X was in awe of the next world. He had been to countless worlds in his many years wandering, he thought he had seen everything a world could be. But this world was completely different. X supposed he would never cease to be amazed by the vast differences in worlds. Even if X couldn't quite put his finger on what the difference was.

X was too caught up in looking around to notice that the other three had stopped. His eyes were wandering over the many crates and barrels scattered around. It looked like some kind of port town.

"That's coming from the port," Goofy said, suddenly catching X's attention. He turned to look at the group that was a few paces behind him. He hadn't heard whatever it was they had; too lost in his own thoughts.

"Let's check it out," Sora said, leading the way toward the harbor. Or at least that's where X assumed they were running.

Running into the harbor they found a man who looked like he was a pirate. The way he dressed, with the hat and various beads hanging in his hair. He was facing against several skeletal men, all brandishing swords and looking like pirates themselves. X wasn't sure if this was a normal pirate showdown or not, but the other three seemed concerned.

"Jack!" Sora yelled.

"Zola! Some assistance!" the man facing the skeletons said, glancing in their direction. X had to do a double take looking at Sora. Was this man serious?

"That's Sora, Donald, and Goofy!" Sora corrected.

"Will ye leave a mate to perish?" Jack asked, making a helpless motion with his sword. Sora sighed heavily rolling his eyes. It seemed this man might normally be the type not to care.

"Aye, aye," Sora agreed drawing his keyblade.

The group joined Jack in his battle, chasing off the other pirates easily. They grouped around Jack, looking at the pirate with interest. Sora and the other two were looking over their shoulders where the pirates had been. X found it strange, they weren't fighting Heartless but still had no reservations. Even if they were against humans.

"Those pirates were cursed. I'd thought we'd seen the last of the curse of the Aztec gold. What gives?" Sora asked turning back to Jack.

"Some scallywag must've gotten greedy," Jack said simply. All eyes turned to him. He looked around at them for a moment, seeming surprised, but the look quickly faded. "Oh, I see. You don't trust me, do you?" The group all nodded. "Likely a wise choice, I am a pirate, mate."

"Jack! Sora!"

A new voice called from the side, making X jump. He was surprised to see a young woman with blonde hair wearing a light colored dress that looked like it would be a pain to walk in. Or possibly even breathe. Sora brightened up seeing the woman.

"Elizabeth!" he said happily.

"Some sticky business is afoot, I fear," Jack said, placing a hand on his hip as he looked at Elizabeth. Unlike Sora he looked less than thrilled to be seeing her.

"Wait, Jack! I need your help. The cursed pirates have returned. Will had to find out why, so he went to Isla de Muerta- to check on the Aztec treasure. I fear something's happened. You have to take me to him," Elizabeth said, stopping Jack from turning away and leaving them. Jack stopped and looked at her clearly unimpressed.

"Aye, there it is. If you'll be wanting him rescued, best do it alone, lass," Jack said.

"Alone? Really, Jack? Sail to the island and take on the cursed pirates?" Elizabeth asked in disbelief. Jack shrugged her concern off easily.

"Well, if any lass could," Jack said.

"Are you sure he's in trouble?" Sora asked, turning to Elizabeth. She shook her head.

"No. Not certain. But he's been gone too long. I wanted to go with him, but he insisted I stay here. I can't just sit and wait! I've got to know if he's all right," she insisted. Jack scoffed looking off to the side.

"Lucky man," he muttered. X frowned at his words. Was that a hint of jealousy he heard? What was this feeling coming off of his heart?

"Please, Jack! Take me to him!" Elizabeth said.

"Hold a moment. I see no profit in it for me," Jack said firmly. X frowned crossing his arms. Now he knew the feeling Jack was radiating. Though it had changed from the feeling before. Now it was greed.

"I shall reward you. Of course, you do owe Will. He has saved your life before," Elizabeth said calmly, looking down her nose at Jack. He straightened up very suddenly, as if he had forgotten such a debt.

