Kairi had reached her final resting place.

She expected to open her eyes and see her friends waiting for her but was instead met with the sight of a dark and cold world devoid of people. She recognized it instantly as the World That Never Was. The castle in front of her was the Organization's base.

Dread and fear filled her heart as she stared up at the castle. She had unlocked seven sleeping keyholes, that should've meant the exam was over so why hadn't she woken up yet?

"Do you remember when I said you'd sleep forever? I'm making good on my word, angelface."

Kairi summoned her keyblade at once. She recognized the voice immediately, Naminé had even sooner. "Auxdrgn!"

"It's been a while, Kairi… Naminé. You're all grown up and on your way to becoming a keyblade master, I couldn't be more proud!" Auxdrgn chuckled, holding the girl's face in her hand.

Kairi tore away at once, pointing her keyblade at the woman. "Where am I?! What did you guys do?!"

"Skipping right to the twist, hm?" The woman arched a brow, not seeming at all intimidated by her blade. "I'm sure you know how this story was supposed to end: The Sleeping Beauty awakens to see her two Prince Charmings waiting for her and they all live Happily Ever After…"

The girl gritted her teeth.

"I'm sure you've noticed by now we changed the destined ending…" She paused then, placing a finger to her cheek. "Unless… this is how it was always supposed to go. Wouldn't that be a fun surprise?"

"What are you talking about?" Kairi growled.

She sighed as if disappointed she had to dumb it down for her before bending down to her level. "We snuck our way into your exam, little one, tore you away just before it began!"

Kairi sifted through her memories of the very beginning. They'd taken the raft out to sea and then the storm had come and destroyed it, separating them. She had been plunged underwater and saw Sora and Riku swimming after her. Everything became fuzzy after that, she'd heard a voice:

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

She'd taken the hand offered, but it wasn't Sora or Riku's…

And sleep…

It was that man with the golden eyes!

Kairi gasped in shock, stumbling back. "It was a trap! You all… You tricked me!"

"That's right, darling. But don't feel too bad, you weren't the only one. We tricked all your friends too, even the supposedly great Yen Sid."

"How did you…?"

"Follow you? You were only able to travel to the past because a past version of yourself existed there. Well, he did the same thing!"

Kairi felt like her head was spinning. Ansem had been there that day. It was all so his other self, his true self, could travel back in time! Auxdrgn and that young man from before, they were working with him! "Master Xehanort!"

"So you do remember him! That saves you two introductions."

Kairi looked up in confusion. She was right, she somehow did already know Xehanort as his true self but how? They'd never met! The worst part was, all she could feel remembering him was fear and anger. "I have to get out of here!"

"Shh, shh, shh," Auxdrgn held her face in her hands. "There's no escape anymore, you've made sure of that yourself with how deep you dove. But don't worry, you'll forget allll about escaping soon."

Before she could register what was happening, the girl was wrapped in chains and surrounded by twelve figures wearing the Organization coat. Then, the boy with silver hair she'd seen so many times appeared before her.

"Come with me." He whispered gently, offering her his hand. It reminded her of how Sora had done the same the fateful night her first journey began.

Her vision began to blur as she tried to back away from him but found she was stuck in place thanks to the chains.

She caught sight of Auxdrgn gently smiling down at her between the coats. That smile had lured Naminé into feeling safe so many times… Her voice sounded soothing and calm, like a lullaby. "Sweet dreams, little one~"

Kairi collapsed into an even deeper slumber.

Kairi slowly opened her eyes to find herself falling slowly in a dark void. She looked down to see a dark platform that reminded her of the dream she'd had years ago, the one where she was vaguely told her destiny: You are the one who will open the door.

Just as she thought she'd landed and revealed the stained glass image of a past Prince of Heart, the first Heartless she ever faced with a large hole in place of its heart emerged from the stage. It revealed its gaping maw waiting to swallow her whole.

