"Long ago, people lived in peace, bathed in the warmth of light.

Everyone loved the light."

"Then, people began to fight over it. They wanted to keep it for themselves."

"And darkness was born in their hearts."

"The darkness spread, swallowing the light and many peoples' hearts. It covered everything and the world disappeared."

"But small fragments of light survived...in the hearts of children."

"With these fragments of light, children rebuilt the lost world.

It's the world we live in now."

"But the true light sleeps deep within the darkness."

"That's why the worlds are still scattered, divided from each other."

"But someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open...

...and the true light will return."

Kingdom Hearts III: Reconnect

Chapter One - Thinking of You, Wherever You Are

The sound of the steady ocean waves were heard as they crashed along the shoreline, seagulls chirping above.

Sora lazily opened his eyes, staring up at the bright blue cloudless sky and the radiant sun that cast a golden glow over all of the Destiny Islands.

The brown-haired Keyblade wielder sat up and looked towards the blue waters that stretched endlessly before him. The ocean was constant, traveling beyond the main island where his family and the other island-dwellers had lived, and continuing onwards until the sea almost seemed to fade into the sky.

To some, the islands were home.

To others, it was a prison, surrounded by water, caging those within.

With a sleepy yawn, he rested back down. 'I must have fallen asleep after I returned,' he thought to himself, closing his eyes.

After celebrating Riku's success in earning his status as a true Keyblade Master after saving Sora during their Mark of Mastery exam, Sora had left the others at Master Yen Sid's tower and had returned to the realm of sleep. Once there, he had visited the lantern-lit districts of Traverse Town, where he had spent his time with the spirit Dream Eaters he had befriended and fought alongside within the realm of sleep.

After spending a few hours in the now quiet town, happy that his spirit friends had found a place in the realm of sleep to live in peace, Sora had returned to his home world and found himself once again taken by sleep, savoring this moment of solitude and peace before he knew it would come to an end.

Returning to the island of his youth was a bittersweet feeling.

He recalled the memories of all the days where he, RIku and Kairi played on the island and dreamed of building a raft to set off and explore unreached territories. He never realized just how much was out there beyond his home.

Riku was right. Their island truly was a "a little piece of something much greater".

Something clutched at his heart when Sora thought of the fateful night their island had fallen to the darkness, which opened the gateway to his exploration of the many worlds, meeting new friends that stayed etched on his heart and using the Keyblade to repel and defeat the darkness.

After already having a lifetime of adventures in his teenage body, he knew two things were certain.

The feeling of being on his island was never going to feel quite the same as it did before he explored the outside worlds.

And a raft would have never gotten the job done.

His thoughts wandered to Riku and Kairi. The day before Sora had arrived back home, Riku and King Mickey had come to bring Kairi to Master Yen Sid on an important request that the old wizard had for her. If Riku and Kairi hadn't passed a message on to Sora and Kairi's parents, the Keyblade wielder would have spent hours searching the islands for the young Princess of Heart.

'I wonder how Riku and Kairi are doing? And what could Master Yen Sid want?'

He was suddenly taken out of his thoughts when he heard a small splash and the soft clanking of metal as it hit against the coastline.

He opened one eyes in curiosity and scanned his surroundings. He was certain he was the only one on the island. He sat up and tilted his head when he saw the sunlight's reflection hit against the metal edge of something further down on the sandy beach.

The boy stood up from his resting place and trailed through the sand towards the shoreline and when he saw the object, his eyes widened in surprise.

"A Keyblade?"

He reached down to pick up the Keyblade by the hilt and studied both sides of the blade. It had a silver and maroon handle with a thin black blade. His eyebrows furrowed when he realized the blade was often used, given the scuff and scratch marks along it.

With the Keyblade in hand, he stared off towards the setting sun on the water's horizon.

"Where did this come from?"

At that same moment, on the dark, distant shores of an opposite ocean many worlds away, a tired young woman kneeled, looking off in the direction that she had sent the Keyblade. The young Keyblade master stared off into the distance, looking out towards the dark waters for any sign that the Keyblade made it to wherever it was supposed to be headed.

Aqua sighed and rested against one of the dark stones behind her.

Looking beyond the sea, past the twisted black stones that seemed to grow from within the ocean's depths, the moon was framed, contrasting against the rest of the darkness.

The sight of some form of light was the only thing that gave her help in this realm of darkness.

"Sora, I hope you'll find a way...because I'm starting to lose mine," she said, closing her eyes and resting her head back.

The Mysterious Tower

Riku smirked to himself, bringing forth his Keyblade to fend off the attack, before he barely dodged a fireball sent his way.

"Come on, Lea." Riku motioned to the red-haired man to use his blade, "You'll never become a Keyblade Master unless you actually, you know, use your Keyblade. You can only rely so much on your magic. Didn't Merlin teach you that?"

Lea scoffed and rolled his eyes, "Yeah, yeah. Well, when I signed up for training under Master Yen Sid, I thought I was gonna be doing some fun missions, not these endless battles with you!"

"Being a Keyblade Master takes a lot of hard work!" Riku shrugged, before quickly bringing his Keyblade up to fend off another one of Lea's attacks. He barely had enough time to recover before he jolted to the left, just barely dodging as a different Keyblade was swung towards him. He counter-attacked and knocked the Keyblade from its' wielder's hands.

Riku turned to Kairi, "And haven't I told you before? You have to be ready for your enemy to anticipate your attack and think of an alternate."

"I'm trying!" Kairi defended, "You know, we're not all skilled Keyblade wielders, like you and Sora! I'm still learning!"

"Yeah, clearly you could use a lot of work," Lea joked, which received a glare to him from the young Princess of Heart.

Riku diffused the situation and stepped between them, "Alright, simmer down. Clearly when Master Yen Sid asked Merlin and I to help train you, I didn't realize the ground work we would have to do."

Riku had returned with Mickey from Radiant Garden earlier that day, bringing Kairi and Lea back with them. They had spent the last few days training with Merlin upon Master Yen Sid's request and were slowly honing their skills with using the Keyblade and their magical abilities. The four had returned earlier when Yen Sid had arranged a meeting to discuss the details of the upcoming adventure.

They would continue their training until Sora would arrive.

Riku walked over to the corner of the secret training room the Master kept hidden away within the tower and leant his Keyblade against the wall, turning back to the two and crossing his arms. "Okay, we're gonna start a little simpler then."

Lea lurched over, letting out a sigh, before wiping the sweat from his brow. "Can't we take a little break?"

"Yeah, we've been going at it for hours now," Kairi agreed.

The white-haired young man simply shook his head and shrugged, "We don't have the time to rest - not with Xehanort building an army and posing a threat to the worlds. We have to make sure we're prepared. Sora and I can't do it alone."

"Okay, but just a teensy little breather couldn't hurt, right?" Lea suggested. "I'll be all rested and ready to go by the time Xehanort finishes a sentence."

"One more round, Lea." Riku compromised. "Come on."

"Alright, alright. Let's just get on with it then." The red-haired man grasped his Keyblade tighter and got into a stance, ready to do his best against the newly-named Keyblade Master.

Riku let out a small chuckle, "Oh no no, not against me. You already complained I was too much for you to battle, so you're going up against someone more your speed."

"Who?" Lea tilted his head.

Riku smiled, shifting his gaze between Lea and Kairi.

Kairi smiled and got into a battle stance a few feet away from her fellow trainee. "I'm ready."

Lea's mouth slightly dropped when he caught on with what Riku was implying. "Her? The girl? That's what I'm compared to? Come on!"

"Hey, watch it!" Kairi defended, pointing her Keyblade towards Lea. "Give me a little more training and I'll be able to duel just as good as Sora or Riku."

"Good commitment, Kairi," Riku smiled at his friend. "Now, Lea, what did I teach you about battle with the Keyblade?"

He sighed and recited with a montone voice, "Never underestimate your opponent...even if it's...a girl."

"Good." The Keyblade Master pressed his back against the wall, giving the two the battle space they needed for this next round of training.

"Now, begin!"

Kairi and Lea rushed towards each other, Keyblades in hand, the next duel commencing.

The sound of the clashing Keyblades could be heard from outside of the tall tower, as Donald and Goofy sat on the stone steps leading up to the large wooden doorway of the fortress.

