(Author's Note: This Chapter is my attempt at making an Awakening set for the three main characters. I know it's probably crap, but I'm trying my best to adhere to the flow of the Kingdom Hearts Games themselves, so bear with me. Also, if one is wondering when this would take place, I would consider this taking place after Kingdom Hearts 3, hence the "Masters" bit which you will read in this Chapter later.)
(The "Land of Departure" battle theme from Birth by Sleep plays as the scene focuses on Saphyra.)
Saphyra and Xrapi stare each other down as Saphyra clutches her two Keyblades with an unusual level of anger.
(Information: "Defeat Master Xrapi!")
(Pause Menu Info: "Defeat Master Xrapi and pass Saphyra's Exam! Be sure to take Saphyra's strengths and weaknesses into account! Also look for openings in Xrapi's attacks! Utilize Saphyra's Command Style to gain an edge in the battle!")
"AAAH!" Saphyra screams as she rushes head-on at Xrapi.
Their weapons clash as Saphyra groans with anger.
"You fight with anger...Not anger towards me, but rather...anger towards something else..." Xrapi says as he struggles to guard against Saphyra's advance. "Anger has always been a problem with you, but it's never been this palpable...Calm yourself, remember my teachings..."
(Reaction Command: Leapfrog)
Saphyra jumps into the air, over her Master's head whilst still clashing with one of her weapons.
She then attacks his back with her free weapon, knocking him back.
"Interesting tactics." Xrapi says. "It belies your tempermental nature. Now, show me what you can REALLY do."
Xrapi rushes towards Saphyra with a speed he kept from the other two.
Locke and Aios look on concerned.
"Is...Is he toying with her?" Aios asks.
"No...He's testing her." Locke says.
"Now let's just hope she doesn't give in to that temper of hers..." Locke thinks to himself.
Saphyra barely manages to dodge the blows as she is backed into a corner of the room.
(Reaction Command Combo: "Scale + Jump")
She jumps onto the nearby wall as she avoids a slash from Xrapi upon landing on it.
Using the wall, she pivots her legs and jumps over Xrapi again, this time evading another slash as she returns to combat stance.
"I've gotta starting dishing some out. That's the whole point of the test, after all!"
(Information: "Fill up the Command Gauge with sucessful attacks!")
(Command Gauge Tutorial: "Each of the Destined Three have acess to unique Command Styles that change the skills avaliable to them, and also their fighting style. By unleashing certain attacks in battle, you can effectively change which Command Style you can use! Fill the Command Gauge fully, and your Style will change to reflect that of the skills you used. Choose the right Style for the right situation. Command Styles can be modified in the Skills section of the Main Menu.")
Xrapi closes in on Saphyra as he attempts a slash at her abdomen, only for her to strike with her own attack shortly after she dodges.
This exchange lasts for a while as the two trade attacks towards each other, Saphyra frequently using "Hit-and-run" tactics.
(Eventually, the Command Gauge fills as Saphyra activates the feature.)
Saphyra is then bathed in a brilliant Light.
Saphyra faces her two Keys outwards, each one facing the opposite direction, the two teeth sides of the weapons facing opposite directions.
A glow of Light surrounds her right hand then as she places her hand in the center of where the two hilts of the weapons, meet and pulls her hand back as an illusory bowstring appears around and encompasses the weapons.
"It doesn't matter how fast you are, Master." Saphyra says as she aims the illusory bow at Xrapi. "I can hit you from anywhere!"
(Command Style Tutorial: "Once a character has activated one of their Command Styles, the commands will take the place of all skills currently in your Command queue at the bottom left of the screen. Each skill in the Style is assigned to a certain button. Upon using a skill, a small recharge time is required before using a skill again. To cycle through your avaliable skills, simply tap the R1 button to highlight a skill from the Queue and tap the corresponding button to unleash it. You cen even use skill while moving, though moving slows down the cool-off period slightly. Command Styles do not last forever, and the Queue will revert and allow you to use the skills you were originally using, and you will have to fill the Gauge again in order to use that Style again.")
(Command Style: "Rapid Renegade")
(Ability used: ("Gatling Blitz")
Saphyra begins to fire arrows of Light from the "bow," the arrows trailing Master Xrapi like machinegun fire.
Xrapi rushes towards Saphyra, thinking that her firing leaves her open.
However, she sees it coming and immediately jumps into the air, firing an arrow into Xrapi's path. (Of course, since this is Kingdom Hearts, not an action movie, it won't do any harmful damage. It's a kids game, LOL!)
The arrow hits Xrapi and stuns him, leaving him open for a whack from the illusory bow's Light-tainted edges, knocking him back even further.