She tried with all her might to summon her keyblade, to even move at all but it was hopeless. "No!"

She was engulfed in darkness.

Kairi heard waves crashing and gulls flying overhead as she slowly opened her eyes. She quickly shielded them seeing as the sun was so bright.

It was then she realized she wasn't on just any beach, she was on Destiny Islands. I'm home…? Was this all just a bad dream?

The thought vanished when the silver-haired young man leaned over her with a smirk, causing her to jolt up in shock. She immediately regretted all the times she'd startled Sora in the same way. "Whoa!"

"Shh, listen..." The young man hushed her before, pointing ahead for her to see a silver-haired boy listening intently to the robed figure, Ansem. Despite being told to listen she couldn't make out a word of what they were saying.

The boy was about the same age that Kairi had been when she left the Islands for the first time. He had bright silver eyes full of curiosity, not yet golden from the corruption of Darkness.

"This is where it all began."

She turned to see the young man who'd trapped her in this dream sitting beside her.

He looked forward as if to tell her to keep watching.

Ansem summoned a dark corridor for the boy who stared at it with slight apprehension.

"You came from Destiny Islands, just like Sora, Riku, and I…?" Kairi whispered in surprise. She turned to him. "You're the boy that disappeared from the Islands all those years ago!"

"I see my reputation precedes me." The man smirked, turning to her. He stood up then, offering his hand to help her up.

She refused, glaring at him deeply as she rose. "They never told us your name… Who are you?"

The man chuckled, amused by her ignorance. "You don't know? But we've met so many times…"

In that moment, the man flickered into the robed figure, then Ansem in his complete form followed by Xemnas. And then, a boy appeared with the same silver hair and golden eyes. It wasn't the young man who'd followed her nor the boy she'd just seen.

A tear slipped down her cheek as she felt like she was someone else entirely. Why did her heart ache? Why could she hear someone apologizing over and over again?

She didn't have much time to think about it seeing as he transformed again.

An older man with the same piercing golden eyes stood before her before he turned back into the young man.

Her hands flew up to her mouth in shock. "Y-You're…!"

"I am Xehanort, soon to be Master Xehanort." He gave a slight bow with a sly smirk. "It feels so good to finally say that aloud…"

She knew Master Xehanort had been the one behind all this but had no idea the one guiding her had been his younger self that somehow already knew all his schemes despite not even coming up with them in his time.

The girl slowly followed him as he walked up to the entrance of Secret Spot that was now covered by a familiar white door. "Is this when it happened…?"

"That's right." Xehanort nodded, gesturing to the door. "Ansem knew Sora was his vessel long before they met simply because the boy was so dear to you, he knew you were the destined wielder before you knew yourself. These things were all quite clear after he located you."

"Located me?" Kairi asked in confusion. "How did he know where to look?"

"That's simple…"

She heard a loud boom then and saw a young Riku fly towards her. She tried to embrace him the very same way she had years ago and he passed through her once again.

Kairi slowly opened her eyes. It was getting harder and harder to open them each time. She was in Traverse Town again. She'd lost count how many times she'd been there at this point.

"A world made for the lost and abandoned, it's no wonder why you've been here so many times." She turned to see the young Xehanort beside her. "It's simply because there are so many times you've felt lost on your journeys: questioning where your home is, how much power you hold, even the one you cherish the most…"

Kairi didn't remember when she ever questioned that. There'd been a time where she could only focus on Sora since she had no idea where he was but now that everything had settled down, she knew her heart had room for another cherished person. She loved them both equally. There was no debate on that. "What's your point?"

Xehanort gave a soft chuckle. "It's just that soon enough, you will never have to feel the pain of being lost ever again. You will know where you truly belong."

Kairi felt a shiver go down her spine at that. She already knew where she belonged, with Riku, Sora and all their friends.

Just as she thought of them, Daisy and Clarabelle suddenly walked right through her in Traverse Town, paying her no mind. "Daisy, Clarabelle!"