"Right. Shall we?" he said motioning toward the waters where a huge pirate ship was. X felt his gut sink just looking at it. Were they really going to have to get on that thing? Couldn't they use some other form of travel? Anything but a ship.

They boarded the ship and set sail much to the dismay of X, who clung tightly to the railing of the ship. He stared at the wooden planks beneath his feet, willing his mind to forget the rocking motion. The ship was not going to flip over. It would be fine. Jack was a skilled pirate, he could drive a ship.

"You ok?" Sora asked, noticing X's white knuckles.

"Ships aren't my thing. I like my feet on solid ground, thank you very much," X muttered in reply. He tried to take a step away from the railing, but quickly lost his balance and almost collapsed. Sora laughed as he caught him and helped him stand again.

"Interceptor off the starboard bow!" Goofy yelled suddenly. X frowned, his eyebrows furrowing together as he looked.

"What language was that in? I didn't catch it," he asked.

"Will!" Elizabeth yelled from the other side of the ship. "Stop that, Jack. We've got to rescue him!"

The ship was stopped long enough for Jack and Sora to rescue Will, who was a young man with dark hair. With the ship no longer in motion X was at least able to walk to the captains room where Will was placed. He could still feel the occasional rocking and it threw his balance a little, but at least he could right himself more easily.

"Will, wake up," Elizabeth said. She knelt beside the bed all had gathered around.

"Elizabeth," he managed to mutter out. His voice was strained, and sounded almost water logged. Whatever had gotten him had really been trying to kill him.

"What happened?" Elizabeth asked.

"The medallions... and... the stone chest--- someone's taken them... Next thing I knew, we were attacked... but I couldn't see who it was--- his face was shrouded... in a black hood," Will said. Each breath was heavy as he forced the words out.

"The Organization!" Sora said. X nodded slowly. It was most likely, but why would they be here? What did they have to gain?

"We found a way out of the cave... but the villain sent a horde of terrible creatures after us... I've never seen their likes before... I think I'm the only one who made it back to the ship..." Will continued, not bothered by the fact he had been interrupted.

"Will," Elizabeth said in concern.

"Elizabeth... I feel rather." He didn't finish his sentence, his head dropping and his eyes closing. He had fallen asleep. Not that anyone could blame him.

"Our turn, guys," Sora said, turning towards the group. X nodded where he leaned against the wall.

"You'd best go prepared. We've no idea what's out there," Elizabeth said.

"Well, we have an idea. Just not a very clear one," X said. It was hard to tell if the organization had brought Heartless or Nobody's or both. And how many of what kind was an important factor to keep track of as well.

"Pardon me, lads and lass, but your captain will have no monsters today. Thank ye. We're turning for home," Jack said firmly.

"Just like that?" Elizabeth asked.

"Just like that!" Jack confirmed. He turned away and walked to the deck of the ship. Sora and the gang followed after him, probably hoping to convince him they had to help. They came to a sudden stop as Jack turned to face a newcomer stepping out of a dark corridor.

"Don't remember invitin' you," Jack said, his lip curling up in disgust.

"So it was the Organization. We'll handle this!" Sora said, jumping in front of Jack with his keyblade at the ready. X summoned one of his daggers, too unsure of his footing to trust himself enough to use both. The hooded figure held out his hand.

"The darkness of men's hearts--- drawn to these cursed medallions; and this Heartless--- a veritable maelstrom of avarice:" Behind him a giant Heartless appeared, a scythe in its hands as it floated behind him. "I wonder, are they worthy to serve Organization XIII?"

"And you want an answer now?" Jack asked.

"Precisely!" The hooded figure said. X wasn't sure which member this was. He could identify the voice as he usually could. The hooded figure left, leaving the Heartless to distract the team.

The fight went smoothly, despite X not being much help. The Heartless was knocked into the ocean in the end, with quite a bit of help from Jack, who was decent with a sword.

"Oh, boy!" Donald said proudly.

