Apologies for the wait. I know you were worried I wouldn't post my next chapter soon, but a lot is happening, and I got distracted. Still, I am here, and still writing. And while I thought this chapter was gonna be the second-half of the story, I realized that this world and the story it carries is so loaded, I ended up making it a three-part instead. So here's part two of three. Enjoy!

Note: There is foul language within this chapter. Fair warning to all.

In a small town, far away from the mountain forest that had burned down the other night, there was a merchant that was selling fruits and sandwiches. Kirito and Donald were at the stand, getting food for themselves and the rest of their party that were hidden away.

"So, what brings you folks to our town?" Asked the seller, "You adventurers?"

"Yeah. We've come to this country to seek out the Shield Demon." Kirito explained, using the fake story they made up, "You wouldn't happen to have any leads, would you?"

"Why? You worship him or something?" The seller asked, looking suspiciously at the pair.

"Not on your life! We're gonna stop him!" Donald retorted.

"We heard the price on his head was so good, we could live large for life." Kirito stated, giving a malicious grin at this, "Who could pass up a reward like that?" Donald gave a chuckle at the idea of all that munny, only for Kirito to prod him with his hip to silence him.

"I agree, it is tempting. However, you would have to be crazy strong to face the likes of him." The seller stated, putting the food in a bag and handing it to Kirito, "Plus, I've heard he's even been summoning those weird monsters that have been killing people left and right. We've even heard news that it was he that started the forest fire in the mountains."

"Well, we're more than a match for that guy." Kirito stated confidently.

"Just you wait. We'll be making big changes by dealing with him!" Donald declared.

"Good luck with that." The seller responded, "I can tell you right now that Siltbelt is out of the question. The checkpoints are closed, and the border patrol in on high alert. No way could the Shield Demon and his party make it through there."

"Got it. Thanks." Kirito thanked the food stall seller, and he and Donald left him.

Meanwhile, in another section of the town, within the end of an alleyway, Asuna discovered an area where she can communicate with Liz's Blacksmith Shop to purchase, sell, and hand materials and whatnot to Liz and the Moogles. After getting use to the new system, Asuna briefly explained the situation they were in.

"Geez, I never would've picked you guys as criminals in our world." Liz stated, slightly baffled by the story she was told, "Just because you guys were helping them against the Heartless, they label you guys as allies to this 'Shield Hero' guy?"

"Pretty much." Asuna answered, "I'm pretty sure we've made some sort of alliance with one or two of the other heroes. But as for the rest of them, they are either too dumb or deliberately pointing the finger at us."

"It's so unbelievable, you'd think you were only doing a quest in ALO, not real life!" Liz grimaced, "Guess the quest is for you guys to clear your name and find out who the real culprit is. Gotta clue as to whom?"

"We do have a few suspects in this world." Asuna answered, "However, we do know that the Organization is behind part of this mess. They also want to blame the Shield Hero, and even place us under the guillotine while they are at it. But as for their true intentions behind it, I have no clue."

"Well, it's way over my head." Liz nonchalantly stated, "I'll leave it to you guys to figure this whole mess out. If you need anything from my shop, I'll do what I do best to support you guys."

"Thanks, Liz." Asuna thanked her with a smile, "I'll try to bring the others over when we have an open opportunity. Take care until then." Liz waved goodbye, and the Moogle station died away.

Asuna pocketed the device that was used to communicate with her, and she left the scene. As she did so, she hid herself after noticing a few of the soldiers of the kingdom speaking to one another. She peered around the corner, keeping her ears and eyes opened at what they were talking about.

(Insert 'Adamas Amalee ver.', TV version)

Music intro

(Rushing through black darkness, glittering shards of light pass by. As music starts, the three main Keyblades suddenly shoot forward like shooting stars, circling around from a distance, then crossing one another, shining brightly, forming the logo of the series.)

I'm trying to understand it but it's making me numb

(Left half of Sora's serious face, the other half hidden by the teeth of his Kingdom Key.)

This swirl of karma leaving such a bitter taste on my tongue

(Right half of Asuna's determined face, the other half hidden by the Lambent Light's teeth.)

'Cause I know the pain and sorrow, it has only begun

(The upper half of Kirito's face, with glaring eyes, the lower half hidden by the Elucidator's teeth.)

Who-o-oa, Who-o-oa, Who-o-oa

(Flashing through the faces of each hero; Donald, Goofy, Yui, Mickey, Riku, Leafa, Kairi, Axel, and Kayaba.)

Now I'm surrounded by my enemies, but luck's on my side

(In the dusty fields of the Keyblade Graveyard, the camera pans around the circle of the six main heroes as they ready their weapons.)

So I shatter through the walls and change the course of the tide

(In the same field, the camera pans the opposite way around the six other heroes as they ready their weapons.)

Can't stop this surging fate like a volcano set to break, Take a breath until you're set to

(Allies of the multiple worlds they will or have visited pan across the screen, finally ending with the silhouettes of the four Lost Princesses of heart, with the one in the center opening her hands to reveal a bright light.)

face that voice of fear. That god of death that's always looking down on you

(Philia stands on a lone green hill, staring at a card with the picture of Castle Oblivion on it. She feels a hand behind her, and looks to see Flair and Hinata standing behind her, giving assuring smiles, with Tinkerbell coming out of her pocket, and Samson giving a thumbs up.)

"Do you believe yourself?" I won't stop til I've won

(Maleficent and Dr. Temna stand together, with Pete and Tears next to them, and a swarm of Heartless and shadowed foes ready to strike.)

A glimpse of that bright future that's just begun!

(Xehanort's maliciously smirking face appears, as he and fifteen others float together in a circle. Screen splits in half as half of Heartless Oberon and Gouxus take the screen, their eyes shining from yellow to violet.)

Shining like a diamond, The emotions in your heart reflect like crystal

(The six heroes team up together, taking down Heartless, Nobodies and Unversed that come across their path with their weapons, skills and magic.)

As we vow an oath that will ignite your light and mine - And we will rise!

(A Demon Tower nearly falls on top of the six, but they get away, with Kirito, Asuna and Sora in the air, performing Soul Bursts and Keyblade transformation, creating Cloud's Buster Sword, Asuna's SAO Lambent Light, and Sora's twin guns, unleashing a sword beam, ice spears, and magic shots as one.)

So many times I've gotten back on my feet to make it to this moment

(A group of dark energy orbs shoots down the trio from a cliff above, hitting them into the ground. The attack comes from Xehanort, Heartless Oberon, and Gouxus.)

It's time our prayer that's waiting in the dark. Is set free so light the spark and let it shine!

(Sora, Asuna and Kirito get back up on their feet, shaking off their injuries, and raising their Keyblades as they charge forward, beams of sunlight shining upon each of them as they all take a leap at the Organization XVI, with their friends, the other heroes, including Roxas, Xion, Recon, Terra, Aqua and Ven, joining them from behind.)

Song ends.

On the outskirts of town, Sora, Goofy, Yui, Melty and Filo were gathered together by a nearby shop. Yui was getting along pretty well with the two similar looking-aged girls. Sora, meanwhile was testing out his new Galestrike move. As Donald explained, the new move was also used magic energy, but it turned his physical attack into a windy strike.

"This is awesome! Who knew there were new kinds of magic to work with like this!" Sora cheered.

"Yeah. I bet there are all other kinds of Elemental Strikes like that." Goofy noted.

"Hey. Do you think you are able to do that with your shield?" Sora questioned the captain of Mickey's knights.

"Gee, I don't know." He pondered, "I think I did try before, but I could never get it right."

Just then, the two heard Yui and Filo laugh at something, and turned to them. From what they noticed, Yui was getting along quite well with the pair of girls, possibly due to the similar age they appeared and acted.

"It's always nice when you get your daddy to spoil you." Yui stated, "And I love it when my mama takes us out on picnics. Her food is really good!"

"I don't have a mama. Raphtalia is more of an older sister to me." Filo explained, "Still, she tries to get all lovey-dovey with Master without me. I wanna be the one to get spoiled my Master! Don't you want the same, Mel?"

"Wha-!" Melty looked flushed in the face, then retorted, "Of course not! Why would I want that?!"

"That's being a little too selfish, Filo." Yui retorted, "I may want to get spoiled, but I don't want to get in the way of my mama and papa's time. Maybe Raphtalia and your daddy need the same thing."

"I really don't get it…" Filo muttered.

Just then, the group heard someone approaching, and saw Kirito and Donald arriving, with Donald munching on an apple. "Papa!" Yui greeted, as she and the others gathered around the pair.

"Donald, are you eating the food without us?!" Sora questioned.

"Aw, quit your whining, Sora. I only had one fruit." Donald retorted.

"And one of the sandwiches, when I wasn't looking." Kirito added, causing the duck to freeze up, "Still, we got plenty of food for everyone else. Here…" He handed the sandwiches and fruit to the group, minus Donald, and saving the last ones for Asuna.

"So, did you get any info on Naofumi's location?" Melty asked.

"Nothing too concrete. We do know he didn't go to Siltbelt." Kirito explained, "We do know that the news about the six of us haven't been recognized yet. But I've seen soldiers from the capital in town, and I bet it's only a matter of time before we're on a bunch of wanted posters." This didn't make Sora, Goofy or Yui's day by hearing that.

"It's so unfair for them to think we're the bad guys, when we're only trying to help them out." Sora grimaced.

"It is." Melty agreed, "As crown princess, I apologize for how you are treated. As soon as we reunite with the Shield Hero, I will do everything I can to clear all your names."

"Sure, but don't place all the duty onto yourself, Princess Melty." Kirito retorted, "It isn't healthy for someone your age to take up so much responsibility."

"That's rich, coming from you, Kirito." Asuna suddenly appeared from behind, startling the black swordsman, "After everything that you had to deal with back home, from Aincrad to Alfheim, and even GGO, you did place a lot of the pressure onto yourself. And weren't you only fourteen when it all started?"

"Hey, I was fourteen when I started my journey with the Keyblade." Sora pointed out.

"Give me a break. You're only one year older than me." Kirito muttered, rubbing the back of his head, before changing the subject to, "So how did it go on your end?"

"Actually, I got some interesting news." Asuna answered, snatching the bag containing her late breakfast from Kirito, "I overheard some soldiers. They say the reigning lord of the Reichnott Territory had recently been arrested for harboring the Shield Demon, and was taken to the Rabier Territory."

"I know the lord you speak of." Melty stated, shocked by the news, "Lord Van Reichnott is actually an acquaintance to my mother and I, as well as an avid supporter of Demi-humans. So of course he would support the Shield Hero and his party. But why would he be taken to Rabier? Unless…"

"Unless what?" Donald questioned her.

"Well, I have heard rumors of the lord of Rabier, and his abuse and hatred towards Demi-humans, as well as his support to the Three Heroes Church."

