Of Keys and Hammers

by zcritic88

In a realm beyond, the Four Chaos has taken notice of a realm tied close to the heart. They squirmed into the darkness and sought to corrupt if to reach a prize beyond the light. Will the Light of Order, be able to repel this ancient evil?

50. Reaching out to a lost soul

At the Land of Departure, at the front of the castle. The group of teenagers finished giving their report to Mickey, who observed a the procedure of the Realmgate. "If that's what they are doing, they'll be settling down pretty quickly." Riku nodded as Ken looked ready to go back down into the forest. "Even if Wanda helping her men out with making camp wouldn't make it that much quicker, it was pretty cool. Although, we need to do more to make sure they are equipped to survive out there."

He turned to find Ken looking down the mountain and turned back to Mickey. "We were also thinking about who in this Grand Alliance of Order would work together and about a... chance we have if the Realmgate works." Ana heard and guessed as she kept her keyblade focused on the gate. "Where this Gate goes, there is no easy way to make new allies, even if it lands you towards the Karadron. But if you want to deal with less politics, we got to find the Seraphon." Riku understood as Sora explained. "We already talked about them, once Garland isn't a big deal, we... want to go do that."

Merlin was uncertain if it was a wise decision and asked. "But with how they are, would having them leave home be beneficial to their own realm?" Ven listened and answered. "No, it wouldn't."

Ana wondered that and asked. "It depends on who we are talking about. The Saurus are fierce warriors and war leaders, and nothing else. The Slann are few in number but there is another in the hierarchy the Slann could lend if we are wanting a more cooperative leader from them, but expect them to be as cold blooded. The Skink chieftains."

Ven felt it made some sense and asked. "They really are as smart as they sound?" Ana nodded. "The chieftains lead the rest of the skinks through the more delicate battles, the skinks work along the dinosaurs and the priests are an extension to the Slann's will and know magic of their own. Thinking about it, we will get more from the Skinks compared to the others and this even means getting help from the Slann that helped Lady Aqua and I." Ven felt there was more to be done to earn the aid of the Skinks. "But, how they are in warfare is mostly as far as you know and we don't know much about how to make them our friends. I guess we got to find that Slann if he is the only one the Skinks would listen to."

Ana nodded and went back to focusing on her task. "And that's a whole different venture than what we have planned." Aqua cringed to something in her zen like state and relaxed as Namine yelped and drew something over it. She finished her drawing and showed off a white hall way that was part of a castle Riku was familiar with and a star like door at the end. "Alright, I had to adjust something when I found something that shouldn't be in the picture. If a daemon tries to go in through anything but the gate, they'll forget who they are and wander back into the Chaos they came from."

Merlin looked at the drawing and relaxed. "A drastic effect, but it is needed against these kinds of entities." Jiminy jumped off of Goofys pocket and agreed. "Even a drawing of a daemon is nothing but a danger." The wizard agreed back and waved his wand, causing the beam to ripple and cause the Realmgate to make the sound of an inner lock slowly turning, a sound that he wanted to hear. "And now a way into the Realms is made, the lock needs to turn." Namine nodded to that. "It's set to a particular point in Aqua's memories and if we want the gate to go somewhere else, I need to just adjust the door at the end. Ha," She smiled to Kairi with her own memory. "It's like how the doors worked at Monsters Inc. We have to make the door on the other side work and... basically make another door." Kairi and Sora looked at the drawing and at the realm gate, cheering in unison. "Cool!"

Ken listened and asked. "So now Ana unlocking that and the rest of us needs to sure no one attacks her?"

Namine answered the one armed boy with a sweet smile. "More or less. Aqua should be waking up at any-" Aqua woke from her zen and stood up to see the Realmgate's passage taking on a more stable form, having disbelief that the plan was working as Riku reported. "Wanda and her men are in the low lands, no one is going anywhere near this with us here and some of us are thinking of setting camp with them."

Aqua approved of that and saw Ken about to jump down. "I think I also heard you talking about the Skinks of the Seraphon. They could work if the Slann understands the situation, but they are not the reason this gate is being made." She requested to her impatient looking student. "Ken, do what you think is right, but if you go into that camp, listen to what Wanda asks from you."

The boy understood and gave off a breeze. "I'll go let Wanda know of the Skink plan and keep watch until they made enough of a camp. I'll be back before dark." He sprinted and jumped off in a glide, leaving Aqua with a full schedule as she asked the group. "Once that part is done, I'm going to check Baldred out for myself and be back as quickly as possible. Is everyone clear about what our plan is tomorrow?" The group were and Mickey voiced it. "It's why we are all here."

At a lab in Radiant Garden.

Baldred looked at the strange technology like he was in an alien world as Leon finished explaining to Ienzo. "So that's when he agreed to help protect the town while the rest of us try to get this place back to what it was. He checks out what he claims, but there are holes in his memories, you happen to know where those holes came from?"

The scientist felt he does. "If he wasn't turned into a Heartless and had a Nobody, then those holes came from before he found himself in the Realm of Darkness. If his heart was dormant in there for some time without being consumed, then that would mean two things. His heart is either resistant to the darkness... or his heart is influenced by the Dark prior."

Aerith saw Baldred taking out a book and reading it as she asked. "Either came from his life in his own world. Are both... exclusive?" Ienzo shook his head as Even formed a hypothesis. "If his heart was dark and it was still able to tap into the light, then he and his world were in a constant ebb and flow between the two forces."

Baldred couldn't understand a single word in the book and closed it as Even continued with a scientists curiosity. "I believe we have a unique specimen in our mists, how has someone with a Curse that dark kept his heart alight?"

The knight turned around and looked like he wanted to correct the man on something, yet felt the reasons lost in the void, with more reasons to keep his secret in the shadows. Ienzo was in agreement with his partner and asked Baldred. "Hollowing, the heartless, that world's tie to Fire. Were... you... the only one in the world that found those answers?"

The knight raised his voice and readied his weapons in defense. "I wasn't and some things are better left lost to the ashes!" The group nearly jumped back, the knight looked confused, let go and lowered his tone, like there was something he wished to remember. "I... wasn't the only one lost, I wasn't the only one caught in the cycle. Yet... I don't even remember their faces... just...Fire and Dark."

Ienzo sensed the uncertainty and longing as he approached. "And in the end, it wasn't even those two. Just... death. Do you think there is someone who has a better understanding of what happened?" Baldred knew some. "The keybearers? One claim to only know that I existed, but if he knew, he didn't tell me for a reason. That reason, is kept in the dark for my own good?"

Aerith answered without hesitation. "Or kept in the dark about the details of your world because they know only a part of it. Are you sure you want to know all of it again?"

Baldred nodded and extended his arms to the odd library. "No matter now tempting, or exquisite it would be to leave it all behind and tell my self that isn't me anymore, to tell myself this is where I belong now," He lowered his arms with a hint of bitterness. "A lie will remain a lie. What I done by forgetting of that existence, will keep haunting me unless I find the truth."

Leon nodded and smiled to the knight. "So you are wanting to find out who you were before you decide on what you want to do with yourself? What you really want to do with yourself." Baldred sighed. "I said before, this place gives me that chance to relive those days as a Blue Sentinel and let the people prosper in peace. But that is just apart of something grander."

Ienzo agreed and patted his hand on the knights shoulder. "That's just nature, our hearts want to shine the brightest and we find a way to do so, even if there are faults. You're looking for a new purpose and until you remember, you're not going to find it without guilt... not easily." The knight agreed and asked. "If I find that boy or someone who knows him, would they tell me without fear?"

Even answered with predictions of how it would unfold. "It... depends, if they thought you were a threat, they wouldn't be taking this long. In fact they could be devising a way to help you understand your predicament as we speak. But how did they obtain that knowledge?"

Ienzo answered that. "I believe Ken told me some of the details, he went to that Castle with something that would react to its powers and the mystery unveiled before him. The Castles gone, so anything accurate would be from him or Aqua, they are the key to his memories and through that, we could learn more from Baldred."

He smiled nervously to the knight. "If you don't mind us recording it, we're eager for new discoveries about the heart and you're predicament doesn't sound too different from what our own was... what some of us are still enduring." The knight didn't care. "If I'm willing to share it, I'll consider it in exchange for a particular piece of information I been envious about." Leon asked. "The keyblade, you're not going to find that information here."

Baldred corrected him and showed his chime. "Ah, but there is something I specialize in doing that I want to look in about. I remember one thing clear, a strong willed soul can last a long time even after the body is cut down, something like what you call a Heart. Some particular souls can be used to craft a new vessel to store them, one that I hold in my hand right here. That soul is of an old foe of mine that if she was allowed to go loose, would threaten us all with the endless Abyss."

