Kinda just a "what-if." My brain is full of these. So very, very full. I wasn't intending for it to be more than that scene, but it sort of expanded to a whole alternate ending... I mostly blame Kid!Sora for popping up with scene ideas and being too adorable to tell no. Also expanded the fights a couple times, since they felt short to me – still do, in some places, but whatever. Just the scene for now, the rest will be up later. Enjoy!

Defend

"All the seats have been filled," Master Xehanort said, a dark anticipation in his smile. "And now, the last vessel shall bear my heart, like the rest!" Energy rushed from Xehanort's raised hand, and across the room, Sora's throne began to rise.

"No!" "Sora!" Mickey and Riku both shouted, instantly bolting for their friend. Mickey leapt into the air, jumping off the towering seats, and had almost reached Sora when Xemnas materialized in front of him, grabbing the small king and holding him against one of the thrones.

Riku hadn't fared any better. He was barely halfway across the central platform when Ansem appeared before him, casually tripping him and pinning him to the ground. Riku grit his teeth, a snarl building in his throat as he struggled.

Xehanort only chuckled quietly, passing a hand over his Keyblade before lifting it over his head and swinging it down towards Sora. A small, bright orb shot forth. Riku could only watch in horror as Xehanort's heart flew straight for his best friend.

Just before the orb reached Sora, there was a bright flash of light, forcing Riku to close his eyes. When he opened them, Sora was still seated on the throne, but a strange armor had formed around him. Xehanort's heart hovered in front of the unmoving boy, as if uncertain.

Slowly, Sora began to stand, the soft clank of metal the only sound in the suddenly silent room. It should have been impossible with the helmet concealing his face, but Riku got the distinct impression the armor was glaring at Xehanort. Movements still slow and careful, as if out of practice, he took a ready stance, feet spread, one arm held in front, the other behind. With a much smaller flash of light, a Keyblade Riku had never seen before appeared in the armor's back hand, held in a reverse grip Sora had never used.

Still held by Xemnas, Mickey gasped. "Is that...?"

Xehanort's smile widened. "Ahhh, there you are," he said, a low chuckle mixing in. "No longer sleeping so soundly, are you?" That same anticipation was on his face as he waved a hand expansively, fingers waggling before clutching into a fist. "But you know, even that armor did not save your friend." He reached out, fingers extended again as he twisted his wrist, as though holding a hand for Sora to take. His heart, still hovering, swirled in the air, pulling back before once again launching at Sora. The armor raised its Keyblade to block.

Riku didn't stop to think. Whatever that armor was, it had just saved his best friend, and that was good enough for right now. He renewed his efforts to get free, resummoning his Keyblade in a backhand grip himself, the new orientation giving him the reach to swing at Ansem's head. The Heartless leaped back, and Riku was on his feet in an instant, smoothly switching his Keyblade to his normal grip and lifting it to channel a protective aura around his friend. Mickey had shaken off Xemnas as well, Keyblade raised as he launched towards Sora's seat.

Riku's shield formed just before Xehanort's heart reached Sora. The heart pushed against the barrier, starting to sink into it. Mickey reached it then, light swirling around his Keyblade as he swung at the heart, knocking it to the side. Sora – the armor encasing Sora – drew back, Keyblade lowering again to that ready stance. He – it – flickered, and then it was across the room, swinging at Master Xehanort.

Xehanort calmly spun his Keyblade, almost bored as he deflected the attack, free hand grabbing the armor over the face. "Hopeless boy. Still so quick to throw yourself away."

Riku could feel the dark power building, and even with Xemnas and Ansem both floating between him and Xehanort, he dove forward. He briefly saw Ansem's Guardian forming and Mickey charging to intercept Xemnas before he had run past, jumping up and off the thrones to try and reach Sora. The armor, for its part, tried to swing at Xehanort again, and was again blocked. Xehanort smiled as his hand began to tighten over the helmet. The heart returned from the edge of the room, flying towards Sora.

Riku wasn't going to let that happen.

Road to Dawn hummed in his hand as he made one last jump, light shining from the joint of the wings as he put all his strength into another shield. The light coalesced into interlocking hexagons, forming a full barrier like he hadn't been able to in months. The heart bounced off, ricocheting on two different thrones before slamming into the floor. Not losing a beat, Riku spun in the air and slashed at Xehanort's arm, the armor swinging at the same time even as a crack of metal split the air.

