Hello again and hello to the new readers.

I'll just get the disclaimer over with here.

I own nothing save for Leah and the characters are owned by their respective creators.

Onward.

Compromises brings Comprehensions

Sora passed his blue eyes across the large bridge of Cid's ship, unbelieving of what kind of situation they were in now. They were halfway to the Planet, Cloud's home world, with enough keybearers for an ambush on the Villain's Circle. He was feeling tense, worried, glad, grateful, and suspicious of this whole mission.

'How did it come to this?'

XxXxXxXxX

The Brokens, Islanders, and Mickey's Court had assembled themselves in Merlin's house, Merlin temporarily forgetting that they had several fugitives in his house. Yuffie had explained the message again.

"Tifa called around four in the morning, saying she's been trying to get a hold of Cloud and he won't pick up." Yuffie said.

"Yuffie." Leon started. "We all know how Cloud is. I may not have known him for as long as you or Cid has but even I know he doesn't like answering his phone."

"He makes the calls." Jason said. "Not others."

"True that." Idiko added.

"But you should be more worried about the heartless." Leon said before Yuffie could retort. "Your majesty?"

Mickey looked to Leon. "Their world has suffered a lot. If it's alright, I would like to go as well." he said. "Along with Sora, Riku, and Kairi."

"I want to go help my friend, your majesty." Sora said. "I'd be coming along anyway."

"You don't understand." Xergg said, gaining their attention. "It's not only that but this is a test. The Planet has more than just heartless as it's horrors but natural creatures more terrifying than some of the strongest of heartless. This will possibly push you all to your limitations. You should feel honored you get to go."

Nexius groaned. "It's bad, Xergg, but did you really have to go and scare them?"

"Even you know being a Chosen has as many curses as it does benefits." Xergg said.

Riku could not help but agree. "Sora, he has a point." he said. "Think about what the past few years have taught us. Now make that your whole life. It's not easy."

"I know that." Sora said. "But that isn't stopping me."

"Determination is a good thing." Jason added. "But let's truly see if you understand what exactly you're getting into. I'm going."

Every Broken then stood up straight. "We're all going too. And you aren't stopping any of us at all." Dyaas said, eyes narrowed and just asking for any of them to dare try and overrule their unanimous decision. He had no need to turn his head to the Brokens closest to his age, those who had taken leadership when he was not there for there was no discord on subjects like these.

Mickey sighed. "Let's write up a truce."

XxXxXxXxX

The two groups were to work together; they were to agree on matters together as a group; those in Mickey's group were not to take any Brokens into custody; no Brokens were to attack any in Mickey's group; if separation is needed then the groups shall be even, Dyaas and Mickey deciding on who would go; when mission is completed, Brokens are allowed to leave the world of Radiant Garden with no tracking spell or device placed on their ship and are allowed one day with no searching.

Everyone knew the terms and so far, no one had any qualms against them. Sora wanted their help and though selfishly, wanted to talk with his sister.

"Pinkie."

"Shut up, Rachel!"

Sora sighed. 'Once she's done harassing Kairi.' He had tried to stop the near cat fight and the most he was able to do was a vow of non-violence. Nexius had been kind enough to put some fuel on the fire though. Now they were arguing with Kairi trying to be the tolerant one and taking a verbal beating from Rachel who was relishing in the fact that she got to harass Kairi.

"Is it always that much fun when your enemy can't lay a finger on you but you can annoy the crap out of them?" Sora asked, not expecting his apostrophe to be answered.

"Always worked for me." Sora turned to Leah and Ravu, the two girls walking over to see over the balcony. "Next time you're a hostage, start trash talking them." Leah added.

"But make sure they need you alive first." Ravu said. "Bad guys can take a few verbal beatings every now and then due to the fact you're frustrated but if they don't need you alive then you're better keeping your mouth shut."

Sora was amused. "Looks like I won't be able to try that out." he said. "Every villain in the known universe wants me dead."

"Oh don't worry…" Leah said. "You'll find someone who wants to convert you. Then you can talk trash or give them the silent treatment."

Sora had to laugh at the silent treatment. But he laughed even harder at the next piece of advice Leah gave. "Oh! If they start torturing you and you hit your head, pretend to go amnesiac."

Ravu chuckled. "That was brilliant. We did that with…I believe it was Queen Grimhilde and she just about lost it. There was two keybearers, children, but keybearers and now they could not even summon their keyblade or use any magic or Arts? She even threatened us with a stupid butter knife and we just stared blankly at her. She was screaming for days."

Sora continued laughing but that got their attention. "You know who came up with that?"

Sora stuttered with his chuckling. "Wh-who?"

"Your twin." Ravu's answer got Sora to completely stop chuckling. He got a solemn look in his eyes which made Ravu and Leah regret saying anything. "I'm sorry, Sora."

"You guys said…you didn't know anything?" Sora asked, hesitantly.

Ravu and Leah looked at each other, concerned for what their answer might give. If they were to answer truthfully which was yes, then Sora might be even more solemn. Any case is hard to convince with only your word, despite how many testify.

"Yes." Leah answered. "We didn't know anything…"

Surprisingly, Sora gave a smile of hope. "Then I guess things should brighten up!" He replied.

Ravu and Leah had their eyes widened with disbelief at his answer but soon chuckled. "Yeah. Soon you'll have to deal with all of us as your everyday keybearing friends." Ravu said.

Sora grinned. "Can't wait. I'm sure you'll give us all hell though." he said. "Speaking of hell-"

"You mean Nexius?" Leah interrupted.

"Uh no…" Sora replied, not wanting to ask why Nexius and Hell somehow was connected. "Anyway, why are you guys not causing hell for anyone else?" He then groaned. "Unless you guys plan on me being your victim."

"Heh, we aren't as bad as the others." Ravu said, smirking.

"I doubt that." Sora deadpanned.

Leah snapped her fingers. "And rightly you should! We are what our friends like to say, mercs. Pretty much, we get paid for causing hell to others." she said.

