At the Land of Departure, Aqua finished telling something to Mickey, Ven, Ana and Stitch. "That's when he cursed the name Licia, this sounds almost exactly like what Jambert told me and Ken in regards to Petrus. They come off as clerics, but deep down, they are just rotten." She wanted to laugh at something dark as Stitch muttered. "Rotten." Ana agreed with that and heard the sounds of clicking becoming stronger. "It's no wonder Baldred started calling that in a different light. That doesn't sound anything like what a holy man would do, unless they are part of a corrupted church," Aqua agreed with that. "Whether it is someone worshiping something like Chaos or Nagash, or someone that only cares about themselves, that can lead people down into Darkness."

Mickey nodded and looked on to the sky. "And that might have happened to Baldred. But it sounds like the Forces of Chaos are at it again, there is no way those daemons have darkened out of coincidence." Aqua whistled loudly. "They are getting use to the Realm of Darkness and are mixing things around. We been focused on Garland for this long that they are allowed to make their move." Ventus blew out in the air. "I guess that's why we are thinking about getting help, Archaon and the other's aren't the only ones we need to deal with." Mickey turned to Ven in agreement. "They're not. But who is behind those daemons?"

Ring! Ring!

Mickey took out his gummi phone and noticed a picture of Sora of something on his left hand, the normally cheerful boy looked uncertain at an odd crown. A text appeared. "Your Majesty, should we get this to Yen Sid and have him look at it, the crown has something to do with Baldred." Mickey texted back. "If you think so, we should."

The mouse showed Aqua and Ven, the Keyblade Master felt suspicious and asked. "Okay, what more does the guy have to hide from us?!" She stopped and snapped her fingers. "Of course, that throne."

Ven, Mickey and Ana remembered the image on a card, the Stormcast asked. "Part of his journey involved a crown, but the one in the picture doesn't match the one Sora has. We ought to let this drop until we can pick up Baldred. The crown will be safe in that tower." Aqua calmed down and wanted to sit down. "It's the one secret he didn't bother hinting me about, other than it is something he never wanted. Phew We're in for news."

At the renovating building in New Orleans.

Sora, Donald, Goofy and Lewis were lead to a park by an eager Naveen who had much to thank them for. "If even Odie was out doing the work to fan away that fog, things must have escalated. I had a feeling we are going to have to repay that."

Sora kept hold of the black crown and asked dumbfoundingly. "By why the park?" Lewis realized what and gave a glance to a secretive Naveen, the man answered. "You'll see. Now, how does that crown have anything to do with Raime? It doesn't add up."

Goofy answered dumbfounded. "Beats me, but we know an expert on these kinds of things." Donald continued with that and noticed a hole in his stomach, realizing a detail forgotten about, Sora and Goofy felt it as well. The group reached the park and Naveen found who he was looking for, he stood aside and presented the gratitude. A picnic sheet was laid out and near it, Tiana was finishing preparing something in two pots that was on top of a campfire. The Duck smelled the caijun and asked with his bill almost smacking. "What is this?"

Tiana turned around and saw a group of adventurers damp from a journey into a Bayou, the Princess of Heart answered confidently. "The thing you fellas came for, once we saw the fog clearing up, we had an idea of what happened. Once Naveen and I had the ingredients prepared, I sent him to get y'all while I handled the rest. I think you'll like it." The trio realized they were getting free food, Sora cheered to that. "Thanks, we hadn't eaten since breakfast."

Goofy and Donald gave Sora a look as Lewis reminded himself of something. "Mama Odie said hi. There was all kinds of weird things that went on in that swamp and Ray's folks helped out when... ahhh." Tiana guessed. "When you started walking around in circles in the fog? Lewis, stop trying to lead people around the swamp." She heard boiling dying down and was ready to prepare something. "Gumbo's done, I hope y'all are hungry."

At a Castle in Corona.

Riku was in a hall after hearing gratitude from royalty and looked at the odd crown, Cassandra folded her arms smugly, in a blue, maiden's attire as she asked. "Well they don't know anything about the crown, but it's going to take a while before the armory just hands you a halberd over. You mind telling me what this is about?" Riku put the crown away and answered. "It's a deal Kairi made with this knight, he knows some helpful tricks Kairi could learn about called Miracles. Also known as light magic and lightning magic. As long as the halberd is from a royal guard or something... remotely special, he would be a tutor for a while."

Cassandra asked. "And how is he going to believe this?" Riku answered with a question. "A weapon picked off the road will look like?!" Cassandra felt a point was made as she gave a faux smile. "If he's lucky, it will be as wonderful as a rusty hatchet or as convenient to use as a ball and a brittle chain." Riku cringed at the last mental image. "Or if all the Chaos stuff is going on, the weapon would look special... in more ways than one." Cassandra guessed like a smart alec. "Oh, like having a friend that totally won't suck out your soul for picking it up?" She slumped and felt Riku had a good point. "Yeah, that's why he's picky."

The teenager nodded and heard a door opening as he continued. "I think we could have passed off a halberd made from any black smith, but I don't think I have that kind of time. So tell me about yourself, you're a maid in waiting for the Princess?"

Cassandra tried to answer as a giggling girl with short brunette hair and a purple dress, jumped at her to give her a pouncing embrace. "Weeee!" Glomp! Cassandra was knocked to the ground and looked embarrassed, the girl let go and had a look at Riku, recognizing a pattern in fashion and asking. "Do, you know someone that might have came to the kingdom?"

