Here's the next chapter everyone! I skipped a few essential points that was in the game, like the whole trip to Deep Space/Stich's world and Ven's visit to the coliseum. I didn't think it was relevant to the plot of this fic.
I am happy to say that is chapter is based around Lira, because after this chapter you won't read about her as much until later on. So enjoy!
"At that time, the World was filled with light, and a great many Keyblade wielders. But without buffers, the worlds began to squabble over ownership of the light. You see, they learned of the Keyblade's true use. War broke out as each of the Keyblade wielders struggled to lay claim to an almighty entity known as Kingdom Hearts." Xehanort Report III
Chapter 13 – To Be a Hero
Terra, Ven, Aqua, and Levina all left Disney Town. They smiled at each other across from the Lanes Between. This was when the four friends decided to separate and depart from each other. Ven and Levina passed a world with a grand coliseum that was having some sort of tournament to depict who would get to train with Phil and become a full-fledged hero. Seeing the coliseum Terra became intrigued by it.
'Maybe I can finally conquer the darkness that's inside my heart.' Terra thought. He could still feel the taste of Aqua's lips against his mouth. A small smile escaped his lips as he remembered the moment the two of them shared a kiss together. 'Or I could just get stronger and keep everyone I cherish away from the darkness.' He looked back at Aqua's direction seeing that she had gone to take care of a swarm of unruly tiny Unversed spaceships that were threatening to harm Donald's gummi ship. He watched as the female keyblade wielder was able to decimate the Unversed with her strength and light. 'Getting stronger is just what I need to fight against the darkness.' He landed at the coliseum gates.
At the coliseum gates Hercules had his hands full with his own group of Unversed. He was training under Phil when these creatures of darkness appeared out of nowhere. A giant Unversed known as a Buckle Buster knocked Hercules down against the ground. Hercules held his head shaking the stars out of his eyes. 'I can't wimp out like this.' He thought. 'I need to go the distance and keep on fighting.'
Terra arrived at the coliseum noticing Hercules' plight. He quickly made his keyblade appear in his hand and rushed over to aid the hero in training.
"Stay back." Terra told him and fought the Unversed, never once taping into the darkness from his heart.
Hercules sat and watched as the Unversed disappeared in puffs of darkness.
"You okay?" Terra asked outstretching his hand to the fallen youth.
"Yeah, thanks," Hercules answered taking Terra's hand and getting up off the ground. He sighed heavily, "Guess they were too much for me. I guess I'll just have to train harder," He looked at Terra. "You're pretty tough – you really handled those things. Are you here to enter the games?"
"What games?" Terra asked curiously.
"The 'Games' games!" Hercules answered proudly. "To see who's strongest! One day I'm gonna win 'em all and become a true hero!"
"Herc!" Phill's gruff voice called out. "Front and center right now or I'm tackin' on another one thousand laps!"
Hearing this Hercules panicked a little. There was no way he was going to run a thousand laps again. "Uh-Oh I gotta go!" He said to Terra running towards Phil. "The coliseum's just up ahead. I hope I'll get to see you fight there sometime!"
Terra watched as Hercules hurried towards the coliseum gates. 'A competition?' He thought. 'I suppose it couldn't hurt to see how strong I've really become.'
Hades, the Lord of the Dead was in front of the gates of the coliseum. He was always planning something to bring down Zeus and the other Gods on Mount Olympus.
"Geez, Louise, one chump after another," Hades said out loud. "It's like the who's who of the decathlon disasters around here. All I need is one mealy warrior, tough enough to give Zeus a jolt of his own medicine!" He then noticed Terra enter the arena and could easily sense the darkness emanating from his heart. "Dark, moody, and powerful…He's perfect!"
Terra looked at the signs plastered on the walls of the different tournament slots he could enter. He didn't even realize Hades was stalking him. He was too fixated on entering and winning the Games hoping that gaining more strength would help quell the darkness that keeps threatening to swallow him.