At this point she had no idea what was real or fake, she didn't really care. All she knew was she wanted her friends by her side.

She ran up the stairs after them but when she reached the top, they vanished. "Where…?"

The girl was suddenly run through again, this time by the small mouse Queen and her kitten. "Your Highness! Figaro!"

She chased them to the door that was once unmovable and expected to push it open only to find she couldn't. She shoved harder.

Kairi…!

Kairi!

That sounds like Riku… and Sora too! Kairi realized.

But before she could call out to them, the world began to spin and grow hazy. The tired feeling was becoming far too familiar.

Before she knew it, she collapsed.

When she opened her eyes, she found herself back in The World That Never Was. "Back here again…?"

She suddenly became aware of someone watching her and turned to see a painfully familiar boy. She finally recognized him now, Roxas. The boy who she'd promised to thank for saving her. How'd he get in the Realm of Sleep? "Roxas…!"

He looked at her sadly before turning away and running up the steps towards the castle.

"Roxas, wait!" Kairi called, running after him.

When he wouldn't listen, she grabbed his arm. "Roxas, please! I need to tell you something!"

He turned to face her but then transformed into someone else: a boy with pale blue hair wearing an organization coat.

His face, it's the same as Riku's…! Kairi thought to herself. "W-Who are you?"

He looked saddened as he glanced away. At that angle, it almost looked as if his eyes had changed color.

How could she say that? Naminé knew who he was, deep, deep in her heart. If only she could remember him fully, not just the sadness of having lost him…

Kairi felt a tear run down her face and slowly wiped it away. "Why do I feel so sad…?"

The boy suddenly pulled away from her, putting up his hood as he did.

"Wait!" Kairi begged. Just as she was about to run after him, she heard those voices again. They sounded fainter this time, more muffled than before.

Please, open your eyes!

You've got to wake up!

She tried to remember who exactly was calling her but her mind was so fuzzy, she just couldn't. Was all this really just a dream? But it felt so real…

She had to figure it out for herself.

She had found the hooded individual after chasing them all the way to the castle. "Won't you please tell me who you are?"

They pulled off their hood not to reveal the boy from before but-

"Naminé…!"

The girl looked surprised to see her too but then smiled, placing a hand to her heart in relief. "Kairi, I'm so glad I found you!"

Found me? Kairi wondered in confusion. "But I've been the one chasing you!"

"That's the whole point." Her other whispered, taking Kairi's hands in her own. "I have to tell you something, it's important: you can't keep diving in after us, after me… It has already put you in so much danger, it took me so long to find you because you're-"

"I don't care what happens to me!" Kairi interrupted her.

Naminé's eyes widened in surprise.

"So many people are connected to me, waiting for me to remember them so they can wake up. Including you, Naminé. I can't stand the idea of you being trapped in my heart!"

"I-It's alright." Naminé was clearly lying to her just to protect her feelings. "I don't even have a heart of my own so…"

"You know that's not true." Kairi grunted. "You've felt everything that ever happened to you, I could sense it when we first fought. I can't just go on with my life knowing you're not able to live yours. If I follow this path and unlock the memories in my heart, maybe I'll be able to finally help you all."

There were tears in Naminé's eyes as she listened. "… I always wondered why you had to be the one to live… and now I know. You care so much about others that you risk everything, even your own heart… It's no wonder I could never compete."

How could anyone, including Naminé herself, make her feel like she was inferior to Kairi after everything she'd been through? That she didn't deserve to live as much as Kairi did? She embraced her other, knowing she needed the hug. "… I'm so sorry, Naminé. For everything."

Naminé leaned her forehead against Kairi's as she had the last time they met. She knew there was no changing Kairi's mind. She was going to follow the dreams no matter what Naminé or anyone said. All she and those connected to her could do was try and keep her heart safe while she did.

