Darkness and smoke. Not a blade of grass was to be found across a series of desolate islands. Rock. Blackness. Even cool ocean breezes seemed to shy around it. Recent signs of magma expansion could be found across several barren landmasses. But it was not the sight of a volcano that a corridor of Light opened to. Five figures stepped out of the door and on to the warm rocks.

"Gawrsh, this is the place we're supposed to be? Sure is spooky."

"And empty. This is the place where the Heart of a goddess was kept?" Donald asked.

"This is the place," King Mickey assured his captain and magician. His short side mission had not taken him so far off track so not to prepare for the upcoming conflicts. "It looks this way because the Heart is gone. From what I understand this place is normally very beautiful."

"But, your Majesty, there's no one here," Ven stated. "It can't be that we're early, can it?"

"It might be," Aqua answered first. Though she had important and unique responsibilities too, the Master had been summoned as needed muscle now that Riku was out of the lineup. "We knew when we agreed to bring the past selves of the others here events might change. Maybe the choices of their past versions changed a decision of Xhosar and his remaining princesses."

"Things could still change until we send the past back to the past." Goofy said.

"That was such an odd sentence." Ven commented.

The veteran Master chuckled. "It is. But there is a reason we are here. All things have pointed to the past and present versions of our friends will be coming here. If the past gets here first, Aqua, Ven and myself will intercept them and make sure they stay away from their future. Everything will come to a head very soon. We can't risk anything strange or bad happening of the two interact directly."

All present nodded. They were all a part of the decision to get help from the past. Much of that very long discussion involved the headache of thinking about how possible consequences might work should the two timelines meet. True, Mickey, Aqua and Ventus were not involved so directly but ripples spread and could be far reaching.

Suddenly the ground rumbled. Rocks cracked. The black smoke thickened and rose up in an ominous cloud. From within it flashes of red and orange shone through the black before getting swallowed once again. The group flinched at a horrible shriek that seemed to come from all around. A massive fist came down through the smoke. The blow was dodged easily enough (though more gracefully for some than others). From the smoke emerged a titan of lava and rock. Flaming eyes glowed down at them. Streams of ashy smoke came out from all over its body. Once again it drew back the fist of earth and fire brought it down upon them.

"Get back!" Mickey cried.

Everyone scattered further. No one was hurt.

"What is that!" Ven exclaimed.

"That is the goddess!" Donald shouted. "This is what happened when her Heart was stolen!"

"Does that mean she's a Heartless?" Aqua shouted back.

"I-I don't think so," Goofy answered. "I think I remember it meant she just wasn't…whole."

"But is she…aware?" Aqua asked, her own heart sinking.

"Look out!" Donald cried.

The fire demon formed a mass of rock and magma in its hand and made to slam it against the little islands. The fireball hit the stone. But, as it was partly rock the heated mass bounced twice before landing in the ocean with a harsh skizzling splat. The titan pulled itself closer to the fleeing intruders before raising a flaming fist yet again.

"Wait!" Aqua cried. She skidded to a stop and turned to face her assailant. "Stop!"

No waiting. No stopping. The blow came down hard.

"Aqua!" Ven shouted.

The creature of earth and flame hadn't pulled back. Aqua held her ground, Keyblade raised and a dome of white-blue energy around her.

"Are you the goddess, Te Fiti? We're here to help you!"

The lava beast hesitated before drawing back. Bright red-orange eyes looked angry and distrustful.

"I promise you we're are not allied with the ones who stole your Heart!"

The rocky face contorted into a disgusted, distrusting scowl.

"It's true!" Mickey ran up.

Respectfully he knelt. At his side Aqua dismissed her Keyblade and did the same. Ven, Donald and Goofy came back making similar signs of respect.

"You may not know us but we know what's happened to you," Mickey continued. "We're here to set it right."

"More people will be coming soon," Ven said. "Many will be allies but some will be the ones who did this to you."

"Honest truth! Or my name's not Donald Duck!"

"Yeah, or Goofy!"

The damaged goddess looked at each of them carefully. Could there truly be no deceit behind their words? Could they truly be enemies of the thieves? Though still hesitant she held herself much calmer than before.

Aqua stood up and stepped forward. "I can't imagine what this whole ordeal must be like for you. But if all this has you feeling scared, hopeless and so, so desperate to find a way out of a darkness seemingly without end, I promise you, I know what that's like. I was once trapped in an endless dark place. I couldn't find a way out of it alone. Please trust that guiding you out of your darkness is all any of us want."

Ven also stood up. "Help us to help you,"

Donald and Goofy nodded eagerly. Mickey stepped up beside Aqua. He offered his hand welcomingly.

Te Fiti looked down at them, molten features frozen with disbelief and emotions she couldn't say. Black ash plumes spewed less angrily off her body. The rock of her form darkened as the flames within died down. Slowly she extended her blackened hand to the little king. Mickey placed his hand on her fingertip. It was still warm but not painful. Aqua, Ventus, Donald and Goofy stepped up and did the same. The look of gratitude they received was almost enough to move them to tears.

"An alliance with a goddess, how poetic."

A new voice was accompanied by a sudden wave of Darkness. A Dark corridor opened on a nearby rocky island. From it stepped only three figures. Two were beautiful twin-like women. The third, an old man who carried himself with dignity. Mickey and company jumped to their battle stances.

"Such hostility. Shame we cannot be civil,"

"Civil!?" Donald squawked. "You're the one who started all of this!"

"Xhosar, I assume," Mickey said.

"Indeed," He answered. "Forgive me that we have not met in person before now. Am I not what you expected?"