As the Royal Wizard and Royal Knight to the King of Disney Castle, they took their roles very seriously and guarded the entrance to the tower from any unsuspected intruders. while the King and his Master discussed matters in Yen Sid's loft above. Even though the two had served as companions to Mickey and Sora and had become quite skilled in combat over the years, a feeling of uncertainty washed over them concering the outcome of the raging war that was certain to re-surface as it had done before all those years ago.

Goofy rested with his hands behind his head and turned to companion, "Gawrsh, I hope Sora is okay. How long did he say he was going to be home?"

"Until tomorrow, I think. Besides, I'm sure he's okay. He can take care of himself." Donald got up from his sitting position and looked off in the direction that his friend had left in. "He said he'd only be gone for a little bit, but knowing him, who knows what kind of trouble he got himself in."

Goofy sat up, a worried look on his face when he turned to the duck. "Gawrsh, you don't think Xehanort...," he gulped, the fear in his throat making him lose his ability to speak when he thought of harm potentially falling upon Sora or any one of his friends.

"Don't be silly, Goofy! I'm sure Sora's safe..." Even Donald couldn't fully hide the slight doubt that rose in his voice as he continued to speak.

There was no sense in hiding the concern in their voices. Ever since the group at Yen Sid's tower had caught on to what Xehanort was inevitably planning on doing, the concern and safety for their friends was at the forefront.

"You know, I'm sure you're right, Donald." Goofy said, before taking hold of his shield and standing to his feet. "So, do you really think we can take on all those Xehanorts?"

"Who knows?" Donald turned to his friend and replied honestly, "But I know we all won't go down without a fight! Right?"

"Right! And we'll protect the King, no matter what! Sora, too! And...gawrsh, I guess everyone else, too, huh?"

Their mood shifted and the worries between them had slowly dimished.

"Exactly! When the King first asked us to go on this mission, we didn't know what was in store, but we make it through every time! We'll make it through this time, too!"

"Yeah!" Goofy agreed, "And we already fought different Xehanorts before and they weren't nothin' too bad...even if it is thirteen of 'em."

"Ha! I don't care if it's fifteen of 'em! I'll bop them on the head and tell him to stop being a big palooka!" Donald said triumphantly, raising his magical staff into the air.

As the two of them continued to talk about their strategies on taking out their rivals in battle, they didn't notice the dark shadow that emerged from the bushes nearby. The antennae of the shadow twitched as it sensed the two beings nearby and slowly flattened itself into the ground, slowly and quietly approaching its' prey.

"My magic will blast him away!" Donald cheered.

"And I'll block his attacks with my shield! Just like when we fought Xemnas in Radiant Garden!"

"No, no! That was Xehanort's Heartless back when it was called Hollow Bastion," Donald corrected.

"Gawrsh, I thought his name was Ansem?"

"No, remember he was the apprentice to Ansem the Wise and stole his name! It's all in Jiminy's Journal!"

The shadow emerged behind Donald and Goofy.

Goofy continued, scratching his head. "Well, then why was Sora fighting Riku at Hollow Bastion?"

"Noooo, that was Riku being controlled by...Maleficent? Or was it Xehanort?" Donald stopped then corrected himself, "No, that was Anse-NOOO! That was Xehanort's Heartless!"

"And there's Xemnas, too. Who...was the apprentice Xehanort guy's Heartless'...Nobody...right?" Goofy said, rubbing his now hurting forehead. "So, then who's the Xehanort we're fighting now?"

"I...I have no idea. I'm confused." Donald gave up understanding the logic behind their enemies many different forms, "But we'll beat him, that's what matters!"

The two of them were taken out of their conversation when Donald felt something nudge his backside.

"Ack!" Donald jumped slightly. His eyelids lowered, a stern look on his face as he turned around to inspect the nuisance. "Hey, what's the big idea?"

"Heartless!?"

Donald and Goofy nearly jumped out of their skin from the surprise encounter, but dodged the shadow that moved towards them. Behind that shadow, another small army of shadow Heartless came crawling from the far side of the floating island that Yen Sid's Master had made his home.

"Wak! Where'd they come from?" Donald questioned, looking left and right, examining the number of Heartless they were up against. A small army of them had built.

"Come on, Donald! We can't let them get inside the tower!" Goofy said, moving his shield in front of them before barreling through several Heartless like a cannon.

"Thunder!" Donald jumped up into the air, raising his staff into the air, as from the heavens above, streaks of thunder darted through the air, striking through the Heartless, causing them to explode into dark clouds before disappearing completely.

Goofy bolted through another series of shadows, destroying each of them as they exploded into a puff of darkness. Before long, the shadows had been defeated and the base of the tower had returned to its' quiet state.

With their battle now over, the two of them took a moment to recover, as they found a tiny box that one of the shadows must have dropped after it had been defeated.

"Hmm, what's this?' Donald moved towards the box, picked it up and examined it closely. "Hmmm, a 'Pretty Stone'?" Any excitement died down when the duck realized the item was a dud.

"Cheap synthesis item." He said, before kicking the box off the side of the floating island, into the fog-filled endless abyss.

Goofy was too distracted to notice Donald's disregard for the item, as his eyes were caught by something else. "Gawrsh, Donald. Look at that."

"Wha-" Donald turned around and looked to where his companion had been pointing.

His eyes followed the direction of Goofy's finger, and sure enough, just beyond the steps leading up into the tower, he saw what seemed to be an injured shadow, staring up into the sky.

"It's a Heartless..." Goofy said, cautiously approaching the creature with his shield in hand.

"Goofy, be careful! It could be a trap!" Donald warned, "He could pounce on you the second you turn away. Confounded Heartless!"

When Goofy had approached the Heartless, he lowered his shield upon seeing the shadow. The shadow winced in pain and let out a small gasp for breath. It's antenna had been broken out of place.

"Aww, it's hurt. Poor thing." Goofy knelt down next to the shadow.

"Poor thing!?" Donald questioned, "Goofy, it's a Heartless! You just took out a bunch of them!"

"I know, but...gawrsh, it doesn't look like it wants to cause any trouble." Goofy leaned in and spoke to the shadow. "Do you want to cause us any trouble?"

The shadow twitched its' one working antenna and tried to roll onto its' side, but couldn't.

"I'll take that as a 'no'!" Goofy replied, cheerfully.

"We should just put the thing out of its' misery," Donald suggested.

"But you know I won't let you, Donald," Goofy said, turning his attention back to the shadow.

"I know." Donald sighed, but his eyes widened when he saw Goofy help roll the shadow over onto his shield, before he stood up and began the walk up the stone steps to the tower.

"Goofy, what are you doing!?" Donald asked, wide-eyed. "If you let that thing into the tower, Master Yen Sid will not be happy!"

"Gawrsh, Donald, I know, but..." Goofy frowned, "I can't just leave it hurt out here. I'm sure the Master will understand." Without another word, Goofy entered the tower with the injured shadow in tow.

Donald stood there for a moment, before he dropped his arms down to his sides, exasperated. "Great. Take the enemy right into the only place we're safe, why don't ya?"

The duck ran in to the tower after his friend. "Goofy, wait for me!' He raced up the steps to the tower, heading towards Yen Sid's loft. He wasn't sure what the Master would be more upset with - that he and Goofy almost became too distracted and let shadows into the tower, or that they actually took an injured shadow into the tower with them!

Before Donald could ponder too much on the subject matter, he arrived in Yen Sid's chamber, with Goofy presenting the injured shadow before Master Yen Sid, King Mickey, Riku, Kairi and Lea.

Yen Sid's eyes widened when he saw the creature of darkness lying in Goofy's shield. The Master slowly approached the shadow.

King Mickey carefully watched as his Master walked past him and examined the shadow, a look of concern on the King's face.

Yen Sid looked up from the shadow and at Donald and Goofy, "What happened here?"

"Well, you see, uhm, Master...," Donald started, "...we were outside guarding the tower like you asked whe-"

"An army of shadows appeared from the darkness, but after we got rid of most of 'em, we found this little guy...and well, it was injured...I couldn't just leave him," Goofy finished.

"Nice story." Lea scratched the back of his head. "Happy endings for all, heh. Including the bad guys."