When she pulled away, Kairi found herself alone. Naminé had disappeared back into her heart. "I lost her again…"

All this pain and suffering they'd gone through, was it all Xehanort? How could he hurt so many innocent people for his own selfish desires?

She glared up at the sky, calling out to the Organization with a scream in anger. "Why are you doing this to me? Why?!"

But there was no answer besides the whistling of the wind. If she'd had listened close enough, she would've heard Sora and Riku calling out to her:

You can't keep running after those dreams, you gotta wake up, Kairi!

The further you go, the farther you're falling into his trap!

But she didn't listen. Her attention was caught by other versions of them.

Sora and Riku fled just like the others had, leading Kairi to run after them like she had been for years now.

"Sora! Riku! Wait!" Kairi called, following them as they walked towards the castle.

They finally stopped, allowing her to catch up to them.

"We're finally together again!" Kairi beamed through breaths.

Sora and Riku turned to her with matching smiles but then began to shift and morph with the world until they were gone, replaced by two people Kairi didn't recognize.

"Aqua." Terra called, offering her his hand.

"Aqua!" Ven grinned, doing the same as the other young man.

"Who…?" Kairi heard herself say before it felt like someone else was in control of her body, reaching out to the two young men.

Aqua smiled with tears rolling down her cheeks, relieved to see them both. She didn't care if it was a dream or not, it was wonderful to see them safe and sound.

Despite this, her friends turned away from her before fading back into Sora and Riku.

She panted heavily as the world swirled around her. Her head felt like it was underwater as she reached out for her loved ones, realizing they weren't any closer then they had been moments ago.

"Kairi! Don't follow them! We're right here, don't you hear us?!"

"Come back to us, Kairi! Don't get lost in this dream!"

She could finally hear their voices again and register who they were coming from. She looked forward to see Sora and Riku were still in front of her but they hadn't said a word… "What's… What's happening?"

Her friends flickered between Aqua's before they vanished entirely. In their place was a bright light that engulfed her, unlocking memories that had been hidden away for over a decade.

Sora and Kairi had raced across the beach as they normally did before going home for the night before Sora suddenly slid to a stop. Kairi followed his lead before noticing a boy they'd never seen before staring out at the sea.

They exchanged curious glances before looking at him again.

He must've felt them watching because he turned to them, causing Kairi to run off as to not get caught.

Sora had talked to that kid for a bit and wouldn't tell her what they talked about, saying it was a secret. He'd kept it ever since.

Before she'd forgotten that boy, she'd sometimes wonder if they'd ever have a chance to meet properly.

She had hugged Sora's arm as the stranger approached. He bent down before smiling at them kindly, easing her worry.

After they introduced themselves, the man asked her something strange: "Kairi, do you like Sora?"

"No!" She replied, crossing her arms. "I love Sora! He's my best friend!"

Love. It'd been so easy to say back then. Maybe because at the time, it was simply platonic. They were only kids then. Now that they were older, Kairi found herself both nervous and excited every time she wanted to say it to Sora and Riku, so it usually never came out.

"Kairi, Sora… I need you two to promise me something, it's very important."

Right, they'd promised him something that day.

"You two gotta promise me you'll stick together. If one of you sees the other walking down a dark path, you have to go after them, stay by their side…"

The day had been forgotten, but never the promise. It had lived on in her heart, not only for Sora but Riku too. She'd always protect them and go after them if they were taken by the darkness. And she'd kept true to it many times now.

She knew they'd keep it too.

Kairi watched as they made pinkie promises to the man before feeling someone watching her. Her heart clenched in fear as she turned only to see a brown cloak only inhabited by a heart.

The sight of him caused a huge wave of sleep to overtake her, shoving her even deeper into the darkness.

Kairi grabbed her chest in pain as she fell to her knees. This must've been the pain Yen Sid had warned her about having to face when she remembered the missing wielders. Those two young men, they must've been Master Eraqus' apprentices. But why hadn't she remembered the third? Was that memory buried even deeper?