Sora sweat dropped. "So…have you killed anyone?"

"Us? Only if it was a war but here?" Leah and Ravu shook their heads. "We said we'd cause Hell, not harm."

Sora laughed. "You guys are the weirdest bunch of people I have ever met."

Leah made an exaggerated bow. "Thank you, Keyblade Master Sora."

Laughing at the exaggeration, the peace was shattered when a loud crash was heard from the left. Out of one of the corridors came smoke that Cid noticed with just a sniff. "You kids better not be destroying my ship!" he shouted.

"Leah!" Leah looked over the balcony to see Skye who was lying down on the glass like floor. "Thirty munny says Maxy called Idiko the Feudal Lady!"

"Thirty munny says Maxy called him Iddy-chan!" Leah countered.

"You're on!" Skye said as everyone who was interested (which was sixty-five percent of the crew) watch for the results. Out from the smoke came Maxy with the priceless treasure in her left hand. A maroon ponytail holder and it's owner who sprang out from the smoke like a white ghost bent on revenge for his taken property.

Or her taken property if you considered first appearance.

"Give it back!" Idiko cried, his white hair falling over his eyes and back, blinding him and the trails of it giving off a slight spark. Sora had to cover his mouth so he would not laugh at the boy's position while the Brokens watched with amusement.

Maxy sat on the rail. "But you look so pretty! Like a snow princess! But I still say you're the Feudal Lady!"

Skye smirked as he caught the jingling win.

Idiko heard a suppressed laugh from the right, the owner pointing to Sora who looked more guilty than the true guilty one. Idiko glared from under his white bangs. "I'll get you later." he hissed out before jumping Maxy, the ice girl placing her foot in the rail and hanging down to dodge.

Sora grimaced as he removed his hands, not realizing Leah had just framed him. "Uh…was he glaring at me?"

"Yep." Ravu answered. Sora opened his mouth to say something but Ravu cut him off. "It is hard to take him seriously with his hair down."

Sora closed his mouth with his inaudible question having its answer.

Idiko had fallen to the glass floor, Maxy hanging from a top by her leg. With a swing, she was back sitting on the railing looking very smug. Idiko regarded that smug with a hidden glare. The audience watched but only those close to him knew what really lied behind those white bangs.

"You know, if you want to look intimidating," Ravu started saying as she jumped to sit on the railing. "you should have something powering up around you, like wind or something."

"Shut up, bitch." Idiko said, not caring who he just insulted or the consequences of his actions. Ravu stared wide eyed and turned to Leah.

"Did he just call me a bitch?" Ravu asked.

Leah gave an affirmative reply. "Yep."

Ravu looked back at Idiko before jumping back on the balcony. She walked over to the taunting Maxy and held out her hand. "Maxy, give it here." Maxy glanced to the pyrotechnic keybearer, opening her mouth to buzz her off until she saw the look in the fiery eyes.

Maxy gave an exasperated groan, placing the band in her hand. "Fine…just don't burn me." Maxy said with a huff. Ravu clutched the band and jumped down the balcony, her blue hair flowing behind her like a blue flame. Once Idiko knew she was in front of her, he snatched his hair tie and refined his white hair into the high ponytail that made him show his fine jaw and eyes, showing he was indeed male under the head hair.

"Thanks." Idiko muttered out, giving one last condescending look to the icy girl, and leaving the area…

…with a bright pink bow in his hair.

There were heavily guarded snickers from those who saw while others kept their shattered composure hidden by the glares the others were giving them. Sora was having the worst time trying to keep his snorts from reaching Idiko's ears. Leah regarded him with a sigh before slapping him on the back, Sora coughing out as if he had swallowed wrong.

"Th-thanks…" He said, taking a deep breath.

"Don't thank me." Leah said, crossing her arms as if it was normal. Cid thought otherwise with the sign now on Sora's back.

'They're a crafty bunch…' Cid thought.

"Hey Rav." Leah greeted as her friend reappeared on the balcony. "How long do you think it'll take for him to notice?"

"Ten munny says three weeks." Ravu replied. "Took him four weeks last time."

"Really?" Leah asked. "I thought it was two weeks."

"I just noticed something…" Sora said, gaining their attention. "You guys bet a lot. Why is that?" Before Ravu and Leah could answer, the guys across the deck answered for him.

"It's a cover." Xergg said from his sitting position. He was up near the glass with Jason and Goofy, talking mostly on battle techniques and just catching up. "We have unstable hearts and to keep us from going over the edge, we bet and we prank."

Riku who was nearby thought otherwise. "Really? Because that prank stuff you guys do seem pretty rough. I'm surprised you guys haven't snapped yet."

"The bets keeps us all from getting bored and provides training. While you guys were above the Land of the Dragons, we had a contest to see who could kill the most Mongols." Xergg continued. "Skye and Ravu tied that one but we were only frustrated about losing munny, not losing to them."

"The bets make us work harder and losses only increase our earnesty to win a bet." Leah added. "We test each other constantly. We don't have a Master anymore to teach us so we have to train ourselves."

Riku shrugged. "You have yet to explain the pranks."

"Pranks are to humble and amuse us." Nexius said. "We get to give each other crap and receive crap in return. In a way, it gives us some laughter in our 'fugitive lives' and forces us to be alert." He added the quotation marks just to show he was against them being fugitives.

Riku and Sora were impressed. "You guys have it all down to the letter." Riku said. "You all are your own therapists."

Nexius shrugged but hid his topaz eyes from their eyes, everyone else giving a solemn look as if that comment had give them a name tag that clearly showed they were not exactly right in the head. They joked and laughed at their condition but deep down, it did hurt. It hurt when they were forced into this life and would continue to hurt if their hearts were not fixed soon.

"…it helps to be around friends who understand what you're going through." Dyaas said, gaining everyone's attention. His presence was comforting to the Brokens since he understood the most and was their prime example of hope.