Yen Sid took a few steps towards Donald and Goofy, his brows furrowing. Donald and Goofy seemed to shrink in his shadow and the frightening look in his eyes seemed to send a chill up their spines.

"You brought darkness into my home?" Yen Sid questioned. His voice rose, "This tower has been protected by the realm of light ever since my own Master had built it."

King Mickey's timid voice interjected, trying his best to defend his loyal friends, "Gosh, u-um, Master Yen Sid, it doesn't look like it w-wants to hurt us?"

Yen Sid shot a quick glare down to his apprentice, which caused the mouse to divert his gaze and back away immediately.

Goofy looked around the room, before bowing his head before Yen Sid. "I'm sorry, Master Yen Sid."

Yen Sid shut his eyes and sighed, "It seems our guardians of light can also be guardians of darkness." Yen Sid took the shield from Goofy, before looking back down at he and Donald. "Don't make a habit out of it. Just this one time exception."

Yen Sid took the shadow over to the shelves of knick-knacks, books and magical items that was kept along the walls of his quarters. He took down a glass jar and removed the lid, before securely placing the shadow inside, leaving it to recuperate. After he placed the lid back on, he waved his hand over the lid, causing it to glow for a brief moment.

"I have placed a protection spell on the lid to make sure the shadow doesn't cause any problems. Once it is healed, it can be set free, back to the realm of darkness where it came." The Master handed the jar to Donald, "I trust you'll keep an eye on it?"

"I won't let it out of my sight." Donald re-assured the wizard. He turned his focus to the re-cuperating shadow in the jar. "You better behave. Got it?"

When Donald looked into the glass jar, seeing the injured shadow inside, it's belly slowly rising and falling, with the way it's arms and legs occasionally twitched caused a chill to sweep over his skin. "Agh, this thing is kinda...spooky."

Kairi leaned in to the jar and examined the shadow, "I don't know, I think it's kinda cute. It reminds me of when Sora was turned into one of these." She tried to hide her giggle and smile with her hand.

"Great. Just what we need..." Lea began, "...a Heartless mascot to take into battle against Xehanort."

Yen Sid turned from the group then and made his way behind his desk, towards the star and moon shaped windows that looked out into the twinkling stars of the night sky above that mystical realm.

"Now, that one unnecessary evil is taken care of, there are more important matters at hand." The old wizard ran his hand through his beard and closed his eyes, as if sensing something. His eyes slowly opened and looked out of the windows to the world before him.

"Master Xehanort is close." He lowered his head, "The war is upon us. It won't be long now, that is certain."

Riku walked up towards the window, standing side by side with the Keyblade Master. "I...I can feel it, too. Darkness. Approaching...darkness."

Riku felt as if a knot formed in his chest and welled up until it was about to burst. The feeling of a distant darkness approaching felt like it weighed him down and at that moment, Riku's heart had never felt heavier. As someone who had struggled with, faced and overcame the darkness, he could sense the power and direction of the darkness.

More than anything, he was terrified. The darkness had tempted him once and though he succumbed, he overcame it. He didn't know if he would be so lucky a second time. He didn't want to know.

"Xehanort's forces are growing," Yen Sid confirmed.

The rest of the group joined Yen Sid and Riku at the windows, looking out towards the endless hazy fog and rolling mountains in the distance. There was an eerie calm outside, one that almost foretold the approaching danger.

Yen Sid closed his eyes and lifted his hands towards the window. There was a brief moment of silence and struggled concentration for the wizard but within moments, a screen of light seemed to ascend from within the depths of the world and wrap around the island the tower was on. The screen formed a barrier surrounding the world and after a moment, the visible barrier turned invisible.

"There. A barrier spell, to repel the darkness away. It won't last forever, but it should subdue Xehanort's darkness for now." Having completed the utmost protection the skilled wizard could accomplish, he sighed and took a seat at his desk.

Riku turned to him, "What do we do now?"

The wizard took a deep breath, closing his eyes before continuing, "Sora must return as soon as possible..."

"Our fate rests on him."

Evening had fallen over the Destiny Islands and Sora had returned to his family's house on the main island. Although he knew that he shold have spent as much time with his parents as he could have, especially after the last couple of years of his adventure, his family was somewhat 'fractured'.

Though, he couldn't help but feel as though something had called him to the island that day.

Looking down at the new Keyblade in hand, he was certain that it was more than just coincidence. It was destiny.

He would be returning to Master Yen Sid's tower first thing in the morning, but one problem remained - letting his parents know.

When he returned to the island after being away for so long, his father and mother were so overjoyed for his return. He told his parents about his role as the Keyblade Wielder - to travel through the worlds and seal the Keyholes. It was a role that was honored and respected, one that he did with pride, especially since he believed the Keyblade chose him as its' wielder.

He couldn't have been happier when his parents understood and supported him, though it would never take away how much they missed him.

Though, he truly didn't tell his parents everything. In fact, he kept the requirements in his role as a Keyblade Wielder to a bare minimum when it came to his parents. He'd never let them know how much danger he truly faced, nor the things that had happened to him. He knew that if he knew, they would never allow him to leave the house - not even to take the quick boat ride to the island. They didn't know about the constant danger. They didn't have to know, but more importantly to him, he didn't want them to know.

He wasn't lying to them, just 'withholding ' information.

A lot of information.

He stared out his open bedroom window, looking out at the peaceful nighttime sky that seemed to cover the Destiny Islands like a blanket. He was then taken out of his thoughts.

"Sora? Dinner's ready come on down."

He leaned out to close the window to his bedroom, but not before hiding the new Keyblade he'd found under his bedsheets.

"Sora?" His mother's voice called from downstairs.

"Coming!"

He could only hope that his parents would understand his continuous departure as a part of his role as a Keyblade wielder.

He could only hope.

The next ten minutes passed in silence as he, his father and his mother quietly at their meal after Sora had told them the news of his departure in the morning.

The next ten minutes were what he would recall as 'The Most Awkward Family Dinner Til Now'.

The minutes seemed to last for hours, as he tossed the food around his plate, not having even taken a single bite of it. From his lowered gaze, his eyes darted up to examine his parents.

His father, who had been a practically identical image to Sora quietly ate his meal, his expression not cluing Sora into what he was feeling, but that was pretty much always the case - so, there was nothing new there.

His mother on the other hand, who he got most of his chipper, upbeat personality from, pushed her shoulder-length brown hair back and looked as if she was fighting the urge to cry the entire dinner.

The minutes continued to pass, every second of the clock's 'tick' being the only noise that filled the quiet room.

Sora felt the silence begin to unnerve him, but couldn't quite find the voice to say anything yet.

He felt a sense of relief wash over him when his father finally broke the silence. "So, you're leaving tomorrow? Good for you, it'd be good for you to see rare sights,meet new friends, broaden your horizons, you know?"

"Y-yeah," was all Sora could say, somewhat confused that his father was taken the situation rather light-heartedly.

His father continued, "I know there are many people that would like to leave the island if given the opportunity, just to see what's out there, but they're too settled down."

"Well, I think most people don't realize that they can travel to other worlds, it's not really something...everyone can do so easily."

"Ah, right." His father continued, trying to gesture to his wife to contribute to the conversation, but she was kept busy staring at her plate. His father went on, "You know, back when I was your age, maybe a little younger, I heard rumors of a kid wanting a way to leave the islands and finding it. You ever hear of that?"

"Y-yeah." Sora nodded, knowing that the man his father talked of was none other than that of his nemesis, Xehanort.

His father laughed then, "Back then, we always thought it was just superstition - a rumor. Other people even said they saw the same man return to the islands soon after. So, I don't think any one really believed that he left at all. Why return to a place you tried escaping from in the first place?"

"I don't know." Sora shrugged, slightly looking off to see how his mom was doing.

"But I guess with you leaving now, you proved us all wrong, huh, kiddo?"

"Y-yeah." Sora bit his lower lip before turning to his mom. "Mom, are you...okay?"

She looked up from her plate, almost with a look of shock. She swallowed the food and cleared her throat, "Yes, I'm fine." She smiled lightly, but it faded almost as soon as it appeared.

Sora tilted his head, seeing through the facade she put on. "Mom...are you...mad?"

