I ain't your pal, buddy.

A journal is an interesting choice, but leaves everything a bit fragmented. Feels like time jumps really quickly and sporadically.

Otherwise, good job!

Nico finally has all his memories in the end of both his time as a human and heartless
He was devastated when he finally remembered what happened to Ashley
She maybe gone for now but it doesn't mean she won't come back one day
Can't wait to see how Nico moves forward from this

is there going to be sora x kairi? and roxas x namine?

Got to admit that this is an interesting twist
Nico has his old human form and his memory is somewhat scattered
I wonder if Branden did the same thing to Ashley in order to save her
Can't wait to see what secrets about both Nico and Cross will revealed during this arc

I really hope Ashley isn't gone forever and will reunite with Nico
However until then he is going to be very sad and lonely
Can't wait to see what secrets will be revealed
Also what you you mean by last arc there still a lot of kingdom hearts content to go through, unless you mean it's the end of Nico and Ashley's journey as heartless

Wow. This chapter was really unique. The most memorable parts that I loved were the scenes with Nico and Roku. I'm happy that they are working with each other and helping each other to better themselves. When Nico woke up and saw that Roku was a black fungus, I felt my heart warm. I think black fungi are really cute. I wish that Nico had danced with him. I think that it would be a really great bonding moment for them if they decided to create a dance contest or something together, but Tres comes in and tells Roku to stop wasting his time with a "lost cause" and to get some real work done unless he wants to be kicked out. Since he is already on his last chance, Tres would most likely outright say that he'll kick him out. Nico would be understandably upset, but if he manages to keep Roku in check in the next chapter, and convince him that he doesn't need his brothers approval or acceptance, that Nico already believes in him; then it may very well be Roku who finally stands up to his brother with Nico's encouragement in his head. Whether a fight would break out or Tres comes to respect Roku is up to you; but one thing is for sure, Roku would no longer be pushed around by his brother.

I like Agrabah, it's one of my favorite worlds because of the music. The characters in it are also really well written. I feel bad for the two bandits, however, this is the life they chose, and there are consequences.

I'm sure that Ashley's scarf will be okay. this is also a great opportunity for her to realize that she can do great things without her scarf. Nico and her friends can cheer her up, I'm sure of it. The abilities that Joker and Roku have are really cool. That was a great opportunity to use them, and to show off the throne room along with Rajah. Thank you for doing that.

You're doing a great job of showing Ashley's past. I really enjoyed seeing her interact with Ienzo and the other former Organization members. I don't get why she would assume that Xehanort did nothing wrong even though he is unconscious, then again, she is 14, or was even younger at the time.

Nico cares about Roku. Roku has nothing that he needs to prove to his brother, I hope that Nico tells him that and convinces him to return home to the mansion.

Are some of the Mushroom XIII members the heartless that were created when the somebodies that make up Organization XIII became nobodies?

I'm really happy that heartless can reproduce and have beautiful children with each other. I'm looking forward to the next chapter.

So I uh, binged your entire story in one night and I gotta say that I LOVE THIS THING.

Ashco?
I prefer AshNi like Ash*ley* Heh, but anyways!

I had so much fun reading this, and I'm excited for more! I was completely hooked on reading the chapters, and the close calls and desperation in the characters in not wanting to die always struck a cord. Their kind is seen as nothing, but they're actually *beings* despite how they look. Every moment they're pretty much attacked on sight by 'heroes' while in reality, the Semi-Darkness are either allies or minding their own business. Dang.

That bit with Ash, Nico and Heartless!Sora was really sweet tho. Sniffle.

...I also yearn for the day Nico and Ash get to meet Riku properly.

Woah, this was your best chapter yet imo. Nico is such a great guy. I love him.

It's still kind of funny seeing Nico flip out about Joker reading his journal, but nowhere near as much as the crush on Hercules that Mare was revealed to have. Ahhhh, a heartless in love with a human. I can imagine that.

The addition of dates is really smart and a great idea.

I really loved the training scenes between Nico and Roku. The sanctuary room is very beautiful. The way you wrote the koi fish and the water in the room was so vivid, I could imagine it perfectly. The bonding was also so wonderfully written. Yggdrasil was a wonderful touch; a tree perfectly balanced between light and darkness, that is connected to all the worlds. A really great idea.

I can understand Joker wanting to protect his sister, but forcing her to stay at the manor will only make things worse between them.

XD! The return of the dreaded pumpkin costume.

Oof, Nico needs to learn when to stop talking. Really. Angelina sounds nice, shame that Nico called her what he did. I love that she was married too, this is a really great theme among them. Shame that her husband divorced her. At least he's been dealt with and won't hurt her anymore.

Man, the fallout between Nico and Roku was really intense. I cringed at what was happening.

Tres is a real jerk. What right does he think he has to abuse his brother? I hated how Tres talked down upon Roku.

Dang, Roku has really had it rough. I want to give him a hug. The dancing scene between him and Nico was so beautiful. Dancing is really fun, and I wish I could do it with him.