A chameleon by her shoulder recognized a pattern as Riku answered. "Her name is Kairi and I came because of her. You're Rapunzel?" The Princess squealed and helped Cassandra get up. "I knew it, how's she doing? What kind of places had she visit? What kind of people has she met? Tell me, tell me." Riku had to mentally push the girl's questions away and started one at a time. "Fine now she found a teacher to show her the ropes and even has someone trying to upstage her, which will give her a reason to keep going. Lot's and places you wouldn't believe. Besides her teacher, Master Aqua... I need to try listing them down. Looks like your having a pretty good time reuniting with the kingdom."

Rapunzel agreed with that. "You wouldn't believe the kind of things there is to see and do around here." She offered. "You need to check out the town and-" "Woah, woah!"

Something of pottery gave a spun that made the group's heart leap for some reason and it sounded like it stopped.

Phew!

A brown haired man in a green vest approached with a particular weapon Riku was looking for, Cassandra cringed as Rapunzel waved to the man. "Hey Eugene, guess who decided to drop by?" Eugene looked at Riku and saw a familiar pattern, "One of Kairi's friends," he quickly had an idea. "great, one of the guard asked me to give you this thing and some of the maids are thinking I'm stealing this. You mind getting this off our hands?"

Cassandra shook her head. "Gee, I wonder why they thought that." Riku looked at the tall halberd and whistled. "If it matters anymore," He took the halberd and asked Eugene. "Kairi told me a little about the whole... side kick thing. Really?! That's what you thought of at the moment?"

Rapunzel wanted to laugh at that as Cassandra laughed harder. "HA! Not so funny when that" She raised her fingers in the air in quote. "side kick wasn't some traveler from nowhere, is it?" Eugene looked on embarrassed. "Hey, hey, it worked out in the end, right?"

Riku agreed with that and let it slide. "Oh it did Eugene. It did." He wanted to laugh about it as Cassandra got up and asked Riku. "So what else you got to do here?" The teenager answered that. "I read a map not too long ago about... something pretty ridiculous that I'll solve on my way out."

He gave a nod of fare well to the three and felt something vibrate, Rapunzel looked a little disappointed as Riku promised. "I'll ask Kairi to come here if she has some free time, she is kind of visiting a friend for a similar reason I'm here. Who knows what she'll find."

The brunette princess took a deep breath and calmed down as Cassandra guessed. "Maybe something like that other thing we found?" The listening couple took an interest as Riku thought of it. "That... would be weird."

He turned to Rapunzel and asked as he pulled the crown out of the bag, much to Cassandra's protests. "You're parents were told more, but if you and Eugene heard of sightings of a dragon and the forest rotting for a while, this is what we found once the dragon went back to sleeping."

Flip, he took out the odd crown, Eugene whistled and asked. "Where did you find it, a horde of... something?" Cassandra half dropped her eyes at the former criminal. "That dragon wasn't your run of the mill fairy tale, princess gobbling, pack lizard, this was the only thing he had." Eugene took offense to that. "Hey, hey, I wasn't asking because of free money, everyone knows what a crown means. Right? Right?!"

Rapunzel blushed and asked. "Was the dragon some king?" Riku thought of that and shook his head. "It's way too small for him, but I think we can put together a bigger story, like how-"

At Arandelle Palace.

Ken stepped his foot and looked out from the gate at the frozen mountain. "Tell me to let others help and I still get into trouble." He turned to the gate with intention of announcing something to Anna and Elsa as he felt his phone ring. He picked it up to see a text from Kairi, the boy gave silent thanks for her safety and read it. "You texted at a horrible time, are you and the others okay?"

Ken texted back. "We are, are you?" Kairi answered. "Yes, but this is something we need to talk with Master and the other's about, this throws a lot of the world order out of the window if word gets out."

Ken was bewildered and followed the instruction. He texted back. "I'll just tell them you and the others are done with the snowgies. Do you think it's going to be dangerous for Kristoff and the others? Because there is a whole new batch of those snowmen here." Kairi texted back. "I don't think it will be anymore, least so dangerous that we are needed."

Ken hummed, put the phone away and marched back to Elsa's room, finding Anna tucking her sleeping sister in. The boy kept silent as the Princess turned, place a finger at her lips and walked out with the snowgies, with the door closed, Anna asked. "Anything new? It's been awfully quiet since those... things showed up." Ken answered to the Princess firmly. "Nothing particular happened, but I think Kairi might have ran into some trouble for taking this long on a trip. The daemons are no joke."

He took a deep breath and looked at his prosthetics. "She isn't going to let this one die down." Anna knew that line had everything to do with his arm. "It's a pretty big deal if you're offering to help out in these places. But it's cool now." She asked at the well meaning teenager. "Anything else going on?" The boy nodded and blushed red. "There is an event going on that's far away from here and I agreed to go along with this girl. Coming here was a good idea for that, I'd get over things sooner than later."

Anna tensed to that. "Ah ha, I knew it." Ken admitted he was caught. "Elsa is pretty and cool, ha, ha. I'm glad this got settled and not end in complete embarrassment for either of us. I hope she gets well soon."

Anna sighed. "It took a while, but she finally cooled down enough to rest. This cold ought to be gone by tomorrow." The two walked down and saw Kristoff, Sven, Olaf and Kairi entering the main hall, they found more snowgies that were eager for the company and played around with the bigger snowman and the Caribou. Anna charged to Kristoff for a full embraced, mask and all, Ken took off his face mask and saw Kairi closing her eyes and giving a still smile to him. The girl asked Anna. "Do you mind if Ken and I talk outside, the mountain down is safe for these guys, but something nearly happened that we don't want to scare you about." Anna didn't mind as Kristoff added. "We met someone that raised a couple of questions. It's a bit confusing."

