I've had a few chapters of this fic on my computer for a while. I don't really have a planned schedule for uploading, I just want to see how many people are interested before I get super invested.

—

He took two steps at a time. This was the end battle, he was so close to destroying that monster, Xemnas. It would take everything from him, but he was ready. He had spent months and months traveling through the worlds, building strength and courage. And now, all this chaos would come to an end.

Xemnas stood, his arms raised in defeat as he looked through the great moon, torn asunder.

"Oh…my Kingdom Hearts…ruined. Now I'll have to start all over again…Warriors of the Keyblade!" He turned his hellish eyes back to Sora and his friends. "Go forth, and bring me more hearts!"

"No!" They shouted in unison, summoning their Keyblades.

"Denizens of light, answer this: Why do you hate the darkness?"

The King lowered his sword. "Aw, we don't hate it. It's just kinda...scary. But the world's made of light AND darkness. You can't have one without the other, 'cause darkness is half of everything. Sorta makes ya wonder why we are scared of the dark.

Riku scowled. "It's because of who's lurking inside it."

"Then allow me another question." Xemnas voiced. "You accept darkness, yet choose to live in the light. So why is it that you loathe us who teeter on the edge of nothing? We who were turned away by both light and dark—never given a choice?"

Riku answered this time, not even flustered by the question, "That's simple. It's because you mess up our worlds."

The man replied slowly, seemingly pleading. "That may be... However, what other choice might we have had?"

Sora waved his hand and dismissed Xemnas. "Just give it a rest! You're Nobodies! You don't even exist! You're not sad about anything!"

Their enemy chuckled. "Very good. You don't miss a thing. I cannot feel—sorrow...No matter what misery befalls the worlds. No matter what you think, what you feel, or how you exist…it's all the same." He turned back to the moon and raised his hands, then he lifted off the ground. "Hear me, Kingdom Hearts! It seems we must begin anew. Ah, but know this: I will give to you as many hearts as it takes. Mark my words! You can no more be complete without me than I without you. Heed me, Kingdom Hearts! Lend me your power, so that we may be complete! The power to erase the fools that hinder us.

"Hearts quivering with hatred...Hearts burning with rage...Hearts scarred by envy... That fool Ansem said the heart's true nature was beyond his understanding. But it's not beyond mine! Hearts are the source of all power!"

Sora shouted back at Xemnas. "There's more to a heart than just anger or hate! It's full of all kinds of feelings! Don't you remember?!"

The enemy turned back around, glaring down at the warriors. "Feelings of happiness, and joy…those are weak! I don't need those kinds of hearts! They'd poison my dominion!" He raised his hand, and the teens braced themselves for his attack.

Xemnas shot a needle sharp beam from his palm, straight passed the Keyblade wielders, and hit the defenseless observer in the back.

"Kairi!" Sora yelled, as he turned on his heel.

The redhead shrieked as hot pain bubbled in her chest. The beam lifted her into the air, tearing away at her chest. Sora ran to protect her, to save her, but he couldn't reach her. Finally, a pink crystallized heart emerged from her chest and floated right to Xemnas' hand. Riku and Sora were helpless to stop it. Kairi's lifeless body dropped from the air and fell into Sora's waiting arms.

"Take this heart, for example. The heart of a Princess, my other half tried to open Kingdom Hearts using this the first time. But you see, it's too pure, too joyful, too full of light. All it does is ruin. It's completely useless." And with that, he crunched the crystal in his hands, the fragments falling between his fingers, and then disappearing into dust before they hit the ground.

"No!" Sora screamed, pulling Kairi's limp body closer to his chest. "You monster! You—!"

"Yes, Sora. Let that anger burn. You destroyed my subordinates, you ruined all my plans. Now suffer, as I have suffered!" And in a flash of blindingly bright light, he was gone.

Sora knelt, Kairi resting on the ground, but still in his arms. Her head lulled back, the light in her eyes gone. Her tan island skin was cold and clammy. Even her hair wasn't as vibrant. Sora parted her bangs away, before they fell back into place. In this moment, it was just the two of them in all the worlds. "Kairi, I'm so sorry. You've been brought back into this mess because of me. You've lost your heart again…and it's all my fault."

