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?

65. Where demons gather

At Destiny Isles, by the shore. Kairi felt her seal suit coming loose as she bounced to the drier sand, she flipped and pulled it out, seeing her legs felt refreshing. Azumarril crawled to the shore and squeaked a question that the Princess understood. "Yep, I'm really a human." Clawitzer dragged himself to the shore and nested himself in a sand dune as Cradily got off of Sharpedo and slowly wiggled on. The Princess asked. "This is the island of a very close friend of mine. We hanged out here everyday until a year ago when something got us all separated." She exhaled. "It took that year, for us to find each other again."

Azumarril cringed, puffed her cheeks and gave Kairi a pat on the back, Sharpedo asked. "Shar?" (Where are they now? A team like that, doesn't get separated for long.) Kairi answered as she thought of what to do with these pokemon. "Their out saving the worlds and I'll be meeting up with them, very soon, once they knew we've saved the islands." She confessed. "You guys are strong."

Cradily wiggled far and thanked her, his eyes shifted in conversation, like he was bringing up something, Clawitzer felt it was a good point as Sharpedo splashed and barked. Azumarril nodded and asked something, Kairi shook her head and waved her hands. "Oh, no. You guys can't come along, there are people out there who will hurt you, just because you've helped me, or because you've helped one of us. We kind of need to keep your existence and your power, a secret. Although with one of Maleficent's goons seeing what you can do, they'll try to figure it out." She insist. "Stay around the islands, it will have everything you need. I'll tell my friends about you though."

She put the seal fur back in her bag, stood up and petted Azumarril. "Since you can walk on land, I'll show you one other thing in case there is an emergency."

Azumarril ordered her friends to make camp and followed Kairi, hand n hand. At the back of the island was a passage to a larger, arc island. "Somewhere in there is where I live, otherwise. That has the train that can take you to other worlds. They are different from this one in a lot of ways."

Azumarril was glittery eyed, she stopped and asked something that felt like. "Hey, what's the catch?"

Kairi raised one finger. "You're not from this world and if Sophia or someone over there sees the likes of Cradily or Sharpedo, they'll freak out." Azumarril sighed. (Especially Sharpedo.) Kairi felt what Azumarril said. "They're nice people, but I'm kind of use to fighting those that look a little like them. Can I trust you guys to take care of yourselves? This island has everything you need."

Azumarril saluted, waddled to a tree with her bag and pulled a piece of cloth. Bump! Thud! Azummaril tripped over something, Kairi advised and approached. "Mind the sea shell, I haven't beached combed here in weeks." Glitter!

She had a look and found it not a shell, but a marking. She crouched to dig it up, finding the marking attached to a strange, aqua blue charm with silver metal, she picked it up and felt a humming light. "This is a summon charm!" Azumarril got up and asked. "Azu?" Kairi put the charm in her pocket. "It's something we use to call upon friends from other worlds. My friend, Sora, uses these things when he can."

The aquatic rabbit's eyes glittered and put her hands by her chin. "Zu!" Kairi agreed with that. "It is neat." Frrrrooom.

Kairi and Azumarril saw a silver, blocky ship fly to the front isles, they hurried back to find the trio of pokemon astonished, if not lazing around, the gummie ship, opened its door. The Princess perked, waved goodbye to Clawitzer, Sharpedo and Cradily, the barnacle waved his head back, she crouched and whispered to Azumarril. "Looks like I got to get going. I'll be back very soon." She lowered her hand, Azumarril raised hers. Clap!

They high five each other and parted ways. Kairi jumped aboard and found Ven and Stitch, looking puzzled. The boy asked. "It looks like you had as much of an adventure as we did." Kairi asked. "You found one of the Elemental Enforcers as well?" Ven nodded and showed his summon charm. "And I might have made a couple of friends that would want to help us out. The trial is heading towards something that... kind of bothers me and something tells me we need to get the others, Ken said the path is leading to somewhere... grim."

The Princess agreed with that. "Radiant Garden is close by, if he's heading back there, we'll pick him up. I'll do it." Ven rested on a seat and asked Stitch. "Before we go pick Sora and the others up, I need someone to tell Wanda we're heading to somewhere big. Can you try to tell her?" The alien nodded. "Ven going somewhere, big."

The ship took off and was on route, the boy asked Kairi. "What were those animals you were talking with?" A Namine appeared on a seat, with a finished drawing. "They're creatures called Pokemon and they are part of an Explorer Team that wandered into some very bizarre places. They've been a great help in stopping the Aspect of the Sea from destroying the islands."

Kairi nodded. "They're some of the most handy partners I met, from out of nowhere." Namine showed the drawing of an aquatic rabbit, a blue pistol shrimp with a large claw, a fierce looking shark that looked rather cheerful and a green barnacle. "Azumarril, Clawitzer, Sharpedo and Cradily, of Team Seafarers." Ven found the drawing cool. "Wow, we need to find out where they came from and get them back home one day." Kairi folded her arms. "Do we have to? The islands give everything they need." Namine agreed. "That's true and it's close to home as it can get for them."

Kairi snapped her fingers to ask. "Speaking of which, that... bird we summoned. What... was it, who was that?" Namine snickered. "It is a cognition of the teams first, major exploration and of the Legendary Pokemon they met, that inspired them to see the far reaches of the Sea. Lugia." Ven asked. "Lugia?!" Namine nodded. "A pokemon that they refer to as the Guardian of the Sea." Kairi remembered the majestic moment. "The Aspect was giving us trouble once we took down the heartless he had, but once we summoned Lugia, that pokemon stopped the fighting. With no more and no less, than what was needed."

