There was the chance they would return; especially the boy who saved these worlds twice.
Darkness will never cease; evil will always return and along that never ending cycle, a hero will raise and suppress that dark cloud for a short time.

- -

Since receiving that letter from the King, Sora had always braced himself for the return. Sometimes, he actually wished to return... Just to see everyone. Days on Destiny Island seemed so pale and he somewhat missed his pals Donald and Goofy. The boy smiled lightly, his abnormally spiky hair waving against the tropical breeze and his bright blue eyes, eyed the setting sun. For some reason he felt this calling to return to the Clubhouse, the same clubhouse that sent him to Kingdom Hearts and the same clubhouse he returned to after his days in those worlds; ended for the time being.

Sora leaned against the arching tree, before he decided to turn around and jump on the tree and plopped himself on its side.

"Hey Riku," the boy grinned as he poked the tall, silver haired boy next to him with his foot, "You ready?"

A setting sun; The end of another peaceful day on the islands. Yet a journey was only about to begin as a new. Will this one boy, who once fell to darkness attain redemption? That which he longed for, yet a guilty conscience prevented such peace.

"Riku." That voice which would continue to bring him back to reality.
The once clandestine male, resting his back upon the tree's bark, responded with a grin. "It's you that was waiting for Sora." He motioned to the strangely happy petite crew of bears who desperately waved from the shore. He always did have the strangest of friends. Riku pushed himself off, make his way across the bridge. "I might leave you behind if you keep lazing there!" He taunted, waving towards those cutesy creatures.

The gallant gummybears new nothing of the word quit! Sent by the king himself to summon the two boys to Caslte. In truth they had arrived, and had been waving at the two for a grand total of five minutes! A somewhat oblivious Kairi kindly apologized to the happy bunch.

He thinks he's so cool, Sora mentally pouted as he hopped off the said tree and practically sprinted toward the slightly older boy, only to run past him a bit and none to comfortably stumbled onto the bridge. Sora will always be Sora: Silly, heroic and a bit of a airhead. But that's what made him lovable.

"Ow," he muttered as he rubbed his arm and turned around, "No laughing, I'll... Hurt you!" He wasn't one for insults either. After pushing himself up, he expertly walked ahead of his best friend; acting like he knew what he was doing.

Ah yes, he was glad his friendship with Riku returned; unlike those days prior. Sora helped him see the light once more and convinced him to return to Destiny Isle with him and Kairi. Like hell he was just going to leave Riku there; alone, cold and wrapped in... Darkness.

Riku sighed, only shaking his head at the antics of the sappy brunette. He'll never change, the teen thought, catching up with the duo and trio of Gummies. Upon their arrival, the bears stood firmly at attention. "Ready when you are Sora! Just Give the word!" Responsible and dedicated little critters they were. Under the command of a ditsy leader. Oh The poor fate that the worlds were subject to! Riku loved to entertain his mind, perhaps another persona to mask the bond he shared.

"Well it looks like we've got everyone." The silverette spoke running his hand through the brunette's unusual strands. "Why don't you three show me that ship that this sap has been riding around in?" Riku chuckled to himself, portraying a grin on his face as he followed the bears, not before giving a reassuring nod to the redhead.

"Just... Be careful!" Kairi instructed as she bid the silverette a friendly wave and smile. Sora couldn't help but frown slightly--Mainly because Riku still insisted to call him names and a ping of jealousy because well... That's always been there. Riku always had that 'I have to beat him!' aura around him and that wasn't the darkness talking either, "Sora."

"Yeah Kairi?" the brunette blinked as he turned his gaze from the other boy toward the girl he liked for awhile. The redhead merely smiled, digging into the bag she was holding and pulled out a familiar star charm. Again Sora blinked... That charm again.

"This brought you back before," she told him, "So I figured that this will bring you back home again. And you also brought Riku back as well!"

Sora could only smile as he cheerfully took the charm from the girl's hand, "Geez, you make it sound like we're never gonna come back again."

"Don't be mean," she frowned, "It's a piece of home; remember that."