Leon nearly jumped and asked. "So that's how the chime is able to do all that?!" Baldred corrected him. "That is how it is able to do it so well. There is a particular Child of the Dark that has given me and the keybearers nothing but turmoil, yet he holds a keyblade. Do I need to tell you more?" Leon and Aerith shook their heads no, the woman warned him. "And I know a little of who you are talking about, I don't think looking for payback is a good idea." The knight didn't bother hiding that it was. "And there is nothing more fueling this desire beyond greed and spite towards someone who deserved it." Ienzo coughed to hid his disturbance as Even asked. "Turning a soul into..." he shook his head. "consult that with an expert before you do such foolish things." Baldred promised him. "That I shall, that vile creature would be a fool to come here and going after him would solve nothing."

Leon agreed with that. "And you're going to talk with us before you go on your own. Do you understand that?" Baldred nodded as Ienzo finished the meeting. "If you give off cruelty to others, they'll give it back to you. I would be careful about discussing that with the keybearers, that desire of yours isn't exactly something many of us approve off."

Baldred saw Leon and Aerith agreeing with that and relaxed with respect. "I'll just ask about what a keyblade is, if it is more special than any weapon I seen, then I'll know if I should make it possible." Leon nodded, thanked the scientists and advised to Baldred. "We all decide our own path and you should always ask yourself if you should go down certain paths. No one will stop you but yourself." Ienzo agreed and asked the knight. "If you wish to discuss more, we're here to listen."

Baldred waited and thanked him. "I might in my free time. I be lying if I said this wasn't enlightening." Leon was ready to lead out. "It was, tomorrow is going to be our last day to get ready. You guys know what to do?" Ienzo answered proudly. "I just had a call from Twilight town, friends of ours got their act together and we need to discuss where Garland would try to attack. So many worlds hold so many things."

Aerith agreed with that and tried thinking which. "We know some, but that might be what he wants us to think. We'll talk to the others soon." She asked Baldred. "Are you done here?" The knight nodded. "I am for now."

The two parties parted ways, leaving the scientists to discuss alone, Even asked his fellow scientist, knowing Baldred is far away from hearing. "When you theorized those two possibilities of the Undead's heart, the later isn't an exaggeration?" Ienzo shook his head. "He is keeping it a secret, but I feel what's with in his heart. That... was used, if he used the powers of both light and darkness with little ill effects, what could that mean for that world?"

Even shrugged. "Should we study that again?" Ienzo answered firmly. "...No. Even if it is clear he would fight the Darkness at every turn, he clearly has a different view about it... one that we should have considered. But that secret is going to stay in the shadows for now. Now, are you sure Wanda came back to escort her men out of the town?" Even answered with a hint of mischief. "That is what it appears to be, but no one should bat an eye to that, they are finally getting what they wanted after all."

At a building camping ground by a mountain.

Ven and Stitch entered and saw demigryphs sitting in a nest like stable, several cabins being built on the mountain and Wanda have the foundation of her own at the base. The boy that sleeps a lot was impressed as Stitch shook his head in a pout, Ven asked. "Do you need some help?"

Wanda turned and shook her head. "Nah, me and my men are making a residence in various points in the mountain. Me and Filibert got the lower parts, most of the guard that can hold a halberd is up in the middle over there, while the riflemen are closer to the top, naturally, Stalwing gets the best point because the gift of flight can take her far beyond what these legs can bring."

She smiled proudly at a strategy that Stitch was understanding. "Stalwing swoops!" The general nodded and looked around to find nothing else. "And since I'm a general, they would want me over the others, they wouldn't care for any of the others." Flick! Flick! Flick!

Three embers from the mountain above flung to the trees, flushing out a certain trio of teenagers that realized their game was lost, Wanda asked. "It was a nice try on your part though, you want to come down?"

Riku was the first to jump down and admitted it. "Putting yourself at the bottom makes a lot more sense than just trying to make yourself look humble. That is one of the most dangerous traps you can set up, snipers and a big gryphon would be the things they wouldn't look for." Sora was next, looking up the mountain to try and find the hidden soldiers. "And if they were, those guys would be pretty high up."

Kairi was last and felt a chill. "It really isn't obvious unless they know you." Wanda agreed with that and confessed. "I was told about who we might share diplomacy with, the Skinks are masters of those kinds of strategies and out here where there is no open field, it is pure genius compared to what their more straight forward cousins, the Saurus would do. Where they would ambush enmasse with battle skill and think nothing of it." She lit up a signal flare and tossed it in the air. "If the enemy tries to come for us first with all them Heartless, they would be wasting resources and time just trying to catch us while one of ya comes down to clear them out. If they ignore us and go for the Realmgate, we will be on their trail getting back up there."

Jump! Land!

Ken fell down with a hint of grace as Riku had a little criticism on the strategy. "The first plan would work, but not many of you have a fast way to get there. If we make a warp point so close there, they'll know you are coming... hmm." Sora knew who could help. "But we know someone who might make a short cut they wouldn't see."

Kairi and Ken listened, agreeing with the two boys, the one armed teenager explained. "Or I can help make something like it... actually-" Sora gasped and asked. "I don't think they would just drop in here, should we... make something in case they try coming to the mountain on foot?" Ken took his burning keyblade, flicked an ember to a cave way and snickered. "Keh, heh, heh. Wanda, you might want to warn your guys about what we are about to turn the forest into."

Sora gasped and had an idea, looking at his keyblade. "How many booby traps are we going to make?!" Riku snapped his fingers and answered. "Knowing how crazy these wars have gotten... overkill took off. You're on to something brilliant, this could turn the whole forest into a death trap though. Do we really want that?"

Kairi felt it was acceptable. "As long as it doesn't burn it all down, it should be fine. If we have someone getting caught in those traps, then they shouldn't be here in the first place. They'll suspect something if we go traditional though." Ven had one idea and agreed. "We ought to mix it up, Aqua ought to know what we are talking about."

Wanda guessed what it was. "Trip ropes that fling bombs of compressed magic or trigger something that enhances a trap made from the elements." Ven had more as Stitch clenched his paws in a fist and swung them together. "Errr, pow!" The boy nodded. "And others that are pretty conventional." Wanda's eyes half dropped and her smirk became envious. "The old classics that can fool anyone, I'm liking this. You know how to make them whistle so they work like an alarm? Our allies close to the Sylvaneth had that little practice with dead trees... Kendry, what can you do without setting things on fire?"

Ken answered that. "The mountain leading to the castle would be as close to a home stretch for them. That's a good way to have a whole plan blow up in your face, I might want to go shopping for something flammable, rope and urns."

Wanda approved of that. "You lot ought ta write down what we should expect in case they go over those while we follow them." Ken blushed as Kairi confessed. "I'm not sure if buying those is legal and it could use some work so you don't block Wanda and the others off, but if anything gets past that, they either used a corridor, tough enough to not care or are asking for it by then. That's pretty helpful in sorting them out." The one armed boy smiled proudly. "If they want destruction, they are going to have it one way or another."

Sora had his own idea and looked around, finding an odd seed, he picked it up and felt it prickly as Wanda asked. "Never seen a pine cone in your whole life?" Sora shook his head. "I'm an islander, but most of the time, the trees will drop something that hurts." Riku remembered his head injury. "Coconuts... that pine cone could work for something similar." Kairi turned and imagined it. "Ouch. I'll go tell Master Aqua while you finish those ideas." Wanda took out a piece of paper and pulled a feather from her helmet. "Let's see how many of them are possible, shall we?"

In the Castle that Never Was.

Maleficent and the Horned King found a presence from deep in the Realm of Darkness and called it forth as Pete shook out drippings of water and grumbled. "So first that Nobody of a Battle Sister or what have ya showed up outta nowhere and a couple of pipsqueaks sneaked in here like they owned the place and rescued that Undead feller. What more can go wrong today?"

Maleficent sighed and was in an agreement with her minion. "And they are aware of who among them intruded, all of which could have been avoided if we had given the Undead back to the Darkness." A rift bubbled and pooled with familiar evil as the Horned King kept his delight. "Yet, the Undead's heart is bound to the Dark and is twisted by that ancient Curse, if we had disposed of him, we would have never known of the Master of the Dark."

Maleficent felt annoyed and gave a glow of green fire, bringing the final preparations and causing black tentacles to rise from the pool. "He will be an ordeal we will triffle with later, for we have little knowledge of the Undead's hollowed world." Something bubbled in the darkness and gave off a purple glow, coming off as a vile, wicked laughter, Pete was disturbed and asked. "That runt's keyblade gives off way too much power than it should and is that world's charred heart all lit up. I think some of the guys are getting rather sick of another kid from nowhere mucking up our plans."