Ven whistled. "Sounds like some kind of god." Namine guessed. "It... probably is one, or a demi god of great power." She advised. "Once we're done with Garland, we should let Sora and Riku see what we're talking about." Kairi guessed. "It's going to blow their minds." She asked the boy. "What did you find?" Ven recalled. "Someone that knew of the World Order and strong bear. The whole jungle was going out of control because of the Skink Oracle and-"

At Radiant Garden.

Ken, Ana and Lightning watched Baldred and Leon having an intense sword fight. A bruised Tifa watched on as Aerith finished listening to the tale. "So you and Ana found two of those Enforcers for the price of one world and you brought someone who's found something big going on?"

Lightning hummed in a scoff that gained Cloud's attention. "They have, if there wasn't something more imminent, I would have talked about it by now." Ken explained the things he was told. "Something about the Skeksis, who ever they are." He looked at Baldred using his halberd to get a good swing and asked. "Looks like he's having fun in there." Cloud nodded to that with his arms folded. "The most we've seen from him since he first came here. He's apparently taking his business to Twilight Town and he's picking to try this as his goodbye, showing us what he is really capable of."

Ana guessed. "A lot of things. Tis a shame we can't stick around to see who wins this." The pink haired woman sighed. "We'll pass the word. Anything else you have to do before you go?" Ken had two. "I want to visit my Mom and check on my friends. Those Orks... took a lot out of me, we got off really lucky with the Ironjawz, they're everything they are but in bigger numbers and a little more stupid." Tifa yelped as Cloud made an input. "And that says something, since those Ironjawz still haven't figured out that they are in a simulation until we can get rid of them." He smirked. "Hades is finally getting what's coming to him though." Ana laughed to that. "That he is, Cloud, that he is."

She realized something as Ken took off and whispered. "I'll meet you back at the entrance to town." He took off to the residence quarters and found Dupmic tapping his foot and looking at a watch, he perked to someone coming and was about to curse upon seeing Ken. "I thought you were Xion for a moment." The blonde boy asked. "She took off on her own? Why didn't you go watch her?"

The mysterious boy answered with a finger raised. "Because she and Olette were about to share you little secret with Pence and Hayner. Xion doesn't need me watching over her in that town now. But this is ridiculous." Ken agreed with that. "Maybe you should go check on her anyways? Olettes the only one of those three that has an actual weapon and you're both still on a certain groups list."

Dupmic agreed with that and was ready to take off. "Good idea, is there anything else you're want before I go?" The boy shook his head and then realized he needed to to answer yes. "Actually... besides checking on my Mom, I want to know about Karla. What she did to help you two out was incredible, but it's still... suspicious."

The hooded boy thought that was going to happen. "She's in the sewers with those grots and she holds something that can let you transpose souls. You got one of those?" Ken snapped his fingers to show a wisp of wind. "I've been wondering about that, since these showed up from the Four Fiends. I don't need it since Khari took most of Tiamat's power, but I can think of a couple friends that might. What's the catch?"

The Replika guessed. "You got to give a soul to gain the power, doesn't have to be yours. You can mix them up for some powerful combos." He raised his hand upward and gripped it as a hint, Ken guessed. "A force choke?"

The mysterious boy cringed at the wrong answer and began laughing once he realize where it came from. "Ha! Ha! It had to be someone from those films in order to work like that. I call it, the Lifedraining Grip. A combo of the Lich's power and of the Darklurker." Ken cringed. "That sounds deadly. But then again, some of that power came from a creature of the Dark. It sounds like a lot of that magic was designed to kill." He exhaled. "I'll go visit Karla first, then my mom. Tell Xion I said hi."

The Replica nodded and took off. "Can do." The blonde boy followed the trial to the sewers, found stretches of web down one path and a faint odor of dark in another, he followed the dark smelling path and found Karla leaning sideways and reading a book about hats, next to her is a kiln that he suspected greatly of. "Hey, thanks for helping Xion get to me."

Karla put the book down, at the picture of a blue robed mage in a pointy hat. "Hmm? So the boy of Flame has decided to dive into the Dark once again?"

She had her hand at her hip and another resting her head, Ken refused to give a clear answer. "Well, the Sewers are dark. But I'm not interested in that." He took out the core of Tiamat and looked to the Kiln. "I've heard you got something that can help me turn things like this into new powers. I want to show this to a friend and hand the power over."

Karla hummed. "How generous. Looking to spend more time with the Chosen of the Key?" Ken gasped, blushed and denied it. "N...no, but he's helped me out too and I wanted to repay the favor. What is the catch though, for you to let me use the Kiln?"

Karla looked upon the Kiln and thought about the price. "Now that you mentioned it." She tapped her fingers on her hip. "...Do you know how to use it? Only the Lord of Cinder, knows how to craft this power." Ken guessed. "I... put the soul in there, focus on what I want and see what comes out?" Karla nodded. "That is the art," She swayed the hand at her hip to the Kiln. "it is yours now. Don't come sniggering to me when your friends question this."

Ken put the core away and thought of it as he approached. "If they do, Miss Aqua might be coming here to talk to you. I figured this is alright because Dupmic mixed two things together and it's aspect came from the dark half while the other is brutal and from an evil thing." Karla hummed. "Do tell your mentor to pay this little witch a visit, all this underground business would have surely turned a few heads by now."

She laughed to that and Ken puffed his cheeks to the joke. "Phhhffff! Ha. You already do, hey... can you do one other thing?" The witch asked. "Yes?" Ken looked around and sparked a black fire orb. "I kind of got stuck with this after peering into a book and it got me into a lot of trouble. Can you... you know... help me get that out of my head?"