Ken tilted his head and followed Kairi out, to the courtyard. Kairi gave a sharp turn and asked Ken. "Before we start, next time we go somewhere strange, we can make that arm match. It's hard to watch you struggle for no reason and it's hard getting reminded."

The boy learned that lesson. "Anna already told me about that, it was pretty silly. Now what happened up there?"

Kairi answered. "Chaos Daemons happened and I think I figured out something going on, there is a Daemon Prince of Darkness building some kind of army and he nearly caused an outbreak. The same one Sora and Riku talked about."

Ken gasped as Kairi continued. "We're fine now and the Daemon was kicked out of the world, but we met someone that knew Baldred. A...Ivory King." Ken blinked and had a brief realization as Kairi answered. "The Daemon was using the Ivory King's queen... some Child of the Dark's power to consume the world and we had to go rescue her. She and the Ivory King are together, but this is what was left behind." She took out an ivory crown and asked. "Don't you think this is a little suspicious?"

Ken nodded. "The picture had Baldred with a crown, but this isn't that crown. Weird, should... we show it to him?" Kairi shook her head. "No, the last time Master Aqua tried showing him anything like this, he dodged the question. If we can figure out what this crown is, we can find some answers."

She thought of something and put the crown on, feeling a burst of warm life, her eyes looked up with suspicion and her face was in thought. Ken asked. "Feeling like you upgraded from a Princess?" Kairi hummed. "No, no. Something... something is off."

The boy took his gummi phone and aimed the camera at her. "It's missing something? Like... more people to see this?" Kairi realized what the boy was trying to do and stopped him with a more serious scowl. "Not yet, this crown... is tied to a warmth. Does that sound... familiar?"

Ken realized what and lowered his phone. "Warmth... fire. Did you pick something important up?" Kairi nodded and had an odd feeling of a duty, she thought it and answered. "We... should talk with an expert, while keeping this a secret. We know who to bring this too. Now we can take a picture... but...but."

Ken agreed with the seriousness. "This isn't me posting a picture just to image the look on you're friends faces. Not anymore." Kairi took her phone and used it to take a picture of herself. Click! She saw the image of herself with the crown, looking rather charming, yet the confused frown didn't match, she showed it to Ken who felt he wasn't having fun anymore. "This is a lot more down than I thought it would be."

Kairi agreed with that. "This would get Sora and Riku to ask questions, but none of them would comforting." She shook the gloom out as Ken asked. "Aren't we still going to that amusement park by the end of today? This is kind of a mood killer."

Kairi jolted and answered. "We still are and Olette is going to be really upset if any of us change our minds." She had a mental image of her friends having a swell time and felt a light with in shine brighter, forming a smile. She took a picture again, seeing the self image more appeasing, yet it felt like it wasn't enough. Ken looked like he was denied of something and snapped his fingers, Kairi had a more confident smile in response and took the picture once more. Finding it matching a mental image and showing it to him. "This was what you wanted the others to see?"

Ken nodded. "But I wanted to do it. You look fitting in a crown and things would have gotten a lot funnier if it was... random." Kairi squinted her eyes to him. "You're got something else planned now you lost the chance?"

Ken shrugged. "Maybe, but it's a good way to get beaten up if I mess it up." Kairi had the mental sound of a boat horn and blushed without shame, she smiled wider and laughed. "Ha, ha, ha, ha. Okay, that's enough, but this changes where we are going-" Click!

Kairi felt a flash of light and Ken with the camera. "And this is when Olette punches me in the face. Got ya."

Kairi had her hands at her hips and had a scowl, she took off the crown and put it in her bag, wanting to stop her laughter. "Let's go tell Anna were we are going. Kristoff ought to have told her what she needs to know. How was Elsa?" Ken listed the things. "Sick with a cold, finally resting and she ought to be fine with or without us. She kind of saved my skin when some Khorne Daemons came knocking and the herald got mad. Do we really need to leave without saying goodbye?"

Kairi tilted her head uncertain. "She could be napping for hours for all we know and this can't wait. Let's see what Anna has to say about that." The boy looked a little hopeful and lead back in, both hearing Anna ask bluntly. "Sabertooth cat?!" It was going to take a while to settle things down.

At the Mysterious Tower, an hour later.

Sora placed the black crown at Yen Sid's desk and finished his tale. "That's when we found this." Yen Sid looked at the crown and picked it up, feeling the warmth and answering. "An Old Iron Crown, this...Baldred and Raime's knowledge are troublesome."

Sora agreed with that as Goofy put the odd sword at the desk, the Wizard sniffed and responded. "So tied to the Dark, yet we-" Click!

Riku entered with an odd crown of his own. "Sorry I'm late, I was busy doing something... dumb and I was sorting the treasures out." He placed it at the desk and explained. "This is going to be a long story." Step! Step!

Riku and Sora turned to find Kairi with an ivory crown, Riku saw Sora flushing red and asked the Princess. "And you found out that needed to be here as well?" Kairi nodded to that. "I sent you the text. Something wrong Sora?"

The spiky haired boy shook his head and didn't know what to say. "You...you...you looked great in that crown." Kairi appreciated the compliment. "Thank you, but if all of us found a crown after dealing with some pretty weird things, you know what that means." Donald guessed. "That they weren't a coincidence?"

Kairi nodded as Ken was the last to enter the room, he gave a greetings to Yen Sid. "Hello again, I'm needed because I kind of know a bit about Baldred." Yen Sid gave a smile and pressed his hands together. "Go on."

