of your King. Destroy the traitor and the fool!" Donald summoned his staff. He'd heard just about enough.

"Whatever you say, Key Bearer." He quacked, before angling his staff high and casting a massive fire spell toward the ceiling. He'd cast it where the chandelier was fastened to the ceiling and when it collided with the joint a loud bang echoed throughout the chamber. The chandelier came careening down and Riku just barely had time to leap out of the way, narrowly avoiding being crushed by the light fixture.

He wasn't sure if it was the right thing or not, but it sure as hell felt good. He already didn't take orders from Sora, so there was no way he was gonna take orders from dark and cranky here!

Riku's eyes widened and his fists clenched as he watched Donald run to Sora's side, "We can tell him together, Goofy." He quacked.

His eyes met Sora's and they exchanged a smile.

Donald quacked softly, "Well, you know..."

Sora smirked and raised an eyebrow in response, "All for one?"

Donald nodded, "And one for all. You saved my life, Sora. I'm sorry that I ever, well..."

Sora placed a hand on his shoulder, "It's okay, Donald. You came through when it counted."

Goofy smiled, "I guess you're stuck with us, Sora."

"I've heard just about enough!" Riku shouted. "I will not be ignored!" He angled the Keyblade at the trio, "If you want to fight, Sora, fine! How will you face me, then? With what weapon?" He mocked.

Donald turned, "He doesn't need one! He has us!" Riku smiled, an evil smile.

"Good. I've been waiting for an excuse to kill you two. It was you that turned him against me in the first place!"

Sora stepped in front of Donald and Goofy, "Riku you're the one who turned against me! All I've done is try and convince you to help me! But you'd rather fight for Maleficent than help me!"

Riku stomped his foot in rage, "No! No, no, no! I'm not helping Maleficent! I'm doing this for her! I'll do anything to save Kairi! Anything!" He shouted.

Sora shook his head, "I'll fight you, Riku. I'll fight you the whole way, and not because I want Kairi all to myself, or whatever you've been tricked into or convinced yourself into believing. I'll fight to try and get the real you back and I'll fight to keep Kairi safe from whatever Maleficent has planned. And I know now. I don't need the Keyblade to fight. I've got a better weapon. My Heart."

Riku stepped backward and feigned laughter, "Ha! Your Heart? What good will that weak little thing do you?" He asked.

Sora grasped at his chest, "My Heart may be weak. But it's not alone." Donald and Goofy flanked Sora, weapons drawn. "It's grown, with each new experience and it's found a home with every new friend I've made. I've become a part of their Heart, just as they've become a part of mine. And if they think of me, now and then. If they remember me, then our Hearts will be one. I don't need a weapon, Riku! My friends are my power!" Sora hollered in response.

Riku was fed up.

His hand tightened around the Keyblade's handle once again as he bent his knees and readied to attack. He'd use his overwhelming strength and speed to cut them down with ease. Only, his hand tightened into a fist rather than on the leather handle.

He looked, in confusion, at his right hand and noticed that it wasn't there. The Keyblade was gone.

Riku's head snapped in the direction of Sora. Of course.

Of course, the Keyblade was back in its Neverland design and firmly in his grip now.

Of course it was!

Everything always went to Sora!

Even when it was Riku's rightfully, it would eventually want Sora!

Where he once held the Keyblade, Riku felt the much more familiar grip of his previous blade. He shouted, something intelligible, before charging Sora, Donald and Goofy in a rage.

He swung hard and as Sora raised the Keyblade to block the sloppy attack, he recognized Riku's improved strength immediately. The resulting clang made his arms feel as if they were going to break and it sent him to one knee. Thankfully, his friends had his back.

Like usual, this time.

Goofy moved in to attack, but Riku was fast. With a swift kick to the side, he managed to knock Goofy from his feet and swung again down, hard at Sora. Donald readied a blizzard spell, but as he fired it, Riku countered it with a dark fire spell of his own from his free hand.

Donald barely had time to dodge the much stronger spell cast back at him and Riku was ready to swing down again, but Sora had been sparring with him for years.

He'd grown used to Riku's typical tactic of trying to overpower and overwhelm his opponents.

He rolled away from this third downward swing and subsequently tried to take Riku's leg out from under him with a swing of his own. Riku, however, had also been sparring Sora for years.

He raised his leg in anticipation of the familiar counter attack, and slashed vertically down at Sora, who was coming to one knee to block after having missed. Another heavy block had Sora reeling, but Goofy was back on his feet and charging in to try and throw Riku off.

Riku slashed at him, but grunted in frustration as his blow was repelled by a terrific force of wind that had encased the Knight.

Donald cast another upon himself and Sora and then tried to fry Riku with a thunder spell. Riku was lightning fast, however.

He spun off the deflected attack from Goofy's aero spell, dodged the bolt of electricity and managed to land, behind Sora. He raised his sword high and tried to slice horizontally at Sora's neck, but Sora easily rolled forward, turned and, finally on his feet, cast a fire spell of his own. Riku side stepped the small orb of fire and sliced hard at an attacking Goofy, pushing him backwards, again.

Regrouping, Sora, Donald and Goofy stood ready to fight, whilst Riku now stood closer to the front door. They'd swapped positions. Riku sent another dark fire spell at the trio from his palm, and leapt into the air afterward. Goofy stepped in front of Sora, deflecting the fire again, but was the brunt of a hard double legged kick from Riku, who was just coming down from his jump.

The force was so strong it sent poor Goofy flying back into Sora and the both of them splashing into the running fountain.

"Fire!" Donald quacked, as a large flame short forth, but Riku managed to slice through it with his weapon. He closed the distance between he and Donald and grabbed at the duck's neck. With that, he spun one hundred and eighty degrees around and threw the poor Magician so hard and so fast into the East wall that the foundation cracked as he smacked into it.

Donald wheezed softly as he slid to the ground and passed out from the contact. Sora meanwhile had extracted himself and a dazed Goofy from the fountain. Ensuring Goofy wasn't going to drown, he summoned the Keyblade again and held it with both hands across from Riku.

He smiled, and offered his hand, whilst raising his own weapon above his head, "It's just you and me now, Sora." Riku noted.

Sora frowned, "C'mon, Riku. Give up already, man. Stop fighting me! We can stop Maleficent together!" Riku shouted and ran forward with a hard, diagonal slash. Sora parried the big blow and swung horizontally, but Riku was fast.

He easily blocked Sora's attack, and swung again. Sora raised his Keyblade high, but Riku's attack was just too strong. He jostled the Keyblade from Sora's hands. The Keyblade Master landed on his behind, and braced himself with his hands as he did. Riku stood above him, and angled his weapon down at Sora with an awful smirk.

"Well, well." Riku growled. Sora frowned as his eyes glanced over at the Keyblade, halfway across the room.

"I thought it would be harder, at least. But, you couldn't even put up a good fight, could you?" Riku asked, bringing his blade's tip closer and closer to Sora's throat.

"Riku! Think about this! It's me, man! It's Sora!"

"I know who you are! You're the same Sora who takes everything from me! The same Sora who crossed me out, after we lost the islands! I'll have her all to myself, now! Farewell, Sora!" Riku readied to slice Sora down, but as he moved to do so, a flurry of things happened.

Riku's wrist felt as if it snapped, and his shoulder had an icy pain run through it. Goofy had managed to get to his shield and with his excellent aim threw it directly at Riku's wrist.

The same wrist that held his weapon.

It snapped, hard and Riku couldn't hold onto anything anymore with that hand. Meanwhile, Donald had come to, somewhat and cast a weak ice spell, producing only one icicle. Yet, it was well placed.

It pierced his shoulder, causing him to holler in pain from the double attack. Perhaps most critically though, Sora had summoned the Keyblade back to him. Without knowing what Donald and Goofy had done, he swung horizontally again, from his seated position, in an attempt to parry Riku's blow.

Only, Riku's blow never came.

So, Sora had sliced through something, indeed.

The Keyblade had a streak of dark red along it. Sora had cut a deep gash into Riku's midsection. Sora realized what had happened, as he heard Riku's sword clatter to the ground with a clang.

"R-Riku...?" He asked through a shocked, shaky breath.

"W-What?" Riku muttered. In one crucial moment, Riku had suffered three critical injuries. He gasped in pain, as his one good hand grabbed at his abdominal wound.

It was deep.

The shoulder puncture hurt, but wasn't all that bad, but the other was from his lower right stomach, to his left side, near his ribcage. Blood began to seep through and fast. He gasped in pain, short and sharp as he stumbled backward slightly.

"No, Riku. No, no, no, no, no!" Sora hollered, dropping the Keyblade and running to help steady him. "I'm sorry, man, I'm so, so, so sorry! You-You were swinging and I--"

"St-Stay away from m-me..." Riku said through a ragged gasp as he continued to back up. He was on the verge of passing out, but unwisely summoned a dark portal to slip into it. He lazily fell into it, and Sora grasped at him as he did. He wasn't close enough to grab his hand and like a puff of smoke, he was gone.

"No!" Sora hollered, grabbing at his own head, gripping his hair, tightly. "I killed him!" He shouted. "I killed him, I killed him, I killed him! What is wrong with me!?" Donald had finally managed to get to his feet and cast a cure spell upon himself and Goofy. Sora had dropped to his knees in a panic and Goofy ran to his side, placing his hands on his shoulders.

"It's alright, pal. C'mon. Calm down..." he shushed.

Donald nodded, "Sora you didn't have a choice. Any of us. He was going to kill us if we didn't fight back. Besides, he's strong, Sora. The Darkness won't let him go down like that..."

Sora looked up, "I, I just..." he sighed, "Everything keeps getting worse."

Donald shook his head, "I know. I'm sorry, Sora. For what it's worth, which I know isn't much right now, we're here. We've got your back. For good, this time." Sora nodded and wiped away a stray tear.

"I know. Thanks guys. Like you said, maybe he's okay..."

Goofy patted his back, "Sure, Sora. But, uh, we still need to keep movin'. I think Riku was takin' us to where Maleficent and Kairi are." Sora's head snapped up and he instantly found his way to his feet.

