Chapter 16: Training a Team
After the break, everyone was getting back into their seats eager to watch the next chapter.
"Alright everyone, the next chapter, we get to see you guys get some training from Roxas to fight against the Heartless," Draco said.
"I can't wait to see how well I can improve to become a great hero," Daring said.
"Well Daring this training isn't like the same at Hero Training so it is going to be different," Hunter said.
"Oh come on how hard can it be?" Daring said.
"Well, this training is going to be a bit easy to assess your skills and abilities to fight the Heartless. Plus the Heartless that Roxas fought were just basic so they weren't even that strong," Draco added.
"I feel a little bit worried just thinking about the Heartless invading Ever After," Apple said.
"Well this is why Roxas is helping out with training against the Heartless," Jillian said.
"Okay, why don't we just start the chapter," Draco said as the projector played Chapter 16: Training a Team.
A few days after Lea left and Roxas confessed everything to the school things were the same, but at the same time different. He still had all his friends, but they respected him more than when they first knew him and Namine was attending classes as well and was doing pretty good especially in art class.
Today Roxas was brought to the Headmaster's Office for a discussion about the Heartless.
Roxas sat in his chair with Headmasters Milton and Giles Grimm and Baba Yaga.
"Now Roxas we need to address these creatures called Heartless, we know very well that you can handle them, and it would seem a few of our students have been dragged into the fights as well." Milton said.
"Roxas, how exactly can we stop these things?" Baba Yaga asks.
"They're drawn to the Keyblade, but if I can find the Keyhole to this world I can seal this world from ever being attacked by the Heartless again." Roxas explained.
"Keyhole?" Giles asks.
"It's an object that has significant value to this world, but the only clue I know is that the Keyblade reacts to it." Roxas said.
"Well that sounds very helpful right now. At least got an idea on how to stop the Heartless for good. The only problem is to figure out where the Keyhole is since it could be anything," Milton said.
"Another fact about the Keyhole is that it is a gateway in each world that leads to the heart of that world. If the Heartless finds the Keyhole, they would devour the world's heart and then the world would crumble and fade from existence. If the Keyblades locks a world's Keyhole, it can never be opened again. Not only that, but the Keyblades can also open the world's Gates, which reveals a new path to different worlds," Orion said.
"So wait, you're saying that the Keyblade can not only lock worlds but also open new pathways?" Briar asked as Orion nodded his head.
"That's not much to go on, honestly if they're drawn to you Roxas my first instinct would be to expel you and tell you to go as far away from here as possible." Milton said, causing Roxas' eyes to widen. "However, my brother came up with a better solution." He said gesturing to Giles.
"Roxas you seem to have a decent amount of knowledge about these Heartless creatures, but most of the students do not. I propose you teach the students here about the Heartless and how to deal with them." Giles said surprising him.
"Wait, you think that Roxas should teach our students how to deal with the Heartless?" Milton asked.
"Well it is the only logical reason that the other version of me can think of without making Roxas leave the school," Giles said.
"Wait, you want me to teach a class about Heartless?" Roxas asks, confused.
"We all voted unanimously." Baba Yaga said.
"But why?" He asks.
"Roxas you may know how to fight these things, but our students do not. We need your help, so they can protect themselves and not get hurt." Giles said.
Roxas looks at them and sighs. "Alright, but how am I going to do it when I have a schedule of classes."
"We'll work that out so it's during your free period." Baba Yaga said.
"Wow, I'm teaching others how to fight Heartless. This will be interesting." Roxas said to himself.
"I just hope I don't regret it," Milton said.
Headmaster Milton goes to the PA. "Attention students in two days our very own Roxas will be holding a special training course in the auditorium to help you all in case of an emergency anyone wishing to go show up to the auditorium those wanting to help protect Ever After should go."
In the hallways all the students heard it.
"A chance to be an even greater hero? How can I pass that up?" Daring said.
"Roxas needs help I'm in." Cerise said.
"Maybe I can help out in some way." Melody said walking down the hall.
Namine listens to all the students say they wanted to go and smiles. "I think I'll go too."
"Looks like we get some special hero training," Hunter said.
"Hah, I can't wait to see how great I can become," Daring said.
"Yeah at least you are fighting for a good reason," Raven said as she rolled her eyes.