"That church again…" Sora muttered with concern. Of what they know so far from journeying with the other three heroes, the church worships the Spear Hero, Sword Hero, and Bow Hero, but resents the Shield Hero, considering anyone who praises his name to be heretics. And what's more, one of the Heartless they fought before dropped the rosario of that church.

"Do ya think that's where the Shield Hero might be?" Goofy asked Asuna.

"It's more than likely, because according to the soldiers, Heartless seem to be heading that way, too." The news startled the others around her, "They believe the Shield Demon is sending the Heartless to destroy the entire territory for their transactions!"

"Oh, no!" Sora and Yui gasped.

"Master would never do something like that!" Filo defended.

"Meaning it's just a way to make the Shield Hero more of the villain." Kirito stated, looking at everyone, "We have to stop things from getting worse. Let's make our way to Rabier!"

"But it is a long distance." Melty pointed out, "We won't make it by foot in time!"

The team paused, thinking on their options, before Filo stated, "If only I had my carriage, I could carry us there in no time."

"There's an idea." Goofy agreed.

"But there's no carts around here for us to get on." Yui pointed out.

Just then, they heard screams from somewhere down the road, followed by a male voice shouting, "Monsters!" They look to see a couple of travelers with horses fleeing from a scene. The group also noticed Soldier Heartless riding Choke-o-Break Heartless after them.

"Let's start with these ones!" Sora declared, the six heroes readying their weapons, drawing the attention of the enemy. Filo and Melty readied themselves, with Filo staying in human form, but pulling out gloves to fight with. The Heartless were a small group, so it didn't take too long. The only tricky part was that the Soldiers riding the Choke-o-Breaks were making them maneuver more accurately.

When they were done, they noticed that the people that were being chased by the Heartless had vanished. However, from where they saw where they came from, they noticed a lone carriage, without a steed to pull it.

"Look! A carriage!" Goofy pointed out.

"Seems like the Heartless scared off those guys from it." Kirito stated the obvious.

After a few second's pause, Donald gave a mischievous chuckle as he said, "I'm sure they won't mind if we 'borrowed' the carriage."

The others looked to him, then to the carriage. "I really don't like the idea of stealing someone else's property like this." Melty muttered.

"Makes you a better royal than that other princess." Kirito stated, "But if we're to make it to Rabier, we don't have a choice."

"Agreed. Let's just make sure we toss their stuff out before we use it." Asuna told the group, "We can't steal all of their possessions."

The group took a few minutes to gather all of the previous owner's belongings, and placed it near the house they waited by. Afterwards, Filo transformed into her bird form, or rather her Filolial Queen form, as Melty explained, and Kirito and Goofy hooked her up, before the latter sat on the driver's seat, while everyone else climbed into the back, and they took off along the road.

Getting to Rabier was not easy. With a checkpoint in the way, and the security on high alert, the group was rather cautious. It took some maneuvering throughout the place for the group to make it around the checkpoints, dealing with some Heartless groups, while they were at it. Afterward, the road was rather smooth sailing.

"Tell me, why are you helping the Shield Hero?" Melty asked after a long silent ride.

"You ask us this after everything we've done?" Kirito questioned her.

"I'm just curious on your motives, is all." Melty explained, "No ordinary adventurers would just decide to come to the aid of someone who is considered a demon to most of the country."

"He's a friend of your's right?" Sora asked, "We know you and Filo are good girls, and he's important to you. He and Raphtalia need to be saved, so we'll help you save them." Donald and Yui's backs were to Goofy as the two looked to each other, sharing a chuckle at the response.

"That seems way too simple of an answer!" Melty stated exasperatedly.

"True. But Sora's simplicity has led us right so many times." Kirito told her with a smirk, "He means well, and trusts complete strangers in a heartbeat if he believes them to be good people, and that sometimes gets him in things that are way over his head. That's why we're always here to help him out."

"Plus, it's not like we don't have our own motives." Asuna added, "If we do save those two, we can find the real puppeteer of darkness behind the scenes who's been controlling the Heartless. We just need you to trust us, Princess Melty. As well as you, Filo."

"Oh, I already trust you!" Filo answered, "I trusted you guys from the moment you saved Mel and me!"

Melty looked to the group, before sighing in slight relief as she answered, "Well, okay. As long as you swear you will save them."

"We do swear." Kirito assured her, with Sora and Asuna nodding to his answer. Melty averted her gaze, but smiled all the same.

After a few hours of traveling, the group finally made it to the Reichnott territory. The houses here were definitely made for those of a lesser class, but it still had thriving fields. They saw some people here and there, working in the fields or having fun. What made these people very different from others, however, was the addition of things like animal ears and tails to their human bodies.

"Are those Demi-humans?" Sora asked, peeking out to see them.

"Is that what we're suppose to look like?" Goofy questioned quietly.

'They remind me of Cait Sith from Alfheim Online.' Kirito mentally compared.

"If Naofumi and Raphtalia went along this path, they might have been making their way to see mother in Faubley." Melty assumed.

"You're mother is the queen, right?" Asuna asked the princess, "Just out of curiosity, why is the queen so far away from the kingdom?"

"She was originally part of a meeting between the other countries, involving what we should have done with the four Heroes." Melty explained, "However, when Melromarc summoned all four heroes by themselves, everything changed. The queen had to extinguish the flames of hatred the other countries had over Melromarc for such a rash action."

"So Melromarc wasn't suppose to summon all four Heroes?" Asuna asked.

"And why is she taking the job?" Kirito questioned, "Shouldn't it have been the king's job?"

"It seems you aren't aware that the kingdom of Melromarc is county based on matrilineal succession. As such, the queen has higher power over my father."

"Wow, so the king is really second in command, huh?" Kirito understood, "That means that the next in line to the throne is, without a doubt, between you and your sister. And if that other princess had her way, she would want to take the throne herself. That's why she would rather have you killed. But seeing her self-centered and spoiled attitude, she would throw this kingdom into absolute chaos."

"Kirito, would it kill you to have a little tact?" Asuna questioned her socially-inept boyfriend.

"No, he's right." Melty agreed, "Even my mother agrees that they spoiled Malty too much when she was little. I had to be the more matured one, and the one more fit to rule over her."

"Being a princess is a lot of work." Asuna understood, "But I'm sure you'll be able to lead this kingdom on the right path. We'll first make sure the Heartless aren't involved in this."

Melty looked outside again, then noticed something as they traveled through. "There don't seem to be that many Demi-humans as I thought. I wonder why that is?"

Goofy and Sora asked Filo to come to a halt at the sight of the nearest person, an elderly man who looked like he had a wolf tail and ears. "Excuse us! Can you tell us where everyone is?" Goofy asked.

"Didn't you hear?" The old man answered, then noticed, "Oh, you're travelers, I see. Well, most of the people around here went to Rabier to have their lord free Lord Reichnott. However, I am worried about them, as there have been sightings of those weird dark monsters nearby. Might wanna steer clear of that place."

"Thank you!" Sora answered, "We'll be on our way!" He then turned back to everyone inside the carriage. All of them had serious glares.

"Guess we have more than just Naofumi and Raphtalia to save." Kirito stated.

"They don't realize what danger they are in, right now!" Sora stated, "We have to save them!"

Filo puffed herself up, then made a dash that increased the speed and the joggling of the cart as she shouted, "Master! Raphtalia! We're coming to save you!"

"Easy! We don't wanna throw up before we get there!" Sora cried out as they flew.

After a while, in which night had fallen, the team made it the town of Rabier. They didn't go through the town itself, but went along the side, without the cart, as they made their way to the path to the mansion. Based on the large amount of Heartless about the place, it was clear that the mansion was where they were heading to. As for the citizens of Reichnott, they were fleeing for their lives as the Heartless started attacking the place, including the soldiers of the mansion, who were helpless against them.

"We gotta save them!" Sora told the group, and he wall-ran up the wall to make it up on top in order to fight off the Heartless. Kirito and Asuna followed him, followed by everyone else, with Melty riding on Filo's back as they leapt high up.

"Time to get serious." Asuna declared, "Soul Burst: Tifa Lockhart!" She hoisted her Keyblade into the air, as the image of Tifa herself appeared, before diving into her Keyblade, which transformed into her metal knuckles. She tugged on the sleeves, before getting into a fighter's stance, and unleashing her brawler style combat.

"I'll join in." Yui added, "Soul Burst: Second Form!" She summoned her Keyblade, which shined the image of her original self from SAO, before diving into her Keyblade. It burst into flames, turning into the large flaming blade she used once before.

Both girls went to town unleashing their attacks on the Heartless that were helpless to stop them. As for the closed doors, Yui was able to unleash an X with her blade, before Asuna kicked it into pieces, as they proceeded forward.

Asuna felt her fist suddenly become encased in water. She looked to it, and realized something. A couple of Bizarre Archer Heartless almost got the jump on her, but she shouted, "Aquastrike!" Unleashing a powerful punch encased with Water magic, knocking the Heartless right into another group.

Yui charged forward, unleashing slash after slash onto the Heartless, sending them flying before their eyes. Melty was flabbergasted at Yui's strength at this point, while Filo merely charged forward, too determined to save Naofumi and Raphtalia to be shocked. She used her quickstep skills to strike down Heartless that got in the way.

"How is Yui so strong?!" Melty asked.

"That's just how Asuna and I raised her." Kirito answered, "Honestly, she surprises us every day on how much better she gets."

Yui's Soul Burst finally ceased, not unleashing the Finalé in time. However, they were almost to the front gate, and Asuna charged forward, unleashing all she had onto the remaining Heartless, ending with her own final attack, Meteor Strike, grabbing the nearest Fat Body Heartless, carrying it up with her with ease, before slamming it down towards the remaining Heartless, destroying all of them.

Asuna landed onto the ground with her legs spread out and one hand holding her up. She looked up as her eyes suddenly shined. She gasped as she suddenly felt herself fading from the reality of her surroundings.

When she came to, she found herself standing in darkness. Looking down, she suddenly realized she was actually within her own Station of Awakening. She recognized the circular, stain glass-looking platform she was on, with a picture of herself, in her KoB uniform, fast asleep, with her Lambent Light in her hand. The pictures of Kirito, Yui, Sora and Aqua surrounded her, with the picture of the sun setting over the water, with doves on either side.

"I know this place." Asuna muttered, "Why am I here?"

"Because I wanted to see you." Said a voice. Asuna turned around in surprise, and saw none other than Tifa Lockhart standing there. She was a physically fit and well-endowed girl, and a couple years older than Asuna. Her eyes were brown, and she had long, straight black hair, with long bangs reaching her chest. She was wearing a leather suit like the one she wore in Radiant Garden when they first met; a white tank top under a black zip-up vest, exposing a bit of her midriff, black overhauled shorts which folded at the waist, forming a utility pocket in the front and a short waist cape going to her heels in the back. She had black and white-soled combat shoes, with black laces. She wore a ribbon on her upper-left arm, and wore the same gloves Asuna wore during her Soul Burst form.

"Tifa?!" Asuna gasped, "What…how are you doing this?"

