Chapter 1—
"Aikagi, do you really think this is a good idea?" Alina asked her friend as they stared at the ruins of the old Hallow Bastion Castle.
"What are you scared of? Magic? Ghosts? Do you really believe in all that crap?" Aikagi said as she began to scale the fence.
"Well, if you say magic isn't real then how do you explain that keyblade on your back?" the dark-haired girl asked as she fiddled with her sleeve uncomfortably, looking side to side. People weren't allowed to go here anymore, since the unsafe structure was decaying. A group of kids a while back decided to be stupid and explore, and fell through the floors and impaled themselves on the broken ruins below...
"Pft, this thing?" she jerked her chin towards the skeleton-like keyblade on her back, that belonged to her grandfather, who'd been the previous keyblade wielder after some guy who's name stared with an 'S'. "It's not magical. Just a piece of junk. Worthless."
"Then why do you keep it?"
Aikagi didn't respond, as she dropped to the ground on the other side of the tall fence. She pushed her dirty-blonde bangs out of her face. The rest of her hair was safely pulled back into a messy bun, with a few braided strands hanging from it. "Well? Are you coming or not?" she asked putting her hands on her hips.
Alina sighed, pulling her brown, black-tipped hair into a ponytail before she began scaling the fence. "If we get in trouble, I'm not taking the blame. And if we get killed it's on your conscious," she said dropping to the other side.
"We aren't gonna die," Aikagi said as she made her way to the castle. "And we aren't going to get caught. Nothing will happen to us."
Alina shook her head. "I hope you're right…"
Once they stood in front of the giant castle doors, Alina was getting even more fidgety.
"I reeeeally don't think we should be here…"
"Oh, suck it up," Aikagi said, playfully elbowing her friend in the ribs. The two girls had been like sisters ever since they'd met. Neither Aikagi or Alina having had good family lives, the girls bonded instantly. Eventually, Aikagi's grandparents had adopted the both of them. Sadly, her grandfather had passed away almost a year ago, leaving his sickly wife to take care of them. And leaving his strange keyblade to his granddaughter.
"Come on, lets go in," Aikagi said pushing on the door, which creaked open, dangling by one hinge.
"No, lets not…Aikagi..!" Alina complained, running to catch up with Aikagi, who was already inside.
"This place is so cool!" Aikagi said, letting her voice echo.
"More like creepy…"
They explored the empty castle, every step puffing dust off of the floor and leaving small tracks along the way. Eventually they found a large throne room.
"Wow, biggest room yet," Aikagi said, looking up at the ceiling. She looked back down when Alina's shaking hands found her sleeve and began to tug. "What?"
"Th-there's a skeleton over there…!" she said pointing to the throne.
She walked closer, dragging the petrified girl along with her, to get a better look at the corpse on the big chair.
It was a woman, dressed in a black and purple robe. A hat on her head made it seem as though she had two large horns. Skin still stuck to the woman's corpse, clinging to her bones. It had a green tinge. In her right hand she held a staff; in her left, a misty looking orb.
"Can we leave please…?" Alina whispered, scared, almost as if she thought she might wake the dead woman.
Aikagi groaned. "Fine." They turned and were just at the door when they heard a small crack, and something bounced onto the floor. Both of them stopped walking, listening to the rumbling that got closer. They watched as the misty-white ball rolled past them, hitting the door and rolling back to a stop between them.
They looked at each other slowly, and then turned to look at the mummy.
One bonny finger curled back towards her, the others balled up, as if she was calling them closer.
"Well that's creepy." Aikagi said.
"I-I think she wants us to leave…!"
Aikagi started walking back towards the dead woman. "No… it's more like… she wants to show us something…"
"Aikagi, please..!" Alina rubbed her arms like she was cold.
Aikagi reached out to touch the green finger.
"Aikagi..!" Alina screamed, running to stop the girl.
The floor gave out from under them.
Both girls hit the floor with a loud 'thwump!'
"I told you we shouldn't have come here…" Alina said rubbing her back side.
"Yeah, yeah, what ever…" Aikagi muttered. She looked up at the dark ceiling. "Well, the floor didn't just collapse…"
"A trap door?"
"Probably…" she pulled out a match and ran it along the floor, lighting up a small portion of the room. "Now we just gotta figure out how to get out of here…"
"What's that..?" Alina said standing up. Aikagi looked over to see something glowing at one corner of the room. She got to her feet, dusting off her pants, and walking over to investigate, Alina close behind.
"I guess her orb fell down with us…" Aikagi walked up and tried to touch the glowing glass object, but Alina grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"Remember what happened last time you tried to touch something?"
"It's not like it's gonna eat us if we touch it. We can use it as a light," she said, brushing away Alina's hand and reaching for the ball again.
"But—" Alina was cut off as Aikagi picked up the black ball, and a bright light filled the room, and Aikagi collapsed to the floor and the ball rolled from her fingers.