"That's right…" Sora said. "You guys got attacked by heartless."

"Yes…" Rachel muttered, her first real word that did not have any insult backing it up. "…it was…heartless…" For some reason, Rachel hesitated on the last word. Kairi, feeling sympathy for the girl asked, "Are you okay?"

"…yeah." Rachel said as she held her arms close.

Dyaas regarded the Brokens with a silent gaze.

They stayed silent the rest of the trip there.

XxXxXxXxX

The Planet, also called Gaia, was different from nearly every world Sora had ever been to. Usually, the worlds he had come across were small and had one major populace or structure that gave it's name or center of power. True there was the surrounding areas but even he was not used to seeing a world that seemed to be a combination of Destiny Islands, Twilight Town, Radiant Garden, Land of Dragons and…the point was clear though. The Planet had all sorts of geographical formations as well as different cultures.

"That the Planet?" Kairi asked, Sora too enveloped at looking at the newest world which was the norm for Donald and Goofy.

"That is it, Kai." Yuffie said. "Home sweet home!"

"Home?" Riku repeated. "I thought you were all from Radiant Garden."

"That's like a second home." Yuffie said. "Me, Cloud, Tifa, Cid, and Aerith all come from here. We just knew how to travel to other worlds and the first one we came across was Radiant Garden. Some of us stayed and some still traveled."

"What made you guys leave in the first place?" Maxy asked, receiving a bonk on the head for it. "Oww! JT!"

Jason looked unnerved at what he had done. "You were being rude."

"Was not!"

Taking up the topic, Leah shook her head before answering his question. "One word for yah, four clues: Tall guy, silver hair, has a wicked long sword-"

"Xemnas?" Sora guessed, not letting Leah finish. The effect of him doing so made Leah clench her fists, trying to release some of the absolute frustration she was feeling from the stupid answer. That and she did like being interrupted.

"Can I slap him?" she hissed out.

Sora backed up with confusion and fright. "Whoa! What'd I do?!"

"Your stupidity happened, retardian." Leah replied.

"Retardian?" Sora asked, still keeping his hands in front of his face as a shield.

"That means you're a permanent resident of Retardia." Leah replied. "Can I slap him, please."

Sora glanced at Riku. "Is she saying I'm a retard?" He got a nod. "Oh…hey!"

"Wow…how long did that take you?" Leah asked with sarcasm dripping from her tone. There was a jingle of munny heard as Rachel threw a winning at Xergg, cursing the young man under her breath. "How much?"

"Just a thousand." Xergg answered. "Pizza tonight guys."

Leaving Sora to his pouts, Kairi asked, "Why pizza?"

Nexius answered that one. "Because Midgar is full of only three things: Mako, walking zombies, and pizza!" Yuffie made a gross sound while Cid gave a chuckle.

"The kid speaks the truth!" he said. "But we ain't going to Midgar. Place's a mess."

"Which is why we are heading to Edge. Back to the matter at hand, the fourth clue is that this guy has one wing on his back and two coming out of his ass." Leah said.

Sora was trying to think only to be answered by Riku. "Sephiroth."

Leah rolled her eyes and clapped. "Finally some progress. Can we please get going now so we can get this mission done?" she asked before walking off towards the hanger. Cid was already bringing the ship in for a drop, said he had something else to check up on, Yuffie staying with him.

Nexius looked over at the older Brokens, Ravu hurrying up to her friend's side. "What's her problem?" he asked.

"She just doesn't like this world." Nexius answered, everyone else and the youngers not quite getting that piece of information.

"Where should we go first?" Sora asked once they were at the hanger bay.

"The Seventh Heaven." Aerith answered. "It was kind of our base of meeting a few years ago. Tifa owns the bar and Clouds runs his delivery service out of there. They've also taken in a few orphans. It was in Midgar but after the Meteor incident, everyone moved to Edge and Tifa rebuilt her bar there."

Skye then pushed a button on the wall, Cid's voice booming through. "Yeah, what is it!?"

"Can you just drop us here? Aerith and the others can take the short way down." Skye suggested, the Brokens grinning save for Idiko, Nexius, and Rachel who joined Sora's group who intended to wait until Cid landed. The others set up a line, Maxy jumping onto Leah's back and grinning.

"Drop? At four thousand feet?"

"Uh yeah." Skye replied as if it was normal.

"Okay kid, drop in five."

The hanger opened in three.

The Brokens jumped right out, skydiving to the ground before the doors closed, the others quite stunned.

"Are you all that crazy?" Riku asked.

"What?" Nexius asked. "Scared of jumping out of a ship at four thousand feet? Keyblade Apprentices are required to jump at twenty thousand feet after four years of beginning of training."

Sora, Riku, and Kairi looked wide eyed. They were intimidated by this aspect and looked at Mickey and Jason. "That true?"

"Master Yen Sid made me jump four months after I got my keyblade…but that was at sixty thousand feet." Mickey answered, a tormented look as he remembered those days.

"Really? I had to jump at twenty once I was eight." Jason added.

This made them extremely intimidated.

Aerith just giggled at their stunned faces. "They are quite the daring fellows." she said before the ship gave a light jerk a few minutes later. The hanger opened and they all walked out. "By the way, do you want to see my garden once we meet up with Tifa?"

Kairi liked the sound of that. "Sure. I didn't know you had a garden."

"I used to sell flowers. But it's harder to grow things in Radiant Garden now than it was back ten years ago." Aerith said. "Now are you guys going to look around or at me?"

Aerith suggestion did make the newcomers look around. It was kind of chilly and the sky was overcast, Cid's ship disappearing in the clouds in no time. They were in a wasteland like area, rocks and maybe a few shrubs but not enough for anything large to survive out here. A few plateaus were over the wasteland and they were over one such plateau. Sora looked to the west and saw a city, seemingly made out of steel but the tallest structure looked like an asteroid slammed into it.