The bubbling became more clear as Maleficent ordered. "Fear not, we will have eyes and ears listening to the Guardian's of Light soon enough and we will see the Undead return back to pit, where he belongs." The vile, feminine laughter advised about that. "Oh, Maleficent, just expose his Dark little secret to the worlds, that will be the end of him." The tentacles took a hint of purple and a purple skin, black bodied, white haired, obese woman crawled out of the dark, giving off a spectral glow, her lower half looked to be of an octopus, the glow faded away and the dark rift closed up, the Horned King placed his hands together as Maleficent greeted a fellow witch with a gracious nod. "As straight forward of ideas as ever, Ursula. Things have come and gone sense you fell before Sora and the King's lackeys, with his strength grown and his allies gathered from the worlds and beyond, we seek to regain our dark strength and more among this... band of discord."

Ursula chuckled as her tentacles curled. "Hmm, well it is so kind of you to lend your aid to a friend regardless." She looked at the Horned King and asked the Mistress of All Evil. "You had to ask a professional about this?" Maleficent cringed with regret. "If I did not, you would be forgetting why I would have brought you back and thrown everything into more disarray by going back to the world under the sea. With naught the slightest clue towards the grander plan."

Pete explained more. "She had a little mishap with a certain bag of bugs." Ursula cringed and knew who Pete was talking about. "Oogie?!" She had her hands at her hips. "Well it was no wonder," she asked her partners in crime. "I'll deal with Triton later, it's Sora and his friends who are the bigger problem?" Maleficent nodded as the Horned King advised. "Revenge so soon? Even after we spent over a day recovering you from the abyss of death?"

Ursula answered that. "Darling, you should know by now that we can't have our cake and eat it. They'll get what's coming to them," she exhaled rather exhausted and felt the Horned King had a point. "do we even know what is going on?" Maleficent waited and looked at the orb on her scepter. "Soon, it is rather odd for the Guardians of Light to delay their pursuit of us... unless there is an evil that dares to upstart us." Pete hummed and thought out loud. "Was it the reason those Ex Organization guys were getting worked up?"

The door behind Pete opened and the more magic bound group noticed a blue armored sorcerer entering, Ursula felt the aura of power and asked. "Who else is invited to the party?" The sorcerer looked upon her like she held a great deal of power and greeted her. "So the resurrection ritual was a success in the end?" He nodded to Maleficent and the Horned King. "Congratulations." He looked at Ursula and introduced himself. "I am Azhek Ahriman and you are the Sea Witch that sought dominion over a larger sea? Ursula?"

The sea witch winked in her answer. "You read my mind." Maleficent nearly laughed at the humor. "That might have been, and we are getting to the bottom of another ordeal." Ahriman agreed with that. "Even our... leaders are taking that into account. Aqua and the others are prioritizing a more grander emergency and we are completely in the dark. Archaon showed to me a phenomenon that me and Ztardon should travel with him for and acquire, supposedly concerning that over what might be a pressing matter, by the time we see what they are doing, would we have time to prepare?" Pete doubted that. "Unless there is something that Everchosen is counting on that he aint telling, you're the one coming with him anyways, right?"

Ahriman didn't hide that from him. "For it is a once in a life time privilege to know these forbidden arts. These occurrences spark opportunity that we are all taking a part in at this very moment, an opportunity that could turn the tide of the war and not in ways you expect."

Pete tried asking something and realized. "You're not talking about going after them while their back is turned, but something more handy down the line?" A voice from behind Ahriman answered with a rather precise desire. "Exactly," The group looked at the door to find Xehanort, who had a hypothesis he was keeping secret from potential rivals, the man asked. "Regardless of the outcome of their challenge, we must use this to our advantage."

Ahriman asked the Seeker of Darkness. "Still haven't given up on trying to turn one of Aqua's students towards our cause? What ever he seen in the memories of that dark world has to have made his mind more determined than ever to say no and his kind are the ones who would take insanity towards a... counter productive means for us." Xehanort shook his head and gave off thoughts of spite. "Yet from those memories, he held something dear and dares to try and shine a light through the shadows. They speak and try to show."

Ursula guessed what the revenge scheme was. "So you're going to try to prove how... ha, mistaken they are?" Xehanort kept a stoic expression as he agreed. "They understand nothing, they reach out for a heart that had been long overdue for the abyss and in spite of what Aqua passed down from her teacher, no heart ever comes out unscathed from those turmoils."

Ahriman guessed the rest. "And you plan to use one of those hearts as an example and leave them divided?" Xehanort hummed with a hint of annoyance. "They suspect an approach from the shadows, when it is as simple as taking that light away. Alone, that light is nothing." The group listened and kept silent as the Horned King approved. "Then we have to wait for that moment and enlighten them about the depths of cruelty? Threat not, we will have the knowledge of their movement soon enough." Xehanort hoped so. "When one breaks, the rest will fall." ROAR! The group heard an otherworldly horn be blown, they were called to a summons.

During a sunset in the Land of Departure.

Aqua and Donald listened to what Kairi suggested, the duck tapped his foot and questioned. "We can store it, but it needs something to keep it in." Merlin guessed what. "Like the crystals Garland used to bind the elements into himself?" Mickey found a convenience and asked. "Like the crystals Aqua uses?"

The Keyblade Master considered that as Riku asked. "But aren't those a byproduct? They wouldn't last long enough to be used as land mines." Aqua agreed with that and gasped to an idea. "Not... if I concentrate the power into something more corporeal. But that would take a while and it could deteriorate if I rush it."

Goofy nodded and asked. "And those that tried messing with it ended up scrambled in the noggin. Isn't there someone who might know more about those?" Riku guessed from memory and raised a finger with self doubt. "I... have seen the Moogles sell pretty unusual things. Maybe we can get something that would work. Wanda listed the ideas we all made and no one who is invited would be able to know what each of them are."

Namine kept watch of the Realmgate and approved. "That would work, especially if you make all these ideas come together."

Woosh!

Land! Ken flew up to the mountain with his own report and a list. "In the forest, what Sora and Ven are making go really well together. One is making a trap with sling shots and pine cones, the other are falling log rams among other things, I wonder where those came from." Riku shrugged. "Sora's been adventuring so long that he must have came up with something like it or seen it done."

Aqua guessed another. "And I think Ven might have been friends with those who pulled that stuff off. Those boys might be getting those traps done by now." Donald guessed otherwise. "Or they are making them nearly everywhere."

He saw the list and asked Ken. "What are you needing?" Ken wondered that and showed the list. "They're using nature, you're using magic and I'm going for something with a little more of a kick. While I got to head to the garden to get fuel, I can get the rest for cheap." Donald quickly read the list and squawk. "Are you trying to blow up the road up here?"

Ken rolled his eyes and answered. "We can rebuild that road since the stuff I'm making is suppose to be a juiced up version of some hand bombs I seen. It ought to just affect the road and it's going to be funny if they think they are going to be ordinary bombs." Donald sighed. "O...kay. Movies these days."

Namine went to the duck and looked at the list. "... This is napalm." Ken nodded. "I asked my Mom what that is a couple years ago. Anything that's able to get past the woods are able to kill us pretty violently, so extreme cases call for extreme measures." Ana approved of that. "But how are you going to make the trap work?"

Ken tapped his forehead and looked down at the mountainous road, finding a particular ledge. "...You.. heard of a the old trip wire and dropping a rock on them trick?"

Aqua found that absolutely insane. "That's how the bombs are going to get dropped on them? This is pure violence," she thought of it more and approved. "Make them here, because someone would know and try to make it backfire on you."

Ken agreed and was ready to walk off as Kairi and Riku gotten a text showing an arena littered with rope and sling shots with pine cones. Kairi had a scowl and texted as Riku almost laughed and texted. The one armed boy asked his rival. "Sora had one of the traps made?"

Kairi nodded. "There are too many pine cones that it can get pretty grizzly." Riku asked her. "Isn't that the point?" Kairi sighed. "I guess so and what we are making isn't healthy for the Heartless, Unverse or Daemons either." Aqua nodded. "All together, its dangerous for everyone." She turned to Ken and asked. "After Sora and Ven finish setting things up, we should go to the town and settle a couple things. After tomorrow, things are going to get much more serious."

The one armed boy agreed and felt adrenaline in his blood rushing as Ana agreed with Aqua. "It be the dawn of another war and we are ending it as soon as possible. I'd be careful about going overboard, someone could be spectating this." The group felt a name whisper in their minds, Kairi knew who Ana was talking about. "Of course he would enjoy watching us talk about this."

She felt something gnawing at her mind and she kept it to herself as Aqua felt regretful. "They are laughing about how we are more focused on something else besides them. This isn't... getting rid of them." Mickey shook his head. "It isn't and I think this is only making them stay put in the Realm of Darkness even more."