"Your connection with me grows stronger every time you use my soul in combat." Tifa explained, smiling, "It's great that you and I get to meet like this."

"Yeah…" Asuna agreed, "Sorry. This is a little disorienting. Gretinal never explained this to me before, so forgive me."

"It's okay. Still, I am glad you and I are growing closer." Tifa stated, "I hope our bond grows stronger and stronger as time goes on. You and I can have these sorts of conversations to get to know one another better."

"I would like that, Tifa." Asuna agreed, "I mean, we never did have a proper girl talk time back in Radiant Garden."

"Huh?" Tifa questioned, "I don't remember meeting you before. What's Radiant Garden?"

"Wait, what?" Asuna was now more confused, "That's the world where we met one another. We were in Ansem's castle. You were searching for Cloud, if I remember correctly."

"I do know Cloud, but I don't know about any of that." Tifa stated, "I'm from the planet Gaia, and Cloud was a childhood friend of mine. We worked together with others to fight against the Shinra Corporation and Sephiroth."

"That's weird…" Asuna muttered, scratching her chin, "I mean, I do know about Sephiroth. He was a real danger to my friends and I a long time ago. Still, something really doesn't add up."

Suddenly, the area around them started to shine slowly. "Looks like our time is up." Tifa noticed, "Maybe as our bond grows stronger, we can find out the reason to our different stories."

"Yeah. I'll kick butt until I see you in my heart again." Asuna responded, as the area became so bright, she could barely see Tifa or anything else around her.

When she came to, she found herself standing upright as she looked at the front gate ahead of her. She looked around at the scene, as the others joined her side.

"You okay, Asuna?" Sora asked.

"Hm? Oh, yeah. I'm okay." She answered, "Anyways, let's keep moving."

Just then, the group heard the sounds of an explosion taking place from within the mansion. More specifically, they came from its' courtyard. "We'd better get a move-on!" Sora declared, "Who knows the damage that's going on in there!"

"Allow me!" Filo declared, and she made a dash to the front door, smashing through it with one talon kick. Everyone else raced along behind her as they made a mad dash to the courtyard.

Meanwhile, at the said courtyard, a group of Heartless, composed of Soldiers, Fat Bodies, and Bizarre Archers, surrounded an obelisk, where a small group of people was at, two of which were defending the others.

One was a young man with messy, spiky black hair, and green eyes. He had a metal chestplate, a thick leather armor underneath that, along with a black, long-sleeved, high-collared shirt. He had dark green pants with a black belt and a silver buckle, brown leather boots with white fur at the leggings, leather armor pieces with white fur trimming on his black gloves and upper legs. He also wore a green cape with white fur trimming that draped down to his ankles, fastened by a silver metal piece. On his right arm was a shield with a green jewel embedded into it.

The other person was a young lady, looking in her late teens. She was a Demi-human, with long brown hair, and bangs that went in levels, her longer bangs reaching her waist were fastened by gold hair bracelets. She had raccoon-like ears, and red eyes. She wore a red and dark brown combat skirt with puffy white long sleeves, a brown belt around her waist with a silver buckle, a red ribbon over her chest, and armor pieces covering her chest and right shoulder. Her fluffy brown tail was sticking out of a hole in her dress, which reached her knees. She wore long brown boots that reached her calves, with light brown flaps that inverted at the top. She had brown leather gloves, and silver metal cuffs on her wrists and upper arms, with the exception of her right wrist, which had a gold bracelet with a jewel embedded into it. She also carried a sword in her hands.

Standing behind them was a gentle-faced young man with black hair, and attire that fit a nobleman, though he was rather battered and bruised, like he was being tortured. He was carrying a bundled-up bag in his hands.

Another was a worn-down Demi-human boy, barely strong enough to keep himself up on his feet, with gray hair, dog-like ears and tail, and ragged clothing fit for a slave. There were a couple others like him, also wearing rags.

Standing behind the Heartless was a chubby nobleman with blonde hair, a pencil-thin mustache and a whip.

"That's it. We have them cornered." The chubby man snickered, holding up a familiar rosario on a silver necklace in his free hand, "Kill the Shield Demon and his party. End the existence of that sorry excuse of a nobleman as well!"

The shield-user, being Naofumi, growled as he looked to all the enemies. The girl, Raphtalia, couldn't help but glare daggers at the nobleman. For her, she resented this man with every bit of her being.

"I don't see an exiting point here." Naofumi muttered, "Damn it! If we just went and found Filo before this…"

"Master!" "Raphtalia!" A couple of young voices surprised the pair. The chubby nobleman turned to see the bird Filo with Melty on her back, as well as the six allies they gained surrounding them, getting into fighter's stance.

"Filo!" Naofumi gasped, shocked.

"Filo! And Princess Melty!" Raphtalia recognized them, relieved to see them alright.

"The princess?!" The nobleman exclaimed.

"Lord Idol Rabier." Melty addressed the chubby nobleman, hopping off of Filo's back, "Just what do you think you are doing?!"

"My dear princess, it is good to see you are alive and safe." The nobleman, Idol, greeted with a sneering grin, "I am merely ending the life of the Shield Demon and those who side with him. My pets and I will take care of him shortly."

"The Shield Hero has done nothing wrong! He never kidnapped me!" Melty argued, "These monsters are the real problem!"

"On the contrary, they are the solution." Idol retorted, holding his rosario up, "Demons they may look, but us followers of the Three Heroes' Church are allowed to use them to vanquish the Demon of the Shield and his heretic followers. If you choose to side with him, then you will be killed by them just the same."

Melty looked scared at his demented grin, until Sora patted her shoulder, causing her to look up to see his determined face as he answered, "We won't let that happen. Not to you, to Filo, or your friends!" Sora led the charge as the six heroes came at the charging Heartless.

"Who are they?" The boy asked Raphtalia, watching the six new faces as they took on the monsters.

"I don't know." She answered, looking to the Shield Hero as he asked, "Master Naofumi?"

"I'm just as clueless as you are." He answered, looking to see them take out the monsters one by one, "But they are fighting off the monsters, and were with Filo and Melty. Now the real question is if they are trustworthy."

Sora unleashed a Gale Strike, taking out a Fat Body, before seeing a couple of Bizarre Archers firing arrows at Naofumi's group. "Look out!" He called out, racing towards them. Naofumi saw it and raised his shield, repelling the shots with ease. A Soldier came along and tried to attack him, only for Raphtalia and Sora to arrive at the same time to slash the monster into pieces.

"Hey, you guys okay?" Sora asked them.

"Yes, thanks to your arrival." Raphtalia answered.

"Cool." Sora looked to Naofumi as he greeted, "I'm Sora. My friends and I came with Melty and Filo to save you."

"Really?" The raccoon girl asked, while Naofumi gave a suspicious glare at Sora. However with the swarm of Heartless about to come down on them, they didn't have time for a meet and greet. They instead had to focus on fighting off the swarm. "Can you please help protect Keel, Van and the others?" Raphtalia asked Sora, glaring at Idol. She took off in a flash.

"Hey, wait!" Sora cried out, but it was too late. Raphtalia was making her charge towards the pig nobleman, who saw her coming. She was slashing all the Heartless that got in her path, though got stopped by a Choke-o-Break with a Soldier on its' back. Idol snickered as the Heartless launched its' head at Raphtalia with its elongated neck, striking her in the gut and making her fly.

"Raphtalia!" Naofumi shouted, as Goofy joined his and Sora's side.

Asuna raced to her and caught her before she fell on her back. "You okay?"

"Y-Yeah…" She answered, recovering herself out of Asuna's hands.

"Keep focus on the Heartless." She told her, "We can get to that man afterwards, okay?"

"Yeah…" she replied.

Kirito, Yui and Donald made sure to stay close to Melty, while Filo was making her way over to Asuna and Raphtalia. "There's still a whole ton of them to get through." Kirito grimaced.

"Hey, why don't the three of us unleash an attack together?" Donald suggested.

"You mean like how you, mama and Goofy did on Mount Olympus?" Yui asked, recalling the Trinity Guard technique.

"Worth a shot." Kirito replied, "let's do it!"

Kirito and Yui placed a hand on Donald's shoulder each, while Donald flipped his staff upside down, stabbing the head into the ground. Kirito and Yui grasped the handle of the staff, while Donald held it with both, channeling their magic into the staff, making it glow a golden aura and grow to twice its length, causing the trio to be lifted off the ground, with Kirito and Yui holding onto Donald and the staff.

They began using Donald's staff like a pogo stick, bouncing up and down around the field of battle, causing magical shockwaves with every bounce, which knocked Heartless back. The shockwaves magically also didn't harm the heroes, who were amazed at the new three-team attack, known as Trinity Bounce.

In their last bounce, Donald, Yui and Kirito made one last huge bound, releasing their grip of the staff as they did a midair flip together, before grasping the staff with three pairs of hands, and slamming the staff into the ground, creating a wide area explosion of magic sparks that struck any remaining Heartless, destroying them.

Idol was now backed into the corner. In all the commotion, he found himself with his back to the obelisk, while everyone was surrounding the fat nobleman. Raphtalia stood in the front, her sword in her hand, her tail fluffed out in rage, and her eyes shadowed as she made her way towards Idol.

"Back off, you miserable Demi-human!" He barked, cracking his whip at her, striking her leg. It didn't seem to faze her.

"Raphtalia!" Filo cried out, but Naofumi raised his hand to block her from going forward. Sora looked to him, then to Raphtalia. She continued her calm walk towards him, who struck her again and again with the whip. It did not faze her, even as one strike cut her cheek. She instead slashed the whip out of Idol's hand, spun around, and stabbed him in the shoulder. He squealed in pain from this as he fell to the floor.

"Spare my life! Have mercy on me!" Idol blubbered in a panic, fearing the Demi-human before him.

"So many Demi-humans begged to you in the exact same way." Raphtalia retorted, glaring at him with tears falling from her eyes, "But it wasn't enough! Even my best friend, Rifana…you killed her without hesitation, in that underground prison of yours!"

Suddenly, Idol eyes' suddenly lit up, realizing something. "You…you were one of my enslaved villagers! You were one of them?!"

Raphtalia pulled her sword from his shoulder, causing him more pain. She raised it high, about to strike down upon him. However, a hand grasped her weapon arm, stopping her. Raphtalia looked, realizing it wasn't her master, but Kirito, who stopped her from making the final blow.

"What are you doing?" She questioned him, struggling to break free from his grasp, "This man committed so many atrocities! I could never forgive this man!"

"I'm not saying you should." Kirito argued, "But killing him isn't the answer. I can't imagine how you feel, but I know what it feels like to hate someone from torturing a person in front of you, even ones I loved. He will be justified for his actions, but not by sinking ourselves to his level. It won't revive your friend, and it won't bring you closure. Let him wallow and atone for his actions, but not like this."