'This is it.' Terra thought looking at the signs wondering which tournament he should enter first.
"How sad is this?" Hades taunted causing Terra to break out of his thoughts. "All that power going to waste."
"Who are you?" Terra asked demandingly.
Hades looked down at the boy. "Name's Hades, Lord of the Dead, God of the Underworld, yadda, yadda, how ya' doin'?" He greeted.
Terra blinked in confusion at Hades unorthodox, un-God like mannerism.
"Lemme guess, you're trying to put the whole kibosh on the darkness inside you." Hades said to him in a casual tone.
"Yes, how did you know that?" Terra questioned.
"Earth to the kid, I am a God," Hades replied. "I see and know everything. Not a good idea to stomp out all the darkness you've got." He said.
"What?" Terra asked.
"Okay, stay with me," Hades explained. "Darkness is inside everybody. Nothing to be ashamed of. You play nice with it, and darkness will become your best friend. But if you go and get all self-conscious over it and refuse to face it," He directed that last statement to Terra causing the boy to glare lightly. "The darkness will run over you like a debutante at a toga sale. And then where would you be? Nowhere!" He continued placing his dead blue hands on Terra's shoulders.
Terra bitterly scowled at the Lord of the Dead. He didn't like Hades touching him at all.
"Now me, I look at you and see potential," Hades went on. "That's right kid, you've got the potential to conquer the darkness inside you. And I'll even give you some pointers. I mean if anybody knows about conquering, I know conquering."
Terra shoved the powerful God away from him holding his keyblade tightly. "I don't need the darkness to conquer my heart and I'm not scared of it either!" He declared.
Hades lightly scowled. "Fine, don't take my help!" He seethed. "See what that gets you, once you're out of the Games."
"I think I'll do fine without your kind of influence!" Terra spat back walking up to the Gates and heading towards the arena where he fought Unversed after Unversed winning each round. There was just one more round left. Hades observed this groaning in annoyance that his plan was failing.
"This is not what I had in mind!" Hades yelled spontaneously calming down. "But hey I can improvise. Time for plan beta…"
An unsuspecting soldier in armor walked past the Lord of the Underworld. He too was training with Phil along with Hercules.
"Pardon me," The soldier said brushing past Hades. "I'm going to miss my match."
Hades watched as the boy headed towards the arena to face off against Terra. He grinned with glee. "Hellooo, plan beta…! Hey kid!" He called out to the boy eagerly. "Gotta name?"
"It's Zack," The boy said. "Look I'm in a hurry."
"Relax," Hades replied. "That chicken hearted opponent of yours can wait a few more minutes." He told the youth. 'Besides, I'm just getting' started with you.' Hades thought grinning manically waving his head unleashing small amounts of darkness that was sleeping inside his heart.
Terra patiently waited for his opponent to arrive. 'I've been doing fine without the darkness,' He thought. 'Aqua was right, I don't need the darkness when I have the light to keep me strong. Just one more match and I'll win having enough strength to conquer the darkness inside my heart. I won't have to ever fear it again.' Terra broke from his thoughts as he saw his opponent.
Terra held his keyblade tightly clasped in his hand. Zack took his sword in hand a strange tingle of darkness flickered in his blue eyes. The two warriors faced each other and charged. With ease, Terra was able to knock Zack down swinging his keyblade.
"Better luck next time." Terra said turning away walking off feeling slightly proud that he had won the tournament. All his fears were put aside in his mind. He would no longer fear the darkness.
However, Zack wasn't finished yet. The defeated youth stood up holding his sword in his hands ready to fight again.
Terra turned around blocking Zack's sword swing with his keyblade. "Stop it!" Terra yelled blocking each sword swing with his keyblade. "The match is over!"
Terra's voice fell on deaf ears as Zack became more aggressive with his sword swings not caring what he did as long as he was able to cause harm to his opponent.
'He was a push over before,' Terra thought struggling to keep Zack's sword from striking him. 'What's gotten into him?'