Merlin agreed with that. "Things collide, blend and disperse to begin anew. That's chaos, they want us to fight back against them... but if we do nothing, they also wish that from us for obvious reasons." Ana grumbled to that. "That's something we ought to think about soon. The scariest thing about Chaos is how even when you make sense of them, they still don't make any sense. Could that be why we have such a hard time fighting them back and keeping them gone for good?"

Riku nodded grimly and had a text of something. "If we give in to that darkness, we are calling them for obvious reasons. If we fight back against them, they'll just return at the scent of anything that represents them. I think this is what Sigmar gets, but even he doesn't know a sure solution besides dealing with it. Also, Sora and Ven ran out of rope and strings, they're coming back."

Kairi tapped her forehead and asked. "They got us in a loop. Master, do you mind if I go with Ken for this? Those Moogles would do anything to get munny and we need to see what they have that can help."

Aqua didn't mind that. "We should also settle a couple things before coming back here, tomorrow could be even busier." Ken hid a secret cheer as Kairi asked him and Aqua. "What else do you know about those like Jambert and Baldred? Ken, what makes you certain about the later?"

The teacher took out a small deck of cards as Namine felt her duty was finished and sneaked behind the girl. "The only clue we had are from one of these cards." She pulled out a card looking like a crowned knight on a throne, Ken was more confirmed. "That's him, but why was the throne important?" He realized another thing missing from the picture. "Where... did his crown go?"

Riku realized that missing piece. "He... never shown one. But he has too many important things to just be a fraud. Did he lose it?" Ken wondered that as Kairi noticed someone jumping on a gate in the speed of light, Sora appeared and flipped a landing. He turned around, looked down and saw something flying, backing away and realizing he was seeing something that amazed him.

WOOSH!

Ven flew up past the gate on a strange glider, Stitch was holding onto the boys back, Ven jumped off and caused the glider to shift into the form of a keyblade, he landed and caught the blade with style. Sora asked like one would to an older brother. "Cool, how do you do that?" Ven appreciated the attention and answered. "It's a bit complicated, but its the only form change I managed to pull off." Aqua folded her arms and asked. "Ven, you know that technique is only from dreams and it takes a bit to learn them. If our plan to get a Realmgate working is coming together, then we would have the chance to get you caught up tomorrow, do you mind waiting until then?"

Ven didn't as Namine slowly disappeared back in Kairi to advised. "Everything is set up, but unlocking the door. We just need to be ready, just in case." Merlin agreed with that. "And even if the preparations are outrageous, we would be prepared for the possibilities." Aqua nodded and asked. "We'll be back quickly with supplies and by tomorrow, the preparations will be made. Do you guys mind keeping an eye on the fort?"

The group didn't as Ven had an idea spark. "We'll do that, keep yourselves safe." Aqua promised she would as she and two of her students left, leaving Ven to an idea that Sora guessed. "All those storms had you thinking about that?"

Ana gasped and tried to keep her focus as she asked. "That power? You'll handle it." Ven nodded. "It's more than that, but yeah." Sora wondered himself. "All these ideas come from somewhere." Riku asked teasingly. "Taking these studies seriously? You're finally putting that to heart." Sora knew what was asked and responded in protest. "Hey, I'm catching up too, you know."

At Radiant Garden's Gates.

It was near sundown and Baldred nearly lost himself looking at it as Cloud asked with boredom. "You're pretty eager for the meeting tomorrow, but what were you thinking with this talk about turning a heart... soul... or what ever into a keyblade?" The Undead turned around and confessed. "I'm jealous that a couple of youths have them and the keyblade...ha, ha, ha, would unlock new potential for me. But I reckon that is a hopeless, greedy dream."

Cloud understood the pun and refused to laugh at it. "You don't go and get a Keyblade, the Keyblade picks you. Taking a short cut like that would spell disaster for you." Baldred agreed to that. "Guess how I try wouldn't have mattered. But-" he shined his katana and staff. "These have served me well countless times and for the upcoming battle, we will be put to good use for you all."

Cloud asked with memories of current events. "And if you keep thinking about those, more of your memories will come up again. What got you into the Blue Sentinels in the first place?" Baldred inhaled to answer and stopped. "..." He looked at Cloud blankly. "I... had to have found a reason, I just remember giving my service to others and a well meaning, but pompous sentinel offering me a chance. I enjoyed every moment though, I'll give you that."

Cloud leaned his head back with hints of frustration. "It's always a cycle with you," He looked Baldred in the eyes. "but each piece is coming together in not just those memories, but in how you act. If you want us to help you, you are going to have to earn it." The knight took the advise in stride. "Not everything is as it seems, but what is kept in the shadows will remain in the shadows." Cloud knew that was a hint. "If it isn't needed, don't bring it out. Maybe keeping that in mind will make things safer for you, when you show more about yourself to us."

Baldred felt the chill of fear leave and noticed someone walking to the shopping district. "I been thinking about getting a weapon better for keeping a far enough distance. Anything there that might do?" Cloud shook his head. "Hardly, there is jack for fighting against the Heartless. But that's awfully specific, you're looking for a spear?"

Baldred had something envisioned and look frustrated. "A halberd, so it isn't just useful for stabbing. I'll bet that's something I been missing that would jog a memory." Cloud guessed. "You had one?"

Baldred growled. "And for some reason, I lost it. Now I got to go get a new one if I'm up a wall, to where that my old tricks aren't going to work. Hmm," He closed his eyes to calm down as Cloud encouraged him. "Don't stop, you're getting yourself back by thinking about this."

Baldred agreed with that "But this isn't getting me close to a new halberd," he thought more. "Someone ought to give these people some ideas, if they can at least fight for themselves, then we won't need to always be on an edge. This town ought to stay peaceful if they know they are always capable of fighting back against the scum that come to ruin it all."

Cloud agreed with that. "True, have a look at the district. Think about what they could need." Baldred gasped and laughed. "Ha, ha, ha. I would just be passing off stolen weapons I'd find off of..." He stopped and wanted to search, he looked at his katana with nostalgia as Cloud's mouth opened in shock, he asked. "Off of another sorry body. Like that katana you have? Right?"

Baldred kept looking at his katana and answered as he had a memory of fire and lava. "It... was when the bugger knocked my long sword into the lava. I used both a miracle and sorcery to..." He rose it high in the air. "There... were many with this, but... I used it and my halberd to fight against them all. Then I found one that didn't break." He put the katana back in its sheath as Cloud finished the story. "You made it yours? Do you remember the name of the place or anything about why you were there?"

Baldred shook his head. "Not a single thing, I guess being around you lot is working better than hiding off in fear of that forsaken Curse." Cloud nodded and kept a stoic attitude. "Your swords secret is safe with me, where you got it doesn't matter much anymore. Think you can pass some of these ideas around to the moogles?" Baldred nodded and was ready to head to the shopping district. "I'll leave the idea that you got to steal in the Dark. It isn't needed around here, after that, I'll want to ask a bit about you."

Cloud wished Baldred didn't ask that and tried looking away, the knight knew there was a secret most tempting and was ready to take off. He went to the shopping district and finding two ladies talking with a Moogle about something, one was a teenage girl in a pink hooded jacket and had hints of red hair, the other was a slightly older woman in a blue dress and had blue hair. The blue haired woman asked as she looked at a crystal glowing. "...So that's where this idea came from in the first place. Do you have anything bigger?"

The Moogle wiggled its single antenna and looked in its bag as the girl saw a blonde teenage boy approaching with a bag of foam like cups, rope, a back pack full of glass jars, black urns and dirty looking packaging foam, he asked the girl. "Found a shop that sells ropes and rubber bands, I can't believe they refused to sell me the packaging junk they were throwing out."

The girl appreciated the information and walked off. "Waste not want not. Ken, I don't think they would let you have that fuel if they know what you're really going to use it for." Ken smiled wide. "If I tell them that it's to help stop any army dumb enough to trespass, I think they'll get why I lost my mind... at least. This could take a while filling enough urns."

Baldred slowly approached and asked. "What hot headed disaster are you doing?" The girl turned around to see the confused knight as Ken asked curiously. "Do you remember using fire bombs? This is a similar idea." Baldred gasped like it was an instinct. "You're making something like the black ones? They have the stronger stuff in them."

The girl warned the knight. "You're not helping." The woman turned around to find a knight with a staff of bone and looked at him like he was familiar, going still for a moment as the girl introduced herself. "The names Kairi, you must be Baldred?"

The knight nodded and was weirded out by the woman's still behavior. "If your friend is making something stronger than black fire bombs, then he will know how to handle them without burning his other hand off."

