Hello, everyone.. to make up for me having to break my two week posting pattern (foreshadowing), this chapter is very long...
So in case you missed my hint in the first sentence, mid-terms is here for me which means less free time to write what I want. So the tenth chapter will be delayed a least a week. awww
Disclaimer: I do not own anything that is not mine...
Risa cautiously enters the tunnel, following her senses towards an unusual presence. She tries to stay focus on the heat radiating off the presence as she navigates her way through the dark. Reaching the end, a blinding light greets her causing a lost of sight temporally. Risa's moment of vulnerability is taken advantage of as she slips down a newly constructed staircase.
"Ow" Risa groans, as she clings to the stone railing. Pulling herself to her feet, she peers down the steep stairs, relieved that she caught herself. Her gaze follows the stairs as they lead to a construction site, complete with flimsy barricades and rusted pipes. Amongst the rumble is a swarm of heartless, floating idly unaware of Risa's presence. They begin to converge on one spot, until two suddenly disintegrate and the swarm becomes active. Three, four more are destroyed, as she skims the area for the source of their destruction.
She spots a man with spiked brown hair, as he fights off the swarm, surrounded by heartless. Recognizing the man, Risa slides down the stone railing, avoiding the steps all together. She lands firmly on the ground, then charges at the nearest heartless. After summoning her Keyblade, she makes a clean strike at the shadow heartless causing it to disappear. Cutting through the swarm, she heads towards the center, with fierce determination shinning in her eyes.
She sees the man's figure out of the corner of her eye, distracting her momentarily as a heartless grazes her arm causing her to stumble backwards. Unable to stabilizes, Risa braces herself for collision with the ground. However, instead of banging her head against the cold, hard floor, she falls into a pair of strong arms. Tilting her head upwards, her indigo eyes meet a pair of green eyes belonging to the man she saw before.
"Squall..." Risa whispers, "Uh, I mean Leon." An expression of surprise spreads across Leon's face at the sound of his name and he quickly diverts his gaze from the girl. He spins her back onto her feet and turns around, his Gunblade out stretched, returning to the battle. Snapping out of her daze, Risa tightens her grip on her Keyblade and thrusts forward at the heartless.
"How do you know my name?" asks Leon, trying to keep the gap between him and Risa to a minimal.
"I, ah, heard it from someone…" responds Risa, as she takes another swing at the heartless.
"Why are you here?"
"Well, I thought you could use some hel-" Leon cuts her off, as he grabs her arm and spins her into his chest. Risa feels her face turn a deep shade of red, as he squeezes her closer so she is unable to move. He takes his Gunblade and in one clean sweep eliminates the remaining heartless above their heads. After letting go, Leon takes one last look around the area to make sure all the heartless are taken care of, and then turns to leave.
"Wait!" Risa exclaims. She starts to run after him, but is distracted by a foreign object beginning thrown at her. It is a small green bottle labeled 'potion'.
"For your arm" Leon says. Risa smiles in gratitude but before she can respond, he is gone. Scrunching up her face in irritation, she runs off in his direction.
Following the heat radiating off his heart, Risa navigates her way through the underground maze. Afraid of losing the signal, she slowly makes her way around the corners avoiding any heartless that would randomly pop up in front of her. She finally reaches a single hallway leading to a small, empty study.
The circular room consists of a multitude of books lined along shelves mounted against the walls and a small table in the center, buried under loose papers. Proceeding through a door on the opposite end, she finds herself on a catwalk overlooking a strange warehouse filled with capsule like things. Voices are heard from the opposite end, and Risa kneels by its opened doorway, out of sight, to hear better.
"Well, it's about time Leon!" exclaims Yuffie in irritation.
"Where's Riku?" asks Sora, ignoring the temperamental ninja.
"He's still with the King at Merlin's," responds Leon.
"Hey! Don't change the subject, what took you so long?!" Yuffie exclaims attempting to glare him down for an answer.
"I had to ditch a stray cat" Leon answers, returning her glare.
"I think your stray cat Leon," says Aerith "followed you home." The group turns toward the brown haired girl who spook, standing in the doorway, wearing a sweet smile, right behind the hiding Risa.
"The Organization!" exclaims Sora, as he, Donald, and Goofy pull out their weapons.
"No! Wait, I'm not part of the Organization!" defends Risa as she stands up her hands in the air.
"Then what's with the coat?" asks Yuffie, her shuriken at the ready.
"Well –"
"Risa?! What are you doing here?" asks a voice from behind both Aerith and Risa. They turn to look in the direction of the voice and see a blond haired girl sporting a black Organization coat, escorted by a certain spiked blond hero wearing equally as much black.
"Cloud!" states Aerith, referring to the man.
"Artemis!" says Risa.
"Riku!" exclaims Sora. The entire group turns around once more to see the silver haired, Keyblade wielder.
