If the worlds ended

Summary: The Continuation of the FemSora universe. After receiving diligent training from Phil and Hercules, Sora sets out to recover her lost strength. In her journey she discovers many things about herself, and of the hearts connected to hers.

Author's Note: Since this will be the final Fem-Sora fic, that I've planned so far anyway, I'm thinking of going all out and doing chapters for every world. I really want to give some in-depth scenes and have some ideas for in between canon moments. If you, my readers, want me to skip a certain world, or feel the story flow is dragging too long please let me know and I'll change things up. I did take a few liberties, changing lines here and there in a way I think would better the story. Last but not least, scene suggestions and requests are encouraged as I like to please my readers.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End

Young Xehanort stood atop the high and rocky pedestal that served as the Organizations new gathering site. As his companions and other selves conversed amongst each other, he let his mind wander back to his own time… and to the girl he'd left there.

~Scala ad Caelum: The Past~

Two students, a young Xehanort and his best friend Eraqa, duked each other out in a friendly game that involved twenty pieces. Each piece represented either a guardian of light, or a denizen of darkness. It was a popular game amongst children their age, based off of a story that had been passed down and was retold in various fashions.

Eraqa had played the game before, knew the rules, but had been unaware of its connection until now. She shifted her next piece into play and tucked a loose strand of black hair from her face.

"You really like this game, don't you Xeha?"

"It passes the time." He told her and captured her piece, replacing it with his. "The Master says we have to give ourselves time away from practice, and this is the next best thing."

"Aren't you a sheltered boy?" She teased and placed her next move.

"I'm hardly sheltered…" With a flick of his wrist he moved his piece and shrugged the thought off. His gaze drifted up as she went silent. He watched those liquid steel eyes of hers shift across the board, gathering quick intel before making another move. Xehanort liked the elegant way her fingers danced over her pieces before she decided which one to use. She was, to his mind, the perfect depiction of a graceful keyblade wielder. Strong, yet kind, so full of light, life, and compassion. Her heart was an open book, but her mind sly and cunning. She often caught him off guard, and was full of surprises.

Their fingers brushed together briefly as he reached for his next piece. He watched her eyes snap up to him, just for a moment, her cheeks flushed and heart open.

Anyone could tell that she loved him.

"Eraqa…"

"Yes, Xeha?" Her smile came quick and sweet, and she took his hand in hers folding their fingers together. "What is it?"

She loved him…

...and he loved her.

"Do you know of the Ancient Keyblade War?"

~End of Flashback~

"OI!" Xigbar's loud obnoxious shout snapped him free of his thoughts. Scowling, Young Xehanort turned his head towards him. "You deaf or something kid? The meeting's over, you need to get back to work."

"You're far too impatient." He scolded and spread his hands out. " You can't rush time, because time itself is absolute. The chain of events has been set in motion, and the future is etched."

"Spare me the lecture. You may have all of eternity, but the rest of us sure don't!" Xigbar waved him off.

"I will complete my tasks, you needn't worry. This all came to pass because of the path that was laid out for me and have chosen to take. I will help to bring about the second keyblade war, and thus start a new beginning." And in that beginning will come a new world; an empty world that will be pure and untainted by evil. He closed his eyes, picturing a pair of steel grey eyes smiling up at him... A pure world, full of innocence, hope and light… just like her.

"I will wait for you there… Eraqa."

~Yen Sid's Tower~

Sora hadn't returned, but Master Yen Sid knew they couldn't wait for the wayward keyblade wielder. She had her own personal agenda of self discovery, and it was best to leave her to it. In the meantime he asked Riku to bring Kairi to him, for he had heard she too could wield a keyblade now.

After updating Kairi on what had happened, Master Yen Sid gave the go ahead to Mickey to reveal the secret he had kept for such a long time.

"I saw Aqua in the realm of darkness." He told them, and briefly went over their journey there in search of the Keyblade of Darkness. "That was right around the time when you found your way into realm of darkness, Riku. After we found the keyblade I knew it was time to close the doors, but we were attacked by a dark tower. You had no weapon, no means of protecting yourself, so Aqua protected you, using her keyblade to ward them off… but they were too strong. They swallowed her up and vanished through the door we used to enter." Mickey sighed and he looked back over his shoulder, imagining her in the shadow. "I keep hearing her voice in the distance. She's still fighting."

"Aqua sacrificed herself to protect me!?" Riku held his chest then whirled on Mickey. "Why did you keep it from me for so long?"

Kairi, who had been in between the two, backed away as Riku's obvious distress made the room tense. She still wasn't used to seeing him so expressive and angry.

"I'm sorry, but," Mickey looked him in the eye, his guilt apparent, but his conscience clear. " I had to respect her choice."

"What about us?" Riku held his heart, knowing Sora would also feel discouraged knowing there was a time she could have helped. "You could have given us a choice. We could have gone and helped her!"