Ken took a deep breath and answered. "Baldred was that knight in the card image of the throne and part of the Soul of Cinder. For some reason, after his world ended, his heart ended up in the Realm of Darkness and the guys we are fighting dragged him out... for some reason. Me and some friends rescued him and we found out a lot about him, what you were told about. Three crowns" He looked at them as Riku finished. "and none of them are the one in the picture."

Sora agreed with that. "Yet the Fume Knight knew Baldred." Kairi added her own. "And the Ivory King knew him." Riku blinked and asked. "But nothing I saw with Sinh had anything to do with him." Ken gasped at the name on instinct. "Sinh?! …. I think Miss and I saw their history, Baldred battled with that dragon and won."

Goofy felt the connection become whole. "He really did find these crowns. But why?" Yen Sid asked. "Why indeed, did Baldred sought to become a monarch? If so, what was the reason?" Kairi answered that. "The why is why we are... not, handing these over to him. Not yet." Yen Sid nodded. "One of the holders of the Crown sought vengeance." Kairi added in. "One looked to him like a friend he never got to knew." Riku added the last part in. "And another just wanted to go back to sleep. We are going to tell Aqua and the others about this, but how do those crowns connect to the one in the picture?"

Ashes formed and a familiar figure appeared, the Firekeeper was sitting on a chair, giving Ken the idea to ask. "Do... you know?"

The Firekeeper nodded, stood up and approached the desk. "Baldred, the Bearer of the Curse... sought an answer to the unknown mystery of a King. Seeing the answers from these three." She picked the strange crown Riku found from Sinh. "One revered the Everlasting and sunk in poison when the covetous came." She put the crown down and picked up the crown Sora found from Raime. "Another desired power and succumbed to the Ichorous Flame of the Earth when he provoked the ancient Smelter." She placed the crown down and went for the Crown of the Ivory King. "And another sacrificed all, for a realm of ice." She placed the crown down and turned to the group. "But Baldred sought the crown of a True Monarch, to be fitting for a Throne of Want. Yet... he did not desire the Throne." Sora guessed what Baldred wanted. "He wanted to be free from the Curse? How did that have anything to do with a Throne?" The Firekeeper answered that. "For it and the Fire are ever close. Where he ventured, only he and the Lord's of Past and Future could see. But what befell the crown?"

Riku answered that. "Like the other things from that world, it was reduced to nothing in time and that crown melted with the Soul of Cinder. But if those things could be restored, then that crown ought to be around... somewhere. We might be able to find it one day, but today isn't that day." He tensed to the Fume Knight's sword. "The last thing we need is for Baldred to delve back into the Dark, Yen Sid... this is the one thing about him we are all suspicious about. Baldred has admitted to using the powers of Darkness with out the usual effects we seen it have on... everyone and the kind of Darkness he talks about..." He closed his eyes and continued. "The Children of the Dark lurk in it... things that sought to drag that world into the it."

Kairi cringed as Ken asked. "Like Nasandra? I never saw her, but she sounds like a nasty one." Riku agreed with that. "How was Baldred able to control that kind of Dark without them getting a hold on him?" Kairi answered that. "He may have met one that had a change of heart and... oh." Yen Sid realized what that oh was and asked. "And through that view of the Dark, he ceased to fear it as an all consuming void? That is why he still draws from the light?"

Sora scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, he said he uses the Dark to remind himself why he fights it, that's how it became a Light." Kairi and Ken looked to each other and decided on something, the Princess asked. "Ken and I will go check on him again, I think we heard enough." Riku was reminded of something and offered to help with something. "I found the thing he asked for, exactly as he wanted it. He won't have a reason to refuse."

Kairi found that a convenience as Ken noticed the Firekeeper giving the wizard a nod of farewell and disappearing. The boy asked. "So... what now?" Sora looked at Donald and Goofy with his plan. "We ought to tell Aqua about this. It's pretty important." Riku realized something and asked the one armed keybearer. "You... knew the name Sinh, did you and Aqua hear it at the Castle?" Ken shook his head. "No, but it clicked to me after I let loose on Vanitas. Kalameet, Sinh... and Midir. I guess they were all part of an old story the World had, a dragon verses an regular joe."

Yen Sid found that of interest. "What are they?" Ken answered. "Those that use to rule that world before the Fire came. Kalameet was feared by even the gods, Sinh was worshiped by the people and Midir... I don't even know, but I think Miss and I saw him at his final moments. Firing one of the freakiest fire breaths I seen, he turned it into a laser." He laughed to that as Kairi finished the rest. "And that last one was what sent Vanitas cowering? I bet Benedict is the one who knows about that last dragon. To think that an ordinary guy is able to beat something like that."

She looked at Sora and Riku. "Makes the impossible sound possible, huh?" Sora agreed with that as Riku agreed more, the visiting group were ready to take off once more as Yen Sid answered. "It takes a strong heart to desire to overcome that kind of adversity. That strength reflects in time, there is much we could learn from they who were mundane and where they have gone. Isn't that right?" The keybearers agreed with that as Sora answered the mutual thought. "Right."

At Radiant Garden.

Baldred finished his patrol out of the town and went back in for his report, he found Leon leaning against a wall and looking at the sky. The knight spoke. "Some artist wanted to use the land scape for an idea before I had him go back to town. Did he make it in?"

Leon nodded. "After telling me he seen enough and how you two talked about a sea. Feeling better after that... cave episode?" Baldred answered with his report. "I won't be returning there if that hut would do. It's felt like a long time since I was that terrified." Leon asked. "Terrified from the daemons, or terrified that your little secret almost got shown to Aqua of all people?"