King Mickey interjected, laying a hand on his shoulder, "Don't say things like that, Sora! This wasn't your fault! This was the work of Xemnas! And he must be stopped!"

"Mickey's right," Riku agreed. "He have to take him now, he's already too powerful."

"But…but what about Kairi?"

"She'll be safe." A new voice entered the scene. A young woman, in white.

"Naminé…" Riku whispered.

"Who?" Sora asked looking at the young woman.

Naminé approached the group shyly, hands behind her back. "I had wished to meet with you, Sora, Riku, but not like this."

Sora, despite his track record, put the pieces together rather quickly. "Wait, are you…Kairi's nobody?"

"Yes."

Silence prevailed as the group mulled that thought over in their heads.

"I always thought Nobodies were doomed to fade back into darkness…but you and I didn't. We got to meet our original selves." Naminé looked to Sora. "We meet again, just like we promised."

Sora saw a figment out of the corner of his eye, and turned to see a young boy sitting next to him, except his body was ghostly. "You said we'd meet again, but when we did, we might not recognize each other."

"Yes, but I expected, that when we did meet, I would still be a part of Kairi, as you are of Sora." She looked to the ground. "It saddens me that this had to happen. For once in my existence, I felt whole. I was in a place that was warm and loved…I want to go back to that." She smiled at Sora. "I will do everything I can to help get her heart back."

Sora nodded. "Take her someplace safe, where I can find her again when this is over."

"Where?"

"Hollow Bastion. Leon, Merlin, and the gang might know something."

The girl nodded again, "alright."

"Hey! Look at that!" Goofy pointed. Up in front of Kingdom Hearts, fragments of light were beginning to join together, and then came a great door.

"The worlds gave us this doorway. They want us to be the guardians of their destiny!" Mickey exclaimed.

"Once we go through, there's no turning back. It's victory...or oblivion. So, Sora...are you ready? Do you remember before? We stood facing each other on opposite sides of that door. Now we stand side-by-side. Let's end this together."

Roxas, who had quietly observed the party, added in, "I'm with you. I'll lend you my strength."

"Alright. All together!" Sora pointed his keyblade, while Mickey and Riku followed suit. Together they raise their blades, and the door opened.

Riku clenched his fist. "Get ready Xemnas, it all ends here!"

Sora looked back at Naminé, then at his companions that had been with him through his entire journey. "Donald, Goofy…go with Naminé. Take care of Kairi."

"But Sowa…" Donald interjected. Goofy stopped the duck, and nodded to Sora. Then he stooped and lifted the girl.

"Don't worry pal, h-yuk! I won't drop her." Goofy's smile was genuine, doing his best to make his friend smile.

Riku tapped Mickey on the shoulder. "Your Majesty, go with them."

"Gosh Riku, don't you need me to help fight Xemnas?"

Riku simpered, "we need you on this side, in case something happens to Sora and I. And you have a Kingdom to run. We…we'll just be sorely missed."

"Riku…"

Sora smiled slightly, despite his inner turmoil. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. Kairi needs me, so I'll definitely come back. And if I come back, then Riku's coming back. Even if I have to carry him over my shoulder."

"You're not strong enough to carry me." Riku quipped.

"Then you better not faint!"

Naminé turned her back on the group, raised her hand and conjured a swirling portal of darkness. "Let's go."

—

The portal opened in Merlin's home. As soon as the darkness appeared, Leon, Cid, and Yuffie were on the offensive, ready to take out whatever evil leaked in. But when Goofy emerged, an unconscious girl in his arms, they all relaxed, if not were a bit confused. Of course all questions would be asked and answered. The portal closed behind Naminé.

"Who's this?" Leon asked first.

"Why, it's Kairi!" Yuffie answered. "What on earth happened to her?"

"She—…" Donald began, but stopped.

"Xemnas destroyed her heart." Naminé finally spoke, when no one could answer.

Silence.

"Well…that can't be the worst thing to happen, right?" Yuffie tried. "I mean, she lost her heart last time, and got it back. What's the difference this time?"

Donald scratched his head. "Last time, Kairi's heart was inside Sowa all along…this time, her heart's been destroyed."