"That's Midgar." Aerith said sadly. "Or what remains of it."

"That's Cloud's hometown?" Sora asked.

"Oh no. Not Midgar." Aerith replied. "He may live there but it's not where he was born. He was born in Nibelheim along with Tifa."

"Hey, can we get going?" Skye got their attention, the ones who had sky dived over a little away, acting as if they did come down with them through the warp.

"The sooner the better." Dyaas said, most of the group already moving towards the east where another city was built, Edge.

"Yeah…" Mickey added. "There's some dark monsters living around here and they aren't easy to deal with."

"I think you spoke too soon, your majesty."

Everyone quickly formed a circle around Aerith and summoned forth their weapons as skeletal black creatures larger than them came out of the shadows. They were not heartless but they were threats.

"Ravu, Maxy, Skye, and Leah, go escort Aerith to Edge. Mickey, your choices?" Dyaas asked.

"Kairi, Goofy and Donald, go with them." Mickey said. The group nodded and Ravu grabbed Aerith's hand as they flanked around her, running towards the steel city that stood next to Midgar, that was once the pride of a corporate empire. How the place had hovered fifty meters in the air was beyond some and others did not even question or knew.

Edge was where the survivors now lived, free from most of the terrors Midgar once brought. Those by human hands or by those…not from their world. The city was busy but not a way that brought comfort. The city was like a reflection of the cloudy, wanting to rain sky. Like the traumatized people that now settled in, haunted by dreams of the Meteor Incident two years ago. The group fit in alright save for those wearing bright colors but they still went unnoticed.

"…Gloomy." Kairi said.

"It used to be a much happier place, Kairi." Aerith said.

"You mean as happy as it could have been when everyone was under Shinra's thumb." Leah toned out emotionlessly.

"Gawrsh, you don't need to be too critical." Goofy said to the girl as she just glanced around with a half-lidded stare, balancing from one foot to the next.

"I only speak the truth." Leah said. "Rav, where's the Seventh Heaven again?"

"It's that way!" Maxy shouted only for Ravu to bonk her blue head. "She was asking me, frostbite."

"Can we just get going? The Platypus is giving me strange looks." Skye said as he pointed his thumb at Donald.

Donald glared. "What?!"

"See?"

"Donald, don't let him get to you." Kairi warned, even though she was trying to not laugh, not realizing Skye was walking away as Donald started whining to Kairi and Goofy.

"But he keeps calling me something I'm not! I'm a duck! Why can't I get a little bit of respect?!" Donald shouted before crossing his wings and tapping his foot in anger.

"Maybe it's because he doesn't like being called a criminal. They all don't like Yen Sid and you are a magician." Goofy said. "Maybe we should give them a chance."

"They don't seem that bad." Kairi said. "They've got tempers, sure, but so do you, Donald. Yet you have friends."

"…fine, but that doesn't mean I have to like it."

"AND NEITHER WILL WE!"

Across the streets was the Brokens with Aerith continuing on her merry way to the bar. Leah and Ravu were smirking at their stunned faces that they could hear their conversation from about a block away.

"C'mon, slowpokes!" Maxy shouted as Skye walked past, the girl now being the closest one to them. "No one likes a slow learner!"

"We're coming!" Kairi shouted as she jogged over with the two of the Disney Court. Maxy smiled as they came up and led them on as the older Brokens met up behind Aerith.

"They seem a lot nicer than they were on Narnia." Ravu said.

"Let's not get hopeful, Rav." Leah said.

"I was never saying they were. It was just an observation." Ravu replied. "I know you're uptight with being here but don't take your frustration out on me."

"Alright, I get it. Sorry." Leah said.

"But she's right about one thing." Skye injected, gaining the two girls' attention. "They are acting a little better than normal. And I doubt it has anything to do with us helping at Narnia or Radiant Garden. I saw some pity in their eyes."

"Pity?" Ravu repeated, disgusted. "I don't want any pity."

"What are you thinking then, Skye?" Leah asked.

"I think they're pretending to be nice to gain trust. Keep Maxy close, Leah." Skye answered. "I've seen that look before. They're planning something to take us all and they don't really want to do it."

"Got it." Leah said as she looked behind to see Maxy chatting with Kairi. "But I don't think those two would be a problem. If push comes to shove, Skye can talk the crap out of the duck while his dog friend will try to calm him down and I can get Maxy away easily."

"What about Kairi?" Ravu asked.

"I was going to let you handle her actually."

Ravu smirked. "Good. I was hoping you'd see things my way." Skye made sure he caught up to Aerith as the two best friends began to formulate a humiliating scheme.

Aerith smiled at all the sounds of laughter. "They're all such good friends. I'm glad you all get along so well."

"Yes, we're all such bright rays of sunshine." Skye said sarcastically.

'When the said rays aren't trying to burn anyone else.'

XxXxXxXxX

Xergg was staring down the monster that had attacked them, the fiend crouching down and growling, taunting Xergg. Xergg moved from left to right on his feet, ready to dodge from right to left, depending on what the monster did. Two second later and it got fed up with the taunts and lunged.

Xergg sidestepped to the left, the fiend's claw hitting only dirt as he slashed at it's hide and threw his second keyblade into a strike raid to distract another upcoming monster, while his now free hand conjured up a spell. He punched the form of thunder and fire magic into the beast and it dispersed into dust.

The spinning keyblade headed around near a swarm of monsters with Idiko close by with Sora. Sora jumped to dodge the keyblade as he slashed down on another beast, having to dodge roll as two more lunged to take it's place. Idiko shouldered his keyblade and jumped, kicking Xergg's keyblade. The momentum made it reverse the rotation and go back the way it came.

"Duck!"

Sora did so and the keyblade swung overhead, beheading the two fiends easily. Sora watched as the owner catch it and waved. "Nice shot, Iddy!"

Sora looked back to Idiko. "Could I do that?" he asked.

