Chapter Ten:

"Rise and shine, sleepy head!"

Heero's eyes shot open at the abrasive sound of Donald's voice in his ear. His arms reflexively twitched and, in a split second's thought, he fought back the urge to snatch the duck by its long, thin neck.

He sat up and fixed a steady glare on the now grinning duck. "Finally you are awake!" Donald said happily. Heero wondered if the creature was happy to annoy him. "Come on, we have to meet Sora at the castle." Then, with a ruffle of white feathers the duck turned and exited from the tent. Once alone, Heero rubbed his head and closed his eyes once more. His body felt exceptionally refreshed and he had, surprisingly, had a restful sleep. He let his eyes crack open once more and looked around the empty tent.

The night before Sora had retrieved this tent from his pocket. It was encapsulated within a round, glowing orb. He had watched as the other boy threw the orb against the ground. A plume of thick, yellow smoke burst forth from the broken orb and, when the smoke cleared, the four-person tent had been erected where broken glass should have been.

He glanced over to the spot where Sora had curled up to sleep. Sora was gone, but his rumpled, used sleeping bag remained. Heero looked down at his own sleeping bag, kicked it off of his legs then pulled himself to a crouch within the small tent. Donald had no problem walking inside, but Heero was far too tall to stand upright. After settling himself into a comfortable stance he began pushing around the empty sleeping bags, looking for his personal items. He found his new large, round shoes and the Gunblade in a pile by the foot of his sleeping bag. He grabbed the Gunblade's handle and lifted it from the ground. The blade now had a molded holster around it. He studied the thick, black leather straps that held the holster closely. Where did this come from? The question soon faded from his thoughts. There was no time or true reason to question such things. With an absent shrug he gathered his belongings and then shuffled towards the opening flap of the tent. He stumbled gracelessly out. Once the tent had been evacuated by all of its tenants it began to shrink. It became smaller and smaller until it vanished completely.

Heero watched the tent disappear with uplifted eyebrows before turning to face Donald, who was standing a few feet away glowering at him, obviously impatient.

"Well, are you going to dilly-dally all day or can we get to some business!?" The cranky duck exclaimed before turning to waddle away. Heero squinted against the bright morning light, threw his shoes on the ground, stuffed his feet into them, and then began jogging to catch up with Donald.

The morning air was cool and crisp. It must have been early because a thin layer of moisture still hung in the air. Heero studied his surroundings closely. They had made camp in the housing district. The night before Sora had called it "the Borough". Despite all of the small, low roofed homes within the Borough Heero had yet to see any life other than Sora's team of creatures. There seemed to be more life in the Marketplace than in the Borough.

Heero's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar low, pulsing sound. He paused and turned around to face the direction from which the noise had come. On the ground a few yards away was an indistinct shape of blue light. However, this time a large, clear ball sat atop its pulsing surface. The light shifted against the cobblestone to the right, then to the left as if searching for something.

"Donald. Wait." Heero said loudly, trying to alert the duck. Donald was mumbling to himself, and didn't seem to have heard him.

The object on the ground was making a slow, lazy circle. Heero squeezed his Gunblade's handle tightly.

"Donald…" Heero called. The duck continued to waddle away.

"You stupid duck, come here!" He finally yelled over his shoulder. The slapping sound of the duck's webbed feet against the stone ceased.

"WHAT!" Donald practically screamed. Just as he did the glowing object on the ground shifted towards them and an eight foot pillar of light exploded up into the air. The cylindrical hologram shimmered for a few seconds before dropping back to the ground.

"What is that?" Heero asked quietly. He had unsheathed his Gunblade and held the tip pointed at the mysterious thing on the ground. Donald's feet slapped loud against the ground as he stomped towards him.

"That's just a security system." Donald grumbled. "Come on, we gotta go! And put that silly gun thing down! It isn't gonna hurt you, it only attacks the Heartless and Nobodies."

Heero frowned and reluctantly put the Gunblade back in its holster. Nobodies? I am not even going to ask… Donald huffed, annoyed, and resumed his angry waddle towards the stairs that led to the bailey where Heero had found Sora the day before. Heero followed, silent. He studied everything as they passed. At the top of the stairs was a large, rusty crane. They turned right and walked along a high stone wall towards the bailey. Heero gazed over the tops of the small houses in the Borough. He saw a flash of faint blue-white light from an alleyway in the distance.