"Not over yet!" Sora said firmly. He glared at the deck, where moments later the hooded figure reappeared. He took down his hood, revealing a blonde man with blue eyes. X glared. Luxord, of course. The gambler himself.

"Throw him overboard!" Jack ordered.

"Aye aye!" Sora said, making to move on Luxord.

"Parley!" Luxord said quickly.

"'Scuse me?" Jack asked, stopping Sora where he was.

"Barley?" Goofy asked.

"It's a bit of a pirates code. Anyone who invokes 'parley' must not be harmed 'til negotiations are complete," Jack explained. X groaned in annoyance. 

"Can't you guys just talk like normal people?" he asked.

"This is no time for rules!" Sora objected.

"True. But as we are honorable pirates we should always stick to the Code," Jack said. He turned to Luxord looking down on him. The look of superiority was of no use however. "All right, you. Out with it!"

"I surrender the chest with my humblest apologies," Luxord said, bowing back.

"Rather accommodating of you, mate. And for that you want?" Jack asked.

"Just a few souvenirs... for the memories," Luxord said. Before anyone could object he took a handful of medallions from the chest and threw them into the air. X watched as four Gamblers took the medallions and vanished. He cursed under his breath looking around to see if he could find where they went.

"Oh, no! We can't stop the curse unless we got all the medallions!" Goofy said. X cursed again, this time slightly louder.

"Our friends about to learn what it means to cross a pirate," Jack said.

"Oh?" Luxord asked. Behind him, the Heartless from before burst out of the water again and sent them flying onto the next ship over. As X struggled to get to his feet, he heard several loud booms that he guessed was cannon fire, just from the way the ship beneath him shook.

The next thing X knew they were run aground, the ship no longer swaying underneath him. But that might have been because the ship was blown to pieces and they just were lucky to have made it to shore in any form. He groaned as he sat up, nearly jumping out of his skin when he saw Jack taking on a skeletal form.

"You stole a medallion again?" Sora asked as he too stood up.

"Were I only that fortunate," Jack said calmly, looking at his hand in a sort of amazement.

"Fortunate?" Donald asked.

"So, uh, how come you're all skeleton-y?" Goofy asked.

"Perhaps I got a tough o' somethin' from that monster that attacked us. Yet, why's the skin restin' right on you four?" Jack asked looking at them.

"'Cause we're not greedy!" Donald said quickly. X, Sora, and Goofy all looked at him. X raised his eyebrows in disbelief. If anyone here was greedy aside from the pirate, it was Donald. "What're you looking at?" Donald asked realizing all eyes were on him.

"You," X answered honestly. Donald huffed at him but before he could start his yelling nonsense Sora changed the topic.

"That still doesn't solve the mystery," Sora said. Jack walked toward them, stepping out of the moonlight. X guessed that was what made this curse work.

"Gawrsh. Maybe the reason we're all okay is because we're not from this world," Goofy said in a hushed voice. X frowned nodding slowly that could very well be true. It might only affect those of this world in such a way. Magic could be very finicky.

"There must be different laws," Donald said in agreement.

"Yeah. We're always just passing through. Wonder when we'll see home again," Sora said crossing his arms behind his head.

"Sora," Donald said. X frowned looking at Sora in worry. He had never even stopped to think Sora might have been homesick.

"Just kiddin' you. Lucky we didn't get cursed, huh?" Sora said smiling broadly.

"Quit yammerin', mates! We've got to find ourselves a ship that'll float," Jack ordered, breaking the conversation before it could continue. X made a mental note to talk to Sora more later. It sounded like he might need it.

They went to find a ship, walking along the rocky beach. X wasn't sure where they would find a ship or, how they would manage to control it with such a small group. But he figured Sora was an islander and knew something about ships and Jack was a pirate. They would figure something out.

"Look!" Donald yelled as the made it to the beach. A Gambler stood with a medallion being tossed between its hands.