"Right. Let's go." With that, he raised the Keyblade to the door he entered and a beam of light shot forth, unlocking it. He pushed it open, much to Donald and Goofy's confusement and began to look around, outside.

"Uh, Sora?" Donald quacked, "That just leads back outside, pal."

Sora nodded, "I know. But, the Beast. Where is he?" He asked. Goofy and Donald shared a look.

"Ya mean that big scary monster?" Goofy asked.

Sora turned, "Yeah. He's my friend. And he's not a monster..."

---

Riku stumbled through the dark chapel that was near the top of Hollow Bastion. The very same meeting ground for the now defunct league of villains.

Jafar, a prisoner of his own plan.

Ursula, defeated in what she thought was her moment of triumph.

Oogie Boogie, transformed into a hideous abomination.

Captain Hook, lost at sea, along with his precious ship all because of his lust for revenge.

Only Hades, who was busy wreaking havoc on his own world, and Maleficent remained, and they certainly weren't cooperative any longer.

The horned witch stood in a room not far from where he was, only, Riku had never seen it. A secret chamber, through a tunnel in the fake wall. He still was unaware of it and his mind began to race as he stumbled toward the podium. This was the last place he'd seen Maleficent, or Kairi. Yet, they were no longer here.

What was going on? Where had she taken her?

Blood soaked his new garments as it flowed freely from both wounds. His abdominal wound was much more pressing, yet everything hurt equally. He felt as if the ice still remained lodged in his shoulder and his wrist bore an unimaginably painful ache. His severed skin was burning, a white hot burn and his vision was becoming blurry. He tasted a metallic flavor in his mouth and he felt shorter and shorter of breath with every step and movement.

He might not have believed it, but he was running out of time. If he didn't get help soon, he wasn't going to make it.

"Wh-Why? It was mine, damnit. It was mine!" He mumbled as harshly and loudly as his lungs could manage. "He-He has to have everything..." he said through a sharp, painful gasp. "The Keyblade he says he doesn't need. The girl he doesn't even know he loves. The parent he doesn't even want..."

"Know this..." Riku suddenly turned. He heard a silky smooth, if ominous and threatening voice behind him. There, just inside the doorway stood a man. At least, Riku thought it was a man.

He was wearing a brown shroud or cloak and had leather straps across his chest. No hands, feet, or even face under the hood was visible and he seemed to float forward, rather than walk.

"The Heart that is strong and true shall wield the Keyblade."

Maybe it was the delirious state he was in, or maybe Riku was just going crazy, but he raised an eyebrow and asked, "What? You're saying my Heart is weaker than his? That's not possible. It's not--"

"For that instant, yes. It was." The man, or was it an entity, stated. A horrible green glow began to enshroud the hooded, faceless figure as it moved closer and closer to Riku.

"However, " it began in a deep, commanding voice, "you can become even stronger." Riku liked the sound of that. "You showed no fear in stepping through the Door to Darkness. It held no terror, for you." The figure seemed to enjoy that, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Plunge yourself deeper into the Darkness, and your Heart will become even stronger." He beckoned. Riku took a gentle step forward.

"What should I do?" He asked.

"It's really quite simple. Open yourself to the Darkness..." the voice ordered. "That is all. Let your Heart, your very being, become Darkness itself." Riku watched as the hooded man inched closer and he began to feel that familiar sensation of strengthening. His wounds seemed to seal and his wrist began to reform. He was feeling that addictive power again. He wanted even more and now, he was having it. The figure came even closer and then, in a moment that would define Riku for the rest of his life, it slipped through, or into him.

Or enveloped him.

Or became him.

Or he, became it.

He became Him.

Riku's eyes shut close as he felt the power wash over him, until his chest began to feel tight.

Then tighter.

He felt as he was being suffocated, or drowned. His eyes shot open and he saw nothing.

Only black.

The wounds in his stomach and shoulder had been sealed shut and his wrist no longer ached, but he now felt a sense of weightlessness. He was floating in some kind of black abyss.

'Wh-What's going on? Huh?'

He spoke, but no voice came out. He grasped at his throat.

What the hell was happening? Suddenly he felt, more than heard, the same voice from the chapel.

"Calm yourself, boy. I'll be handling things from now on. You'll be called upon when and if needed. This vessel will suit me, for now. Goodbye..."

Riku began to panic. What was going on? What had he done?

'What? No! Wait! Who are you? Who are you!?'

Riku struggled to no avail and he couldn't help but wonder if he'd finally made his last mistake. Had his jealousy and anger and need for power and control finally overwhelmed him? He wondered if Sora was right. Maybe he really had changed.

Or maybe worse, he himself was right, and he'd just become more of the man he was. He still held onto the belief that everything he had done, all the bad things, was for Kairi. Yet, all of the negative and painful emotions Riku lived and struggled with were currently being replaced by one strong one.

Fear.

He was afraid and he wanted to see them, Kairi and even Sora, more than anything, right now. He feared he would never get to again.

---

After some explanation, swapping of stories, and further apology from Donald and Goofy, the trio had concluded that the Beast had left the front door after being locked out and was climbing the castle from the outside, still looking for a way in. They'd also begun their search for how to proceed. The door at the top of the pair of stairs was locked tight and some sort of dark seal that even the Keyblade couldn't unlock would need to be removed if they were to proceed.

The foyer was a mess after the fight, but thankfully they didn't think that the way to unlock the door was in there. Instead, they'd made their way into the door around the bended platform to the left and slipped inside.

Rows upon rows of books sat on shelves here and it was almost like a maze, the library seemed so big. Thankfully, Sora could navigate it, for some entirely unknown reason.

"I think, if we go left here, there should be some stairs..." Sora commented. Lo and behold as they took a left at the book shelf in front of them, around the corner stood a flight of long, winding stairs and a wall of stained glass windows. Some were broken, others were just old and in need of freshening up, but still, Sora knew them and how to get to them somehow.

"I still don't get how you know your way around in here." Donald quacked.

"Yeah, me either." Sora replied as they approached the stairs.

"I guess what's important is that ya do know, not how ya know. Right now, anyway." Goofy remarked. Sora and Donald nodded in agreement. "So that big feller really helped ya?" Goofy asked.

Sora smiled as they climbed the steps, "Yeah. It was kind of weird and a little scary at first, but he's good. I can tell. He's got a past and he's had it rough, but deep down he's not bad or anything."

Donald pitter pattered behind him, "If you say so." They'd made it to the top, "Where now?" Donald asked.

Sora thought for a moment, "I'm not sure. There's something up here that we need, but, I don't know what."

Goofy scratched at his head, "Maybe we should look at the books?" Sora and Donald shrugged, before doing just that. They peered over each shelf, reading the titles and even pulling on a few.

"So," Sora began, "what would your King have done if Riku really was the Keyblade Master and you guys still stuck with me?"

Donald grabbed a book and opened it, thumbing through a few pages, "It doesn't matter. He's not, you are."

Sora grabbed at a book of his own, "Right, I know, I was just curious. You guys don't talk about him much."

Goofy looked over a shelf of his own, "Well, I reckon he couldn't stay mad at us. He'd see the kinda feller Riku is and see the kinda feller you are and he'd understand."

Donald shook his head, "I don't know, Goofy..."

Goofy sighed, "Well, you've known him longer, Donald. Maybe you're right."

Sora thumbed through another page, looking for any clues, "What's the story there? How'd you guys meet?"

Donald closed his book with a thud and dropped it on the floor, "It's a long story. We'll tell ya another time."

Sora nodded, closing his own book, "I'll hold you to that." Donald rolled his eyes, whilst Goofy wondered if he'd found something.

"Hey, look at this. This one here says, 'Architecture: A beginner's guide to secret doors.'"

Donald audibly sighed, "Goofy, do you really think they'd be so stupid as to put the mechanism to open a door inside a book labeled 'Secret doors'?"

Sora shrugged, "It's worth a shot. You over complicate things Donald." He noted.

"Oh really? Says the guy who saves the bad guys and--" he was cut off as Goofy had grown tired of looking at the book and not pulling it.

Doing just that, the marble wall to the immediate left of the book shelf slid aside and lo and behold a secret passage revealed itself.

"Ah-yuck!" Goofy smiled.

Sora pumped his fist, "Way to go, Goofy!" Donald, unsurprisingly had nothing to say. They slipped inside the small tunnel and as they progressed further felt a breeze. A cold breeze. Within moments the grey light outside was shining in their eyes. They were outside?

"Wak!?" Donald quacked as they walked out onto a thin ledge. They were high in the dreary sky and they didn't have much footing on this stone ledge. The wind was really whipping up here, almost howling even.

"Gee, we sure are high up, fellers!" Goofy commented. Their backs firmly pressed against the stone wall, they used their feet to shimmy along, carefully and slowly. The wind was strong though and poor Goofy nearly tumped over. Sora's hand met his chest and firmly pushed him backward.

"Gotcha!" He exclaimed.

"I owe you one!" Goofy replied as he sighed a sigh of relief.

"More than one!" Sora teased as they exchanged smiles. They shimmied for what seemed like an eternity, before finally making to a platform that widened a bit. They could tell it was an overhang, above a door likely, but the drop simply wasn't feasible for them.

Donald looked up and shouted through the wind, "Look! Windows?" He asked. Sora and Goofy concurred. Three archways, all without pains of glass stood in a triptych above them. It was just out of reach for Goofy, but together they could get in. Sora and Goofy came together to make a platform for Donald's flipper to step into.

With that, they gave him the boost he needed and as he flew the wind nearly took him. Thankfully, he was able to grab the bottom edge of the window and climb in. Goofy then stood in the same position for Sora, who, once boosted up, turned and offered a hand down for Goofy. Bending his knees, the Knight jumped and their hands collided on one another's forearms. Sora pulled him up and in and thankfully, they were finally safe from the howling and whipping winds.

"Whew!" Donald quacked, his voice echoing in this new chamber. It was dark here and they were atop rafters of some type in what looked like a steeple from where they sat.

"Where the heck are we?" Sora asked quietly, as they all crawled forward, looking down. A long carpet stretched to a small stone podium in the center of the rounded part of the room. The ceilings were immensely high here and some light was being let in, ahead of them. A defunct fireplace or something sat at the back wall.