"I-It's…not me…" Zack said trying desperately to fight the darkness that was controlling him.
"What?!" Terra asked worried.
"I-I'm not…doing this…" Zack replied thrusting his sword at Terra once more.
Terra backed away quickly holding his keyblade out blocking Zack's sword again. He noticed a dark aura around the small youth. 'He's being controlled by the darkness.' He thought remembering how Maleficent had used him to take Princess Aurora's light from her heart.
"So what do you think?" Hades smugly asked as he appeared in the arena in a puff of smoke. "You like my new super-warrior? You see right here-see it's the power of darkness. It could still be yours, if you open up to it!"
Terra glared at the Underworld leader realizing that he had been duped once again by the forces of darkness. "Hades!" He growled. "You were just playing me!" He pushed Zack back with his keyblade. "The darkness will never have me!"
Zack heavily breathed trying to regain control of his morality. "H-Help me…," He said to Terra. "Y-You've gotta…set my heart…free..." He charged forward at Terra swinging his sword, using orbs unearthed from his home world as means of magical attacks.
Terra slid away from the attacks being thrown at him, but was taken off guard as Zack swiftly swung his sword knocking Terra against the wall.
Terra caught his breath as Zack continued ramming his sword into his keyblade. The more Zack depended on the darkness, the more the darkness and Hades' spell began to diminish.
'I've got to make this last move count.' Terra thought as he raggedly caught his breath. He squeezes his fist. 'I have to use the darkness that's in my heart to overpower him.' Coming to this decision, Terra let go of all his attached emotions. His friends, his feelings for Aqua, everything. His keyblade was suddenly surrounded by an unhealthy dark aura. Fragments of darkness shot out from the keyblade like a paint-ball gun, hitting Zack in every direction.
Zack looked at Terra, smiling lightly before collapsing to the ground. Seeing Zack defeated Hades rolled his eyes. "That kid doesn't have what it takes to handle the darkness." He said before walking off.
Zack groaned regaining control of his body again.
"You gonna make it?" Terra asked as he kneeled beside Zack making sure he was alright.
"Y-Yeah…," Zack replied exhausted. "I'm free." He observantly looked around for Hades. "Where did Hades go?"
"He's gone." Terra told him.
Zack angrily slammed his gloved fist into the ground. "Man, how could I let a guy like him control me?" He said angrily. "I'll never live it down!" He then noticed Terra extend his hand out to help him. The defeated youth whole heartedly accepted the offer and stood up.
"Thanks, umm..." Zack began trying to figure out what to call him.
"Terra." Terra smiled.
"Thanks Terra," Zack replied. "I'm Zack." He then looked at Terra closely smiling causing Terra to feel a little uncomfortable. "Yup, you're exactly what I pictured a hero would be like."
"Me? A hero?" Terra questioned.
"Not the way you look," Zack answered. "There's something else about you."
Terra shook his head turning away. "I'm no hero," He told him. "Trust me on that."
"You kidding?" Zack asked. "You just saved my life, according to my trainer Phil that puts you in the hero book for sure. Whether you like it or not you're a hero."
Terra smiled a little. "Thanks, Zack." He said. "You'll catch up and be a hero one day too."
"One loss isn't going to bring me down!" Zack replied doing his squats. "I've just got to keep on practicing! I'll be a hero one day, I know it."
Terra smiled at Zack's determination. He sighed lightly. 'Will the darkness always have a hold on me,' He thought. 'At least this time I used the darkness to help someone rather than hurt them.' He smiled a little at this hopeful thought and left the coliseum.
Ven and Levina raced through the Lanes Between. They saw Terra leaving the coliseum.
"A tournament sounds like fun," Levina said. "We should go check it out."
Ven nodded moving his glider towards the giant coliseum when something caught his eye. A blue shimmering star headed towards an island.
"That's Mickey's star shard!" Ven thought out loud. The two teens watched as the star shard zigzagged about in the Lanes Between before crashing onto the small island shaped world.
