There were no words as they passed through the halls to the next floor. Each was lost in their own thoughts. All Yuki could think about was the pain in her chest that only seemed to get worse. The sharp stinging sensation that pulsed like its own heartbeat. It felt so angry, scared, sorrowful. All the things Yuki wished she could forget played through her mind. And she couldn't stop it.

Y was silent taking the next card from X. It was another card Yuki didn't know. She felt herself glare at the door as it lit up. This entire thing was stupid and a waste of their time. They should just find the other Heartless and crush them underfoot. Between the three of them, they could manage it.

Begrudging steps into the next floor took all thoughts from Yuki. She paused looking around her, trying to piece together what she was seeing. All around them were tall hedges, deep green walls that made it so they had only one way to go. They were so tall there was no chance of seeing over them, and Yuki was willing to bet they were too thick to just push through.

"I don't remember this," X muttered looking ahead.

"The maze," Y said. "Me and Ven played around in here a little bit." Her face was slowly turning a deep red as she looked down at the ground. Yuki frowned looking down the path. This would be such an easy place for them to be cornered and attacked. She didn't like it.

"So what? We have to find our way out?" she asked.

"Looks like," Y said.

"This castle is a maze enough," X grumbled. It didn't stop him from being the first to move, following the path.

X stayed in the lead for some time. Every time they reached a crossroads he would stop for only a moment to consider their location and pick the next route. Y didn't question him, her eyes focused on the hedges, occasionally brushing her hand along the greenery. Yuki bit her lip, holding in sharp remarks. X could at least slow down to ask what they thought. And Y could look like she actually cared and wasn't thinking about something stupid.

They stopped in the center of a crossroads, three different paths to take. X frowned looking between them. Yuki bit her tongue, resisting her sudden urge to snap at him. Now he was suddenly having trouble.

"Yuki!"

Her head jerked toward the sound from the left path. X's head had snapped forward while Y was staring to the left. They weren't given a chance to look back at each other before a shot of lightning struck in the center of them, pushing each in a different direction. 

Yuki quickly got to her feet only to find a hedge behind her, the twins gone. Placing her hand on the hedge she pushed. It remained unmoving, so it wasn't an illusion.

"X, Y!" she yelled.

"Yuki!" Y yelled back. She was farther away than Yuki had hoped. That meant she wasn't the only one shunted down another path. Annoying.

"You guys ok?" X asked.

"Yeah," Yuki replied, though it was far from the truth. "What do we do?"

"Try to find your way to the center, it looks like all paths converge there, just keep one hand on the wall at all times. Don't pick it up, you'll get to the center eventually," X ordered. Yuki held back her remark again. He wasn't their boss, who gave him the right to order them around?

"Ok, send up some kind of magic when you get there," Y said, agreeing with X. Like she always did without even thinking. "If you're in desperate trouble send up fire."

"Ok, see you guys at the center," Yuki said.

"See ya," X agreed.

*<3*

X was already annoyed with this maze. Several times the paths led him in a circle rather than just making a straight shot toward the center. It was all a pain. The voice he had heard calling out to him still echoed in his ears. That cry, had she really sounded like that? So afraid. In pain.

X shook his head pausing where he was. Whatever their trick was, he was glad they had separated them. He didn't want to have to admit who he thought he heard. Looking to either side his frown deepened. One path was likely a dead end as they looked like they would turn the same way.

A flash of blonde hair caught his attention from the right. He glared, his eyes narrowing to slits as he looked down that path. He should be alone. So who else could be here? How many shadows would be hidden here? And if he hadn't remembered them would they be able to see him.

Sighing he walked toward the blonde flash. At worst it would be just another shadow. At best it was Y. Perhaps the paths weren't as separated as he had thought.

The maze came to a dead end. Staring up at the hedge was Y, her hands clasped behind her back as she rocked on her toes.

"Y," X called out. She turned to look at him, smiling softly as her head tilted to the side.

"Oh, X," she said.

"Guess they didn't keep the paths separate enough. We should go find Yuki, maybe she's not far," X said, drawing closer with his hands in his pockets. He looked up at the hedge, waiting for Y to agree. 

"Yuki?" Y asked. X frowned glancing at her.

"Yeah, you know. Our best friend? Queen of Heartless? Are you-" He stopped taking a moment to look her over. He cursed himself internally. How had he not noticed? She wasn't even wearing the same thing. And it had been years since her eyes were that sweet brown. "You're a shadow."