"Looks like I'm not the only one to find a girl wearing an Organization XIII coat" jokes Riku, "Now I don't feel so special."
"I can't believe they kicked us out!" exclaims Artemis "We offer them our services, and they refuse to fill us in on the important information." After quick introductions of everyone, and Risa, Riley, and Artemis gave their explanation of their purpose of seeking out the restoration committee, the meeting final was able to begin. However the group still unsure of what to make on the three newcomers, Riley, Risa, and Artemis had to what in the study until further notice.
"That's so typical!" she stomps, her foot, and glares at nothing in particular "What are you doing Risa?"
"I'm trying to hear what they're saying" Risa replies, pushing her ear closer to the study's door.
"Any luck?"
"No" Risa sighs.
"They're talking about how they finally decoded something" says Riley.
"You can hear them? What are they saying? Come on, relay" states Risa, as fast as physically possible.
"There's typing ... and uh … too many voices" Riley reaches into a once concealed pocket and pulls out pair of headphones. "Here put these in."
"But there not attached to anything" Risa says grabbing one of the ear buds, while Artemis puts in the other.
"It's just an idea." Riley holds on to the metal part of the headphones, focusing on the sounds drifting from the computer lab. Tapping into the energy she uses to summon her Keyblade, she channels it through the headphones sending sound waves through its speakers.
"... So I don't get it, are these Oracles on our side or the Nobodies? And what is an Oracle anyway?" asks Sora, his voice floating through the speakers.
"An oracle is a being with wisdom, power, and a connection with the universe that surpasses most physical laws" states King Mickey.
"Anyway, using the documents that were stored with the stolen scroll, with Tron's help, we were able to recreate the missing half" Leon adds.
"5 Oracles of the senses
with powers to conquer their foe;
2 will turn from the light.
The 3 that will remain
basking in the glow;
they will be chosen to fight.
A power for the ages
released from the land
where even Heartless dare not tread.
3 Oracles of yin, 2 Oracles of yang,
never having met yet connected through eternity;
they seek knowledge from their land to forge ahead.
The saviors of Nobodies may rise or may fall,
but only a few will answer the call."
"If they're the saviors of Nobodies wouldn't that make them our enemy?" asks Goofy.
"Only 2 of them" replies Leon.
"Then we need to find the other three, before the Organization!" Sora concludes.
"My thoughts exactly."
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
"Not so fast there boys!" exclaims Yuffie.
"Yes, there will be plenty of time for adventure tomorrow, but tonight you should rest up at headquarters" adds Aerith.
"She's right Sora; don't be in such a hurry. Besides it will give us the opportunity to question our guests" says Riku. As the conversation ends, Riley, Risa, and Artemis hear footsteps not through the speakers, but on the other side of the door. Riley scrambles to hide the head phones, as Artemis and Risa get into causal positions. The restoration committee, plus three, head back to Merlin's, but along the way Risa, Artemis, and Riley make a pit stop to have a small meeting of their own.
Cloud steps out of the restoration committee headquarters, curious as to the disappearance of the three young girls. They definitely know more then they let on, and he is going to figure out why. If he could only talk to one of them alone...
A group of Heartless interrupts his thoughts, appearing out of nowhere. Cloud quickly dispatches them, except for one that manages to escape near the bailey. Foregoing the stairs, he jumps up a series of ledges, cutting off its escape, and gets rid of it, too. As he begins to walk away, he hears a soft exclamation from inside the bailey, followed by another voice saying, "Keep it down! We need to talk about this." He stops, recognizing the voice, and slightly turns around. Getting closer he can understand the conversation, but what he hears prevents him from making his presence known.
"They deserve to know," says a voice Cloud recognizes as Artemis.
"But what if they kick us out or something?" another voice chimes in. The girl that followed Leon, Cloud realizes. What was her name? Risa. "I mean, not everyone will like the idea."
"By that you mean Leon won't like it," Artemis responds.
"Of course he won't! Not right away at least."
"That's why we're only going to tell the more level-headed ones at first," the third girl, Riley, adds. "They can help convince Leon we're still on his side."
"Actually, we're more or less neutral," Artemis corrects. "We're helping the restoration committee and the Organization, so we're on both sides."
"But the Organization isn't working against them."
"That's not the point. Think about it: the Committee finds out we're these mythical Oracles. The Organization, which has been their enemy until now, already knows, and we're wearing Organization coats. If they're smart they won't trust us completely; we could be double agents."
"Ah."
"Yeah."
"So we're telling at least two people," Risa says.
"Just two for now. We'll tell more when these two have had some time to get used to the idea," Riley says, "Anyway, we'd better get back."
"Yeah, someone's bound to have noticed we're gone by now," Artemis says.
