"You can never win if you're always defensive. To win, you have to attack." ~Light Yagami (Death Note)
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Riku stood in Where Nothing Gaters, the central meeting room for Organization XIII. He looked around, seeing the seats of varying heights where Organization members once sat in. And in one of the lower seats sat a sleeping Sora. "Sora!" He gasped, dashing over to his friend.

A Corridor of Darkness appeared and Young Xehanort stepped out from it. Smirking, he held his hand out and knocked Riku back. Riku groaned as he got up while Young Xehanort levitated over to where he was. "Hands off my new vessel," he said.

"'Vessel'?" Riku repeated.

"Yes," Young Xehanort nodded. "We originally hand our sights set on you. But, you developed a certain...resistance to darkness. So we did what the Keyblade did, and moved down the list. Roxas...now, there was a worthy candidate. But, unfortunately, he became too aware of himself, and returned to Sora. Organization XIII's true goal is to divide Xehanort's heart among thirteen vessels. Thanks to you and Sora, we learned not all our candidates were fit for the task. But, we managed to make up the difference. And now, Sora, the thirteenth vessel, is within our grasp."

"Thirteen...Xehanorts?" Riku whispered. He gasped as he watched Corridor of Darkness after Corridor of Darkness opened upon the chairs, filling the seats with cloaked members, three of which Riku recognized as Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, Xigbar and Xemnas, as they had their hoods off. "What is..." Riku started.

"The real Organization XIII," Young Xehanort interrupted.

"The Organization?" Riku yelled.

"I am Xehanort from the most distant past," Young Xehanort explained. "My future self gave me a task-to visit the splintered versions of myself in many worlds, and ensure they gathered here today."

"From the past?" Riku cried. "There are restrictions to movement through time," Young Xehanort continued. "First, you must leave your behind to do it. Then, there must be a version of you waiting at the destination. Upon arrival, you can only move forward as per the laws of time. And you cannot rewrite the events that are destined to happen."

"What have you done?" Riku demanded.

"My most future self will arrive soon," Young Xehanort stated as he lifted his hand up, gesturing to the tallest chair where a Corridor of Darkness was slowly forming. "Then, time for all of us will return to normal, and I will go back to my era to live the life fate has in store. He can vouch for that."

A bright light sparkled from above and came crashing down, knocking Young Xehanort down. "Stopza!" A voice yelled. A silhouette of a mouse holding a Keyblade was seen through the flaring light. An orb surrounded the area, freezing time. Once the light went away, Riku uncovered his eyes to see King Mickey. "I'm glad I'm not too late," he sighed.

"Mickey!" Riku yelled as he ran to the King.

"Just grab Sora so we can go!" King Mickey said. "I can't stop them for long."

King Mickey flew forward, crying out. "Mickey!" Riku shouted. He turned around to see Young Xehanort, still able to move despite the spell King Mickey had casted.

"I said hands off!" He shouted.

"How can you be moving?" Riku demanded.

A dark aura emitted off young Xehanort as he held his hand out, summoning his Keyblade in hand. "oh no," King Mickey gasped as he got up. "Are you..."

"Begone," Young Xehanort spat, his yellow eyes glowing.

Riku watched as the area was cloaked in darkness and they were both transported to another place. Once Riku was able to see, he saw in the distance multiple hourglasses, all flowing with different colored sand as he and Young Xehanort stood on what looked to be the inside of a clock, as the floor resembled white gears.

Riku summoned his Keyblade and readied himself to fight Young Xehanort. Despite his ability to turn back time and have Young Xehanort revert back to when the fight started in order to exhaust Riku, he defeated Young Xehanort without much trouble.

A bright light flashed as Riku was back in Where Nothing Gathers, with Young Xehanort to be no where in sight. "Are you okay, Riku?" King Mickey asked as he approached Riku.

"Yeah," Riku nodded. "Thanks, Mickey."

Both saw the aura King Mickey had cast wore off. King Mickey looked up and gasped, "Master Xehanort! We were right about you!"

Looking up at the tallest chair where the Corridor of Darkness had been forming, and there sat an old, bald man with a grey beard. He had tan skin, pointed ears, and yellow eyes as he leaned on his fist which was resting on the armrest of the chair he sat in, legs crossed. "All of this was decided," Xehanort said. "My twelve selves would welcome me here on this day, when I would return a complete person. It is the future which lies beyond my sight."

"Why are you doing this?" King Mickey cried.