"We always did mazes back home, you remember?" the shadow asked, turning away from X. Her silver dress swayed as she took each step. It was like it was ten years ago all over again. Well, more like eleven, maybe more. How long had they been trapped in this madness?

"Yeah," X agreed. He had hated those stupid tests. But Y had loved it, so he was glad to play along.

"Kiran and Hoshiko always got so mad we beat them. You were great at finding your way out," Y said, giggling as her hand came up to cover her mouth. She sounded so innocent. The hairs on the back of X's neck stood up as he watched her pacing that seemed to be turning into stalking, each step slow and purposeful as she circled him.

"I remember."

"You're great at finding your way out of things, aren't you?" the shadow asked. She smiled at X, a twisted smile masking anger and fear. The fire in her eyes burned brightly, threatening to burn X if answered incorrectly. Silence hung in the air, a promise X wasn't willing to break. "You escaped death in our world. You escaped death in the keyblade graveyard. You escaped everything. And now, you think you can escape the past."

The shadow turned her back on X. He lowered his gaze his stomach twisting. The scar that covered her back was an ugly red, so different from the rest of her skin. Like cracks in porcelain.

"I'm not trying to escape the past," he muttered.

"Are you sure?" she asked, stretching the muscles in her back so the scar rippled. "Just letting me pretend I can brush everything off. Like I can actually forgive you for what you did to us, to me."

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," X said flinching back from her. "If I could change it I would, you have to know that."

"Sorry doesn't change what you did," Y said, her voice sweet. "Wishing gets you nowhere. How much blood do you have on your hands? I bet there's more than even you can remember."

She turned to face him again, her smile dripping venom like it was honey. And X was drawn in as he always was. She was always like this. He just wanted to keep his promise. To bear the weight for her until she could hold it again.

"No, I didn't- they weren't me. I didn't do those things," X said, his voice wavering. He flinched as the sound left his mouth. He couldn't sound like that, so shaken, on the verge of tears.

"You know you did," Y said, her hand cupped the side of his face, forcing him to look at her. Her eyes were so gentle, soft. The chocolate brown was highlighted by the streaks of gold and even darker rays of black. "My blood is on your hands twice. All you ever do is lie to me, and where does that get us?"

She gave him no chance to answer, her touch turning from soft to harsh, nails digging into his skin. 

"It ends with me dead at your hands! Every time I die it's your fault."

"I-I didn't. It wasn't me. I'm not them. I didn't. Please, stop," X whimpered. All the same, his hand rested over Y's, holding it to him. He could feel the blood running down from her nails, warm streaks left over his skin.

"So now you're lying to yourself too," Y whispered. She pulled her hand from his grasp taking a few steps back.  "No wonder we always end up dead. We might not have always been them, but we are now. Our hearts have merged together. Stop lying to yourself and maybe it won't end the same way."

"I'm not lying," X said, his voice cracking even to himself. 

"Yes, you are."

A chill rushed down X's back as he quickly turned to face the new voice. He didn't know what he was hoping for. Anything. His mind playing a trick on him. It to be Yuki instead of who he thought it was. Who he knew it was. 

He had no such luck. The cloaked woman slowly walked towards him, stopping in front of him. Even with the snake mask obscuring her eyes X could feel her watching him. 

"No, this isn't. I'm not him," X said, staring in the woman's eyes. Or where her eyes were according to the mask. Y laughed behind him. Her hands resting on his shoulders as she clung to his back.

"He was braver than you. That is certain," the woman said. She pulled down a bit of fabric that was covering the lower portion of her face, the most he had ever seen of her face. "But you are him. Or you were."

"Leave, leave me alone," X said, looking to the side. It was getting hard to get his words out, his throat was tightening and he had forgotten how he was supposed to breathe. "I'm not him."

"Still lying," Y sung in his ear, her grip tightening like claws tearing into his skin.

"What happened to the one who would give his life to stop a war?" the woman asked. She tutted taking a few steps to walk past X, joining Y.

"You never let me," X muttered.

"Oh, admitting it now?" Y said, her grip vanishing as she stepped back from him.

"No!" he snapped, turning quickly. The two stood beside each other, Y smirking while the woman could only shake her head with a sigh. Her blue robes moved as she stepped toward X lightly.