"Well, don't the hearts taken from the heartless go to Kingdom Hearts? So, since you guys defeated Xemnas, those hearts will all just go back to their owners. I'm sure their's some extra hearts, and Kairi could have one."

"It's not that simple," Leon spoke, examining Kairi. "Kairi is a Princess of heart, not just any heart will do for her."

"Oh…hmmm…" The ninja contemplated.

"Well, why don't we just wait 'til Sora gets here, and we can figure it out," Mickey suggested.

Yuffie blushed, embarrassed that she hadn't noticed the boy's absence. "Where is Sora, anyway?"

"He and Riku are fighting Xemnas now!" Donald explained.

"So he found his friend," Aerith folded her hands in front of her. "That's wonderful."

"Then while we wait, let's take Kairi over to the Castle. It's safe now, and we'll be able to watch her better," suggested Leon. "You okay to carry her, Goofy? Or need some help?"

"Nope! She's as light as a feather!"

Naminé graced a smile. "She has had quite the heavy heart for a while now."

The group stared at her. "Did you just…make a pun?"

She grinned.

"So…you must be Kairi's nobody. Interesting." Leon mused, leading the group outside.

"Yes, I am. If you think I'm hostile just because I am a nobody, you'd be mistaken. I just wish to be whole, and I know once Kairi revives her heart, I can go back to her."

"Well," Leon mused. "That's actually not what I was thinking, but It's good to know."

"Then what makes me so interesting?"

"The fact that all the Princesses of Heart had their hearts stolen, and yet Kairi was the only one to produce a nobody."

"Interesting indeed."

—

It was down to just two boys and a fading nobody. "Heroes from the realm of light... I will not allow it to end this way—not yet. If light and darkness are eternal, then surely we nothings must be the same... Eternal!"

Riku conceded. "You're right, light and darkness are eternal. Nothing probably goes on forever, too. But guess what, Xemnas?"

"That doesn't mean YOU'RE eternal!" Sora finished.

Xemnas spared a laugh, "no more eternal then that radiance of yours."

Riku's sword vaporized. "Right again. Someday we will die, but there will always be people that carry light."

At that, Xemnas faded away into wisps and smoke.

"Riku, that was really depressing."

"We can't all be bubbly like you." Riku cracked his shoulder. "Man, I'm so glad this is all over."

"Yeah, let's get out of here."

Riku nodded and raised his hand, ready to create a portal, but nothing happened. "Uh…oh…"

"It's because you don't belong to the dark realm anymore." Sora gripped his shoulder.

"Then how are we going to get out of here?"

"Hmm…" Sora closed his eyes tightly and let his consciousness sink back. With a brief flash of light, Roxas took control of his body. The Nobody easily summoned a corridor, and smiled at Riku.

"Where there's a will, there's a way!"

Sora returned, and the duo walked through. On the other side, they were greeted with vast expanses of blue rock. Sora scratched the back of his head. "It looks like Roxas was a bit off in his calculations. This looks like the Great Maw."

"Where in the world—?"

"It's still Hollow Bastion."

"Sora, I know Hollow Bastion, and this is not it."

The teen smiled at his companion. "It's changed quite a bit in the last year! Let's see…" He turned and looked around. "Oh! There's the castle! Come on!"

"Wait, that dot?"

"Yep!"

Riku groaned. "The last thing I wanted to do after that battle was walk twenty miles."

"Don't worry, Riku. It's not as far as it looks." Sora started walking with a little spring in his step.

"How do you have so much energy?"

"I built it up. From all those days napping on the island."

Riku stopped, then burst into uproarious laughter. "Oh! Oh I can't breathe!" He choked. "Man, I haven't laughed that hard since…I've really missed you, Sora."

"I've missed you too, Riku."

"Yeah, I know, cause you cried when you saw me."

"Hey, I was worried!"

"You weren't worried about Kairi?"

"Of course I was, but for a long time, I knew where she was and that she was safe. But with you, I never thought I'd see you again."

"I see…" Riku kicked a rock on the ground. "Sora, there's something I've been thinking about since we separated at the door. I did some awful stuff to you. I fought, and called you names, I even made your friends betray you. All in the sake of saving Kairi. But…in the end, I couldn't save her at all."