"I don't know." Goofy remarked. "Maybe we should try and get down?"

Donald shook his head, "It's a pretty steep drop. Let's try and climb down. This wood seems a bit shak--" he was interrupted as he tapped his flipper down forcefully on one board.

It gave way, and with it, the rest.

"Wak!"

"Whoa!"

"Oh crap!"

The trio fell, along with the scaffolding of sorts they stood atop, a loud crash echoing throughout, as they did.

---

Maleficent stood in front of the heart shaped hole in the wall from earlier. Hollow Bastion's Keyhole and it led to more. So much more.

She gazed inside and grinned. Kairi laid behind her, still comatose and removed from her crystal casket high above. And Riku strolled casually up the stairs of a room he wasn't even supposed to know existed. He made his way to Maleficent, without any injuries and the most disturbing of smiles stretched across his face.

"So, I see the path has emerged at last..." he said in a voice that, whilst still his own, also carried with it another. Maleficent meanwhile was so entranced, so mesmerized by how close she was to the power she so desperately sought that she didn't even realize the differences in the young man. She should've already wondered what he was doing in this very room, in the first place.

"Yes. The Keyhole to the Darkness..." she replied with an evil grin.

Riku smirked, "Unlock it, and the Heartless will overrun this world."

Maleficent waved a dismissive hand, "What do I care? The Darkness holds no power over me. Indeed, it is I who wields power of it! I'll use it to rule all worlds. I will wreak chaos amongst the universe and destroy worlds one by one, until all kneel before me!"

Riku rolled his eyes at her little speech, "Such confidence." He sighed, summoning something awful into his hands. Maleficent's eyes were finally drawn from the Keyhole, to the new weapon he held in his hands.

A black blade, with a black leather handle and red guards. It bore a Keychain that held the Heartless emblem at the end of a black chain and the tip resembled the curved hook that made it look just like a Keyblade.

It was, a Keyblade!

Wait, the boy?

He'd done it!

How splendid, she'd thought.

"Oh!" She exclaimed, nearly reaching out to touch the new weapon. A few more moments passed and Maleficent grew angry. The Seven Princesses of Heart were all here.

The Keyblade was here.

The new Key Bearer was here.

So clouded had Maleficent's mind become by this hunger for dark power that she'd failed to even ask what had happened to Sora or the King's lackeys. She'd failed to notice the extreme differences in Riku and she was failing to recognize the danger her and her plan were in.

Yet still she wondered why the Keyhole would not reveal itself to her!

"Impossible! The Princesses of Heart are all here!" Turning and clenching her fist, she growled, "It must be her..." she walked, menacingly toward the sleeping Kairi, Riku doing the same. He looked down upon her like a stranger.

"Without her Heart, she will never be able to release her power..." The next room over, just through the secret tunnel was suddenly filled with noise. A loud, and emphatic crash. Maleficent scowled and held her staff tightly.

"The King's fools. I thought you took care of them." She sneered. Riku didn't even acknowledge her, his gaze still fixed upon the sleeping girl.

"Fine. I'll deal with them myself." She said firmly, turning to begin descending the stairs. "You stay here and guard the princesses. We'll discuss your sentimentality later..." she warned. How little did she know. She was no longer talking to the same angry young man she'd encountered. No, she was talking to someone else, entirely.

'Riku' watched as she left. His green eyes followed her every move.

He smiled.

His plan was coming together.

The player above the board. How highly the Queen thought of herself. Nothing but a piece to be utilized. A tool. And now, to be strategically and coldly risked. More than likely sacrificed. How easy she'd been to indoctrinate. Almost like she'd done to the poor wretch he now possessed. Yes, it was coming together so exquisitely.

The player was just beginning to play one of his most cunning moves.

---

Sora, Donald, and Goofy all exchanged assorted groans and moans. "You guys okay?" Sora asked. Goofy stood, slowly and brushed himself off, before helping Donald to his flippers.

"Yeah, for the most part, bud. That's one way to climb down Donald." Goofy teased.

The duck frowned, "Well how was I supposed to know this place was such a death trap?"

Sora snickered, "Uh, hello? Have you been paying attention?"

Goofy laughed as well, whilst Donald brushed them off, "Aw, put a sock in it."

They walked forward and suddenly felt a chill in the air. The torches that lit the way briefly blew out, after a gust of ice cold air blew by and, when set ablaze again a moment later, the trio saw in front of them a chilling sight. Tall, horned, thin, sickly, and dressed in a black robe, stood Maleficent, staff in hand. Her eyes practically glowed as she peered down at them. They were like daggers. The gang summoned forth their respective weapons.

"I'm afraid you're too late." She said quietly. "Any moment now, the final Keyhole will be revealed. It will be unsealed and this world will plunge into Darkness. It is unstoppable." She hissed. Sora readied himself, grabbing the Fairy Key with both hands.

"We'll stop it! There's no way we're gonna let this happen! Not after coming this far!" Sora said firmly, his gaze locked with hers. Donald and Goofy gripped their weapons tightly as Maleficent fell eerily silent. Then, the wind blew again. The torches extinguished, again and the room was dark.

They heard her voice, "You poor, simple fools. You think you can defeat me?" Her voice became louder and louder with each word, until it was booming inside the chapel. Suddenly, the ground, presumably underneath Maleficent, rose and a green fire briefly illuminated the room.

It was coming from her hands, "Me, the Mistress of all Evil!?" She screamed as Sora, Donald, and Goofy were flung backward by a large burst of energy. Sora rolled backward, to his feet and Donald and Goofy tried to do the same.

"I can't see a thing!" Goofy hollered.

Donald quacked in response, "Hold on!" With that he cast a fire spell toward where he thought he remembered a torch. His aim was true and one of the many that were adorning the walls was now lit again, supplying a tiny amount of light. Maleficent and the now present Heartless were still shrouded by the shadows.

"Nice! Keep it up, Donald! We'll handle the rest!" Sora ordered, before slicing through a nearby encroaching Heartless. Their beady eyes still glowed yellow, giving way to the position, somewhat. Some seemed big, others seemed winged, but one thing was for sure. There was plenty of them!

Goofy bashed through one, before hearing the whoosh of another. He raised his shield in the general direction of the sound and felt the impact of an attack.

"Fire!" They both heard Donald cast another spell and the room seemed a bit brighter. A few slashes and blocks later and Sora was beginning to make out the figures of the Heartless. Some were huge, with big shields that had living dogs for fronts! Others were large, dinosaur like beasts, with big claws and huge wings. Some were just large, dark orbs with sharp teeth! Sora cast a thunder spell, zapping two of the Wyverns from the sky and ducked, avoiding an airborne attack from a third.

Goofy finally had enough light to spin through several and both were now gaining the upper hand over the horde. Sora sidestepped a bite from one of them and slashed through it. He looked up and watched as the horned hag looked on from her levitating piece of stone. He noticed the crater where she stood before and watched as more and more Hearless poured forth from it. Donald was nearly finished lighting the room and once he had, he was spent.

"Fire..." he cast weakly, barely producing a flame strong enough to ignite the final torch. Visibility was back to normal and Sora knew the Mage needed help. He ran, cutting through more than a few littler Heartless and finally skidded to a stop next to Donald.

"Heal!" He cast, and watched as a warm green glow flowed over him. Donald felt an energy boost and picked his staff back up. Goofy blocked an attack and used the Heartless' own momentum to toss it into another one, before ducking a third's assault. Sora stabbed through one of the shield carrying Heartless, whilst Donald zapped what remaining flying ones he could see.

The Heartless numbers were dwindling, but Maleficent seemed to easily replace them with more from the crater in the floor.

"You pitiful fools! I shall wipe you from existence! All worlds will bow to me! I shall reign supreme over all and eliminate any who oppose me!"

Sora was getting tired of her little speech, "We gotta plug that hole and get her down from there! Any ideas?"

"Just one!" Donald hollered in response. Goofy ran through one Heartless, and blocked another vicious attack.

"I'm all ears, pal!" Donald pierced through a few with some icicles.

"Sora, Goofy, think of one thing and one thing only! Light! Focus on Light! Okay?" Donald quacked. Goofy nodded, whilst Sora cast a fire spell, burning one Heartless into smoke.

"Light? Why?" He asked.

"Just do it! Now, to me!" Donald ordered, bringing his staff high above his head. "Bring our weapons together in a triangle! Ready? Think of Light, you two! Now!"

Sora and Goofy fought their way to Donald and did as he commanded. The tip of Sora's Keyblade met the edge of Goofy's shield and the end of Donald's weathered staff. He paused and focused, even amidst the chaos around him. Time began to slow for the Keyblade Master...

---

"If we use the proper knots and they're tied good, plus we use some large, sturdy enough logs? That should hold all three of us plus supplies, without a problem." Kairi stated, showing her drawing to Sora and Riku.

Riku nodded in agreement, whilst Sora just looked at the paper in confusion. Engineering, math, science all of it bored the pants off of him, but Riku was quite the architect himself and Kairi always was good with numbers and physics.

"I agree. We need to make sure the materials are choice, though." Riku said with a smile.

Kairi smiled, "Right! What do you think, Sora?" She asked.

Sora was snapped from his confused daze, "Huh? Oh, uh, yeah. Yeah, sounds good!" Riku and Kairi shared an amused glance, before they simply laughed. Sora frowned, "Hey, what's so funny?"

Kairi wiped a tear from her eye, "You've no idea what we're on about, do you?"

Sora crossed his arms, "Sure I do! We're building a raft!"

Riku placed a caring hand on his shoulder, "Yes we are, Sora. You're right. Who cares how it floats, so long as it floats. Right?"

Sora nodded, "Exactly! So, where do we start?" He asked. Kairi placed her notebook back down, along with her pencil on the bench inside the sea shack, where they'd decided to convene.

"Well..." she paused. She was unsure.

She knew exactly what they needed to start this project, but were they really gonna go through with this? This was a pretty big deal, afterall. It was running away from home, essentially, and it wasn't something to be taken lightly. She'd been approached by Sora at school earlier today and they agreed to meet Riku out on the island to discuss things further.