"You should. Why is it so hard?" she asked.

"I have already made more mistakes than anyone alive," X said, looking at the ground. His fist clenched, nails digging into his palms to draw blood. He took a deep breath letting his eyes fall closed as a tear slipped down his cheek. "That was just in one lifetime. I can't take all the other lifetimes I failed. I'm supposed to protect her, and I can't. I never can."

Looking up all the breath X had managed to gather was gone. His eyes were wide and all noise died on his lips. There was too much blood. The front of Y's dress was soaked and he could see the gaping hole where his hand had fit so easily. Where he had torn her heart from her in an instant. The woman was covered in even more blood, injuries from keys X hadn't been able to save her from. There was so much blood. Was it all hers? Was it even more of his friends?

"Look at us," the woman said, her voice oddly calm. X didn't need to be told. He couldn't look away though he felt his stomach roll. His arms shook as he took it all in.

"You did this to us. So own up to it little brother," Y said, still twirling childishly, smiling like nothing was wrong.

"I didn't," X said, his voice shook as he fought to keep the bile in his throat from rising. His heart raced, he wanted to run, scream, something. "Make it stop! Make it stop!"

"Tell us what you did," Y chided.

"You know what did this to us," the woman said, her voice still calm.

"I couldn't save my Union," X said, his fist clenching at his side. "I couldn't save my master, I couldn't save my sister."

He looked down, his stomach heaved. Blood covered his hands, the ground. It was all over. Its metallic stench hit him and he gagged, trying to stay upright. His mind raced as he searched for the words. It was his fault. It was always his fault. If he had just done it differently. 

"I loved you. And you paid the price. Everything I love dies."

He looked up again. The two shadows were gone, leaving nothing. X released a breath, taking a stumbling step forward. The smell of blood still clung to him, and he swore there were still drops on the ground.

It didn't take long to find the center. A fountain that was so familiar it hurt. X collapsed at the base of the fountain. He raised up his hand, trying to ignore its shaking as he shot out a blast of darkness. He hardly saw it burst in the sky above before his arm dropped and his eyes fell shut.

*<3*

The hedge maze was a lot less fun when you were alone. Y sighed heavily, blowing her bangs out of her face as she trailed her hand along the wall as X hand ordered her to. She wasn't sure what the point was but X knew what he was doing better than she did. 

The silence that followed Y was too heavy. It was like she was being watched by a soundless being. She hummed lightly, hoping the notes would make the silence feel less heavy somehow. Before long, the notes found words that she couldn't hold back.

"With a sigh from my window sill
Summer fades away
Underneath a crimson sky
I could swear I heard your voices calling
Once again, I find myself back where it all began
I'm face to face with how it is when everything you've known is suddenly a lie
As the days roll by I'm left behind by visions that I once held dearly
Clearly though, as they go, my holiday ends
From above, where the time ticks on
Everything's okay
With a laugh and playful shove
And a never-ending conversation
All along, we find ourselves right where it all went wrong
We're face to face with how it is, when every day we spent together melts away
I just want to stay, but lazy afternoons we sat together looking at the sky
Say goodbye without a regret"

"You've always had such a beautiful voice."

Y spun around her eyes wide as she found the source of the voice.  

"Aqua!" The blue-haired woman in question merely smiled. "But, I didn't see you here. It was just me and Ven."

"Aren't you glad to see me?" Aqua asked, taking a few steps towards Y. Y shook her head, clearing the racing thoughts as she looked at Aqua's smile. It was just a shadow. That's all these ever were. And this was a special shadow trying to trick her even more.

"Of course I'm glad. Just surprised," Y said. Aqua laughed slightly, keeping a smile hadn't seen on her since before all the chaos had started. After they had begun to travel the worlds Aqua's smiles were so forced. Not like the easy smile she had now. As if Terra and Ven were playing their games and Y was cheering and the Master laughing.

"Aqua, Y."

Y turned again, this time to see Terra walking toward them. He was smiling like Aqua was, calm and gentle. Had he ever really smiled like that? Without the pain and anger he had pushed down for so long.

"Terra? You too?" Y asked.

"Yeah, I swear X was just behind me. He must have wandered off," Terra said coming to a halt beside Aqua. He smiled down at Y, his blue eyes filled with laughter and starlight.

"He's here."

