"Remember the lesson, not the disappointment." ~Holo The Wise Wolf
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After the mini reunion, we continued our objective and headed to the Great Maw where all the Heartless were located. But, something was wrong. They all seemed to be frozen, as if they were...bowing. "Huh?" King Mickey asked.

"What's with them?" Sora muttered, looking around.

"Hey!" Goofy yelled, pointing upwards

Our eyes followed the direction to where Goofy's finger was pointed at and a Corridor of Darkness appeared and a hooded Organization member appeared. They pulled off the hood and revealed a man with long grey hair, tan skin, and yellow eyes.

"It's the guy who's NOT Ansem!" Donald yelled.

"You mean it's his Nobody!" Goofy added.

"The leader of Organization XIII..." Sora and I said.

"Wait a minute," Mickey gasped. "I know he he is! Now I remember! Xehanort! Ansem's apprentice! " The man smirked upon King Mickey's recognition of him. "The leader of Organization XIII is Xehanort's Nobody!" King Mickey drew his Keyblade and ran ahead to where Xehanort's Nobody was.

"Let's go!" Sora gestured us to move forward but the Heartless gathered around us, trapping us where we were at. We all drew our weapons, prepared to fight off the huge mass of Heartless.

"Move it!" I yelled.

"We can't let Xehanort get away!" Donald shouted.

"Right!" Sora turned around and Goofy, Donald, and I gave him the thumbs up. Donald and Goofy scattered while I charged forth at the Heartless in front of us as they jumped.

I immediately casted Reflect as a shield and Sora snagged one of the laser Heartless, using its power against its allies as he used its laser to fire a beam as he spun, wiping out the masses with its power. I casted Reflect once more until Sora snagged another one. Once I ran out of magic, I yelled at Sora, "Switch! Now!" Sora got the memo and we switched roles, now he casted Reflect and I grabbed laser Heartless to shoot at the masses. It wasn't long until the entire army of Heartless was wiped out.

Sora and I didn't waste time and charged up a path to where Xehanort's Nobody was. Unfortunately, with the recent battle, we were worn out as we leaned against the wall, panting and trying to catch our breath where Donald and Goofy caught up to where we were. "Where's the King?" Sora asked.

I glanced over my shoulder where the path opened to reveal a cliff and saw King Mickey fighting off an Armored Knight Heartless. "There he is!" I yelled.

"C'mon!" Sora said as we ran forward to where the King was.

Once we reached him, Donald shouted, "Your Majesty!"

King Mickey glanced back at us before turning his attention back to the man 9in front of him. "Xehanort!" He yelled.

"How long has it been since I abandoned that name..." Xehanort's Nobody asked, mainly talking to himself.

"Out with it, Nobody!" Sora yelled. "Where's Kairi? Where's Riku?"

"I know nothing of any Kairi," Xehanort's Nobody replied. "As for Riku...Perhaps you should ask your king and your black-haired companion."

Sora's eyes widened as he glanced at King Mickey but more importantly he stared at me. "Saki?" He started. I began to sweat bullets where I stood.

"Stop!" King Mickey cried as he bolted forward. Xehanort's Nobody summoned a Corridor of Darkness and just as soon as he disappeared through it and King jumped into the portal, taking him with it.

We tried to catch up but the portal vanished before we could enter it. "He's gone..." Sora muttered. He sat down and began to found the ground with his fist in frustration. Goofy placed a comforting hand on Sora's shoulder as I kept my distance, my heart still pounding from the almost too-close-for-comfort reveal. Sora is bound to ask questions later. I need to think of clever comebacks soon...

"Sora, Goofy," Donald started before he gawked at the sight in front of us. We glanced down the cliff at the Great Maw as it stood, empty of the Heartless it once held as a desolate breeze blew through the emptiness. "What's goin' on?" Goofy asked.

"Way to fall for their trap," A snarky voice chided us.

I whipped my head around to see Axel leaning casually on a wall, arms crossed, a far distance from us. Sora, Donald, Goofy, and I drew our weapons once more. Axel uncrossed his arms and got off the wall he was leaning on. I narrowed my eyes at him. He wouldn't dare mention that I knew him, right? If he mentions that I'm causal friend of his then game over for me because then Sora would want to know anything and there's nothing I can say that will fool him. "C'mon, it's a set-up by Organization XIII," Axel stated. "Xemnas is using you to destroy the Heartless-that's his big master plan."