Xehanort deflected the armor's attack again, arching an curious eyebrow as Riku's forced him to release it. The two boys dropped back to the central platform, where Mickey was holding off Ansem's Guardian and dodging beams from Xemnas. Riku landed on his feet, ready to help the king, but the armor landed in a heap, Keyblade clattering against the ground.

"Sora!" Riku knelt beside him, one eye on Mickey's fight as a hand touched the armor's shoulder. It pulled itself up, shaking its head as if to clear it, and throwing off a few shards of metal. A crack had opened up over Sora's face, showing Riku one of his friend's still mostly closed, empty eyes. The armor climbed to its feet, Riku helping it up, and called that strange Keyblade back to its hand with a quick gesture before taking off towards Mickey.

Xemnas finally landed a hit on the small king, giving Ansem and his Guardian the chance to get past. The armor leaped high in the air, bringing its Keyblade down on Guardian's crossed arms. The shadow creature tossed the armor back, blue light gathering in its hands. The armor flipped to land much more gracefully this time, darting to the side to avoid the wave of energy.

Riku was already closing in on the Guardian, light shining from his Keyblade as he launched a Firaga. The Guardian batted the fireball aside with its arm, and the armor took advantage of the opening by again leaping into the air, downward swing this time landing hard on the Guardian's head. Riku spun towards Ansem, knowing the Guardian wouldn't be stunned long, and charged, slicing his Keyblade across Ansem's shoulder before the Heartless floated back, past where his Nobody counterpart and the king were fighting.

Mickey was working hard avoiding Xemnas's spinning beam swords, constantly flipping around the larger fighter and not getting the chance to counter. Swinging the two blades together horizontally, Xemnas knocked the king back and half across the central platform, slamming Mickey into the armor. Both tumbled to the ground, the armor rolling to quickly get back on its feet. It took a protective stance next to the recovering king, turning to face the Guardian again as it loomed behind them.

Riku darted forward, aiming a high slash at Xemnas, who caught the attack between his beam swords and twisted, trying to throw the Keyblade out of his hands. Smirking, Riku let his Keyblade fade for just an instant, resummoning it as Xemnas's weapons passed through the soft light lingering in the air, and swung, pushing the Nobody back. He didn't get a chance to press his advantage, a dark fireball from Ansem forcing him to block, followed by several lasers from Xemnas that he barely deflected, holding his ground.

On the other side of the battle, Mickey was getting back on his feet as the armor spun in a quick circle to add momentum to its next swing at the Guardian, following with a long series of quick attacks, Keyblade leaving a faint trail of light. The Guardian took the attacks with only a mild reaction, swinging one of its large arms at the armor, which slipped around the attack to get behind it, a hard slash cutting across the Guardian's back. Mickey took the chance to cast a Blizzaga at the Guardian, encasing one arm in ice, before jumping over towards Riku to bat aside another fireball from Ansem.

Xemnas lunged at Riku, who dodged to the side but couldn't attack as the Nobody flowed smoothly into a spin. Beam swords came perilously close to connecting with his side as Riku stepped back, bringing up his Keyblade to deflect the next strike. Xemnas caught him off-guard, however, by dismissing one of the beam weapons and, hand crackling with energy, reached out to grab Riku by the collar, shoving the teen back.

Riku went with the throw, rolling backwards once he hit the ground to come up in a crouch at the edge of the platform, and gasped when he saw the Guardian, now free of ice, grab the armor and hold it tightly with both hands. The armor struggled, tossing its head back and forth and kicking its legs, but wasn't strong enough to break free. Almost forgotten, Xehanort's heart spiraled up, and Riku knew he and Mickey wouldn't be fast enough to stop it this time.

And then the heart exploded into flames, and a familiar redhead in a black coat fell from above, flaming chakram slicing through the Guardian's arm. The Guardian began to break apart and released the armor, which hit the ground and fell to one knee, and Axel, still smoldering, quickly put himself between it and the remaining threats.

"You made it!" Mickey said, relieved but keeping a wary eye on his opponents.

Other reactions were less pleased. "You," Xemnas spat, glaring at the former Organization member.

Xigbar, up above, slammed a fist on the arm of his throne. "Axel!"

"Axel?" the redhead repeated, tone casual but hand still tightly gripping his chakram. "Please. The name's Lea." Riku could almost hear the smirk as the flames at last died out. "Got it memorized?"