Y jumped turning again. Ven was approaching them now. Eyes bright as stars as he smiled broadly. X was right behind him, a crooked smile as he watched the people grouping before him. He was so much lighter, his shoulders not slouched forward, resting back with the arrogant stance he used to hold instead.

"What is even going on here?" Y muttered watching in awe as her friends all stood before her. Terra ruffled Ven's hair as he passed. Ven only pushed his hand away before stopping beside Aqua. X stopped beside Terra, still grinning as his eyes flickered between the other three. His brown eyes.

"Something wrong?" X asked, his eyes landing on her. She had forgotten his eyes used to be that shade. So dark and deep she hardly could call them brown. The pupil blurred into the iris, with the faintest lightening around the edges, like a black hole drawing in all the light surrounding it.

"Possibly. Still figuring that out," Y said, not moving her gaze from his. How long had it been since she had seen that color? But looking at it now, she didn't know how she had forgotten it. Nor did she realize how much she missed it.

"Tell us what's wrong," Aqua said, forcing Y to look away.

"What's wrong is you're all shadows," Y said firmly, shaking her head before looking around again. This time she carefully avoided the pull of X's eyes, taking the time to look at the others. They all looked surprised, furrowed brows and tilted heads. "And the only shadows that are supposed to be here are ones that I saw here. But I only saw Ven. And now you're all here and I'm really confused and honestly a little scared."

"Why?" Ven asked.

"Is it so bad we're all here?" Terra asked. There was a laugh in his voice as he looked around the maze, his eyes just grazing over the other three.

"No, just, this isn't right. There's some catch," Y said.

"And why are you so certain?" X asked. Even his voice sounded different. A pleasant undertone for once instead of his sarcasm and cynicism. Like some kind of weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

"Because they all hate you!" Y snapped motioning to her friends. They all frowned, glancing at each other before returning to look at Y. Like she was the crazy one. "And you feel so bad about what you did to them!"

"Isn't this what you want? All of us to be together and happy?" Aqua asked, taking a slow step forward. 

"No!" Y snapped, pushing herself back from Aqua. She stopped seeing the wide eyes that stared at her, the hurt that was slowly filling them. "I mean, yes. Uh, this isn't how it's supposed to happen. This is just a vision. And as soon as I find out what you want me to say you'll vanish and I can get out of here."

Y pulled at her hair closing her eyes as she looked down. They wanted something, they always did. She had to change something. But what on earth was she supposed to change about something that never happened in the first place? Her eyes shut tighter, feeling tears well in the corners.

"How is it supposed to happen?" Terra asked.

"We're going to save you," Y said, slowly letting her heart calm and her eyes open. The dirt under her feet was scuffed, she had moved more than she thought. "And X is going to apologize and maybe you won't forgive him right away. But eventually, you will and everything can go back to normal. But he has to try. You have to know he's changed."

Her voice sounded so weak, even to herself. The words hardly reaching her ears. It was the truth, but when she thought of it, her heart gave out. Her mind went blank and her mouth went dry. What if it went wrong? What if they never believed he changed? What was she supposed to do? Choose?

"Isn't this easier?" Aqua asked. "Just stay here with us." Her smile was warm and welcoming. Like Y had finally found her way home.

"Yeah," Ven agreed. His hand grabbed hers gently, his fingers threading between her own. He was warm, like he always was. And safe. "We can all be here. No more need to fight."

Y bit her lip, looking into the blue sky that was Ven's eyes. He smiled at her, her breath leaving her in a gentle wind. 

"Come on Y, just say yes," X murmured, his hand resting on her shoulder as he crossed behind her. His voice clung to her like honey, dripping with sweetness. With his words came the sweetest taste, like dark chocolate, the bitter tang barely covered by the sickening sweetness of his promise. "And it all ends. No war. No Xehanort. Nothing. Just happiness."

"I- I can't," Y said meekly. She looked to Terra and Aqua. They looked so calm, so serene. It had really been so long since they had this chance. "I love you all. And that's why I'll save all of you."

"All of us?" Aqua echoed.

"Yes," Y stated. "I'll get you out of the realm of darkness. And we'll wake Ven up. And then we'll get Terra back. And then, then I can save X from himself..."