"Thanks, but we'll be back!" he assured her and grinned, "Just you wait~"

"I know... Good luck and come home in one piece," she muttered as she hugged him. Of course Sora return this gesture, but what surprised him was the kiss on the cheek she gave to him. A blush appeared on his light skin, but then he fell back the moment Kairi shoved him, "Bye Sora! Tell Riku I said bye and good luck!"

Thanks Kairi...

Only minutes ago had the teen boy been spirited up to the 'Gummy Ship'. Now being given the 'grande' tour of the magical flying wonder of the witty petite engineers -- Riku couldn't help but wonder how such goofy characters could create such a marvel. "And these are our Gummy Blocks!" A high pitched voice spoke, holding a single cubed shaped block in it's palm. "They're whats responsible for allowing our ship to travel in the first place!"Another anxiously replied, "It was King Mickey's own invention too!" The king?

Riku reminisced of the 'other' who also helped him on his journey to the light. Mickey, the one who knew no darkness. Though he hid this, Riku was anxious to seek another audience with the thing. For he did have the proper chance to express his gratitude on their last meeting. "Heh.." He chuckled to himself -- now wondering where his gallant hero of a friend was.

After boarding the ship, Sora eventually made it toward the small area where the others were inhabiting. "Alright, let's go!" the brunette rallied as he appeared from the back and into the front. "Aye aye!" one cheered as the ship turned on and began to move. Oh, this is gonna be fun, just like before~ Sora couldn't help but think as he sat down.

I wonder what's going to happen now...? He mused as he looked at Riku for a moment and returned his attention to the window, What are we in for?

Without further delay the ship blasted off into the stars, leaving a vibrant display of colors in its wake.

It was an odd piece of machinery. Was it ingenious ingenuity, or just plain luck that held this tin together. Traversing the massive constellations of worlds in this? Riku preferred the corridors of darkness; portals that the silverette once conjured. In essence, there were the back doors of each world. The boy's mind continued to wonder, as he gazed at the hordes of heartless attempting to prevent their journey.

"Incoming message!" The bear spoke -- instantly a viewing screen dropped from the ceiling. A blurred image, an overgrown duckling? If his emerald hues were not mistaken, it was that of the royal Magician, Donald Duck. "S - ra," his words were unclear as static filled the screen.

"Donald?" the boy blinked as he got up and walked closer to the screen, "Hey! It shouldn't be this blurry." He then waved his hand in front of the screen, "Donald? Can you hear me? Donald!"

However the connection was lost the moment the gummiship started to slow down. Turn his attention to the window, a familiar docking bay slowly appeared, "Oh hey, we're here!" He laughed as he turned to Riku, "Was this too much for you? You look off."

"Don't get too ahead yourself Sora." Riku had no comebacks for this particular situation, perhaps due to the scrambled message being fresh within his mind.

The doors simply slid open, revealing a drop-down ramp which bridged the dock. Already the boy had detected something amiss within the castle walls? Or was it just my imagination? Attempting to ignore such feeling, Riku exited the ship. "Don't wanna leave you behind again So-ra ~" He spoke once again walking across the bridge .

"Score one for the sky~" Sora grinned as he caught up and walked besides the silver haired male. However, he then frowned as he noticed Riku's rather... concentrated expression, but then decided to brush it off.

"I don't know what you're talking about Ri-ku~" the brownie commented afterwards. Bright, white walls greeted the pair as they continued to walk-- Of course Disney Castle had that effect. Everything was bright and rather happy looking; it wasn't rare for a person to smile just because of the jolliness the castle was rather known for, "I'm going to assume we're going to the throne room."

"Right you are!" came a familiar quack.

"Sora!" another greeted afterwards.

"Donald! Goofy!" the brownie gasped as they two animal creatures practically tackled the teenager to the floor.

The quacking catastrophe and goofy good-ling had arrived. Yet another clear example of the friends Sora managed to attract. However, despite the two's awkward appearance and attitude, they were in fact the King's most trusted friends. Donald & Goofy, with Sora, the trio proved to best all odds -- They even managed to shed light to the darkest of worlds. Riku knew well of their accomplishments -- he even held a bit of admiration, aside from the jealousy he once experienced.


