Informing the King

If King Mickey, Queen Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and Daisy, the inhabitants of the peaceful Disney Castle, didn't have any indication that something bad was happening, they got the message when Chip n' Dale came bursting into the library.

"Sire! Sire! We got an incoming ship! It isn't Gummi-class." They reported. Pluto woke up with a start.

"Easy, boys! It's okay." The king assured his faithful friend, who calmed and went back to sleep his cot.

"Are we under attack?" Donald, the king's magician, quacked.

"If it's only one ship, I don't they're attacking." Goofy suggested.

"Did you guys make out the ship's ID?" asked the King to his techs.

"That's sort of the problem, Your Majesty?" Dale said.

"What do you mean?" the queen inquired.

"Well, Your Majesty…the ship has an older ID signature. It isn't in our registration records." Chip stated.

"How can that be?" questioned Daisy. "Aren't all ships that land here cataloged?"

"Who do you it is? It can't be Sora." Goofy said.

"Or any of the Keybladers." Donald pointed out as well.

Just then, Chip n' Dale's comlink buzzed.

"The ship's hailing us. We better get back to the docking center ASAP."

As they scurried off, the King decided to follow them, accompanied by Donald and Goofy.

As the King, Donald, and Goofy walked in the docking center hub, the big screen flicked on to reveal the unknown spaceship. It wingspan was 10ft. and it armaments were twin frontal cannons and a port-side blaster.

"Gawrsh, that sure ain't a Gummi ship." Goofy exclaimed.

"What do you think it is, Your Majesty?" Donald asked Mickey.

"I suppose there's only one way to know. Answer the hail, guys."

After a few buttons clicked and switches pressed, a human face was on the screen. He had a short beard, brown eyes, and a long knotted scar. Someone was sleeping behind him in the secondary cockpit.

"Disney Castle, this is Radiant Garden Fighter 14-XP requesting permission to dock."

"Identify yourself." Demanded the King with a cautious tone.

"Radiant Garden?" The tech chipmunks said in unison. So did the King, Donald, and Goofy. The ships at the Garden didn't look like that all.

The man smiled. "You must be King Mickey. It's an honor to finally make your acquaintance. I've heard a lot about you from Master Yen Sid."

"You know Master Yen Sid?" Donald asked, now interested.

"He and I are old friends. My name is Alnor."

That rang a bang in the King's head. "Wait, you're…Alnor? The Alnor? The one who left the Keybladers?"

Alnor bit his tongue. "Yeah, that's me…though there's more than that."

"What are doing here? Are you lost?" asked Goofy.

"No, actually. I need to talk to you. It's extremely urgent, and I'd like to do it face to face. Permission to land, sire?"

The King thought about it. He seemed okay for the most part. "Alright. You can land."

"Much appreciated, Your Majesty. ETA 2 minutes 21 seconds." The link then closed.

"Who is he, sire?" Chip asked.

"Someone Yen Sid trusts greatly…someone who he said has lived a terrible life…I don't know why he's here, but he wouldn't be if something were wrong. Direct him to the Audience chamber, guys. We'll meet him there. I'll go get Minnie and Daisy. Donald. Goofy. Let's go."

"Right away, Your Majesty." They said in unison, and followed him out.

"That's the King, huh? I know Yen Sid said he was short, but…" he was interrupted as he heard his brother moaning and groaning.

"Hey! You still queasy back there?"

"Are we there yet, you oaf?" Anlor said hoarsely.

"Yeah, we got clearance to dock. I figured they wouldn't recognize the ship, so it took a way…I don't think the King trusts me."

"He trusts Master Yen Sid who trusts you. Shouldn't that be enough?"

"Everybody has their own opinion on somebody; it's doesn't mean they're always on the same page."

Anlor moaned again. "You get that out of a book or personal experience?"

Alnor chuckled, "Neither. From you."

"Oh, well. I'm a great teacher, aren't I?"

"Yeah, I know. Though you could use work on being nice."

"What?!" Anlor coughed. "I am nice! What sort of horrendous comment is that?!"

"Like how you were thought that one chick in Twilight Town about 26 years ago was an 'intriguing prospect' so you were nice to her and got your privates kneed up to your head?"