"In ancient tines, people believed that light was a gift from an unseen land bu the name of Kingdom Hearts," Xehanort explained. "But Kingdom Hearts was safeguarded by its counterpart, the x-blade. Warriors vied for that precious light, thus beginning the 'Keyblade War'. The violent clash shattered the x-blade into twenty pieces-seven of light, and thirteen of darkness. And the only real Kingdom Hearts was swallowed by the darkness, never to surface again. I once tried to create my own pure light and darkness to forge the x-blade, but the attempt ended in failure. In my eagerness, I had lost sight of the correct way to achieve my goal. I acted rashly. I can admit that now."

King Mickey clenched his fist, "What you did back then-your mistakes-changed the destinies of three of my friends!"

"Ah, but destiny is never left to chance," Xehanort smirked. "I merely guided them to their proper places. The broken boy who failed to be the blade...the misguided master who sacrificed herself for a friend...and the feckless youth who became my new vessel."

King Mickey dropped his head with sadness, remember the fallen wielders and sighed, "I couldn't find a way to save 'em. But I wanted to believe that their sacrifice stopped you for good. Why? How was I so blind? I should've seen it, as soon as Maleficent started gathering the seven princesses of heart and began the search for the Weaver of the Hearts."

"Yes," Xehanort nodded. "They were all my doing. I used the evil fairy to find seven pure lights for me along with the Weaver of the Hearts, just as I prepared thirteen vessels to fill with pure darkness."

"But you failed," Riku stated as he stepped forward. "Sora stopped you in your tracks on both counts."

"Yes, he did," Xehanort said as he uncrossed his legs and stopped leaning on his fist, holding his hands out as if he was presenting a choice. "That dull, ordinary boy-a Keyblade wielder so unlike any I have ever seen. However, I have not abandoned my ambitions-the seven guardians of light and the thirteen seekers of darkness."

"Seven guardians of light?" King Mickey said. "Well, for Keyblade wielders, there's me and Riku and Sora and Sakura. And my three missing friends, that's seven. That means...the thirteen seekers of darkness..."

"Yes, little king," Xehanort smirked. "Perceptive. But Sora and another on your list belong to me now. And that puts you two guardians short. But worry not. All the pieces are destined to appear. Your seven lights, just like my thirteen darknesses, whose final clash will beget the prize I seek."

"The x-blade!" He and King Mickey said together. Xehanort stood up on his chair and summoned his Keyblade in hand, "But first, the thirteen darknesses shall be united. All the seats have been filled. And now the last vessel shall bear my heart like the rest!"

The chair Sora sat on began to rise upwards, bringing him up with the rest of the thirteen darknesses. "No!" King Mickey shrieked.

"Sora!" Riku cried as they ran to grab their sleeping friend.

Xemnas and Ansem disappeared from their seats as King Mickey jumped off the other chairs before being pinned to one by Xemnas. Riku gasped as Ansem appeared in front of him and grabbed his head, slamming him down to the ground. Riku struggled as he was pinned down to the floor.

The chair that was rising stopped as soon as it was level to Xehanort. He waved his hand over his Keyblade, his fingers covered with fire as he pointed it at Sora, sending a molten sphere of fire his way. King Mickey and Riku gasped as their ally was to be lost to darkness when suddenly a shield appeared over Sora, deflecting the attack back to Xehanort. He leaned to the side, dodging his attack that was fired back at him as he squinted through the smoke to see who had foiled his plan.

"They made it!" King Mickey cried.

"You!" Xemnas spat.

Once the smoke and flames cleared, there, standing on Sora's chair, was Axel, who had draped Sora over his arm and Sakura, Keyblade out, as she was the one who had casted the shield, protecting the three.

*~*~*~*~*~

"Axel! Sakura!" Xigbar growled from his chair.

"Axel? Please," Lea scoffed. "The name's Lea. Got it memorized?"

"You two are not supposed to be here!" Xigbar yelled.

"Promises to keep," Lea shrugged. "I'll always be there to get my friends back." Xigbar shot him an angry glare. "What? Bad timing?" Lea laughed as he glanced up at a man with a beard, tan skin, and yellow eyes, perched on the highest seating in the room. "You had your perfect little script, but you kinda forgot to write a sequel," he sighed. "Now, let's find out what happens!"

Xigbar growled and glared at the old man, slamming his hand on the arm rest. "What now you old coot? Our time is up!" He shouted.

The elderly man slyly smiled as a cloaked Organization member jumped towards us. I prepared to block the attack, but Lea shoved the unconscious Sora into my arms, took out his chakrams, and blocked the attack for us. The attacker had a claymore and their hood fell off, revealing a man with blue hair, yellow eyes, an X-shaped scar on their forehead, and pointy ears. Lea gulped, "Isa!"