Ken whistled. "Napalm is even stronger than that and it sticks while it burns you. That's why I'm not making it here." He turned to find the woman's awkward behavior, froze for a moment and slowly walked away. "Uh... I'll be out of here in Bryn when I finish getting the canisters and the fuel. Is that okay Miss?"

The woman realized she was being asked and answered. "It is, but we are going to have a talk about where you are making that stuff. That's a lot of chemicals." Ken understood and cringed, Kairi promised with with a rivals smile. "I'll fetch you a gas mask and some gloves." The boy pouted and walked off. "Y...Yeah. Good luck Baldred."

The knight prepared himself as the woman introduced herself. "S...Sorry, it's... like seeing a ghost." She gave a polite bow. "I'm Aqua, I heard a bit about you from the others." Baldred asked confused. "A ghost?"

The woman took a deep breath and took out a card. "It's complicated, but did Ken ever talked about meeting someone like you or how he found out you exist?" The knight nodded and asked. "That's how you learned about me? Is something the matter about a stranger caring that much?"

Kairi knew what was coming and slowly walked to the supply store as Aqua remembered someone she called a friend, giving all of her will power to keep looking strong. "Because that someone is a knight from the corners of that world and went on a journey for a great purpose... one that was long, brutal and would test your heart. We saw the end and found mementos about them... and then we saw you."

She presented the knight with an image that caused him to stop breathing as he looked more upon it, the armor looked identical to his own and the throne was familiar. Baldred looked at Aqua and back to the card, he turned around to leave. "I...that... could be any knight in that armor. Ha, ha, ha." He chuckled like it was a good joke. "This is the best prank someone pulled on me all day, where did you learn to be that convincing?" Aqua's lips curled and her tone became more grim. "That is you, what do you remember of the Throne?" Baldred turned and pointed to the top of his helmet. "I don't see no crown on me, is there one?"

Aqua pleaded. "This isn't funny, I don't see you with that katana or staff in this. I can tell from your heart that you know what this throne is." Baldred lowered his hand and shook his head. "And if I did, do you think I want it?" He stopped and felt a deathly chill, Aqua looked a little hurt and put the card away, the knight felt a wrong twisting and stuttered. "I'm...I'm sorry. I... keep seeing where that Throne was, if it was a memory, it is one that does me ill. You're someone that wanted to know a secret among other things?"

Aqua nodded and drew out her keyblade. "Yes, I heard you met Ven and the others, they said a lot of good things about you." The knight slowly drew his staff out, he had knowledge of why, yet it felt like a just instinct. "They and the town had done nothing but good for this soul. You seek knowledge of old arts?"

Aqua answered clearly. "Me and my student Ken found some to share along, but you are more adept to it than any of us. Is this true?"

The knight nodded and walked to one side of the district. "I picked up on it and never parted since. You think you can manage the spells I know?"

Aqua confidently answered as she stood to the other and left the Moogle to set up a fire place and take out a pan of pop corn. "I managed those and even a little more, are you going to just talk about them?"

Baldred shook his head and raised the staff high, causing five crystal masses of energy to form. "I'm a connoisseur, I doubt you will be impressed with a generic soul arrow, so I'd-" PEW! Aqua formed her own five crystal masses and smugly asked. "I heard a little about them and they are pretty basic. You reached the ends of the earth for that one?"

Baldred kept silent and saw a skittering rodent on the street, he focused his staff and fired an arrow at the rodent that heard the shot and ran far, the bright arrow swerved after the rodent and missed, Aqua wasn't too impressed by the sudden attack on a target dummy and asked. "That's meant to come after you?"

Baldred shrugged. "There wasn't anyone else I could do that to and the rodent would be fast enough to get away... unless he's stupid." He faced away and shot a barrage of smaller soul spears to the distance, Aqua aimed her keyblade, gave a blue, crystal like glow and fired crystal like spears at the direction, finishing it off with a large crystal spear. Baldred almost dropped his staff and realized who he was consorting with. "W...Where did you find that?" Aqua answered to him. "Long story, but are you able to pull something better?"

Baldred cringed and took out his katana for another. "N...No, but I figured there was a technique after learning of the soul mass and this." He rubbed the katana on the staff and caused it to glow blue and grow crystals, Aqua sighed in pity. "You really did scrounge this up and learned as you went along, did you?" Baldred hid his embarrassment and skipped to another, shooting a mass of glowing energy to the sky and causing it to rain down. "Maybe and I can't feign forgetting now."

Aqua had the spell memorized as Baldred flung an orb that spun out energy and shot a much smaller orb that knocked an abandoned chair down. "Even the smallest of spells could mean life or death. Anything else you have to correct me on?" The keyblade master shook her head. "No, this is informative."

Baldred appreciated that and shot a large mass of energy and caused power to erupt from around him, he caused four orbs of power to form in front of him and shot beams across the street as he gave off a glow and focused his staff. "Some of those youths were impressed by this one." His staff lit into a glowing blue great sword, the knight swung it as his finisher, Aqua gasped and watched the sword disappear. "Wow, I'll bet they have."

Baldred asked her. "You're not going to copy these, but instead have them flow into you're craft?" Aqua nodded and focused upon her keyblade, causing it to shift in a blue glow and radiate into a bright blue great sword, she flipped mid air and swung, sending down slashes of blue light upon the street and aimed her blade, causing six masses of various colors to rotate around the keyblade and form a rainbow.

PEW!

A combined beam shot to the ground and Aqua took the form of a frosty blue pheonix. She spear headed down and causing a black, icy crystal to surround her in quick speeds and shatter a multi colored ray of light, it caused Baldred to brace himself, shield his eyes and hear his cloth blow against the power. The knight noticed the Moogle be blown away by the power and left trembling as he slid down against a wall, Baldred watched Aqua looking a little astonished by the power and getting up from a frozen crater. The knight swallowed his pride as the Moogle went into his bag and plucked ten crystals the size of a human's head. "You take? Kupo!"

Aqua approached and nodded. "I over did that, how mu-" The Moogle pushed the crystals to and asked. "You take? These crystals will store enough for blast if you have spell trigger. Kupo!" Aqua wasn't going to say no to free crystals and took them as Baldred confessed. "Well it's no wonder you got two apprentices under ya wing, that's the kind of power they dream of reaching."

Aqua felt the desire true and asked. "But why would they want to go that far?" Baldred shrugged. "That's none of my business, but they will answer that through deeds."

He looked at the keyblade with a clear conscious. "I envy those with those things and the merit to be worthy of having one, that is the power to shape the fate of thyself and of those around ya. But I been told it isn't as simple as picking it up," Aqua appreciated a well informed individual. "They often pick the wielder, although some of us might have the power to tweak who might wield one."

Baldred smiled widely under his helmet. "So I was on the mark, to the bottom of the Pit with my revenge plan." He shook his head and let something go as Aqua asked astonished. "Revenge?!" Baldred showed Aqua his chime, seeing that she was reeling at the presence. "If I find an unusual soul from a powerful being, I could have it shaped into a weapon bound to me and there was one cruel... thing that I hold ill will towards. I want to see him pay back the suffering he gave me. You know who I speak of and you know he deserves it if he gave the same spite to you."

Aqua answered without question. "After what he done to Ven and how he treats my friends and students, of course he deserves it. But turning his heart into a keyblade is a horrible idea, he will just use that power to undo you at-" she stopped and realized her outburst was completely uncalled for, Baldred agreed with her without a hint of guilt. "And he wouldn't let me let perform nearly as well as what I saw. So I'll just focus on getting a new halberd and call it a day," he put his chime away as Aqua felt reluctant to accept something. "You... are like him, yet you gone a different path."

Baldred was confused and asked. "You're not comparing me to-" Aqua shook her head. "No, I'm talking about someone else. Does the name... Jambert, ring any bells?" Baldred answered no. "I never heard of him and even if I don't have these gutted memories, I would still say that."

Aqua felt defeated with disappointment. "Darn it," The knight frowned under his helmet. "He would probably annoy me if we do act alike and he didn't get the clue. I'm not going to ask what all this talk about napalm is heading towards. I reckon you're students, get on each others nerves?"

Aqua guessed so. "Not as much as you think, but someone has to keep them from fighting each other again unless its called for. They have different reasons to get stronger, but it's towards a similar path."

Baldred noticed Kairi walking out with coils of rope and a large bag of rubber bands, the girl looked disappointed that she missed out on something, the knight asked Aqua. "And she is reaching new heights herself?" The teacher nodded. "Although you could be a help if you have tricks that can protect others."

Baldred snickered and asked. "Have any of your friends find me a good looking halberd and she'll be able to bring out a true miracle from what I have to teach. There isn't a single store that has one and I'm not leaving the town, I swore too much to my new friends to abandon them on a whim." Aqua smiled to the deal. "That's understandable," Kairi asked. "A halberd?"