She looked at him, her gaze softening. "Mad? Sora...never." She got up from her seat then and took the open seat that was closer to Sora. "I couldn't be more prouder of you."

"We both couldn't be." His father added in.

Sora felt a burden lift from him, feeling better now that his parents were finally talking to him. "Well, then...why aren't you saying anything?"

His mother took a deep breath, placing her elbows on the table and her face in her palms. "Because even after you've been gone for so long, I still don't know how to say goodbye. It doesnt get any easier either when you leave on these...'quests'...at the drop of a hat."

Sora smiled lightly, knowing that his mother was the type to become emotional very easily.

She rose from her seat and went over to the living room where there was a table filled with pictures of them - pictures of memories.

"Look. This was you the first day we took you to the island and you were so afraid of the water, you wouldn't go anywhere near it." She smiled tracing the picture of her three year old son. "And this one. This was when your dad and you found that secret cave on the island and started drawing pictures on the walls. Your dad did his best to draw a chocobo since they were your favorite as a kid."

Sora smiled, but it was bittersweet because he knew where his mother was going with this.

"And here's you and Riku on his ninth birthday. He was over here so much, we practically raised him like he was our own son." She lifted another frame up, "And here's you and Kairi walking off to school one day."

"Mom..."

She went back to him, "Sora, what I'm trying to say is - here, this island...it's filled with so many memories of our family...but for the last two years...we don't have many...or any."

Sora tried not to let the tears sting his eyes when he felt the pain in his mother's voice.

She finished, "Sora, what I mean to say is...I don't want you to become the boy that decides to leaves the island one day and never returns."

His dad smiled when his wife was finally able to vocalize what he knew would take her ten minutes to express. "There it is."

"There it is." Sora smiled. He turned to his mom then, "Mom, I'll be back - I promise. And I'll...be the same I always have been. Everything will be."

His parents smiled and nodded, accepting his answer. They continued their dinner and enjoyed whatever time they had left with their son.

It was a promise he had made with all of his heart.

But it wasn't meant to be.

The endless realm of darkness.

The road through the void of darkness stretched onward, never ending. A lifetime of walking and with every step, another shred of hope shattered. It seemed as though time was frozen - no, not just time, but life. It was like moving through a dream.

Or a dark nightmare.

One could look as hard as they were able to not find even the smallest glimmer of light.

In this realm, only two things were constant - the road ahead and the darkness that awaited beyond it.

Her eyes opened then.

She laid there for a brief moment, not realizing where or when she was, but the moment she felt the presence of a dark figure pass over her, she knew exactly where she was.

She instantly sprung up and stumbled to her feet, examining the dark realm around her.

"How did I-?" She whispered to herself, the scare of being awoken in the unfamiliar setting taking all the power out of her voice.

"Again..." She understood. She was a wanderer - a wanderer of darkness. Not Aqua, not a Keyblade Master, just someone passing through.

It was the effect that the realm of darkness had on its' visitors. The endless walking, the constant pursuit of darkness following any trail of the living, fighting off the dark demons that lurked in the shadows - the eternal sadness that destroyed the soul and the mind.

After spending some time in the realm of darkness, Aqua still would never get used to the effect this world wrought its' dwellers - no one ever would. She would spend most of the hours walking wherever the road brought her.

And when she wasn't walking, she was fighting the darkness that threatened to snuff out what little light she had left.

And when she wasn't fighting, she was sleeping - because sleep brought the only world of peace to her, for her only to wake up in a dark nightmare again.

Again.

And again.

Traveling forever through the deceiving darkness.

Even as she slept and dreamed, she would continue to wander through the dark - her body never knowing rest.

Her smile had left her years ago.

She took a few steps forward, realizing she was wondering again. She had fallen asleep along the Dark Meridian next to the cloaked man she had spoken with. The two of them stayed there, refusing to move - as they were the only kind company they had to each other in this world.

But Aqua would still wander.

She made her way back down the road she believed she came from, trailing down towards the dark path that cuth through the darkness, only leading to deeper darkness. Ahead, she passed under a dark arch made of stone that lead under a purple abyss that streamed from the darkness.

'I don't remember coming this way before.' She turned around to look back at the way she had come, only for her to realize the single road she was just walking on had completely changed to a large piece of flat land that lead to a different part of the realm of darkness.

Endless wandering.

She returned back the way she came, hoping that the road would take her back to the beach and her companion, but what she stumbled upon, she never would have guessed.

Her breath caught in her throat when, for the second time traversing through the realm of darkness, she stumbled upon the Castle of Dreams, the tall castle rising from the sea of darkness she was traversing through.

Her footprints echoed as she slowly made her way towards the castle. Her heart hurt when she saw the castle - a place of dreams, of happily ever afters - now filled with hopelessness and despair.

'Terra.' Her mind always went to him when she thought of the notion of dreams. The last time she had visited this castle while it was in the realm of light, she stumbled across Terra in one of the few times their paths crossed before she, Terra and Ventus had been forced to face their separate fates.

Now, the castle had returned to haunt her again.

She made her way to the grand stone staircase of the castle, now etched in darkness and years of decay.

'I was certain this castle would have returned to the realm of light with Sora's help...' She thought to herself, before moving through the grand castle doors.

But what she saw once inside of the castle stopped her in her tracks.

"This...this is impossible. This isn't supposed to be here..." Aqua whispered, as she walked through the Grand Hall of her former home in the Land of Departure.

She realized the realm of darkness played tricks on the mind - presented visions and disoriented the truth to cloud the mind, but nothing like this.

She knew the fate of her world - destroyed by Master Xehanort, transformed by herself into a castle of endless oblivion with her best friend locked away deep within.

But now...

The hall was bright and beautiful, light spilling through the windows to the glowing world outside. The hall looked the same it did the day she finished her Mark of Mastery exam and was titled a true Keyblade Wielder.

And for the first time ever, somehow...she felt like she was home again.

"I'm home?"

"You're home."

The moment the voice spoke behind her, her heart lifted. She hadn't heard his voice in over a decade and yet, she knew it instantly. She turned around to see him there and her breath caught instantly.

She felt the tears sting her eyes, but for the first time in years, they were out of happiness to be reunited with someone dear she lost so long ago.

"Terra," she whispered, seeing him there - handsome, strong and free.

"Hello, Aqua." His smile beamed through the endless darkness she spent years traveling through.

And for the first time in a while...she smiled again.

She went to him - quickly, afraid that at any moment, he might disappear. She didn't really even mind if they were in the realm of darkness, at least they were together to find a way out.

Without a moment to spare, she wrapped her arms around him and embraced him. When his arms held her closely to him, that's when she knew - she really was home.

She slightly pulled back from him, tears of hope and happiness in her eyes. "I...I don't understand. Why...How are you here?"

He smiled down at her, his hand lifting up to wipe the tears from her face. "I'm here to save you, Aqua." He continued, "I've been trapped in this darkness all this time, but now we can escape this - together."

Aqua's smile grew, "Together."

Terra let go of her then and scratched the back of his head, "I have to say, I came here to practice though. I'm a little nervous about returning today."

She tilted her head, curiously. "Today? What's today?"

"The Mark of Mastery."

Aqua looked at him, confused.

"You know how things went the last time." He tilted his head and smiled, "I figured I could use the help of a true Keyblade Master to make sure I succeed. Being a true Keyblade Master is all I've ever dreamed about."

A small smile spread on her lips, her eyes gazing into his.

He offered his hand to her with a charming smile. "Teach me?"

She placed her hand in his own, as he led her to the center of the Grand Hall. With every step she took, the memories of their time together here - them with Ventus and Master Eraqus, came rushing back to her at once.

The couple stopped in the middle of the hall, bathed in the warmth of the light that came through the windows and spread throughout the room.

She looked up into his eyes and within their endless blue, she saw so many things - happiness, hope, love...a future.

He smiled down at her, inching closer to her, slowly raising his hand to caress her cheek.

She felt his breath on her neck and felt her heart pulse, getting lost in his eyes. She saw a brightness sparkle in them...and if that was the only light this realm offered, that was the only light she'd need.

"Terra, this is everything I've ever hoped for us." She smiled, a tear down her face. "Us...and Ven. Home. It's like a dream come true."