"Look, are we really doing this?" She asked.

Riku stood, "Absolutely."

Sora nodded and smiled, "Why not?" Kairi just chuckled. How reckless they could be.

"Guys, for real. Are we sure we want to do this?" Riku walked over to the door and frowned, crossing his arms.

"I've never been more sure of anything in my life, Kairi. What do we have to lose, huh? You really want to go back home, everyday? You like the idea of growing up here?" She thought for a moment.

"I mean..." Riku shook his head.

"No. You don't. None of us do. Destiny Islands has nothing left for us. But out there? We can finally find what will make us all happy. Maybe we can even find where you came from." Kairi remained silent, but looked to Sora.

Their eyes met and he smiled, "C'mon, Kairi. It'll be fun." She smiled back, as Riku watched on.

"We're gonna need quite a few large, strong logs, some rope, and some cloth for our sail." Riku smiled and Sora pumped his fist.

"Let's go." Riku said, pushing the door open and walking outside. Kairi followed, and Sora was right behind her. The sunlight was blinding outside, after having been in the shack for a while and it took all of their eyes a minute to adjust.

Sora watched Riku walk off, up deeper into the island and Kairi make for the north beach. Only, she looked back, and again their eyes met in a moment that made Sora feel as if he was going to melt. She shot him one last smile and he returned it with a bashful wave.

'God how happy she makes me.' He thought.

Wait, what kind of a thought was that?

If he was being honest, he'd been having these weird thoughts lately.

He wondered from time to time if any of this was even real.

He walked lazily over to a warm spot on the beach and took a seat. He shielded his eyes from the sun, allowing them to adjust a bit gentler, rather than just opening them and looking right at the white sand. Before he knew it, his thoughts were all over the place and with that he'd laid back. He'd tried to squint and look up at the bright blue sky, but his eyes just couldn't quite adjust to the light right now, for some reason.

So, he closed them and took a deep breath. Slinging his leg upon his knee, his back laid firmly in the soft, white sand and his hands threaded behind his head to serve as a makeshift pillow. His breathing slowed and deepened and before he knew it, Sora had fallen fast asleep. His last thoughts as he drifted into a peaceful snooze were how bright and warm it was today.

What a perfect day to build a raft with his two best friends...

---

The warm summer air of Destiny Islands slowly became replaced with the damp chill that was the castle chapel. The smells of the ocean and the feel of the beach. The sounds of the waves, the palms blowing in the wind, and the gulls cawing above, became replaced with the sounds of the Heartless and Maleficent's endless ranting. The light of the blazing sun became replaced with the dark interior of Hollow Bastion.

With that, Sora opened his eyes and with the trio's weapons all connected, Donald sensed that his companions had found the necessary focus on the subject.

"Light!" He hollered and from their joined together weapons a massive burst of blinding, white, sparkling Light shot forth in a magnificent, illuminating explosion.

The Heartless were obliterated and Maleficent cried in pain as she tried to shield herself from the horrible, terrible light. The stony platform that she stood atop began to rumble and shake. It flew back to above the crater that seemingly poured endless Heartless and Darkness, and abruptly and harshly fell, slamming it shut.

The ground underneath their feet shook and cracked from the sheer force of the collision. Donald cast a strong blizzard spell, producing many icicles, but Maleficent simply deflected it with a flourish of green fire and an exclamation of pain.

She was weak, they could tell.

Sora moved forward and readied to cut her down, but she blocked the attack with her staff. She pushed him backward with what little strength she had left. Goofy was ready to throw his shield, but watched as she doubled over, grabbing at her chest. Her breathing had become quick and ragged. Behind her a dark portal had been summoned and with slow, labored steps, she slipped inside, disappearing.

A piece of paper flew from under her robe and landed directly in front of Sora. He knelt to pick it up and pocketed it. He could only guess what it might've been, but he had a strong feeling it was one of those reports.

"Coward! Get back here!" Donald quacked, running forward. Sora and Goofy followed suit and all slipped inside, right behind her. The passage through the darkness was brief, but still bone chillingly cold. A short sense of weightlessness overcame all three, but within a second they found themselves deposited in a large domed room.

The ceilings here were very tall, and curved, with one large hole in the northeast corner, allowing some of the grey, sickly light in. There, they found her still reeling, her hand clutching her chest and breathing heavily. Their light had hurt her, nearly fatally and here, she'd run out of places to go. It was time for the gang to put an end to this. Sora gripped his Keyblade tightly.

"Give it up, Maleficent! It's over!" He offered her the chance to surrender, but was ready for anything.

Well, almost anything.

What he saw next made his blood run cold.

For before his eyes, just behind the injured, horned witch stood Riku. He was alive and for that Sora was elated, but he instantly felt a difference in him. No, not the difference he'd noticed in him before, but a massive difference.

He felt as if he was someone else, not just changed.

He stepped forward, blocking them access from Maleficent, and Sora could already spot a difference, physically. His eyes.

They glowed an awful green. He made Sora's skin crawl and no matter how rotten Riku had been acting lately, Sora never felt like this around him. 'Riku' turned at the waist and smiled.

"Did you need some assistance?" He asked Maleficent, before facing the trio again. His voice was distinctly Riku's, Sora could tell, yet, he also heard, or even felt another. One much deeper, and much, much more sinister. It was almost as if they were speaking in tandem.

"Riku...?" Sora more asked than stated. Only now did Sora notice the brand new blade in Riku's hand. It was black, with red hand guards and it was a Keyblade. No doubt about it.

"Is that--"

"A Keyblade? Yes. It is." He replied. His eyes bore through Sora's. The Keyblade Master felt uncomfortable in his own skin for a brief moment. "However, unlike yours, this Keyblade holds the power to unlock people's Hearts. Allow me to demonstrate..." He remarked calmly. His demeanor suddenly shifted, as did his stance.

"Behold!" He shouted and with a lightning sharp turn, he drove his Keyblade's tip deep into the gasping Maleficent's chest. What air she had left from the fight with Sora, Donald, and Goofy had now left her. With a twist of his wrist, Maleficent screamed a shriek that would forever be etched into their memories.

Then, however, she seemed to miraculously and instantly recover from the pain she must've been in. As Riku stepped back and pulled his Keyblade from her chest, a Darkness poured forth from it. Her eyes began to lose any semblance of their former selves and began to glow a bright yellow.

"Now. Open your Heart. Surrender it to the Darkness. Become Darkness itself..." he cooed with a smile, before slipping into yet another dark portal and leaving the trio to deal with the chaos he wrought. Maleficent's new eyes began to look over her hands. Her staff had clattered to the stone floor and she grinned and even more evil grin than usual.

"This is it. This power!" She exclaimed, her voice even changing to now sound more demonic or monstrous in nature. "Darkness..." she growled, before a massive explosion of green fire filled the room, blinding them. They each heard her now growling, low voice exclaim, "The true Darkness!"

Sora's eyes opened and he found himself now surrounded by a circle of thorns. Green fire nipped at his skin, as sweat began to pour from him. Donald and Goofy found themselves in similar predicaments.

"What's going on!?" Donald hollered, casting a useless ice spell.

"I don't know!" Sora replied, casting one of his own.

"Where are you fellers?" Goofy asked. Before anyone had time to answer, a loud and bone rattling roar came from just in front of them.

Where Maleficent once stood, an enormous, fire breathing, sharp teethed, huge winged, black, dragon, now lurked. Its body must've been the size of the three headed dog's on Hercules' world and its neck stretched much further ahead from it. Its head was huge and it had two, familiar black horns protruding from it.

This was Maleficent.

Her Heartless.

The dragon lowered its head and snapped its mighty jaws at Sora. He narrowly avoided being chomped in half by jumping back and swinging the Keyblade diagonally, hard. He connected with the dragon's snout, causing it to rear its head and roar in pain, but Sora himself also suffered an injury. His leap backward resulted in his back being jabbed with a thick, sharp thorn and his arm was burnt after one of the flames reached out to wrap itself around his forearm.

"Ah!" He hollered in pain, before hearing Goofy and Donald exchange their own exclamations of pain. The thorns were closing in on all of them and the fire was raging even harder.

"Guys! What're we gonna do?" Sora asked, before trying to swat away a long tendril of fire from grabbing at his leg.

"Just keep fightin'!" Goofy replied, blocking a bite from the dragon himself. Donald cast a thunder spell toward the dragon's head and while it connected, it only served to anger the monster and subsequently the flames as well. The green fire seemed to flicker brighter and almost appeared as if fuel had been added. If they couldn't hurt it, how could they fight it?

It was then that Sora had an idea.

He cut through one of the thorns as it seemed to get a little too close. From his pocket, he produced the gem that Leon had given him back in Traverse Town. He held it tightly, close to his chest and he closed his eyes. He remembered what the Fairy Godmother had said to him.

'Remember, whenever you call, he will help you, whoever the poor soul is.'

Sora figured it was now or never. He needed help, bad. Just like when he slipped into memories, Sora's eyes closed and time managed to slow. Only, this time, when he opened his eyes he didn't feel lost in a memory, or another place. He was still in dismal Hollow Bastion, surrounded by the green fire, only time had entirely stopped.

The black Dragon that was Maleficent's Heartless was paused mid attack, whilst Goofy was in the middle of trying to fend off her relentless assault with his shield. Donald was forever nearing exhaustion as he cast another weak blizzard spell, and it seemed as if only Sora could move. He could also hear, which, considering how time had stopped wouldn't be relevant, if not for the sound that came from behind him.

A low growl, deep and frightening.

Sora slowly turned and before him was a massive cat. A lion. With a powerful and striking red mane, and a beautiful golden coat, his eyes stared into Sora's and for a moment, the Keyblade Master wondered if he'd made a big mistake. Yet, he didn't feel that familiar tingle of the Keyblade in his hand. It wasn't in his hand and didn't appear to be needed. Sora spoke, softly.

"Hey. It's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you..." he said, knowing full well that this lion could hurt him a lot more than he could hurt it.