In the charmitorium, Namine sat down on the bleachers hoping she could find some way to help.
"Hey Namine." Raven said as she and Apple sat next to Namine.
"Hello." She smiled.
"I'm glad Roxas is doing this we need to know how to beat those things." Raven said.
"Yeah, but what about you Raven? Roxas has told me you and few others have been helping him with the Heartless." Namine said.
"Yeah Roxas sorta recruited me, Poppy, and Cerise to help him out with Heartless. Would be nice to have some more backup." Raven said.
"Yeah it does seem like a good idea since there are only three people that are helping Roxas fight the Heartless," Raven said.
"Yeah with more people helping out it would make it much faster to defeat them," Cerise said.
"So Namine can you summon a weapon like Roxas?" Apple asks.
"No, my other half Kairi can, but I haven't tried it yet." Namine said as Roxas walked in.
"Well since Namine is Kairi's Nobody, maybe there is a chance where she can wield a Keyblade," Ashlynn said.
"Well that logic does make sense," Alistair said.
"Uh hey everyone most of you knows me and I know why you're here. As you know there are creatures attacking this world and I'm here to help you learn how to defend yourself against them. However, before we start I'm gonna warn you fighting Heartless is not a joke you will get hurt, really bad so if anyone wants to back out now now's your chance." Roxas said as a few students stood up and walked out.
"Yeah, I don't think anyone wants to get themselves hurt when they are fighting the Heartless," Raven said.
"Well I guess not everyone won't be a great hero like me," Daring said.
"Daring, not everyone is willing to do something so dangerous," Hunter said.
"Don't worry, those students will help Roxas in another way besides fighting the Heartless," Orion said.
"Alright, now that's settled let's get started." Roxas said.
They go to the target range where everyone dummies shaped like Heartless are moving in simulated directions, stuffed as hitting dummies and spread out.
"Alright, I want all of you to try something and try to find something that works." Roxas said as Hunter draws a bow and hits a target with ease.
"Use something special that you're good at." Roxas said as Lizzie swings a croquet mallet and knocks one off the stand with a ball. "Nice shot Lizzie." Roxas said before walking over to Maddie. "Hey Maddie, what about you?"
Maddie takes off her hat and reaches inside and pulls out a giant mallet. "I got this."
Roxas steps back in shock until he sees Maddie bring it down on a Heartless dummy.
"Way to go Maddie." Roxas smiles as a big smile appears on her face.
"Oh yeah, Heartless don't stand a chance!" Maddie cheers.
"Keep it up Maddie!" Roxas smiles.
"Wow look at us go," Maddie said.
"I do say, it is quite impressive for us to defeat those Heartless training dummies," Lizzie said.
"I'm so proud of Maddie, you are doing a great job smashing those Heartless," the Mad Hatter said.
"I even have to agree, my little Lizzie is doing a wonderlandiful job taking out those Heartless. I would be OFF WITH THEIR HEADS for them," the Queen of Hearts said.
"Yes, my niece's skills using the croquet balls and mallet to knock them out are a Wonderlandiful idea. But I am sure there is a way for her to improve," the White Queen said.
As he looked at everyone's progress he saw Poppy working it with her frying pan, Raven using her magic, Cerise delivering some fast kicks, even Daring was doing pretty good with a sword.
"Wow, looks like the three of us are doing a great job helping out Roxas," Cerise said.
"Yeah, since the three of us originally helped Roxas take out the Heartless," Poppy said.
"Agreed," Raven said.
"But not as amazing as me," Daring said which cause some people to roll their eyes.
"Wow, this is going better than I thought." Roxas said when he sees Melody with a portable DJ platform. "Hey, Melody what's this?"
"Roxas check this out." She turns to a dummy heartless and scratches the record causing musical notes to fly out and hit the dummy.
"Whoa, you just made music into a weapon." Roxas said impressed.
"I present to you the Battle Mix." Melody said as she was proud of herself.
"Very impressive Melody, to think that you would be able to come up with an idea to turn music into a weapon," the Pied Piper said.
"Aww… thank dad," Melody said.
"Wow, I think you can show me how you do it sometime?" Roxas said.
"For sure." She smiles.
After leaving Melody to continue her practice he sees Apple standing on the side cheering for the others.
"Hey Apple, how come you aren't training?" He asks.