"Aikagi!" Alina dropped to her knees and shook the unconscious girl. "Aikagi what's wrong?" As she tried to wake her unconscious friend, the glass orb rolled back and bumped into Alina. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she too fell unconscious.
"…a….lina…!...Alina!"
Alina shot up from her unconscious state. "What happened?"
Aikagi sighed. "Good, you're alright."
Alina looked around at the large grassy field they were in. "Where are we?" she asked, wrapping her arms around herself.
"No clue," Aikagi said, helping Alina up.
"I thought you said it wouldn't eat us…" Alina muttered.
"…"
They heard music from far away, traveling on the light, pleasant summer breeze. It sounded like…
"A guitar?"
Aikagi shrugged. "Let's head that way and see."
They followed the music until they found someone sitting at the base of one of the rolling hills, strumming on the weirdest shaped guitar they'd ever seen.
He noticed them before they had a chance to start down the opposite hill. He jumped up and ran toward them, waving spastically. Once he reached them he was huffing and puffing at the effort of running up the small hill. His dirty blonde hair was in some sort of strange mohawk-mullet thing, which on anyone else, would have looked weird, but it fit him. He straightened up, his blue-green eyes full of joy and curiosity as he examined them.
"I was right, you are new people!" he said happily. "It's been a while since there've been newbies here, but I'm surprised she didn't have a party planned and all, she usually does."
The girls shared a confused look.
"Oh sorry, the name's Demyx," he said, holding out his hand for them to shake.
Alina reluctantly took his hand and shook it, keeping her other hand latched painfully to Aikagi's arm. "Alina…"
"Aikagi…" she said crossing her arms, refusing to take Demyx's hand. He gave her a puzzled look then just shrugged.
"Anyway, we should go see if she has a party ready for you." he said.
"She? She who?" Aikagi asked.
"Hmm? Oh, Aspasia," he said, his voice seeming to caress the name.
"Aspasia?" the girls echoed.
"Yeah, she's kinda like… our caretaker, you could say. Everyone loves her. She's nice, pretty, smart, funny…."
Aikagi raised an eyebrow at Alina, who just shrugged.
"You'll just have to meet her," he said, starting back down the hill. The girls threw each other another look before following.
Demyx grabbed his instrument from where he'd set it at the bottom of the hill.
"What kinda guitar is that?" Aikagi asked.
"This? Oh it's not a guitar, it's a sitar," he explained, strumming a few chords.
"That explains the shape kinda…." Aikagi muttered.
"Hmm… it's kind of a long walk… do you guys want a ride?"
"Umm… a ride on what?" Aikagi said, looking around. "There's kind of a vacancy of vehicles."
Demyx's grin was huge and devious, as he lifted his fingers to his mouth, and let out a long, loud whistle.
The girls heard a clicking sound from somewhere behind them, and turned around to see something gray winding around the hills. It almost seemed as if it was swimming through the air. It was flying, yet… had no wings…?
Both girls had huge eyes as the large gray creature came up to them, and nuzzled Demyx with its nose, clicking happily. Demyx laughed.
"This is Sakana," he said, still giggling.
"Holy crap! It's a fricken dolphin!" Aikagi said in disbelief.
Demyx looked at them with a confused look on his face. "What? You've never seen a dolphin before?"
"I've never seen one that could fly through the air! Let alone one that big!" Aikagi said looking at the large aquatic mammal that was as big around as a hippo.
Alina reached out with one hand—the other still gripping Aikagi's sleeve—and gently stroked the creature.
"It…it feels like it's underwater… its skin is wet and slippery," she said. Sakana turned around and nuzzled Alina. The force of the strong animal caused her to fall backwards. Aikagi quickly grabbed and steadied the frail girl.
"Sakana!" Demyx scolded. The dolphin bowed its head guiltily. "You can't be so rough with people!" he shook his finger at the creature, who bowed its head in a sad gesture. "Anyway, so do you guys want a ride?" he asked, returning attention to the girls.
Aikagi gave him a skeptic look. "I think I'd rather wa—alk!"
Demyx didn't give her time to finish, as he grabbed her and hoisted her on top of the massive dolphin. He did the same with Alina, and then jumped up himself, slinging his sitar over his back with the leather strap that was connected to it.
"Let's go!" he said, and the dolphin took off at top speed.
As they went racing by, Aikagi and Alina noticed creatures that shouldn't normally be anywhere near each other were calmly gathered at a small pond.
"What's up with this place?" Aikagi said quietly to Alina, who sat behind her. "It feels like spring, but it's the middle of November, and all of those animals… they're all from different places. And times!" she said referring to the saber-tooth-tiger and the wolly mammoth, who where standing near their non-extinct relatives.
Alina shrugged. "Maybe we can get someone to explain to us," she suggested.
"What are you guys whispering about back there?" Demyx asked. "If you're worried about something, don't. Everything is perfect here."
The girls gave each other a confused look.
"Nothings really perfect." Alina said.
"Oh, but here it is." he said. A few seconds later he said; "We're here!"