Though something felt off about the two -- as they steadily approached the brunette boy, trampling upon the silken, gold lined red carpet.

"Wheres Mickey? And why was communication interrupted?" Riku inquired, wasting no time on pleasantries. Acting solely on his feelings, something which the king taught him to do oh so well.

Upon getting up, the brunette quickly hugged his other two best friends and looked at Riku, "Yeah I was wondering the same thing," he commented as she turned his attention toward the two. Goofy merely shrugged and Donald couldn't help but frown.

"Well you see..." Donald paused, "We've been havin' some weird things going on around here and we're still investigating it."

"Mickey's in the throne room if ya wanna see him, hyuck," Goofy then added, "He'll know more than we do."

"Hm, you're right... Lead the way!" Sora grinned as he began to follow the two, "C'mon Riku, you can stop acting all cool."

Another witty comment which he ignored for the time being. Two nil would be today's score for the brunette. "You three can go, I'll catch up in a minute." Riku replied, dropping back from the trio and entering the library.

One thing he noted from the static message, it was recorded from the library. There were clearly books behind Donald at the time he called for Sora. One book in particular -- one which he would not allow himself to forget. Eager eyes continued scanning the shelves, If that item was here then he could count on everything being alright.

Where was that journal?

"Something wrong with Riku?" Donald questioned as the trio walked down the hall.

"I dunno," Sora answered as he lifted up his hands and placed them on the back of his head, "I guess he's not used to any of this... After all..."

"We understand," Goofy smiled as they trio then stopped in front of the throne room, "Here we are~ Hyuck."

Turning his attention to the door, Sora's head tilted slightly at the spot. The moment the door had opened, there wasn't anything in there. Where was King Mickey? "Hey guys, I thought you said--" However, both Donald and Goofy had disappeared and replaced... Heartless? "Ah! What have you done to my friends?!"

The heartless remained silent, before lunging at the keyblade wielder.

A journal ? What did it contain to be so valuable? Not the contents itself, but a significant calling upon first glance. One which the Silverette protagonist managed to detect. It must be here. It had to be. For the sake of him not going insane.--And there it was. That piece of Eden which he so desperately searched for. It hid on the second shelf, fourth row, fifth from the right. Exactly as it was in the videoed message sent by Donald. Found you. With the book within reach, it was only a matter of time until this small mystery of doubt would be unraveled.

A blank book? Riku guessed while scanning through it's pages. It was then he saw it. Written clear as day in the hand writing of Jiminy Cricket himself. "It's a trap!" Within seconds the boy rushed for the exit, only to be met with several heartless creatures phasing through the door.
Those eerie creatures; bright yellow eyes, tentacle like arms, and a pair of antennae. Such things are the pure-blood heartless, Neoshadows. With no real brain or cause for sentient thought -- they did well in trapping the Keyblade wielder. Were they being led by some outside force?

"Who is controlling you!?" He demanded. Not that he expected an answer from the mindless heart-stealing blobs of destruction. Riku knew the inner workings of a heartless all to well. Seconds later, the boy summoned his weapon. Questions aside, Sora was in danger.

//shrouding.Dark.cloud;; Pt. II

If there was a time where I needed you the most...
Let it be now.

- -

The echo of his foot slipping echoed in the dark throne room, making the boy from another world to grunt heavily. Bright blue eyes narrowed at the sight of the heartless; the creatures of darkness multiplying like shadows in a crowed, outside area. What was going on here? Why were they taken here? Where was everyone...?

"Where are they?!" he demanded answers; however, that was obviously futile. Heartless never spoke, they only moved--creatures of eternal darkness that could only be controlled by the ring master who summoned them. But who could that be?

Again, the blobs of darkness attempted to lunge for the teenager; but Sora knew. This wasn't new to him, he had fought against these monsters twice before and the third time wasn't going to be any different. Another attack--this caused Sora to summon an all too familiar weapon--the Keyblade. As the shadow attempted its last attack, the Chosen One merely evaded the assault and swung his weapon; slicing the creature until it faded from existence, and the Heart that was once shrouded in darkness... Finally free.