"A medallion! Get it!" Jack yelled. On land X wasted no time launching himself at the Nobody and taking it out in a few well-placed strikes. He picked up the golden coin handing it off to Sora.

"Three more to go!" Jack said proudly.

"How do you know?" Sora asked. X supposed it made sense, he had counted only four Nobodies.

"A pirate must have a keen eye. Else he won't be sailin' free for very long. Savvy?" Jack asked. X frowned. What was savvy? What did that mean?

"Huh? What's that?" Donald asked. X glanced where he was pointing to see a ship coming toward them. Soon enough he could see Elizabeth standing by one of the rails.

"Ahoy, mateys!" she called to them.

"Ridiculous imitation-- and yet, I'm flattered."

X chuckled at Jack's words as the ship came close enough for them to board. Onboard X once again was clutching tightly to any support he could as the group gathered around to discuss their plan. Jack found himself in the moonlight, taking his skeletal form again.

"Jack, what happened? This is horrible!" Elizabeth said.

"Ah, but who's to blame for it, eh?" Jack asked.

"Well, it certainly wasn't Elizabeth," Will said stepping forward to defend her. X could feel the tension between the two men. It seemed this wasn't something unusual.

"It's Organization XIII. They're the ones behind it all," Sora said, easily breaking the tension.

"Wonder where they went," Goofy said.

"The hooded man took the pirates and his creatures with him into some strange hole. We saw them leave from the captain's stateroom," Will explained. X presumed the strange hole was a dark corridor. That meant they could be anywhere, even other worlds. Though that wasn't likely.

"Didn't occur to you to fight them, mate?" Jack asked.

"I'm no fool. I knew I was no match for them," Will said simply.

"That I believe," Jack said.

"Sora, I think we'll need your help," Will said turning back to the brunette in question. Sora nodded.

"Got it."

"First, let's find all the medallions. Otherwise, the curse can't be broken and the creatures will remain invincible," Will decided.

They went back onto the island tracking down the Nobodies carrying the medallions. It seemed they were in luck and managed to track them down without too much of a fight. Once they had gathered all four they returned to the ship, much to X's annoyance.

"That's four medallions! We got 'em all!" Sora said, holing the four medallions in his hand.

"But where's the chest?" Jack asked.

"If we find the hooded man, we'll find it," Will said.

"Prob'ly in Port Royal," Sora said crossing his arms. X furrowed his eyebrows and looked to Sora in confusion.

"Where did you draw that conclusion?" he asked.

"Organization XIII is after people's hearts. So they're gonna go where there's lots of people," Sora explained. X nodded in agreement. It seemed Sora was intelligent under all that goofiness. It just took a while to come to the surface.

"They'll hurt the townsfolk?" Will asked.

"No, they're bringin' 'em flowers, mate," Jack said sarcastically. X held back a snicker. "I don't know who these Organizers are, but I will say they're makin' we pirates look like proper gents."

"Well, Jack, then we have to help!" Will said.

"Then let go and haul to run free!" Jack ordered. X blinked a few times as everyone around him moved.

"What?"

They returned to the harbor that the group had first arrived in. The Heartless was waiting for them hovering around the chest filled with medallions.

"Go! He's for me," Jack ordered. While he distracted the Heartless, mindless battling it even with doing no damage, the rest of the group snuck around to the chest depositing the coins in the chest.

"The curse--- it's gone!" Donald yelled as they backed away from the chest.

"Then what's this?" Jack asked looking at his still skeletal hand.

"Aw, I understand. Jack musta been cursed by that monster, not from takin' the gold," Goofy said.

"Oh, I've no worries, then," Jack said dropping his hand.

"It's ok, Jack. We'll just have to defeat the monster, that's all," Sora said, glaring at the Heartless.

In no time Sora had engaged the Heartless in a battle. The only annoying part was it would occasionally throw the medallions all around and become invincible until they were all gathered. X took to sitting on the chest and commanding the Heartless away from the chest any time it got too close to avoid having to collect all the coins again.

After the fight ended, the Heartless defeated, the group gathered around the chest.