"Aw, I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to hurt so bad! But I wasn't my fault, those two were about to wake you up and so I simply had to put you into a deeper sleep."

She glared angrily up at Auxdrgn. "The reason I'm hurting is because I remembered them: Terra and Ventus."

"Oh, did you now?" Auxdrgn smirked, bending down to her. "It must be so painful to remember them, huh? Especially with what's hiding in your heart that's probably begging to be released!"

What I'm hiding? Kairi wondered. "I'm lost…"

"I guess you forgot what to do when you're lost, huh?" The woman said, placing a finger to her cheek before placing a hand to her chest. "Remember: let your heart be your guiding key!"

Kairi's eyes widened in suprise. How does she know that line? It's only said by keyblade masters, does that mean she learned it from one of them?

"That statement's never been more true than now, when our heart have guided us to where we were meant to be." Auxdrgn chuckled, grabbing Kairi by the chin.

"Our hearts?" Kairi repeated with a raised brow. She narrowed her eyes. "You do have hearts! All of you!"

Auxdrgn merely watched as the girl beamed in victory.

"Larxene, Roxas, Naminé, and that other boy, the entire Organization, they all laughed, cried, got angry, got scared…! Naminé was right!"

"Yes, she was."

Xemnas appeared out of a dark corridor, causing Kairi to stand and face him.

"After a body loses its heart, it's only a matter of time before it grows another in its place. That's the answer you and Naminé have been searching for all along."

He knew about it this whole time… and lied. Kairi's triumphant smile faded in realization. She felt an overwhelming anger that was more Naminé than her as she glared at him. Her voice overlapped with Naminé's "You… You lied to everybody! You told them we didn't have hearts- You told them they couldn't feel anything, that they were experiencing phantom pains when it was all overwhelmingly real! And you and Auxdrgn, you guys made me think Naminé- that I was crazy just so I wouldn't reveal the truth! Why?! Why would you do that?!"

"Oh, don't be so dramatic, darling! If it matters that much, I'll just tell you!" Auxdrgn grinned sharply, circling her. "Xemnas formed the Organization simply because he needed empty vessels. That was only possible by breaking the poor things' hearts, filling them with so much pain and misery until they had no resistance when Kingdom Hearts injected them with another heart: Master Xehanort's."

Kairi felt her blood run cold, her heart felt like it'd dropped into her stomach at the thought of the entire Organization including Naminé becoming someone else entirely. Naminé's spirit had faded away, retreating back into Kairi's heart to process the shattering truth. "Y-You mean they were going to be taken over by Xehanort…?"

"Mhm. And even if they did resist, it's not like it would last long. After a while, they wouldn't be able to tell which was them and which was him, thinking everything he wanted was what they wanted as well. I would know, my heart obeys without question now."

Kairi stared into her golden eyes, that same as Xehanort's. How long had he been a part of her? "Are you… even you anymore?"

"No. The person I was before died a long time ago." Auxdrgn lied flawlessly, not about to tell the truth that her heart had resisted all these years. It seemed like everyone regardless of if they were sided with the light or dark was ultimately clueless.

"Unlike Auxdrgn, the others grew to be inadequate. They all were far too…fragile to ever be of use. But because of that, we learned we simply mustn't relent on a heart we wish to consume. No matter how long it takes, every heart we've chosen will eventually break and give way to Xehanort's."

"How could you say something so horrible?!" Kairi cried. She glared at Xemnas fiercely, summoning her keyblade. "Those hearts belong to the people they reside within, not Master Xehanort! That isn't their destiny!"