Based on how Nobodies usually appear compared to their Original it could be honestly said none of them had pictured Xhosar to look the way he did. Yes, but not quite. He looked different from Xehanort, but still much like how when you can tell two men are brothers. His face was less narrow and skull-like. The actual presence of hair was certainly a surprise. From ear to ear around the back of his head the man had snowy hair that brushed his shoulders. The goatee was similar only a little longer and went further up either side of his jawline. Between that and the long robe he wore Xhosar looked like some kind of holy wise man and he had impeccable posture. Even from being in his presence for just a few moments those who knew Xehanort could sense distinct similarities in atmosphere and demeanor. But, at the same time differences stood out as prominently and not just from appearance. Obviously everyone had to assume Xhosar did not seek the same things as his Somebody. However, the mind tends to circle back to what it knows.

Te Fiti, correctly reading the room, reared back to her full height. The cooled rocky surface of her body lit up as the raging flames within rekindled.

"Ah, yes. Where are my manners?"

Xhosar bowed to her. Adaira and Arihana did the same but with a distinguishable mocking undertone to their body language. Te Fiti noticed this immediately. If Xhosar was also being patronizing it was much harder to detect. Either way it was clear these were not the expected allies Mickey had mentioned.

"I see there's less of you than before," Donald commented darkly. "Not as strong as you've been claiming this whole time, huh?"

Arihana glared daggers at him. The stones on her gauntlets sparked. "You are bold to mock our fallen sisters so openly,"

Xhosar shook his head sadly. "Alas our losses have been great. Brylissa's spark went out at the hands of your past friends and a denizen of this world, who will be dealt with later. How anyone managed to get the better of the beautiful Cosmaira I may forever wonder. I can no longer sense Jesarae or Ayomi on this world. They have not answered my summons and I fear the worst. Even," He paused, lowering his head as if in lament. "Even Maleficent has not returned. I came to know her quite well, you know. Her ambitions were inspiring."

"You mean evil," Ventus said.

"Perspective," Xhosar corrected.

Oh boy, did Ven look eager to express a word or three to that.

"However, our grief shall be short lived." Xhosar continued.

"I suppose your grief will be lessened once you exact your revenge on the ones responsible?" Aqua said scowling.

"Perhaps you have forgotten already," Arihana smirked identically to Adaira. "We possess the source of all life on this world."

Xhosar pulled something small from a pocket lining his robe. Te Fiti's eyes widened then her face contorted with rage.

"You can't have learned how to use its power already!" Mickey cried, alarmed. "It's impossible-!"

Te Fiti reared up, shrieking. A sloppy mess of molten rock formed in her hand. The giant mass hurled directly at Xhosar, trailing like a comet. Xhosar didn't flinch. With a gentle motion like casually tossing an unwanted sock over ones shoulder the flaming projectile rose up higher in its path and kept going. The trailing lava missed the three of them and cooled immediately into small boulders of obsidian.

Mickey and the others stood alarmed and on their guard. By no means were the heroes strangers to incredible powers or abilities. All of them had such skills. But it was the ease of redirecting a flying magma ball that got their attention. He hadn't even drawn a weapon!

"As I was about to answer," Xhosar said, composing himself. "I have not yet attuned to such a marvelous artifact-."

"Then you won't miss it if we take it back!" Goofy said, holding up his shield readily.

The old Nobody sighed from being interrupted. "Perhaps my desire for civil conversation was indeed misplaced. Your desire for combat against me and my fellows is so dense in the air I can taste it."

"Or you could return the Heart to whom it belongs and we wouldn't have to fight to get it back," Ventus said.

It was clear by his tone the suggestion was sarcastic but the sister Nobodies laughed all the same.

"With the doors of opportunity something that powerful could open? My, my, this one is amusing," Adaira said.

"Do you not recognize him, sister? He is the boy who restored dear Aurora's Heart. In a roundabout way you could say he's partly responsible for your existence."

For a brief moment Adaira looked to Ventus delighted and even a little smitten before both princesses started laughing again.

"Enough!" King Mickey stepped forward. "If coming to blows is the only option then so be it. We are prepared to do whatever it takes to return what you stole, restore this world and keep the rest safe from you."

"Whatever it takes," Xhosar repeated. "Indeed. Be it so."

With a slight movement of his hand the cloth belt around his waist untied itself and the ends appeared to retract into nothingness. He took the edges of the robes front and opened it slightly. The garment did the same as the sash, just kept folding back on itself then into nothing. Beneath it he wore a simple set of tunic and breeches and wide cloth sash around his waist. The stitching and paneling made very crisp and geometric lines. Everything was some kind of ivory cream color except for his tan leather boots. But wardrobe choices were of little interest after he extended his hand and a very familiar bright flicker surrounded it.

"Wha-!" Donald squawked.

"How did he get a Keyblade!" Goofy exclaimed.

In his hand Xhosar held a weapon they all knew too well. It looked to be a pale reflection of the Gazing eye. Structurally it was very similar. Only the wings of the handle were feathered, not webbed. Instead of a long-horned goat-like creature at the base the beast featured was more like a broad nosed deer. The shaft still consisted of two pillars but there were no jagged edges. Lastly the blade as a whole looked to be made of light carved marble rather than dark crafted metal.

"I…I don't think it is a true Keyblade," Aqua said, trying to understand why she thought that. "It-there's something…off about it."

"It's still powerful, I can tell that much." Ven added.

"We can't wait until the others get here," King Mickey took his battle stance. "This fight begins with us."

Title Translation: The Stand