Karla gasped and felt a little hurt from the question. "The black fire of the Abyss? Kendry, that flame bears no shadow, it is the fire of humanity and seeketh a will of it's own." The boy heard the voice of Karla, whisper into his heart. "You only need to learn when to use it." Ken groaned and turned the flame off. "If I use this... ever. How did you get caught up in all this?" Karla bit her lip, Ken saw hesitation and turned. "...Forget I asked."

The witch caused another whisper. "Are you always this impatient? I wish not... to tell you, because I know of who you befriended weeks ago." She spoke. "The Ashen One, Benedict. I owed him my life and my service after how he rescued me from a dungeon." Ken turned to see Karla remembering fondly. "He provided me with tomes and I taught him powerful sorceries and miracles. Some are much like the ones you and Xion wield now." She smirked and showed him mischievous eyes. "Not just the Dark, but of ancient fire."

Ken was impressed. "Those related to Izalith? I also heard you gave Baldred a holy tome too. If Miss... does come here, it probably won't be as bad as I think it's going to get." Karla snickered. "I'm not some random peddler of the Dark arts. I, know what I teach well." Ken kept a calm expression. "Try to find a better place to stay in than down here, once our enemy finds out who you are, or what you done, they'll come after you." Karla went back to her book. "You've certainly cared, but I can protect myself." She shoo'd him away.

Ken left the sewer with Kiln in hand and ventured home. His mother finished cleaning up something in the living room and saw the boy with the thing. "Kendry, what have you brought here?!"

The boy guessed. "Dupmic told you about Karla? She's not a bad person, you know." The mother wanted to lecture her son, lowered her finger and thought of it. "I just don't feel comfortable with the kind of power she shares. You're father and I barely got out of this town when those monsters tore up it up and he... disappeared, when we were settling into Traverse. The people at the committee never told me what might have happened to him, but I've always been scared for the worst." Ken felt just as uncomfortable, put the kiln down and hugged her. "I... think I know what might have happened to him as well. That's why I'm going out there to stop it from happening again."

The mother felt a jolt of parental fear and hugged back, feeling the cold metal arm as a firm reminder of what her son is getting himself into. "Kendry..." The boy let go and gave a stern, frown. "I will, come back and I'll be telling fun stories about the adventures I have. I love you Mom, remember that." The mother was crying with a smile. "Kendry, you're a good boy. Always remember that, no matter what happens, you're heart has nothing but that goodness. Give those with evil hearts, what's coming to them." Ken saluted. "Ten four!" He picked the Kiln up and asked. "If Xion comes back to tell you about what happened at Twilight Town, tell her that I want to hear them, it's good that she's finally making a lot of friends." The mother saluted back. "I'd tell her to invite them over here. I know a good cake that they'll like." Ken whistled. "For that occasion? Let me know if they do."

He left the house with the image of a chocolate spongecake with cookie crumbles for a topping and a blueberry icing for the filling. He salivated and found Ana flying to the entrance of the town, he ran to catch up to her. The Stormcast saw the Kiln in hand and thought. "Do you really think we have the time to mess around with those cores?"

Ken appreciated that he wasn't getting lectured. "It's only two of them and it's definitely enough time while we get everyone and head to Traverse. What else is going on that we didn't already know?"

Ana laughed to that. "A certain, brooding swordsman might have opened himself to another who's had a rough life as well and even his sweet heart is finding him a lot happier." Ken found that insane. "Let's keep them happy." He cheered. "Alright, Bryn, get us out of here!"

PEW!

The two enveloped in light and in shock, found themselves on board a larger gummie ship. Bump! Ken was knocked over by an unaware girl and landed on his stomach, Kairi lost her balance and landed on him. Ven was completely surprised. "Wow. This ship has seen a lot."

Ken placed the Kiln aside as Kairi got up and groaned. "Arrrg, sorry." The boy didn't mind, sat on his rear and was getting up. "Thanks for coming to pick me and Ana up, Sis. I brought the Kiln with us incase we want to learn something at the last minute. It's kind of easy to use as long as you got a soul in hand."

He picked up the air core as the Princess went to sit on a chair. "If any of us are going to let you. You know where Loru and the fire guy are going to?" Ken nodded. "Where Traverse Town use to be. What else did you guys pick up?" He showed a military hat off. "If we got something we need to learn or do, we need to do it now before this ship goes to pick up everyone."

Kairi and Ven showed off some baubles, the summon charms are one thing, but the Amber crystal resonated with a feral power. Ken was more interested in the crystal. "Is that one of the Endless Spells?"

Ven nodded. "Yep, a pair of Gnashing Jaws that were turned into a chomping rock monster by the Skink Oracle." Ken gasped. "No way, those can be mixed up?" Kairi figured. "Maybe, that is why you brought that... thing?" Ken went for the Kiln and had the Core of Tiamat, ready to be transposed. "And that's going to be a big help in there. Ven, put the crystal in this, I'll put Tiamat's Core in as well."

Ven kept the crystal close to him. "Ken, what are you doing?!" The young boy answered. "I was going to make something for Sora, but this is a better idea." Kairi signaled a time out. "Ken, Ven told me about how wild that spell is! If it gets boosted, it could break out in here."

Ken had a point to make. "A friend of mine, mixed the Core of the Lich with the soul of something and the spell kind of became a part of him. If this works, that can happen to the spell and that would mean it will be in a much safer place than that crystal."

Ven became tempted. "My heart?" Ken pointed to his head. "Or in here!" Kairi had her hands at her hips and asked. "But have we tried this with an endless spell? We should talk to someone who has seen it done before we do this." She went to her phone. "I'm going to make a call and see if they can't have the guys meet up somewhere that we can pick up."