"Xemnas?" Donald asked. I almost sighed with relief. Axel played like he didn't know me. I'll play along.

"The guy you just say," Axel replied. "He's their leader. Got it memorized? X-E-M, N-A-S."

"Organization XII wants to get rid of the Heartless?" Goofy questioned.

"Man, you're slow," Axel grinned as he gestured to Sora's Keyblade and my Keyblade as well. "Every Heartless slain with those Keyblades releases a captive heart. That is what the Organization is after."

"So what's are those guys gonna do with the hearts?" Donald interrogated. My eyes widened at the realization. I remembered when Marluxia had told me he wanted me to unweave Kingdom Hearts, which I did, but I never questioned what the purpose of Kingdom Hearts was to the Organization or what they were made of.

"I'm not telling," Axel shrugged.

"Tell us!" Donald demanded.

"You...you're the run who kidnapped Kairi!" Sora remembered what he was told back in Twilight Town by the gang.

"Bingo," Axel nodded. "The name's Axel. Got it memorized?"

"Where is Kairi?" Sora asked. Axel scratched his head awkwardly. "Please. Just tell me!"

"Look, about Kairi...I'm sorry," Axel glanced away.

"Axel!" A voice snapped. A Corridor of Darkness appeared in front of us and Saïx stepped out.

"Uh-oh!" Axel gulped as he teleported away in his own Corridor of Darkness.

Sora took a step forward but Saïx blocked him. "We'll assure he receives the maximum punishment," he assured.

"I don't care about any of that!" Sora cried. "Just let me into the Realm of Darkness, okay?!"

"Sora!" I gasped. "No, don't!"

"If it's Kairi you're both worried about, don't," he told us. "We're taking very good care of her."

Sora opened his mouth but I unexpectedly stepped forward. "Please, take me to my sister!" I pleaded.

"Is she that important to you?" Saïx raised a brow at me.

"Yeah, for the both of us," I replied. "More than anything."

"Show me how important," He smirked at us.

Sora reluctantly got onto his hands and knees and knelt in front of Saïx as if he was worshiping him. Saïx smirked and glanced at me, waiting for me to do the same. But, I wasn't going to give Saïx that satisfaction, not after what happened between the both of us. I wasn't going to hurt my pride for that lapdog. I gritted my teeth and brought my head up, looking at Saïx in the eye. "I would die for her," I stated through gritted teeth, clenching my fist, nails digging into my palm so deep I know they would bleed.

"So, you both really for care for her," Saïx blinked. "In that case-the answer is no."

Sora jumped up, embarrassed at the position at he was in at Saïx. "You rotten...!" He shouted.

I almost hurt my pride for that response? Glad I didn't kneel down. But still, it was still plenty embarrassing for me to admit that for Kairi, especially since I've never shown that much care for Kairi in the past, even though we used to dote on each other as children and still do. I was still furious at the response as I leapt forward, drawing my Keyblade as I tried to land a hit on Saïx. "FIGHT ME!!!" I screamed.

But Saïx effortlessly summoned his claymore in hand as he whacked me in the stomach with it. I choked on spit as I flew backwards into the cliff wall, smacking it before sliding down as I groaned in pain and clung to my stomach, glaring at Saïx and muttering names to him that ought not to be heard aloud by anyone. "Sakura!' Sora cried as he went over and tended to my aid.

"Are you angry?" Saïx taunted as he turned his head in our direction as Sora helped me up, slinging one of my arms over his neck. "Do you hate me? Then take that rage, and direct it at the Heartless."

Saïx snapped his fingers and Armored Knight Heartless appeared behind him. Paying no mind to the blow I took, I took my arm off Sora so I could draw my Keyblade.

"Pitiful Heartless, mindlessly collecting hearts, " Saïx muttered as he spread his arms and looked up at the sky. "And yet they know not the true power of what they hold. The rage of the Keyblade releases those hearts. They gather in darkness, masterless and free...until they weave together to make Kingdom Hearts. And when that time comes, we can truly, finally exist."

"What in the world do you think you're prattling on about?" A voice asked. Green fire appeared behind us and out from it was Maleficent. "Kingdom Hearts belongs to me! The heart of all kingdoms, the heart of all that lives. A dominion fit to be called Kingdom Hearts must be MY dominion!"

"Maleficent, no!" Sora cried. "No more Heartless!"

"I do not take orders from you!" Maleficent shouted as she spread her arms out, one hand gripping the staff. A group of Solder Heartless appeared and surrounded Saïx.