Raphtalia looked to Kirito's expression. His face told her all; He had dealt with his own rage against others. Something about him almost reminded her of Naofumi. He has been hurt, he had hated, but he knew what was clearly the right thing to do despite of all of it. She chose not to struggle anymore against Kirito's grip. Sensing the intent to kill disappear from her, Kirito released his grip, and she lowered her blade away from Idol.

As Naofumi watched the scene, several things went through his mind. One was that Kirito was absolutely right. Death was too good for this nobleman. However, his mind also questioned what the motives were behind this. Did they not want him killed because of what they said, or because they were trying to protect the nobleman? They may have brought Filo and Melty back to them safely, but were they really on their side?

As everyone's gaze was upon Kirito and Raphtalia, the grimaces of Idol drew their attention back to him as he pushed himself up with his back to the obelisk behind him. "You damn Demi-humans, nor any of you scum, should be allowed to live after today! I will make sure of that!"

He turned to the obelisk and raised his rosario high, chanting, "I ask for the power to bring judgement upon that demon!" The obelisk started to glow with blue sparks. A large, yellow magic circle appeared on the ground. Everyone backed off as they felt the intense magical energy.

"What are you doing?!" Reichnott exclaimed, drawing the attention of the heroes to him, "That stone monument is a seal that was made by the heroes of the past to lock away a monster too powerful for them to destroy!"

The magic seal faded away, as the ground around the obelisk suddenly broke apart. Idol turned to the group as he declared, "I should have used this from the start! I shall cleanse the world of you! The Shield Demon, the Demi-humans, and all the heretics! I shall use the power of the ancient demon sealed within to remove the impurities of this world!"

Something rose out of the ground. From their viewpoint, they saw it was a massive, T-Rex-looking monster, with jagged teeth, a large horn on its snout, stubby arms, feet slightly larger than bird Filo, black spikes going down the spine of its back, and a lizard-like tail, with bumps on it that pulsed with a sort of electrical energy. It was a sickly dark green and brown, with yellow lines around where the appendages met the body. Its' spiral yellow eyes, along with a familiar emblem on its' chest, told the six otherworlders the truth about this monster.

"A Heartless?!" Sora gasped.

"It was sealed here?!" Kirito questioned.

Yui analyzed the monster with her device, before answering, "It's called the Tyrantragon! It's large size and thick skin has made it tough to take down, even as it barrels through almost anything without flinching! What's more, its relentlessness is even stronger than its skin!"

"That doesn't sound good." Kirito understood, as the Heartless roared at the group.

"Now, go!" Idol ordered the beast, "If I can take down the Shield Demon, I shall be eternally bless by God!" As he cackled, the Heartless glared at the group as it raised one foot, and slammed it down upon Idol, killing him without even the slightest thought. It looked as if it didn't even notice him there from the start.

"What do we do now?!" Donald squawked in a panic.

"If that thing runs amock, who knows what kind of damage it will do!" Melty stated.

"Yeah. This mansion is already in the middle of town." Asuna added, "We can't have it harm the citizens!"

"This isn't right!" Melty muttered, looking to the feet of the monster, where Idol had been crushed, "He was the lord of this domain, and he released the seal just to get at Naofumi?!"

"What else is new?" The Shield Hero scoffed, looking to the others, "We have to find a way to draw its attention and fast!" As he said this, the Tyrantragon opened its jaws wide, and nearly chomped onto the group. They all avoided the straight-up attack, and kept their distance.

"We'd better split up on this one!" Kirito told the group, looking to Naofumi, "You take your party and get out of here! We'll draw its' attention to us!"

"You sure?" The Shield Hero asked, "It looks pretty tough."

"We're just gonna lead it out of town, so we can fight it without causing harm to the citizens." Kirito stated.

Naofumi still wasn't sure about them, but Melty assured him, "It's okay, Naofumi. These people saved Filo and I from another monster like it. We can trust them."

"I can take these children away from here, and join my people." Reichnott added, indicating the slaves.

Raphtalia looked worried as she looked to the young Demi-human named Keel, who was still very weak. "It's okay, Raphtalia." He assured her, "You go. You're with the Shield Hero's party, after all."

After a moment's pause, the raccoon girl nodded as she said, "Right. I'll leave him in your care, Van Reichnott."

"Leave it to me. I will keep them safe." He replied, taking the slaves and Keel with him.

Naofumi, Raphtalia and Melty hopped onto Filo's back as the Shield Hero ordered, "Let's get moving!"

"Ready!" Filo answered, and she took off into town, trying to flee the monster.

"Okay…" Sora was satisfied to see everyone else make their escape, "Now we have to-." Suddenly, the Tyrantragon barreled right through the remaining six heroes, who avoided getting crushed by the feet of the monster. It had started pursuing Filo and the other, breaking through the mansion wall into town as it did so.

"Hey, come back here!" Donald shouted.

"It's going after them?!" Sora questioned.

"And here I thought our Keyblades would attract it." Kirito muttered.

"It must've been the nobleman!" Goofy assumed, "It did order it to kill Naofumi and the Demi-humans."

"Meaning it is targeting them!" Yui understood.

"We have to go after that monster before it causes more trouble!" Kirito declared, and they ran off after the Heartless, leaping through a hole it created in pursuit of it.

As they raced into the town, they saw the Heartless stop in an open plaza, open its' mouth, and unleash a large ball of electric energy at Filo and her passengers, who were hopping from rooftop to rooftop. Naofumi saw it coming, and got Filo to leap away from the attack, barely avoiding it as it damaged the house.

"If we don't do something about it, it'll destroy the town AND Naofumi's team!" Yui exclaimed.

Kirito examined the beast, seeing the electric bumps on its tail. "There! I bet destroying those bumps will weaken it." Kirito assumed, "Let's target those!"

"That's as good of a plan as any." Donald answered.

"Let's go!" Sora declared, charging in at the Tyrantragon. He unleashed a slam onto one of the bumps, drawing slight attention from the Heartless. It was further distracted when all the others struck the bumps along its tail. To get them away, it spun itself around, striking the group away to have them keep their distance.

It turned and readied itself to fire off another giant lightning ball. It shot it into the air, arcing itself towards Naofumi's party, who barely avoided the main blast. Thanks to the Shield Hero himself, they managed to avoid the shocking, though the shockwaves nearly threw them off course, almost throwing Melty off of Filo's back, had it not been for Raphtalia catching her.

"Leave them alone!" Sora shouted, switching to his Kingdom Key Keyblade, and pointing at the electric swells, "Shotlock: Ragnarok!" He fired a volley of light salvos, striking the swells in a peppering of attacks. The Tyrantragon roared, ceasing its' next attack.

"That distracted it." Kirito stated, "Let's keep attacking those swells! Soul Burst: Cloud Strife!" He summoned the soul of the said spiky-haired swordsman, transforming his Keyblade into the Buster Sword. He then hammered the sword down onto the swell that was being targeted the most. It suddenly exploded in an electrical burst, causing Kirito to be flung back, and the Heartless to roar in pain. He then flipped and skidded to a halt, noticing that the swell had now vanished, leaving black vapor to seep out of the spot.

"That did it!" Kirito declared.

"I see four more of them bumps on it!" Goofy counted.

"Then let's destroy all four of them!" Asuna declared, "Everyone, let's go!"

"Yeah!" Donald squawked in declaration, before they all charged in.

While the Tyrantragon was not looking at them, it was aware of the group fighting behind them. It swung with its tail, whether he did a spin to sweep them away, or even pounded the tail to the ground to create a shockwave. It even summoned up thunder balls from its' swells, which homed in on the heroes.

After the second swell was destroyed, the Heartless unleashed another thunder ball from his mouth, firing at Naofumi's party, who were near the edge of the city. Fortunately, the thunder ball was smaller, and it didn't travel as far, though it did cause damage to the town. Frustrated, the Heartless looked like it was ready to make a move, as it was sort of bouncing its' legs up and down, ready to leap up.

"It's gonna jump!" Donald noticed.

The others realized what it was gonna do; it wanted to get closer to get a clearer shot at Naofumi's group. Kirito and Asuna dashed forward, and struck both of its' legs with their swords, trying to stop it. It didn't seem enough, though.

"I got it!" Kirito shouted, unleashing his Soul Finalé, Meteorain, unleashing a storm of small meteors via magic down onto the pair of feet, causing enough damage for it to topple over, collapsing to its' side.

The moment Kirito landed to the ground, his eyes glowed, and his mind suddenly faded from existence.

Next thing he knew, he was standing on his own Station of Awakening, the circular, stain glass-like floor underneath him, which was mostly black and dark blue, with his full figure upon it, on one side, in his SAO uniform, fast asleep. The faces of Asuna, Yui, Sora, and Leafa were all near his own face, and the picture of Aincrad glowing in the dark sky was underneath.

"Why am I here?" Kirito asked, looking about the place, "What's going on?"

"Hey." Kirito suddenly noticed someone in front of him. He easily recognized him as Cloud Strife, the soul he was just using. He looked like how he did back in Hollow Bastion; He was lean, yet muscular, with spiky blonde hair. He wore a sleeveless, dark indigo shirt with a high collar, black baggy pants with silver buckles, and black combat boots with silver zippers. He had a thick black cloth that draped down from his waist to cover his left leg, with straps holding it up that crossed his chest. He had a black pauldron on his right shoulder, which had a silver wolf badge on it, a black detached sleeve going down his right arm, black bands on both lower arms and gloves. On his back was the Buster Sword.

"Cloud." Kirito greeted, "Long time, no see."

Cloud stood there, his arms crossed, and his eyes closed as he answered, "Sorry, but you must have me mistaken for someone else. This is our first time meeting."

Kirito looked confused as he asked, "What do you mean? You and I met before in Hollow Bastion, didn't we?"

"Sorry. Never heard of it." Cloud answered, looking up at him, "The first time I've met you was here. For some reason, I seem to know you name, and that you have been using my power."

"Is…that a problem?" Kirito asked, confused about the whole situation.

"I'm a SOLDIER. We're made to fight, and it's what I have been doing all my life. I have no problem, especially since I can't fight for you."

"Right…" Kirito understood, "Well, I do know you. However, I can feel that you're…different from the Cloud I know."

"How so?" Cloud asked.

"I'm not really sure." Kirito answered, "It…sort of like your being gives off a different vibe. The Cloud I knew was searching for another guy. Someone named Sephiroth. Know him?"

Cloud unfurled his arms as he looked a bit interested, saying, "I know him. He's…" But before he could finish this, the area started to brighten up slowly. They looked about as Cloud stated, "I guess I can tell you next time, when we meet again."

"Hold on!" Kirito answered, about to reach out to him. However, everything turned white, and his mind faded once more.

Next thing he knew, he was standing right in the exact spot, in the exact time where he left off.

"Let's target his tail, now!" Sora declared, charging to the said body part.

"Kirito, let's go!" Asuna called out.

"R-Right!" Kirito responded, seeing Goofy and Yui pass him, before moving with Donald as they went towards the swells on the tail, reverting back to normal state as they continued. Their combined effort managed to destroy two more of its' swell, with only one more to go.

