Chapter Two: The Chocobo Mage

(Salvo Here! A bit of a time jump occurs, just to let you readers know. 3 years to be exact. The first part of this chapter will explain this phenomenon, hopefully…

OH! I do not own Kingdom Hearts or Final Fantasy. If I owned either, I'd be able to afford text massaging! So please…enjoy~)

(Salvo again with an Ivalician definition

Lizard: a highly offensive term meaning to criticize somebody with arrogant contempt and a total disregard for his or her feelings, especially from a position of power)

After the Great Battle at the Soldier's Tourney, the newly formed Clan Light, consisting of Sora as the Leader, and Leonard, the second in command. Lazuli, however, decided to part ways with her friends, heading home for a visit. Or at least, where her home was. It was destroyed by Heartless. Her family and fellow villagers of Dhorsa were annihilated before Lazuli arrived. When she did however, she met a terrifying heartless known as the Oversoul, the one responsible for slaughtering everyone in the village. Lazuli, choosing to walk the path of a White Mage, barely fended off the attack, causing the Oversoul to retreat. Burning the remains of her former home, Lazuli left the lifeless place, the Ruins that will soon be called Jagd Dhorsa. Over the next two years, she will master the abilities of a White Mage while hunting the Oversoul mercilessly. Over this time, she has not even bothered offering to help Clan Light in its search. She soon became a Seer and continued to hunt down the murderer of her village.

So caught up in her seeking revenge, she actually fought her childhood friend Leonard, accusing him of 'abandoning' the village. After injuring her friend, Lazuli ran away from Leonard and Sora in disgust of herself.

Deciding to let her emotions cool down, Sora and Leonard continue their search for Donald and Goofy.

A year has passed since then and so far…no luck.

Sora and Leonard had just finished a quest in the Giza Plains. The job had been simple, heartless elimination. Leonard sat on the soft grass with a sigh, the veil of his Hunter's hat obscuring his eyes from view. "Ah…finally, some relaxation time. Do you think that the Moogle from Cyril is telling the truth, having seen Donald?" He asked, turning to look at Sora.

Sora nodded. "He said that a Chocobo Mage passed through, who seemed a little short tempered. It's got to be him! When we collect our reward, let's go right away!" He replied with a wide grin.

Leonard nodded, and turned grim. "He also said that Donald was being chased by someone who looked like 'Zuli… What if we have to fight her…?" He asked, his voice sounding worried.

Sora frowned. "I don't think that's her, then. She was chasing after a heartless when we…met…before. Unless she thinks Donald is a Heartless, I don't think she would chase after him." He replied.

Leonard sighed a breath of relief. "That's true. But maybe she wants to help us! She promised that she would help us." He said, standing up.

Sora smiled sadly for his friend. "Yeah…she said that before she attacked you, you know… I don't think she would want to show herself around us anymore" He replied.

Guilt and sadness flashed across Leonard's face before he resumed his cheerful expression. "Whatever, let's go before any more dratted heartless arrive. Donald awaits!" Leonard said, beginning to walk away.

"Whoa! Leonard, wait!" Sora called, chasing after him.

Lazuli caught up with the Chocobo-like mage in the middle of a nearby forest. "Stop, birdie, please!" She called after the Chocobo. The Chocobo stopped and turned to face Lazuli.

"What? And I'm not 'birdie', I'm Donald!" Donald said, glaring at Lazuli, who looked at her feet, and then gasped, eyes widening.

"Wait! Donald? Sora's…friend?" She asked, incredulous. Donald looked at her dubiously.

Donald eyes her as if she were a heartless. "You know Sora? Where is he?" He demanded with a quack.

Lazuli's eyes narrowed. "Why should I tell you? I don't even care who you are. The only thing I care about is that wherever you are, dark fiends appear. Why is that, Donald?" Lazuli replied, dodging Donald's question.

"I don't care who either of you are, but you two better give us all your Gil!" A voice interrupted the two.