In the Lanes Between.

Aqua was in her armor and observed the many worlds with Sora. The spiky haired boy looked at the shattered remains of a beloved town, with his blood boiling and asked. "This is the only place we haven't looked. The Cradle of Chaos?! Are they talking that place where we fought Zagor?"

Aqua asked. "Who?" Sora remembered. "Zagor, some wack job from the Word Bearers and the one who's brought the Black Legion over here. This was the first thing Abaddon destroyed." The keyblade Master shivered and noticed comets coming, one of sand, one of water and one of two tails, of fire and storm. They shined together at the ruined remains of Traverse and rushed to it, busting open an invisible door, a ripple was felt, Sora and Aqua looked upon a palace, forming. Sora gasped. "That's... that's it! That's where Garland's hiding!"

Aqua put it together. "The Cradle of Chaos! This is where it all began for the Worlds, their first scar." Sora was about to peddle it when a transmission came, from Riku. Blip! The silver haired teenager asked. "Sora, Aqua, are you seeing this too?"

Sora nodded. "Yeah, out of all the places we didn't look-" Riku agreed. "It couldn't have been more obvious. You're thinking of going straight in there too, right?" The boy nodded as Aqua crossed her legs in anticipation of something, Riku had troublesome news. "If his Majesty didn't call me about meeting up for someone to pick us all up, I'd say let's do it. Mickey's world isn't far from here. Let's group up."

He turned off the transmission and Sora felt a rush of disappointment, frustration and comfort. "We're coming for you Garland. I hope it was worth it." He sailed the ship around the castle and went enroute to the world of Disney Town, Aqua nodded. "That... was an excellent way to control that anger. Mickey came at just the right time." Sora found it kind of funny how that worked. "Guess that was good luck."

Aqua agreed with that and thought to ask. "Do you think Kairi and Ken are ready for this kind of adventure?" Sora answered without a doubt. "They've went down there with us and they've gotten stronger."

The Keyblade Master nodded to that. "Kairi's becoming a natural, but Ken's just jumped back into this after encountering Xehanort, by himself. He was overwhelming them and Ana a little while ago too." Sora saw Disney Town in the horizon. "Ken was scared of what you were going to do when you saw that book, Riku and I heard you scream when you heard of what Nagash did and Ken was trying to keep his own rage in check."

Aqua corrected him. "He barely contained that and I'll bet once he and Ana were alone, he screamed as well. Seeing the ruins of that town, brought back scars to you all?"

Sora agreed with that. "The guys went on a crazy scheme behind all our backs, while were trying to find Hofneil and his brothers. By the time we figured it out, we were too late to stop him from going back in time, seeing his past self do all that again and causing all this while we have bigger things to worry about. I think, this one crossed it."

Aqua agreed with that. "If enslaving powerful warriors and forcing them to attack the worlds against their will, wasn't another he needs to be brought to justice." The ships reached Disney Town, in a veil of light, Sora and Aqua found themselves in a docking station. "Sora! Aqua!"

They heard two cheers and found Goofy and Donald by the stairs. Sora waved. "Goofy! Donald!"

He and his companions gave each other a group hug as Aqua heard someone approach from behind, she turned to find Riku feeling jealous and Halvek judging the steam works. The silver haired boy yelled. "Come on, guys, it hasn't even been a day."

"It might not have, but they've been everywhere." The group turned to the stair way and found Mickey geared up, Sora and the royal guard stiffen up ready as Riku asked the King. "We found Garlands hideout. How did Kairi and the others find out as well?"

Mickey answered that. "One of them was told where they were going to go and then the rest happened." He had a serious face. "We're ready for him."

Pew!

A silver door appeared at the parking spot, Halvek brusted dirt off of his suit and asked. "Well then, what we waiting for?" He marched to the light and vanished, encouraging the others to follow suit.

They found themselves onboard the Iron Snake ship and found Kairi, Ven, Ana and Ken sitting comfortably. Jiminy jumped off of Mickey and asked. "Well boys, what ever happens, the worlds will be wishing us luck once again." Ana nodded to that as Halvek took the drivers seat. "Aye. Loru, Began, Aster' los and the Eidolon have gone on ahead. If we don't hurry, they'll be back where they started."

Kairi nodded. "We've fought hard to get them out of that." Ven reported. "Kairi and her new friends summoned something incredible to stop the Eidolon from destroying her home. Ken fought the monster Garland turned Began into," he stiffened to that thought and continued. "Loru and Ana had a bad fight and Aster' los nearly destroyed a whole Jungle's Eco system."

Jiminy gasped. "Goodness."

Sora, Donald and Goofy knew the Jungle, that Ven was talking about. Donald asked. "Bagheera didn't like that." Goofy nodded with a rather serious scowl. "If we don't beat Garland, this is all gonna happ'n again." Riku agreed to that and asked. "Halvek, get us back to that castle. When we get in there, we are charging in!"

The Kharadron grumbled and asked. "Who's decided to make you the Leader? You're not even at a man's age yet." The teenager felt a blow to his ego. "Come on! Someone has to say something when Mickey isn't around to say it."

He turned to the King. "No offense." Mickey felt none was taken. "And someone has to try to keep calm when others are not."

The ship sailed and Ken patted the Kiln. "Alright, if any of you got a Core of a Fiend you want to use for a last minute spell, now's the time to feed it into this." Mickey, Goofy and Donald saw the strange Kiln, Ken knew there were tempted takers. "I can try to transpose that. But I have no idea what will come out. Miss, have you ever seen someone use an Endless Spell, Ven's got one and I want to mix that in with Tiamat's core."