Baldred answered. "The later and I brought this revelation upon you all?" Leon took a deep breath. "Just what ever you do, don't... just don't. You don't need to use it and none of us are interested."

Baldred agreed with that and heard someone approaching. "The fire is more comforting if friends surround it." He turned around to find Ken and Kairi, the later had a halberd in her hands, Baldred found it hard to believe and he controlled his excitement. "I... didn't expect you to actually get it, just that you would try."

Kairi corrected him. "Technically, Riku got it after helping a kingdom out with something and the royal guard let him have one. This is exactly what you asked for." She presented it to him, the knight took it and felt a little nostalgic as he gave a nod to Leon and had the teenagers follow him to a stony district.

The knight found nothing for the fire to spread to and turned to ask. "I know you have another word for Miracles and I heard one of you is adept in pyromancy. Is this true?" The rivals nodded, Ken felt he had an idea and went a distance, he asked Kairi. "Want to show him?"

The Princess knew she was being challenged and approached another end. "It's been a while since we did this and not in a practice like what we were doing during some of Master's lessons." Ken whistled and looked around, he asked Baldred. "You picked this because of the pyromancy? It's pretty nice." The knight realized the two were about to do battle and nodded. "This isn't needed." The two agreed with that as Ken whistled. "We might learn under the same teacher, but we're rivals at heart." Kairi drew her keyblade out and was ready for battle. "And it is starting to feel... right." Ken agreed and drew his keyblades. "Why?" The Princess wondered as the knight kept a watch. "Something you got to settle between you... or something."

Kairi listened and tried to think about it as she felt a piercing stare and felt like something was fired. Ken swiped his burning keyblade and formed a wall of ashes, Kairi looked up and saw the faint glow and flipped to the right to avoid a laser beam and saw a great fire ball launched at her. She jumped and saw the glow in the ashes, she spear headed into the fog with a glow of light and found an astonished Ken readying a parry.

CLASH!

The force blew the fog away, Kairi back flipped a landing as Ken back jumped and flung an orb of odd power above, he looked at it like a kid with a new toy, Kairi flung flowers of light at the orb. Ken jumped through it and felt a burning power with in, he spun like a twister of fire and dived down after Kairi, who flipped to the right and flung a whip of water.

Slap!

Ken rolled back and gave a brighter spark of fire as Kairi flung the whip again, the boy flung his own back, one of fire. He shot off at Kairi as he tended the whip and the beam converged into an orb. PEW! It fired beams at Kairi and got her in a stun, Ken spun after her in fire and knocked her back. Kairi gave off a glow and flung a pillar of water to send her rival moving, the pillar opened like a flower and shot a barrage of glistening liquid at the boy that yelped and simply rolled back. Kairi ran in the water, flung herself high in the air and directed the water balls of light at Ken.

Forcing him to make a jump to dodge it, she launched herself at her rival like a harpoon and nearly caught Ken off guard. The boy parried with both blades and was gritting his teeth as Kairi pulled back, spun to swing and knocked Ken aside. She followed with an aggressive flurry of attacks, Ken raised Cadia's Light in the air and yelled. "Stop!"

PEW!

Kairi was caught in a flash and when her vision returned, she found Ken bellow with his keyblades placed on the ground, making a familiar pose. The girl cringed. "You didn't," the boy gave a battle crazed grin. "Just try to dodge this." Kairi back flipped mid air to avoid a fire storm and noticed the sky forming clouds, the fire erupted and was consumed by the clouds, forcing her to take a defensive position as Ken raised his keyblades up and had his primary aimed straight to the clouds, like he was taking control over them. He aimed it for Kairi and shot down twisters of fire, the Princess was in a corner and gave off a veil of snowy light.

PEW! In a flash of light, she slipped past the tornadoes with a sweat and charged after Ken with icy claws. Ken yelped as the girl was back in his person and was quickly overwhelming him, the boy side jumped and flipped a spin to avoid her attacks. He dismissed Cadia's Light and held the Firekeeper's Wish with both hands, he flipped something and caused the twisters to fly into the sky. Kairi expected something more drastic and saw slashes of fire fling at her, Ken caused his blade to change to that of a spear and jump after her. Kairi dodged and tried to counter with a combo, Ken jumped back from the claws and jabbed her with his spear. Keeping her away from attacking range, she growled as the icy light flowed to her feet and the claws vanished into snow that reformed into wrist bracers that had a backward aiming blade of blue ice. She slid around and slashed at Ken, who rolled to the right, took damage and had a few jabs back, he caused the spear to change into a katana and traded blow for blow. Baldred was seeing the fight reaching a rather intense climax and shook his head. "This is getting out of hand. Hey, ease up."

The rivals didn't hear that, Kairi gave a firm stomp and caused the ground to freeze up in an snowflake like pattern, she flipped and jumped from hail stone to hail stone, forming an ornament Ken was familiar with. Seeing it right above him, he tried jumping back as Kairi reached the top and slashed the ornament down. It made contact and blew out a blizzard, sending the boy flipping back, he caught himself on a building and looked to the fiery sky. He vanished like a ray of sun light, Kairi looked around and asked. "Where... did you go?"

She heard a tempest brewing and looked up, Ken aimed his katana down and caused the clouds to turn into tornados that descended down in an inferno. Kairi simply ran from the fire and felt the heat blow to her back, she realized something and turned with her blade reverted back and blocked a sudden slash from a katana. Coming face to face with Ken, who realized something himself. "...Uh oh, no one blocked that be-" BOOM!