"Wh-Who are you?" The big lion asked, surprising Sora for some reason. He was companions with a talking duck and a talking dog, why was this weird? Shaking off his shock, he replied.

"I'm Sora. What's your name?" The lion stepped backward, taking in his surroundings.

"Where am I? What's going on?" Sora stepped forward with his hands raised, as if surrendering.

"You're on another world. I think yours was lost..."

"Lost? I don't understand. The last thing I remember..."

Sora frowned, "Was a bad storm. Maybe a horned witch, or some shadowy monsters?"

The lion cocked his head to the side, "Yeah. Yes, exactly. How did you..."

"Because it happened to me too. Worlds are falling all over the galaxy and I'm trying to stop it. But, I need your help." The lion stepped forward, his sharp eyes glued ahead.

"You need my help? How?" Sora turned and now they stood side by side, looking at the frozen scene in front of them.

"That monster. She's responsible for so much of this. I need to stop her and me and my friends are a little outmatched." The lion scowled at the sight of the dragon.

"What can I do?" Sora hung his head.

"I don't know. I was hoping it'd just sort of come naturally. Your Heart survived the loss of your world, so you must be strong. I'm really in a bind here..." Sora said the last bit almost as if a question, still trying to pry the lion's name from his fanged mouth. He closed his eyes and thought, before nodding.

"My Heart..." he spoke, softly. "I'm Simba. I'll help you, Sora. I know what I can do. I just need to remember who I am. The King of the Jungle." Sora nodded and smiled.

"Thank you, Simba. I swear. I'll repay you, someday." Simba flashed a grin of his own.

"Get me back to the Pridelands and you'll be welcome there. Always."

Sora summoned the Keyblade and smirked, "It's a deal. Now let's do this." Simba widened his stance and lowered his head. Sora watched as time began to resume and whilst Simba looked as if he was fading away, back into the summon gem, he certainly didn't sound it.

For, as time resumed to normal, Sora had to drop the Keyblade with a clang and cover his ears, Donald and Goofy instinctively doing the same.

Otherwise, their ears might've burst.

From the spirit and Heart that was the mighty Lion King, Simba, came an ear splitting, deep, bellowing, and immensely powerful roar. The walls of the entire castle shook and the ceiling that already had a hole in it, suffered another breakage, resulting in some of the stone from far above to come crashing down onto the Dragon's back. The sheer force of the roar blew out all of the evil fire and the thorns withered away and died within seconds. The Dragon's spine and ribcage had been crushed by the slight ceiling collapse and a slow, weak wheeze escaped its foul mouth.

Sora picked the Keyblade back up, before Donald and Goofy ran to his side. "Sora! What did you do!?" Donald asked with a smile.

"The gem Leon gave me. The spirit inside. He saved us."

Goofy high-fived the Keyblade Master and chuckled, "Well be sure to thank him for me! I thought we were goners!"

Sora nodded, "Me too." Approaching the dying Dragon, Sora looked down upon it, or her, with pity. While Maleficent was evil, he didn't think she deserved to die like this. A mindless, and ravenous Heartless, crushed like a bug. The yellow glow in its eyes began to fade and Sora stepped back, alongside Donald and Goofy as the horrible green fire began to consume the body.

The trio watched on in silence as after a few moments, the green fire died out and with it, most of the Dragon. Maleficent, the mistress of all Evil and the cause for so much death and destruction had been reduced to a black stain on the floor. As the fire eased away, from where it once burned, a small, red orb with a strange symbol on it rolled toward, Sora. Kneeling to scoop it up, he couldn't help but wonder. 'Is this another lost spirit?'

"How ironic." All eyes short forth, as Sora quickly stood, pocketing the orb. Riku walked forward, over the black stain on the floor, smiling. "She was just another puppet, afterall. A piece to be used. A toy, to be broken." He said in his eery and disturbing new double voice.

As tired and beat as the trio were, their hands gripped their weapons tightly, again as they readied for another fight.

Donald spoke first, "What're you talking about!? Wasn't she the figure head!?"

Riku smirked, "The Heartless had been using the old fool from the very beginning. Like so many before her, she failed to notice the Darkness eating away at her Heart, despite her ignorant belief that she was above it, or its Mistress." He raised his foot, and stamped it back down, twisting it, as if putting out a cigarette. With that, even the stain dissappeared, and Maleficent was officially no more.

"A fitting end for a puppet who thought it was the Master all along." With that, 'Riku' slipped into a dark portal and was gone once more. Sora's body eased up, as did Donald's and Goofy's.

"What now?" Goofy asked, before all turned at the sound of a whoosh. Behind them, another one had opened up and they could only assume it led back to where they'd come from.

"Well, I guess we'll go back through there and see where it leads this time." Donald quacked. It was better than standing there anyway. The same uneasy feeling of Darkness took over as they slipped through, but once back in the chapel, they noticed an immediate difference.

To their left, one of the bricks walls was now gone, revealing a secret passage. However, chiefly and much more urgently, the room was filled with scores of Heartless.

"Look out!" Goofy hollered, stepping in front of everyone and blocking an icicle from a new Magician Heartless. Donald fired off a weak thunder spell, and Sora rolled away from one attack and sliced through a nearby brute of a Heartless.

"Where'd they all come from!?" Donald asked, firing away another spell. Sora swung twice, once vertically and again horizontally.

"I don't know!"

Goofy pointed out the newly opened passage, "Through there! There's too many!" With that the trio fought their way through the crowd, destroying those that stood in their way and dodging attacks from others. Leagues upon leagues of the monsters poured in through the door in the back of the chapel and some even rose from the floors. Thankfully, after slipping through the dark hallway, they found themselves in a room with two, huge double doors.

"Push 'em back!" Sora shouted, swinging rapidly, taking down as many as he could. Goofy crashed through as many as he could, but it was Donald's turn to impress. He summoned what little energy he had left and with all his might cast an impressive wind spell.

"Aeroga!" He shouted and a wind tunnel of sorts blew the horde backward, buying Sora and Goofy enough time to push the doors closed. Sora angled his Keyblade up at them and from it a beam of light shot forth, locking them tight. He and Goofy turned to see Donald, completely spent, collapsed on the red carpet.

"Donald!"

"Donald!"

Sora and Goofy cried in unison.

They rushed to his side, kneeling down and helping him sit up. He didn't have the strength for words, but merely raised his arm and pointed toward the left wall. There, three crystal coffins were imbedded into the wall and across from it, three more. Sora didn't recognize all of the inhabitants, but he sure as hell recognized two of them.

So did Goofy, "Look, it's Jasmine!" He hollered.

"And Alice!" Sora cried, running over to the clear casket and trying to find a way to open it.

Donald tried to speak up, "Sora..." he quacked, softly.

Sora turned, "Hold on, buddy! Hang in there, man!" He once again returned to the duck and cast the weakest of cure spells. He was spent as well, though he admittedly had a little more left in the tank than the poor old duck did. Donald seemed to perk up some, but was still in bad shape.

"Sora. Look." He gestured forward and Sora's eyes followed to find a small staircase leading into a much larger room.

Donald spoke again, "Look around. If Jasmine and Alice and these others are here..." he took a deep breath. Sora cocked his head to the side.

Donald rolled his eyes, "Then Kairi must be through there, ya big palooka." He flashed a weak smile.

Sora grinned back, "Right. C'mon then. Let's go, guys."

Donald shook his head, "I need to rest. Go get her, then come back. Then we'll get outta here." Sora wasn't so sure.

"Donald, I..."

Donald shoved him away, "Just go, Sora. I'll be fine." Sora stepped backward.

"Stubborn old duck. Fine."

Donald snickered, "You know me so well. Now go." He leaned back against one of the ornate golden torch pedestals in the room and sighed. Goofy equipped his shield, and Sora his Keyblade. Sora moved first, heading up the small flight of stairs.

"Be right back, buddy." Goofy said cheerily down at Donald, before following behind Sora.

Only, he couldn't.

He smacked right into some sort of invisible field, knocking him backward and out cold as he hit the ground.

"Oh..." he groaned as his vision faded to black.

"Goofy?" Donald quacked, craning his neck to see him laid out. "Aw phooey..." he cursed.

Sora noticed too, turning, "Goofy? Goofy! What happened?"

Donald quacked as loudly as he could, through slow breaths, "Don't worry about him, Sora! He musta knocked out from everything! Just let him sleep and get Kairi. We'll be ready to go!" Sora paused.

He didn't like this.

Goofy wasn't that tired.

He couldn't help but feel like he was being singled out, or isolated for a reason. There had to be something up, and Riku was mysteriously no where to be found. Yet, every time Donald said her name, Sora was reminded just how close he was. He wasn't dreaming this time. She was just ahead and he was finally going to save her. Fingers crossed, that is.

"I'll be right back!" Sora called, before turning. He took the large set of stairs to his left and once at the top, he saw the massive heart shaped apparatus embedded into the wall. An energy glowed from within and a nest of wires and pipes shot forth from the edge in all directions. To his left was the large arena like pedestal that made up most of this, the core of the castle. A burn mark seemed etched into the middle and from there Sora's eyes followed up, until his Heart skipped a beat.

Laid flat on her back, her chest barely rising and falling, lay the comatose Kairi. Her feet were angled toward the Heart in the wall and arms were laid flat against her sides.

"Kairi!" Sora exclaimed, running as fast as he could, before sliding to his burnt and scraped knees alongside her.

For what it was worth, she looked fine. She had no wounds, or bruises and appeared basically the same as she did the night the islands were lost. A far cry from Sora.

The fighting on Hollow Bastion had been intense. His face bore a deep cut in it, just under his left eye that had some dried blood around the edges, whilst his chin sported a painful scrape. His arms and legs had various bruises, nicks, and burns along them and overall he looked like hell. Even his clothes had suffered several rips and tears. He was tired and beaten, but he wasn't broken and just the sight of her was enough to give him a boost of energy. His one arm wrapped around her shoulder, the other helping to prop her up.

"Kairi! Kairi! Open your eyes! Please, wake up! It's me! It's Sora! Please, Kairi!" Still her seemingly lifeless figure laid limp in his arms. Sora wasn't sure what to expect, but it certainly wasn't this.