"Sure, just be ready to break your ankle the first couple of times." Idiko said with a amused grin. He expected Sora to be discouraged immediately. Instead, Sora just grinned back.

"Then I better get working on it!" Sora said as he rushed back into the fight. Idiko was stunned but his amusement stayed. "I'll have Dyaas get the casts."

Sora did not hear him as he slashed past some headlong fiends, sliding on the dirt to cut under a jumping one. He came right back up and ducked his head as Mickey and another fiend clashed right above, the creature turning to dust. Sora grinned as a fiend that was taunting Nexius decided to lunge and he slashed at it from behind, sending it straight into the air.

"Heads up, Riku!"

Riku pulled back his smoking hand that had just finished casting a dark firaga and turned his attention to the flying monster above. He smirked as he raised his keyblade. "Thundaga!" The lightning bolts crashed on the monster and the ones below. He waved at Sora who had jumped and kicked away a few more fiends as Nexius jumped on one monster, pulled at it's neck and when it flung him off, he used the momentum to slice right through another, Sora beheading the beast.

"Not bad for a keybearer." Nexius said as he and Sora went back to back.

"I guess you think you could do better?" Sora asked as more monsters appeared from the shadows themselves. Nexius smirked. "Naturally." One monster was getting a little too close and Nexius lunged, grabbing it's horn like ear. It thrashed and tried to bite his shoulder but Nexius swung down his keyblade onto it's hide, slicing right through. But he wasn't done yet. He took a knee as two from the side went for him but instead had their jaws grab the other monster's neck. Nexius outstretched one leg and spun on his wrist, low kicking the monster to the ground where a well aimed thunder spell from Jason, took them out.

Jason smirked at Nexius' somewhat frustrated expression. "I know, I took your kill. But it was technically dead before I even hit it." he said, shouldering a blue and black keyblade called Blue Lightning. Even with the spell's effects done, the static was still present on his gloves and keyblade.

"Just don't get in my way, JT." Nexius said as he ran off to go after another monster.

Jason shrugged. "Your welcome." he yelled out, knowing his friend would not even reply let alone hear it. The growls, roars, and singing of blades outdid any vocal sound they tried to make.

Jason saw from where he stood there were about another twenty of those monster canines left. But they were spread out. "Annoying you yet, Jason?"

Jason glanced back at the eldest Broken, Dyaas. His Omega and Reckoning keyblades reflecting the sky above. "Yeah, they are." Jason answered. "What? Got a suggestion?"

"Stay here and get your brother on the other side of the field here. We'll round them up in the center and you two lightning rods and smite them." Dyaas answered. "Can you do it?"

Jason gave a him a dumbfounded look. Dyaas sighed and shook his head. "You're right. Why am I asking a Thomas if they can get a job done?" he said before jumping down off the rocks and heading towards the King.

Jason chuckled. "Yeah, why are you questioning a Thomas?" he waved his crackling keyblade in the air and summoned a lightning bolt that got Xergg's attention.

"Stop being a hero and get over on that rock! The rest of you, round the fiends up!" Jason shuted, Xergg moving to his place on the opposing rock formation. Riku slashed at a monster and shouted back up to Jason.

"Why?!"

"Just round them up or we'll be stuck here for a while!" Jason replied. Riku shared a look with Sora but began to follow the other keybearers' movements. Keyblades from Rachel and Idiko were going around in strike raids, creating a perimeter that was forcing the monsters to be pushed backwards. Sora, Riku, and Dyaas were busy pushing back the more cocky ones into the center. Mickey and Nexius were using firas and another magic based attacks to stop the others from wanting to jump over them. Soon, they were all so bunched up together, none of them could jump or lunge without tripping.

"Back it up, everyone! Ra, Iddy, Nex! Put up a wall!" Everyone else rushed out of the way as Rachel, Idiko, and Nexius took up a triangle formation and by stabing their keyblade in the ground, each had a spell make up one side of the triangle barrier. Ice, wind, and fire respectively.

"Cover your eyes if you don't want to get blind!" Mickey shouted as everyone did so, some slower than others.

Xergg and Jason held up their keyblades, lightning striking both before they threw them down into the center.

"Thundaga Explosion!"

The keyblades were still the lightning rods for the preceding lightning bolt and when they were hit again, the two hit one beast and from there, more lightning crashed into the horde. The result was a light show and the complete eradication of the monsters. The spells receded and everyone peeked out to make sure the place was indeed deserted.

"Nice job you two." Rachel said as the two brother came up.

"It was nothing. But you three managed to keep them in while the rest rounded them up." Xergg said with a grin.

"True enough."

"Hey." Sora got their attention. "Why did we not do that in the first place?"

"What? And take all the glory for ourselves?" Xergg asked the islander. "Every warrior likes a good fight. Just some people get annoyed too easily."

Sora laughed at his answer. "Good point."

"Enough." Dyaas said. "Who knows when more monsters will come up and we need to get into Edge. By your leave, your majesty."

Mickey nodded. "Very well, Dyaas. No arguments there." He dismissed his keyblade, a signal for everyone to do the same, and led the way to the city of Edge.

"Hey Sora." Idiko caught up to the brunette who glanced. "You still want to have a try at keyblade soccer?"

Sora grinned and nodded enthusiastically. "Sure am!"

"Then I'll help yah, bro." Rachel said as she came up. Sora's grin became wider. "Great, thanks, sis!"

Rachel smiled. 'Maybe things are turning for the better.'

XxXxXxXxX

"Tifa!" Ravu shouted as she opened the door to the Seventh Heaven bar. The sign said closed but Aerith said they should open it anyway. It was no hassle unlocking it. And in her words, it would have been rude to sneak through the back door.

And no one wanted a paranoid Tifa giving them a broken jaw.

The bar was empty, the black and grey countertops and chairs reflected the world outside but something about the wear of the floor and plush brought something of joy, but one of recovery not yet fulfilled.

"This is the Seventh Heaven?" Donald asked.