Y looked to the ground, her fist clenching. X always carried a weight on his shoulders. She didn't know how she had never seen it. Until she saw this fake, who stood with a grin and genuine happiness in his eyes. How hadn't she seen his pain? How long ago had his real smile faded?

When she looked up, Y was expecting looks of anger. She wasn't expecting the smiles that greeted her. Gentle looks that shined with pride.

"Don't forget Y," Aqua said, crouching so she was eye level with Y.

"We love you too," Terra said picking up easily where Aqua had left out.

"You're the only one in the realm of light," Ven said, squeezing her hand gently.

"You have a big job," X said, his hand leaving her shoulder as he stepped back from her, taking a step into the shadows the hedges cast.

"It's your turn to be our Wayfinder," Aqua finished. Y looked into her eyes, slowly nodding. Aqua smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. Y nodded slowly, her eyes jumping to the boys.

"I will. I promise."

The shadows all faded, leaving Y standing alone in the hedge maze. She took only a moment to regroup before starting on the way toward the center. Her hand was no longer trailing on the wall, for some reason she no longer needed it. She knew where she was going.  It wasn't long before there was a blast of darkness from the center.

She broke into a run, pushing around corners trying to shorten the time to reach X at the center. Breath left her as she found the center, marked with the familiar fountain. X was curled at the base of the fountain, fast asleep.

A smile slowly grew on her face as she approached him. She held up her hand, silently casting light into the sky to show Yuki the way. The magic shimmered as it fell around them like snowflakes. Y sat beside X, curling around him like she once did when she had a nightmare. He shivered at her touch before moving closer.

Y hummed, running her fingers through his blonde hair. There were so many tangles she was certain he had never brushed it out. She held down her chuckle as she hummed. She paused for a moment, biting her bottom lip. It had been so long since she had sung for X. He used to love it, though he tried to pretend otherwise when others were around. She found soon after, letting the lullaby flow from her lips.

"After all the laughter fades
Signs of life all washed away
I can still, still feel a gentle breeze
No matter how hard I pray
Signs of warning still remain
And life has become my enemy
Tell me God, are you punishing me?
Is this the price I'm paying for my past mistakes?
This is my redemption song
I need you more than ever right now
Can you hear me now?
Cause we're going to shout it loud
Even if our words seem meaningless
It's like I'm carrying the weight of the world
I wish that someway, somehow
That I could save every one of us
But the truth is that I'm only one girl
Maybe if I keep believing my dreams will come to life
Come to life..."

"I will save you this time," Y whispered, her voice dying out to near nothing. She pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead, the same way he always did for her before curling into him tighter letting her eyes fall closed as she continued to hum and drift to sleep.

*<3*

Walking in what seemed like circles was the most boring thing Yuki had done since she had to file reports for the Organization on days she was too weak to do anything else. She had followed X's advice, keeping her hand on the wall, but it seemed to her this entire path was made of dead ends, and before long she would be back where she started. All the hedges looked the same. All vibrant green and teaming with life. 

X and Y had both reached the center, she had seen their magic bursts hardly minutes from each other. But she was no closer to where that magic had been. If anything she felt like she was farther away.

"Yuki! Over here!"

Yuki froze, her breathing completely halting. Slowly she turned as her mind raced. She knew that voice. It was as familiar as her own at one point. But she hadn't heard it for over a year. 

Xion was smiling at her, hands clasped behind her back as she rocked on her toes like she had when she was excited. Roxas stood behind her, slightly to the side and Axel was behind him to the other side. Yuki blinked a few times, making sure it wasn't some trick from her heart, like when she had seen Roxas in Sora's place. The trio didn't disappear, in fact they hardly moved at all. 

"Looks like you've seen a ghost Snowy. Something wrong?" Axel asked, leaning forward with his hands on his hips. His grin was filling his eyes with the brightest fire Yuki could imagine. Just like before they lost it all.

"I've never even been to this world before," Yuki groaned, throwing her head back. The shadows were only supposed to follow them in their own cards, why was she stuck with this?

"Neither have we. Wanna take a look around?" Roxas offered. Yuki frowned, taking a step back. She felt an ache in her chest. It was taking all she had not to run to them. It hurt just looking at them. She wanted to touch them, to prove they were there even just as fakes.

"I- I thought, the shadows were people we had seen in that world," Yuki forced out. Words were suddenly very hard. 