Baldred turned to her and answered. "Yes, any would do as long as it looks nice and can cleave like a beauty, you don't even need to be the one to find it. I'm only cutting your friend some slack because he and some others did me a huge favor and I acted out of line when you're teacher wanted to ask questions about me, so that was my apology."

Aqua apologized back. "If I known that throne wasn't something you wanted to remember, I wouldn't have brought it up." Baldred accepted it and explained to Kairi. "If the stuff your friend is working with is as flammable as you fear, then tonight would be a horrible time for me to show him some pyromancy I dabbled in."

The Princess didn't mind and looked to be hearing something, she noticed a blonde woman she was familiar with approaching in on the conversation. She asked. "I noticed something was off when Cid was arguing with Ken about jet fuel and holding all that packaging foam. What... are you doing?"

Aqua looked around in hope to not find anything too suspicious and had the woman come closer, Ken's mother did so and listened to what she said. Shocked by the mention of making explosives and the purpose. "W...Woah, woah. I get you're all out in a war, but that's going to get ugly really fast if he makes them willy nilly."

Aqua agreed with that. "That's why they are going to be stored and used only when we are sure trouble is coming. Pine cones, wooden logs and trigger traps are fine for Wanda and the others to deal with, but napalm is a different story." The woman had no idea what pine cones are and Kairi explained. "They are something that drops off of pine trees and they have thorns."

The woman cringed. "Ouch." Kairi agreed with that. "I'm going to talk with Sora about setting those up too soon." Baldred imagined the worst as the woman continued the subject. "These times call for that, do you mind if I go write down some instructions?"

Kairi took out her gummi phone and suggested. "You can talk about that and I'll pass it along." Aqua pressed her hands together and asked. "Please, it's another plan of his that is helpful, but can go horrible wrong if we let him make a single misstep." The mother agreed and asked. "After that, do you mind if we have a little talk. I been wanting to do this ever since you took my son in as a student and this kind of proves something." She smiled impressed to let Aqua know what she had to say was meant as commending. "Now, what he needs to do is,"

In another side of Radiant Garden, in a mechanic shop.

Ken pointed to the foam and to the fuel. "I know it is a bunch of flammable chemicals mixing in to make one that's even more flammable. Those guys would shoot any kind of peace if they show up at Miss's fort and this a pretty practical way to telling them they aren't welcome." Cid agreed with that and asked. "Are you going to be mixing that here?"

Ken shook his head. "No, goodness no. I'm not having another person lose an arm to this." Cid grunted and asked. "If you can have Bryn carry it, then it won't get spilled over something. You better have someone watch as you make it." Ken agreed wholly. "And watch as I get them filled... maybe even let them hide them from me until its time to use them. I got myself in a deep hole and I'm reaching the walls."

Cid nodded and watched Ken walk out, the boy brought out Cadia's Light and shined it, a familiar gummi ship came flying down, the boy lowered his keyblade and continued. "It still ought to make more than enough, I really wish all this Chaos stuff leaves so I can stop thinking about war." Cid sighed and agreed. "It needs to scram so this crap wouldn't be needed anymore."

Ken nodded as Bryn landed and opened a front hatch, Cid let Ken take a rather large barrel of jet fuel and watched the boy carry it in. In a few moments, he lightened his baggage towards a secure location and dusted himself, bringing out some munny for the expensive as he thanked Cid. "They are snug, strapped and the stuff will be long gone before the word ever returns to the town again. Thanks for letting me do this and giving me tips on how to keep myself safe." The man appreciated it and grunted. "Not letting that same kid lose another arm over this. Heh, I think your mom was listening in on our little... disagreement."

Ken blushed in expecting embarrassment. "...I... was just going to wait in Bryn." The gummi ship closed her hatch and gave a beep of disappointment, the boy promised her. "I think its going to be quick and by the time I get there, my mom will finally get that... thing out of her system. Just wait for me and please keep the cargo safe, I'm not happy about this either."

The ship understood and took off as Ken had one last thing to warn Cid about. "Kairi and Miss finally met Baldred and I could tell things aren't going to be sunshine. That explosion better not have been a fight," Cid sighed and looked on towards the shopping district. "If it was, we would have had another light up by now. Let them know they nearly caused another ruckas in a time like this and I'll forget this ever happened."

Ken promised him. "Roger that." He took off and walked all the way back to the shopping district, over hearing the final parts of a procedure. "And like any explosive, just have it tossed high enough and be far away. It's a pretty ugly site."

He approached to find Kairi finishing logging in the knowledge and Aqua thanking a particular woman. "Yeah, I figured that is precisely why it's so dangerous. Thanks for the tip." Baldred turned to find Ken and looked disturbed. "The art of Fire can be quite a twisted one if used in the wrong hands." The boy agreed and approached. "Because people twist it as a way to burn people and its scary when it's needed. What the heck was going on here, me and Cid saw the explosion of light."

Aqua answered that. "I got an idea after Baldred used... eh-" the knight answered blunt. "Soul great sword." Aqua nodded and continued. "soul great sword and helped me finish seeing all of his sorceries. Each of them can work well together."

Ken was impressed about that as Kairi explained. "And if he is going to show me more, one of us need to find a... halberd for him." The boy looked at Baldred, who explained. "It's something I been wanting to have again and I'm not abandoning the town to go look for one. So we made a deal, I still have a debt to you that won't be so easily repaid." Ken hummed. "Okay, that does make sense. Anything particular?"

Kairi nodded. "Anything that... looks good for him." Ken squinted his eyes and asked Kairi. "If there isn't anyone in the town that has it, do you think there is another that might?" The Princess gasped and asked. "Any town that might have a royal guard or something? They'll let us have it if we ask." Ken gave an opportunistic smile. "They could have something pretty slick, you know the kind of place we ought to check?"

Kairi raised two fingers. "I guess there can be a place for us to look first thing in the morning. There is a couple places I ought to check up on since we left." Ken knew one particular and blushed hot red. "Was...was there something we walked out on?"

Kairi knew what was on her rivals mind and answered to one more obvious. "I left these two that were turned into frogs when I found out they were going to break their curse on their own. I hope that they did."

Ken took a deep breath as Kairi spoke something in quick speeds. "And you might want to talk to Elsa again and see how she and Anna are doing." The boy puffed his cheeks as Baldred asked. "Who?"

Kairi answered that and almost giggled. "Elsa is the queen of a far away kingdom and her sister Anna is a princess. I'm not going to say anything more besides how those two and myself have... special hearts." Ken realized that was a detail the knight ought to know about. "Kairi and those two are Princess's of Heart... their hearts are that of pure light and there are seven in total." Baldred took an interest. "Seven?! Pure light?" Aqua nodded and gave Kairi the silent signal that she ought to stop teasing her fellow student. "Seven hearts that are devoid of Darkness, every heart normally has both light and darkness with in. Me, Ken, you... it explains why some of us can have... pretty spiteful or violent urges."

The knight listened and felt a little insight, he wanted to say something and held from speaking as Kairi noticed. "Me and the others heard of what was going on in your world, so you were exposed to a lot of Darkness and I heard of the point you made about those who use the Light for their own selfish ends. Those that pretend to be good people." The knight's mood dimmed more. "I don't sense or see that ill intent in any of you. At the end of the day, everyone has something they want above all else... it depends on if they can curb it and don't leave people in a ditch when they get used up. That's the big difference between the frauds and the True Light?"

Aqua felt it made the most sense to think about. "The True Light, is this something that was new to you?" Baldred shook his head. "Nah, just something I learn from seeing those who care about others compared to those that care only about themselves."

He changed the subject and requested from Kairi. "The halberd doesn't have to be a big ol magical one or even something unique, I think that would make things much simpler for you."

The Princess felt the knight was hiding something and kept quiet as Ken kept quiet of his own knowledge and appeared thankful. "It's why you wanted it to be from the service of royalty, beyond that, it doesn't sound like much. We'll be back tomorrow," he looked at Kairi with a sign he was keeping something locked away. The girl asked. "Ken, do you mind if we talk about this alone?"

The boy nodded and gave a fair well to Baldred and his mother. "See ya soon." The two walked off as Aqua asked the knight. "Is something still wrong?" Baldred shook his head. "Nah, the youth said it best as to why my little request isn't that important. Do I need to be around for this?" Ken's mother shook her head. "This is kind of a private thing, but help like you is always handy in these parts."