"He could be hurt!" Levina exclaimed.
Forgetting about the coliseum Ven raced towards the island to help their friend. Levina looked back seeing the swarm of jelly-like Unversed that were harassing Donald's gummi ship were now after them.
"Ven..," Levina shrieked slightly clinging to him. "We've got company."
"What?" Ven looked back seeing the swarm of Unversed catching up to them. He quickly made his keyblade appear in his hand trying to swat the Unversed away. The Unversed swarmed Ven's glider trying to rock them off.
"They're going to kill us!" Levina panicked.
"There's too many, we can't fight them like this." Ven said quickly taking hold of Levina's hand.
Levina stared at her friend nervously. "Ventus, what are you doing!?" She yelled fearing the worst as to what her friend was thinking.
"There's no way we'll be able to fight them all," Ven told her tightly holding her hand. "We're going to have to jump!"
"Are you out of your mind!?" Levina screamed looking down at the tiny island like world.
Ven squeezed her hand not letting go. "Trust me! We'll be ok!"
Levina nodded her head as Ven disembarked from his glider pressing the armor on his shoulder so that the small Unversed wouldn't destroy his glider. Together the two teens jumped into the world below them.
Mickey rubbed his head landing in an Indian camp on the island. He got up looking at his Star Shard. 'Why did it lead me here?'' He wondered and noticed a dark corridor. The tiny mouse made a motion to summon his keyblade.
"Move it." A chilling voice from behind the small mouse ordered.
Mickey quickly turned around seeing that it was Vanitas. Before the tiny mouse could act, Vanitas kicked Mickey into the dark corridor making the small king drop his Star Shard.
"The Master will take of you," Vanitas sneered. "I've got other things to take care of." The masked boy suddenly clutched his chest where his heart would be. He had been feeling this pain ever since the trip to Radiant Garden. It was not pain which normal people felt that was hurting his chest. This type of pain was unfamiliar to him because he never experienced what it was like to be happy with another person. He growled in frustration. Whatever this happy feeling that was forming inside his chest, he detested it. 'That little fool,' Vanitas thought gritting his teeth. 'Ventus is definitely here and so is that girl he's always hanging around with. It's time I took care of them both.'
"Gawrsh, it was sure nice of that girl with the keyblade to help us." Goofy beamed as the gummi ship landed beside the coliseum.
Donald suddenly quacked seeing Aqua's keyblade glider arriving to the coliseum too. "She's the one who helped us."
"Is she getting training from Phil, too?" Lira wondered.
Donald and Goofy both shrugged.
"She didn't seem to need any kind of trainin', the way she held her own against those monsters." Goofy said.
"Well, she's not taking my spot!" Lira grumbled. "I'm the one who needs to train with Phil, not her!"
"Come on!" Donald told his friends as they disembarked from the gummi ship.
Aqua arrived at the coliseum and was suddenly surrounded by Unversed. She quickly made her keyblade appear ready to fight them.
Suddenly Phil ran towards her posing dramatically. "Stand back sweet cheeks, I'll handle this." He told her making an attempt to impress her.
Aqua looked down at the tiny goat blinking in surprise. Phil looked up at the Unversed who could easily step on the trainer of heroes of they wanted. Seeing the large opponents, Phil backed off and ran.
"Herc!" He yelled. "They're all yours!"
Hercules ran over to Aqua and helped her fight the Unversed.
Aqua watched as Hercules lifted one of the Unversed above his head and tossed them into the others. 'He's incredibly strong.' Aqua thought impressed by the strength Hercules had. She realized that he was no ordinary human being.
Once the Unversed were taken care of, Phil walked over to them. "Oy, those wackos almost made gyros out of me!"
"Well maybe if you weren't trying to show off…" Hercules began.
"Who asked you, kid?" Phil scoffed. "Besides you'll understand when you're older."
Hercules sighed. "And stronger too," He said. "Strong enough to be a hero."