The Tyrantragon got back up onto its' feet again, finally turning to face the group. It roared in rage of how they kept interfering. "We finally got its' undivided attention!" Asuna stated.

"We still need to take care of the last swell!" Kirito pointed out.

The Tyrantragon bent itself down, and opened its' jaws wide, charging up a thunder ball within. However, this time, it was aiming for the six of them.

"This doesn't look good!" Sora exclaimed.

"What do we do?!" Yui cried.

"I know what to do, guys!" Goofy declared, "Throw me at 'em!"

"Brilliant!" Sora answered, joining his partner's side, unleashing their combined attack, Goofy Bombardier, with Goofy pushing himself and Sora into the air, before Sora tossing Goofy straight down at the upper jaw of the monster, the impact forcing it shut, and for the thunder ball in its' mouth causing an internal backlash, which made it collapse to the ground.

"Nice one!" Asuna cheered as she, Kirito and Yui all charged towards the tail of the monster, aiming for the last swell.

"Now it's our turn!" Kirito declared, as the other three unleashed Fire, Blizzard, and Whirlwind spells at the swell. Kirito then charged up his magic into his Keyblade, leapt up at it, and brought down a Flamestrike onto it. The burning shockwaves from his Elemental strike shot upwards, as the last swell exploded in an electrical burst, counteracting the force of Kirito's attack. The two discharges canceled one another, leaving Kirito standing on top of the tail.

"We did it!" Donald cheered.

"It's not over yet!" Asuna warned him. Sure enough, the Heartless rose to its' feet again, throwing off Kirito with a swipe of his tail. He tumbled along the ground, but flipped midway through onto his feet and skidded to a halt. All six heroes were surrounding the Heartless, who straightened itself out, before roaring at the group, scaring Donald and Yui in the process.

"This guy is tough!" Asuna stated.

Sora looked about the place, before telling the group, "We can't stay here! The city will be in danger if we fight it here!"

"Good point!" Kirito understood, "Let's make a run for it!" He quickly wall-ran up to the rooftops, waiting as Asuna and Sora joined him.

"Soul Burst: Yuna!" Yui cried out, transforming her Keyblade into a summoning staff, before summoning out Valefor onto the battlefield. She had Donald and Goofy climb aboard, before Valefor took off just as the Tyrantragon tried to chomp down on top of them. Donald and Goofy panicked as they held on for dear life.

"Let's head out of here!" Sora declared, running along the rooftop, with Kirito and Asuna at his side, while the other three flew high above. The Heartless roared at them, before pounding the building with its' body, breaking it apart. He was gonna pursue them with everything it had.

Within ten minutes after this moment, Naofumi's party had recently arrived at a lake in the middle of a forest, catching their breath after dealing with all the monsters.

"Okay, mind telling us who those guys were?" Naofumi asked Filo and Melty.

"Yeah, and where were you guys? We hadn't seen you since that attack separated us!" Raphtalia added.

"We got captured by a monster, but Sora, Kirito, Asuna and their friends all saved our lives." Melty explained.

"They even helped us get away from that mean princess and those other dumb heroes!" Filo added.

"They did?" Raphtalia responded, looking a bit surprised.

"Wait, were you saying they were there with the other heroes and that bitchy princess?" Naofumi questioned them, looking suspicious.

"Yes…" Melty answered, starting to realize what Naofumi really meant. He was really wondering whether they were actually with those guys or not.

Just then, the group heard a roar, along with the sound of trees toppling over at an alarming rate. Something large was coming their way. They looked to the forest that they had gone through, and heard the sounds of panicked screaming. In a few seconds, Kirito, Asuna and Sora all shot out of the forest, with Yui flying overhead with Donald and Goofy. They came to a halt when they saw the group.

"Guys!" Sora exclaimed.

"Oh, no…" Kirito grimaced.

"Are you okay?" Filo asked, as Yui landed onto the ground, dropping Donald and Goofy off of Valefor.

"We are. But…" Asuna started, only for the trees to break apart to reveal the Tyrantragon appearing out of the forest, roaring at them. "We might've accidentally drawn the Heartless over to you guys without realizing where any of us were really going." Asuna finished, looking up at it.

"I'm sure you didn't." Naofumi sarcastically stated, feeling they led it here on purpose.

"At least we got it out of town." Goofy pointed out.

"Right. Now we can finish it off!" Kirito declared, just as it roared and stomped the ground, creating a shockwave around it. This caused the group to split up to avoid the attack, with mixtures of the six heroes and Naofumi's party divided amongst the field.

"Keep yourselves in pairs! Support each other in this fight!" Asuna ordered everyone, as she found herself near Raphtalia, adding, "You okay with me?"

"Sure." She answered, looking to Naofumi, who had Sora close to him, while Donald and Melty were close to each other, that they chose to team up. This also left Kirito with Goofy, and Filo with Yui, who used a Soul Recovery to replenish her Soul Burst longevity, ready to keep fighting with Valefor. With their pairings set, they charged forward at the Tyrantragon.

Now that it was an open field instead of a town square, the Heartless had a lot more room to move. Not to mention it was paying attention to everyone, and not just Naofumi's party. The biggest problem, however, was the toughness of its' body. No matter what they did, nor how much damage they unleashed, the beast didn't flinch, nor show any signs that their attacks were doing a heck of a lot. Instead, it swiped with its tail, chomped ferociously at the group, stomped with its feet or hammered with its tail to create shockwaves, and unleashed minor thunder balls from its' mouth, though they were no longer as strong as they were before.

Meanwhile, everyone else was doing their best in fighting as pairs. Kirito and Goofy were focusing on the melee on their end, while Asuna and Raphtalia were using their speed to deal quick strike on their side. Donald and Melty were unleashing magic from a distance, and Yui and Filo were more focused on aerial techniques. As for Sora and Naofumi, they were the least coordinated, though it was mostly due to Naofumi's slight distrust in the six that were aiding them.

Even so, the Shield Hero's capabilities were amazing, with strong defense, and abilities such as the Air Strike Shield, which produced an energy shield he could use as both defense, or even offense by sending it at the Heartless. He even used it as a platform, as he used for Filo and Sora.

Yui and Valefor pushed Filo off in the air for her to hammer beak-first into the head of the Heartless, before Yui ordered Valefor to unleash her Soul Finalé, Energy Nova, creating a magic circle, before blasting down a powerful ray of energy. The attack looked like it finally caused a reaction to the Heartless, who roared in pain.

"Yes!" Yui cheered, only for her to suddenly feel something, as she felt herself fade from the reality of the battle.

When she next appeared, she was standing in the middle of the black area, on top of her own Station of Awakening. It was pink and white, with a picture of her in her simple white dress, curled up and fast asleep. There were dew-drop tears and flowers patterning on the exterior rings of the Station of Awakening. Picture of Asuna, Kirito, and Sora's faces were near her own face on the picture. Underneath her figure was a picture of the log cabin in the woods in Aincrad.

"What…is this place?" She asked, looking about. She had never experienced being within a Station of Awakening before, so she wasn't sure what this place really was.

"Hello, Yui." Greeted a young lady's voice. Yui turned at the voice, seeing the young lady before her. She looked somewhere between her mid to late teens, with shoulder-length brunette hair, and heterochromia eyes; meaning her left eye was blue, while her right was green.

Her attire was very similar to what Yui wore back when she first started fighting alongside everyone else. She wore a white sash that wrapped around her chest and neck, with a black camisole underneath. She wore an obi with flora pattens, a large knot in the back, and a decorative obidome to clinch the cords. She had on a long, purple pleated, flower-patterned skirt that reached her ankles, black boots, detached kimono-like sleeves that went from white to pink, held by purple cords at the upper arms. She also wore a long earring on her right ear, which mostly consisted of blue beads, a silver necklace with a hibiscus flower, a silver ring on her middle finger on her left hand, and a pair of bracelets on her right wrist.

"Hello?" Yui greeted, "Who are you?"

"Oh…right. I guess we never introduced ourselves to one another." The young lady realized, "My name is Yuna. I'm the soul you made a pact with."

"Oh, so you're Yuna?!" Yui realized, recalling the same person she met in Radiant Garden long ago, "But…the last time I remembered you, you were so small, like a pixie, like me."

"Huh?" Yuna looked confused, "I don't remember meeting before, and I know I have never been small like that."

"Hmm…" Yui paused to think about it, then realized, "Oh, yeah. Mistress Gretinal did say something about how you were part of a different life of the one I met before. So maybe that explains why you don't remember."

"That is rather confusing." Yuna pointed out.

"It is hard to wrap my head around." Yui admitted, "But it is still nice to finally meet you, Ms. Yuna."

"Please, just call me Yuna." The summoner giggled, "I'm amazed, though. You are so young and kind, I can't help but feel bad for someone of your age to be fighting so much."

"It is something I chose to do." Yui agreed, "I want to help my mama and papa any way I can. I don't want to be just standing on the sidelines when I know I can do more to help them, along with everyone else."

Yuna looked down, smiling as she stated, "I can understand that feeling. I, too, wished to help others in their time of need. That was why I went on my pilgrimage a long time ago, choosing to help everyone in my world, and knowing the sacrifice I was gonna have to make at the end of it."

"Sacrifice?" Yui echoed.

Before this conversation could continue, the area started to become brighter. "It seems our time is up, for now." Yuna understood.

"For now?" Yui asked, "Hold on! What's happening?!"

"Our conversation will continue in the near future, when you further our bond." Yuna told her, "I hope you and I see each other again." And with that, everything was white.

Yui suddenly found herself back in reality once more, still on Valefor…for the first second. However, before she got her head back in the game again, her Soul Burst was used up, and she reverted back to normal, her steed disappearing underneath her. She panicked as she fell to the ground, only to be caught by Filo, who followed her flight through with a kick to the Tyrantragon's head. They bounced off the head of the beast, before landing onto the ground.

"You okay, Yui?" Filo asked.

"Yes, I am." She answered, "I just had a rather strange experience."

"Heads up!" Naofumi shouted, as Kirito and Goofy saw the Heartless swing its tail towards the four of them. Kirito leapt upwards, along with Yui and Filo, while Goofy tried to block the attack, only to get sent flying in pain.

"Goofy!" Sora cried out, seeing him fall to the ground, dazed from the attack.

"We can't seem to do anything to this Heartless!" Asuna grimaced, as she and Raphtalia tried to slash the dinosaur-like beast, only for the attack not to do any damage.

"What else can we do?!" Donald asked.

"I've got no choice…" Naofumi growled, "I have to use my Rage Shield!"

"Huh?" Sora questioned, watching him as he prepared his shield in front of him, before growling with anger, preparing himself as his shield suddenly transformed in dark flames, right before their eyes, into an ominous-looking kite shield, which was dark silver, with red shapes that looked like raging flames around and a red gem in the middle.

