Well, here it is: Phoenix Wings, Guardian Twin's sequel. Before we begin this story, however, there are a few things you should know:

First, this is a sequel, so it's recommended that you read Guardian Twin before you read this story…if, that is, you haven't already done so. Second, this story will contain A LOT of spoilers for Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance. Third, any word that is bolded inside the context of the story signals a time and/or point of view change. Finally, this story, like all of my other series, will be updated weekly.

So, that's all I have to say. I hope you enjoy the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or Disney. I do, however, own Guardian Twin and my OC's.

Chapter One: Rebirth

Lea's eyes widened as the Keyblades Oathkeeper and Oblivion slid up his arm and connected with his chest. They were drawn sharply apart, knocking his breath from him and sending him flying through the air. He hardly had time to catch his breath before he collided with the ground, the impact momentarily stunning him, though he mercifully kept his hand clenched around his remaining Chakram. He heard the voice of Roxas saying, "You're done. I have no reason to destroy you."

He felt anger and despair pulse through him as the footsteps of his long - time opponent neared him. His fingers clenched tighter around his Chakram's handle as Roxas went past him, fighting off the overwhelming sense of helplessness. He lifted himself to his hands and knees, vision blurring as he stared at the retreating back of his enemy. His hand clenched tighter still around his weapon, pain lancing through his fingers at the tight grip. "Fool," he muttered, then lunged forward.

He'd drawn his weapon back, ready to impale the Nobody with it, when he felt a sharp pain pierce his back. The intense pain burned through him, and he let out an agonized scream, his lunge cut short as he skidded to a stop. Roxas whipped back around and gave Lea a wide - eyed look as he stood there, his screaming stopped but his mouth still gaping open from the shock. The pain pulsated through him, and he fell to his knees, unable to hold himself up any longer, his Chakram slipping from his loosened grip in the same instant. He felt the weight of the weapon imbedded in his back, and knew immediately what it was, and who had attacked: Axel. He knew it…as sure as he knew he was going to die. "Well…I guess he decided to finish me…after all." The pain began to disappear, slowly being replaced by a welcome numbness. He lifted his head, a smirk on his face. His vision was littered with spots of darkness that he couldn't blink away. When he found the energy to speak, it sounded like it came from some other person, a long way off. "…You weren't bluffing, were you? About the second chance?" He thought he saw Roxas shake his head, eyes stretched wide. He let out a choked laugh, wishing his throat didn't feel like it was closing up. It was Ok, though, he supposed; the numbness would soon take it away. "Figures."

He hardly heard the word that came from his own mouth, and his vision was soon completely obscured by the dark spots that had swarmed it before. He felt himself begin to fall, but was lost in a warm light before he ever hit the ground.

Lea's emerald eyes blinked open slowly. Where am I? he wondered. He looked around him slowly, taking in the vast expanse of empty white and the feeling of warmth that surrounded him. He snorted, a grim smile on his face. So, then…is this where I go to die? Funny, after all I've done, I didn't imagine it'd be someplace so warm.

You aren't dead yet, Lea.

The voice caused the former Heartless to tense, his dimmed senses suddenly waking back up. "Who's there?" he called aloud. "What do you mean?"

Exactly what I said; you aren't dead yet.

Lea shook his head. "That's impossible; Axel killed me. Or weren't you watching?" Inwardly, he laughed at himself. I'm arguing with a voice in my head.

But you were still a Heartless at the time, and Heartless do not truly die.

Lea reeled back at the comment, and the voice, obviously sensing it wasn't going to get any more of a response, continued:

When a Heartless or Nobody is destroyed, they wait in limbo until their other half comes along too. Then they reform into the original being.

Lea snorted. "So, I'm going to be 'whole' again, am I? Is that it?"

…Do you want a second chance?

Lea felt another thrill of shock at the question. "What?" he stammered, unable to come up with a more intelligent answer.

Do you want to rise from the ashes of your defeat, and become more than a pawn? Do you want to redeem the mistakes of your past with the Time Racers?

Lea stared into empty space, his emerald eyes wide as he thought over the time he'd spent as Zylen's puppet, and how, towards the end, he'd begun to wish he could be something different. "Yeah," he admitted, "but it's not that easy to change."

Are you willing to give it a chance?

He thought about this for a few moments. Would he be willing to try again? He wasn't sure; after all, it seemed better in this existence than it did in reality. A part of him, however, realized this was not the afterlife, but only a stage of waiting; there would be no Heaven for him, he believed, if he didn't make amends. He lifted his head, eyes suddenly filled with a new light. "Fine. I'll take the chance."

He expected the voice that had been speaking to him prior to reach him. Instead, he heard a different voice. "You promised us, right? That no matter how many times we left, you'd always be there to bring us back."

Lea stiffened. That's Roxas!

Then another voice responded. "Aha. Yeah." Lea's eyes grew wide. That's my…! Then he realized who's voice it really was. No…that's Axel's voice. He wondered what his Nobody was doing, and if he knew what would soon happen to the two of them. It's going to be odd, being whole again.

Then the whiteness around him flared, becoming unbearably bright. Lea closed his eyes and tried to shield them with his hands, but it seemed as if the light could pierce through anything. It filled his body, and suddenly he felt an intense pain run through him. He screamed out. What the hell? Is it supposed to be this bad?

He felt another presence nearby, and realized Axel was nearing him. All at once he felt their two existences collide, beginning to merge with each other. As memories poured into his mind, Lea felt a sense of disorientation and confusion. Who was he? Which memories were his? Was he Lea, or was he…Axel? Instinctively, he pushed back against the overwhelming torrent and the confusion of identities.

Then it seemed as if the world shattered around him. The light faded, and suddenly he was falling into darkness.

Where am I…what happened to me?

These were the first thoughts running through his head as he slowly pushed himself up, his vision slowly coming into focus as the pain slowly receded from his body. A blurred memory flashed through his head, and inadvertently he cried out a name, "Roxas!" He'd been fighting him, hadn't he? …Or had he been talking to him…?

Slowly he stood, testing his legs to make sure they didn't give out beneath him, and, when they didn't, allowed his gaze to travel over the area he was in. "I'm…?" Was he…home? Back in Radiant Garden?

Then his gaze traveled over towards four other bodies lying prostrate nearby. "Dilan…Aeleus…Even…Ienzo…" Why were they there, as their Somebodies?

Then his gaze shifted and he saw was his reflection in a pane of glass. Looking at it, he felt a momentary shock. He stalked forward, staring intently into the reflective surface and looking at the face that stared back out at him. Slowly, he reached up and touched the area beneath his eyes. No tear drop marks were visible. "…I see. I'm back to normal."

Even though he wore an Organization coat, there were no marks…which meant he was Lea, and not Axel.

Right…?

"So, this is Time Castle?"

The figure who had uttered these words looked up at the crumbling ramparts from beneath the shadows of his hood. "A place that has been permanently frozen in time; how fitting that a time traveler is the first to set foot on it."

He looked down, leveling his gaze towards the entrance. He wasn't here for enjoyment; he had a specific task to fulfill. "Now, all I have to do…is find the Keyblade that rests within."

The traveler, however, did not know that he was not the first to be there; that he'd been beaten by an entire group of people with temporal powers.

He didn't know that the Keyblade he sought had been taken by their leader between times.

And that's the end of the first chapter. Any thoughts for me? Feel free to leave a review!