"Riku…"

"I always knew you loved her. Even if you couldn't see it. Every time you looked at her, there was a fondness and gentleness on your face. I don't know why I turned saving her into a competition. If I had just gone with you in Traverse Town, when you invited me…"

"Stop it Riku." Sora scolded, punching him in the shoulder. "Thinking this way will only make you depressed." Sora smiled up at his friend. "I know you're sorry. But it wasn't your fault. It was the darkness controlling you. And Maleficent didn't help. But that's over now. You've won, and we're together again. Isn't that what counts?"

Riku smiled. "I guess you're right. Still, I'll probably end up doing stuff to make it up to you."

"If it will make you feel better, I'll allow it."

Riku quirked an eyebrow. "You just want me to do nice things for you, don't you?"

Sora crossed his arms. "Why Riku! I'm offended! I only have the best interests of my friends in mind!" Then he grinned. "But I do like it when you're nice to me."

"You clown." Riku laughed with a nudge.

"Haha! True!" Sora sobered slightly. "In a journey like this, where you're hopping from one world to the next, making friends and saying goodbye, you kind of have to have a positive attitude."

"And with the darkness ever enclosing, you're at such a higher risk." Riku agreed.

"Exactly." Sora sighed. "But, it'll be nice to finally feel happy, and not have to fake half of it." He simpered. "But…there's still the matter of Kairi."

"Ah…right." Riku smiled at his friend. "She's going to need you to be extra happy. Don't you know her heart leaps when you smile?"

Sora blushed. "How would you know a thing like that?"

"Fine. Don't believe me. But just know that the person who she cares the most about it you, blockhead. Use that knowledge well."

"Last time, her heart was in me, and I had to release it. This time…Riku, what if she never regains her heart?"

"Where there's a will, there's a way." He winked.

The duo continued on in silence for a long while, just quietly taking in each other's company.

"You know... I always figured I was better at stuff than you." Riku stated, suddenly.

"Really?"

"Are you mad?"

Sora shrugged. "No. I kinda always thought you were better at everything, too. The score when we left Destiny Islands? It was 16 to 3, your favor."

Riku looked in awe. "You remember that?"

"Yeah, cause I remembered thinking that once I got back from my journey, I'd be stronger and be able to even the score."

"Well, we'll just have to have a rematch sometime. Since I think I've become stronger as well."

"You have. Riku, you're buff."

"Sora, don't make it gay."

The teen laughed, genuinely and strong. "Same ol' Riku!"

"What I said back there...about thinking I was better at stuff than you...To tell you the truth, Sora... I was jealous of you."

"What for?"

"I wished I could live life the way you do. Just following my heart."

"Yeah, well, I've got my share of problems, too."

"Like what?"

"Like...wanting to be like you."

Riku shook his head. "Why would you ever want to be like me…?" he muttered. "Well, there is one advantage to being me... Something you could never imitate."

"Really? What's that?"

"Having you for a friend."

Sora smiled widely, then laughed. "Don't make it gay, Riku."

By this time, the two had left the open and continued down the ravine trail in-between the cliffs. A noise bounced off the cliffs and made it's way to them.

"What's that?"

"Sounds like someone fighting! We should make sure everyone is alright!" Sora called, breaking into a run.

Riku groaned.

Up ahead though, instead of a fight, they found a man with blonde spiky hair lifting rubble into a wheelbarrow. A little girl with long brown hair pulled back in a braid was digging in the dirt nearby. Her pink bow bounced with each action.

"Oh! Hey Cloud!" Sora called with enthusiasm.

The man stopped his actions and rested the rock in the wheelbarrow.

"Whatcha up to?"

"Cleaning up. Now that the heartless are gone, and I've defeated Sephiroth, there's no one left to fight. Now I can make a home here."

"That's great to hear!"

Cloud looked to the other teen. "Is this one of the friends you were looking for?"

"Yep!" Sora said, leaping and putting his arm around Riku's neck. "Finally found my buddy!"

"Where are the other two? The dog and the duck?" Cloud rubbed the sweat on his neck with a cloth.

"I don't know, actually. With Leon and the gang, I suppose."

