Sorry for the delay, I didn't get the chance to edit this when I wanted to. Anyway, I hope all of you enjoy this chapter.

Inverted Sky: Kingdom Hearts II

Chapter 102: Destiny Islands part V

Sora slowly moved into the living room of her home, where her mother was currently sitting on a couch. The woman having a thoughtful expression on her features, yet the gaze she held showed how overwhelmed she was. After telling her everything, Sora had gone to get her mother a glass of water. Hoping to help 'wash down' all the information she just gave out. But as the teen gently placed the cup down on the table closest to her mother, said woman unconsciously reached out and took it a few seconds later.

With a few sips of the clear liquid to clear her mind, Sora's mother took in and let out a long breath. Her eyes slowly turning toward her daughter, just as the girl sat down beside her. "Are you at least staying safe?" she questioned softly, finally speaking up for the first time since the explanation.

"As safe as I can." Sora responded in a slightly sheepish manner with a smile to match.

The woman let out another breath while briefly nodding; "Are Riku and Kairi staying close to you?" she asked, tilting her head in a curious manner toward her daughter.

Whom tilted her head up for a moment before shrugging; "Not as often as I'd like." Sora answered in a sigh, showing that she did wish to spend more time with the pair.

In seeing and hearing this, the girl's mother took on a small smile as she patted Sora on the head. "Well...at least you're still the same." she uttered softly while leaning over and giving a kiss on the teen's forehead.

Sora blinked a few times to her mother before smiling, a feeling of relief washing over her. Now that everything was out in the open, she could finally talk to someone about everything she was worried about telling anyone else. However, this did eventually lead for her her gaze to slowly drop, as there was a great deal of emotions she had bottled up until now. While it did take a few moments to even wrap her head around everything she was feeling, Sora eventually just looked to her mother with a sad and lost expression. "I've been really scared mom." she whispered with a faint sniffle.

This made the woman nod, before pulling her daughter into a gentle hug. Of which the teen immediately embraced, as she began to cry softly. "I've been trying to be brave, but I'm so scared I'll make the wrong choice...and get someone killed." the girl claimed as tears fell from her eyes.

During this, Sora's mother simply stroked the teen's hair gently to help calm her. Even as she continued to sob silently for a good long while, the woman remained quiet to let her daughter get all these emotions out. By the end, both Zola and Ursa had moved up and into Sora's lap. The former having sensed that she was in distress, and the latter had followed the leopard's lead. But as Sora pet the tops of their heads, her mother did the same to her.

"Thanks mom." the girl said in an almost muted manner, her voice being a bit clenched after crying for so long.

The woman herself nodded briefly while offering a smile; "I know what you're doing is important...and you can't simply turn away." she started, her smile becoming a more encouraging.

"But I have every ounce of faith in you. I know that whatever you do...things will turn out for the best in the end." the brown-haired woman continued confidently.

"You're a very considerate and kind girl, I know you'll make good choices." she furthered, briefly cupping one of Sora's cheeks before releasing it.

"Besides...if you ever feel scared, stressed, or even just hungry...you can always come back home. I'll make your favorite." the woman finished as her smile became a very warm one that made all of the sadness and confusion drain away from Sora.

Said girl unable to help the smile that rose to her own lips, all while nodding in response. "Yeah." she whispered out happily.

"So then..." the teen's mother began again as she glanced down to the pair on Sora's lap; "...what were their names again?"

"This is Zola...and this is Ursa." was her response, pointing to each of the two for their introductions.

"Well, it's nice to meet you both." the woman greeted in a soft tone, to which she waved at the duo.

Zola lifted her head up and sniffed at the brown-haired woman's fingers, just as she stopped waving her hand. The leopard then licked one of the fingers before biting it softly, this being a clear sign of affection. Of which made the girl smile lightly, as is was obvious that Zola could tell the woman was Sora's mother. "She likes you." she said softly while gesturing for her mother to pet the large cat.

"I was always thinking about what it would be like to have a cat, but I was never sure." the woman muttered quietly, all while petting the top of the leopard's head.

Zola quickly started to purr as a result, the teen's mother seeming to be really good at finding the best spots to scratch. Sora giggled softly as the large feline ended up moving herself more into the woman's lap after a few moments. "Guess we won't have any issues with her feeling right at home." the teen hummed out happily, to which she then looked to Ursa before offering the same treatment.

"You mentioned that one was a 'Heartless', right?" the brown-haired mother questioned curiously while glancing to the bear.

"Yeah...while he's not entirely 'safe', I still feel like I should at least try to take care of him." Sora claimed as she brought Ursa fully into her lap.

"I've seen the Heartless take orders, and I know they have some kind of instinct that resembles emotion to a degree. So I just want to help him become something more than a Heartless. Just like what I've been hoping for with the two Heartless I keep in my shadow." she continued on, looking to the bear with a soft and hopeful expression.

All the while, the teen's mother smiled to this and nodded her head. "That's my girl." she whispered in a content manner.

However, she quickly blinked a few times and turned toward her daughter a bit sternly. "Wait...you have what in your shadow?" she demanded, making Sora freeze and gulp down.