"Roxas I can't fight it's not really me, I'm just here to support my friends." She said trying to avoid it.
"Apple what's going on?" Roxas asks.
"Roxas I'm Snow White's Daughter my destiny is to be saved not do the saving." Apple said.
"Well maybe Apple doesn't have it in her since she is such a cheerleader," Duchess said which caused Faybelle to pout since she is a cheerhexer, and Apple looked down.
"Duchess that wasn't very nice," Briar said glaring at Duchess.
Roxas looks at Apple and knows how against going against her destiny. "Apple, these aren't like the villains from Ever After, these Heartless are monsters and will hurt anyone who gets in their way, I just don't want to see anything happen to you." Roxas said causing a small blush to appear on her face. "Just think about it." Roxas said walking away leaving a surprised Apple.
Roxas looked around to see Namine holding out her hand hoping to summon a keyblade but nothing was happening.
"Come on." Namine struggles, but nothing happens.
"Hey, are you alright?" Roxas asks.
"Kairi is able to summon a Keyblade now, but I can't seem to make my own." She said.
"Well lucky for you you have someone who can help you learn to use a Keyblade." Roxas summons Oathkeeper in his hand and hands to her. "Here try it."
Namine is hesitant. "But this is your Keyblade?"
"Think of it as training until you can summon one of your own." Roxas smiles.
Namine smiles as she holds up Oathkeeper as Roxas instructs her through the motions of using a Keyblade.
"Well since Namine is able to hold Roxas' Keyblade and it is not disappearing from her, I say that she has some potential to become a Keyblade wielder," Orion said.
"Okay, but why did Roxas give Namine Oathkeeper?" Ginger said.
"Well Oathkeeper is a Keyblade of light and I think that it might suit Namine," Orion said getting nods of understanding from the audience.
After a half-hour, Namine was starting to understand the motions of using a Keyblade.
"See you're doing great," Roxas said moving her hands into the right position.
Namine smiles. "I have a really great teacher."
"I think with a little more training you'll be able to wield your own Keyblade someday." Roxas smiles.
Namine smiles as she lets him have Oathkeeper back.
Roxas takes it back and looks around to see all of his friends from Ever After High working hard to help protect their home.
Little did they know Vanitas was watching them in the distance.
"So, he thinks they have what it takes to defeat Heartless well maybe I'll give them a little challenge and I have just the one." Vanitas smirks.
"Oh great him again," Raven said.
"What is up to this time?" Rosabella said.
"Well whatever it is, it can not be good," Farrah said.
"I don't want to know what Vanitas is planning," Apple said.
"Well, why don't we just watch the preview," Draco suggested as the preview started playing.
Next time on The Nobody of Ever After High.
The scene opens to Roxas in the castleteria talking with Raven, Maddie, and Namine.
Roxas: Okay so in order to save this world we need to find the Keyhole. The only question is where to look for it.
Soon an explosion can be heard as Roxas and his friends investigate to see the Unversed and Vanitas causing trouble.
"Nevermind that there are Unversed causing trouble and it seems that Vanitas is controlling them," Roxas
"It's very nice for you to be here, now I will erase you from this world," Vanitas said as he and Roxas summoned their Keyblades and fought each other while Namine watches Roxas fight Vanitas.
'Roxas, I need to save him,' Namine thought as she picked up a tree branch on the ground and charged at Vanitas as he knocked Roxas to the ground.
"It is time for you to disappear!" Vanitas yelled as he was about to finished Roxas.
"Get away from him!" Namine yelled as her hand glowed in bright light.
"Namine," Roxas got shocked at what he saw in Namine's hands.
Next time: Chapter 17: Namine Awakens
Roxas: I can't believe Namine did it. May your hearts be your guiding key.
"Well that is the chapter, so what do you think?" Draco asked.
"Well I think it is good that we are getting some training to help stop the Heartless and getting more people to help us out since it was just me, Cerise, and Poppy," Raven said.
"But I don't like what Vanitas is planning in the Enchanted Forest," Ashlynn said.
"Don't worry about it, I'm sure we can handle him," Cerise said.
"By the way, what was in Namine's hands that shocked Roxas?" Apple said.
"Well, you will have to find out in the next chapter. So why don't we take a break," Draco said as they all got up from their seats to stretch for a bit.