The moment he wielded this shield, rage pulsated from him. Sora could feel it, and did not like the feel of it at all. "What going on with him?!" Donald questioned.

"Oh, no…" Raphtalia saw him in that form.

"What is that?!" Asuna questioned.

"That's the Rage Shield." Raphtalia answered, "Master Naofumi has used that shield a few times, and while it is powerful, it has almost sent him into an uncontrollable rage!"

"I bet that's the shield those other heroes mentioned." Kirito understood.

"Hey, are you okay?" Sora asked, approaching Naofumi.

"Stay back!" He snapped at Sora, who looked startled. The Shield Hero glared daggers at Sora. His distrust in them was amplified thanks to the Rage Shield's emotional effect.

Sora looked concerned, as did Donald and Melty near him. However, Sora didn't waver as he stated, "I get you don't trust us, just yet. But that doesn't mean I won't stop from helping. We're here to help, and that's it."

Naofumi's gaze on Sora was less villainous, and more surprised for a moment. Then suddenly, he felt his shield was starting to act weird. All of a sudden, it's dark energy suddenly seeped out in black and red streams, and enveloped Sora in a spherical form, surprising them. Everyone watched as Sora looked at it, feeling the rage starting to grow stronger and stronger, until the darkness entered into him, and his body stiffened as he roared and bursted with dark energy, taking on a new form. His entire body was black, the aura of darkness emanating off of him. He had red eyes, and flaming white patterns on his pants, coat, and hood. He held his Keyblade aloft in his right hand.

Naofumi was shocked, especially when he noticed his Rage Shield had suddenly reverted to his normal Legendary Shield once more. He looked to see Sora charged forward at the Tyrantragon, who saw him coming and chomped at him. He came in with an uppercut slash with not his Keyblade, but his hand, unleashing a dark energy from it. The attack did not cancel out Tyrantragon's attack, and Sora got knocked back. However, he flipped to his feet very quickly, teleporting towards the head of the Heartless, and unleashing fast slashes from his Keyblade and hands, unleashing one attack after another.

"What's going on with Sora?!" Filo asked.

"I don't know completely, but it seems like Sora's underwent a dark form." Yui explained.

"It has happened before. Sora tried to get stronger by using his Drive Form, but ended up losing control in doing so, and entered into an Anti-form." Asuna continued.

"An Anti-form?" Raphtalia echoed, looking confused and scared at Sora.

"But this looks different." Kirito analyzed, seeing Sora move fiercely about the Heartless, who tried to strike him with a shockwave from his feet, only for Sora to block with a dark aura, "He doesn't have the Drive Forms anymore, and the power seem to come from Naofumi's Rage Shield, too. This form of darkness is not an Anti-Form, but maybe…a Rage Form?"

"My shield caused him to be this way?" Naofumi asked, still startled at what came about.

Sora leapt up to avoid another shockwave, and summoned up a red crystal, which started to circle around his body, though it did weaken him. He charged forward, and slammed his Keyblade down at the ground at the feet of the Heartless, summoning up a pillar of darkness. The Tyrantragon responded with a jump that caused a shockwave that sent Sora flying. He looked worn out, and was on the brink of being defeated, while the Heartless was still strong and barely any different from when they started the fight.

"Shouldn't we stop him?!" Melty asked, "He looks like he's out of control!"

"I don't know how!" Donald responded. Kirito and Asuna also thought hard on what to do to help him.

"I can stop him, and the beast…" a young female voice spoke up, surprising everyone in the field. They looked around as a mist started to form around them. However, from the mist, the group could feel an intense amount of magic energy. Something was coming.

Raphtalia's ears perked up, as did Goofy's, who had now recovered. "Somethin's coming." Goofy pointed out.

"It's coming from the forest!" Raphtalia pointed out, looking to the said forest.

Suddenly, from the forest, came a multitude of what looked like long-legged birds, which looked like smaller, skinnier versions of Filo. They started to come out one after another, forming a wide circle around the field where everyone stood.

"It's a bunch of filolials!" Melty realized, while Donald looked about the place.

The Tyrantragon was glaring at Sora, who stood in between it and Naofumi, ready to fight, but holding himself steady as he looked about. From the looks of it, Sora did seem to have a good amount of control in this form, though it was hard to tell.

"What the hell is this?" Naofumi asked, as everyone from all other sides of the battlefield joined him, Melty and Donald. He looked down at his shield, trying to do something, but based on his expression, it wasn't working. "I can't access my Rage Shield."

"Please do not resort to that power." The female voice spoke up again.

"Who's saying that?" Kirito asked.

"Look! In the water!" Yui exclaimed, pointing to the lake behind them. They looked around, and saw something large was rising out of the water. Then, in one tremendous bound, the being that rose out flew over them, landing on the ground to the side of where everyone stood. They were all startled at the sight of someone that looked like a filolial like Filo, though way, WAY larger than she. She had blue and yellow plumage amongst the pure white feathers she had.

"Woah!" Almost all of them gasped at the sight of the massive bird.

"No way! It's the filolial queen!" Melty exclaimed.

"That's the queen?!" Asuna questioned in shock.

The filolial queen raised her wing to the group, saying, "Stand back. I shall handle this beast. But first…" She looked down to Sora, who was staring up at her with his red eyes. She raised her wings up, summoning a magic circle. Suddenly, the magic circle shrank and flew above Sora, before descending down his body to the ground. All at once, Sora's Rage Form vanished, reverting back to normal. He looked at himself, panting from exhaustion at using that form.

"She…removed the darkness from Sora!" Kirito realized.

"But how?!" Asuna asked.

The filolial queen looked from Sora to the Tyrantragon. "Now, as for you…" She then suddenly vanished, moving so fast, she created a sonic boom that nearly blew everyone off their feet. She then reappeared right on the other side of the Tyrantragon, who stood there for a moment, before collapsing to the ground, fading into a dark mist. In one fell swoop, it was effortlessly defeated.

"She took that Heartless out…like it was nothing!" Yui stated, everyone shocked, amazed or just plain petrified at what had happened.

The giant bird turned to the group, particularly at Naofumi, as she asked, "I take it you are the Shield Hero."

"That's right…" Naofumi answered, hesitantly.

"Just a moment. I shall speak to all of you in a more suitable form." She told them, folding her wings. She shined a blue glow, as her entire body shrunk down to a humanoid form. She unfurled her wings, which were like those of an angel at this point, to reveal her appearance.

She looked as young as Melty or Yui, with silver hair with streaks of light blue, styled in a medium-length bob cut, and three golden cowlicks on top. Her eyes were soft, with a red hue. Her dress was a very elegant and frilly gothic-lolita style, mainly white, with pink and magenta hues, gold and magenta straps holding it on her shoulders, and a deep magenta ribbon on her chest. Her boots were silk-like, white, with pink trimmings.

"Allow me to introduce myself." She greeted the group, "I am the queen of all filolials. My name is Fitoria." The group seemed just at awe with the appearance of such a young yet powerful character.

After the introduction between Fitoria, Naofumi's party, and Team Keybladers, they boarded a royal carriage, which teleported them to what looked like the remains of a ruined city, taken over by the forest. According to Fitoria, it was a city formerly protected by the previous generation of heroes, and it was a place prohibited by anyone else other than filolials to enter.

As they all exited the carriages and looked about, Fitoria looked to Sora, Kirito and Asuna as she pointed out, "I am rather surprised, though. It has been a very long time since I've seen the Heartless appear in this world, or wielders of that weapon appear to stop them."

This bit of news surprised the trio, as well as the other three, as Sora asked, "You know about the Keyblade? And you've met others who used them?!"

Fitoria looked down for a moment, before answering, "It has been a very long time since I have met one. I believe that person was around the same time as when the previous heroes were here. That person appeared out of nowhere, Keyblade at hand, as they stopped the Heartless from spreading. They even assisted in sealing away that draconic Heartless."

"I see…" Kirito understood. From what he assumed, and based on their experience, that Heartless was far too powerful for them to handle back then, and was almost too powerful to deal with now, had it not been for the filolial queen.

"So was this Keyblade wielder a hero?" Melty asked.

"I'm not entirely sure, but I would assume so." Fitoria answered, "The power that person wielded was unlike any of this world. I could only assume they were from a world beyond this one, and were granted the power of a legendary weapon, like all other heroes."

"Seriously?" Naofumi questioned in surprise, looking to the six allies he made, "Does that mean you guys are not from this world, either?"

"Um…" "Well…" Asuna and Sora looked hesitant, looking to the others, who weren't entirely sure. Telling others about other worlds was strictly prohibited, as it could cause an unbalance in the world's order. However, since people did come from other worlds, and were natives here, this caused a bit of a dilemma on whether it was okay or not to tell the truth. They did need to gain their trust, especially since Naofumi was not one that could take lying well.

Whether this was fortunate timing, or misfortune, their conversation was interrupted by a group of monsters appearing around them. However, they were not Heartless, but…

"Nobodies!" Goofy exclaimed, as the six readied their weapons.

"But how?" Fitoria questioned, looking about.

"Dusks, Creepers, and Berserkers!" Yui analyzed.

Kirito looked to the Berserkers, recognizing them, along who usually was around when they appeared, and stated, "He's here…" he looked to the Shield Hero and his party as he ordered, "Naofumi, you and your party stay back! Everyone, let's go!"

The six heroes went to work handling the Nobodies, which were abundant. The group was already worn from fighting so much since the mansion, so dealing with the tricky Nobodies was a bit harder than usual. Still, they persevered as best as they could, overcoming the Nobodies. Naofumi basically was on defense for Raphtalia, Filo and Melty, while Fitoria effortlessly defeated any Nobodies that even dared to try to attack her. Within moments, the area was clear.

Once things were done, Naofumi looked to Fitoria and stated, "Hey, I thought this place was forbidden by outsiders!"

"It is. However, those monsters were of a species I have never seen before." She answered.

"Well, I know who sent them." Kirito responded, looking around, "Saïx! I know you're out there! Show yourself!"

Suddenly, a Corridor of Darkness opened up in front of the group, and out came the very man Kirito called out. He looked the same as ever, with the exception of one thing; yellow eyes, exactly like Xehanort's. He, too, was another of his vessels.

"You seem to be aware of all the signs of my presence, Kirito." Saïx told the black swordsman.

"After our last encounter, I made sure to get all the signs memorized." Kirito stated, pointing to his temple, "Just following through with words from someone we both know." He did know the man's connection to Axel.

Saïx closed his eyes and huffed, deciding to use his statement as he retorted, "Then you should memorize your duty, as a Guardian of Light. For as I can see, you are doing the complete opposite of what should be done."

"What's that suppose to mean?!" Donald demanded.

Fitoria stepped up as she declared, "These grounds are not for you to be present on. I demand that you leave at once."

"Apologies, your majesty." Saïx responded, "I am only here to seek out the one who is responsible for the darkness consuming this land." He looked to Naofumi at this statement, who glared back without hesitation.

