"So we're on our way to Hollow Bastion again?" Saiyoku asked, still not used to being in a Gummi Ship. Leon had forced Saiyoku to go with Sora instead of with Yuffie so that way they couldn't yell at each other.

"Yep! I know you only saw a bit of it, but it's HUGE!" Sora exclaimed, waving his hands to emphasize how big it was.

Saiyoku couldn't help but laugh. He didn't know how wrong he was about her not seeing much of the castle. She'd seen plenty and she really didn't want to go back. The only problem was, Riku might still be there, so she HAD to go back.

They arrived in almost no time at all. Sora immediately ran with Donald and Goofy to the Keyhole while Saiyoku joined Leon and the others.

"C'mon, let's go. I have to explain a few things to him before he leaves." Leon motioned to go forward.

"He's leaving? To go where?" Saiyoku asked, confused.

"To The End of the World. He has to go finish off Ansem."

"You mean he's not here!?"

"No."

"Then that means Riku's not here either…" She sighed, upset.

"Cheer up! You'll see him again, and I'm sure Sora will save him!" Yuffie patted her on the back.

"Sora? Well, I can help too, you know."

Leon looked back at her and sighed while Yuffie and a man named Cid shook their heads.

"Look, we know you want to help, but…"

"But after that little sparring match, you just proved to us that you're not yet Ansem material. You're fine for smaller Heartless, but you need more training. A LOT more training." Yuffie finished for him.

"You mean I can't go!?"

They all shook their heads, including Aerith. Saiyoku bowed her head and clenched her hands into fists.

"I'm strong enough! I can still help!"

Leon walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder, "No, you're not Saiyoku. Ansem is just too strong."

"Are you saying Sora is stronger than me now?"

There was no way she could believe that Sora, who had been a pipsqueak on Destiny Islands, could be stronger than her.

"Yes. You may have been able to on the island, but not anymore. Sora's been fighting this whole time, fighting Heartless and even some of the people in the different worlds. You've been asleep. You've had no time to train; no way you could've been able to strengthen yourself up. I mean, let's face it; even Yuffie beat you."

"Hey!"

"Alright, fine. So I'm practically useless now?"

Leon looked away and didn't answer. He nodded his head toward the Keyhole and headed up the stairs. Yuffie and the others followed behind him, leaving Saiyoku behind.

When she joined them, Sora came out of the Keyhole and smiled.

"We may never meet again, but we'll never forget each other." Leon said quite depressingly.

"No matter where we are, our hearts will bring us together again." Aerith lifted her hand to her heart and closed her eyes.

"Besides, I couldn't forget you even if I wanted to." Yuffie added, looking around at the castle.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sora waved his fist at her, as if trying to pick a fight.

Saiyoku approached him and said, "You'd better bring him back, you hear?"

He nodded, "Don't worry; I'll bring Riku back safely."

"And DON'T die." She added, punching him in the arm before returning to where she was standing before.

"Sora!" Donald yelled at him urgently.

"Hurry! Come and close the Keyhole!" Goofy called over. Leon added, "Sora, good luck," before Sora nodded and ran back through the glowing red, green, and black heartless insignia shaped hole.

"So, what do we do now?"

"Well, if all goes well, then everyone's worlds should be restored, and everyone returned. If not, well, we'll see."

"Well that's a happy idea."

"If Sora wins, you, Kairi, Sora, and even maybe Riku will go back to Destiny Islands together. Of course, I could be wrong."

"Wrong about Riku?"

"Exactly."

"I don't know about that. Riku never did like the islands. He said it was such a boring life that there was just nothing to do there. I kind of agree with him, but where he goes, I go."

"What made you decide that?"

"Well, something happened on the island before it vanished into darkness."

"And that is?"

"Absolutely none of your business."

Sora and the others were floating in a sea of darkness; in front of them was a tan skinned, yellow-eyed, silver-haired man with a Heartless insignia on his chest. THIS was Ansem. He was struggling and jerking around, like something was fighting against him on the inside.