He looked amused. "Fool..." he muttered, snapping his fingers and Dusks appeared behind those Soldier Heartless and took them out with one swipe. The Dusks turned their attention to us.

"Oh no!" Sora cried.

Maleficent teleported in front of us and, surrounded in green light, spread her arms out once more and created a barrier of green fire. "While I keep these creatures at bay, you devise a plan to vanquish them-forever!" She yelled.

"Maleficent," Sora said.

Dusks began to leap onto her. "Do not misunderstand me," she snapped. "I shall have my revenge on you yet and prove that Sakura is my daughter!"

The Dusks piled on Maleficent, overwhelming her. "Maleficent!" Sora yelled.

"Leave!" She ordered. "Now!"

"I don't take orders from you!" Sora shot back as he stepped forward but I tugged him back, shaking my head no. "But...what about..." Sora turned back to where Maleficent was but all there was left was the pile of Dusks as the green flames began to die out.

"Now then," Saïx continued. "Where did we leave off?" He snapped his fingers and the Dusks disappeared to be replaced by the Armored Knight Heartless from once before as they surrounded us.

"What side are you guys on?!" I demanded.

"They Heartless ally with whoever's the strongest." Saïx replied.

Sora swiped at the Armored Knights that got too close and crystallized pink hearts escaped and floated off to the sky. I never thought much of them before, but now knowing where they going to, I watched in horror as we slowly aided the Organization with their big, master plan. Saïx also stared at the hearts floating away, a smirk plastered on his face. "Yes, Sora!" Saïx said. "Extract more hearts! You too, Sakura!" He then disappeared within a Corridor of Darkness.

"No!" Sora cried, looking up at the disappearing hearts in the sky. "The Hearts!"

We began to fend off the group, which to me seemed to be growing for each Heartless we took down. Still slightly incapacitated from my previous injury, I swiped at the ones who got too close, still killing them with one blow as I gripped my injured stomach with the other. Sora sluggishly fought back, though playing defense. Which was understandable, but we all are going to die out here if Sora doesn't pick up his step!

"Imbeciles!" Maleficent's voice growled at us from somewhere. "You can't be trusted to do anything!"

"Huh?" I asked. Maleficent?

A dark portal appeared below us and it sucked us in.

*~*~*~*~*~

I awoke in darkness. I slowly sat up, Sora waking up and standing up beside me as well. Donald and Goofy approached us from somewhere. "What's this place?" Goofy asked.

"It must be the Realm of Darkness!" Sora cried. He cupped his hands in front of him. "Kairi! Riku!" He called out.

We all turned around, looking fir a way out when Donald cried. We turned to see a figure in a black Organization Cloak holding a white pastry box. "Who's there!" Donald demanded as he charged at the figure. He disappeared through the Corridor of Darkness as soon as he came, dropping the box as well. Donald stopped before picking the box up and returning with it in his wings. "What are that?" He asked.

"Are ya sure you wanna open..." Goofy started but Donald flipped the box around and opened the lid, revealing its contents. A photo with a stick of sea-salt ice cream. "...that?" Goofy finished.

Donald pulled the picture out and handed it to Sora. It was the Twilight Town gang, plus Roxas, in front of the Haunted Mansion."Gawrsh, it's the gang from Twilight Town," Goofy noticed. "Hayner, Pence, Olette, and...um..."

"Roxas," Sora finished.

I sucked in my breath, anxiety coursing through my veins as I glanced away, hoping not to give away anything with my face. "You know him?" Donald asked.

"No...the name popped into my head...this is Roxas," Sora stated.

Donald took out the stick of sea-salt ice cream. "Are ya sure you wanna eat..." Goofy satrted once more but Donald bit into the ice cream. "...that?' Goofy finished as Donald jumped.

"Salty...no...sweet!" He smiled.

The ice cream began to glow and float in the air. A giant crown appeared below us. Sora and I took out our Keyblades and we were transported into another dimension. There, above us, floating, was the stick of sea-salt ice cream. We pointed our Keyblades at it and two beams of light shot out, hitting the ice cream. That's when I was pulled into my trance. I saw a giant colorful weaving with dark thread woven inside the weaving. Using my Keyblade, I wove out the dark thread and replaced it with colorful thread. I was pulled out of my trance.

Once I was pulled out of my trance, a sparkle of light appeared. "Not yet!" Sora cried. "I gotta look for Kairi!"