The way her hand twitched whilst on board that pirate ship. Really, though. Did he really think it'd be that easy? She'd hear his voice, feel his touch, and she'd just pop her eyes open and be okay? How stupid he felt.

That was when the tears began to form in his eyes. Either from frustration, sadness, or hopelessness, he didn't know. Maybe it was all three. He'd finally done it. He'd found her, he'd gotten to really see her and really touch her and she didn't even know he was there.

"Kairi..." he whispered, softly, trying to will her eyes open.

"It's no use."

Sora's head snapped in the direction of that awful voice. There, just above the giant heart shaped hole in the wall, on a large pipe, sat 'Riku'. He still wore his black suit of sorts, and still weilded his horrible, special Keyblade.

"That girl has lost her Heart. She cannot wake up." Sora gently laid Kairi back down and stood. He turned to face him.

"You." He growled. "You're not Riku. Who are you?" He leapt down from his perch and somehow defied gravity as he drifted down like a feather.

"So long as the last Princess of Heart still sleeps, the Keyhole will remain closed."

Sora glanced back down, "The princess..." his eyes shot open wide, his gaze returning to 'Riku'. "Wait, Kairi's a princess?"

"Yes, and without her power, the Keyhole will remain incomplete. It is time she woke."

Sora had heard just about enough, "Look, whoever you are, just leave us alone! Give Riku back his Heart! We've never done anything to you!"

His face stretched into an awful grin, "Ah, but shouldn't you be the one giving Hearts back, young man? You must give the Princess her Heart back, first!" With that, he raised his awful Keyblade and directed it toward Sora. Suddenly he felt a tremendous pain in his chest. It felt as if it was going to collapse in on him and the pain was so strong, he fell to his hands and knees, clutching his chest.

"Wh-What's--"

"Don't you see yet!?" 'Riku' shouted. "The Princess' Heart is responding. It has been there, all along. The girl's Heart rests within you!"

Sora felt as if all the air in his lungs had been drained from him, as he closed his eyes tightly.

He managed to squeak out, "Kairi..." his eyes opened, "Kairi's Heart, is inside me...?"

The stranger across from him stepped further forward, "I know all that there is to know."

Sora's head shot back upward as he tried to regain his strength, "Tell me. Who are you?" The stranger in Riku's body smiled.

How long he'd waited for this moment.

"It is I. Ansem. The Seeker of Darkness!"

The freshly introduced Ansem began to march closer to the weakened Sora. Sora's mind raced.

How?

Ansem?

The guy who had written all of these reports?

What was going on!?

"Now, I shall release you, Princess." His voice began to shift, Riku's leaving entirely. It was deep, it was smooth, and it was evil. He raised his Keyblade high into the air, above Sora's head.

"I shall complete the Keyhole with your power. Open the Door. Lead me into everlasting Darkness!" He hollered as he reared back and brought the Keyblade down, upon Sora. The Keyblade Master reckoned this was all it.

Again.

He'd come close a few times, but this really seemed to be the end now. This Ansem was stronger than any opponent he'd faced, and Sora was hungry, wounded, and exhausted. He'd been through so much, just today alone. How could he possibly fight back?

"Sora!"

A terrific clang of metal sounded throughout the chamber as Ansem's Keyblade slammed into Sora's.

The Seeker of Darkness' eyes widened as like a bolt of lightning, Sora suddenly blocked his attack. Their eyes met and Sora frowned. He may have been down, but that was all he needed.

Her voice, willing him on.

With a renewed strength and courage, Sora managed to not only stand, but push Ansem backward with a thrust forward. Their Keyblade's scraped away from one another as Sora growled.

"Forget it. There is no way I'm letting you take Kairi's Heart!" Ansem smirked as he straightened his knees and held his Keyblade tightly.

"Good. I prefer it this way." Sora sliced diagonally forward, but Ansem was quick.

He leapt backward, before going on the offensive. With Sora off balance, he had no choice but to roll under a swing from Ansem. Standing and turning he barely had time to parry one of his attacks and block another. Noticing Ansem's aggressive attack style, Sora, whilst blocking, side stepped, causing Ansem to lose his own balance, if only for a moment.

Sora took the opportunity and swung hard, vertically. Ansem turned at the waist and parried the attack, before both reset their feet and stared into the other's eyes. Sora knew he was looking into Riku's face, but he didn't even see his best friend anymore.

Those horrible green eyes belonged to Ansem, and Ansem alone.

Still, as Sora stabbed toward his midsection, catching the Seeker of Everlasting Darkness off guard, he called out to Riku.

"Riku! C'mon man! I know you're in there! Fight him!"

Ansem smiled, easily blocking a swing from Sora, "He can't hear you anymore! You failed him! Just like you failed the girl!" He replied, engaging in a flurry of attacks.

Sora blocked or parried each one, but just barely. Once again, using Ansem's overwhelming strategy against him, Sora rolled perfectly away from a big swing and swung diagonally, from southeast to northwest. Ansem hadn't expected his swiftness, but still managed to divert Sora's attack elsewhere. With that he engaged in a powerful counterattack, using both hands to try and split Sora clean down the middle. Sora took a risk and rolled forward. Ansem's Keyblade drove into the stone floor, and Sora's big, yellow shoes slammed into his midsection.

With all his might, Sora pushed hard with his legs, and knocked him from his feet, onto his back. Standing as fast as he could, Sora tried to stab through Ansem, but he was too fast.

He easily rolled to the side and stood, swinging again. The two Keyblade's met with a loud clash, and once again scraped apart as both pushed the other way.

"Finally, a challenge. Your friend submitted so easily. Your world was but an afterthought, but you, boy. You put up a good fight." He offered his hand, inviting Sora to attack.

The Keyblade Master gripped the weapon tightly, "I'll do more than that!" He hollered, rushing Ansem and raising the Keyblade high above his head. Ansem anticipated the big attack, knowing he'd riled him up, yet, the vertical swing never came. Holding his Keyblade horizontally, Ansem barely had time to react to the body blow Sora was about to deliver.

Hopping backward, he narrowly avoided another attack from Sora and blocked another heavy swing, only just in time. He growled, and frowned, before releasing his Keyblade with his left hand and opening his palm.

From it shot a cold, dark fire, and whilst the aim wasn't entirely true, it was close enough to brush Sora's ribcage, causing a painful burn.

"Ah!" Sora cried out in pain, as he grabbed at his side.

Using the pause to his advantage, Ansem slipped into a dark portal and reappeared just behind Sora, ready to cut him down. The Keyblade Master wasn't gonna go down that easy, however.

Despite the burn in his side, he ducked and pivoted with his left leg extended. His calf muscle caught Ansem's ankles and with that, he once again had him on his back. With the same momentum, Sora stood as fast as he could manage and swung down, hard at Ansem. He couldn't roll away this time, so he blocked the attack and another clang of metal echoed throughout the room.

"That's it, boy! Use that anger! Free me of this weak vessel!"

Disappearing into the floor, Ansem resurfaced to Sora's side, attempting to slice through him again. Only, like a bolt of lightning, Sora cut first. Anticipating where Ansem would teleport, Sora also knew he'd be leaving his midsection vunerable. Ansem felt something he hadn't known possible, even in this form.

Pain.

With a lunge forward, and duel handed, horizontal swing, Sora had cut through him so hard, he'd nearly cut him in half. Ansem looked down, and felt the Darkness seeping from the wound. He smiled and began to laugh, a raspy sort of chuckle, as he fell to his knees.

"Excellent." He growled.

His awful, black Keyblade clattered to the floor.

Sora, in a moment of realization, dropped his Keyblade and turned, trying to grab his shoulders.

"Riku!" He hollered, but watched in horror as Darkness enveloped Ansem, whilst still possessing poor Riku's body. He'd beaten Ansem, he'd won, but he'd also cut down his best friend in the process. For good this time.

"Riku, I..." Sora mumbled. One of his biggest fears had just come true, in front of his eyes. He'd lost Riku.

Damn the Darkness and damn that Ansem!

A tear slipped from Sora's eye as he hung his head in a moment of silence for his dearest and closest friend. He felt remorse, but he'd be lying if he said he felt guilt. Ansem had left him no choice.

Hell, Riku himself, had left him no choice.

Sora had tried so hard. He'd tried to get through to Riku, but he was just too far gone. Maybe this was what he wanted, all along. Maybe he was destined to fall to Darkness. That didn't change the hurt in Sora, though. He was gonna miss him.

Bad.

Rising to his feet, he heard a comforting voice call out to him. "Sora!" Goofy hollered. He turned and flashed a weak smile.

"Hey, Goofy. You okay?"

"Sure! Are you? What happened, pal?"

Sora looked down, "Riku, he..." Sora paused, "He wasn't Riku, anymore. He was Ansem."

"Ansem?" He heard Donald quack as he limped alongside Goofy, the both of them moving forward gingerly, together. "How?"

Sora shrugged, "I have no idea. It doesn't matter. They're both gone, now..." Sora replied, softly. Goofy frowned.

"Ya mean...?" Sora nodded his head, slowly. "I'm sorry, pal." Goofy said. Donald meanwhile noticed something about the heart shaped hole in the wall. The small glow inside had been replaced with a Darkness.

A burgeoning and festering Darkness. It appeared almost ready to spill out. Then, it hit him.

"Sora! Sora, look!" He quacked, causing both the Keyblade Master and Goofy to fix their gazes at it.

"Whoa!" Goofy exclaimed. "It must be Hollow Bastion's Keyhole! Quick, Sora! Lock it!" Sora nodded, and raised his tired arm, Keyblade in hand, ready to seal the deal here on this awful world, making it safe, and eliminating the growing horde of Heartless. His hand, however, lacked that familiar tingle.

He stood there, Keyblade aimed up for several seconds and still, nothing happened. No beam of light, no booming lock, nothing!

"Aw, phooey! It won't work!" Donald quacked.

Goofy grabbed at his head, "Oh no! What're we gonna do!?" Sora dismissed the Keyblade. He knew why it wasn't working.

The Seven Princesses of Heart.