Aqua looked at Hercules. "You think being strong is what makes you a hero?"
"Sure!" Hercules smiled. "Look at how strong Terra is, and he's the champion."
"Terra?" Aqua asked. "He was here."
"Yup," Hercules nodded. "He won the Games and beat one of our best contenders!"
Aqua smiled hearing this and then thought, 'Terra, why did you need to prove yourself on how strong you are?'
"So sugar cakes," Phil began flirting with Aqua again. "You got any plans for later? You know I've trained a few heroes in my time. Maybe I could recite some epic poetry?"
"Oh Phil!" Goofy ran towards the trainer.
Phil looked over and face palmed. "Oh no, not you two again!" He groaned. "Look I don't care what kind of warrior your king sent me, but I've got my hands full right now."
"But it's urgent!" Donald told him.
Aqua looked over seeing Lira with them. "Oh it's you," She smiled at her. "We met at the festival."
"Big deal," Lira scoffed. "Look if you're trying to get in the way of my training, you're going to have to fight me for it!"
"Training?" Aqua questioned. "No, I'm not here to train."
"You aren't?!" Phil yelled flabbergasted. "But I could teach you things you'd never imagine possible." He winked at her.
"But Phil…," Hercules protested. "You're supposed to be training me!"
"Shh!" Phil spat back. "Pipe down kid!" He scolded Hercules and then looked at Aqua staring at her. "You and she ain't go the same attributes, if you know what I mean."
Lira looked at Donald and Goofy. "I'm supposed to get training from this perverted old goat?" She asked them.
"Gawrsh Lira dontcha worry about a thing!" Goofy told him. "We'll make sure he doesn't do anything to ya!"
Phil continued to try his best to win over Aqua. "So what do you say sweet cheeks?"
Aqua shook her head. "Sorry, but I don't need a trainer," She looked towards Lira. "I think she does though."
Phil turned around looking at Lira. "What?!" He exclaimed. "You want me train a little girl!? No way, not gonna happen!"
Lira's blue eye began to twitch. "Who are you calling a little girl?!" She yelled unsheathing her sword from her scabbard.
"But Phil," Hercules began. "She's just a few years younger than Zack," He smiled." And you're training him too."
Phil groaned realizing that he was in one hell of a situation and sighed. "Fine…," He said. "I suppose I could train you, but you've gotta show me if you've got what it takes to be a true hero," He then looked at Aqua again. "If you don't wanna train I guess you can help moderate the little pipsqueak."
The female keyblade wielder ran her fingers through her hair. "I suppose, I could..." She said politely and smiled at Lira, "Good luck." She told her.
Lira nodded following Phil and Hercules towards the vestibule. As they entered they saw Zack swinging his sword at six wooden manikins taking them all out in one shot.
"Oh yeah!" Zack cheered. "That's a new record for me!" He said energetically wiping the sweat from his forehead. He turned around seeing Phil and the others.
Lira's face flushed as she saw Zack. 'H-He's so handsome…' She thought.
Donald saw Lira's face and his face became red with anger. "Lira! Focus!" He scolded the girl.
"R-Right…" Lira stammered. "Sorry."
"You've got a new sparring partner Mr. Hero." Phil said looking at Zack.
Zack looked towards Aqua's direction. "You're here to train? That's great!" He said rushing over to her and taking her hand. "I'm Zack!"
"It's nice to meet you Zack, I'm Aqua," Aqua told him. "But I'm not your sparring partner.
Hearing this Zack frowned a little. "Oh…," He said disappointed. "Then who is?"
Everyone in the room pointed to Lira.
Zack looked at Phil. "Uh…Phil, you want me to spar with a little girl?" He asked his trainer.
Lira growled under her breath. "I'll show him who's a little girl!" She scowled running at Zack with her sword.
"H-Hey!" Zack quickly blocked Lira's movements with his own sword. The tiny girl then used a plethora of magic spells to distract the young boy knocking his feet from under him.