Anlor paused. "Yes, well…I suppose my first impressions need polishing."

"As does your 'womanizing' expertise."

Anlor snapped his finger magically at Alnor's ear. "You need to work on being nice."

"I love you too."

"Oh, go suck on a tree for all I care."

Alnor merely laughed as he approached the underground landing platform.

In the Lanes Between, the Keybladers were only about 10 minutes out from Disney Castle.

In one Gummi ship you had Roxas, Lea, Xion, and the Keeper; and in the other you had Sora, Riku, Kairi, and Master yen Sid. Riku and Lea was both flying their respected ships. Sora's eyes never left the faces of the Keeper. He didn't trust him. The Masters apparently did, but not him. Not yet.

"We should be almost there. Hopefully nothing's happened yet." Master Eraqus said via comlink.

"Hope your right, old man." Lea answered back.

"How many times have I said already not to call me that, Lea?"

"I'm at 46."

"Lea, that was rhetorical." Roxas said.

The Keeper seemed to still be considering his previous conversation with Yen Sid. If Alnor did something he didn't know about…his answers would came in time…if only time was something they had…

The King was on his throne, encircled by Donald and Goofy to his right and the Queen and Daisy to his left. As the small door opened, the chipmunks pranced in.

"Presenting Alnor the Valiant and Anlor the Remarkable!" They declared.

The two warriors walked through and approached the King.

"It is an honor to finally greet you, Your Majesty." Alnor said and bowed.

"Sucking up early?" Anlor said through thoughts to his brother, who responded with an image of kicking Anlor's ass.

"Welcome, Alnor and Anlor." said the King.

"Yen Sid has informed the King about you. He's says you arguably one of the best Keybladers of our generation, and your brother is so masterful at magic he can outdo Yen Sid himself."

"I wouldn't bet on it, Your Majesty, though I do appreciate the compliment." As he bowed, he muffled a groan, which did not go unopposed.

"Are you ill, Anlor?" asked the Queen.

"No, Your Highness. Space travel still leaves me a sick. Especially with my brother's 'profound' flying abilities." That was true; he did get 'space sick' with flying, but that wasn't the cause of his pain.

Alnor got up in surprise. "Excuse me?"

"How come we haven't heard of you guys before?" Donald asked.

"Yeah, we could've used you in the fight against Xehanort." Goofy added.

Anlor paused. "Yes. Well…we had other business of importance that required interrupted attention on our part. We actually didn't hear about the conflict and its conclusion about a week ago."

"You're kidding." Daisy said.

"Lady Daisy, one thing about me you should know right off the bat; I don't joke around."

"Only when you're drunk." Alnor said under his breath.

"What was that?" Anlor asked, fully hearing his brother's remark while nobody else did.

"Nothing. Just talking to myself."

"Uh-huh.' Anlor let it go for now. "Obviously ware here for a reason, Your Majesty."

"I guessed as much. Yen Sid said you two wouldn't show up unless something bad was going to happen."

"I am afraid something very bad will happen very soon, King Mickey."

"Is Xehanort back?" The queen asked.

"No, thank the heavens. Compared to this threat, though, he would have been a minor spark compared to the thunderstorm that comes from the east."

That drew a good of silence.

"What is going the happen?" asked Queen Minnie.

Anlor looked to Alnor, who nodded as if granting permission. "We have good reason to believe that…where should I start? Sire, how familiar are you with the prophecy of the Realm War?"

In a matter of seconds, before the Keybladers was Disney Castle.

"That's the last time we take a detour, old man." Lea said.

"Lea! Can't you ever show respect?" Yen Sid inquired in frustration.

"Sure. How do you-"

"Lea, please don't finish that remark." Roxas begged.

"What? You didn't even know what I was going to-"

"Yes, we did. We know you too well." Xion said.

"You guys are no fun."

"Cut the chatter, Lea. I'm hailing the castle now, so please, no interruptions." Aqua asked politely.

"Sure, Miss Blue and-"

"LEA!" Roxas and Xion screamed.

"Okay, okay. Geez."

The Keeper mouthed the words "Help me" to Yen Sid, who merely smiled and waved. That kind of hit a nerve for the Keeper.