"I know," Mickey hung his head, feeling ashamed.

"Do not be rash, Riku." Yen Sid waved his hands down. "As Mickey told you clearly in his story it was not easy getting to the realm of darkness the first time. And even if we had found a way back, regrettably none of us had the means to get Aqua back out safely." Yen Sid motioned to himself, taking the blame. "I forbade Mickey from telling you."

"Why keep it a secret?" Riku frowned.

"That much should be obvious. If not you, then certainly Sora would have staged a reckless attempt at rescue." Yen Sid said matter-of-factly, Riku couldn't find fault with that particular argument. He knew Sora would have done exactly that.

"But… now we can help Aqua." Mickey walked up and turned to Riku with determination in his eyes. "You and me, together. We'll go to the Realm of Darkness and find her."

"Yeah! Count me in!" Riku pumped his fist and had Kairi giggling. "What?"

"Who's this new Riku, and where's the old one?" She asked with a sly smile.

"Huh?" He raised a brow at the question. "New one?"

"Yeah, you sound more like Sora." She giggled again and had him laughing too.

"Should I be flattered?" He questioned but his smile warmed. "I try too hard to be the role model… It's a lot more fun just listening to my heart. Which I guess is Sora-esque."

"Well, we still like you." Kairi winked then turned a serious expression to Yen Sid. "Master, I came here because I wanted to help somehow. What can I do?"

"I have entrusted Merlin to oversee the training of our new keyblade wielders, yourself and Lea."

"Lea?" Kairi questioned wondering who this new friend was.

"He means Axel." Mickey filled in and had Kairi jumping back.

"What!?"

"It's okay, He's a regular person now, he even rescued Sora for us." Mickey reassured. "You can trust him."

Kairi looked hesitant and turned to Riku who gave a nod. She supposed if the suspicious Riku was in favor of it, she could trust him. Still she wasn't sure how to approach the guy, the last time they'd seen each other he had kidnapped her in an attempt to lure Sora out.

"Okay."

"Good, now that that's settled, it's time for us to go." Mickey waved Riku along. "Let's go find an entrance to the Realm of Darkness."

"Before you go," Yen Sid waved his hands and two cases appeared. "The Good Fairies have asked me to give you these. They are new vestments which will shield you from the darkness."

"Thank you, Master!" Both Riku and Mickey bowed in respect and picked up their cases. As they headed down the steps Riku eyed the sky, looking around.

"I'd hoped Sora would be back before we left." He sighed.

"You don't need to worry about Sora." Mickey assured. "Master Yen Sid said he could still sense her in the Realm of Sleep. He'll make sure nothing happens to her."

"That's fine, but I wonder what's taking her so long."

~Realm of Sleep~

Sora wasn't sure how long she spent in Traverse Town training, but she was sure of one thing.

She'd screwed up.

Not only had she failed the Mark of Mastery exam, but the bulk of her powers were gone. Her little training sessions with local Dream Eaters had proven that much to her.

"Dang it! Why is it everytime I gain strength something comes along and takes it all away? Ugh!" She flops onto her back, exasperated…. and sees a familiar figure standing over her.

"Hello there, Sora."

"Joshua! Hi!" She immediately sat up and turned to him. "I was wondering if I was going to run into you and the others while I was here."

"We're still here. Neku and his friends are currently on a mission. Thanks to you they've made significant progress and have regrouped into one world. Now that they're all together, things should run more smoothly for them."

"Glad to hear it." She wiped sweat from her chin and had Joshua giving her concerned looks. "What?"

"I was watching you for a time. I kinda got the gist of why you're here."

"Oh… well it's no big deal really." She laughs. "Happens all the time."

"Sure seems like a big deal." He waved his hand out. "Anything I can do to help? I owe you after all."

"Mmmm," her face saddened a little but she managed a smile. Shaking her head she put her arms behind her head and took her usual casual stance. "No… I need to leave pretty soon anyway. I promised Riku and our other friends I wouldn't linger too long."

"Understandable, but if you ever change your mind, you know where to find me." He touched her shoulder companionably.

"I know," She touched his hand. "It was good to see you again, Joshua."

"You too…" He stopped her before she could pull away. "Hey Sora… Are you sure there's nothing else I can help you with?"

"Thanks, but I'll be fine." She flexed her arm to prove it. "I'm a lot tougher than I look."

"I can believe it." He laughed and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Well, at the very least let me give you this." He kissed her cheek, a little light escaping from his lips and into her. Sora blinked and flushed holding her cheek.

"W-W-What was that for?"

"Let's just say I opened up a path between our hearts. As you get stronger I'll be able to lend you some of my strength too." He smiled at her. "It'll allow you to retain some of the abilities you learned here."