Hercules, Aqua, and Phil saw this and their jaw dropped.
"Whoa!" Hercules cried out. "No one's ever done that before!"
Aqua smiled. "She has a lot of determination that's for sure."
Zack sat up from the ground. "That was incredible!" He beamed. "I can't wait to spar with her, with a little more training she'll be as good as Terra!"
Hearing Terra's name, Aqua looked at Zack. "Zack, Terra's a friend of mine," She told him. "How exactly is it that you know him?"
"He saved my life," Zack explained while squatting. "During the last Games, this dude named Hades tried to make Terra his pawn of darkness and he used me to do it. He had some kind of magic or something that made me crazy, gave me strange powers and turned me against Terra," He stopped squatting and stood up. "But you know what? Terra freed me and he used the darkness to do it."
'Terra…,' Aqua thought. 'You used the darkness to save someone?''
"Enough with the drama," Zack said whole-heartedly looking at Lira. "Come on into the arena and let's spar."
"You're on!" Lira agreed following Zack into the arena.
"Lira, do your best!" Donald told her.
"Ayuck! We'll be cheerin' for ya!" Goofy added.
Zack looked at Donald and Goofy and he smiled at them. "Hey it's you two!" He greeted them. "How's your king? I never got the chance to thank you two for bringing me here! Training here has been a thrill for me!"
Lira looked back at Donald and Goofy. "You two know him?"
"Well sort of," Donald began. "He came from another world looking to be a hero."
Goofy nodded. "But the king was still trainin' under Master Yen Sid, so we told him to come to the coliseum and see Phil!"
Lira smiled at Zack. She didn't realize that the two of them had so much in common already. They both wanted the same thing. To be known for something great. She ran towards the coliseum and stopped in her tracks as a puff of smoke appeared out of nowhere revealing Hades.
"Here I thought I'd drop in to see which muscle-head was up next to compete in the Games," Hades said walking towards Aqua and others. "Holy Hydras! It's just a little girl, a little lassie, and a little blue bird." He sneered looking down at Lira and Aqua.
Aqua quickly pushed the little girl next to her glaring at him.
"Hades!" Zack yelled.
Hades turned around rolling his eyes. "I'm sorry," The leader of the Underworld began. "I didn't ask for a mosquito, where'd I put that bug spray."
"Mosquito?!" Zack yelled balling his gloved hands into a fist.
"So, you're Hades!" Aqua glared at the blue being in front of her. "You used Zack and tried to cast Terra into the darkness!"
"So I assume you're acquainted with the spineless chicken heart!" Hades retorted.
"Terra is my friend!" Aqua spat back. "And I heard he triumphed over the darkness! He's not spineless!"
Hades laughed at this. "Funny, ya know 'cause I heard different, it was Chickenheart who wanted instruction on how to use the darkness in the first place."
"Never!" Aqua declared.
"And he was so close to doing it too, when the sap went and got cold feet!" Hades yelled turning an alarming blaze of red. "Now, if that ain't cowardly, I don't know what is!" He then looked at Aqua. "But you my little blue bird, why don't you flit on over here and be a part of the winning team." He gestured to her.
Aqua shoved Hades' hand away from her. "The darkness doesn't interest me!" She yelled.
"Well that was rude!" Hades said. "A simple 'no you're Godliness would've sufficed." He then grinned. "Fortunately," He added clearing his throat. "I still get to destroy you! Rules say, you face me next! And I've got a whole lot of darkness with your name on it!" He laughed viciously and disappeared.
"Get back here Hades!" Zack growled trying to get after him. He sighed as the smoke disappeared. "Man, if I was only up against him!" He then looked towards Aqua's direction. "You've gotta avenge me and Terra!"
"Don't worry Zack, I will!" Aqua declared. As she said this the entire coliseum became pitch black as an eerie dark cloud hovered above the coliseum.
"Gawrsh this doesn't look good." Goofy panicked.