"All better," Sora said.

"Ah, not quite, mate," Jack said turning as Luxord appeared again. Luxord held out his hand, freeing the captive heart of the Heartless, watching as it drifted into the sky.

"Sora, bravo," he said smirking. He vanished once again as Sora ran towards him.

"Just who was that chap?" Jack asked.

"He's part of an organization that's collecting hearts. First, they release Heartless into different worlds. We defeat those Heartless. Then they get the hearts. We're never gonna stop 'em like this," Sora said with a heavy sigh. Unfortunately, he was right. There was only so much they could do.

"What's the plan, then?" Jack asked.

"We gotta find their stronghold and finish them off once and for all," Sora said firmly. X was surprised to hear that plan. They hadn't really discussed their next move. But, that was probably the best plan. Stop them before they could succeed in their own world.

"Sailin' these waters, I've heard some tales, but not a one like this," Jack said.

"Is there any way we can help?" Will asked.

"Anything at all?" Elizabeth asked. Sora frowned as he thought.

"There is," Jack said.

That was how they ended up in the middle of the ocean again, dropping off the chest.

"It's certain we don't need the likes of that hooded fellow and the Heartless about.  They'll ruin the market for us true pirates," Jack said brushing off his hands as he looked over the railing.

"So that's why you went to Port Royal. And we thought you actually wanted to save everyone," Elizabeth said, smiling to herself.

"A pirate always looks for profit, Miss Swann," Jack said with a nod.

"Too bad. You had us going there, thinking you'd turned over a new leaf," Sora said crossing his arms.

"The question is, what's beyond the leaf? Savvy?" Jack asked. It took them a moment to realize what he meant.

"Oh, oh, yes-- a reward. And what'll it be?" Elizabeth asked.

"That lovely blade of Sora's," Jack said.

"Huh?" Sora asked. He seemed to think about it for a moment before nodding. "Ok. Sure." He summoned his keyblade and flipped the handle towards Jack. X held back a snicker and smirked as Jack looked at the key with distrust.

"Hold on! That was far too easy. What's the rub?" Jack asked. He took the keyblade from Sora and held it for only a few seconds until the blade reappeared in Sora's hand. "There, you see?"

"Well, you've always got the pearl, Jack," Sora said, banishing his kay away.

"That I do. But someday, I'll gather a blood-thirsty crew, and come to take that blade. Chance by then I'll have a way to wield it. And if I succeed, I'll ask you two to join me. That'd be reward enough," Jack said. Elizabeth chuckled.

"Done," she agreed.

"Maybe someday, Jack'll be able to use the keyblade after all," Goofy said with a laugh.

"Why's that?" Donald asked.

"A-hyuck! He and Sora are kind of alike, dontcha think?" Goofy replied. X thought about it and shrugged. He could see the similarities, though he wasn't sure Jack would ever really be chosen. It was a good thing Sora wasn't a master yet, or that would have been an interesting succession to explain.

"Are not!" Sora and Jack said in unison. They looked at each other while all the others laughed.

Afterward, the group split up. Jack sailing off, Will and Elizabeth returning to town and the group returning to the gummi ship. It was a quiet walk back, each lost in their own thoughts. As they drew closer to the ship they heard a voice getting louder and louder.

"Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me

The kraken leapt from the ocean brine

Look out, me hearties yo ho

And to the Locker the sparrow confined

Look out, me hearties, yo ho

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me

A goddess thought she'd a sparrow save

Look out, me hearties, yo ho

And brought the blackguard back from the grave

Look out, me hearties, yo ho

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me

The Flying Dutchman is on the hunt

Look out, me hearties, yo ho

To punish a sparrow for his affront

Look out, me hearties, yo ho

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me

Within the chest his secret sleeps

Look out, me hearties, yo ho

The heart of Davy Jones still beats

Look out, me hearties, yo ho

Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me,"

Following the voice, they found a young woman with long red hair left to fall down her back. She had her back turned to them, so they couldn't see her eyes. All the same, X could feel the chills roll down his spine looking at her. She wore a simple brown dress, looking like a less expensive version of what Elizabeth wore.