"Kind of bleak." Goofy added.

"…not really." Kairi said as she looked around, noticing some odd in the glasses and pictures. It was a place that seemed more like a family place instead of an adult only bar.

"Tifa and Cloud have been taking in orphans." Aerith said as Maxy noticed a set of child clothes in the hall. "Every since Meteor, many children have wandered the streets. Especially with the Geostigma outbreak."

"Orphans, huh?" Skye muttered, Leah and Ravu giving a small look before the brunette closed the door.

"What's Geostigma?" Kairi asked.

"I only know a little bit about it." Aerith answered, but Leah narrowed her eyes from behind the Ancient, not believing her. "But from what Yuffie told me, it's like a virus and black splotches appear on the skin that causes pain, fever and it oozes, and if it's really bad, it make an open sore."

"Can we get it?" Goofy asked.

Aerith shook her head. "No…only people from here can get it. People beyond Edge haven't gotten it yet."

"But don't be fooled, any of you."

The group turned to the long haired brunette with ruby orbs standing in the walkway. She wore the same outfit she wore on Radiant Garden. Black vest over a white tank, black Bermudas with a cover and long drape in the back and black shoes. She looked tired but a more worried tired.

"Anyone could get it…but more of the kids have gotten it than the adults." Tifa said, the group walking over.

"Nice to see you again, Tifa." Aerith greeted with a smile.

Tifa leaned against her palm as she sighed against the counter. "I wish I could honestly say the same." she said. "Who's your friends? I remember you two from Radiant Garden."

"This is Kairi, Ravu Hiraki, Leah J. Seraphiel, Skye, and Maxy Glacier." Aerith said as she pointed to each of them. Tifa nodded before trying to lighten the mood.

"Got any other last names? And what's the 'J' for?" Tifa asked with a slight smile.

Before Kairi and Skye could answer for themselves, Leah came off with a sharp response. "You're better off not knowing."

The air got a chill and Ravu socked her friend in the arm. "Oww! Rav!"

"Don't mind her. She's just being a bitch." Ravu said, her friend glaring at her before the brunette walked over to a booth and sat down. Tifa however chuckled lightly at their display.

"I don't mind. Really." Tifa replied.

"We heard Cloud was in danger. The Geo-Heartless?" Skye injected.

"A swarm was sighted east of here and I know Cloud was headed out that way to meet Reno." Tifa answered. "I called again…but he did not answer. I haven't heard a word from him at all regarding the matter. Either he hasn't seen them yet, or he doesn't want anyone to worry."

"But you would be the first one to call when something is wrong. Because he's worried for the safety of Marlene and Denzel, and the others." Aerith added. "It's strange…"

Tifa opened her mouth to say something else but was stopped by someone else.

"Is Cloud okay?"

The group turned their heads to the hallway and saw a young boy and girl standing in the way. The boy had brown hair with a slight shade of auburn and bright blue eyes, wearing a dark shirt and jacket, jeans, and a silver ring hanging from a black cord around his neck. The girl had her brown hair in a short braid like Aerith's hair, a pink bow to fulfill the imitation. She wore a silver colored turtleneck blouse and a skirt, brown shoe son her feet. Her brown eyes were in worry with the tone of voice she had used.

"We're not sure yet, Marlene." Tifa said, walking over to the girl. "But I'm sure he;s alright. Which is why we're heading to the church."

Leah's head popped up with Aerith's. "A church? Wasn't that where you said your garden was?" she asked.

Aerith nodded and lowered herself to Marlene's level. "Have you been taking care of the flowers?"

Marlene nodded. "Yes, Miss Aerith. Denzel has been helping me too." she added, the boy hiding from their gazes. Aerith smiled. "Why thank you Denzel. I'm sure the flowers like it." she said.

Denzel gave a short nod.

Maxy noticed something under his long bangs and went over and moved it out of his face. "Hey…is this that Geostigma?" she asked.

"Maxy." Leah snapped. "Respect the boy's privacy."

Maxy moved away and apologized. "Sorry, Denzel. I was just curious."

"It's…fine." Denzel said before moving towards the door. "Tifa…if it's alright with you, I want to just walk around Edge for a while, instead of going to the church."

Tifa was surprised but nodded. "That's alright. Just be home before dark and if you see the others out there, tell them the same." she said. Denzel nodded before Skye stopped him.

"Mind if I tag along?" he asked.

Denzel shook his head and smiled. "No. That's fine." he said as the two headed out into Edge. "Any of you want to join us?" Tifa asked.

"Some of us should stay in case Cloud comes back and when the others' get here." Kairi said.

"I'll stay, you all can go." Aerith said.

"No." Leah stood up. "I'll go with you, Tifa. Think of it as an apology for my rudeness."

"But…shouldn't one of us go?" Goofy asked, pointing to himself, Donald and Kairi.

"No offense but you two would look out of place." Leah said. "And you, Kairi, are too important to the others. Besides, I'll be with Tifa. She can kick my butt." she smirked at her own demise as Tifa smiled back. "I'll be fine."

"I may not know what's going on but I'll watch her." Tifa answered. "Marlene, lead the way."

Marlene smiled and grabbed Leah's hand. "C'mon, you'll love the flowers!" Leah was then pulled out of the bar with Tifa behind. Ravu snickering at her friend's situation. "Try not to destroy the place while I'm gone, Aerith."

"I won't." Aerith said with a smile as the last of the trio left, leaving the two girls and two anthromorphics alone with Aerith. "What now, everyone?"

Ravu moved behind the counter of the bar. "Why don't we help Tifa clean up the place before it opens? And help with the cleaning? She's going to housing a lot of us. Might as well make it easier for her." she said.

"But she told us not to destroy the place." Donald said.

Ravu looked up over the counter. "Last I checked we were cleaning the place. Not destroying it." she smiled. "C'mon, hurry it up."