"Will you stop blubbering Goofy!" Donald yelled. "You're not even fighting!"
Lira looked at Aqua. "I want to help you!" She said eagerly.
"No, I can handle this on my own," Aqua said to her. "Besides if anything happens to me or any of my friends, you'll have to be the one to keep the light safe."
Lira nodded her head and sat beside Zack who was in the stands. There was a cold sensation coming from the coliseum.
"It sure got cold real fast." Donald said casting a ball of fire around them. The ball of fire was suddenly snuffed out as a large icicle raced towards them. The ground underneath them began to shake as everyone saw two large iced hands crawling into the arena. It was the Icicle Titan, one of four minions that Hades had in his possession. Lira gently held Zack's hand frightened by the giant ice monster.
Zack looked at down at the little girl's hand giving it a reassuring squeeze.
Hades appeared in a puff of smoke grinning. "I never said one-on-one."
Zack quickly let go of Lira's hand and yelled, "No fair Hades!"
"I suppose that's in the rules!" Aqua glared at the immortal God readying her keyblade.
"Rule number 2: Combatants may call for back up," Hades said casually. "Maybe you better call yours blue bird."
Hearing this Zack rushed over to aid Aqua. "He's already here!"
Seeing Zack rush over to help Aqua, Lira pouted a little. 'What does she have that I don't?' She thought in dismay lightly glaring at Aqua.
"Don't Zack!" Aqua told him holding her keyblade tightly. "I can handle this on my own!"
The female keyblade wielder rushed at Hades with her weapon striking the immortal God. She then cartwheeled out of the way as the Ice Titans began to throw large icicles that were threatening to bring the arena down.
"Look out!" Goofy yelled as they saw a barrage of giant icicles heading straight for them.
Lira waved her staff in the air casting a shielding blaze of fire. "Firaga!" She yelled holding her staff high in the air. The icicles melted away.
Lira looked at Donald. "Told you I was training my hardest." She said cheekily.
Aqua looked over making sure her new friends were safe. 'Good,' she thought. 'I won't have to worry about them. I can focus all my attention on Hades and his ice monster!'' She used all her enhanced magic power creating a sword of light which fused with her keyblade. She ran at Hades swinging the fused weapon in her hand striking the Lord of the Underworld several times and knocked him into the giant Ice Titan.
The Ice Titan howled in pain as Hades' fire began hurting it and fell over with a giant thud.
Hades growled in frustration. "I knew that snow cone wouldn't cut it!" He yelled. "I need a real Titan!" He looked at his opponents. "In the next Games, you kids won't be so lucky!" He laughed and disappeared.
Aqua caught her breath making her keyblade disappear.
"Wow!" Lira said to Aqua. "That was amazing! I hope I'll get to be as powerful as you one day!"
Aqua smiled at Lira. "I think you will," She smiled at her. "You've got a lot of courage and determination, that's what makes you a true hero."
"Stupid Hades," Zack grumbled. "Next time, I'll put him in his place." He then looked at Aqua as they all walked out of the arena. "Oh yeah, you're the champ now!" He said to her happily. "We gotta celebrate!"
Aqua looked at Zack. "That won't really be necessary." She told him.
"I've got it!" Zack smiled at her. "How about one date?!" He asked.
Lira's jaw almost dropped to the ground as she heard Zack asking Aqua out.
"Huh?!" Aqua exclaimed turning bright red. "N-No…I can't…I've…," She stammered with her words. "I have to leave right away…," She tried her best to make an excuse. "Besides I still have to find Terra and my other friends." She then looked towards Lira who was hatefully glaring at her. A smile touched the female keyblade wielder's lips. "I think you've already have someone here to ask out on a date.
"Fair enough," Zack agreed. "But when I become a true hero, we'll have to go out on a date!"
"I…," Aqua began. "I can't make any promises, sorry." She told him. 'Terra would be so upset if I said yes to him,' She thought and smiled at Lira. 'But I think Lira likes this boy.' She smiled at the two and left the coliseum.