The brown-haired girl having not mentioned this, due to the worry of this exact moment. "O-Oh...u-um...nothing...i-it was just a metaphor." she responded sheepishly, slowly beginning to shift off of the couch in order to escape.

But the teen's mother simply gave a firm stare toward her daughter, making Sora then lift Ursa in her arms quickly. "Distract her Zola~!" she called out while trying to make a run for it.

Though, as she rounded the corner in order to try and rush up the stairs to her room, her mother was already standing there. Her arms folded across her chest as Sora gulped down even harder, to which she sent Zola a brief pout as the leopard was rubbing against the woman's leg. "Traitor." she muttered silently before gazing back to her mother nervously.

"Oh you're not getting away 'that' easily." the brown-haired woman claimed firmly, making Sora just let out a cry.

Which many within the town could hear, leading for them to simply shake their heads slowly. All of them knowing that Sora must have gotten herself into trouble yet again.

The next morning, the group of teens gathered together just outside of Sora's house. Said girl glancing around to each of them with a small, yet somewhat sad smile. Even after being punished the previous night, she was still regretful about leaving home so soon. "I guess we should be heading off. We have a big day today." she said silently while shrugging.

"Are you sure?" Riku questioned as he glanced briefly to the girl's mother watching them in the open doorway of the home.

"It's alright. Besides, once all of this is over...I intend on coming back and sleeping in for at least a week." Sora claimed, giggling lightly with a grin tugging at her lips.

"As if you needed a reason to sleep in." Paine muttered as she shrugged her shoulders.

"True." Rikku added while giving the brown-haired girl a brief nudge.

Said teen huffed briefly before she then turned toward her mother; "Well...we're off." she said, offering her signature smile.

The woman returned this expression with her own smile and quick nod; "Take care." she uttered out, it being clear Sora's mother was trying not to cry in front of everyone.

Sora herself nodded back, but paused as she was about to turn away. The teen's gaze drifting down to Zola at her side as the leopard was ready to leave with her. However, Sora gained a soft smile as she knelt down and pet the top of the cat's head. "Would you mind staying here and looking after mom? She'll get lonely if we're both away." she whispered silently, earning an acknowledging gaze from the large feline.

"Thanks." Sora uttered as she kissed the top of Zola's head, just before the leopard moved over to the woman's side.

"She'll take care of you." the brown-haired girl claimed confidently, to which her mother smiled a bit wider while bending down to pet Zola.

"Thank you." she said softly as Zola let out a cute meow-like roar.

With that, the group gave their farewells and began heading off on their way. Sora glancing back to her mother for a few moments, them waving to one another for as long as possible before eventually losing sight around a corner. As the girl continued on with her friends, she could help but sigh heavily and look down. Noticing this, Riku nudged her with an elbow. Of which made Sora turn to him with a blinking gaze, yet a small smile curled her lips when seeing the silver-haired boy's own smile of confidence.

"Come on...lets hurry." he said silently as the group made their way back to the island in their small boats.

After doing so, they teleported back to the Gummi ship, only down one large feline. Once they each sat down, Sora input their next destination. During which, her eyes narrowed slightly as she knew it was now or never in possibly changing the plan of attack. "You know..." she started while turning toward the others.

"...since I sort of missed out on the explanation before, could you guys tell me the plan for our invasion of the Organization's base?" the girl finished, glancing from one teen to the next.

"Right...well..." Riku started before going on to tell the girl about the operation.

It involved sending Sora together with Donald, Goofy, Teng and Lea to create as much noise as possible. Which would pull focus away from Riku, Namine and Ienzo. Whom would be stealing any and all information they could about the Organization's plans from their main computer. This being a precaution in order to make sure they would be ready for anything, in the event that Xemnas escaped. During this however, Merlin would join with Even, Arlene and Mickey in finding the research they've conducted. Them being tasked with either finding ways to use it against the Organization, or to destroy it.

After listening to all this, Sora tilted her head down in thought as she was now trying to think of how to mix up the plan in order to make sure Xemnas wouldn't be prepared. "It's a solid plan." she said silently while tapping her chin.

"What about everyone else?" the girl continued as there were many allies he didn't mention in the plan.

"A few of them will be staying behind to make sure the worlds stay safe during this assault. But most will be keeping the Heartless and Nobodies at bay once we do manage to infiltrate the castle." Kairi said while shrugging her shoulders.

Though, it was after these words that made most of the teens all look down briefly. Them only now realizing just just now noticed how 'militarized' they each sounded in talking about this. "Well...I still have to meet with Lightning and her sister, so we'll hopefully have two more allies really soon." Sora claimed with a small smile, causing everyone to look at her with a light smile in response.

'I think the plan is a little too 'air tight' to change outright, if I'm going to modify anything...it'll have to be my own involvement, as well as the placement of everyone. That way, even if Xemnas knows what we're up to, the change in individuals should create a different dynamic he wouldn't have a plan for.' she thought quickly before glancing around to each of her friends.

"Though...I do have some ideas to add to the plan, if you wanna listen." Sora started, a confident glint in her eyes as she began sharing her plan with the others.

And there you have it, now it's onto Twilight Town once more. I hope all of you enjoyed this chapter and will let me know what you thought. Until next time.