The Way to Dawn
Born from repentance, it represents a new light forged from darkness itself. For there must always be balance. Desired or not, its wielder commands both light and darkness.
Wielded by a former denizen of darkness, this Keyblade is a result of Riku's sheer will to protect his most cherished of friends. The guard is composed of both angelic and demonic wings. Its token is the Heartless Emblem, but without the spiked bars crossing it -- despite this grim-dark appearance, the Way to Dawn was terribly efficient at disposing any and all darkened creatures that met its tip.

The gigantic doors of the throne room flew open, sending shock waves through the castle walls upon impact. Several of those ink like creatures diverted from the brunette, only to be skewered by silverette's Way to Dawn."C'mon Sora!" He encouraged, "We aren't gonna let these things stop us!" Ending his sentence with dispersing another heartless, making his way to the hero.
-- Back to back, just like the last of the old days. Riku couldn't have it any other way.


Everyone single one vanquished, another two would spawn. Whoever controlled these beasts housed a great deal of power.

"Riku!" he called out, slamming down his Kingdom Key at the head of another Heartless. The Kingdom Key... The weapon that helped him save these worlds; a simple design. The silver blade, the yellow handle and the famous symbol who represented the King himself, King Mickey.

As soon as the silver haired teenager stood next him, Sora flashed him his ever so famous grin. There was no way he'd allow these shadows to out do them; not like this... Not now... Not ever.

"They keep multiplying," he informed as he whacked two heartless, which four more just appeared appeared, "As much as I enjoy doing this for a living--We can't just be here all day!"

Those beings of darkness. No driving force whatsoever except for that one lustful desire to consume -- those precious hearts.

"The source of these heartless mustn't be too far off." Riku noted, barring off his blindside with the a dark, cubical like shield. "For them to keep multiplying like this. We need to search the castle!" It was the only logical course; heartless drew their power from the will of their master. Whom or what would obviously be near by -- but where? Riku made a dash for the door, effortlessly clearing through the hordes.

Being in that space, made both wielders prone to defeat. If the two were going to get out of this, 'in one piece' they'd need to use their heads.

"Hurry!" he beckoned, side-eying the mass increase of darkness.

Sora somewhat hesitated; however, he quickly sighed, "Hey! Wait for me!"

The boy then sprinted forward, just about arms length of the throne room's door; but then the moment his fingertips brushed against the entrance way, his body was then yanked back and he landed not so comfortably on the concrete floor below.

"Ow..." the brownie groaned as he slowly picked himself up. Returning his gaze to the door; a multi-colored barrier crawled up like an upwards waterfall before the colors faded, "No..."

This only met one thing...

The barrier; blanketed the throne room. Visibility was at it's null through it's dark walls. The perfect cage, especially for one suck keyblade wielder -- the light-heart brownie of a hero, Sora.
A figure approached the boy from the throne. Just about Sora's height, clad in rusted blue, tin armor. A helmet with pointed metal ears, curved like bolts of lightning. It did not speak. Only walked. Made it's decent slowly down the few stairs to where the boy stood. Stretching out its left arm, almost as if extending a hand to the boy. But this was no aid.
A bright light followed, as in that instant a keyblade materialized the figure's palm. One with the teeth pointed backwards, one which he gripped so well. Almost as if familiar with it's design.
-- And so, the armor lunged towards Sora.

Meanwhile, Riku found himself dumbfounded as the barrier encased the throne room. Nothing was going to get through that! He thought, whisking away the few heartless which surrounded him. Sora, he wondered, trying to find another opening for the throne, only to be met with the cold gaze of hundreds of heartless in the garden -- That once lush green garden had now been contaminated by those stains of darkness.

Gripping the handle of his 'Way to Dawn', Riku readied himself for what would appear to be a most tiresome battle. As there was clearly no way around the barrier, he would have to weaken it. An dispersing the heartless, would cause its creator to pour out more energy to sustain the quantities? At least that's how it should work! Riku reasoned -- Finally charging into the heartless pool.