"You're not supposed to be here!" the gunman shouted, outraged.

"Promises to keep," Axel said, unrepentant. "I'll always be there to get my friends back." He glanced over his shoulder at the armor, which had come to its feet. "Hope you're the right one. I'd hate to waste an entrance like that." The armor, predictably, didn't react, and Axel turned back to the men still high above. "What, bad timing?" he taunted. "Mess up your perfect little script?"

"What now, you old coot?" Xigbar demanded, glaring at Xehanort. "Our time is up!"

"Yes," Xehanort said, hands behind his back. "So it seems." He glanced to one of the hooded figures still seated, who immediately leaped down towards Axel, drawing out a large weapon. Axel caught the claymore with his chakram, the impact blowing back the figure's hood and letting long, light blue hair fall free.

"Isa," Axel breathed, but the scarred man didn't respond beyond pushing harder with his claymore. The two struggled for a moment, and Axel finally twisted away, pulling back his arm to throw the chakram before Saïx could attack the armor that had encased Sora. He froze when he saw the small black flecks rising in the air, the Seekers of Darkness beginning to fade away.

Above, Xehanort spoke, still smiling for some incomprehensible reason. "We are out of time." He looked over each of them in turn, lingering the longest on Sora. "Neither the union of light nor of darkness has been achieved. We must all return whence we came."

He tilted his head slightly as his gaze returned to Mickey. "But the gathering of the seven and thirteen is nigh. Let us finish this at the fated place, once your lights and my darknesses have joined together!" And without the slightest trace of disappointment, he, too, faded away.

Once the room had cleared of the dark mist, Mickey turned to the armor that had – what, taken over Sora? There was something painfully vulnerable in the king's voice as he took a step forward. "Ven? Is that you?"

The armor turned to face them, movements again slow as it dismissed its Keyblade. It just held a hand over its heart – Sora's heart, Riku realized, not sure how he understood the distinction. Then a shudder racked its whole body, the armor taking a step back as though hit. It looked up quickly, the hand that had been over Sora's heart reaching to Riku. The armor faded into light, and Sora fell forward.

Axel caught the sleeping boy before he could hit the ground, holding him up as Riku and Mickey both ran to their friend. "Sora, can you hear us?" Mickey asked, gently tugging on the boy's limp arm.

"Sora?" Riku tried, but no response. And that was when he smelled it, something both sickly sweet and bitingly harsh: the scent of darkness. For darkness to be coming off of Sora was... just wrong on so many levels. But Riku could feel a tug at his heart, and remembered hearing the faintest whisper of his name.

Sora hadn't called his name like that since the night the islands were destroyed. Knowing now what Xehanort had done and been planing to do to his friend, what had made Sora call out like that... He wasn't sure what he wanted to do more: take Sora away and hide him in the safest place he could find so the darkness could never hurt him again, or track down Xehanort and beat him to a pulp for making his friend go through this.

Instead he put on a brave smile, squeezing Sora's shoulder. "Don't worry, Sora. We'll wake you up in no time." He looked over at Mickey, who was clearly distraught. "We should get back to Master Yen Sid's tower. He might know how to help, and staying here certainly won't do any good."

"...You're right," the king said, pulling himself together.

"Anyone care to fill me in?" Axel asked, looking back and forth between the two. "Last I knew, freaky armor wasn't this guy's usual look."

"It's a long story," Riku said, then frowned, remembering that the last he'd heard, the Nobody was dead. "What are you even doing here, Axel?"

The former Organization member flinched. "No, I told you, my name's..." Then he sighed, shoulders slumping. "Ugh, whatever, Axel, fine." He readjusted his hold on Sora, throwing the sleeping boy over one shoulder to carry him. "And you know what, I don't care what happened. Let's just get out of here already."

On that, they could all agree. Riku lifted his Keyblade to open a gate, relieved when they emerged at the Tower. Not because it had taken a long time or because he didn't trust Axel/Lea – honestly, he was hesitant, but Sora had trusted him, so that would have to be enough – but because he and Sora were finally back in their normal clothes, the sign that they were definitely out of the dream at last.

Yen Sid took only one look at Sora, closing his eyes briefly before gesturing for Axel to lean him against the wall, near the windows. The old sorcerer looked at each of them, hands folding in front of his chest. "Tell me what has happened."