The Opal that Jason found was a boulder opal with hues of bright vibrant blue. It was absolutely lovely but the memory inside was bitter sweet.

Donald and Goofy close the large white doors just before Sora locked the doorway with his Keyblade. The light of the keyblade faded as the young Sora turned towards the pair standing behind them. "You okay, Riku?"

Riku Replica shook his head. "Not Riku. I'm a fake. I can't remember why I was created or where or when... All that's inside of me---is time with you and Naminé. But I know those memories are not real."

Naminé looked away as if ashamed of herself as Goofy proceeded to make the situation even more awkward. "Gee, Naminé, can't you use your magic to put Riku's memory back to normal?"

"Well, I..." Naminé didn't know how to tell Riku Replica that he had no memories for her to reconstruct. He only had the memories that she had planted and then his short time in the castle.

Before she could say more, Riku Replica lifted a hand to stop her and began to walk away. "It's all right. I'll deal." Naminé wanted to go after him but she couldn't. It was Sora who called out to him. "Wait! Who cares if someone created you? You are you and nobody else. You have your own heart inside you. Those feelings and memories are yours and yours alone. They're special!"

Riku Replica stopped and looked over at Sora. "Sora, you're a good guy. I don't have to be real to see how real your feelings are. That's good enough." With that, he left.

With Riku gone, Donald turned to Naminé and spoke in a quacking esque voice. "Can you put our memories back?"

Naminé nodded. "Yes. Not remembering something doesn't really mean that it's gone."

Goofy pipped in as Sora walked forward to listen as well. "What d'ya mean?"

"When you remember one thing, that leads to remembering another---and then another and then another. Our memories are connected. Many pieces are linked together like they're in a chain---that makes up each of us. I don't actually erase any memories---just take apart the links and rearrange them. You still have all your memories."

Jiminy popped out and Naminé blinked in surprise. Was he always there? "So you can put 'em back together?"

"Yes, but first, I have to undo the chains of the memories I made on my own. After I've done that, I have to gather up the memories scattered across each of your hearts and then reconnect them. It might take some time. But I think it might work. No---it will work. I'm sure. It's my turn to look after you." Naminé smiled at Sora, Donald and Goofy.

Sora nodded. "All right. We all really trust you."

Jiminy popped up again, jumping a little as he spoke to draw the attention back to him. "Oh... Wait a second! You said you had to undo the links of the memories you made. But that means..."

Naminé frowned. "Yes. You won't be able to remember anything about what happened here."

Sora didn't look happy. "Not even you?"

"I'm sorry. It's the only way, I'm afraid. Sora, you have a choice. You can lose your memories of this castle and reclaim your old ones...or keep your memories here and give up the memories that you've lost." She tried to remain strong but it was hard for her. Naminé didn't want Sora to forget her but that was a selfish wish.

Sora looked equally conflicted. "Do I have to...to choose?"

"Yes."

Sora thought for a moment or two as Donald and Goofy exchange worried looks. Finally, Sora spoke. "Make me like I was."

Naminé looked like she was trying not to cry. "Oh, okay. Nobody needs to keep a bunch of memories that aren't real, right? You want to remember all of the people who are really important to you. Anybody would choose that." She turned and led them all to a room containing a giant pod.

Donald made a very Donald squawk as he looked at the pods. "To remember again, we have to sleep in that?"

"Yes. It's going to take a little time, but I'll take care of you." Naminé's voice was gentle and warm.

Goofy touched his head. "Gawrsh, when we wake up, we won't remember who you are anymore..."

"But how are we gonna thank you?" Donald turned to Naminé but before she could answer Jiminy cut in again. "Don't worry about that! I'll just make a big note in my journal. And it will say, 'Thank Naminé'."

Sora smiled as Goofy and Donald bit their goodnights and went off to the pods flanking the large one at the center. Once they were gone she nodded to Sora. "You too, Sora."
Sora looked up at the pod and then began to start the climb inside. "Okay."

She watched him and her heart began to sink. "All of this may have started with a lie...but I really am glad that I can meet you, Sora." Naminé forced a smile across her mouth.

"Yeah, me too. When I finally found you, and even when I remembered your name, I was happy. The way I felt then--- That was no lie." Sora was heartfelt but that only made it hurt more.

"Goodbye." A tear rolled down her cheek, she didn't expect to ever see him again but he cut off her depressing thoughts with a very Sora protest.

"No, not goodbye! When I wake up, I'll find you. And then there will be no lies. We're gonna be friends for real. Promise me, Naminé." But she didn't believe him.

"You're going to forget making that promise."

Sora shook his head with a confidence that Naminé didn"t understand. "If the chain of memories comes apart, the links will still be there, right? So the memory of our promise will always be inside me somewhere. I'm sure of it."

Naminé tried to believe him but she couldn't stop her silent tears from falling. "Yeah, you're right. Okay, it's a promise."

Sora smiled down at her. "Good. Until later." He reached forward and they joined their pinky fingers together to signify their promise. With their promise sealed, Sora waves goodbye as he jumped completely into the pod.

"A promise... Huh... Sora, some of your memories' links are deep in the shadows of your heart and I won't be able to find them. But don't worry… You made another promise to someone who you could never replace. She is your light. The light within the darkness. Remember her, and all the memories lost in the shadows of your heart will come into the light."

The pod began to close around Sora as his voice drifted from within the pod. "Another promise..."

Naminé nodded her head. "Look at the good luck charm. I changed its shape when I changed your memory--- But when you thought of her just once, it went back to the way it was."

Sora took out Kairi's charm and looked at it. The pod closed, and Sora's
surrounded by darkness. He stared at the charm, trying to remember his friend. Naminé appeared beside him. Sora remembered slowly and then, finally, Kairi. "Kairi!"

The darkness around them both became light.

"My friends..." Sora's voice was distant and Naminé began to float away. "Naminé?"

"Don't worry." Her voice called back to him. "You might forget about me...but with our promise, I can come back."

Once again, Sora donned that unmistakable and unquestionable confidence. "A promise is a promise."

Naminé's voice lightened. "Yes. One day the light---it will be ours, and it will bring us together. Til then---I'll be in your heart."

Sora felt the weight of the pod lull him into sleep as his voice drifted through the memory. "Right. Forgotten---but not lost."

[ooc: The video for this is . Time is between 25:30 - 34:50]