"Shadows? I think you might have hit your head," Xion said. She smiled looking over her shoulder at Roxas and Axel. The very fact that she stood before Yuki was hard to believe. No one else remembered her, only Aryum even had an idea she had existed. So how was it possible she stood in front of Yuki, every detail just as it was. Short black hair she kept brushed behind her ear, bright blue eyes that mirrored Kairi's. 

"Come over here, don't feel like yelling so much," Axel said, motioning Yuki over to them. Yuki opened her mouth to argue but no words formed. She couldn't go towards them. That was the opposite way she wanted to go. She had just been down that path.

"Yuki!" A boy's voice called from behind Yuki.

"Hey! Are you coming?" A girl's voice asked. Yuki turned again, this time seeing Sora, Riku, and Kairi standing together. They way they stood mirrored the Nobodies, Kairi at the front with her hands clasped behind her back, a playful smile on her face. Sora was behind her, grinning broadly with his arms crossed behind his head. Riku was smiling his soft smile, that was usually the most he could muster.

"Uh, what?" Yuki asked, stepping back in confusion. The hedges made for quite the scene. Yuki had two choices, a path to each side, not counting the way behind her that she knew led to a dead end.

"Sora said we're gonna visit the King then explore the world. Are you coming or not?" Kairi asked, her smile bright and cheerful. She laughed, as Yuki stared at her blankly. Yuki stuttered out words, or at the least the start of words as she tried to make her decision. 

She looked over her shoulder again, looking at the Nobodies. They all weren't looking at her. Axel was looking at the ground, his arms crossed. Roxas was glaring at the ground, his feet kicking harshly at the dirt. Xion stared past Yuki at the three from Destiny Island's. Her eyes had lost their light, looking dull and lifeless.

"Guess it makes sense for you to choose them. They really have hearts after all," Roxas muttered, his foot once again kicking the ground. The harsh thud was enough to send a shock through Yuki's entire body.

"Guess she's moving on," Axel said, a sad smile on his face as he looked at her.

"You mean you're going to forget us?" Xion asked. Yuki felt the ache in her chest multiply at Xion's shaking words. Her hands were in front of her now, tightly folded together as she looked down. Yuki knew that meant she was holding back tears.

"No! Xion, I haven't forgotten you," Yuki said, taking step down the path closer to them. Xion looked up, her eyes brimming with tears when they met Yuki's own eyes. "I promise I won't."

"So you're going to keep living in the past?" Riku asked. Yuki stopped, taking the step back to where she originally stood in the center of the two. She looked at Riku, unsurprisingly he had a look of calm curiosity.

"Don't think we haven't noticed," Kairi said, her hand coming to rest over her heart as she stepped toward Yuki. "You're always so sad. You sneak out to the island in the middle of the night."

"And you can hardly stand to be around people," Sora added. "You push us all away like you want to be alone."

Yuki couldn't pretend she didn't know what they meant. The islands were so crowded. So many people who all wanted Yuki to talk to them. To tell them her story. It made it hard to breathe and she just wanted it to stop. But alone was even worse. That was where her thoughts raced and she couldn't remember who she was supposed to be.

"No, I don't."

The words left her mouth without her even realizing it. Her hand was in her pocket, searching desperately for the shell she had carried. But it wasn't there. It was back in her room, resting on the shelf with all her other seashells, the prize of the collection. 

"Then why do you keep pushing us away? Aren't we enough for you?" Kairi asked. Yuki didn't answer. She couldn't. They were enough, sometimes. And other times nothing was enough. Nothing filled the gaping hole in her heart.

"You know, we could always bring you with us," Axel offered.

"Yeah, they don't understand you. We can, we know what you've been through," Roxas said. Yuki slowly looked at them, her hand tightening into a fist in her pocket.

"We're your real friends," Xion insisted.

"You're asking her to die for you," Riku snapped. Yuki's head snapped back to the island trio. She lost her breath seeing the way they glared across the maze at the Nobodies. "She just needs to let you go. You're the ones holding her back."

"Yeah! You Nobodies are always ruining everything," Sora agreed. The words didn't sound like something Sora would say. But the voice was exactly like his, filled with a rage so unlike him.

"Why don't you just erase yourselves from my sister's memories?" Kairi asked, ice filling her voice. Yuki shivered, looking back at the Nobodies. Anger was filling their gazes as well. Axel's hand was at his side, preparing to call his chakrams. Roxas had narrowed his eyes into a fierce glare, and Xion mirrored his look.