"Naofumi is not the one causing the Heartless to attack people around here!" Asuna barked at him, "Why are you causing everyone to believe he is responsible?!"

"Because the Heartless are responding to his rage and detest at this kingdom." Saïx pointed out, "The darkness in his heart is deep, and his hatred towards this world is strong. And yet, you choose to protect him, rather than stopping him."

"Hey, I may hate this damn kingdom, especially the trash king and bitch princess, but I didn't ask for those damn monster to attack it!" Naofumi argued, "I didn't even know about them until recently, and they have been attacking me and my party just as much as anyone else, so why are you singling me out!"

"He's right!" Sora agreed, "Naofumi's a great guy. I can tell because of what Filo and Melty say about him. How could someone who cares for his friends like that truly be the one causing all of this?"

"And yet, you tasted first-hand the rage in his heart, Sora." Saïx pointed out, causing Sora to stop and think about the moment he entered his Rage Form, "That kind of darkness consuming his heart will only get stronger in a world that detests his existence. You claim yourselves as Guardians of Light, and yet you choose to protect this boy and his darkness. If that is not irony, then I don't know what is."

"Master Naofumi has be unjustly accused of so many things, but he has done so much good for so many people, as well!" Raphtalia defended, "He saved my life, taught me how to fight, and helped me learn to protect others, and be a sword for him when he needs it. Yes, he may have rage in his heart, but I will stand by his side, all the same, burdening the rage he has, because I know he's a good person!"

"Absolutely! I will always stay by Master's side, as well!" Filo added.

"And I shall defend his name until he is cleared of these false accusations." Melty finished.

Naofumi looked to his party, pleased at all the defense he was getting. He then heard Kirito speak up as he stated, "Darkness is not just used by those of evil intentions. Sometimes, darkness is used to protect the light. I have seen people do just that, and are able to control the darkness within them, without letting it consume them. I bet on my life that Naofumi is exactly that kind of person. He is not the villain here."

"So you say a wielder of darkness can defend the light." Saïx stated, "Then tell me, Guardians of Light, should a wielder of light choose to use its' power to protect the darkness, would you extinguish that light?"

"What are you trying to say?" Asuna questioned him.

Saïx chuckled as he opened up another Corridor of Darkness, finishing up with, "I only am curious if you decide whether you believe all light is needed to be defended, just as all darkness needs to be destroyed. Think about what your role is." He walked into the Corridor, and disappeared from sight, along with the darkness, leaving them alone.

"Who was that guy?" Naofumi asked, approaching the six.

"Someone who's part of a group that we fight against." Kirito explained, "He's also the one making everyone believe you're responsible for the Heartless, even making us accomplices to you."

"Really?" Naofumi asked, looking at the spot where he left. He paused for a moment, then he said, "Well, I guess that really means you guys are not with that bitch princess and those three idiot heroes."

"You know, calling the princess that is a bit harsh…" Sora stated, looking a bit disturbed by the word 'bitch'.

"Just calling her like she is." Naofumi stated without any remorse.

"You'll have to forgive Sora. He's not use to hearing such foul language." Asuna apologized.

"Nor us." Goofy admitted, indicating himself and Donald.

Suddenly, a pair of stomachs growled. Filo and Yui both held their stomachs as the latter stated, "I'm getting hungry."

"Perhaps you should rest here for a little while." Fitoria told them.

"Good idea. This evening went on forever!" Sora grimaced, stretching his arms.

"As long as no more Heartless or Nobodies appear, we should be good." Kirito stated.

"Then let's make something to eat." Naofumi suggested.

"Sure, I can help." Asuna told him, getting excitable cheers from Donald, Yui and Sora.

For a while, the group went to search and gather ingredients for a stew. Asuna basically became the head chef, guiding everyone in making the stew right. Raphtalia and Donald gathered up firewood to make a fire. Goofy, Yui and Melty found a well to get some water. Kirito, Sora and Filo were able to search for the ingredients. This left Naofumi helping Asuna with chopping up the ingredients, making sure they were good for the stew.

While making the food was easy, the big challenge ended up being when filolials started to gather. And based on their expressions, they looked really hungry. While Naofumi was against it, at first, Asuna decided that it was okay for them, since Kirito, Sora and Filo did bring back a lot more ingredients than what they needed for their group. Fortunately, the birds were smart enough to find more ingredients and large pots for them to use.

As Naofumi, Donald and Goofy helped serve the filolials, Kirito brought Sora, Asuna and Yui towards the interior of one of the ruined buildings, wishing to speak about something.

"What's up, Kirito?" Asuna asked as soon as they were out of earshot of the others.

"I actually wanted to make contact with Gretinal about something." Kirito stated, "During the fight against the Tyrantragon in town, I ended up having a weird experience when using my Soul Burst. Somehow, time just ended up stopping as I suddenly found myself within my own heart, speaking to Cloud's soul."

"Actually, the same was for me, as well." Asuna admitted, "I had that same experience on the bridge towards the mansion, where I ended up speaking to Tifa within my heart."

"I had the same experience, too. With Yuna." Yui added.

"You guys…spoke to their souls within you?" Sora asked.

"Yeah, that's why I want to speak to Gretinal about what had happened." Kirito stated, pulling out the communication crystal ball. However, before he could start, the orb glowed within his hands, and the hologram of Gretinal herself appeared before them.

"There's no need to ask. I already heard what you experienced." She told the group.

"Seriously?!" Asuna asked.

"Now I feel like you're just stalking us." Kirito stated in a bemused tone.

"I am only keeping tabs on your mission from time to time. This was one of those times." Gretinal innocently stated. Her statement didn't draw away the suspicions of the group, so she cleared her throat as she continued, "Anyways, about what you experienced, you may consider it a gift you gain from bonding with your Soul Pacts."

"A gift?" Asuna echoed.

"Yes. You see, while you gain the power of the souls to made pacts with, you are able to gain further power by using the souls, and bonding with them further."

"Yeah. Philia told us about that." Yui recalled, "There was powers we gain from using Soul Burst enough times, like Advance Burst and Soul Armament."

"Right. However, there's more to it than the power." Gretinal pointed out, "Soul Pacts do contain the powers of the people they came from. However, they are still souls, and do contain the memories and feelings of their previous owners. In other words, they are fragments of their hearts. So when your bond with the soul reaches a certain level, you are able to interact with them for a moment."

"Now I see." Asuna understood, "So what we experienced was the result of using our Soul Bursts with them a lot."

"Yes, but there's more." Gretinal continued, "When your bond with the soul reaches its maximum potential, you are freely able to interact with them any time you wish."

"Really?" Yui asked in awe.

"That's cool!" Sora exclaimed, "I'm pretty jealous."

"That sounds rather awkward, having a literal voice in your head that you speak with." Kirito muttered.

"No worries. You only can interact with them if you allow it." Gretinal assure him.

"Wait a minute." Asuna realized something, "Kirito and I already have our bond with Lightning and Snow at maximum potential. Does that mean we can speak with them?"

"You can. Call to them in your heart, and you can speak with their Soul Pacts." Gretinal instructed them.

Kirito and Asuna looked to each other, nodded in understanding, and closed their eyes, concentrating. Suddenly, both of them felt themselves fade from reality, as they both ended up on their own Stations of Awakening.

Asuna looked up, and saw Lightning standing there, looking the same as she did in Resolute Oasis. "It really worked!" Asuna gasped.

"It's about time we meet like this." Lightning told her, "I am quite surprised this can happen, but here we are."

Meanwhile, Kirito had the same reaction as Asuna, seeing Snow in front of him, as he greeted, "Yo, Kirito. Guess you can literally call this a bit of heart-to-heart with me."

"Yeah, that's true." Kirito admitted, "Man, this is pretty weird. I mean, I am speaking to you within me. I wonder how this is possible, or how much you remember."

"It was when I helped you awaken my soul within you." Lightning answered Asuna, who asked the same question, "Whatever my heart was like at the point of reawakening had now been transferred into the soul."

"In other words, your soul is basically updated with all the memories and feelings of what you were in Resolute Oasis." Asuna assumed.

"Exactly." Lightning answered.

"So basically, you and I can speak about anything that happened between then and now." Snow told Kirito, "Or if you need any sage advice from me, I'll lend you my support."

"Thanks. Well, at least that's something I can ask for if I need it." Kirito responded, "At least deep down, I know I have more than the people connected to my heart within me. I literally have the souls of others to help me forward."

"You got it!" Snow answered with bravado.

"In that case, if I need some help, I can ask you, or anyone else who's Soul Pact I fully connect with." Asuna told Lightning, "I should definitely create as many deep connections as I possibly can."

"With a power like this, it would be useful." Lightning told her. Asuna nodded in response, closed her eyes, and left the Station of Awakening.

The black and white Keyblade wielders reawakened in the presence, having just come back from meeting the two. "Did it work?" Sora asked.

"Yeah. I actually got to speak to Snow in my heart." Kirito explained.

"The same for me with Lightning." Asuna added, looking about, "Did any time pass?"

"Only a few seconds." Yui stated.

"Man, you guys are so lucky." Sora grimaced, "If I could do that, I would so like to speak to Roxas, right now. If he's still in my heart, I would like to at least speak to him again."

"You will." Gretinal assured him, "It will take time, and you still have to regain your Power of Waking once more. In the meantime, do what you can in the present, with the people around you. May your heart be your guiding key."

The phrase that the group heard a few times since the start of this journey rung in their minds and hearts, and they nodded in understanding. "Thank you, Gretinal." Kirito told the Master, "We'll keep in touch if we need any more explanations." Gretinal bowed in response, and her holographic image disappeared.

"We'd best head back to the others." Asuna told the group, looking to see Naofumi argue with a couple of filolials who were trying to get in front of one another to eat.

"Agreed. Let's help out." Yui stated, and they raced back out to help their friends.

Moments later, as the fire continued to go, the group had just finished feeding all the filolials. Fitoria was sitting far up on one of the ruined buildings. The rest of the group was enjoying their meals, with Donald, Filo and Melty chatting it up, the latter two enjoying watching the filolials interest in the anthropomorphic duck. Meanwhile, Goofy was gathering up dishes near where Yui, Raphtalia and Asuna were at.

"I can't thank you enough for saving Master Naofumi and I, along with Filo and Melty." Raphtalia thanked the two.

"It wasn't a problem." Asuna responded, "We were just glad we came at the right time."

"Speaking of, how are you feeling?" Yui asked, "You were very distressed back at the mansion."

Raphtalia looked a bit hesitant at her question, looking down at her empty dish as she answered, "I'll be fine. I just hope Keel and the others are doing okay."

"I'm sure they'll be fine." Asuna assured her, patting her shoulder, "They had the entire village there to save their lord. I'm sure they are being protected and taken care of."

"Right…" Raphtalia muttered, thinking on what happened back then.

Asuna paused, wondering if the question she wanted to ask was gonna hurt her. Still, she took a chance, and asked, "So, about that Idol guy. Were you a slave to him?"