Security system… He wondered about what Donald had said for a moment. So, they have computers in this world, that is to say, if that hologram thing was created by a computer and not magic. He frowned and looked down at his Gunblade as he walked. But… anything can happen here, it seems. Perhaps they can incorporate magic in technology, too? Just like this gun… Once again whenever he tried to rationalize and find logic in things it just ended up making his head ache. He shook away the thoughts that surfaced in his mind and tried to focus on his new weapon. The holster's straps looked to be arm holes. As he followed Donald into the bailey he managed to slide his arms into the loops. The holster's thick yet pliable leather rested perfectly against his back and shoulders. The Gunblade was now nestled securely under his left arm.

The sounds of their footsteps echoed against the low ceiling of the inner Bailey's tunnel. Donald led him to the end of the tunnel and to the right. The Bailey's ceiling vanished to reveal a powder blue sky above. They descended two sets of twisting stairs. After the second set Heero saw that one of the Bailey walls had been badly damaged. Stone lie carelessly in large piles and what looked to be the top of a tower had fallen to its side on top of the wreckage. Loose pebbles lined the ground as they passed and Donald kicked at them. Across from the wreckage was a large, corroded gate. Here Donald stopped and turned around to aim an icy glare at Heero.

"Okay. Now, you listen to me… this part is very dangerous so you got to stay close to me, and don't try anything funny!" The duck instructed with gusto. With a burst of light the duck's staff appeared in wing. "Got it? Just stay behind me!"

Then he pushed the gate open. The gate shimmered as he touched it, but then the glow faded and it became dull and ordinary once more. Donald led him through it, and then slammed it closed behind them. The gate glowed once more, and this time retained its copper shimmer.

Does that glow make it secure? Heero wondered, and then scolded himself for having such a random thought. Now I am starting to lose my mind and think everything is magic… this place is ruining my good sense. He thought this with a wry smile. He followed closely behind the duck. Donald's head was swaying back and forth as he surveyed the area and his arm was uplifted with his staff held at the ready. Heero narrowed his eyes at the staff. What is he going to do with that, bludgeon something to death? This thought made him smile more.

They walked slowly through a narrow, shallow canyon. It was littered with construction equipment. Just when Heero thought there was no real threat beyond the enchanted gate something moved in one of the darkened corners of the canyon. A figure seemed to have appeared from the stone wall and was approaching them. It floated just a few inches from the ground and was shifting and writhing strangely. It seemed to be person wrapped from head to toe in white and pink cloth. He couldn't see its face. Instinctively Heero grabbed his Gunblade from the holster and held it at ready… or, at least, how he thought was ready. He wasn't sure how to use this weapon, but he knew he could kill something with it if he had to.

Donald quacked loudly at the sight of the approaching creature, lifted his staff and yelled something Heero couldn't quite distinguish. Wind began to swirl up around them. Heero jumped, startled, and looked around him. A ball of wind had engulfed him and was now rustling his hair and clothes. Donald had an orb of air blowing around his body as well.

"What the… hell…." Heero then watched as Donald swung his staff and hollered a different incoherent phrase. A ball of fire burst from the tip of the duck's staff, flew through the air, then planted square in the oncoming enemy's chest. The creature shuddered, paused, and then approached once more. As it did it spun and twisted with inhuman flexibility and grace. Heero thought it looked as if it were dancing.

"THUNDER!" Donald wailed as he shook his staff over his head. Just as he spoke lightning pulsed over the creature's head before shooting down to strike at it. It fell backwards, twitched, and then vanished in a wisp of gray smoke.

"Come on!" Donald yelled over his shoulder and began to run down the twisting path. Heero followed. The swirl of wind remained around him, but did not hinder his progress. He was not sure what it was and wouldn't question it just yet. It did him no harm, so he wasn't going to worry himself over it. As they ran Heero glanced over his shoulder. More creatures began to slink out of the shadows and walls to pursue them.

What are those things? His mind raced as he trailed behind Donald. They look like that thing I killed on the ship. Just then the wind that had been swirling around him began to fade. Donald's orb of wind faded too, and within moments both had vanished.