The girls looked over his shoulders and saw a huge castle at the top of one of the hills that seemed to be just a bit taller than the ones around it. A few trees and tons of flowers gave a pleasant look about the place; people walked about, or laid lazily in the shade of the trees, seeming to not have a care in the world. There were two fairly large pastures, one full of horses, and another one next to it full of… Chocobos?
The dolphin slowed to a stop near the huge front doors, allowing the teens to hop off.
"Aikagi, this is…" Alina murmured.
"Hallow Bastion Castle…"
"Well, come on," Demyx beckoned, not hearing their small exchange. He walked up the huge doors, and pushed them open, seemingly without effort.
Inside were even more people, although it didn't seem crowded as they walked about the large, open room, going up and down the large stair case, and went in and out of rooms.
"Wow… it seems a lot bigger when there isn't all that ruble in the way," Aikagi mused.
"What?" Demyx asked.
"Oh—nothing," she quickly said. He shrugged.
Suddenly a boy with brown spiky hair came running across the huge expanse of floor, his large shoes slapping on the tiles as he did. People easily avoided him.
"Demyx!" he waved. The mulleted-boy waved lazily back.
"Hey, Sora."
He slid to a stop in front of them, leaning over to catch his breath before crossing one leg over the other and putting his hands behind his head.
"Aspasia's been lookin' for ya," Sora said.
"Where is she?" Demyx asked, his shoulders straightening.
"Library." Only then did the spiky-haired brunette seem to notice the two girls standing behind Demyx. "Who're you guys?" he asked curiously.
"Oh, this is Aikagi and Alina," Demyx explained. "I wanted to introduce them to Aspasia."
"Hi, I'm Sora," he said holding out his fingerless-gloved-hand, a wide grin on his face.
Aikagi reluctantly shook his hand. "Hi…"
"Well, come on, lets go find Aspasia," Demyx said, making his way through the thin crowd. Aikagi followed, Alina desperately clinging to her arm, and Sora following not far behind.
Aikagi looked back at Alina. "Are you okay?" she asked quietly.
Alina nodded, focusing on her breathing, and not the people around her. She suffered from agoraphobia, or in other words, open spaces and/or large crowds. It wasn't as bad when she was outside in the fresh air, but inside of large rooms, like the one they were in now, made her anxiety peak, especially when there were other people around.
They walked up the stairs, and made several turns down long halls, and up one more flight of stairs and another hall before they made it to a large set of doors.
Demyx pushed the door open just enough for them to get through, and entered the room. Aikagi's and Alina's jaws dropped when they saw the huge-butt library.
The shelves were easily 25 feet tall, and there were about 20 of these, and up a flight of stairs there were even more books that were visible. A few tables here and there decorated the few spaces not taken up by book shelves.
There was a boy with blue-gray hair sitting at a desk, reading a book very intently, not even looking up when the four people came in.
"Hey, Zexy," Demyx said waving to the emo-haired-boy. He made no response. "Oh come on, Zexion, say hi to our new guests," Demyx said, grabbing the book from Zexion. "Hmm, Alice in Wonderland. I never pictured you for such a girly book, Zexion."
Zexion swiped the book from the mulleted-boy and hit him upside the head with it. "It's a classic." Was all he said before returning to his reading.
"You're so mean…" he turned back to the girls. "Don't mind him, he always does this when he gets a book he really likes," Demyx said, rubbing his head where it had been struck.
"I do the same thing actually," Aikagi muttered.
"Oh, there she is; Aspasia!" Demyx said, not even caring to keep his voice down in the near-empty library.
A girl with black hair was sitting by herself at one of the tables, and looked up at the sound of her name. Her face lit up with a brilliant smile as she closed her book and skipped over them.
"Demyx!" she said, throwing her arms around him. When she let go, her bright green eyes turned to the two girls. "Oh, and who are you?" she asked.
"This is Aikagi and Alina," Demyx said. "I found them out in the fields."
The girl put her hands together in a joyous gesture. "Oh, it's wonderful to have new guests!" She looked over at the far table where a guy with brown hair was sitting quietly reading his book. "Squall, come and say hello!"
He looked up, and closed his book, carrying it with him as he went to the upper portion of the library, not saying a word.
"Oh, he's such a sour-puss," Aspasia said, putting her hands on her hips.
"I think he's mad 'cuz you used his first name," Sora said.
"Oooh…" she pouted. The expression was gone in a flash, replaced by a bright smile. "I wonder if Damien knows you're here."
As if on queue, someone burst through the library doors, flinging them wide open.
"Damien!" Aspasia said happily, running over to the freakishly tall man, and wrapping her arms round his waist.
"Hello there, Aspasia," he said warmly, looking down at her, his snow white hair falling around to frame his pale face.
"We have guests, Damien!" she said, sounding like a small child.
He turned his gaze upward and his yellow-pupil-less eyes towards the strangers. A shiver ran up both Aikagi and Alina's spines. His expression seemed confused for a moment, but then it was replaced as a smile worked its way across his lips. The smile was terrifying.
"So we do."