"I know." Terra said, taking his hands away from her, "It's a shame we never got it."

A distant tremble shook the world.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"I'm not really here. I was never here. I should be, but I'm not." He pulled away from her then. "All for one reason..."

A louder tremble shook the world.

Aqua's smile faded with his.

"You failed me."

Aqua's eyes widened as all light left the hall and her world turned dark.

Lighting flashed outside as the sound of thunder ripped through the air. The hall was destroyed, stone walls caved in, debris falling about the hall, smashed windows showing the outside world of darkness.

The roof disappeared, sucked up into an endless void of darkness, as her world was destroyed as it was once before.

Another strike of lighting illuminated the figure of the same, but different man before her.

He was Terra no more. His dark hair had whitened, his smile gone, his eyes - the eyes she loved - the endless blue now just a dark gold, all light faded from them.

The man abruptly turned his face to the right, watching as a wall of the hall caved in, leading to Ventus' room. The young boy was asleep in his old bed in his now destroyed bedroom.

"Ven!" Aqua called out to him. In a bright flash, Ven's hair grayed, as his skin began to wrinkle and decay, the endless years of sleep finally catching up to him and claiming his now elderly body. She gasped in shock, watching as the storm of darkness destroying the hall ripped through him, destroying him and lifting his ashes away with the wind. "NO!"

Another flash of lightning blinded her and then, appearing behind her, she gasped when she saw the dead corpse of her former Master, Eraqus.

"No! No!" Aqua cried out, trying to stop the nightmarish images from flashing through her mind.

Eraqus' body lurched up then and sat up. His head snapped out of place to face directly towards her, just the whites of his eyes staring at her. "I thought you said Terra wasn't as weak as I thought. You promised to bring him back." Darkness started to spew from his mouth then and pooled around him.

"I'd say you're the weak one now." The contorted body of her deceased Master sunk into the pool of darkness then.

Aqua turned back to face the man that was once Terra - now, just another vessel for Xehanort.

An impulse of darkness forced the man up into the air, pulling him back into a cyclone of darkness.

Aqua extended out her hands and reached for him, tightly holding his hands within her own, trying to pull him from the darkness that threatened to pull him in further.

"Goodbye, Aqua!" The man yelled above the sound of thunder and the hall collapsing.

"No, Terra!" She pulled harder at the possessed man. "I can save you!"

"NO, YOU CAN'T SAVE ME! YOU FAILED ME! THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO!"

"TERRA, PLEASE!" She held onto him for dear life, looking into his eyes,

For a brief moment, his eyes returned.

"Don't fail Ven."

Aqua cried out, as the man was pulled from her grasps. She was forced to watch as he was yet again pulled further into the darkness.

Then, her vision went black, Terra's final words ringing through her ears.

She sprung up then, eyes wide, gasping for breath.

Before her was the endless ocean of the Dark Meridian reflected under the moonlight. She'd never left this spot since she came across the robed man along its' dark waters some time ago.

'Another nightmare.' Aqua concluded, her breath even out as her heartbeat finally returned to normal. 'How many more endless paths and terrifying dreams does it take before one...falls to the darkness...just like he did.'

She understood then. Trailing through the darkness, it was so much easier to accept defeat and let yourself sink further into it then to fight the endless battle against it.

She looked down, her hand rising to her heart. 'I'm sorry, Terra. I didn't know how things were for you - how difficult it was to battle the darkness.'

"Hmm?" On the rock next to her, the robed man turned to her. "I'm glad to see you're still alive. You've been asleep for some time."

"For how long?" the blue-haired mage questioned.

The man turned his face away from her, pondering. "Days...perhaps even, months."

She looked down, understanding that time was like an illusion in the realm of darkness. In the blink of an eye, minutes, days, years were all but gone.

When she stumbled upon this myserious man in the realm of darkness, he was the sole comfort she could find. They conversed like old companions and talked about their lives or, in the man's case, what little he could salvage from his memory. It was the only form of companionship they could find now that they were in this doomed realm.

She turned from him then, looking out to sea. "I failed him."

"Hm?"

"A...friend. Someone who's very important to me. When falling into this realm, I did what I could to save him - hoping that he would be pulled out of the darkness...but I failed...he's only sunken in deeper."

The man turned to her then, "I'm sorry." It was a simple, but sincere response, but gien the man's state, he didn't know what else to say. With every passing second, the man's memory was stripped away. Having been banished to this realm prior to the initial defeat of Xehanort's Nobody, the many months spent here took their toll on him. His name, his past. his purpose, all the different layers of Ansem the Wise, now lost to him - memories now lost to the darkness.

"We've been gone too long." She stood up and trailed off a little further towards the ocean waters. "So much time has passed, I can feel it. Ven's been asleep, Terra's been...taken by the dark...all this time."

With the man slowly heaving himself up from the rock where he sat, he slowly made his way towards the young woman, who was a little bit further down the beach and stood by her side. When the man stumbled, she was there to help him.

"Another moment longer in this realm, we might as well just fade into the darkness." She turned to look at the man then. "Sora's our only hope now."

She turned back to look at the sea, "We must stop Master Xehanort."

Ansem's eyebrows furrowed and his eyes widened.

A piece of his memory was chained together again.

Although asleep, Sora felt himself falling through the dark. He descended through the air, feeling the lightness of his body float down through the darkness. He had fallen until his feet landed on a solid floor. He opened his eyes then and took a step forward.

From beneath his feet, the ground broke apart into dozens of flying doves beneath him, as the wind swept through his hair. The brown-haired Keyblade wielder looked up, watching as the doves flew up into the darkness.

He stood on a circular stained glass platform. On the footing of this platform, the image of Sora sleeping appeared with circular images of Riku, Kairi, Donald and Goofy behind him.

Through the silence of this space that represented Sora's heart, a calm voice called out to him - the same voice that had always spoken to him from his heart.

"So much to do, so little time..."

As the voice spoke, Sora's thoughts instantly when to the war that was descending down upon himself and his friends against Xehanort's forces.

"Take your time. Don't be afraid - you hold the mightiest weapon of all."

"Open your heart and listen."

"I heard your voice...and it cut through the darkness around me and brought me to you, Sora."

"My heart was fractured, but your light helped me make it whole again."

"The light may be asleep deep within the darkness, but one day it will return and the light will create a new heart."

"Remember Sora."

"You are the one who will open the door to the light."

Before he opened his eyes, he saw a vision of Roxas. No - it wasn't Roxas, but a boy who looked identical to him. A moment later, the vision was gone and Sora awoke.

Sora lazily opened his eyes, the sunrise that washed over the Destiny Islands streaming through his window. He got up and scratched through his spiky hair.

"Another dream about him."

He got out of bed and quickly gathered his things, knowing that his parents were downstairs waiting for his departure. He grabbed a backpack filled with different items, not that he necessarily needed them, he did it more to keep up appearances in hopes of evading any of his parents' questioning about his adventures.

Before he left his bedroom, he grabbed the new Keyblade he had found on the beach the day before from under his bed. He grasped the handle tighter and as a light illuminated from the blade, the Keyblade disappeared.

As soon as he was ready to depart, he threw the bag over his shoulder and made his way downtairs to say goodbye to his parents.

Strolling along the the path that led up through the main island's town, Sora looked over his shoulder and smiled, waving goodbye towards his parents. His mother gave him the additional cargo of a lunchbox that Sora had ever since he was five with moogles and chocobos on it with sandwiches packed inside. Although Sora appreciated it, he clearly understood that his mom didn't know what he was up against. He wasn't going on a camping trip, after all.

Sora continued walking along the island, waving as he walked past some of the neighbors and people he new from his childhood. As he was about to leave the islands again, he became sentimental, thinking of all of the days spent at his home. As much as he enjoyed life on the island, he knew his heart was ultimately split amongst all of the other worlds he visited and he carried a little bit of each of them in his heart.

But he knew, regardless of how far he went or what world he traveled to, the Destiny Islands would always be his home.

When his parents went back inside, Sora stopped walking and rose his hand forward. From within his grasps, a stream of light appeared and the Keyblade materialized within his grasps.

He turned his head and took one last longing look at the island and smiled, content.

He pointed the blade forward and from within the Keyblade, a beam of light shot forward and expanded into a glowing blue and golden portal, a passage to another realm.

