Chapter 5
Scythe Meister

(Kingdom Hearts Zack's point of view)

We trudged across the purple landscape, Zack and I. We had learned each other's names as we explained our missions for being here. I also told him about Rex, and how he must have been sent to the wrong Zack. "Well, I can't wait to see him again. But tell me- if you're not from this world, then how come you know he evolved?" He asked me.

"Uhh, well… I uhh…" I couldn't tell him that his world, Pokémon, was just a video game to me back home. I came up with something instant for an excuse. "He told me."

"Yeah, sure. How could you talk to him? I was born with the ability to talk to Pokémon, but you? I doubt it."

"My spaceship has a universal translator built-in. If you're part of the crew, you can use it anywhere and at any time." That part wasn't a lie. However, the griseous orb suddenly stopped glowing, but I still sensed Giratina's heart nearby. "He's real close, I remember this hill. The cage he's trapped in is near the top."

"Then let me handle the talking. Odds are you have no idea how to properly address a deity." He walked forward, and I had no argument. I really didn't, and as I've learned from travelling with him, I should just entertain him rather than argue with him.

"Giratina, Guardian of the Reverse World, I have your Griseous Orb. Please, accept it." He said when we reached the top. Giratina looked at him with curiosity, but replied to him.

{Thank you for bringing me my orb, children of humans. Please, bring it closer- I cannot reach it from inside the cage.} Zack walked forward, placing the orb inside of the bars. Giratina touched it with his nose, and transformed, losing his legs to become a flying serpent of sorts. His body had golden spikes protruding from it, and his wings had separated into six smaller ones, each ending in a red spike. In short, he was now fifteen times more badass.

"Excellent." I heard a voice say. A flash of pink light enveloped Giratina, slowly fading to black. As it did so, I saw his eyes fill with rage, and waves of darkness covered his body. "You will make a fine Nobody, of that I am certain."

I turned, to see a figure hooded in the Organization XIII coat I knew well. One of his hands was releasing the energy, while the other held a pink scythe, with a green handle. I launched an arrow at his hand, halting the energy flow.

{Augh… the power… consuming… me…} Giratina said, roaring in pain. As he screamed out, a large Heartless insignia formed on his head. The cage shattered, and he flew free, blasting random areas of the landscape with dragonbreath. I saw Zack turn from the sight, to me.

"I'll take care of Giratina. You handle that creep over there!" he said, running after the enraged deity. I faced the stranger, summoning my bow.

"Who are you?" I asked. The figure threw down its hood, to reveal blue eyes and long, pink hair. What gender are you? I asked in my head.

"My name is Marluxia," He said. I could tell it was a male from the voice. "Organization XIII's number XI. Or should I say, one of our four surviving members. You helped to see to that."

"So does that make you the new leader, or something?"

"No, unfortunately, I am the only non-traitor that survived. Axel and Roxas are nowhere to be found, but I'm sure you know our Number XIV well."

"I do. What do you want, Marluxia? Why are you here?"

"To the point, huh? I like that. To the first, I want the same goal that every other Nobody wants- a way to get into Kingdom Hearts and reunite with my heart. To the second, to create an army of Nobodies that will help me with this task."

"That means Giratina isn't a full-fledged Heartless yet, or his Nobody would be here."

"Correct, your little intervention made sure of that. Stand aside, so that I may be able to finish what I started."

"I'll die before I do so." I said. "I cannot let you harm the lives of others to further your own gain. My duty as a Keyblade Knight demands that."

"Such a pity, then. I didn't want to have to kill one as young as you. It would leave a bad feeling in my heart."

"Don't make me laugh. Nobodies don't have hearts."

He laughed at my response. "Then you are smarter than the last Keyblade wielder I met. He was so naïve. But then again, so are you if you think you can stop me."

He lunged forward with his scythe, swinging in a large arc to try t hit me. I ducked under the blade as it came near me, firing a close-range arrow into his chest. He was knocked back, and I launched more arrows at him, each of them deflected by graceful parries or dodged by equally graceful jumps. His scythe hooked around my bow, pulling it from my grasp and threatening to kill me.

I jumped, calling my bow to my hands in blade form. I dropped down, pinning his weapon to the ground. I smirked in my attack, feeling confident. However, it's always right then and there that something happens to ruin that confidence. He launched a wave of energy at me, knocking me away. I found myself covered with rose petals, which I shook off.

"Why don't you just give up?" He said. "It would be easier for the both of us." He swung his weapon t me, and I barely blocked it in time.

"Because," I said, twirling around and landing a vertical slash on his forehead. "I'm just not the type to give up." He faced me with rage; anger- or pseudo anger, nobodies don't have emotions- filling his form. I apparently struck a nerve by ruining his visage.

I just hope Zack is having a better time fighting Giratina…

(A/N: I hope Zack will last more than three seconds against that dragon. See you all next week. ~Nano)