"It is futile. The Keyblade alone cannot seal the door to darkness."

He reached out with one hand toward a group of gray islands with a giant door about the size of a small sky-scraper.

"Kingdom Hearts. Fill me with the power of darkness…"

The glowing silver door opened a crack, darkness pouring out rapidly.

"Supreme darkness…"

"You're wrong. I know now, without a doubt. Kingdom Hearts… is light!" Sora yelled, and the darkness from the door vanished, light pouring out even stronger than the darkness. The door seemed to budge open even more to let the light out.

Ansem cried out as the bright light hit him, destroying the darkness within him.

"…hearts… lights… but why…?" He croaked out before he was destroyed completely by the light Kingdom Hearts had sent. Sora did a small fist pump before flying over to the islands and landing, Donald and Goofy right behind him.

They ran over to the giant sky-scraper door and each chose a side to close. Donald and Goofy pushed on one door while Sora shoved with all his might on the other.

"C'mon!" He yelled and he struggled to even keep his footing on the crumbling land. The door wouldn't budge, Donald and Goofy barely getting anywhere. Goofy took a quick peek inside the door before freaking out. Donald just scolded him.

"Stop staring and keep pushing!" Then he took a quick peek as well before yelling in unison with his partner, "The Heartless!?"

"Hurry!" Donald screamed and shoved harder against the door.

Saiyoku and Leon were still having their conversation when she suddenly began to glow a slight yellow tinge. She just about jumped four feet off the ground when she looked down and then looked at Leon's expression. A warm feeling came over her and she suddenly understood. She turned to the stunned group, smiled, and gave a quick wave.

"Look's like it's time for me to go. I'll see you guys again someday, maybe… but for right now, I need to go join my friends. Bye!" She told them as a tear ran down her cheek, sad that she was going to leave her new friends. Her body began to fade away until she was completely gone from their sight.

"I will NEVER understand how these things work." Yuffie held her hand to her head and groaned.

"I can't…" Sora gasped as he shoved hard against the door, pushing against the ground as much as he could.

A gloved hand shot out from behind the door and grabbed it.

"Don't give up!"

Sora just stopped in disbelief until Riku showed his face behind the door.

"Come on, Sora! Together, we can do it!" This snapped Sora out of it.

He nodded, "Okay!" and prepared to push again.

A sudden glow from inside the doorway behind Riku made them both stop and look.

"Need a little help?"

"Saiyoku!" Riku exclaimed, surprised to see her. She grabbed the door that Donald and Goofy were trying to close and pulled on it. The door was finally getting somewhere, but it wasn't long before Saiyoku glanced behind her.

"Uh, Riku? I think we have some company."

"It's hopeless!" Donald screamed, clutching his hands to the side of his head. Goofy looked around the door past Saiyoku in curiosity, and Donald followed suit. A look of surprise and happiness both crossed their faces, and Saiyoku and Riku just had to look behind them.

"Your Majesty!" Donald and Goofy yelled at the same time, and all of them could just barely make out the silhouette of a small mouse. He pulled out an inverted version of the Kingdom Key, gold on the blade and silver on the hilt and guard.

"Now, Sora! Let's close this door for good!"

"Close it, quick!" Donald exclaimed, and everyone but Sora worked hard.

"But…"

"Don't worry. There will always be a door to the light." The King reassured him of his friends.

"Sora, you can trust King Mickey." Goofy explained, and Riku turned to the King.

"Now! They're coming!"

The King looked at his Royal Captain and Magician, "Donald, Goofy, thank you."

Saiyoku and Riku let go as the three others on the opposite side pushed harder, finally moving it at a better pace. Riku turned to Sora.

"Take care of her."

Sora nodded, "And you take care of HER."

Riku just smirked, but it faded and returned to his calm smile. Saiyoku smiled at Sora as well until the door closed shut with an earth-shattering bang.

Both Sora and the King lifted their Keyblades up and locked the door, sending it away with a brilliant flash of light.

To be continued in Royal Darkness…