An explosion ruptured and sent the two flying to separate walls, making impact and falling on their knees. Kairi and Ken tried getting up, wobbling and regaining a sense of breath, they faced each other once more, Kairi felt control in her knees and slowly got up as Ken attempted to put weight on his right knee and fell over in a thud. Kairi saw eyes watering bitterly in defeat and almost lost balance. Baldred sighed and approached the two with a chime. "I don't know how that didn't burn the town or you two up, but that... has been something built up for a time?"

He rang a melody and caused warm sun light to shine, the rivals felt the healing, Kairi was walking straight as Ken crawled up, the Princess felt a constant edge looming. "We...ha, we haven't fought each other for a while and we picked up on some things." Ken nodded and was on his feet, closing his eyes in relaxation. "That finisher is only a good idea if I'm sure I won't get parried." He admitted. "You won't let me have a breather. I think the big secret of why that didn't kill us is because of why this is happening."

Kairi figured so. "I guess what our hearts want can set the mode and I still wasn't able to bring out everything I got." Ken sighed. "I had to hold back some of the stuff that's lethal no matter what and you never gave me the chance." He called back Cadia's Light as Baldred looked at Kairi. "Since you're the winner, I'll show you some tricks of mine first." Ken looked on anxiously as Kairi asked. "Like that healing miracle?"

Baldred nodded. "Like the soothing sunlight that reaches far and wide to bless the wounded, protect you from or the force of will that would protect you from things like Kendry's flames." His face tensed under his helmet. "Or the lightning that smites your foes from afar. With that water, I doubt many foes would be safe from the Light. You would be able to do what even I could not." Kairi felt the confidence boost as Ken asked. "She's a Princess of Heart, she's nothing but light. They'll start being called Miracles again for another reason because of her."

Baldred agreed with that. "A True Light that makes bitter souls like me run for the hills. Something that the god's would no longer be able to judge. But enough of words, Kairi... I believe that Keyblade would suffice as a catalyst."

Kairi nodded and ran to a wall leading up the castle, at the roof top, she aimed her keyblade high and shined the soothing sunlight. Ken felt his wounds mending more and stretched as he asked. "You weren't kidding," Baldred proudly lifted his polearm and tapped the stick. "Perhaps I was rather vocal, but my message was clear." Leap!

Kairi jumped off the castle and landed with a flip, she faced her keyblade's hilt close to her chest and with the blade blocking half her face, she closed her eyes and caused a barrier to form. "Ken, toss me the strongest fire ball you can and try to send me flying" The boy spun his burning blade and hurled a bright fire ball without hesitation. BOOM! Kairi was slightly pushed back and flipped her blade to her side, she noticed the barrier still glowing and was amazed. "Woah, this could work when I don't have time to deflect like how Sora or Master Aqua do it."

Baldred realized Kairi had the lesson under control and approached one end. "You... didn't need me to show you, then I suppose you won't need me to show you the rest." He used his chime to charge the polearm in light and Kairi winked. "Master Aqua might have showed me something similar to that, but this looks more concentrated. Bring it on."

Baldred gave a respectful nod and made a rush to Kairi, knowing she would dodge far beyond his reach, the Princess felt her hair standing and back flipped to dodge the halberd's swing and keep out of reach. Baldred gave a glow of light and shot out a emit force, Kairi dodged and flung a flower of light that had a bright center. Baldred rolled out of the way and saw it make contact with a wall, leaving a crack, he jingled his chime in an oath and to charge a spear of lightning. Kairi dodged another and swiped her blade to shoot a spear back.

BOOM!

Baldred was knocked back and flung an orb of lightning that pelted at Kairi with bolts. The girl felt the sting and swerved around, Baldred turned sharply and raised his chime up, causing a circle to form in the sky. Kairi sensed the power and back flipped as Baldred rolled back.

BOOM!

Lightning crackled in a concentrated form and saw something glow with in, seeing Baldred finish chiming a bell and giving off a pulse of power. He relaxed and put the chime away. "Anything imaginable with the Light is just in reach and a hope away. That is the Faith put into these Miracles. You know how this can reach out even among the Darkest depths?"

Kairi nodded. "If I want to help others, I can do that. Thank you for showing me this." She gave a gracious bow and walked to an impressed Ken that snickered. "I'm not wanting to fight you again soon." He readied a high five and was given one, he approached Baldred and explained. "You saw me use the fire balls, fire whip, fire storm and fire tempest like I did. This is one of the others I know of." His eyes glowed, he inhaled and breathed out something away from the knight, dark purple smoke. Baldred recognized the concoction. "Toxic Mist? You really were learning from a pryomancer."

He glowed his hand and burst a great combustion, something Ken had recorded in. "I should try that for a surprise attack." He swiped his burning blade and caused a burst of fire, Baldred felt that was close enough and placed his fist at his stomach. "Every part of your body is a catalyst for the flame, every extension, reaches further. You bend the wind into fuel for the flame, you can delay that fire ball and have it explode later. Try those."

He coughed out a yellow mist that corroded a lamp post, Ken realized what that was and mimicked the spell, his stomach had an intense burning and he puked out the mist, he realized what he could use that for and laughed. "Oh, ha, ha, ha. Someone is going to have a bad day when he attacks Miss or the others again." Kairi watched the lamp post break down and knew who Ken was talking about. "That's... acid."

Baldred looked to Kairi in agreement. "Acid surge, mostly the kind that corrodes metals and equipment. Maybe this would even work for certain helmets." He snapped his fingers to a lost opportunity and chose to forget about it. Ken flipped and used his blades to form two small fire balls, he let them float a distance and watched them explode, having sinister ideas. "If the bombs don't get them, this will."