You should have Nico and Roku dance together in a contest. Roku deserves to win.

I really loved Roku writing in Nico's journal. I can't wait to see how he reacts to that.

Sorry for the lack of detail, I'm not feeling good today with how sick I am.

P.S. I left questions in the review for the last chapter.

Oh my Kingdom Hearts, I have missed so much. And now I'm a chapter behind. Welp, time to get caught up.

Nico and Joker's interaction was really great at the beginning of the chapter. My memory is a bit fuzzy on what happened that made Nico so scared. I loved how supportive and assertive Joker was. Nico really needed that help.

Because Mare and Ash aren't true heartless, is that why the Realm of Darkness is sapping their energy? I wonder... Anyways, I really love this revelation to Ashley. That her magic isn't what makes her special, or she isn't special because of that, but because of who she is.

Dix and Uno have a daughter? How? Let me guess: adoption.

Empathy sure is a strange power. Very hard to control and easy manipulate. It might help Nico aid others who are reluctant to tell or show how they are feeling. All he has to do is listen.

Dark Hide is a really great guy. He is my favorite heartless. I really laughed when he started licking his paw and grooming himself like a cat. I love how proud of a father he is to her. I want to draw her cuddling up to her father.

Huh, Roku sure is a jerk, but I knew that he wasn't acting like that for no reason. Man, poor guy sure has been through a lot. I'm really happy that he has Nico to help.

Sorry for the less detailed review, but I really want to get caught up.

Woo Hoo! Castle Oblivion is finally here! The mystifying and endless castle has finally arrived! I'm sure that this will be a very interesting and cool arc.

AWWWWW! Nico and Ash are really embracing their relationship with each other and are becoming much more loving. It really warms my heart to see them like this. Ashco in action baby!

The Ashco ship has sailed! I can understand Team Shade teasing Ash and Nico about their love for each other (I've never had a girlfriend to be clear... yet); but at least they're open about their love for each other as opposed to feeling it, but not revealing it.

I've been thinking of Mare changing color. Is the original color palette what they change to when they start to be consumed by darkness, and the final mix palette what semi-darkness appear as normally? Or am I getting that mixed up? By the way, what about heartless that don't have another color palette, like Black Ballades?

I like how Ash is being respectful and giving great reasons for why she thinks that Nico is a more suitable leader as opposed to Mare.

The tunnel, are you talking about Betwixt and Between?

Ah, that meadow, it is so beautiful. Also, WHERE IS IT? Seriously, that has never been made clear. I assume that since you can get to Castle Oblivion by walking to it, that it lies in the Realm Between.

Pluto! He's back! It's so great to see him again! I love how everyone else was so happy to see him as well (Team Shade once they understood who he was), especially Iris who wanted to ride him. Also how old is Pluto? He seems to have no problem holding Iris and Nico with his thin, lean body. From what I've seen of him, he seems pretty old in his appearance, and he's been around since the events of Birth By Sleep, which took place 11 years before Kingdom Hearts; and Kingdom Hearts II takes place a year after that.

Are you going to get to the letter that he was holding when he encountered Sora, Donald, and Goofy? They just forgot about that entirely.

Dam, Mare really had it rough. She lived during a time where prejudice happened regularly and those who weren't liked were accused of being witches, because there was no way to survive being tried as a witch. "Oh this person is a witch? Bind them in chains and throw 'em underwater." They manage to get out and get back to the surface: "WITCH! TO THE STAKES WITH YOU!" They drown: "Meh, oh well. Looks like they weren't one. That's what you get for having more crops than me."

I find it bizarre how quickly Nico, Ash, and Team Shade are traveling through Castle Oblivion. Does Castle Oblivion's curse, layout, condition (whatever Aqua did to it to make anyone who enters it wander endlessly) not affect heartless? I know that it does have floors, given that the Organization members mention it. Is it the corridors of darkness that allow them to bypass the endless paths, or the fact that they don't have any cards to use at the large golden doors?

Ah, food fights. I've never been in one, but they're cool. Like the one in the first chapter of RWBY's second volume.

Hmm, Ash is remembering Radiant Garden. It sure was beautiful back then wasn't it? Also, Nico has never seen a flower before, even as his time during whatever he was before he became a heartless? That's so sad.

Namine. A very mysterious girl. I wonder how Mare will react to Namine being described as a witch by the other Organization members? Namine even calls herself a witch occasionally (although her doing that may just be self-degrading).

Okay, now we know what Marluxia and Larxene's real goal is, now what is the motive?! Seriously! Why do they want to stay Nobodies forever, what do they get out of that? Don't forget that there are several other members trying to take over the organization as well. Vexen, Lexaeus, Zexion, Saix, and Axel are as well. I wonder how Ash will react to seeing her friends wanting to take over the organization.