Donald and Lazuli whirled around to find themselves surrounded by a band of Bangaa. Donald immediately glared at Lazuli. "You drug me into this, so you better help me get rid of these Liz—" He began to say, but Lazuli clamped his beak shut.

"You idiot! Never call a Bangaa that! And besides, if push comes to shove and we have to fight, you better be useful, you bag of feathers!" She hissed, before turning to face the lead Bangaa. "How much Gil is all of our…" She said, pausing in the middle of her sentence.

The Bangaa snorted, annoyed, and stabbed his broadsword at Lazuli. "All of it, Hume! And while you're at it, give us that Chocobo! We'll sell it. Maybe we'll even give you a pillow made from its feathers!" The Bangaa said, laughing. The other Bangaa joined in on the laughter.

Donald broke free of Lazuli's grasp. "I'll show you! You stupid Lizards have no right to talk like that!" Donald squacked angrily.

The group of Bangaa growled in unison and advanced towards the unlikely team.

"You'll pay dearly for that, Chocobo! We'll take your Gil…and your lives!" The Lead Bangaa roared, charging Donald, sword raised.

Blade clashed upon blade as Lazuli drew her Greatsword Luabreaker and blocked the Bangaa's attack. "Donald! Head to Cyril now! You better run, for when I finish with these creeps, I'm coming after you to make you talk!" She said, looking at Donald over her shoulder.

Donald read the look in Lazuli's eyes and nodded. Even for someone he didn't like, she certainly could get her point across. She was telling him where Sora was.

"Fine, and when you do, I'll fry you with Thundaga!" Donald retorted before running towards Cyril.

Some of the Bangaa began to give chase. Lazuli sighed and gathered her courage. "HEY, LIZARD-FREAKS! The one you want is right here!" She shouted, disengaging the Bangaa she was currently fighting and charging the ones who were starting to chase Donald. The ones she was about to attack turned to her, snarling and charged.

"And that stupid blond haired brat -Lazuli- told me to run! Oh, the indignity! It would be justice if she got beat by those Liz—" Donald fumed, but again his beak was shut by Leonard.

Leonard glared at Donald. "You fool! Never say that word! And you better be grateful that she helped you escape!" He growled, his eyes flashing dangerously.

Sora looked serious. "We need to help her! We owe her that much, at least!" He said, running off in the direction Donald came.

Donald huffed. "I'm not letting you out of my sight, Sora!" He squacked, chasing after him.

Leonard smiled to himself. "So 'Zuli is still 'Zuli after all…" He said, and then followed the two into the forest.

When they reached where Donald and Lazuli had been surrounded, they saw something that shocked them all. All of the Bangaa were knocked out, and there seemed to be a chill in the air, but alas, there was no Lazuli. They looked around and spotted something pinned to a tree.

Leonard gently took the piece of parchment off the tree. It was a note from his friend.

"Clan Light,

Yes, it is I, Lazuli. Long time no…whatever. If you are reading this, then that bad mouthed Chocobo who dragged me into this mess must have found you. It probably did him good. It looked like he needed to lose weight. Oh well, I'm joking, by the way, not that it matters.

What does matter is that you should not look for me. I am following a very dangerous dark fiend, and I'd rather not have your deaths on my conscience. If you do try to find me though, that is your decision.

I am close to confronting that which destroyed Dhorsa. Once I have destroyed it once and for all, I have one question to ask:

Will you forgive me and allow me to help you…?

Sincerely,

Lazuli"

Leonard said as he read the letter aloud. Donald looked furious, while Sora grinned.

"T-that stupid brat! It most definitely was NOT my fault!" Donald quacked , hopping angrily.

Sora laughed. "Ahahahaha~ So, Leonard, what do you think of us going to help Lazuli?" He asked.

Leonard grinned. "Heck yeah! We will find her and help her beat this fiend! For we are the best clan around, Clan Light!" He replied with a wide smile that mirrored Sora's friend from Destiny Islands, Riku.

(End of chapter Two)