The Keyblade Master felt the bold question that warranted asking. "Why did you bring that? You know this can be dangerous." Ken tried to leave names out. "I wanted to make a thank you present for someone, since I don't need Tiamat's Core. But Ven gave me a better idea. A friend of mine might have used this for a powerful sounding combo, but it is two different elements, made into one."

Riku knew who Ken was talking about. "What kind of Spell are you talking about?" Ven showed the Amber crystal. "A spell that summons a giant row of teeth that will crunch anything in it's way." Ana specified. "Ravenak's Gnashing Jaws, from the Lore of Beasts."

Aqua looked at Ven and ordered. "Ven, give Ken the crystal if you want to use that into something more useful. You don't need to use the crystal for the spell, but we have no way of really containing it when we don't need it at the time." Ven asked. "But what will happen if the spell gets out of control here? Endless Spells are... kind of alive."

Riku corrected him. "As are the things Baldred calls souls. The lingering essence of a life that has passed. With a strong will, that Endless Spell should become something more manageable." Halvek had his input. "You got to break the Jaws down if you have any hope of containing it. If you transmute it into an element at your command, with the power of that eart, then there will be one place for it to go." Mickey guessed. "In your heart. Where in time, it will become a part of you."

Ken guessed the catch. "But until then, this mean sounding spell is going to fight in there until Ven shows it who is the boss. We got a couple minutes before our stop, let's do this."

He placed the Core of Tiamat in the Kiln and focused, Ven looked to the ferocious crystal, that was infuriated by what was suggested and placed it in. The Kiln glowed in dark and roared like a beast, a miniature tempest, blew out of the kiln. Ken clenched his hands and forced the powers to stay in, he spun his finger like one to a pot, the kiln shook and the boy felt what was with in. "I think I got this under control now, but once this is mixed, the chosen is going have to be ready."

Donald asked. "You think, or you know?" Aqua cringed at the shaking Kiln, her and Kairi joined in the transposition and focused on the power, the shaking lessened in frequency, but it's strength became more. Kairi felt the sheer anger of a storm. "Ken, what else are we missing?"

The boy thought of it and gasped. "Ven." He asked. "We need someone who wants this power to step forward! Once he helps with the mixture, we can handle this!" Ventus approached and pressed his hands at the Kiln, the shaken stopped and the beast with in yelled in a noise that drowned in wind. What was the sound of a feral beast, became the sound of a tornado. Aqua smirked. "We got him now." Ken finished his spinning. "Alright, let it set. He's still mad, but the Biting Winds is just about ready. Kairi, how much longer do we got?" The Princess relaxed, checked the window and answered. "We're still enroute" she saw bits of the castle. "but we'll be there in ten minutes."

Ken slowed his breathing. "Okay, Ven, take the spell and what ever you do, do not fight the Beast!"

The nervous teenager reached to the kiln and touched what was with in, the energy became that of a twister and wrapped around his arm, rushing to the boys mouth and nostrils, like a huge breath of air. Ven stumbled back from tight lungs, felt the strong need to exhale and opened his mouth.

"RWAAAAAAAR!"

He screamed like the spell of Beasts, inhaled and screamed again, he slowed the breathing, exhaled something more calm and breathed again. The power, lessened and he felt himself in a trance, standing before a twister of a cloud, it formed a maw of teeth and snarled. Ven looked back at it determined and asked. "When I find someone that should have their butts kicked, I'll call upon you." The Biting Winds growled impatiently and envelop in light, it was sucked into a stained, glass floor. The boy snapped out of the trance and felt a power with in his breath. "...Woah."

Sora and Aqua helped Ven sit down, the younger, spiky haired boy asked. "What happened in there?" The older boy thought of it. "That spell's not going to calm down, but it's locked up tight." He breathed in once more. "Phew. We'll find out if this was a good idea." Aqua rubbed Ven's back. "Use it if you need it, that might have been too powerful for us to create without you." Ken guessed. "The next one that comes to bother Ven is going to wish they haven't done that. It's going to be time to bite back."

Donald grumbled. "Don't encourage him." Ken dropped the subject. "What's been done, cannot be undone."

He looked at Mickey and Goofy with a a particular question in mind, Riku knew what it was. "So if we feed something in that, it won't cause a scene like that? The Kraken's Core essence, ought to get processed more easily compared to... that" Mickey took out the Core of the Kraken in a memory. "Gosh, the Kraken kind of fought like any wizard if he had a lot of tentacles. Any of his tricks ought to come in handy."

Donald tapped his foot. "We got inked." He realized what idea came to mind and snickered at an opportunity. The one armed boy stepped out of the way as Riku guessed. "Octopus ink? Jee I wonder how that can help," Aqua imagined a few scenarios where it could. "Like if we get on the wrong side of the Varanguard or some giant monster? One squirt and we'll get ourselves some time for an advantage."

Donald was convinced and Mickey let him have the Kraken's core. "Be careful Donald, we're dealing with something that is experimental." The duck knew and approached the Kiln. "Don't worry, your majesty." He turned, put a thumb at his chest and boasted confidently. "I've learned a few tricks in my travels."

Goofy chuckled to that. "That you have, Donald!" The mage fed the core into the kiln and focused, the core flowed in and mixed water with the void, the process was far less unstable in comparison to the Endless Spell. The mixture of water vanished in a puff of smoke. Donald blinked. "Huh?"

The kiln, expelled the smoke, looking like a globule of water with swirls of the dark cloud, he looked at the group, at a curious Riku and at a puzzled Ken, Sora asked his darkness sensitive friend. "Did... that come out right?" Riku nodded. "Yeah, this is just a knee reaction." Pop! The globule popped in a slash of water and into an inky black cloud, it enveloped Donald's Staff like a rush of water. Donald felt a spark in his mind. "Huh, so that's how it's done." He explained. "You know how some of us started using water magic?"