Only six were present, Hearts accounted for. Kairi needed hers.

He turned and faced her, Donald and Goofy watching. "Oh, right! Kairi! What's the matter? Why is she still asleep?" Donald asked. Sora began to walk forward, the two of them following behind him.

"Because she still doesn't have her Heart. Ansem told me, it sleeps within me. I'm not sure how, but when he tried to unlock it, it hurt me, right here," Sora grabbed at his chest, "so I know he was right."

Goofy scratched his head, "Uh, do ya think that's why you've been seein' her when she wasn't really there, or maybe why you had that memory back at the cafe in Traverse Town?"

Sora nodded, "Exactly."

He thought back to the night they lost the islands. The warm feeling inside as she dissappeared, when that door blew open in the secret place. He'd been looking for her, this whole time, but in all actuality he'd been keeping the most important part of her safe. She'd found refuge in his Heart, when she needed it most and now, it was time to fulfill his true goal.

He'd protected her for as long as he could, and now it was time to give her, her life back. His eyes fixed ahead, they trailed down to the black and red Keyblade on the ground. Sora neared it, and knelt to pick it up, by its handle. He looked it over.

'A Keyblade that unlocks people's Hearts...' he wondered.

Donald sighed, "I'm sorry about Riku, Sora."

He shook his head, "I know. But, I wanna say something, guys." Goofy and Donald exchanged a confused look. "Thank you. You guys stuck with me, even when you thought I wasn't the Keyblade Master, anymore. You've been with me through so much stuff, and I wouldn't be standing here without you guys. You've become two of the only four real friends I've ever made and when Riku crossed me out, you guys didn't." Donald looked back at the boiling Keyhole.

He was touched, but couldn't this wait!?

"Thanks, Sora, but can we talk about this, later!?" Sora smiled. Still so impatient.

"I need another favor though, guys. It's sort of a big one." The pair continued to glance between Sora and the Keyhole, failing to notice Sora turning the black Keyblade around, angling it at himself.

"Get Kairi out of here, safely. Make sure she's okay. Please."

'Anything for you.'

Donald turned at that request and realization hit him like a freight train.

He ran forward in a mad dash, arms extended, "Sora, no!" He hollered as loudly as he could.

Sora gave them both a classic smile of his, before plunging the Keyblade deep into his chest.

"Sora!" Goofy shouted while both he and Donald watched, helplessly as their dear friend sacrificed himself.

Sora felt the air leave his lungs and watched as his vision blurred. He felt no pain, much to his surprise, but a numbness. All around him, he could see the glorious display of golden light that poured forth from his chest. His body began a slow freefall backward, his arms dropping to the side and releasing the horrible Keyblade. The very same weapon burst into six different orbs of power, all flying downward, into the room from before and reconnecting with the other Princesses of Heart. That vile weapon.

It had been constructed, using their power. Meanwhile, one last Heart shaped, spectral piece emerged from Sora's chest and found its way back home.

With Kairi.

Donald watched with tears in his eyes, as did Goofy. Sora had a soft, warm smile on his face and his head turned to watch her. He'd saved her and the other princesses, in the most selfless act one could possibly imagine.

Classic Sora.

---

Kairi's eyes fluttered open. Her body felt as if it was being warmed after having been cold for a long time. It was a pleasant sensation and carefully, she tried to sit up, propping herself upon her elbows. Looking around, she had to blink several times. Her vision was that of when you've overslept and can't quite get it to clear up.

'Where am I?' She wondered. Her thoughts raced.

She remembered that awful storm and heading out to save the raft...

Wait!

The raft!

What was going on?

Her vision cleared and her hearing began to come back to her, as well. She could hear the most peculiar, yet for some reason familiar voice, hollering as loud as it could manage.

"Sora! Sora!" It shouted.

'Sora?' She thought.

Yes, Sora.

Sora!

Where was he?

Her eyes gazed up at the ceiling, before moving down and that was when she saw him. Sora smiled over at her, as a wonderful golden light embraced him. He was falling, it looked like. Suddenly, the seriousness of the situation hit her. She stood, as fast as she could and ran to him, ready to catch his falling form.

"Sora!" She exclaimed and just as she reached him, his entire being burst into the same wonderful light. She stood, arms held as if she had caught him, in complete shock, her eyes watching the pretty sparkles all above and around her.

What was happening!?

"S-Sora? Did you just..." she brought her hand to her chest and took several deep breaths. "No! No, he can't be! I won't let him go, like this! I can't!" Donald and Goofy's hearts broke at the sight.

"Uh, miss Kairi? Are ya okay?" Goofy asked, stepping forward.

Her eyes met his, "What? Who are you? What's going on? Where are we?" Goofy rubbed the back of his neck, glancing down at Donald.

The Magician sighed, "I'm--"

"Wait! You're Donald and you're Goofy!" She exclaimed. The pair shared a shocked look.

"Well, that's right. How did you know--" Donald was cut off.

"What just happened to Sora?" Unsurprisingly, she was full of questions. Questions that Donald and Goofy barely knew how to answer.

Goofy hung his head, "Miss Kairi, we've gotta go." Kairi began to look around frantically.

"Why? And to where? I'm not going anywhere without Sora!" Donald stepped closer and gently took her hand. The contact caused her eyes to meet his, instantly.

"Kairi, listen. Sora, he..." Donald trailed off.

Goofy continued, "Sora cared a lot about you, Miss. A whole lot."

Kairi's mind raced.

'Cared!?'

"What're you saying!?" Donald frowned.

"We've got to leave, Kairi. You were so important to Sora, and we're gonna keep you safe, even if it's the last thing we do." Kairi snatched her hand away from him, not out of disgust, or anger, but out of frustration. She was so confused!

"I'm not going anywhere until I get some answers!"

"So, you have awakened at last, Princess." All heads snapped to the direction of that deep and commanding voice. Donald and Goofy's blood ran cold as from an inky black portal, stepped a tall, menacing looking man.

He wore black boots, a black coat, white gloves, and a deeply unbuttoned white shirt. His eyes were that same, horrible green, his hair grew down to the middle of his back, and it was a shiny silver, in color. Upon his tanned chest, the instantly recognizable emblem of the Heartless, was carved. This had to be him, in his truest form.

Ansem. Seeker of Darkness.

The pair summoned their weapons, ready for a fight, whilst Kairi instinctively stepped backward.

"The Keyhole is now complete. You have served your purpose." He spoke so calmly, it was downright eery. "But now, it is over..." he began to step forward, narrowing his eyes and furrowing his brow.

Donald readied a spell, "Not one more move!" Goofy held his shield in position ready to attack, or defend, but openly thought aloud, as he tended to do.

"Gee, Donald. Do ya really think we can take him, all by ourselves?" He did his best to whisper.

Donald shook his head, "We're gonna try!" Ansem continued his march toward Kairi, yet suddenly stopped short.

He began to shake all over and appeared to be physically unable to move forward. Donald and Goofy shared another confused look.

"Uh, maybe we scared hi--"

"Impossible..." he growled. Then, in a spectral, green, and translucent form, the most unlikely of people appeared.

Riku.

"No!" He shouted, as he held his arms out to the side, both somehow physically and mentally blocking Ansem from moving any further forward. "I won't let you do this!" He hollered.

"Riku!?" Kairi exclaimed, in confusion.

"Wh-What's happened to you?"

"You've got to run! The Heartless are coming! They'll have this world overtaken soon!" Riku shouted through efforts, Ansem visibly, and furiously, struggling behind him. With that, several of the monsters began to rise from the floor. Riku was right, they'd run out of time.

"But, Sora--"

Kairi was cut off, "Kairi, go!" Riku screamed, his will and strength leaving him, fast. Goofy blocked an incoming attack from one of the shadows, whilst Donald blasted one with a fire spell.

"Sora! Come back!" Goofy hollered, before Donald cast a strong thunder spell, destroying several of the beasts.

"Goofy, we gotta go! C'mon!" Donald ordered, before grabbing at Kairi's wrist and pulling her along.

"Sora!" She shouted, as Goofy too forcibly ushered her down the stairs. Yet, at the bottom, a horde of Heartless waited for them. Fangs bared, and claws sharp, they were ready to extract their revenge.

"There's too many!" Donald quacked. It was then, that all heard a terrific roar and from the ceiling burst in the Beast.

He landed, crushing many Heartless as he did, with a resounding boom. He'd blown a hole clean through the ceiling and began a frenzied destruction of the monsters with his bare hands.

"Belle!" He screamed. "Where is Belle!? I will tear this castle apart, piece by piece!" Kairi shivered with fear and confusion, whilst Donald and Goofy saw an out.

"Look, Donald! He's carvin' a path, straight through 'em!"

Donald nodded, "Let's go! Kairi, stay close!" Donald ordered. Goofy led the charge, bashing through any Heartless that jumped or were thrown into their way, and Donald provided cover fire for them, whilst casting a wind spell for Kairi.

A wonderful feeling, that is, if her circumstances were better.

She'd been awake for all of ten minutes in the midst of this absolute chaos! They trudged forward, despite the insanity and slipped out, the way they came in.

Back, at the top of the pedestal that housed the Keyhole, a small, unassuming, and confused shadow of a Heartless spawned from the Darkness.

It glanced around and with no aim, or reason, it moved forward. It moved through the crowd, past the strengthening Ansem and even managed to slip by the raging Beast. It, unlike its comrades, meant no harm. It wasn't born of hate, or evil, like so many of the rest were, and for some reason, it felt compelled to push onward. It knew not what it searched for, but it knew that it was in one direction and one direction only.

Forward.

---

What... what's happening to me?

Falling. Falling, deeper into the Darkness.

Sora felt as if he was flying. No where in particular, it just felt as if he was no longer ruled by gravity, or nature. It was so quiet wherever he was, and so dark. He could see nothing ahead, nothing behind, and nothing to his sides. He drifted, slowly forward, or downward. He drifted, for eternity...