"Oh, you'd know all about destiny, wouldn't you, Kairi?" Auxdrgn asked, walking up to her. She gestured to the keyblade in her hands with a laugh. "That's the reason you have the keyblade in the first place. Destiny said you would have a beautiful blade carved from your very heart, promised to you long before you were even born… All that's happened to you, all that will happen, everything you own, everyone you love, it was all because you had a lucky break…"

"Lucky?" Kairi repeated with a scoff. Besides the people in her life, she couldn't think of a single other good thing destiny had brought her. It had ripped her away from ever having a normal childhood, a normal life at all. She'd been forced to watch countless people she loved and considered her friends suffer and lose themselves. She'd lost everything and had been forced to get it all back. And when she did, she was always worrying about if it would be taken again. All of that was apparently because her fate declared it. In what universe was that lucky? "I don't wield the keyblade because I'm lucky or because it's my destiny…"

Auxdrgn's smile faded, her face looking genuinely confused. What other reason is there for wielding it? She wondered. For doing anything at all?

"I wield it because it's the only way I can protect the people I love from darkness and whatever else wants to hurt them." Kairi continued, looking deep into her golden eyes, hoping Xehanort could see her through them too. "And besides, my destiny alone doesn't decide what will happen to me. The fates of my friends and even the people against me like you and Xehanort, they all add to it. We're all connected just like the worlds. There is one sky, one destiny!"

Auxdrgn backed away, clutching a hand to her chest as more emotion than she'd felt in ages filled her heart because of this declaration. Anger, disgust, disappointment, sadness, but most of all guilt. "No! No, no, Y-you're wrong, that's impossible!"

Kairi took a small step back in surprise at the candid display of feeling.

"You think you get to decide what happens to you?!" She laughed sharply, eyes wide. "You little fool! Your fate isn't yours to decide! Destiny can only be changed by those powerful enough to change it and even then…!"

She trailed off as she panted for air, attempting to stop her panic. She then pulled up her hood before turning into a dark corridor. "Just accept it. It's already too late for you to escape."

Escape? Kairi wondered before she suddenly heard a familiar sound of weapons being unleashed.

She glared back to see Xemnas smirking down at her as he held his twin blades of green light. "You lost the moment you heeded Xehanort's call…"

"No, I didn't… I didn't mean to! Stop trying to manipulate me!" Kairi yelled as she leapt at him. Her dark feelings took over and encased the girl, turning her into her dark form.

Xemnas only laughed before vanishing into a dark orb and shooting across the arena, leaving the girl to pivot.

Kairi thought she might've accidentally made herself dizzy until she heard the twisting buildings start to actually hit the ground. She gasped in surprise before trying to run and then glide out of the way, only to receive a piece of debris hitting her square in the shoulder.

"Ah!" She landed, gripping her shoulder tightly before trying to heal herself. Seeing as her magic was now tinted with darkness, it did just the opposite, causing a burning sensation instead.

"Stop.. You have to stop using this power!" She heard Naminé suddenly call out to her.

"No." Kairi hissed back as she glared at Xemnas, barely paying attention to her other half. "He needs to pay for everything he did to everyone, to us!"

Saki healed her shoulder before she could lunge at the man, earning her a simple stare from Kairi. The spirit gave a whimper in fear, having never seen her so angry before.

Her keyblade charged with darkness as she kicked off a building and up to Xemnas. She slashed wildly but only managed to hit him a few times, the man being able to block the rest.

The girl breathed heavily before beginning to cast a volley of spells all tainted with dark magic.

Xemnas was hit back before Kairi raised her keyblade in the air, charging a final blast of darkness.

He was able to block but the darkness still engulfed him, leaving Kairi alone.

The girl faded out of her dark form but the aura still persisted around her body as she fell to the ground, utterly exhausted.

Her keyblade slipped from her hand before vanishing as she stared up at the milky sky. It feels like all my energy is gone… I don't even have enough to feel Naminé… Was this what she was trying to warn me about…?

Instead of her other, the youthful Xehanort appeared before her, not seeming the least bit surprised to see her in such a pitiful state.

"This… This is what you wanted to happen…?" Kairi asked weakly, staring up at him.