Kairi nodded. "Yep, you conjure it out of the blue and smack the heartless with it. It can also douse off fires. Ink is basically that idea," Aqua felt the idea coming through. "But, it mixes in a little bit of bio magic, like certain chemicals, into the water magic to do what... octopus ink normally does." She gave a gracious bow to Donald. "Impressive." The duck felt proud of himself and Ken put the Kiln away. "That's pretty cool."

Kairi agreed with that. "The best kind of results, come from being creative. As long as we're aware of certain risks, they are often rewarding in the long run."

Sora felt a weird blush and tried to hide it by looking out the window. Halvek felt an opportunity in the near future was in store. "And it just so happens that there are a ton of Endless Spells out there that aren't, like the Gnashing Jaws. This alchemy holds some promise." Ana agreed to that. "I'd say, we keep the Kiln around, it might have suspicious origins, but since we need to contain the Slaan's gift anyways. It wouldn't hurt." Halvek pressed a button that chimed a ding. "The Castle is dead ahead. Let's get to this."

In the Crystal Palace.

CRASH! SKID! Loru, Nightscale and Began spear headed through the locked door and skid to the center piece of a massive, six path foyer. One at the way they came from, a massive, locked door in front of them and to the left and right, two pathways. WOOSH!

A pillar of sand landed by their side along with the giant drop of water, Aster' los and Woodmaw appeared ready as the Eidolon curled into a ball and slowly rose, Began twitched his eyebrow, got off and yelled. "What in the blazes is a Deep Alf doing here with us?"

The Eidolon closed his eyes in annoyance as Loru advised. "Easy, you two. Began, you likely do not remember, but he was imprisoned and forced to sow chaos, like you and I were. If we are to atone, we must bring the entity responsible to justice."

The Skink agreed and patted Woodmaw. "Yes! He disrupted the Order of the Realms, he must be stopped." The Eidolon looked at the Darudion King, that was putting a grudge aside. "He will learn his mistake, soon." He summoned his weapons as Nightscale grunted.

Loru raised his hammer to the locked gate. "Do you hear us, Demon?! You have disrupted the balance between the worlds and dared to force the Champions of Order into your schemes for mayhem." His eyes sparked in lightning with his hammer. "NO MORE! Today, you will answer for your crimes and face judgement. We are the Alliance of Order! The Defenders of the Eight Realms and you face the might of a storm!"

Began and the others sensed something evil surrounding them, a splash of water emerged from a door with the marking of a turtle shell. "Muahahahahaha! So you say, soldier of Sigmar!" From a door with the markings of a skull and cross bones, came a deadly gas. "To come so brazenly into our domain!" Wind blew from a door with the markings of a twister. "An invoke the wrath of a god." By a door with the markings of a burning building, came an inferno. "Admirable, but foolish! I suppose, the sun has never set upon your Realms, without witnessing battle." By the front, was a large crystal, sparkling the arrival of Garland. The demon smugly, smiled in agreement with his forming minions. "It never does. The endless war has brought about the best among them, they allowed themselves to be reforged and smite the forces of Anarchy. In hope that their people will thrive and one day, become part of the war machine."

The elemental forces took form. Cagnazzo, Scarmiglione and Barbaricca laughed with Garland as Rubicante snapped his fingers and enveloped the invaders in green, healing light. "You will need your full strength, to stand a hope against us."

Garland agreed and summoned a giant claymore, the foyer shifted into a crystal arena. The demon charged at Loru and Nightscale, with a lance piercing the winds, the duo were sent flying back and to a flying woman that formed a tornado. PULSE! Loru and Nightscale let loose a synced boom of thunder, broke out of the tornado and struck Garland like a lightning bolt. The Demon took the immense hit as the Eidolon hummed a dreadful tune, the Four Archfiends felt a dreadful doom in their hearts and Loru felt rather invigorated. Began looked upon Rubicante with righteous fury and charged at him, the Dwarf King pressed his hands together and formed a keylike axe. The Archfiend of Fire blocked the initial blow with his cloak and sprinted away to shoot a fire ball that quickly enlarged into an inferno, Began braced through the damage. Woodmaw sensed Scarmiglione staying put and unleashing a toxic cloud upon the fighters, he bellowed in stone and fired parts of his body upon the Archfiend, the Skink focused a spell and aimed to the sky. Scarmiglione sensed something was wrong and looked to the ceiling, finding spears of light forming. "Master! He summon comets!"

Splash! Cagnazzo curled in his shell, spun, enveloped himself in water and uncurled. "Hwah! Ha! Then, they will enjoy this!" Woosh! Comets of light pelted the four Archfiends, one smacked Garland in the back and done little. In return, a tsunami washed over the group. Scarmiglione shielded himself as Barbaricca and Rubicante flew out of the way. Garland laughed and jumped over the tidal wave. The Aspect of the Sea tapped his scepter and formed an arcane barrier to mitigate the damage. The tsunami sent the Alliance of Order off their aim and Garland took the chance to strike once more.

PEW! TINK! A spec of light bolted at him and threw the attack off, Loru turned around to see who it was, a certain boy with brown spiky hair appeared to unleash a quick combo on Garland. The boy back flipped to a landing Stardrake that was ready to unleash a heavenly power as the demon sensed something null nearby. A larger group of people arrived, with a certain armored dwarf that had an orb of void stone. The Archfiends reeled in horror and retreated to the doors as Garland greeted the boy. "It is about time, you came here Sora. With in the place that demons gather." He raised his four hands.