---

Donald, Goofy, and a trailing behind Kairi finally made it back to the Entrance Hall. They'd gained some good ground on the Heartless, thanks to Riku and the Beast's timely interventions, but the horde was still behind them and it was still growing. Goofy descended the stairs, his feet a flurry as he took them one by one. He glanced back. Donald was right there, but she was still at the top of the stairs, looking back.

"Miss Kairi! C'mon!" He called, as he and Donald inched closer to the front door, both turning to face the hesitant girl.

"I--I can't! I can't leave him behind! Either of them! You don't understand!"

Donald shook his head and hollered back, "They're not coming with us! Riku, well, I don't know what's going on with Riku, but Sora, he's..." Donald hesitated, "...not coming. As much as it hurts me to say that! But, we can't stay here! Those Heartless! There's too many! They'll kill us!" Kairi looked back and as if summoned, there one was.

"Ah!" She shrieked, as she descended the stairs in a hurry. "This can't be happening!" She screamed as she ran toward the duo. Donald stepped forward, as did Goofy, both forming a protective barrier between her and the stray Heartless.

"I'll handle it!" Donald quacked, gripping his staff tightly. She hid behind them and watched as the little shadow, hopped down the stairs and slowly crept toward them. She looked into its beady little, yellow eyes.

Help... me...

"What?" She asked, aloud.

Donald didn't turn, "I said, 'I'll handle it!'" Kairi shook her head and pushed through them, stepping forward.

"No, wait!" She begged.

Goofy grabbed at her wrist, "Miss! Stop! It's too dangerous!" Donald ran forward and, with his staff, bonked the little Heartless over the head. Once.

Then, again.

And again!

"Confounded Heartless! Get lost, will ya!?" Kairi managed to break free from Goofy's tired grip and pushed Donald aside.

"Stop!" She fell to her knees, and held the shadow's round head in her hands. Her eyes peered into its and the strangest thing happened. She could've swore she heard a voice.

No, felt a voice.

No.

Felt his voice.

"Sora?" She asked, much to Donald and Goofy's confusement. What was wrong with her, but also, what was wrong with the Heartless?

"Is that you?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper. The pair watched on, until they felt that same old feeling. They were being watched.

Equipping his shield, Goofy turned, armed and ready. They were surrounded. Several of the same Heartless had materialized from the stone floor, twitching and hopping back and forth, much more acting like their usual selves. One leapt for Donald and while he easily avoided the attack, he went on the offensive.

"Take that!" He quacked as he cast a fire spell, followed by clobbering those he simply couldn't dismiss with magic any longer. Goofy ran full steam ahead, smashing through many of his own and Kairi was being overwhelmed. She stood, and turned. She frowned.

Donald and Goofy were in the midst of a fight for their lives and she felt a strong need to defend this particular one.

"This time," she said softly, "I'll protect you."

The Heartless crept closer and closer and finally as they encircled her, leapt into the air and descended down on the pair. Kairi turned and knelt again, shielding the little monster with her body. This did not go unnoticed by Donald, or Goofy.

"Kairi!"

"Kairi!"

They hollered in tandem, as she was enveloped by a shadowy cluster of the beasts.

---

He drifted, for eternity...

Suddenly, he saw something. The smallest shimmer of Light, in this eternal Darkness. He squinted, hard trying to make out what it was. He could swear he heard a muffled voice. What was it saying?

What?

The Light grew and grew. It was no longer a speck in this vast landscape of black, but now the size of the sun, and still growing. Sora felt his weight shift and begin to be drawn toward this Light. It stretched and stretched and stretched, until it was positively blinding. He closed his eyes tightly, as the Light hurt his vision and his mind. A memory came to his mind, of a conversation with a foe, turned friend.

I lost my way in that darkness. I couldn't find my light.

You'll find it. Trust me. I'm searching too.

For your light?

You could say that.

"This time. I'll protect you."

---

A bright, burst of Light dramatically filled the room, obliterating any and all Heartless. Donald and Goofy shielded their eyes and faces, but through slow, careful blinks saw something that gave them chills. In the middle of the room, just in front of the fountain, stood Kairi.

And Sora.

"Sora!"

"Sora!"

They exclaimed in utter disbelief.

She held him tightly, and with the softest of whispers, he muttered, "Kairi. Thank you...", before collapsing into her. He was out cold.

"Sora..." she replied softly, with a tear of gratitude streaming from her eyes. She held him up, as best as she could, before Donald and Goofy were snapped from their amazement.

"Well, golly!" Goofy hollered with joy, running to help hold him up.

Donald clapped his hands together feverishly, "Yeepee!" He yelled.

"How in the world did this just happen!?" Goofy asked as he and Kairi began to head for the front door that Donald was pushing open.

"You just have to believe, sometimes. Anything is possible then." Kairi replied with a smile.

"If you say so! I can't believe it!" Donald quacked happily. Thankfully, they'd pushed the door open and were leaving.

Unfortunately, the horde had finally made it to the Entrance Hall, and Goofy and Kairi weren't getting Sora's knocked out body along fast enough.

Goofy looked back, "Uh, Miss Kairi, go on. I'll carry him."

Kairi hesitated, "Are you sure?"

The tired Knight nodded, "He ain't heavy. He's one of my best pals." She smiled and let Goofy do as he pleased. It warmed her Heart to know that Sora had a pair of friends who cared so much about him, even if she only, inexplicably, knew bits and pieces of their story. How did she know their names like that?

That was another conversation for another time.

With the unconscious Sora being carried in Goofy's arms, Kairi was just in front of them, constantly checking back. Donald meanwhile had summoned the lift that would take them back to where they landed and rifling through his pockets for the keys to the Gummi ship. This was gonna be a close call.

The horde of Heartless had followed them, through the front door, and outside and they weren't quite nipping at Goofy's heels, but they were close.

Thankfully, the lift had arrived and Donald stepped on, "Goofy! Hurry!" He hollered, as Kairi approached and stepped on herself. She watched Goofy run as fast as he could, and finally arriving he gently placed Sora down, next to her and clambered aboard himself.

"Go!" He hollered to Donald. Donald commanded the lift to bring them back down into the cavern of water, but after turning, saw the most awful thing. The airborne Heartless dotted the skies and they were in pursuit. The lift moved as fast as it could, but they were catching up.

"Look!" Kairi screamed.

"I know!" Donald replied. "Goofy, grab Sora! Kairi, once this thing stops there's gonna be some running and jumping. Can you handle that?"

She nodded, "Sure!"

Finally, the lift did stop and just below, past a few floating rocks and never-ending waterfalls sat the Gummi ship, unharmed.

"Go!" Donald quacked. With that, the trio, plus an out cold Sora in tow, made their way down the treacherous path. They had to be faster than was safe, but they couldn't chance getting caught by the dragon and bat hybrid Heartless. Donald activated the loading ramp, and was the first to make it to the ship.

Stepping on board the ramp itself, he turned, "C'mon! Faster! They're right behind us!" Kairi slipped aboard and watched in agony as Goofy was slowing down. He was so tired. They'd been awake and fighting for their lives for hours now!

"Goofy!" Donald quacked.

"Sora!" Kairi shrieked.

Donald summoned his staff and cast the strongest cure spell he could manage upon Goofy. It proved to be the deciding factor. With the small boost of energy, Goofy ran up the boarding ramp and into the galley. Kairi followed behind, whilst Donald closed the ramp and hastily ran for the cockpit.

"Goofy, I'm gonna need you up here!" He shouted. Goofy gingerly laid Sora upon the galley floor and beat feet into the Gummi ship's command center. Donald assumed his position and cranked the Gummi ship up. Goofy watched for any anomalies.

"We're good to go, as far as I can tell, Donald!" The duck nodded. With that he flung several levers and pressed one button. The Gummi ship began to lift upward and into the sky. Goofy looked down, over the edge and watched as the Heartless seemingly began to consume Hollow Bastion.

"Oh no!" He exclaimed.

"Goofy, focus!" Donald quacked.

The Gummi ship lifted higher and higher, before it was eventually above the world's atmosphere and into space.

"Where to, Donald?" He asked.

"Traverse Town!" Donald commanded. Goofy punched in the coordinates for the world and with that, Donald shoved the accelerator forward. The Gummi ship's rockets activated and flung it forward, fast, back to Traverse Town. They'd figure out what to do, from there.

Kairi meanwhile, knelt on the galley floor next to Sora, monitoring his every move. He was still out cold, but still breathing.

"Sora?" She asked. There was no response. God how she feared that he was too far gone. Could one really come back from, whatever it was he'd done? Was it possible? What the hell even was going on? Where was that place? Who was that guy? What was going on with Riku? What happened to the islands, or the people there? Her mind raced, but one aching question kept on nagging at her.

Most importantly, was Sora going to be okay?

She watched him breath, over and over and took solace in that. At least he was breathing. And there. Physically present. She could touch him, really touch him. Her hand snaked down his arm and her fingers intertwined with his limp digits. She squeezed tightly, pressing her soft palm into his calloused one and took a deep breath.

"C'mon Sora. Fight. Wake up. Please." She said softly, her other hand laying gently on his rising and falling chest.

"For me. Please, wake up."

---

In a town where the sun never sets, yet never rises, a boy stood. He stood in front of a decrepit manor. He bore the exact resemblance of someone lost, over ten years ago. He knew nothing.

Where he was, his purpose, even his own name. His own being for that matter. He didn't exist for eternity, until he simply did. He wasn't confused, because he could not fathom confusion. Nor love, or anger, or hurt, or happiness.

He just was.

From a dark portal stepped a tall man, who wore a black, hooded, cloak. He walked closer to the boy.

"Do you want to know?" He asked in a deep, dulcet tone. The boy nodded his head, though he knew not why. The man opened his palm and from it flew four, translucent letters.

S

O

R

A

The boy watched as they floated in front of his face, his expression unreadable.

"You feel nothing. You are nothing." The man stated. "Do you seek a meaning?" He asked, the boy still simply staring at the letters. With another flick of his wrist, the hooded man made the letters fly about the boy, until with a brilliant display of light, a fifth letter was produced.

X

It drew his attention and with that the letters now formed again.

R

O

X

A

S

The hooded man stepped closer, through the letters and gently placed a gloved hand upon his shoulder.

"A new you..."