"Funny coming from the people who forgot her," Axel hissed.

"You don't deserve her. She's worth more than any of you pathetic heroes," Roxas snapped.

"You just want her to be who you think she is!" Xion stepped forward, her hands in tight fists.

"No, we want our friend back!" Sora said, his keyblade appearing in his hand. That was all it took for Riku and Kairi to summon their own keyblades, standing at the ready to attack. Yuki heard the distinct sound of keyblades being summoned on the other side as well. Her head snapped over to see the Nobodies all holding keyblades. It took a moment for her to process, Roxas held two keys, one light, and one dark. Axel held a keyblade that looked like his chakrams in a way. The rod and teeth looked like flames.

"Wait, no. Don't fight. Stop!" Yuki shouted.

The shadows ignored her, clashing with each other. Xion and Kairi were clashing to Yuki's left, keys interlocked as they tried to push each other back. Roxas was against Sora, his two keys moving as quickly as he could to overwhelm Sora. Sora was blocking each hit with mastery his face set in a glare. Riku was pushing Axel back on the right, easily besting Axel with his unfamiliar weapon.

Yuki could only watch, pain shooting through her for each hit her friends took. She winced away as Sora slashed across Roxas's chest pushing him to the ground. Xion had pushed Kairi back, taking advantage of Kairi's clear inexperience, the black-haired girl had the redhead pinned to the ground. Riku was keeping Axel at bay, moving swiftly to avoid the fire magic Axel was shooting at him.

"Stop! Please stop!" Yuki cried. She closed her eyes tightly, tears spilling from the corners. Her hands covered her face. She couldn't look up and see the source of the sickening thuds and the cries she didn't want to know who they belonged to.

"Aw, look at the poor Princess."

Yuki froze, her breath leaving her as the voice echoed through her mind. It was a familiar voice, she had heard it once, so long ago. But when she wasn't sure. A chuckle sounded in her mind, rumbling through her body. 

"Your precious friends are fighting. And you can't stop them. What to do."

Despite the question, Yuki doubted the voice wanted an actual answer.

"How do I make them stop? Please, help me," Yuki begged. The voice was silenced for a moment as if shocked Yuki had acknowledged it.

"Oh, you're going to ask for my help? Why should I?"

"Please. I don't want them to fight," Yuki said. She didn't know what made her think this voice knew the answer. It wasn't something she knew existed until now.

"Fine." The voice said with a heavy sigh. Yuki waited with bated breath for it to continue. "You have to pick which ones you want more. Pick a side. That'll end the fighting quick enough."

Anger filled Yuki as she lowered her hands. The sounds of the fight had faded, her mind was too focused on the intruder in her mind. Her fist clenched tightly as she glared at the sandy-colored dirt under her feet.

"No, there has to be another way. There has to be something," Yuki said. 

"Sorry Princess, you're on your own," the voice said.

"Thanks for nothing," Yuki snapped, anger coursing through her. She looked up again, seeing the fight had only gotten worse. Kairi was bloody, but Xion looked no better. Blood dripped down her face from somewhere in her hairline, and she stood holding her arm. Roxas had gashes covering his body, and Sora had just as many, spitting blood off to the side. Riku was burned, ugly red patches of skin that bled slowly. Axel was bruised to the point she could hardly see his face. But they weren't stopping. It was only getting worse.

"Stop!" she cried. They paid her no mind. Roxas had jumped at Sora, cutting his arms with each key. Xion moved forward in a way Yuki knew wouldn't end well for Kairi. The way she held her keyblade at that angle, ready to jut upward. "I said stop!"

Yuki's hand came up as she closed her eyes. Warm light filled the area, the grey streaked with other colors rushing across the maze's path. The fighters all flinched back, their weapons vanishing from their hands. As quickly as it came the light dissipated. The wounds were gone as if the fight had never happened. Not even a drop of blood remained on the ground.

"I can't watch you all fight," Yuki said, slowly lowering her hand. She looked at the six in front of her, hand clutched over her heart. "Please. I love all of you. So just, just stop." She dropped her head again, waiting for the inevitable sounds of fighting to continue.

"We love you too," Kairi said. Yuki gasped feeling warm arms wrap around her as Kairi knelt beside her with a smile. The warmth grew as Sora and Riku followed Kairi's lead, pulling both girls into a tight embrace.