Isa glared coldly at the both of us and put more pressure on his claymore, overwhelming Lea. Lea grunted as he pushed Isa off of him, grabbed me and Sora, and jumped down. King Mickey took out his Keyblade and slashed Xemnas with it and Xemnas teleported away in order to dodge the attack as Riku did the same with Ansem, who also teleported away.

Both of them appeared on the tall chairs beside the old man. King Mickey and Riku stood beside Lea, weapons drawn. I had my Keyblade on one hand while I carried Sora in the other. Lea had his chakrams out. "Why are you here, Axel?" Riku demanded. "And how did you drag Sakura into this?"

"I came willingly," I replied.

"No, I told you my name's-arg, whatever, Axel, fine. Now, let's get outta here!" Lea slapped his forehead.

"Right!" King Mickey agreed.

Ansem summoned with his Guardian Heartless. It flew from its usual position behind Ansem and grabbed Riku and King Mickey. They struggled to get out as I jumped over to attack it in order to free them both but it flew away from me, dodging my slash.

Two stars flew from above and they turned into Goofy and Donald. They fell onto the Guardian's arms, causing it to drop Riku and King Mickey. "Were we supposed to do that?" Donald asked, looking woozy.

"I think so," Goody groaned.

Riku chuckled as King Mickey looked at the two. "Goofy, Donald!" He smiled. "You saved us!"

Everyone began to crumble away into ash as they slowly began to turn intangible. "We are out of time," the elderly man sighed. "Neither the union of light nor darkness has been achieved, and we must all return whence we came. 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!"

The old man chuckled lightly as he faded away. King Mickey gripped his Keyblade tightly, glaring athe the chair the old man sat in.

*~*~*~*~*~

Sora sat in the corner with King Mickey, Donald, and Goofy, Riku and I surrounding him. Lea leaned against a bookshelf as Yen Sid sat in his chair. "Seven lights, thirteen darknesses...Master Xehanort has been busy," he broke the silence.

So, that was the old man's name. "Aw, Sora," King Mickey sighed. "Don't tell me your heart's sleeping, too."

"No, Mickey," Yen Sid stood up and approached us. "This affliction is not the same." The two spoke as if they had seen this happen before to someone else. I wonder who that someone else was.

"Can we do anything for him?" Riku asked. Goofy and Donald leaned forward, awaiting his answer as Lea glanced over to where we were.

"In your Mark of Mastery exam, you were yo unlock seven Sleeping Keyholes," Yen Sid explained. "By doing so, you would awaken those worlds from their prison of slumber, and also acquire the power to free a heart from its sleep. Riku, you unlocked those Keyholes within Sora's dream. Therefore, it stands to reason that you now have the power to awaken Sora's heart."

"You want him to dive back into Sora's sleep?" King Mickey asked. "But, Master, Sora's heart is down in the darkest abyss. If Riku's not careful, he might just get trapped down there with him. No...I'll go instead."

"And perhaps you may even succeed, Mickey," Yen Sid nodded. "But there is no denying Riku stands the better chance, having dived into Sora's heart as long as he has."

King Mickey pondered what Yen Sid just told him. "Mickey...I really appreciate it," Riku smiled. "But...I'll go wake Sora up."

"Riku," King Mickey started.

"Look at his face," Riku chuckled. "Sleeping like nothing's wrong-like there's nothing to even worry about. He's always been like that. The four of us would agree to work on the raft, and then this guy would go and take a nap on the beach. You see, it's job to keep him on his toes. Besides, what kind of Keyblade Master sleeps through his test? I'm doing it for me, too. Sora saved me once. And...I heard him call my name. He needs me."

King Mickey nodded in agreement, "There's something real strong that binds us to each other. Even in the darkness, you can reach him. All you gotta do is follow that connection!"

"Gee, we're all connected to Sora," Goofy stated.

"You said it!" Donald cheered.

"And if the darkness gets ya, I promise I'll bail you out," Lea smirked. "'Dark Rescuer' is my middle name."

"Guys, thank you," Riku said as he stood up, "Sora and I will be back soon." He bowed at Master Yen Sid and he gave an approving nod. Riku walked back and pointed his Keyblade at Sora. The two of them began to glow and a sphere with spikes sticking out of it appeared. The spear was clouded with dark clouds. Donald, Goofy, Yen Sid, and King Mickey all gave Riku encouraging nods.

I nodded as well, smiling, "Come back soon, okay?"

"I will," he promised, smiling and nodding at me as well.

Riku began to glow brighter as he turned into orbs of light, entering the sphere, making it glow as well. The sphere disappeared and the light died down, returning the room to its normal state.
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