"It's ok! I'll be right here training my hardest!" Zack called out to Aqua as she left and looked at Lira. "Are you ok?"
"Fine!" Lira hmphed and turned away from the boy.
"Did I do something wrong?" Zack asked her.
Lira turned to look at him. "You aren't the only one who wants to be hero, you know! Maybe next time we spar I'll make sure you'll be down permanently!" She yelled running off to see Phil.
"Hey wait a second!" Zack called out to her running after her.
Donald and Goofy laughed at this, the two were suddenly distracted by a beep coming from the gummi ship.
"Master Yen Sid wants you two back the Tower right away!" Chip said on the intercom.
"What's the problem?" Donald asked.
"It's the king!" Dale exclaimed. "He's gone missing! Master Yen Sid can't track his Star Shard anywhere!"
"What?!" Goofy yelled. "That's impossible!"
Donald and Goofy looked at each other and then at Lira.
"We can't leave her here by herself!" Donald said to his friend.
"Gawrsh Donald, but the king…" Goofy panicked.
Donald sighed. "Ok we'll go help Master Yen Sid find the king, but then we have to come straight back!"
Goofy ran over to Lira and explained that they had to leave.
"King Mickey's missing?" Lira asked in concern.
"Don't worry Lira, we'll find him." Goofy reassured her.
"Just focus on your training and we'll be back before you know it!" Donald told her.
The two parted ways and headed back to the Mysterious Tower hoping that Yen Sid knew where their king was.
'See you guys later.' Lira thought smiling lightly.
Mickey stumbled out of the dark corridor falling over. The tiny mouse found himself back in the Keyblade Graveyard, where he had met Ven and Levina. He got up from the barren ground.
"Oh no!" Mickey exclaimed realizing that he had lost his Star Shard. He warily looked around. "How am I supposed to get out of here…?"
"You aren't." Xehanort's voice echoed from behind him.
Mickey swiftly turned around summoning his Star Seeker keyblade. "You..! You're the one trying to harm all the worlds?!" He yelled. "Why?!"
A devious grin was plastered on Xehanort's face. "I suppose Yen Sid has trained you well if you were able to figure out my plans to blanket all the worlds in darkness," He commended Mickey. "However, your Master is lacking one important vital piece of information."
Mickey glared at the old man in front of him. "Tell me!" He demanded.
"The X-blade…" Xehanort simply said.
'X-blade…?,' Mickey thought and a sudden fear had struck him. He had heard about this weapon from Yen Sid. The X-blade was THE keyblade of keyblades. The most powerful keyblade able to open the door to Kingdom Hearts, the source of every single world imaginable.
Mickey squeezes his tiny fists. "You won't get it!" The king declared. "I'll stop you myself if I have to!"
Xehanort smirked at Mickey's foolish attempt to stop him. The old man outstretched his hand summoning his keyblade in a wave of darkness.
Mickey took a step back, but tightly held onto his keyblade. 'He's using the darkness as his weapon,' He thought. 'I might not make it out of here alive, but I've gotta try!'
The tiny mouse charged at Xehanort jumping in the air only to be halted as a wave of trembling darkness struck him. Mickey fell to the ground and his keyblade lying beside him. Mickey's gloved hand twitched as he tried to reach for his weapon.
Xehanort kicked Mickey's Star Seeker keyblade aside aiming his own weapon at the small mouse.
"See how powerless you are to stop me," Xehanort told him. "You wielders of light cannot fathom how useful the darkness is. It will be your undoing."
Mickey gasped trying to stand, but his tiny body was too weak. He hazily watched as Xehanort walked away from him. He thought of Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Lira, Ven, Levina, and all his other friends he had made along his journey before closing his eyes and letting darkness consume him.
What? I had to introduce the X-blade. Will Mickey survive? What about Ven and Levina? Will Lira get the training she needs? There's just one more world visit left before everything goes down to hell!
:D Review!