"When I was little, yes." She answered, "My parents died during one of the Waves of Catastrophe. After that, knights of Melromarc came to my village and kidnapped all the children, including me, and were placed into slavery. Idol purchased many of my friends and I, and tortured us for his pleasure. In the end, I saw my best friend, Rifana, die due to the torture and illness. I never thought I could ever find hope again, even as they sold me away from there, and off to a slave merchant.

"That's awful…" Asuna said sympathetically, "How long ago was that?"

"Actually, it was not that long ago." She answered, "I am actually over ten years old."

"Really? You look a lot older than that." Yui pointed out.

"Yeah. I mean, you look around my age." Asuna told her.

"Demi-humans actually age differently. We grow up in relation to what our level is." Raphtalia explained, "And all that leveling was thanks to Master Naofumi, who bought me from the slave merchant. He needed someone to help him fight, since he could only use a shield, and had no one else to turn to. He was rough, but he helped me gain the strength to fight. He fed me, healed me when I was ill, gave me a place to stay. I am very grateful for everything he's done for me. That is why I vow to be his sword, and to stand by his side, always."

She was looking to Naofumi at this time, who was speaking with Kirito and Sora, and he was actually starting to warm up to them a little. The admiration and happiness she showed on her expression was easily readable by Asuna, who smiled gently at her as she assumed, "So I take it you really like Naofumi, don't you?"

Realizing what she meant, Raphtalia blushed as she looked back at her, answering, "Well…I mean, I do like him a lot. He still treats me like a kid, but I do want to see me as the woman I have become. He's just…there's still a lot to take care of before I can do that."

"Still, I can definitely see you two together." Asuna pointed out, giving a slight cheeky grin, "And you definitely have charms and looks. I bet you'd just have to be a bit more forward with him on your feelings."

"Well…" Raphtalia now looked more embarrassed that the topic went along this path.

"Hey, maybe you should kiss Naofumi." Yui suggested, getting shocked looks from both girls.

"Y-Yui, that's a little TOO forward!" Asuna retorted.

"Besides, that's something I shouldn't do!" Raphtalia added, "I mean…if I kiss him, I'll get pregnant."

Asuna and Yui both looked to her, the former incredulously. "Really?" Yui asked, "That doesn't seem right. I mean, mama and papa kiss a lot, and they haven't made a little sister for me."

"Y-Yui!" Asuna squealed, finding the subject embarrassing and completely wrong at this time.

"Wait…are you saying that's NOT how you get pregnant?" Raphtalia asked Asuna.

"Well…I mean…" this was the last thing Asuna ever expected to speak at ANY point in this adventure, let alone to a person she had only became friends with. Not to mention that Yui was now involved in this rather uncomfortable conversation, as well.

"I am rather curious now." Yui stated, "Mama, where do babies come from?"

"I…well…" Asuna was grasping in her mind at how to phrase this to both of these young ladies, "I mean, kissing is involved, but there's more than that. There are certain other…things…that two people who love another do in order to have a child."

"What kind of things?" Raphtalia asked, nudging closer to her.

"Have you and papa ever done it?" Yui asked, also closing in on Asuna, pinning her between the two curious girls.

"W-Wait, hold on!" Asuna was flustered beyond belief, "I…it's rather embarrassing to talk about!"

"Why is that? Isn't giving birth to life important for the survival of people?" Yui asked, "It is an important subject to speak about."

"Th-That's true, but…" She noticed Goofy passing by, and cried out, "Goofy, help me out here!"

"Huh?" Goofy looked at them curiously, "What seems to be the problem?"

"We were only curious about how someone gets pregnant." Raphtalia explained, "But Asuna won't give us a straight answer."

"Do you know where babies come from?" Yui asked Goofy.

Goofy looked a little surprised, but he calmed himself and took on a more adult persona as he answered, "Now Yui, that's somethin' you shouldn't know about just yet. You're too young to have this kind of a discussion."

"Y-Yes, exactly!" Asuna saw an escape Goofy presented, "Yui, you're still a child, and this conversation is something you shouldn't have at your age. And Raphtalia, I don't think I'm the right person to give you a straight answer. I'm sorry."

"I understand. So there's an age limit to when someone is allowed to learn on how to give birth to life." Yui understood.

"I guess it is a rather embarrassing thing to speak about." Raphtalia understood, "Sorry for pressing into you like that, Asuna."

"I-It's fine, as long as you don't bring it up again." Asuna answered, taking a deep sigh of relief. That entire scenario wore her down more than any fight she had to deal with that evening.

Meanwhile, the three boys couldn't help but watch from a distance the ordeal Asuna was having, though they couldn't hear what the discussion was about. "I wonder what caused Asuna to get so beet red like that?" Sora asked.

"Probably something we shouldn't ask about." Kirito answered, "But it seems to me like Goofy helped save her sanity."

Naofumi watched as Asuna got more comfortable again, and continued to discuss more happy things with Raphtalia. "I should probably thank you guys for helping us all this time." He told the two boys, "Filo and Melty told me on how you saved them, and you also saved Raphtalia and I from a tight situation, as well."

"Hey, we're just glad we could help out." Sora answered.

"Still…" Naofumi interrupted him, and they could see the serious glare he was giving the pair, "I do have a lot of questions for you guys. For one, about what I asked back before those white monsters appeared. If what Fitoria said is true, does this mean you guys are from another world?"

"Uh…" Sora looked very hesitant, unsure of whether to answer or not. However, it was Kirito who answered before him.

"We are." He answered, getting a shocked look by Sora, "Although, it's best you don't tell anyone else. We're actually not suppose to tell anyone to preserve the world order. But considering you and those other heroes were transported here from other worlds, it's probably okay for you to know. Plus, we don't want to lie, considering we already heard you can't take deception well."

Naofumi huffed a chuckle as he stated, "And people say I'm too straight-forward. Still, at least you're honest. Now for my next question; Why the hell were you guys with that bitch princess and those other heroes?"

"We were trying to find out who was causing the Heartless to attack people." Sora explained, "We knew they were being controlled by someone. And since everyone in the kingdom believed it was you…"

"…You basically got tricked by them, and thought I was controlling them." Naofumi answered, frowning at them.

"To be fair, we could tell Malty was not someone to be trusted." Kirito admitted, "She was rather potent with darkness, and those three heroes were rather easily fooled by her, especially Motoyasu."

"Yeah. She's the whole reason why everyone hates my guts." Naofumi stated.

"You mean about how they claimed you sexually assaulted her?" Kirito recalled, "I bet that was a lie, as well."

"I didn't." Naofumi answered sternly, "She practically made my life hell since that day. That trash king and those idiots believed her lies, and now I'm hated by the whole kingdom and made out as a demon because of what she did. I bet she might've been the one really controlling those Heartless."

"I don't think so." Sora stated looking to Kirito, "You guys did say she was bad, but not that capable of controlling the Heartless."

"Yeah. As a matter of fact, after what Saïx said, I believe the one really controlling them is hidden in plain sight, using the light to blind everyone into believing you are the villain."

"You talking about the Three Heroes Church?" Naofumi asked.

"Considering one of the Heartless dropped one of the church's rosario, not to mention how Idol was also carrying one, and had some slight control over the Heartless, I'm willing to bet they are involved."

Just then, someone appeared behind the trio, and they looked to see Fitoria had suddenly approached the three. "Shield Hero. I wish to speak with you in private." She addressed him, then to the other two, "I would also like if the two of you would come with me, as well."

"Us?" Sora asked.

Moment's later, the three boys found themselves outside of the campsite, with Fitoria walking along one of the ruined walls, her arms spread out to balance herself. "Tell me, why was that Heartless released from its seal?" She questioned the group.

"It's all because of some nobleman who wanted to kill Naofumi and the rest of us." Kirito answered.

"Yeah. That guy, the kingdom, and the other three heroes all want to get rid of me." Naofumi stated, "They branded me as a demon and a criminal, even though those other three heroes are messing up a lot more than I am. Hell, I'm the one who has to clean up their messes, and they still blame me for all their problems."

Fitoria leapt down in front of them, giving an exasperated sigh as she muttered, "Honestly, you should all be ashamed. To think the four Cardinal Heroes are squabbling amongst themselves when the next Wave is nearing us."

"Give me a break. They're the ones who started it." Naofumi argued.

"Regardless of how the kingdom and its' people treat you, the heroes shouldn't fight amongst themselves." She turned to the trio, looking at Naofumi as she stated, "You have to work together. That way, you can challenge the Waves of Catastrophe all around the world."

"Wait, what?" Naofumi seemed surprised at this, "Are you saying the Waves don't just target Melromarc?"

"No." She answered, "The four kingdoms should each have summoned a hero. Whenever the Waves appear, each hero must defend their own country."

"That's news to me." Naofumi stated, very surprised, "I've never heard of this before."

"So basically, Melromarc ended up summoning the four heroes themselves instead of sharing amongst the other kingdoms?" Kirito understood, "They're basically hogging all the power themselves, only caring about their own kingdom rather than any other."

"Then, maybe we can go help them out!" Sora suggested, "Were a large group, so we can go and-."

"No. Your group are not responsible for this world and its natural order." Fitoria shut him down, "Your job is only to deal with the Heartless and those who threaten the balance of this world. It is up to the four Cardinal Heroes to deal with the Waves of Catastrophe." Sora did look a bit let down at this, but understood that he probably shouldn't step in when it wasn't his job to begin with.

"If you're asking me to just suddenly get along with those other three heroes, then you can forget it." Naofumi told the filolial queen, "They don't want to work with me. They can't stand me, especially because of what this kingdom duped them into believing such lies."

"Regardless of what the kingdom says, the four heroes must work together." Fitoria repeated, "That is crucial in protecting our world."

"That's gonna be an impossible task." Naofumi told her.

There was a moment's silence. However, there was a certain feeling in the air that got all three boys' attention. A threatening aura was coming off of Fitoria as her eyes showed coldness towards Naofumi's decision. She looked at him as she said, "Then I have no choice then. If you cannot get along with each other, then I must eliminate all four Cardinal Heroes."

Leaving this final message, she walked away from the three, leaving them shaken a bit at the bloodlust she had just shown. She was serious about this. And after what she did to the Tyrantragon, they knew she was more than capable of doing the job.

'Apart from what she said just now, I know she means well.' Kirito told himself, 'Even so, that is a difficult task, especially when the real puppet master of the Heartless is pulling the strings within the shadows made by their light, and causing misled beliefs and chaos within this kingdom.'

'What Gretinal warned us before was right.' Sora recalled the final words she told them before they came to this world: 'This world will test on your trust in others, and how you sense the darkness in others'. 'There is so much distrust and resentment, both from the other heroes and Naofumi, that even helping them get along seems really tough. I know there has to be a way for them to get along with each other. I know we can do something!'

Next Time on Sword Art Kingdom III:

Darkness Within Light! Challenge of Trust!