Something else I would like to say to Ash. Sometimes overthrowing the leader of a group IS good if that leader is corrupt. Don't forget that Xemnas himself lied to the other organization members by telling them that completing Kingdom Hearts, they will get their hearts back. But that isn't true. Once Kingdom Hearts is completed, Xehanort's heart will be recompleted and broken up into thirteen pieces. This means that when the organization members are connected to Kingdom Hearts, they will not become who they were before nobodies, but Xehanort. I wonder if she'll find out about this?

The heartless are weaker than the nobodies right? KH II seems to imply this.

Ah, the all-revealing sneeze.

Finally, SOMEONE who respects the balance between light and darkness, and knows that the darkness needs to be kept in check. The Mushroom XIII are really cool. So are they mostly just mushroom heartless, like White Mushrooms, Rare Fungus, and Pink Agaricus?

So heartless can marry? That's amazing!

Oh yeah, there is still a positive outcome for the mother Griffin after she was defeated (I think you made a typo in the author's note). Since she was an emblem heartless, that means that her heart will eventually be released via the keyblade! So when her corresponding nobody is defeated (if it hasn't been already), she will be restored to whatever she was before she became a heartless.

Is there something that is the opposite of defection, such as a living being becoming a heartless without losing their body? Take Scar and the Storm Rider. Scar became a heartless by succumbing to the dark desires in his heart, and apparently still had some part of his mind because he talked during the battle. As for the Storm Rider in The Land of Dragons; that was a peaceful and loving dragon that had control over the weather I think, but they became a ferocious beast that was dead set on attacking the Capital City, all because Xigbar turned them into a heartless through some unknown means.

It is so sad to see how much trauma and grief Mare and her friends had to go through while under the Mafia's control. Even moreso to know that it still bothers her.

I honestly thought that she went to the top of the clock tower to jump off it.

Here's a quote that I can use to describe the conversation between Mare and Ash as. "Trust is like a mirror. You can fix it if it's broken, but you can still see the cracks in its reflection." I'm so happy to see that they are bonding, and especially because they are honest about why they don't fully trust each other yet, and what they can do to earn that trust.

I liked that scene where we weren't learning about those events when they were being relayed to us through a journal, but were experiencing them as they were happening.

Nico and Ash avoiding each other like the plague? Now that is not normal. As for how I would describe Joker in that scene: "SHIPPER ON DECK! EVERYONE TO THE LIFEBOATS!"

Iris is so cute, silly, and mischievous.

I loved the Ashco scene. It felt so realistic and understandable. It really showed that they are real people and that they have flaws that don't have to make them a bad person.

What Joker said about them all wearing masks and hiding something is suspicious. If a person is morally ambiguous and they tell you THAT, they're probably bad. A quote from Pirates of the Caribbean. "Me, I'm dishonest. And you can always trust a dishonest person to be dishonest. Honestly, it's the honest ones you want to watch out for, because you can never tell when they're going to do something incredibly... stupid." As for him saying "Remember that, Nico. Take it to your grave." NOBODY good talks like that.

It wouldn't surprise me if Ashley started the fight, but that's probably what you want me to think. Mare may have "started" the fight my casting a spell but not aiming it at Ash. Who knows, maybe they attacked each other at the same time.

The Mafia? They're the ones who created the emblem heartless?

The Law of Conservation of Detail: If it is included, it is important. I feel like Nico wouldn't mention Mare using fire magic despite being an ice elemental unless it was meant to be important. That is bizarre.

I'm sad to see that Ashley is being reduced to the point of tears as she worries about Nico and what he'll think of her since she's not around to explain.

I couldn't help but feel immense glee as Nico stepped up to defend Ash from Mare when she was accused of lying.

I hated that Nico, Ash, and Team Shade had to fight the mother Griffin. From the sound of things, it appears as though the Griffin Hatchlings attacked them and the group acted in self-defense. How did they get away from the mother Griffin? Where was the father? Someone should have been watching them.

Defected? Does that mean free from the darkness and to semi-darkness? Like Emblem to Pureblood?

Huh, the Mushroom XIII. I see that you're bringing them in. I wonder if they are the Mafia, or are connected to the Organization?

I'm so happy that everyone is on friendly terms with Mare and the rest of Team Shade. I'm surprised that Ashley was the one to forgive her, but I know I shouldn't be.

You did such a wonderful job writing this and getting me hooked on it. Thank you.

In all honesty, I thought they were in Castle Oblivion at first.

Traverse Town fell into darkness. Why? Sora sealed the keyhole.

I can understand why Ash doesn't want to trust those other heartless, but how can they trust Nico and Ash if they don't trust them?

looking forward to the next chapter, hope you make Nico and Ashley evolve from beyond just a mere shadow heartless

I loved this chapter, it was very sweet seeing all of Ashley's memories and her time with the nobodies of the organization before they became nobodies.

Huh, maybe Cross is an antihero and is in Castle Oblivion, I get the impression that she's wanted (as in a criminal) by a group and is hiding there. It's the perfect place to hide since it's literally impossible to search every room there.

So... Nico was never a human? Awesome.

I've always wondered why Axel and members 3-6 don't comment on how Roxas looks virtually identical to Ventus.