"But of course." Xehanort smirked down at her, his eyes seeming to glow as she struggled to stay focused on them. "You've chased us so very deep into slumber. Even if you could find your way back, you're too weak to even attempt to escape…"

He's right… I can't even move, my body feels so heavy… I… I just want to sleep… The girl fought to keep her eyes open. "I… I just…"

"You just wanted to save the ones connected to your heart, to save Naminé and the others waiting for you to set them free…" The young man whispered. "That's what makes this all so tragic."

"That's my destiny!" Kairi growled, trying to place a hand to her heart but failing. "The one I chose-!"

"Please, haven't you been listening? You have no choice in what happens to you." He said, reminding her of what Auxdrgn said earlier. "The only reason you're here is because my future self deemed you would be. He is in control of your destiny."

"No… No, that can't be…!" It was faint, but she could feel something ache at the thought of Xehanort controlling her fate, as if he had claimed to once before.

"Today, all my fellow selves throughout time have gathered. We are all here to welcome you, Kairi. You who once had a grand role to play in defeating us… shall now come to an even greater purpose: being my final vessel."

That's why they've been after me for all this time! They want me to be…! Her eyes widened in shock and terror, tears already forming at the thought. Her heart and all those inside screamed against this, they'd all escaped Xehanort and the Organization before but she was so helpless now. What if they were able to succeed this time and make her theirs? "No, no, please no…!"

He ignored her pleas which weren't even directed at him, more to herself, begging her to run. He bent down to the shaking girl, smiling coldly. "Oh, there's no need to cry. After all, this is who you were always meant to be."

She gritted her teeth as the world began to spin, her heart aching with the pain the darkness brought it. She wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.

"If it's any comfort, you will still complete your goal." Xehanort smirked, as if it was some comfort. "My future self will still gladly use you to guide the missing hearts back to the Realm of Light... And just like you, they will be engulfed in darkness, perfect puppets for their new master."

No… She couldn't even make out the words as she felt herself sinking into the darkness, into Xehanort's clutches. All those people… they were counting on me to lead them back into the light but instead…!

"I have told you all I know." The man muttered, gazing down at her. "We are all here and after our gathering, what the future holds in store is beyond my sight. I will return to my own time and grow into the man who will become all these others. Returning will erase the memories and experiences I have gained here. Still, my appointed path is now etched in my heart which will lead me to continue down the dark road I've walked since the passing of those most dear to me…"

Those most dear… Kairi normally would've asked him what he meant, who could've been so important to have lost that it would lead him into darkness but all her muddled mind could think of was her own precious ones. They'd fulfill their promise, wouldn't they? "Sora… Riku…"

"With any luck, your heart will remain trapped slumbering within the folds of darkness…" Xehanort murmured, his voice sounding like a gentle lullaby to her tired mind. "Even if it isn't completely, you'll find that you'll never have full control over your body ever again... Hm, you will serve as an excellent vessel."

Kairi's eyes finally fluttered shut, her heart falling into a deep slumber with only the darkness to hold her tight.

"Sleep well, Kairi…"

The sleeping girl sunk deeper and deeper into her own darkness which began to wrap around her, trying to consume her entirely.

But it was then that a light appeared.

Aqua's light pierced through Kairi's darkness, chasing the girl into its depths, intent on protecting her just as she'd done all these years.

The heart formed into the young woman who gently caught the girl before landing on the stained glass that was her heart. Her landing caused some of the darkness to ripple away, revealing Kairi's loved ones on the heart's surface that now held an image of Aqua and Naminé as well.

"I don't know how long I can keep away from my sleep but..." Aqua whispered softly. "I will protect you as long as I can."

She embraced the girl, causing her keyblade armour to appear around her defenseless heart.

Aqua smiled hopefully down at the girl before glaring up into the darkness, feeling Kairi being placed in front of the man she'd once called master.

"… It's my turn to be your guardian…"