"Oh, that's right. I saw them and Leon heading to the castle…with two girls I had never seen before."

"The castle! Alright, thanks Cloud!"

"Aerith is with them. I'm on break, so Marlene and I will go with you."

"Great, the more the merrier!"

In all reality, Sora was more then happy to invite Cloud along, just because he felt like Riku and him had a lot in common. Though, he forgot that both Cloud and Riku were men of little words. The girl, Marlene, just looked at the two boys in fascination and stayed quiet.

Riku was the one to break the silence though. "Sora hasn't really said much about his journey. How did you two meet?"

"Olympus Coliseum. I was under contract for Hades, God of the Underworld, to kill Hercules. In order to fight him, I had to fight this chump."

"Chump?!" Sora nearly screamed.

Cloud smirked, just barely. "But believe it or not, he beat me."

"He beat you? Sora?" Riku was surprised to say the least. "You must have been really tired that day."

"Thanks a lot, friend." Sora rolled his eyes.

"Back then," Cloud continued. "I struggled with the darkness inside myself. I was blinded by anger and Hades used it against me. In all honesty, I'm glad I fought Sora. He helped to wake me up."

Riku studied Cloud knowingly. "I know how that is. Sora helped me too. He's like a candle. Always being light, and attracting people out of the darkness. No wonder the keyblade chose him."

"You know, I'm right here. You don't have to talk to me like I'm not." Sora added.

"Well, if we told this to your face, it'd go to your head, and make you cocky." Cloud stated, with a grin.

"Oh brother, I shouldn't have introduced you two."

Marlene shouldered up near to Sora and tugged on his jacket. He met her gentle smile with one of his own.

"Thank you." She whispered.

Yuffie was waiting for them outside the castle postern. "Hey guys!"

Sora nearly ran to her, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Where's Kairi? Is she okay?!"

"Calm down!" Yuffie tried. "I'll take you to her. She's in a newly renovated part of the castle."

"Let's go!" And Sora took off, Yuffie struggling to keep up with him.

"Sora! You don't even know where you're going!"

"More running…" Riku sighed.

"I know where she's talking about. I'll show you. I'd like to talk to you more about this fight with the darkness you had…"

Sora and Yuffie pressed passed the threshold, and continued down the castle corridors. Sora started towards Ansem's study, but Yuffie called back to him. "Not that way, over here!"

One of the previous corridors that had been blocked off with rubble and broken pipes, had been fixed over, becoming another hallway leading down to a balcony with stain glass doors.

Sora's body began to ache as his run came to an end. Yuffie led him to a room, the door open. Inside, several of his friends were gathered, but a large bed was in the middle of the room.

Sora entered, and his breath caught in his throat. Kairi laid very still on the bed, her skin like alabaster, her eyes closed in ageless sleep.

Without saying a word, Sora took a seat next on the mattress and took Kairi's hand.

"Hey Kai," he said softly, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. "How are you feeling? I mean…I guess…you don't feel anything. Right?"

Her eyes opened slightly, drearily looking at him.

"There she is! Hi Princess!" He grinned. Was he crying? He didn't know, he wasn't in control of anything he was doing. He sniffed and wiped his face. "Don't worry Kai, I'll fix you up. Even if I have to cut out my heart, like I did last time." He smiled.

"Let's not be rash." A English voice spoke over the group. Merlin entered the room. "Sorry I'm late, I was in the 14th century, getting a look at some the techniques being used when this castle was being built. But enough of that. I heard something about a missing heart?"

"Yes sir…It's Kairi…"

"Well…let's take a look." The wizard neared the girl and pulled a pair of spectacles out of his beard. "Ah…one of the Princesses of Heart. Pity, she looks so lovely. No matter, once you recover her heart, she'll be fine."

"And how do you expect us to do that?"

"Ah…well, you stopped Organization XIII, correct?"

"Yes…"

"Well, then, in a few more days the synthetic Kingdom Hearts created by Xemnas will dissolve and the hearts will return to their rightful owners. Nothing to get worked up about."

"But that's not going to work." Leon interjected.

"Yeah!" Donald called. "Xemnas destroyed her heart!"