With a smile on his face, the Keyblade wielder entered the portal.

Twilight Town

The lazy afternoon hung over the sleepy town. The setting sun cast a golden glow over the buildings built into the hills and slopes that the town had been built on. A few of the residents were making their way from the Tram Common, the bustling center of the town, where many of the town's shops and restaurants were found. Above, trains traveled along the tracks that were built above the town and seemed to connect all the different parts of the town by this mode of transportation. The churning sound of the passing trains became one the residents of Twilight Town became used to.

In a quiet corner of the Tram Common, there was a surge of power, before a glowing portal opened. Within moment, Sora appeared within the portal, Keyblade in hand and then moments later, the portal behind him faded.

"Twilight Town? How did I end up here?" He questioned, as he took a look around the quiet afternoon streets. "I was trying to get to the Mysterious Tower."

"Hmm. Something must have directed me here instead." He crossed his arms as he thought, "I guess I can always take the train to Master Yen Sid's tower."

He stepped out of the corner and began the walk through the quiet marketplace. As the Keyblade wielder made his way, he sensed something off about the town. Even though there always seemed to be a sleepy haze over the quiet town, the marketplace seemed quieter than it usually did.

The unsettling sound of his footprints traveling through the town was discomforting to say the least.

When he walked under the larhe archway the trams passed under, he was met by the ambush of half a dozen Nobodies.

"Nobodies?! What are they doing here?" He resumed a battle stance, before darting through the white dusks. The slender creatures lashed out, sliding along the floor, flinging out their arms to attack Sora. The Keyblade wielder rolled out of the way and counter-attacked the dusks, flinging them up into the air and slashing them.

The battle continued until not a trace of the creatures was left behind. Sora scanned the area, but before he could recuperate any further, a storm of shadow Heartless appeared.

"What?!" His eyes widened, watching as the shadows formed into a pillar of darkness, their yellow eyes piercing through the dark. The shadows climbed about one another, writhing and squirming about, almost as if it was like a tornado of shadows.

Without a word, Sora ran off in the opposite direction of the shadows. The darkness shot through the marketplace, flying through the buildings with Sora as its' target. The Keyblade wielder realized he couldn't run forever with the plume of darkness chasing after him. He jumped up onto the side of the building and flipped up into the air, raising his keyblade above his head, before splicing clean through the pillar of darkness.

With the darkness split, the two halves fell to the concrete where the darkness exploded into a sea of shadows. Sora fought his way through the swarm of shadows. As one leapt up into the air threatening to attack, Sora leapt up with it, striking the enemy down. He cut and slashed through the shadows, fighting through the dark clouds as each Heartless was defeated.

After the unexpected battle, Sora, still with Keyblade in hand, caught his breath as it slowly came back to him.

One moment, he was safe at home and the next, in the midst of battling the darkness.

"The darkness...it's become stronger."

His attention then turned to the exit of the Tram Common, to the Clocktower at the top of the hillside. He quickly ran from the marketplace, making his way towards the Sunset Station.

From the rooftop of one the buildings, two cloaked figures turned to each other, watching as the young Keyblade wielder ran off.

Sora made his way up the sloping payment, running past the usual spot, where he had first met Hayner, Pence and Olette - the three friends he had made the first time he visited Twilight Town. Whenever he thought of the three, a part of his heart hurt and he knew, deep down in the depths of his heart, it was Roxas calling out to him, telling Sora he missed them.

From sensing the looming darkness, without a moment to spare, Sora breezed up the alleys of the town, heading up the slope, as the distant Clocktower moved closer by the minute.

He arrived at the courtyard at the entrance of the Sunset Station. This place was one of Sora's favorite views, not just in Twilight Town, but in perhaps all of the worlds he had seen. From the stone ledge at the edge of the courtyard, there was a steep drop off as the station was built on the top of the hillside, but the view was breathtaking. From there, one could see the hundreds of houses and buildings below, the trains circulatinf throughout the many parts of the town and the tall, grass green hills that seemed to surround the entire town.

But the sun - the sun was beautiful. It was one unlike any that he'd seen back on the islands, or Radiant Garden or any world for that matter. This sun seemed to cast a golden glow onto everything that it touched. It cast a beautiful golden orange glow through the clouds and sky above. From that courtyard, the sun seemed to shine directly on him, offering the station and the clocktower a stunning view of the sunset.

It was a view that he would never forget and from inside his heart, it was one that he'd seen many times before.

From deep inside his heart, he heard a voice call out to him.

"Hey Roxas, Bet you don't know why the sun sets red. You see, light is made up of lots of colors. And out of all those colors, red is the one that travels the farthest."

"Like I asked, Know-It-All!" Sora heard Roxas reply back from within his heart. A small smile tugged at his lips when he heard the laughter between Roxas and Axel.

But then the laughter faded.

Sora turned away from the sun and turned to face the station, looking up at the Clocktower. To his surprise, there he saw Roxas and Axel sitting on the ledge of the building, staring off into the sunset with sea-salt ice cream bars in hand, just like they always had done after finishing their daily missions back during the days when they were in the original Organization XIII.

He felt a tug at his heart then - and sitting on the other side of Axel and Roxas, a young girl appeared. Sora tilted his head and looked at her closely, knowing that he had never seen her and yet, she felt so familiar. She had short black hair and a face identical to Kairi's, only unmasked to those when she wasn't hiding within the hood of her Organization robe.

But then, almost as soon as he had seen her, she was gone - like she never existed at all.

Roxas' voice echoed again in Sora's heart. "Seriously, where is she?"

He looked up at Roxas and Axel waiting for the 'she' they were expecting to arrive, but they both faded away before she ever did.

Looking up at the Clocktower, Sora would be lying if he said he wasn't surprised when he felt the tear fall down his face. He felt another pang in his heart.

He straightened and wiped the tear from his face, "The memories in Roxas' heart...my heart."

He let out a loud sigh and lowered his head. "Agh, I'm a mess." He ran up to the station and walked inside.

Once inside the large station plaza, he walked up to the ticket window. "One ticket, please." He waited, but no answer. "Um, hello?" Still no answer. "No one's here...but the trains are still running."

He walked up onto the loading platform and walked towards the train that would take him to Master Yen Sid's tower. This train was always distuishable than the other trains that went to the various parts of Twilight Town, as this train was purple and gold in color, had moons and stars on the exterior and had a large pointed sorcerer's hat on top of the engine.

Without another moment to spare, Sora moved to the door of the train and stepped in. He slowly walked through the train, moving towards the front and remembered that this train had no engineer or conductor - it moved all on its' own. Within a moment, he felt the train churn and after looking out the star-shaped windows, saw that the train was leaving the station.

For the next several minutes, Sora sat listening to the quiet churn of the train, watching as the buildings passed by his window. Then, a stream of light passed by the windows and the young man saw the town fade away, replaced by a galaxy of stars and green, wavy auras that filled the sky. The train was suspended on a glowing green track that seemed to soar through the air, creating its' own path.

After his initial adventure, Sora never would have guessed that there were other way to travel in the Lanes Between other than by using a Gummi Ship - especially not by train, even of the magical variety.

Sora was soon taken out of his thoughts when he felt an impulse. He looked around him for a moment before letting it go, assuming that the tremble was from the churn of the moving train. But then he felt the same impulse again, closer this time.

"What?" He got up from his seat then and looked outside and he saw it then - a plume of darkness, like a moving cloud, darting straight towards the train. Not just one, but two.

'Darkness! Is that what brought me here?' The two plumes of darkness shot straight towards the train, hitting it both at the same time. Sora ducked down as the train shifted on its' track. The hbit caused the lights to flicker on and off, before returning back on.

The two clouds of darkness encircled the train and at the same time again, struck the train, this time, shattering all the glass windows and causing the light to surge out.

With the wind surging through the train, Sora knelt down, taking cover from the two dark forces. "I can't lose before this adventure's even began!" He scanned the area before rolling over to the control cabin at the front of the train, he opened the door and took the engineer's seat. With a panel of buttons and levers in front of him, he hoped that his experience of manuevering the Gummi Ship would prove somewhat useful.