Baldred nodded in respect and walked off, with him far out of sight, Aqua told the woman the truth. "If Ken told you anything about the castle, then you have an idea of the kind of person Baldred is. That world is filled with people in that balance and not a lot makes any sense, someone of the light blocked out the dark and it caused the nature of the world to disrupt. The darkness of that world is more... personal." The woman blurted what she was told. "He almost cried when he talked about how things went to the end and he had to stop. He only told me about having to say goodbye to a guy that sound real enough to be a good friend and I guess that's why he want to be friends with this one." Aqua's eyes watered and she tried to answer. "He did cry because that goodbye was...was..." The mother let Aqua lean on her to sob, Ken's mother guessed and patted her on the back. "That goodbye wasn't just him disappearing, you saw what happened to him and it can leave a hole in any ones heart unless they were a complete bastard. That's why Baldred is bothering you?" Aqua held on and felt the knowledge overwhelming, barely able to speak.

At a park.

Kairi and Ken looked around to make sure no one was listening, the princess asked. "What Baldred was talking about, did... something happen?"

The boy nodded. "There is another kind of magic he uses and it's obvious what it is now I mentioned it." Kairi gasped and worried. "That explains why he doesn't talk about the light that fondly."

Ken agreed with that. "And that stuff he keeps away from the outside world. I guess the secrets of the Abyss didn't stop spreading after Oolacile." Kairi cringed to that. "Master Aqua will flip if she knows about that."

She felt a tap on her left shoulder and turned to find Namine pressing her fingers together, she asked. "What did you find from him?" Namine looked at Ken and didn't wish to darken his mood. "Everything Baldred's been telling you is truth, but the things he isn't talking about are all... burnt cinders of memories and memories he doesn't want to keep. That's why he doesn't remember and why his heart was as it is, I think that little bit of kindness and the Firekeeper lending a hand helped brought enough back. But, he has a pretty hard life."

Ken asked. "Like Jambert before him?" Namine nodded. "He bore a Curse and was cast out into the Dark because of that. That is why he resents the title forced upon him, the Bearer of the Curse. It nearly stripped him away of everything he once was and the cruelty he dealt with when brought out of the stilled Dark nearly caused his heart to completely break down, much like how the Curse would have done him in. When he talked about a fraud, what do you think he meant?"

Ken wondered as Kairi felt a bitter pill to swallow. "It's like he said, someone that claimed to bring Light into his heart... only for that to be a complete lie and had himself swindled... or stabbed in the back by that someone." The boy cringed and shivered. "And when he found out about that rotten fake cleric, it got ugly and that's when he tossed that cleric in the trash?"

Namine answered more certain. "It isn't clear who, where or how exactly it came to that. But there was feelings of betrayal and... anger, that was his first time using the power of darkness and the last time he let it take him as it did." Ken and Kairi dimmed more, the Princess asked. "And it wasn't until he did... I don't want to know that he learned something from that and used it much more sparingly?"

Namine corrected her. "That's when he went on a journey to try and understand it in a way that won't... cost him the last of his humanity." Ken guessed what it was. "To know the True Dark?" His pupils and iris shrank in a realization. "Oh... oh no."

Kairi realized the horrifying situation with a similar reaction. "Baldred isn't that far away from... them, like we hoped he would." Namine agreed with that. "And if they know even a hint of the kind of Darkness Baldred learned about, no one around him is going to be safe. Thankfully, no one heard that, Ken... you know the serpent who said that name can't be trusted."

Ken agreed with that. "But... does any of Baldred's memories have anything to do with that snake?" Namine shook her head. "No. If Baldred went down that path... why would he still use the light?"

Kairi was wishing Riku was around to listen and had her own conclusions. "Because...because he saw something in both. He saw a True Light somewhere as well as a True Dark... right?" Namine's grim tone turned to a giggle. "The True Light was something he found long before he confronted that fraud. He just didn't know what it was, Kairi, Ken, close your eyes for a moment."

The two did so and saw a faint memory of a bold knight in a silver, dress like armor, holding an exquisite like halberd, with in a balcony out of a cathedral. They found Namine and the Firekeeper beside them, they found another knight in leather armor and wielding a long sword, kneeling before the sentinel and presenting him with a token. "I...I found this after returning the favor to a masterless stranger. This place holds something sacred that I seek, please tell me more."

The sentinel hummed and gestured that he stands up. "Transient being. It appeared I mistaken you for a milk toast thug. Rise." The warrior stood up as the sentinel gave a smile to him. "You are worthy of joining our order." He sentinel stood proudly. "You may call yourself one of us, and are free to plant your roots in the garden of the gods."

The warrior gasped in awe and asked. "Our? There really is more of you?" The sentinel tried not to laugh. "More than you're eyes see. Be proud. I, Targrey, do proclaim to this day, you are a Knight of the Blue. Rejoice and bask in your honor." The warrior gave a salute. "Thank you." Targrey took out a blue ring and presented it to him. "You are no longer a mere vagabond. You are now a guardian, proud knight, take this." The warrior took the ring and put it on, asking confused. "This is... what is this ring?"

Targrey raised his halberd high and instructed. "Wear this ring and shine it upon stone." The warrior did so and heard several pleas for help, Targrey continued. "Listen to the voices of the blue apostles, hear their cries for help, and repel the malicious invaders that oppress them." The warrior shined in a blue light as Targrey finished. "This is the proud work of the Knights of the Blue, the Way they elevate themselves to a higher plane. I'll provide what you need. You may visit us at anytime."

Pew!

The blue light shined and the rivals opened their eyes to find themselves in the garden with Namine and the Firekeeper. The Firekeeper chuckled to a heroic tale. "And thus, the nameless warrior found a purpose in the unforgiving world and gave that gift to others. What thou calls the True Light, beyond the radiance of Flame..." Namine looked at the Firekeeper and felt the words fulfilling. "and why he wanted a weapon like that, he coveted that one. But he didn't hold a grudge, he had the simplest gear and had to fight his way to that cathedral, thus he found a reason to keep going and tried giving others the same reason. Of course he would love being in this town if there are those wishing to protect the defenseless." She asked the Firekeeper. "How much of this guy do you know? He's a little out of my jurisdiction."

The maiden answered with a gesture of silence. "That is what I seeketh to learn from the Flame, it seeketh something to finally be whole and begin the Age of Fire anew. Hopefully one that doesn't bring misfortune." Ken gasped and asked. "It's still not complete?" He drew his burning keyblade as Namine felt something missing. "It's... awake and knows of what it lost. It's heart needs to be rekindled."

The Firekeeper asked Kendry. "The Vessel needs to be filled of what was, thou know?" The boy asked confused. "But... weren't the Lord Souls used up?...Or... like a lot of things about that world, their cinders are out there." The Firekeeper nodded. "It's where the Heart suspects that is kept in fog, for now, thou have more pressing matters."

Ken didn't mind that as Kairi asked. "That could take a while to figure out and we don't got that kind of time. What does this have to do with Baldred?" The Firekeeper was ready to fade back into ashes and answered the Princess. "This is why thou needs to guide Baldred and see that he never again falls unto the hands of those that seek to deprive him of his peace, he gave his service to the Flame long enough."

Kairi placed her right hand on her chest and promised her. "We won't let those like Xehanort or Archaon hurt him anymore. We swear on that."

Ken placed his own with that vow. "We don't need that happening to someone again." The Firekeeper gave a gracious bow as she disappeared into the burning blade. "Thou are like the flame, thou shall be the warmth Baldred needs."

With her back to where she was, Namine promised. "I'll try to figure out about what Baldred found in the Dark when I can, he isn't going to keep that a secret for long and I'm a little scared for him." The rivals hoped so, Kairi gave Namine a thumbs up and wanted to bring her back to the shopping district. "We'll tell Master enough so she wouldn't worry."

Ken thought it was a wise decision. "It's kind of a circle that everyone but her knows. I got my stuff packed in, so we just got to wait." Kairi almost forgot and taken something out of her bag, a gas mask and gloves. "Before that, take these, you're going to need them." Ken took the supplies with gratitude, the three walked back to the district in hope that what was talked about transpired.

At the shopping district.

Aqua finished crying and looked vulnerable as she sat next to Ken's mother. "That... Soul of Cinder was what happened to Jambert and the way Baldred fights is like he is another piece. Does he even know about that?"

The older woman wondered that herself. "Or he doesn't want to. I think he's going to do something that will have those psychotic freaks notice him as a major problem." That was what Aqua was more scared of. "And his troubles would happen all over again when they realize how even his smallest action can leave an mark against their plans."

The mother rubbed her son's teacher on the back. "It takes a lot to keep yourself under control from all the worries going on, especially for others. Ken really did bring a head ache by that screw up of his." Aqua agreed to that. "But if he didn't, we wouldn't have known nearly as much about that world, it's tie to Light and Dark or the power those people had. He, Kairi and the others have done a lot out there and for every time we get pushed down, we just rise up even stronger... ha, ha. So that's what that Orruk-" She stopped as Ken's mother backed away and proudly asked. "I don't know how long Kairi has had a Keyblade, but it's definitely a lot less than than nearly everyone else. I think my son is the only person that had less experience, Kairi earned her medal and I want to ask. Why did you do... thing and let them thing?"

