A/N: Let's keep this short, shall we? This is a full rewrite of my older story, Kingdom Hearts: Path of Twilight. The original was over ten years old, and while my younger self may have thought it was good, when I looked back on it, I realized how poor it was. I've grown a lot as a writer since then, and as Path of Twilight was the very first story I published on this site, I felt it was right to give it the makeover it so desperately needed. So, here we are. If you are familiar with the original, hopefully you find this better. If you aren't, hopefully you enjoy it all the same. Ah, and before I forget:

Disclaimer: This story is nothing more than a non-profit story created by a fan of Kingdom Hearts. I own nothing of KH whatsoever, as that's the realm of Square-Enix and Disney. Please don't sue, okay?

Alright, with that out of the way, we can get the ball rolling. Happy reading, guys!

Prologue: Meeting of Shadows

Lightning streaked across the sky, accompanied by the unmistakable sound of thunder, as rain fell on a field that seemed to stretch on for miles. The only structure around was a large, black castle that looked as if it didn't belong. It loomed over the expansive field like a predator waiting to swallow unsuspecting prey that wandered too close. As lightning flashed in the dark sky again and illuminated the field below, a lone figure wearing a dark cloak slipped through the massive oaken doors that granted entry into the structure, moving swiftly in a mad attempt to get out of the rain. The hall beyond was cold and uninviting due to the lack of any type of décor or color other than that of the gray stone that were the walls, though the cloaked visitor was quite familiar with the drab setup.

The figure descended a spiraling staircase that was in the entrance hall and headed into the castle's depths. At the bottom of the staircase was a door with what looked like the symbol for infinity, save for the jagged lines that extended upward from either end, resembling something akin to horns.

The cloaked presence stood in front of the door and placed a hand on the insignia. It began to glow with a dark aura, followed by the unmistakable sound of a lock being released. The door slowly creaked open, revealing an almost pitch dark room within. A single ray of light was all that provided sight into the black void, shining down on a table. The figure strode into the room, heading to the table where six others sat quietly, seemingly awaiting the new arrival. They each wore a dark cloak like the mysterious figure, which obscured their faces and gave the entire gathering an ominous feel.

"I see you've decided to show up," said one of the already waiting six. The arriving party took a seat in the only empty chair at the table and removed the hood of their cloak, revealing a green-haired girl who looked no older than sixteen.

"Yes, I'm here. I suppose you assumed I wasn't coming, right? Well, here I am. Why don't you get on with whatever it is you needed to say," the girl said harshly, looking bored.

"I concur," said one of the others, his voice deep and almost feral. "Some of us have important matters to attend to, and time is munny, as they say." The man's words were met by an airy laugh.

"Oh, how rich," said a second girl, struggling to contain her laughter. "You think that your beastly hobbies are of actual importance? Such ridiculousness."

"You'd do well to hold your tongue, wench," growled the feral man dangerously. "Otherwise I'll gladly rip it out of your mouth!"

"We've spoken about the squabbling before," said another man, his voice cold and commanding. "This is not the time for blustering and threats among allies. We have a problem that needs to be addressed immediately and we will need to work together."

The feral man growled again. "It isn't my fault that whelps like her don't know their place."

"You can't really blame her for that, though," the green haired girl said. "Most people wouldn't consider the actions of a mutt worth much consideration."

"You dare speak to me like that? Do you wish to be ripped apart by my claws?"

"Relax, it was a simple joke." The green haired girl twirled a lock of her hair absentmindedly, still looking bored. She addressed the man with the cold voice, "I'm fairly certain our problems still center on our witchy friend and Organization XIII, correct?"

"You're half right. The witch is still a thorn in our side, but we seem to have had a stroke of luck regarding the Organization. They have all fallen, and will no longer be an issue for us," the cold- voiced man replied.

Another of the shadowy figures spoke up at this, his tone suggesting that he was impressed. "They have been defeated? Dare I ask who did the deed?"

"Of course, it was the keybearer, Sora. As he had already slain several of the members some time back, it shouldn't come as much of a surprise, especially to you, Glen."

"No, it doesn't. It does, however, cause me some degree of worry." The one called Glen stroked his chin thoughtfully, his mind calculating. "By my estimate, the Organization was much stronger than we are, and if they were defeated, we stand no chance against Sora."

"I don't believe that for a second," yet another new voice said, this one sounding offended. "The only reason we didn't deal with the Organization ourselves is because of that damn witch. If she hadn't been hounding us, we'd have crushed those fools."

"You underestimate the power they wielded," Glen said coolly. "Xemnas alone would've been a massive challenge to overcome, let alone the might of the entire group."

"You're forgetting that Sora didn't exactly fight them alone, though," the green haired girl spoke up. "He fought alongside his friends. Strength in numbers and all that, right?"

There was an outbreak of murmuring at the girl's words, almost everyone present throwing in their thoughts on the matter. Only two of the people in the room chose to remain quiet; the man with the commanding tone, and the one who sat at the head of the table, who had yet to utter a single word. They had the unmistakable air of a leader, with the way they surveyed the five that were talking. After a few minutes had passed, the figure raised their hand to silence the others. The conversation died immediately, everyone's attention snapping to the leader.

"We must be careful about how we proceed," they said, the voice unidentifiable as either male or female. "Glen is right in assuming that Sora is strong, but a careful approach will see him fall to us, and his Keyblade acquired. The six of you will work together in the acquisition, and you will not fail. I need not remind you that possession of the Keyblade is necessary for my plans. Do I make myself clear?"

"Clear as crystal," the green haired girl said, getting up. "If there's nothing more that needs to be said, I think I'll be going now. We really should keep these meetings as short as this in the future. It's quite nice."

She left the room without another word, neglecting to wait until being formally dismissed. The leader simply laughed quietly, head shaking. The door then opened once again and the girl poked her head through.

"Well, what are you all waiting for? We've a Keyblade wielder to snag. No time like the present," she said before closing the door once more.

"Someone's eager," the leader said, voice filled with amusement.