Baldred looked to the fire and waved his hand around, like he expected more. Ken swiped Cadia's Light downward and caused a wave of fire to form. BURST! It explode, Ken repeated with Firekeeper's Wish.

BOOM!

He repeated over and over, then flailed to shoot massive fire balls that looked like miniature suns, spooking Ken for a moment as he rubbed his blades together, Cadia's Light burned in more concentrated fire as the wielder made a spinning jump, causing the flames to swipe side by side in a dance. He landed with Cadia's Light burning longer and had an idea to slash at the ground upward, causing a stream of fire to burn through the ground and at nothing. He panted and sweated, feeling like he unlocked all kinds of destructive ideas and dismissed his keyblades. "Wow... I over killed much."

Kairi flung a sprinkle of water at the fire patch and intentionally let some of it drizzle on Ken. "Burning hot Ken, but where would this go?"

Splash!

Ken was splashed with water and casually walked to Kairi. "You know that little short cut I use to do to turn Cadia's Light into something like all those guns of the Imperium? I think I can do that again with a much longer version, I even managed to shoot those kinds of fire balls without opening that dark hole like how that angel in my nightmare tried to do it."

Baldred heard that description and turned around. "A what?!" The duo realized that might have been a poor choice of words, Kairi explained. "Ken kind of overworked himself in trying to make his own shot lock and accidentally had access to a dark one when he started falling asleep and having a repeated battle against an angel that lurked in the Darkness."

Baldred panted and jumped back. "A Darklurker?!" Ken had the mental image of an explosion and answered. "It splits into two, uses both fire and darkness. Has four arms as well while being hooded, it was real after all?!" Baldred nodded and had an image of a burning keyblade being partially responsible. "Yes, but often to those that delve too deep into the Dark. Or for you, an obsession of improving yourself, I would avoid taking any more of these." He quoted. "Short cuts. Master Aqua was likely livid?"

Ken didn't want that answer. "She has a zero tolerance to using Darkness and there is a good reason for that. How did you find out about the Darkluker?" Baldred hid himself in the face to try and remember, then had a vision of an elderly man on a wheel chair, next to a glowing dark hole. Feeling an abyss calling to him, the knight shook himself out of the vision and answered. "Do I need to answer it?"

Kairi felt she had her answer. "You took the path to Darkness and found the Darklurker? That's how you became so scared of the Dark in your search of answers?" Baldred had the image of an angel in the Darkness and nearly dropped his halberd, he reminded himself that he was hallucinating. He nodded weakly as Ken agreed. "An angel that lives in the Dark and uses it... that's..." He felt cold in the spine as Baldred asked. "But a simple obsession to a craft shouldn't... have brought him forth."

Kairi snapped her fingers. "But being exposed to the Darkness that is Chaos, almost dying because of that and having to mourn not too long before then. That could lead to those kinds of nightmares." Ken asked. "Haven't I had that lesson about Darkness drilled into my skull enough?! Baldred, what would possess you to go in there?!"

The Knight wondered himself and connected something, he didn't wish to say it to the teenagers. "...Master Aqua knows what, what lead to my...my..." The name forming became one of both wonder and horror. "Pilgrimage into the Dark."

Baldred slowly backed away as Kairi and Ken looked to each other, the Princess looked at the Knight, worried for him. "Was it even worth it?" Baldred wanted to shake his head and found himself nodding instead. "How can you fight what you don't even know? What lurks with in the Dark? Whether it be a beast or a man that seeks to take your life? Princess of Heart, you should know that once something crawls out of the Dark, it will seek to twist and consume all life. That is the nature of the dwellers of the dark."

Kairi agreed with that. "But what does that do to you?" Baldred exhaled and wanted to sit down somewhere. "To see the worst of myself and have it take form." He realized something and remember a familiar lecture. "To become... part of the Abyss itself. The monster that devoured the monsters with in." Kairi heard enough as Ken blew in the wind. "That's why you fight the likes of Nashandra, despite that?" Kairi realized. "That's how you still use the Light, in the Dark... that's your only protection and the only thing you have to fight it. It... makes... sense."

She felt a weight drop and sat next to Baldred. "Ken and I do need to talk to our teacher about this. But, that explains how you didn't give in." Ken agreed with that and did the same. "For most of us, we're our own worst enemy. That thing we are so close to becoming... that's... our big lesson about the Dark... or my lesson." Baldred guessed what that is. "Be better than yourself? Less the Dark that claims you is your own?" Ken nodded as Kairi had another. "And inspire others to take a better path so they don't become that Dark?"

Baldred felt he heard enough and chuckled. "Spoken like a True Monarch." Kairi was flattered by that and Ken joined in. "That's one side to the same lesson. You don't need to mess with one to get it." He asked Kairi. "Should we go report this asap? I think this could become something pretty ripe." The Princess approved of that and patted Baldred on the back. "We should get this worry out of our heads before tonight. Baldred... do you remember the kind of powers you used?" The Knight asked. "Do I have to tell you what they are?" Ken answered. "Kind of since we seen and heard the Darkness be used to corrupt people and it's pretty vague."

Baldred was humored and answered. "Light and life are closely tied together. The Dark could separate them, how could it do so?" Kairi answered without hesitation. "By taking a life, that's how the Dark spreads. When someone dies..." Ken added with horror. "or when someone want's death. Me and Miss felt what those powers are, you want to hurt someone with this. This is scary... it's kind of like how with the Jedi they supposedly use their powers to protect, while the Sith use their powers to attack."