Saphyra continues to use three-hit combos from the bow's edges, Saphyra flipping and weaving whilst performing the attacks, until Xrapi is conrered by the wall.
Saphyra aims her bow at Xrapi and stands firm.
(The Battle ends.)
(Saphyra's level increased to 2, her Strength increased.)
("New Command Style Obtained! Edit it from the Menu!")
The scene switches to a cutscene.
"I think I've got you beat, Master. Checkmate?" Saphyra asks, a confident smile on her face.
"Hmph." Xrapi says. "I suppose. But you must be aware that power was not the point of the test."
"Huh?" Saphyra asks, as she unsummons her Keyblades, the "bow" disappearing in a shine of Light.
"I was testing your anger. For anger leads to Darkness." Xrapi says.
"Well...How'd I do?" Saphy raasks, one eye twitching with nervousness.
"You just barely passed." Xrapi says. "I was initially going to fail you; since you fought with such hostile agressiveness when we began the match. Anger leads one to giv in to their stress and rage, granting them power, but robbing them of their reason. However, you loosened up over time and revealed your true nature. Arrogant and competitive, yet knowing your limits. I hereby dub you a Knight as well. Now, return to stand by your friends."
Saphyra runs over to Locke and Aios as the three high-five each other.
Master Xrapi stands in the center of the room as he extends a hand.
"Come, oh Destined Three." Xrapi says.
The three friends walk over to Xrapi and stop short.
Xrapi extends his hand yet again as a shining Light surrounds his palm.
"As the old Keyblade Masters have done for ages, I now bestow upon you the powers and Rank of Knight. As Knights, you shall soon be obligated to seek out new worlds and new life, and using your weapons and powers, protect and safeguard them from utter oblivion at the hands of the Darkness and it's sinister forces. I now grant you the ability to travel to other worlds, though it is only when I myself choose to allow you shall you be free to leave and explore. For your duties as Knights come first. And you must prove that you have the ability to uphold your new responsibilities. But, I have faith in you three. You always have exceeded my expectations."
Xrapi moves closer to the three as he stops in front of Locke.
Xrapi touches Locke's right shoulder as a plate of black armor appears on his shoulder.
Xrapi then moves in front of Aios and touches his left shoulder as a red plate appears on the area.
Xrapi then moves in front of Saphyra and stares her down.
"Do your best not to give into your rage, Young One." He says as he kneels briefly and touches her right foot. "Keep your Light string, and allow it to ease your rage."
rapi then sits up and walks back to beam down at his students.
"Any other questions?" he asks.
"M-May we speak to the Council now, Master?" Aios asks nervously. "Now that we're Knights..."
"I'm afraid you must wait a little longer before you propose any sort of request or question." Xrapi replies. "The Council has had it's hands full of late with...certain matters..."
"But your'e the Head Master!" Saphyra says. "Can't you allow us at least five minutes with them?"
"No." Xrapi says. "The Council is not a request center. I apologize if it seems unfair, but there are matters beyond that of mere homeworlds. Please return to your homes until you receive your first assignments. And personally, from the bottom of my Heart, I am truly sorry."
"Yeah, whatever you say." Saphyra says, leaving the room in an angry huff.
Locke and Aios look back at her for a brief second then politely nod at Xrapi.
They then leave the room, in a rush to chase after her.
The scene zooms in on Xrapi's face, his eyes full of sadness.
("Another Side, Another Story" plays in the scene's background.)
"Those children were just orphans when I first found them...A life of searching for one's birthplace...It must be tough on them...Just wait a little longer, kids. I'll try to help you the best I can..."
Scenes switch to Saphyra walking angrily out of the castle.
The bridge she's on connects the city to the Castle.
"Darn Master...Not a Request Center? Who does he think he is?" She mutters to herself.
"Saphyra!" A voice shouts.
She turns to see Aios and Locke running towards her.
"What was that?" Locke asks.
"What do you think?" Saphyra replies. "The Master said that when we became Knights, we could approach the Council, and now that we're Knights, the Council's 'busy.' I don't believe them for a moment. I guess our 'requests' aren't worth their time!"
"Calm down." Aios says. "Xrapi's the Head Master. Even if he's head honcho, you can't expect them to allow EVERYBODY with a complaint in right away. Politics takes time."
"You know what?" Saphyra says. "I am sick to death of rules and politics and policies! If we really want to know where we live, we need to just go!"
"Are you suggesting..." Locke says.
"Yes. We'll run away." Saphyra says, placing her hands in the air as if an epiphany has been heard. "We can explore anywhere we want, whenever we want. No more rules, no more Knights, No more fighting. Just us."