Merlin furrowed his brows. "What do you mean 'destroyed it'?"

Riku finally entered the room, and leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Cloud stayed outside, keeping out of this business. "Xemnas took it from her body, and crushed it in his hand."

"What did the heart do? Fragment?"

Sora's eyes never left Kairi's. "It turned to dust…"

Merlin frowned. "Hmm…I don't know."

Once again, the group turned silent.

"If Merlin doesn't know…" Sora looked away, dejected.

"Fear not lad! Just because I don't have the answer, doesn't mean it's all for naught!"

"Right!" Yuffie cheered. "After all, we have all of Ansem the Wise's notes here. I'm sure we'll find some sort of answer."

Mickey interjected, "Right! If anyone would know about it, it'd be him!"

"Too bad he's not here." Sora frowned. Things looked bleak for his princess, and Sora simply hung his head.

Leon scratched his chin. "Sora, during your last journey, you held Kairi's heart inside of you, and to release it, you turned into a Heartless, correct?"

"Yes."

"How did you get your heart back, after?"

"Uh…I heard Kairi's voice, then when I came back, I was in her arms."

Merlin stroked his beard. "I wonder…Sora, you and Kairi are connected because of your past experience. I wonder if being exposed to your heart for long enough will plant a seed in her chest, for her to grow a new heart."

"They're hearts, not flowers." Leon sneered.

"Well, it doesn't hurt!"

"So, you want me to stay with Kairi?"

"Someone has too." Riku remarked.

Aerith walked forward and touched Sora's shoulder gently. "You deserve to rest. Just keeping her company and taking care of her is all you need to do."

Sora sighed, feeling the weight of his journey sink onto his shoulders. He was awfully tired.

"Okay," he spoke, his voice gravelly.

"Great!" Aerith smiled, "I'll make you all dinner then. What do you want?"

"Oh…I-I'm not hungry."

"He wants chicken fried rice." Riku stated bluntly. "That's still you're favorite, right?"

Sora's stomach rumbled on cue. "Yeah, it is."

Yuffie clapped her hands. "All right! A big pot of fried rice for the group. I'll go to the market—" she stated as she walked out of the room.

Aerith looked to the lonely nobody in the corner. "Naminé, why don't you come with us?"

The blonde was shy, but nodded and left with her.

Cid, Leon, and Merlin soon left with the promise of looking over Ansem's notes.

The Disney gang remained. "You alright, Sowa?" Donald asked.

"I'll be fine. Hopefully Merlin is right. Just a little time with Kairi and the three of us can be home for my sweet sixteen."

"Sixteen? You're going to be sixteen?" Goofy asked. "Gawrsh…you're all grown up!"

"I guess that's what happens when you sleep for a year, and spend another one fighting."

"When's your birthday?" Mickey asked.

"April 25th."

"Gosh, that's only a week away." The king considered. "We should do something for it!"

"Thank you, your majesty, but we have enough stuff to worry about."

"Aw, I get it. Maybe just some cake or something."

"You guys don't have to stay here, you know. Your Kingdom needs you."

"I guess so…"

"Don't worry about me, Your Majesty. I've got my friends together now. There's nothing more I could ask for." The teen smiled wearily.

"If you say so." The mouse sighed, then looked to his court members. "Let's give these kids some time to rest."

Donald and Goofy agreed, and left with the King.

Sora looked to his best friend, but Riku waved him off, getting off the wall. "Rest is exactly what this guy needs. I call dibs on the window seat." He went over, curled up into a ball and tucked the pillow under his head. "If you're gonna tell Kairi a bunch of mushy lovey-dovey stuff, do a favor and wait until I fall asleep, kay?"

Sora laughed as he removed his shoes, gloves, and shoulder armor. "Rest, what a weird feeling. No imminent danger. I can't remember the last time I slept without startling awake."

Riku didn't answer.

"I can't help but feel like I'm not going to have a purpose now." He laughed it off as he laid next to Kairi on his side to look at her. Her eyes were closed. "I guess finding Kairi's heart will be my new purpose." He took her hand. "Good thing she already has a place in mine."

"Sora, I'm still awake." Riku groaned.

Sora only hummed as he finally succumbed to sleep.