"I'm getting no response." Aqua said after a few seconds.

"Do you think something happened?" Terra suggested.

"I don't know, but I don't have the override codes. Do you, Master Yen Sid?"

"I'm afraid not, Aqua. Perhaps we should-"

Everybody then heard Chip's voice. "You guys are here! Yippee!"

"You're cleared for landing. Welcome back, everybody." Dale said as well.

"It's good to be back, Dale." Sora said.

"The King is waiting for you all in the Audience Chamber. Chip n' Dale out." The comlink went silent then.

"Well, no in waiting for the worlds to end here. Let's go going." Lea said, punching his Gummi Ship it to a good 86 MPH, which had Roxas, Xion, and the keeper holding on for dear life.

"Lea, I'm going to kill yooooooou!" they heard the Keeper yelling.

"Lea will never change, will he?" Kairi said.

"Probably not. Let's go make sure everybody survives his landing." Aqua said.

The Gliders and Ships proceeded to land in the hangar.

"What exactly are you saying, Wise Anlor?" The King asked.

"I am saying, Mickey, that whether you know it or not, your castle is going to be the main battlefield from a new war."

"What is the Realm War?" Daisy asked.

"The Realm War, malady, what prophesied by a seer to the Keyblade bards some thousands of years ago. The seer foretold of a terrible event conflict that would center around a 'dazzling castle of white', so you see the connection."

"Aren't their many other castle around the cosmos that are white. How could this seer know it would be here?" the King asked.

"That's the trouble with seers; even they sometimes don't have answers to the most important questions."

"Anlor, forgive me, but Yen Sid that you possessed the gift of foresight. Have you ever 'seen' this prophecy?" the King inquired.

Anlor sighed. "My visions, sire, are different from seers. Seers can have visions of any sort various outcomes; my visions are only ones that are set to happen with or without interference. They do leave me a bit…woozy."

"That's what happened before you came here isn't it? You had a vision." Goofy figured out to everybody surprise.

Anlor chuckled. "My sources told me were you smarter than your antics. I see that even I cannot hide everything. Yes, I did have a vision before we came here. It all started when we found these artifacts…" Alnor 'pulled' out the Credulians artifacts that have come across earlier.

"Where are they from?" The King asked.

Alnor answered, "These were once the prized possessions of-"

Chip n' Dale skipped in, interrupting Alnor's explanations.

"Presenting the Keybladers: Masters Sora, Riku, Kairi, Aqua, Terra, Ventus; Keyblade Wielders Roxas, Xion, and Lea; and Masters Eraqus and Yen Sid; and the Keeper of Keys!"

The brothers were stunned; they weren't expecting the Keeper to show up with them.

They all walked in single file. Alnor looked at them all; to Yen Sid and Eraqus in renewed friendship; to Aqua, Terra, Ventus, Lea, Roxas, and Xion in proudness for their accomplishments; to Kairi in surprise as he last the lovely lady as a young baby long ago; to Riku in a unique perspective, for he had all the makings to be a great Master; and finally to Sora.

Anlor caught his brother's gaze on the boy. It wasn't a look of worry, of doubt, but of hope. The relief that he was alive; strong and a much better person than he could ever be. Of course, Sora would not remember him at all; Alnor's spell still held after 17 years.

"Alnor, Anlor…it has been a long time."

"Master Yen Sid. A pleasure as always." Anlor said and shook Yen Sid hand. Eraqus and Alnor had a stare down, which Alnor looking down somewhat; Eraqus never really forgave him for leaving the Keyblade behind to go fight with his brother. They all were watching them.

"Alnor." Eraqus briefly said.

"Eraqus…It's been a while."

Master Eraqus was fighting emotion. "Yes, it has."

"Eraqus, not here. Please." Yen Sid pleaded.

"I know, my friend. How have you been?" He then pointed to scar. "Where did that come from/"

"What, this?" he ran a finger down it. "It is my reward from trying to kill an 8(ft.) by 8 tiger in a desolate jungle about a year since I…last saw you."

"Wasn't that a fun trip? 3 days stuck on a little island with predators trying to maul us and get an early lunch?"

"Not now, Anlor…I take it these are the Keybladers I heard so much about."