"Wow! You sound amazing!" Sora said. The girl turned to face them, a soft smile on her face as she looked down. X narrowed his eyes at the girl his fist clenching.

"Why thank you, I must say singing isn't really my talent, but I'm glad someone enjoyed it," she said. X's fist clenched even more hearing her voice when she wasn't singing. His eyes narrowed at her.

"Are you kidding? If that's not your talent I want to know what is," Sora said.

"No you don't," X said simply.

"Huh?" Sora said turning to X.

"Geez X, why so harsh?" Goofy asked, tilting his head.

"Yeah, that's just mean," Donald snapped. X ignored them, his purple eyes glaring into the girl's own gold eyes.

"Weird seeing you without the cloak Aryum."

"Same could be said to you Xy," Aryum replied smoothly. Sora Donald and Goofy all jumped turning to look at her.

"Cloak? She's one of the Organization?" Sora asked. Aryum chuckled.

"Not the one your thinking of. You met my counterpart from XIII here already," she explained calmly pacing away. She looked out toward the water, watching the waves smiling softly.

"Counterpart?" Sora echoed.

"Matching number," Aryum explained turning back to the group. "I'm number ten, as Xy said, Aryum. And you are the reason I'm here." 

"Oh yeah," Sora said drawing his keyblade. Aryum rolled her eyes, shaking her head.

"You can put it down, I've no desire for a fight," she said. X frowned and crossed his arms.

"Like I buy that," Sora said.

"Xy will tell you. I'm not always an ally to my kind. I let him and the other two escape, for a small price. And I'm willing to make you the same offer," she said. X deepened his glare as Sora turned to look at him.

"X?" he asked.

"Why do you want to read for him?" X asked.

"He's special, just like you lot were," Aryum answered simply. X considered for a moment, watching her. Her readings were supposed to be sacred. Very few were allowed them, because very few mattered enough for her deck to know what would happen. It could be in their advantage to know what was coming. But, it had proven untrustworthy before. He wasn't sure any of her last readings had come true.

"Fine, not like you're always right," X decided. Aryum smirked as she pulled out her cards and began shuffling them.

"And what does that mean?" she asked.

"My future hasn't gone to your plan," X explained. Aryum nodded, quickly pulling three cards from her deck.

"Hm, let me see. Twelve of heartless, ten of Nobodies, eight of Heartless? Correct?" she asked flashing X the cards. He nodded simply. "A betrayal, a gamble, and a mistake. Or, a redemption, a gamble, and a fight," she said. X felt the blood drain from his face. Aryum smirking shuffling her deck again. "See, I wasn't wrong. I was just preparing you for the worst. If I were to tell you the best, and the worst came to pass, it would look bad on me. So, let's play our game, shall we?" She held the deck out to Sora, smirking broadly. "One card first."

Sora did so and stared at the card in disbelief.

"No way," he said.

"Six of light I'd wager. Your card. Now draw me three more," Aryum said not even looking at the card he held. Sora did as asked and handed the cards to Aryum. She flipped through them nodding to herself. "Let's see, how interesting. Two of light, searching. Fourteen of Nobodies, lost memories, or perhaps lost friends. And Eight of Nobodies, a sacrifice."

"Or?" X asked.

"Or, friendship. Quite the interesting read," Aryum said handing the cards back to Sora. He took them with a frown.

"But what does it mean?" Sora asked.

"We'll have to wait and see," she said with a smile. "Good luck hero, I feel, this future might be more grave than you imagine." She bowed to the group before being swallowed up by a dark corridor and vanishing before their eyes. Sora nervously turned to X.

"What do you think X?" he asked. X sighed heavily, the words repeating themselves in his head.

"Aryum is never wrong. But she can be off," X said. "Let's just move. The future can wait until we get there."