"We just want you to smile again," Sora said softly as he tightened his grip. Yuki's arm wrapped around all three of theirs, clinging to them tightly.

"We're here for you. So don't forget," Riku said. Axel crouched down beside Riku, his hand resting lightly on Yuki's back. It was warm, and the warmth spread through Yuki easily.

"We won't always be gone Snowy, got it memorized?" he asked.

"And we know you won't forget," Xion said. She knelt beside Axel, hugging Yuki tightly. Her hands found Yuki's hair, playfully spinning the strands around her fingers. Roxas knelt beside her, putting his arms around Yuki and rest his chin on the top of her head. It was quite an awkward hug, so many people together. But Yuki had never felt so warm. Her breathing eased as she melted into the touch of her friends.

"We know you'll make it. You're strong enough. You can save us," Roxas said, his voice so soft she almost didn't hear him.

Yuki could feel the shadows start to fade. Her grip tightened as she reached to hold the Nobodies to her as she did the others. 

"Please don't leave. I don't want to be alone."

"You never will be," Roxas said.

"We're always in your heart," Xion said, a gentle laugh following her words. 

Yuki soon sat alone, the lingering warmth from the shadows still on her skin. Her eyes felt heavy as she tried to push herself to her feet. She stumbled as she leaned against the hedge, gripping the hidden branches that wove together.

"Did it the hard way I see. You don't seem to have enough strength to make it to the center."

"I will," Yuki said firmly. "Who are you?"

"You'll figure it out."

Normally Yuki would argue. But she couldn't string together a thought. Why was it a bad thing this voice was here? She couldn't remember.

Her feet were dragging as she finally found the center. Her mind barely processed the twins curled around each other. The black and white of their clothes blurred, taking up all of their forms as Yuki stumbled dropping to the ground. She barely had time to process the way they swirled together as her eyes fell shut and she joined them in sleep.

*<3*

"Interesting. Which floor was that?"

Syrine crossed her arms, watching as the redhead looked over the crystal orb in front of her. She could see the three forms of their targets curled on the ground. Now would be the perfect time to capture them. But Aryum insisted on playing her game.

"The fifth," Syrine hissed, brushing her hair aside. "It wasn't the floor that did it."

"Right," Aryum said, her stupid grin not failing as she looked at Syrine with her golden gaze. "Was that the one we had Myruai on?"

"Uh-huh," Syrine confirmed, crossing her arms. Aryum laughed, her melodic lilt carrying over to the echoing laugh. It was much too innocent for such a pain.

"Potent magic she has. She almost beat them all," Aryum said as her laughter faded to a chuckle.

"The Siren's Lament," Siren said, the magics name rolling off her tongue like the curse it was. "Cries out for the deepest depths of your heart."

"They hide quite interesting things," Aryum, her head tilting to her head as she looked over her shoulder at the crystal again. She smirked as her eyes landed on the twins. The smirk only grew as her focus moved to the queen. "And to think, she finally showed it again."

"Yeah, been a while since we've seen that," Syrine agreed bitterly. Aryum's plan did have its merits in the end she supposed. No matter how stupid.

"I suppose we should let them sleep for now. We have time, right?" Aryum asked. Syrine rolled her eyes and snorted.

"Yeah. The Mark of Mastery is just beginning," she said.

"Good," Aryum said, turning with a bright smile. "When they get out of the castle it will go even faster."

~~~~~~~~~~*<3*~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: When I decided I was going to do a Disney Town chapter the planning was marked as a fun chapter to take a break from all the heavy stuff... You see how that turned out. I think this chapter honestly upset me the most out of any of the chapters I have written at this point. Thanks for sticking with me this far, guys. I know it seems kinda disjointed, but I promise I know where I'm going with this. (Though I definitely pulled a full-on Nomura when originally planning).

Both songs used this chapter are from Lizz Robinett, one of my favorite music YouTubers! The first song is Lazy afternoons, a vocal cover of the Kingdom Hearts Twilight Town theme at the top. The second is below a cover from Nier Automata, which is a very awesome game with an awesome soundtrack. The song seems super appropriate for both the twins so I borrowed it. Anyway, be sure to give the songs a listen and show this awesome YouTuber some love.

https://youtu.be/w_HXgEyRtZY