"It sounds tempting." Locke says. "But we still have duties to the Kingdom. As strict as they were, this is our home. This is where we were raised. We cannot just elope based on some passing fancy. Even if we find our homeworlds, this will be our true home. And we can't abandon it. And deep down inside, you know that, too."
Saphyra sighs loudly.
"I know, I know." Saphyra says. "I just wanna leave and find our worlds already. It's annoying when I have to wait for something, you know me. I...I gotta cool down. I'll see you guys later."
Saphyra continues to walk down the bridge as Locke and Aios look at each other, then walk down the Bridge as well.
The scene zooms out.
"It wasn't exactly the best day ever." Aios narrates. "Even though we had passed our Finals and became Knights, we still had to wait a year before we could leave the Kingdom. And we also had to wait for the Council to let us talk to them. Me and Locke could handle that, but Saphyra...Saphyra just couldn't wait. But, what could we do? Once she sets out to do something, nothing stops her. And that's what me and Locke fear most. A fear that she'll make that inescapeable choice...and turn to the Darkness to find her Light. She'll end up just like Terra, one of the Bearers of old, who gave in to his Darkness to fight Xehanort...only to fail."
Scenes switch to the city, zoomed out.
It is nighttime, citizens are fast asleep.
The scene shifts to Master Xrapi, who is standing in the center of the room the trio took their finals in.
("Strange Whispers" plays in the scene's background.)
"I know your'e there...Miasma."
A shadowy figure emerges from a dark corner of the room, it's features obscured by shadow.
"Ah..." Miasma says in a deep, bold, commanding voice. "It's been many years, my friend."
"Why are you here?" Xrapi asks, summoning his keyblade cautiously.
"To take what belongs to me." Miasma says.
"The Kye-Blade is safe from your influence, in a remote place even I do not know the location of." Xrapi replies, entering combat stance.
"Ah yes, the ancient letter 'kye.'" The figure says. "The letter that Xehanort himself discovered. A blade forged with a mixture of the Light and Darkness of one of his old students. Eventually made real by Masters Sora and Riku using their powers of Light and Darkness respectively...shortly before they disappeared. I have found that it fuels itself on Hearts, just like Kingdom Hearts does. A seperate entity that exists alongside Kingdom Hearts. So what would happen if it's limit was exceeded?"
"No..." Xrapi says, shocked.
"Yes..." Miasma replies. "If it's power overflows, it will be sensed by every living creature...including myself. Then I can merely pluck it from where it sits in wait."
"I will not allow you to see your plan to fruition." Xrapi says. "That is the one constant that must not be tampered with, don't you understand?"
"I do...And I don't care." Miasma says as a portion of a Keyblade is seen out of the shadows engulfing him.
"I will not allow you to destroy Kingdom Hearts!" Xrapi yells as he rushes towards Miasma, only for the scene to end.
Scenes switch to a home.
The night's shadows darken the already dark room further as a figur etosses and turns in bed.
The figure is revealed to be Aios...
("Destati" plays as the scene shifts.)
Scene shift to an Awakening.
The darkness in the background acting as a spotlight for the platform Aios finds himself on.
The platform depicts him and his other two friends, Locke and Saphyra.
The elements adorning the platform shows various random figures ranging from a spaceship to a distorted gangster in a tophat with red glasses, his entire figure distorted.
"The Light and the Dark are in danger..."
Aios gets up and stands in the center of the platform.
"Who-Who's there?" Aios asks, shouting into the endless void.
"My identity is meaningless...As I speak to you now, the other two of the Destined Three are also hearing my voice..."
"Other two? Which other two?" Aios asks.
"You shall learn in time..." The voice says. "Now, there are things you must know before you venture off into the vastness of space..."
A brown door appears in front of Aios with a flash of Light.
"Venture forward...Destined One..." The voice says.
"Well, if your extending an invitation..." Aios says as he puts his hand on the doorknob. "Why not?"
A brilliant Light shines as the door opens further and engulfs the scene.
The scene shifts to a similar awakening, however, it is Locke focused on, not Aios.
Locke stands in the center of the platform as a Treasure Chest appears in front of him.
(Treasure Chest Tutorial: "At times, you'll find Treasure Chests scattered across the worlds. Simply use the Reaction Command "Open" to obtain their contents. Be wary, for not all Chests contain goodies, and may harbor hidden dangers. Also note that you will not be able to open Chests or interact with anything in the field if there are enemies around. Thatle them out first before going treasure hunting! You should look for Chests whenever you enter a new area. You never know what you'll find!")
"Ah, a gift? Rather generous..." Locke says as he approcahes the Chest.
At that moment, three strange-looking enemies appear before Locke, their appearances taking a white, ghostly color, their bodies distorted into a barely humanoid form as they shamble ever closer.