"Really?" She laughed a little. "Thanks, I appreciate it."

"No problem… anything you want me to pass onto Neku and the others?"

"Just wish them good luck for me, and tell them that I hope we'll see each other again soon."

"Sure, I can do that." He waved goodbye. "Safe journey Sora."

"You too," she waved then took out her keyblade opening the portal back to the real world.

~Yen Sid's Tower~

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN!?" Donald shouted waving an accusing finger at Sora as she climbed the steps up. "START TALKING!"

"You were gone a long time. What were you doing?" Goofy asked, more calmly.

"Hehehe, secret" Sora held her cheek feeling too embarrassed to tell them the real reason. She opened the door to the study and called out. "I'm back! Riku… huh?" She stepped in and looked around. When she only saw Yen Sid she frowned. "Where'd everybody go?"

"The others all had important work to do." Yen Sid explained. "So I sent them on their way."

"Without saying goodbye?" Sora pouted. She had wanted to at least send Riku off.

"It's your own fault you missed them!" Donald scolded.

"It is not!" She put her hands on her hips. "I just went to say goodbye to all my friends. Is that so wrong?"

"Well next time do it faster!"

"We have matters to discuss." Yen Sid broke up the argument and had all three at attention. "In order to defeat Xehanort there are allies we must gather, acting now to rouse them from their slumber."

Aqua, Terra, and Ven, Sora thought wondering what her task would be in this endeavor.

"The Mark of Mastery Exam was held in hopes you would acquire the power to awaken them, Sora." Yen Sid explained, and saw her determined face fall. His suspicions about her true reasons for returning to the realm of sleep were confirmed. "However, the darkness nearly took control of you, and your grasp of your new abilities leaves much to be desired."

Donald and Goofy saw the guilt and dejected look on her face, and tried to think of what to say to comfort her.

"Furthermore, Xehanort almost made you his vessel, and in the process stripped what little power you had gained by then. I imagine you've already noticed this."

Sora looked down at her shoes, hearing the lecture and words that she already belittled herself with. Knowing she had to move past her failure Sora forced a smile and crossed her arms confidently.

"No big, it happens all the time."

"Hmmmm yes," Yen Sid smiled, approving of the girl's strong will. "I have high hopes for the data Ansem the Wise provided to Riku, but our best chance at defeating Xehanort still lies with you Sora." He watched her face light up with confidence again and his own hopes raised with it. "If you trust the guidance your heart gives, I know we will find all the lost guardians of light."

"Yes sir." She touched her heart, encouaged by his words. "I won't let you down again."

"I have faith in you my dear… but first you must regain your lost strength. There is someone who recently lost his strength and regained in, a true hero whom you ought to pay a visit. Perhaps he can provide you with a clue." .

~The Gummi Ship~

She'd been stoked to start a new journey, but even with a clear destination in her head Sora was at a loss. She sat pouting in the pilot seat of the gummi ship. Donald and Goofy sat behind her looking concerned and impatient.

"Mmmph I know where I'm supposed to go, but how in the heck are we supposed to get there?"

"What? I thought you knew!" Donald frowned and had Sora slumping further into her seat. "Women, can't trust them to do anything."

"I heard that," Sora grumbled and sat up straight letting out an aggravated sigh. "Dang it!"

"Looks like all the old highways are closed." Goofy acknowledged. "Didn't master Yen Sid tell Sora to trust the guidance her heart gives?"

"Come on Sora, which way?" Donald questioned… and when Sora only looked puzzled he scowled at her. "Hey would you get serious?"

"Hey I'm trying, cut me some slack." She sighed and stood up trying to picture Hercules in her mind. The handsome and strong young hero with a heart of gold, the ornery and loud trainer of heroes, the sweet and sly Megara. She could see them all, see where they were, but didn't know how to connect their worlds together. "Dang it! I've got nothing."

"May your heart be your guiding key." Goofy quoted earning a questioning look from both Donald and Sora.

"What's that?" Sora questioned placing a hand on her hip.

"Master Yen Sid would always say that right before we went on any of our big adventures."

"Really?" She looked to Donald. "Ring a bell?"

"Uh uh," Donald shook his head.

"Maybe I just imagined it." Goofy scratched his head in puzzlement.

"May my heart be my guiding key…" Sora held her chin and then broke out into a grin. She raced back to the drivers seat and released her keyblade. "I've got it!"

Picturing all of them in her mind again, she reached out with her heart and pointed her blade out to the sky. As the image and connection became more clear a warp opened in front of them and the three friends jumped up in celebration.

"It's a gate!"

"Alright!" Sora took the wheel. "Olympus Colosseum here we come!"

~Ask Briry~

Briry: Woot! Didn't think I'd finish it today but I did! YAY! Hope you guys like the first chapter and are anxious for the next!

Next Chapter: With All Your Heart