Maxy smiled and grabbed a rag and handed it to Donald and a broom to Goofy. "Aerith, can you take the hallways? Me and Kairi will take the laundry. Ravu knows her way around a kitchen." she asked.

Aerith smiled. "Sure, no problem."

XxXxXxXxX

"This place kind of reminds me of Radiant Garden when it was Hollow Bastion." Sora said as they walked through the streets. The walk had taken them about twenty minutes to get to Edge and it would take another ten just to get to the Seventh Heaven which was on the other side of the city. "Bleak."

"The people here were all from Midgar." Rachel said. "It's taken them a few years to rebuild but they have a long way to go. Shinra was in power for a very long time."

"But at the same time, Meteor opened up a lot of eyes and gave everyone an independent push." Dyaas added.

Sora glanced back at everyone. "What was Meteor?"

"Who wants to start?" Idiko asked.

"I can." Mickey said. "Well, its an ancient spell that was created by the Cetra, the ancient people of this world. It was a destructive force so they hid it in a temple that if you try to retrieve it, the temple will enclose on itself."

"Trapping and imploding you so you and no one else could get it." Nexius said with a sadist grin.

"That sounds a little harsh." Sora replied.

"Is it really that powerful?" Riku asked.

"Very. Not to mention it's one of Sephiroth's calling cards." Jason added, gaining their attention. "Any of you taken on Sephiroth's meteor attack?"

Sora nodded. "Yeah…and they hurt. I could never move fast enough to block."

"Take that attack…and multiply it's size by about…the moon's size and the power of it by a hundred." Dyaas replied, getting a pale look from Sora and Riku. "Yes. It is that destructive. It calls out to particles in the cosmos and they fuse together to form a meteor. It will then impact the planet which it's conjuror targets. Sephiroth did the same thing here and it nearly destroyed the Planet."

"Had Cloud and his friends not stopped him and Aerith, even in her state of injury, asked the Lifestream to protect this Planet, this world would have been long gone." Xergg said.

"Sephiroth is dead?" Sora had fought against the man twice, and he seemed quite alive.

"If there is one thing I know about villains, Sora…" Rachel started. "…the minimum forms they can have is two. Sephiroth, however, has about…six? Seven?"

"Basically, he won't die no matter how many times you fight him." Xergg told Sora. "He's just that determined and just that powerful to do such a thing."

"…but you describe him as someone more powerful than who I fought." Sora said. "And the picture you showed me, he looked a little different."

"I've actually thought a little on that." Dyaas said. "I believe what you fought is a part of his heart that was taken by the darkness. But instead of it being controlled by darkness, he controls it. Possibly from the fact his form is a representation of Cloud's outlook on him. As a cruel, murderous, sadist man, who loves nothing more than blood and making Cloud's life a living hell."

"In a way, it's Cloud's fault he continues coming back." Nexius said, earning a grave look from everyone. "What? It's true! If he would just forget about him then we would not have to worry about the One-Winged Angel's return."

"Memories are powerful." Mickey said. "Sometimes you can get lost in them and eventually consume you. And that's usually what evil needs to break a part a person."

"…is there anyway to stop him from returning?" Riku asked.

"…that's up to Cloud." Dyaas answered.

Sora's eyes softened when he processed all this information. 'Cloud always seemed holding some burden, but I never thought it'd be something like this. No wonder he likes keeping to himself. If someone kept coming back because my mind would never let go of the bad memories, I'd want to be alone. So no one else would be hurt…'

"Here yah go, mister."

"Thanks, Jen."

Sora recognized the voice of the blonde Broken and stopped, looking down an alley way to see Skye with a few other kids, wrapping another's head with some clean bandages. "There we go, Kendal." Skye said as he finished wrapping the clean bandages around the younger boy's arm.

"Thanks, Skye."

"Anytime. That should hold down the effects for a little while. Now who's next?" Skye asked, smiling as the others came up and he began to heal what he could from the Geostigma and giving them clean bandages.

Sora smiled as the Rachel, Riku, and Xergg stopped to watch.

"Skye grew up in an orphanage in Twilight Town." Xergg started as they all watched, the two islanders interested by this new piece of information. "Dropped off when he was a baby. He learned pretty quickly and helped take care of the other children when he could."

"Really? He always seems so quiet and sarcastic." Sora said.

"If you just get to know him, he's a pretty good friend." Rachel added. "C'mon, let's go see if we can help him."

"Let's?" Riku repeated.

"Yeah. You, me, and bro." Rachel said. "Xergg, you don't mind telling them we'll be back, right?"

Xergg narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms, showing he was not happy. "I'm not your carrier pigeon." Xergg said but he laughed before Rachel could whine. "I'm kidding. Gosh, can't you take a joke?"

"When it comes from you, no!" Rachel said as the black haired teen retreated. "Damn idiot…he expects the royal treatment? No way, not from me."

"Ra-"

"What, Riku?!"

Riku pointed down the way where Sora was already to Skye's position. "We're getting left behind." he answered. Rachel groaned before running after.

Skye finished tying a bandage around a boy's head and used a wet towel to get the black ooze from the stigma off his hair. "Done. Don't mess with it." Skye told him. "It's spreading over your eye because you've been messing with it."

"I won't. Thanks, Skye."

Skye smiled as he stood up. "No problem. Go join everyone else." he said. The boy waved and went to join everyone else in the small court where they were playing ball. Denzel passed by the boy and sat down, tired from playing.

"Tired, Denzel?" Skye asked.

"Yeah…" he answered. "I'm just…going to take a break."

"Alright. Here." Skye handed him a clean towel and Denzel began wiping his face, being careful when he wiped the sweat from his brow.

"Hey Skye." Skye and Denzel turned their heads to Sora who waved. Denzel looked back to Skye.

"Is he a friend of your's?"

Skye shrugged. "Kind of."

"Listen, I know we all did not get off on the right foot, but can we at least be acquaintances?" Sora asked.

Skye raised a blonde eyebrow. "You know such a word?"