From outside the front window, he saw the two clouds encircle one another before flying directly towards the train. Sora grasped one of the levers and pushed it forward, causing the train to accelerate. The train sped down the glowing tracks above the endless galaxy.

Sora thought for a brief moment what would happen if the train was to derail and fall from its' place. Would he spend an eternity falling through this endless galaxy? He didn't want to think any more on the subject and focused on just making it to Yen Sid's tower in once piece.

Up ahead, he saw the shimmering portal that led to the tower. He just had another minute or so to go before he made it through. The train jostled again as it was struck. The darkness encircled the train, darkening Sora's vision of the outside world every few seconds. Another strike. One of the trains wheels had become dislodged, causing a screeching metal noise to pierce through the air, as sparks few beneath the train.

"Come on!" Sora yelled, slamming his fist down on the panel as the train was hit again. He looked up and saw the portal a few feet away, but before he got there, the two dark clouds darted towards the front of the train.

Just as the train passed through the portal, within the dark clouds, he saw the faces of Xehanort's Heartless and Xemnas appear, before being blasted away, repelled by a shield. The two dark clouds flew back and darted off through the sky, returning the way they came.

The train slowly churned to a halt, arriving at the Mysterious Tower, with Sora, although out of breath and recovering from the near heart attack he faced, safe and in one peace.

He departed from the train and raced his way up towards the tower, knowing that Master Yen Sid, the King and all of his friends were waiting for him. He sprinted up the swirling staircases that led his way up to the top of the tower, before arriving to the long staircase that led to Master Yen Sid's study. At the top of the stairs, Donald and Goofy stood.

"Donald! Goofy!" Sora shouted up at them, happy to see them.

"Gawrsh, Sora." Goofy started, "We started to worry about ya. We didn't think you'd be gone so long."

He let out a small chuckle. "Sorry! Is everyone here now?"

"Yep, eveyone's waiting inside," Donald said.

Sora opened the door to Yen Sid's study and peered in with a wide smile, "I'm back!"

"Sora!" His friends shouted upon his arrival, happy to see him.

"You're back!" Riku smiled.

"We missed you." Kairi walked up to him and gave him a tight embrace, which he returned back.

"I missed you, too." He replied, with a smile.

"Hey, Sora." Lea stepped up to his friend, remarking on the uncanny resemblance the boy shared with Roxas. Now with a beating heart back in his chest, Lea felt a fondness for his friendship with the Keyblade wielder. His friendship with Roxas had managed to continue on, maybe not in the way he expected, but that's what made it special.

"Hey, Ax-I mean, Lea."

"Heh, don't got it memorized, huh?' He said, "Anyway, welcome back. Meet the newest mascot for the seven guardians of light - a Heartless," Lea finished, before pulling out the glass jar continaining the shadow inside. "If that's not an omen for how this mission will go, I don't know what is."

"Eh, what is-" Sora continued, but stopped when Lea handed him the glass jar, as Sora looked at the shadow, which wiggled its' antenna and smushed his face against the glass when it saw Sora.

Donald continued, "We apparently have too much heart, cuz we can't put one lousy one out of its' misery!"

Sora examined the Heartless closer, spotting it's crooked antenna, "It...looks..."

"Spooky." Donald finished.

"I was going to say 'badly injured'." Sora corrected.

"Spooky also works." Donald concluded.

"We're not keepin' it forever, Donald. We'll release it when it gets all better. Everything'll be okay!" Goofy walked up to Sora then, "Gawrsh, Sora, Donald and I were awfully worried about ya, you know!"

"Hey, what do ya mean, ya big palooka?" Donald turned to his friend, tapping his foot. "I knew Sora was gonna be fine."

Riku approached his best friend. "At least you made it back here in one piece."

"Huh, barely." Sora added.

Riku's eyes grew concerned as he inspected his friend. "Are you hurt?"

"No, no, I'm fine." He turned to the rest of his friends then, "But Master Xehanort is out there. He's not far. I would have been here much sooner if it wasn't for some of his vessels causing trouble."

"Master, you were right." Mickey turned to Yen Sid then, his eyes wide, "Xehanort was coming."

"Yes, in the form of his many vessels." Yen Sid closed his eyes and rose from his desk, "We can only assume he was trying to stop Sora before he arrived here - to use Sora as one of his thirteen vessels."

"He already tried once before." Lea added.

"Right." Riku continued, "Back during the Mark of Mastery exam, Xehanort had tried to make Sora another...'Xehanort', but we stopped him."

"And we'll stop him again if he continues to try." Kairi concluded.

Regardless of how his friends' confidence over protecting him should have lifted his spirits, Sora frowned, "I don't understand. Why is Xehanort doing all of this? And why is he targeting me as a vessel? He could choose anyone."

Master Yen Sid turned from them, "I hypothesize that he tried to use Riku as a vessel, but after Riku's heart has struggled and fought of the darkness, his heart was strong enough to ward off any attempts Xehanort might make, which is why he turned to use Sora."

"So, what does that mean?" Sora stood still, turning his head to glance between Riku and the Master. "That my heart is too weak?"

Donald continued, "Well, Sora, Riku did receive the Mark of Mastery when you didn't."

Riku opened his mouth to say something, but couldn't find the words. If anything, he did not want to open up any bad blood that used to exist within his friendship with Sora. He knew how envious his best friend could become.

Sora felt an ounce of jealousy taint his heart. "Really, Donald?" He hadn't told his friends or anyone how much not receiving the Mark of Mastery actually hurt him, especially after all he'd done as a Keyblade wielder.

"I'm just saying, it's gotta mean something," Donald defended.

"Garwsh, Donald doesn't mean it like that, Sora," Goofy tried to correct his friend, "Just that you could use a little more practice is all."

"Sora, you'll become a Keyblade Master, one of the best." Kairi tried to re-assure him and make him feel better, "I know you will."

Master Yen Sid turned to face the friends - Sora, Riku, Kairi, Mickey, Donald, Goody and Lea.

"We are all here today to discuss the details of what is sure to await you on your travels. With Xehanort's return in whatever form he has chosen to join his army of thirteen darknesses, this adventure will be the most difficult you've faced yet - with the balance of light and darkness on the verge of corruption. Are you all up for the task?"

Yen Sid looked around the room, content when each of the heroes had nodded.

"Very good. Next, we will discuss the perils that are sure to await you on your quests."

The team paid close attention to the important briefing their Master gave about their next adventure.

"Master Xehanort is planning on gathering his thirteen darknesses - his many different vessels with a fraction of his heart placed in each - as a means of pitting them against seven protectors of the light - Keyblade masters with the duty of guarding the light of the worlds. With Xehanort's army of thirteen darknesses, the clash between the dark and the light is certain to happen now, and when it does happen, the X-Blade will be forged - another means of Xehanort obtaining power. We must stop him at all costs."

Sora nodded, "We will."

The elderly wizard continued, "But the X-Blade is only but one of Xehanort's conquests. With the clash between light and dark commencing, Xehanort wishes to bring about the Keyblade War anew and to see how the World of Kingdom Hearts was created, so that he could claim it as his own. With the power of Kingdom Hearts within his grasps, he would become all-knowing and have the capability of creating a universe that was of his liking - where light and darkness could exist within equal balance and the scale tipped in his favor."

"They Keyblade War..." Kairi thought out loud, "I remember my grandmother's story about it, about how the darkness was born in peoples' hearts becauseof the fighting and the senseless violence."

"But..." Sora began, raising a finger to his chin, "...why would Xehanort want to bring about another Keyblade War?"

Yen Sid continued, "As the legend says, the World of Kingdom Hearts was revealed during the first war. Aside from this, his lust and obsession over power and knowledge has darkened his heart - trickling down through every incarnation of himself throughout space and time. His thirst for knowledge about the war has turned into a dark obsession - one he wants to witness first-hand."

Sora's eyebrows furrowed, "So, Master Xehanort wants to enact a new war just...because?"

"I'd say there are still many hidden truths about the war that Xehanort wants to know the answers behind," Mickey hypothesized.

"Precisely," Yen Sid confirmed.'

"The legends of the war...so much bloodshed, so many lives lost." Riku said, lowering his head. "All for what?"