"Just a little further!" Donald yelled as he ran. Heero nodded and easily kept up with the stout little duck. They came to the top of a hill and as they did a round, metallic platform came into view. Heero spotted Sora, Goofy and two other people standing within the circle. Why aren't they coming to help us? Heero thought as he ran. The creatures were nearing, twisting and writhing silently at their heels.

The moment Heero's feet hit the metal and stone platform he spun around to face the monsters. If they won't help, I will take care of them myself! He decided with a silent snarl. However, when he turned around with Gunblade in hand the monsters were gone. The path was empty.

"Hey guys!" Sora's voice called happily from behind him. "I was wondering what was taking you so long!" The cheerful boy sauntered up casually to them before offering Heero a pleasant smile. Sora's nonchalance agitated him.

"Where are they?" Heero asked, breathing heavily from the frantic uphill retreat. Sora's expression was still bright and unhindered.

"Oh, they can't come onto the Postern." Sora said plainly. He made a small gesture with his hand. "It is guarded by a spell and so is a safe spot." Then Sora's smile faded. Heero realized that his own face bore an angry frown. "Are you okay, Heero?"

Heero felt his anger flare into a rolling boil. "Okay? I was just chased up this hill by a bunch of monsters and you are wondering if I am okay?" He hissed angrily, his Gunblade still in hand. Sora put his hands up in protest.

"Wait… hold on, you are fine. You were in no danger, Donald was with you-"

Heero just glowered angrily at Sora, who seemed to be stumbling over himself to find just the right thing to say to reassure him.

"Trust me, you are fine. This place is safe." Sora attempted to change the subject. He pointed up at the looming towers and crooked, half-build walls of the castle in front of which they stood. Heero saw one of the two new figures approaching. His eyes immediately shot from glaring a hole in Sora's forehead to glaring at the approaching stranger.

"Is there a problem here?"

"Nah, Leon. He is just a little shook up. Heero, this is Leon." Sora said casually as he gestured at the newcomer. Leon stared at Heero for a long moment through long, brown bangs. Heero studied this Leon person carefully. He was tall, much taller than Sora and Heero, with well-defined muscles barely visible beneath a short, fur-lined coat. A long, dark scar trailed down the bridge of his nose and made his otherwise handsome face seem dark and foreboding. Heero also saw that he was holding a Gunblade, much like his own, but significantly larger.

Heero nodded at him. Leon returned the nod. They stood across from each other in silence, holding their Gunblades up as if in preparation to duel. Neither one of them made a move to speak in greeting, or to attack.

Heero saw Sora shift uncomfortably.

"Um… so, now that you two are introduced-"

Before Sora could continue a hand grasped his shoulder to silence him. Heero tore his eyes from Leon to see what caused Sora to go suddenly silent and came face to face with a woman.

It suddenly occurred to him that this woman was the first he had encountered since arriving in the town. She had kind, quiet green eyes flanked by two curtains of reddish brown bangs.

"I am Aerith." She said in a flat, expressionless tone. Heero quirked a brow at her lack of emotion and grasped her hand gently. He was surprised to feel that her handshake was firm and strong, defying her frail gentle appearance.

"Heero." He replied in response to her greeting. She nodded, smiled faintly, and then retreated back a few steps to stand behind Leon.

"So, I guess Sora hasn't explained much to you." Leon said slowly. He lifted his massive Gunblade up over a shoulder and placed it in some sort of holding mechanism against his back. "You are probably confused about all of this."

Finally, someone who understands! Heero silently rejoiced. He nodded in confirmation to Leon, who studied Heero's expressionless face with cool, steady blue eyes.

"It is a lot to explain. He said you would want to read Ansem's Reports. I think that will be good to give you an idea of how our worlds were torn apart as well as the origins of the Heartless, but it won't explain everything." Leon crossed his arms firmly over his chest and regarded Heero a little more casually. "A lot you will have to experience to understand, but we will try to make everything make as much sense as we can."

Heero felt his entire body relax as a sweeping sensation of relief overcame him. He nodded to Leon, who raised an eyebrow in acknowledgment.

"Good." Leon said flatly. "Come on, have a seat, there is a lot to say."