"Pandemonium!"

He sparkled away and Sora was ready to attack him again. "Hey, get back here!" PEW! Garland disappeared as the rest of the party arrived, finding the Alliance of Order battered, but not any worse for wear. Plink!

Something, kept the Alliance of Order frozen in place. Began gritted his teeth and yelled. "What is happening this time?!" Sora wanted to know as the Skink felt a presence and flicked his tongue. "Monster, coming! It bends gravity and magnets to its will."

Sora looked around and found nothing, a woman from behind shouted. "Oh, you're not taking our warriors again!" WOOSH!

The boy turned to see Ana flying towards something and looked high above, finding a round crystal core letting loose a particular power on the Alliance of Order and assembling a body. The core glowed at the charging Stormcast and caused her to fall straight down at the gate. BONK!

Sora gritted his teeth to the coming battle as another caught up to him. "He's left a welcoming party for us?" He turned to find Riku and Mickey catching up. "A rude one."

"Beginning. Containment procedures on unauthorized intruders."

Kairi and Aqua arrived to hear that as Goofy, Donald and Halvek followed, the duck sensed what the core was building up for. "This isn't good." Halvek guessed by the forming golem. "This is a step, by step protocol of something. What ever the crystal is made from, it's going to have plenty to spare after making that body. If we blow a hole in that body and send someone to crawl in there."

Mickey snapped his fingers. "Then we can fight the core in an even field." Riku found one complication to the plan as he noticed Ken aiming Cadia's Light at the core. "But, until then, this thing is going to... instill containment, upon us all!" The one armed boy whistled. "Not if someone shoots it before it finishes!"

PEW!

A rather large beam fired, the core flickered a beep and used a sheet of metal to shield itself. PUNCT! TINK! The sheet was punched through and the core took the blow and rippled. Riku was both impressed and in a panic. "That just made it mad!"

The core drew more material and formed a torso to protect itself, it assembled a grey, cyclopean head with a strange halo, spiked shoulders with a hint of red, two strong arms, one with a cleaver, an abdomen with a single, camera like eye and two thick, iron legs. THUD!

Ken cringed as Kairi focused herself. "With all of here, this Iron Robot won't stand a chance." She formed a star and fired a brilliant beam of light. The camera eye gazed upon her and formed a magnetic barrier to absorb the damage. The halo glowed in sync to the upper eye, the center of the halo formed into a planet and the Iron Robot beeped. Ken and the Kairi were the first to be crushed under intense gravity, falling on their stomachs. Donald, Goofy and Halvek followed with slightly less pressure, Aqua gasped. "Kairi, Ken!" Then she felt pressure in her legs and was forced on her hands and knees, the others followed suit. Mickey struggled to stand up as the giant approached. "Containment, successful!"

It glowed it's camera eye at Halvek. "Beginning, purge!"

PEW!

Ana saw a spear of glittering light fly at the Robot's camera eye, halting the attack. The light took form and a certain, starry wizard appeared. Ana cheered. "What a divine timing, Yen Sid!"

Donald and Goofy mustered the will power to look on at the sudden wizard. "Master, Yen Sid!" Mickey struggled to turn. "Y...you came!" The wizard nodded and looked up to the Iron Robot, he readied something. "I can dispel the affect of the gravity, but I can only do so to four at a time! Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Ana, you know where to strike!"

He raised his hands and in an imposing style, pulsed a wave of light. The King and his guard felt they could stand up and Ana felt herself free to move. She flapped her wings at high speeds and avoiding the slash of a cleaver.

She bolted to the Robot's left leg and smashed with great force, the Robot stepped it's leg back and swiped it's right hand to grab the Stormcast. Mickey gasped to an idea. "A ha!" He signaled his guard at the right leg and leaped in light.

PEW! Tink!

The Stormcast tried to break free and was applied great pressure as Mickey let loose a flurry of quick attacks on the robots legs, Donald infused Goofy's shield with electricity and let his partner toss the shield like a boomerang. Fling! Bop! The shield smacked the hand holding Ana and caused it to jolt, the hand twitched and gave the Stormcast the chance to burst an aura of lightning to break free. She dropped down in the view of the camera eye and hurled her hammer blade. Blop! The magnetic barrier forced it back at the Stormcast like a fling, Ana focused and called her hammer blade back as she cursed. "How are we going to hit this eye if it keeps trying this?"

Goofy had little idea as Donald quickly thought of one. "We got to keep it busy." He aimed his staff. "Out of the way Ana." The Stormcast knew what the duck was going to cast and dived after the left leg, the wizard quacked. "Ink!"

PEW!

A stream of ink shot off from the staff, it certainly reached high, but it fell short of impacting the eye. Donald groaned as Goofy raised a finger. "A ha! I bet if we knock it down a peg, you can reach it!"

SMACK!

Ana smashed the left foot and drew the Robot's attention, Mickey let loose a combo finisher of a light pulse and caused the robot to move it's foot and stomp the mouse. Mickey back flipped as Goofy aimed his shield. "Are ya ready Donald?" The duck nodded. "Let's do it!" They shouted. "Your Majesty, watch out!"

The mouse turned to see Donald charging Goofy's shield and looked back at his foe with confidence. He went for the foots joints for quick slashes and leaped towards the foot Ana was handling.

PEW!

A beam of icy power fired at the right foot and caused the Robot to loose control of it, it leaned down and tried to hold on with his right hand. It tried to smash Ana with it's cleaver and fired an eye laser from it's head. The Stormcast jumped back to her right, bolted behind it and watched Mickey appear by the foot to unleash his combo, she thought of an eye and caught Mickey away from a stomp. "Hold on!"