"You've fought against the different forms of this man before, but to prepare you for the mission ahead, you must know the true nature of the man who threatens our very lives." Yen Sid closed his eyes and thought about the man he was shared a close, almost familial bond with. "Years ago, Xehanort, Eraqus and I were trained under the same Master, a noble man that had brought light to many worlds..."

"...but that light was too bright for Xehanort, and his curiosity over the darkness began to consume him, creating the man you see today. He's cunning, deceptive...and has an extreme disregard for life - both human and of the worlds. He destroyed worlds, killed his fellow master that was more like a brother to him...he wants to re-create a war just to quell his curiosity, putting innocent lives on the line."

"This is the man you're up against. The Original - the one who's evil and darkness trickled down into all of his different forms across time and space."

"We'll stop him!" Donald cheered.

Goofy smiled, "Yeah, but uh...where do we even start?"

Yen Sid continued, "To obtain Kingdom Hearts, Xehanort will need the powers of the Seven Princesses of Heart to reveal it. It is important that Xehanort does not achieve even this. We must scour the realm of light and find the six remaining princesses and keep them safe by taking them to the safe haven Merlin the Wizard has hidden away deep within Radiant Garden - the Secret Sanctum."

"We'll keep them safe!" Donald said, triumphantly.

"And I'll make sure nothing happens to you." Sora smiled to Kairi, "I...won't take my eyes off you for a second." He blushed, scratching the back of his head.

"I'd lose my heart if you did," she replied back to him with a wink.

"Once all seven princesses are gathered, their power will not only reveal Kingdom Hearts, but the Key to Return Hearts."

"The Key to Return Hearts," Sora replied, understandingly.

"With its' power, it will restore the hearts, end the pain, to all those suffering - that is why we must protect the Princesses at all cost. It is vital to mend the suffering of those in need."

"To think we had such power within the seven of us," Kairi said, lifting her hand to her heart.

"And the seven guardians of light?" Goofy asked.

"Hmm, yes." Yen Sid traced his hand through his beard, "We already have three of the seven - Mickey, Riku, Sora."

"And what of the others?"

"Another is in this very room - Kairi...or Lea?" Yen Sid confirmed.

Kairi and Lea looked between themselves and then back at the Master.

"Who is to say who will take on the role?" The master said, "Only time will tell."

Yen Sid turned from them then, "As for the other three - Terra, Ventus and Aqua. All three equally as skilled as the next, all three missing."

"Terra, Ventus and Aqua." Sora spoke out loud, "Missing?"

The others' attention was piqued when the names of the three lost Keyblade wielders were spoken. Little did they know, most of them had encountered one of these wielders once before - though they would not know it at the time.

The King chimed in, "Some time ago, Ventus and Aqua were here...right in this very room."

"Really?" Sora asked.

Yen Sid nodded, "Indeed. The young boy's heart was lost to him and he fell into a deep sleep, never to awaken until his heart was mended and returned to him."

Sora then felt a small pulse in his chest then, which caused his hand to relfex and clutch his heart, feeling as though it was about to burst from his chest.

Kairi turned to him, concerned. "You okay?"

"Y-yeah. I don't know what that was,...sorry." He turned his attention back to the Master. "And what became of Ventus?"

"I can not say," the Master said, shaking his head. "Aqua took the sleeping boy from here never to be seen again. She must know the wherabouts of her friend."

"Then, where is she?" Sora asked.

Mickey looked at his Master, unsure of what to say. He took a breath before speaking, "She's in the realm of darkness...she's been there for years."

"Years!?" Sora questioned, eyes wide. "Why hasn't anyone gone to save her? She...she could have helped...stop all of this!"

Mickey took another deep breath, "There was no way to get to her safely, Sora."

Yen Sid bowed, "Mickey is correct. The Realm of Darkness is a dangerous and volatile place. Just finding passage into the realm could deeply affect one's heart with darkness."

The King continued, "I met Aqua some time ago, right before we sealed the door to Kingdom Hearts, Sora and Riku. We journeyed together for a short time until we found my Keyblade," he summoned the Kingdom Key D to his grasps, "but she was carried away by darkness...and she's been trapped there ever since."

Sora thought for a long moment, "Is there any way...for her to reach out from the realm of darkness?" He questioned.

"I could not say." Yen Sid replied, "Why do you ask?"

Sora stretched his hand out and within moments, the new Keyblade he had found on the beach materialized in his hands.

"A new Keyblade?" Kairi examined it.

"It washed up on the beaches of my island," Sora explained.

Master Yen Sid's eyes went wide. "I haven't seen that blade in years. That was the blade of Eraqus, the Master who had taken in and trained Terra, Ventus and Aqua."

"So...it can't just be a coincidence." Sora confirmed, "She must have sent this from the realm of darkness...a clue...or sign."

"Indeed." Yen Sid replied.

"And the third?" Riku looked at the wizard, "Terra?"

The wizard simply sighed and closed his eyes. "I can not say. But, uncovering the truth by saving Aqua is sure to enlighten how Terra and Ventus might be found."

"No worries." Sora spoke confidently, "We'll save them - we'll save everyone."

"A worthy answer." The wizard nodded, "We have two simulataneous tasks at hand. Sora, Donald, Goofy, Kairi and Lea - you are to explore the realm of light in search of the Princesses of Heart and repel any of Xehanort's darknesses away."

The group nodded.

"Riku and Mickey, you are to once again don the robes of the Organization members to repel the darkness away, as you dive into the realm of darkness to save Aqua."

"These are your tasks at hand - save the Princesses from Xehanort's grasps, save the three lost Keyblade Wielders, stop Xehanort and his forces from re-enacting the Keyblade War and claiming Kingdom Hearts as his own - and free all those who have been suffering."

"Yes, Master Yen Sid!"

Sora looked at the group then, "I...know it might not be an easy task, but...I know with all of us...and Terra, Ventus and Aqua...we can overcome anything! Our friends are our power."

Yen Sid then smiled and suggested, "It would be best to prepare yourself for the mission ahead of you."

The group proceeded out of the Sorcerer's chamber.

Their next adventure was about to commence.

The sound of footprints echoed down the long hall which led to the circular throne room of the newly formed Organization XIII. The two cloaked men returned to the room and stared up to their leader - the Original. Master Xehanort.

"Well, look who returned empty-handed." Braig let out a laugh, watching as Xehanort's Heartless and Xemnas sulked into the room, knowingly awaiting some form of punishment by their leader, "Maybe if the old coot sent me, I actually would have managed to bring the Keyblade wielder back."

"We're sorry, Master." Xemnas bowed his head.

Xehanort's Heartless continued, "We won't fail you again."

Isa turned to his Master, "How should I facilitate their punishment?"

Xehanort's Heartless and Xemnas straightened at the idea of punishment for their failure.

Master Xehanort paused for a moment before he spoke out, his dark voice rasp and hoarse, "No punishment. They fulfilled their duty."

The two breathe dout, relieved that their Master would not take out his anger on them. Even as a unified army against the light, Master Xehanort ruled with violence and terror. Not even his own followers were safe.

"They followed through with what I needed - to let the heroes of light know we're ready for battle and we're coming for them." A wicked grin grew across Master Xehanort's face, "Now that the young boy believes he's being targeted, it'll be much easier to get to his friend..."

"The princess?"

"Perhaps." The Master smiled, "But in time, we will have all the princesses, the X-Blade and Kingdom Hearts...and the Keyblade War will begin anew."

Braig sighed and crossed his arms, "You know, for a guy that's had to resort to making an army of himself to make sure he gets what he wants, you seem a tad bit too confident after the past failures, you know."

"Including yours." Master Xehanort turned to the man.

"Hah, as if!"

"We have every reason to be confident." Master Xehanort turned from the man, looking down at each of the newly formed Organization army he had formed. "We have more than just the darkness on our side...we have prophecy."

From within his grasps, one of the lost journals appeared - the final excerpt from the Book of Prophecies.

The one-eyed man's eye widened, "And where did you find that? That book as well as the five others have been lost through the centuries."

The evil Master let out a low, wicked laugh, "Soon, you will all learn...the darkness is more than just an ally. It is a part of every one of us."

"The Darkness always prevails."

Master Xehanort opened up the legendary journal and read the final page that foretold the future.

"On that land shall darkness prevail and light expire."