Aqua answered that one. "It's because of some good memories of mine once... some place and someone woke up. It's like having a whole family together again."

That caused Ken's mother to snicker. "That's makes it easier for me. Because your own teacher treated you and your friends like a parent would to his kids, you thought to do the same thing?" Aqua guessed so and blushed without shame. "You can say that, Terra might have called Eraqus Father a couple times. It was cute." The blonde woman stood up without regrets. "That might be exactly what me and my son talked about when he got back from... somewhere. A good teacher earns that student looking up to him or her like another parent. If either him or Kairi start doing that..." She stopped awkwardly and found it hard to describe. "...What's a better word than cute?"

Aqua felt more confident and answered. "It would be wholesome?" The woman snapped her fingers. "That's the word," Aqua gave a near girlish squeal and confessed. "I might have gave in to that urge when I found out Kairi found my armor and my keyblade. I got to help Sora and the others catch up. He and Riku were self taught and it took Yen Sid having them learn the Power of Waking to help them iron a few things out, while Ven is... quite behind."

Ken's mother shrugged. "Those pro's won't have nearly as much trouble, Sora got the better experience while Riku... hmm I don't see much of him fighting, but he seems to be catching to him."

She was ready to give a goodbye and noticed Kairi with a blonde girl, going to search for a store, Ken saw an aftermath and looked a little embarrassed. "What's going to be the plan for tomorrow that you're wanting to pass along?"

Aqua hummed. "I have been hearing them talk about Disney Town opening something up and since no one is arguing about it, I say it wouldn't hurt to see what it's all about and call it a day off from lessons until we can get things back in order." Ken slowly approached and reported about that. "I patrolled near the place a lot when I was in that town and a lot of people say its pretty annual. It's nothing dangerous."

Aqua looked at her student and believed him. "I still want to see what goes on in there for... reasons." Ken believed her back. "Me and Kairi talked a bit about what Baldred might be up to. Are we about done?"

Aqua nodded as Ken's mother wished him luck. "Not my business anymore. I'm going to check on your friends... anything you might want to suggest to them?" Ken had one. "Tell them that Baldred might be in danger and if they find anything fishy lurking in the town that they should warn someone who can put a ring because Baldred fighting... those guys would be a bad idea." Aqua had a better idea. "Or that they need a phone themselves, you figured out that that knight's going to draw attention if he lets his power of Light become more known?"

Ken didn't wish to lie and answered. "It's a bit more that Baldred has quite a bit of Dark in him and that's what they are going to go after. But what you said could be another reason." Aqua closed her eyes and thought about it. "That's another problem too." She opened them and noticed Kairi and Namine leaving a hat store, the blonde girl having a white baseball cap and blushing in embarrassment, Ken waved to Namine and cheered. "Nice hat."

Namine pulled the hat down and tried to hide her face as Ken's mother left the group alone, Kairi asked. "Master, are we... done for the day?" Aqua answered surely. "It looks like it. We got to check up and see if the others might have thought this little... problem when they met Baldred." Kairi guessed. "That his ties to Darkness might be something those creeps would want to exploit and ruin his chances at having some happiness?" Aqua responded. "Bingo, come on," she stood up. "Let's get going."

At the town's gate.

Baldred finished giving Cloud an update. "That's why I should avoid getting into a real fight with those lot. If Sora turned the tide when he started trying and Aqua was able to do... that, I wouldn't last long."

Cloud agreed with that. "And if the Curse is gone, that means if you get yourself killed, you'll stay that way forever."

Baldred felt that was a blessing of its own. "It's a shame about the halberd, but any of the traveling youths ought to fix that problem and in exchange, that Princess of Heart could end up doing wonders if she brings out the full power of the Light. Those miracles ought to do the trick."

Cloud sensed the intentions and blew to the wind. "It wouldn't waist a whole lot of time. It's... pretty weird about what you called it, True Light... that's a bit... entitled." Baldred explained to the fellow brooder. "It isn't meant to come off as that. When someone claiming virtue really believe their cause and bring good into the world, that's the True Light. When they claim virtue, wield the light and do nothing but deceive, that's just a fraud and nothing more."

Cloud listened, nodded and kept watch. "Now I get it, is that actually Light?" Baldred hated to admit it. "Yes, but its too hollow feeling, knowing what it's used for. It isn't actually what you think about with the Light and it is also something you can easily take away if you know what to do... then they act like the vile soul they really are. If they really were of the Light, it wouldn't leave so easily and they wouldn't have to fool others with it."

Cloud summed up what that use is. "It would be no better than those who use Darkness and say it would bring anything but hell. In fact, it sounds exactly like how those people would fool you." Baldred yelled out. "Exactly," Cloud felt a little enlightened. "It's just the dark in another... ha... shade."

Baldred looked at the sunset and glowed his gauntlets. "But you and the others, especially the youths with the keyblades, you all are exactly what someone thinks about when they see the Light." He caused Cloud to blush. "I think you're exaggerating, you just got into town and don't really know-" The knight's hand glowed in fire and he aimed it in between him and the swordsmen. Crackle! A fire ball burst into a wisp and gave off a comforting warmth, Baldred sat down and invited Cloud to join. "Warmth, comfort, something that guides you, even in the deepest abyss. That is why the Flame is one part of it."

Cloud agreed and kept standing. "You made your point, and what of the Dark? You got something you want to share about that?" Baldred nodded as night slowly took hold, he pointed to the sky revealing stars and asked. "What is it undisturbed? What is it when you know there is nothing out of the ordinary and you feel the sun is too bright?"

Cloud guessed with a chuckle. "Nothing, it's when there is something that's the problem." Baldred agreed with that. "That's when that something needs to learn to keep its mitts off and when ya got to fight that something until it is gone or it returns to its slumber. But the sun will rise again and you won't see the dark again until night comes. I guess that someone is rattling those things in the Dark and then it becomes a chaotic cycle?"

The blonde man looked at the glowing flame and kept firm. "Yep and until the balance is back, we are the ones stuck fighting the Dark in the many forms it takes." Baldred went to take off his helmet, showing a slightly pale face of a red bearded man giving a warm smile. "Then we go in an eb and flow. I think I talked a lot about myself, what's you're tale?" Cloud saw obvious hints of the man being Undead like he claimed and started. "It's pretty long, but there is something from the Dark that always haunts me, he is called-"

At the Land of Departure. During a relaxing sunset.

Kairi finished giving a stern lecture to Sora as she watched even him question all the jet fuel. "It is extreme and until we are certain, we are keeping it as an option. Should you really have those pine cones set up now?"

Sora thought of it and slowly shook his head. "I... shouldn't, it is pretty early." Ken asked. "If you set a lot of them up, do you mind having some help?" Sora appreciated it and whistled. "It's... quite a lot. Ha." Ken didn't mind, the two boys gave each other a dorky smile and jumped off the mountain. Leaving the others be, Riku looked at the crystals and held onto one with an idea as he asked Aqua. "We just need to open these like we would any lock and pick an element?"

The Keyblade Master gave a glow of ice and insisted that Riku place his down. "Yep, exactly like this." Riku placed the crystal down and let Aqua approach with her keyblade, she tapped the tip of her blade and caused it to give off a slight flicker, the icy power flowed into the crystal and came to life. "If someone walks past this with ill intent, they will get a blizzaga to their face."

Kairi clapped impressed as Donald felt he understood the booby trap. "Riku and Kairi are going to put those everywhere once they are ready?"

Kairi answered firmly as Merlin waved his wand for something. "If they work like that, we will take care of most of the heartless before they get close."

POOF!

A golden door way appeared from thin air, Merlin felt proud of himself and was ready to step through it. "And if the need arises, this should let us reach to Wanda's camp. I'll go let her know that we are almost prepared for the day after tomorrow."

Mickey wished Merlin safe travels and let him cross over the door. With the wizard gone for his trip, Ven took the chance and answered a question Aqua asked. "We kind of knew Baldred had pretty dark secrets. But we didn't know where most of them come from."

Kairi agreed with that and yawned. "But despite that, he still believes in a light." Ana asked the group. "That's why he is going to be a big objective when they figure it out and they are going to be more mad than a drunken, runned up Fyreslayer. Should we do something about Baldred?" Stitch answered and scratched his head. "He... not leaving them behind." Ven answered that and looked at the sun set. "He isn't." Aqua agreed and felt anxious for the next day. "We just need to keep it up."