"Hey, how ya doing? Name's Lea. Got it memorized?" lea extended a hand.

Anlor shook it, then whispered to Eraqus, "I like this one's spirit."

"Spirit, yes. The attitude needs major refining."

Alnor and Anlor shook everybody's hand, including the Keeper's.

"Haven't seen you two for quite a bit."

"Likewise, Keeper. Likewise. Thought you weren't one for the crowd gatherings."

"Times are changing." The Keeper quickly replied.

Then they came to Riku and Sora and Kairi.

"Ah, I've been waiting a while to meet you three. The Keeper was right, Anlor; Kairi has become quite a beautiful flower."

Kairi blushed and Sora snared a little. Riku just shrugged; girls always did like compliments, he thought.

"Your sources are these two?!' Eraqus silently asked the Keeper.

"I have more, but they are part of my main group, yes."

Anlor continued: "And Riku. Your tale has fascinated me. The only one to have a resistance to darkness. Quite a feat from someone in their teens still. Unheard of, actually. I sense great things for you ahead."

"Thank you."

Sora then approached Alnor.

"HI, I'm Sora. Nice to meet you, Alnor." He extended a hand.

Anlor though he saw his brother also let a tear go, but he blinked and there was indication there was anything of the sort. Nevertheless, he was caught off guard a bit.

"Nice to meet you, too…Sora. I've heard…absolutely wonderful things about you."

"Really?"

"Are you trying to suck up to the boy, brother?"

"I'm just saying hello."

"You said it. Over and done with. Don't overdose the icing on the cake."

"Fine. Fine." He paused. "So we are all here. Good. I can begin. Now then…"

"Uh, question; the Keeper said there would be a threat here soon." Lea stated.

"Yes, well…" the Keeper began.

"It will be here; it just hasn't come yet."

A dark and echoing voice said, "Oh, hasn't it?"

After moments of twisting, turning, and saying "What the-" countless times, a black portal emerged in front of them with hollowing winds, and three men stepped forth. The on eon the right was bald with dark green eyes. A rapier was sheathed on his right side. The other one had curly hair, with eyes of mystic silver (not as dazzling as Anlor's, mind you) and wielded a staff with devilish red star designs. The third man was shrouded in a hood.

The Queen and Daisy hid behind the throne, with the other drawing their respected weapons.

Nobody attacked. Not even Alnor and Anlor.

For they had recognized the two man.

"R-R-Rahgar?! And C…Calcous?" Alnor began.

"Hello, old friend. My, it has been many a year since we last encountered you. On the Steps of Radiant Garden, which I believe is where your 14-XP fighter was built, no? Ah, those races were so fun to watch and applaud; too bad most of the pilots dies, which led to its ban. Am I right?" Rahgar said, obviously trying to anger Alnor, which was working a bit, since he was stunned and pissed.

"Now, now, Rahgar. We are not here to talk about such games of pleasure." said the one with the staff.

"You two are supposed to be dead!" Yen barked.

Rahgar looked at his body. "Do we look like a figment of the imagination?"

"We bring you a message." Calcous, the curly-haired one, hissed.

"Which is?" Anlor answered due to Alnor's continued state of shock.

"Surrender or perish." Rahgar put it simply

"Ha! Why would we do that?" Anlor answered again.

"What do you want here?" The King demanded furiously.

"The heart of this world." The hooded one said. His voice was sweet, soft, and sinister.

Alnor was blown away. He hadn't heard that voice for over 17 years.

The hooded one lifted his hood, and revealed a face that entrance any female and scare any mortal half to death.

The Keybladers cringed. Eraqus was taken aback. Yen Sid's throat constricted. Anlor was speechless.

Alnor looked on in horror.

"It cannot be…It cannot be."

"Hello, Alnor. I'm back. Did you miss me?" The 'lord' said.

Alnor was able to breathe out one word:

"Bayol."

Pronunciation Guide: Bayol (bay-ol), Rahgar (Rath-gar), and Calcous (cal-cuss)

About Alnor's fighter: Radiant Garden use to have races with star fighters (sort of like Podracing in Star Wars), but Ansem banned the sport after too many fatalities.