"Hey! I'm not that stupid!" Sora shouted.

"You're related to Rachel." Skye said as the girl and Riku came up. "And I know she did not get the smart genes."

"You want your hair to turn pink again, Skye?" Rachel warned. "Because I am sure Leah and Ravu would simply adore having tea with Princess Sky." Skye glared as the two teens snickered at the implied threat. "Threats aside, give them a chance."

"Why should I?" Skye asked. "Just because one so happens to be your twin brother? Let's see…how many family ties have we seen destroy lives than help them? Nexius around because I'm sure he can remind you of several personal ones."

"Skye, don't be so damn-"

"We know you guys did not know what you all were charged with." Riku interrupted, getting more of a stunned look from the blonde and the brunette.

Rachel looked back. "You do?" she got a nod and she glanced to Sora. "Who told you?"

"The Emperor of China." Sora answered. "We know something is up. I don't think we'd be so open for talking with you all if we didn't have a better reason besides you're my sister and people like you guys."

"Apparently, someone wants you all in prison or dead." Riku said. "Mickey maybe forced to royal duties but he is all for us trying to find a way to find a clear solution to this. Something is wrong with this picture."

Skye crossed his arms. "You are all willing to help us? Speak honestly." he warned.

"Yeah, we are." Sora said. "You guys are up for execution. You guys can run but then you might as well be in jail on death row. You'll never be free." He said, pocketing his hands as the honesty showed in his eyes. "That's not exactly living."

Skye and Rachel looked at each other. Rachel knew she wanted to have faith and help on this investigation but Skye was still not quite as trusting. Skye sighed before giving a nod.

"Fine. I'll trust you guys for now." Skye said.

"Good. Because we want to trust you guys too." Sora said.

Skye gave a small smile before realizing Denzel was gone and the sounds of children playing were deaf to their world. He looked around frantically, fidning no kids, a abandoned rubber ball, and no kids in sight. "Skye? What's wrong?" Rachel asked, worried.

"Where's Denzel?" Skye asked, panic setting in. "And the others?!"

That was when the became worried and looked around. "Over there!" Riku pointed behind them as Denzel ran around the corner with another girl holding a large, black stained moogle doll. Without another word did they follow at a run, reaching the corner just when the sound of an engine rumbled through the air.

"Hey you!" The green truck had the kids in the back, not even caring that they were being kidnapped and a man closing the door that was holding them. The man was around the same age as Dyaas and wore a black jumpsuit with a long coat over it, reaching his ankles. His silver hair reaching his waist and covering his eyes.

"Where the hell do you think you're going with them?!" Skye shouted.

The longer haired man lazily looked to the kids. "Hold on, I'll take care of this."

"Hey! Let those kids go, bastard!" The man was walking towards them, a hand on his weapon. The kids made no move to get out or even call for help and the two sides began to get closer and closer.

"Get out of my-" Skye raised his hand to summoned his keyblade but he was a little too slow.

The silver haired man pulled out his gun blade and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The bullet going right through Skye's shoulder.

"Skye!" Rachel kneeled next to the fallen Broken as blood stained his white coat and his hand. "Skye, just hang on, Cure!" Rachel began to try and heal her comrade as Riku and Sora summoned their keyblades to fight off the man, their anger escalating due to Skye's new injury.

"Now you're going to get it!" Sora shouted as he charged first.

"Sora-"

Sora jumped up and went for a vertical slash, the man pointing his gun at him. He pulled the trigger again and Sora instead conjured up a reflect and then slashed down, his blade meeting the man's gunblade. As he pushed the man back, he noticed his eyes.

Cat like green.

For some odd reason, they brought fear to his heart.

"Who are you?"

The man gave an annoyed grunt and pushed him away, shooting again. Riku came up and blocked the bullet. Sora went to attack again but Riku stopped him. "Let him go, we need to get Skye some medical attention." he said.

Sora groaned but nodded.

Denzel had jumped when he heard the shot but the girl from before held him down. "Don't you want to get better?" she asked. Denzel gave a short nod and sat down, not looking back. The man got back in the car and drove off with everyone, leaving Riku and Sora to watch helplessly.

"Damn it." Sora muttered as they dismissed their keyblades.

"Sora, Riku! Help me!" Rachel called them over and they kneeled down, next to Skye. Rachel had used one of the clean bandages Skye had been using before to hold pressure over the wound.

"Is he going to be alright, sis?" Sora asked.

"Aerith can do a better than I can. He's asleep right now but I need some help." Rachel said. Riku turned around. "I'll carry him. Rachel, you lead. Sora make sure that that bandage doesn't fall."

Sora nodded.

"Hurry." Rachel began jogging towards the bar as Riku and Sora followed along.

"…n-no…Star…re…"

Riku glanced back at Skye's head on his shoulder, him being the one who mumbled the two words. "Hang on, Skye."

XxXxXxXxX

In a broken down church, Tifa collapsed on the yellow flowers, hurt and sore from the battle with the man in front of her. The man had knocked out Tifa as well as Marlene and now headed out of the church. He passed his cat like gaze to the other fighter in the church, who laid face down under some broken pews.

Leah tried to get up, golden green eyes glaring at the man but she had been thrown around like a rag doll. But her mind was on Marlene and Tifa's safety than he own hurt.

"Where the hell are you…" Leah tried to climb out, wood falling to the floor as she managed to get on her knees. "…taking her?"

The man huffed. "None of your business, kid." he said, walking past.

Leah's eyes became emerald and feral like the silver haired man's as she gathered the rest of her strength. She lunged for his gunblade and took it out and dodge rolled away from his other weapon and pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The man groaned in annoyance as he picked up the smoking gunblade from the limp hands of the keybearer.

"Too bad, kid."

He left the two females for dead.

Read and Review Please!

Oh, and I forgot to put this down but Dyaas is owned by the Nothing King. Should have put that down last chapter but I forgot. Sorry about that.

Hope you all liked it. See you later.