Cloud looks around for a shadow to hide in as he hears footsteps and finds one to the right of the bailey entrance. The girls appear in the doorway and begin to walk across the platform toward the stairs when Artemis kneels down.
"No, go on, I'll just be a sec," she says when the others turn back. "My shoe came untied."
Riley and Risa just shrug and start walking away. As her friends disappear down the stairs Artemis stands and looks out into the darkening sky.
"Can I help you with something?" she asks. When Cloud doesn't respond she turns toward the corner, in which he is hiding. "I know you're there."
"How?' he asks as he steps into the light.
"Just a feeling," she replies, nervously rubbing the back of her neck. "I guess you heard …"
"You three are the Oracles." It wasn't a question. Artemis is glad of the red glow of the setting sun as she feels blood rush to her face.
"Yes, we are," she says quietly. "Not that it changes what we're doing here." Her voice returns to its normal volume. "Believe me, Cloud; we were going to tell you eventually."
"So I heard." He gives her a small smirk. "Don't worry, your secret's safe with me." A sigh of relief escapes the girl's lips as she gives him a grateful smile.
"Thanks, Cloud." A sudden thought strikes her. "So you're ok with this? The whole Oracle thing?"
He shrugs. "Why not? You haven't changed, we just know a little more about you. I can't say Leon will be of the same mind, though," he adds.
"No, he won't, but we knew that." She glances toward the town at Merlin's house. "I think it'll turn out fine."
Cloud stands next to her and puts a hand on her shoulder. "Let's go; we don't need you getting in trouble."
Risa and Riley are almost back to Merlin's when they spot Riku a short distance away. He must have been watching for them, because as soon as they were close enough to be seen he begins to walk toward them.
"Riley," they hear him say, "We need to talk." Risa looks at Riley, wondering if she should stay or go. Where was Artemis, anyway? It shouldn't take this long to tie a shoe. Unless …
"It's ok, Risa, I'll meet you inside," Riley says, walking up to Riku. Risa shrugs and walks inside, making up a story to explain her friends' absence as she steps over the threshold. When she is gone Riley and Riku walk across the square to a thick aboveground pipe that serves as an ideal bench. Riley sits on the exposed pipe while Riku leans against the nearby wall. A moment passes by in silence before Riku says four very simple words with one very complicated meaning:
"So you're the Oracles."
Riley stiffens and looks at Riku, trying to gauge his expression. "How do you know?"
"I overheard you talking. When the three of you disappeared, I warped into the bailey. If you want a private, chat that's the most secluded place besides the old castle. I was in the inner doorway."
"Ah, so it was your heartbeat that I heard…" she mumbles to herself.
"Huh?"
"I guess this means we're done working together, then," she says, disappointed.
"Now who said that?" Riku asks, quirking an eyebrow. "If anything it's another reason to keep you around. Imagine what would happen if you fell into the wrong hands. Besides," he grins, "it should prove to be interesting." As the two of them wrap up their conversation, Artemis and Cloud come down the stairs.
"Hey, where've you been?" Riley asks. "Having a little heart-to-heart with Cloud?"
"Maybe," Artemis jokes. "In the meantime, it looks like you found Riku. I take it he knows now, too?"
"Yep"
"Great, let's get inside; we should find out what's been going on …" Artemis trails off as a blur of red and black is caught in the corner of her eye, then using her mind's eye she hones in on the spot. "Why is Axel here?" she whispers to Riley.
"Oh no, I promised him we'd meet him here at sunset. I didn't realize it was that late" Riley whispers back, pausing on the doorstep as the boys make their way inside. She looks around inside until she stops Risa sitting down on a nearby chair.
"Hey Risa could you come hear a sec?" asks Artemis, motioning for Risa to come outside. Despite the questioning look Risa gives her friends, she approaches the doorway.
"Ready?" she whispers to Riley, and receives a reassuring nod in return.
"One, two, three."
Artemis and Riley grab Risa's arms, pulling her outside, and then slamming the door shut before the others inside could react. Summoning her Keyblade Riley uses it as a barricade jamming the door, while Artemis leads Risa down a near by ally way. Where an opened dark portal is waiting for them. All three girls run through it, just as Riley's Keyblade disappears and the restoration committee opens the door to an empty square.
As Riley, Risa, and Artemis walk out of the portal, the first thing to greet them is their favorite Nobody, Axel. "So did we all have a productive evening?" The girls answer him with tired faces and the realization that they skipped both lunch and supper.
Axel pushes open the door and they walk in. Artemis, Riley, and Risa stare in awe at the spacious kitchen; cabinets, stoves, and ovens line the walls. A long counter sits in the middle of the room, with a few scattered stools placed around it. Sitting at one of the stools is the indigo haired Nobody, Naxiar, chewing on a piece of toast.