"These enemies, along with the Heartless, will hamper your quest. Though you already know how to fight, you must know how to keep your Heart steady, for, just as the Heartless, they will seek to do you and others harm. Keep your Heart ever steadfast...And ever ready to battle those of broken dreams..."
"Of course nothing's free..." Locke says with a roll of his eyes as he summons his Keyblade and enters Combat stance.
(Information: "Defeat the strange Enemies!")
Locke moves his eyes to the left and right as the enemy on the left raises a claw and lunges at him.
He plunges his Keyblade into it's chest with a thrust of his Keyblade as it disintergrates into white Light.
"These things are made of...Light?" Locke asks as he turns his head, and rolls out of the way, avoiding a swipe from another enemy behind.
"Fire!" He yells as he points his Keyblade at another of the white enemies, a fireball shooting out of his Key's tip and burning one of the enemies up.
He moves a s aquick blur and cuts the final down with a three-attack combo.
Satisfied, Locke un-summons his Keyblde as a brown door appears in front of him.
"I have no clue who you are..." Locke says as he touches the doorknob and pulls it. "...But I'll find out...You can bet on it."
A light escapes from the door as the scene is engulfed in white.
Scenes shift to another eerily similar Awakening, only Saphyra is now the focus.
"What the heck?" She asks herself as she gets her self up and regains her footing. "This dream again...?"
"This has been no dream...but a glimpse of the future...For those who shall usher in the new era or stability..."
"Ok, not that this little trip hasn't been fun, Mr. or Ms. Spooky and Mysterious..." Saphyra asks, pointing one of her fingers up into the illusory sky. "...but mind telling me what this is all about?"
"The world that holds all others together shall fall...And the Destined Three must reclaim and reattach the pieces..."
"Ok, get to your point!" Saphyra yells. "Enough riddles, enough puzzles! Just tell me what you want already!"
"My needs are irrelevant...The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few...However, you must know when Desecration is the better part of valor...Or your journey shall be a short one..."
A treasure Chest appears in front of Saphyra as she approaches it.
"Another puzzle, huh?" Saphyra asks. "Not enough I was attacked the first time, you hafta rub it in my face?"
Saphyra shakes her head as she kneels and opens the Treasure Chest, then regains her footing.
("Potion obtained!")
(Item Tutorial: "Items can be found in Chests or brought from stores. Most items are restorative, and can have a variety of effects from restoring your HP and MP Gauge to even attacking enemies or being used for Synthesis, which will be covered later on. You can add Items to your current Command Queue by altering their location from the Pause Menu. Once you use an item, it's gone forever...unless you have another of the same type, then will be replenished into your Command Queue.")
"You Destined Three who teeter on the foothold bewteen Light and Dark, give in to neither, or all as you know it shall cease to be..."
Enemies resembling the three that attacked Locke appear in a slightly greater number.
"This is really getting old!" Saphyra says as she summons her twin Keyblades and enters combat stance.
(Information: Defeat the Strange enemies!")
She lunges at one instantly as her Keyblade defeats one, then another as her other blade stabs into the chest of the other.
Saphyra slashes at one madly as it uses it's flexible body to dodges her strikes.
(Reaction Command: "Boo!")
Saphyra attempts to slash again, then stops short.
The creature immediately attempts to strike, only to be defeated by a surprise slash into it's abdomen.
However, Saphyra is hit by one of the creatures as she clutches her right arm.
(HP is low. )
"Might as well try whatever was in that box." Saphyra says as she takes out a green vial and drinks the contents.
She instantly feels invigorated, her pain and wound healing.
(Used Potion, HP recovered to full.)
She then backflips and activates her Command Style.
She clashes the hilts of her Keyblades together and summons her Light Bow.
The creature jumps into the air and lunges at her with a sorrowful cry as she takes aim and fires an arrow of Light, it piercing the creature directly.
It disintergrates into a shower of Light as she un-summons her Keyblades.
She then looks around.
"Now what?"
At that moment, she spies another Awakening platform, distant from her own.
Platforms of ornate windows appear as they form a twisted path to the enxt platform.
"Looks like the only way is forward." Saphyra says as she runs onto the path, the scene zooming out as she does so.
Eventually, she steps onto the new platform as the "bridge" disappears.
"Oh, great." Saphyra says.
She looks down at the new platform.
It has only one form, a symbol resembling a wavelength chart, a distorted square squrare surrounding the ever-curving line.
At that moment, the platform shakes as a Light fills the room and shifts the scene.
"The final test for the Destined Three...Once you have passed, your Hearts shall guide you evermore...But know this, those who connect the future...Youwill have to defeat the past to defeat the future...Or time will be a mere concept...as will Kingdom Hearts..."