Baldred asked. "Whether you have to hurt them... or if you want to?" Ken felt enlightened to that and stood up as Kairi answered. "If you start saying that person deserves to get hurt by you, then you wanted to do it." She gave a thankful, respectful nod to Baldred. "This was pretty informative, don't think that you gave us grim and gloom. Come on Ken, we got to get going."

The boy gave a nod to the knight as well. "This can make the Dark Seekers shut up, I think after tomorrow, things might get a bit hairy." Baldred knew why and let the children go off. "Because I'm the only wielder of Darkness you know, that knows what he is talking about?" Ken shivered. "Because that's the scariest part and we need to know how to keep it away. See you later." He took the lead as Kairi wished Baldred well. "Take care, I think you're going to enjoy the halberd." The two left and Baldred felt a connection of memories piecing together, he looked to where the keybearers left and whispered. "May the Day and Night dance in tranquility."

At the Land of Departure.

Aqua was baffled and asked Sora and Riku. "Four crowns?!" She laughed to that. "Ha, ha. Well we knew Baldred had some kind of adventure. But it sounds like he seen things that are beyond us." Ven asked. "But why would he not want that throne if he went to collect all those crowns? That doesn't make any sense?"

Mickey wondered that as Sora noticed two people arriving, teasing each other and having a good laugh, Ken asked. "You thought Frigate was about to jump from those blasters? Ha, ha, ha, she ought to learn some lessons from Bryn."

Kairi shook her head and poked him in the forehead. "Hey, she isn't the one built after an actual air fighter. Though Frigate ought to have some upgrades one day." Ken took the poke and saw Ana keeping at her duty, he snapped his finger and caused a flame to appear next to her, giving off a warm aura that reinvigorated the Stormcast. Kairi saw Aqua and was the first to approach her as Ken smiled to Sora nervously, like there was a discovery that would cause an uproar. Sora realized the body language and asked. "Okay, what did Baldred do this time?"

Kairi cringed as Aqua asked. "Was it about Darkness again?" The Princess answered that. "It's probably stuff you already figured out, but we found the source of his Dark." Aqua answered back. "A rotten fraud of a Cleric was what happened and after that, he went down into the Dark." Kairi nodded. "He called it a Pilgrimage and he found out how to use darkness from using some... pretty scary desires." Ken answered what. "The power to take a life."

Ven heard, felt that disturbing and asked. "And since this is Darkness, it's going to be as creepy as making someone fall over without a warning?"

Stitch mimicked someone dropping dead as an example. Ken nodded. "Almost like getting shot where it can kill you, I don't think you would even feel much of anything."

Riku felt that to be a little too real. "That isn't Dark, that's reality. How did you and Kairi get him to tell you?" Kairi answered with that news. "We might have mentioned that angel from one of Ken's nightmares when he started using a fire spell that looked like a fire ball that angel used."

Ken looked away, swiped Cadia's Light and flung a large spear of fire that looked like a star, he finished up. "Baldred knew that angel and it's actually a real thing. The Darklurker. He met that thing in the depths of that Pilgrimage and this is the first time we saw him be that scared."

Mickey shook the dread out of his back. "Brr. That should have scared him straight." Aqua agreed with that. "And it did to where he fights the Darkness at every turn. But at the cost of making the darkening of his heart more permanent," Riku shook his head. "When you see the things in the Dark, you went in too deep and you will never be the same again. Kairi, Ken, please tell me there is more to what he said besides the Dark?"

Kairi flickered a soothing sun light to calm the groups nerves as Ken answered. "There is, but at the end of the day, we're our own worst enemy and we need to check into that and be better." Kairi added in. "And be that light that encourages others to be better." Sora whistled as Aqua gave a thumbs up in approval. "Wise words, did he say that or was he wanting you to say it?"

Ken answered. "I was getting to saying part of it as he put it together." Kairi blushed proudly as Sora cheered. "Wow, I didn't think that was something you would learn from that guy." Kairi looked to Sora adamantly. "You won't believe how good it feels to know until you actually say it."

Ana agreed to that. "Until you do, you'll never be at peace with yourself when you got something to say to the evil doer." Kairi explained to Aqua. "That is how, despite the fact that Baldred's heart has a darkness that strong, he still uses light and hasn't used the dark one bit in front of us." Sora approached Kairi and knew how that was possible. "Because the light inside him is just as strong. But how did they keep each other in balance?"

Ven called a time out. "I guess that mystery is for another day. Just vengeance doesn't cut it, it's something stronger." Mickey gasped. "Ah, ha. That's what he found when he had that adventure with the crowns. It seems like it doesn't take much to help him remember things, but would it be that easy to show him the crowns?"

Riku shook his head. "No, but it's going to take time with what he does remember for things to really settle in." He asked Kairi. "So what kind of miracles did he show you?"

The Princess answered with a playful wink. "Just a couple, but that was enough for me to learn the variants and what is helpful or...redundant. I'll get to working around that soon." Ken had his own answer with the pyromancies. "I think I can help Exrirsa out with my... stuff, while keeping the road one that would lead these creeps into hell. I'll go try something out and bring back an old trick that might get perfected."

Sora asked. "The one with all those weapons?" Ken nodded and placed his free hand on the gun like blade, he rubbed it slowly and caused the keyblade to set on fire. "That was nothing but a short cut and it showed when it doesn't last that long. With this, I can tap into that power indefinitely longer." He dismissed the keyblade as Aqua asked. "You can, early tomorrow. But isn't there something you all been looking forward to you need to get ready for?" The four teenagers remembered and felt themselves rather untidy, Sora agreed with the need to free the mind. "Tomorrow is going to be a pretty long one, we need the break."