"Good you're here. Which means I can leave," says Axel. Naxiar tries to refuse despite having a mouth full of bread, but Axel just warps out. He swallows down what remains of the snack and proceeds to clean up.
"What are you doing down here Naxiar?" asks Risa, as she opens varies cabinet doors.
"Kitchen duty" he bluntly states.
"Wouldn't that be Demyx's job, since he's water oriented?" asks Artemis jokingly.
"It is, but he's off on assignment," he grumbles. "Lock up when you're done." He warps out, leaving the girls alone in the sixth floor's kitchen. Artemis and Riley take a seat while Risa continues to shuffle through the Organization's food supply.
"So, who else's day was more then a little overwhelming?" says Risa, as she takes out a box of noodles. "Talk about fav. character overload."
"It was fairly tense during introductions," says Artemis.
"Yeah, especially meeting Donald, Goofy, and King Mickey. Is ramen ok with you guys?" Risa asks.
"Yeah" says Artemis.
"Sure" mumbles Riley. Time passes quickly, in silence and before long Risa dishes out three bowls of steaming hot ramen.
"That was fast," says Artemis, twirling her chopsticks.
"Instant broth" Risa replies followed by another pause. "So when can we tell Leon?"
"Didn't we already discuss this? Hey Riley, back me up here."
"You've been awfully quit Riley, at least more then usual. Did something happen with Riku?"
"I warped," says Riley, pushing her noodles around in her bowl. Both Risa and Artemis exchange confused looks before she continues. "When I first met Riku. A heartless snuck up on me and I reacted. I didn't want to tell you guys until we were alone."
"Was it swirling vortex warping or disappearing in a flash of darkness warping?" asks Artemis.
"Flash of darkness."
"How did it feel?" asks Risa, leaning in closer out of concern and curiosity.
"Natural, chaotic, and kind of light."
"But since when can you control the darkness?" Risa asks.
"It makes sense, since we are neutral in a way and the Keyblades are primarily light oriented, we were bound to start showing some signs of dark powers," adds Artemis. "Can we assume Riku told the others?"
"Actually, I don't think he did or will now that he knows our secret," says Riley as she begins to nibble on her food.
"Makes sense and now we've created an alliance on both sides, so the next step –"
Ring Ring Ring Ring
Artemis answers her cell phone, a slightly confused look on her face. "Hello?"
"Who is this?" demands a male voice on the other end of the line.
"James? It's Arty."
"That's impossible; my sister's in a coma." For a moment, Artemis sits there, speechless, making Riley and Risa wonder what was said. She quickly regains her composure, however.
"A coma, huh? Well, that explains a lot, but I swear it's really me."
"I'm sitting in your hospital room; it can't be you." The uncomfortable silence makes a brief comeback. Artemis stands up and begins pacing along the side of the counter, trying to vocalize her thoughts, when her brother interrupts her.
"Prove it."
She stops pacing immediately. "What?"
"Tell me something only you would know."
"Something only I … way to put me on the spot, Jameson."
"Sorry, I want to believe you, but –"
"I caught you making out with Sarah Mitchell after a football game your freshman year. You agreed to drive me to fencing lessons in exchange for silence. Will that work?"
It's Jameson's turn to pause. A smirk spreads across Artemis' face as Jameson finally says, "Where are you, Arty?"
"Err, Kingdom Hearts?"
"The video game? You can't be serious."
"Riley and Risa are here, too. Let me put you on speaker." She presses a button on her phone and sets it on the counter, then sits back down pushing her half-eaten ramen bowl aside.
"Hey James," says Riley and Risa in unison.
"This is absolutely maniacal," Jameson says.
"We've got Organization XIII coats and everything!" Risa exclaims.
"I never really finished the game, but aren't they supposed to be the bad guys?"
"It's a long story," Artemis laughs.
"I'm not going anywhere." The girls can hear him sitting back in his chair and Artemis can almost picture him sitting on an angle with one foot on the floor and the other on the chair cushion. Same old James, always willing to listen to some story or problem. He usually had some good insight, too.
"Well, sounds like you've got a problem," he says after the girls relate their tale. "Overactive imaginations."
"What, you want proof for this too? Isn't the fact that you're talking to three coma patients enough?" Artemis groans. "You know, Jameson, you weren't this much of a skeptic before you joined the Air Force. I'll call you back."
She hangs up the phone and puts it in one of her coat pockets, where it disappears among the folds. Then she pulls it out again, looking at it thoughtfully.
"How are we going to prove we're in a video game?" Riley asks.
"With this," Artemis says, flipping open her phone again and snapping a picture of Riley and Risa. "Let's see how photogenic Axel is in the morning."
Told you it was long, my longest chapter yet, so did you think that's a good thing or not?
Please let me know how I can make the story better. Oh, and I wonder how many of you caught the major foreshadowing moment in the 7th chapter ... muhahaha