Mickey did so with one hand, Ana sparked her hammer blade in lightning as Mickey spun his keyblade in a halo. They shined as one and in the blink of an eye, appeared behind the foot. A smiteful burst of sparkling light engulfed it and forced the Iron Robot onto its knees and the camera eye to try and track the keybearers. Giving Donald the chance to cast again. "INK!" PEW!

The ink made contact, the Camera eye is blind, the head charged it's eye at Donald and Goofy for their insolence. SWOOP! Ana pushed them out of the way and flung her hammer blade at the head. "I'll distract this. The blow's yours!"

Mickey jumped off and gave Ana a thumbs up as Goofy charged to the blind eye. "I know what to do, Mickey!" He raised his shield like a platform, Sora puffed his cheeks. "Hey!" Donald shrugged. "Sorry Sora."

He followed the shield bearer and readied to jump on, Mickey and Donald jumped on together and ignited in a spark of fire. Goofy used his strength to spring up like a missile, Mickey conjured a connection of bubbles that Donald empowered with lightning and hand them spin around Goofy. He grabbed his old friend by the wrist and flung him with the bubbles at the lens. CRACK! BOOM!

An explosion of deadly power pushed them back and behind Yen Sid. The Iron Golem beeped. "Magnetism, disabled, legs, disabled." It charged up. "Containment, mandatory!" Mickey, Goofy and Donald were forced to the ground and Ana's flight was halted once more.

SMASH!

Yen Sid felt the gravity affecting him as well, he readied to pulse his spell and looked to the side of his head, like he heard something. PULSE!

Aqua, Ven and Halvek felt they can move and got up to confront the Robot, they saw the Camera eye cracked beyond use and the Golem using his free hand to launch meteors. The keybearers sprinted out of the way as Halvek ran for it and gritted. "Darn it all! Why did you free me?"

Aqua landed by him with elegance and saw the main head firing it's beam at the Kharadron, she deflected it as Ven tried and failed to use the cleaver arm to run up the head. Fling! The Keyblade Master guessed. "We just need to break that head now. Halvek, you got any tricks?"

The Kharadron grumbled. "That's the point, lass. I don't! Without Frigate, Ironclad or one of the more personal boats, I'm useless in a direct fight." He began to stare into space and Aqua waved her hand at his face. "Halvek, Halvek!"

A girls voice assured her. "I just need a word with Halvek, keep the Robot distracted for a little while and you'll be surprised." Aqua hoped so. "We're counting on you, Namine!" Ven nimbly dodged a mega ton punch and tried again, Aqua flowed to the flatter arm and flipped her keyblade into a wheel of crystal. FLING! The head was struck, wasn't phased and looked upon her. PEW! Aqua leaped to the other arm and taunted. "Missed us!"

In Halvek's Mind.

He was standing on top of Ol' Bountiful and was gazing upon the world bellow, living a simple life. "Have you ever heard of a machine spirit?" Halvek turned to find a sudden, blonde girl in a once piece, white dress. "I don't know who you are, but no, I haven't. How's that important?"

The girl snickered mischievously. "Oh... nothing particular. Just something about certain machines that if given care, could develop something of a heart. What is this boat?"

Halvek sighed. "Ol' Bountiful, me and that Frigate go way back and I had to leave him behind for the United Airlords to pick up. If that machine spirit, which I presume is from that other realm, is a factor here, I... wouldn't have had the heart to leave him."

The air ship gave a glow as Namine suggested. "But maybe... you don't. Think about Ol' Bountiful and call upon it." Halvek cringed. "How does that make any sense? He's over there, in a realm that had already blown Ventus's mind, the matter can't just... transfer over here."

Namine's teasing became something more stern. "But if your heart holds the material to make that matter! Would you call upon it? You're not use to the idea, but Hearts contain many things." Halvek blinked, gasped and took out a log to read out loud. "Like how the Heartstone, just so happens to connect to the realms. Could the Aether line be tied to the element of the eart?"

Namine nodded. "Use the feeling as the catalyst. If Ol' Bountiful wants you with him, then that cooperation would make the formula."

Halvek took a deep breath and looked onto the yonder. "If I know what line to pull. Hmmm" He thought of it. "One sail across the land and we'll show this Freeguild what a real tech would do. "

Namine is pretty impressed by the potential. "My friend, Kairi, likes to talk about the sky a lot. Us land dwellers can only dream of seeing the world from above, but for you... it's the other way around."

Halvek gasped and smiled under his mask. "Really now? I think we'll remember that when we are done here." Namine asked. "What do you mean we? It's just you here and I can't fly." Halvek looked on awkwardly. "..." He looked on to the sky and was hearing something, the sound of battle against a giant golem. By the side of his fleet came an armada, his blood heated and he glared. "Hey, what are you doing in my dream!" He ordered. "Come on Ol' Bountiful, let's show them why we rule the skies!"

PEW!

His vision returned to reality and he saw Ven and Aqua trying their hardest to get a meaningful blow on the Robot's Head, it was entirely focused upon them and beeped. "Slow!" PEW! Aqua and Ven slowed down in time, the Robot readied it's cleaver.

"Purge!"

Halvek glared at the head and barked. "HEY! You hunk of junk! They're not the ones you're Grot blooded Master ought to worry about." BOOM!

BLAM! A round of a shell shot the Robot in the eye, forcing it to turn it's head at the perpetrator, a glistening Frigate of dark gold with a sky blue balloon. It dived down to avoid a laser and Halvek looked up, in complete disbelief. "Woah. She was on to something."

The Frigate lowered a rope ladder for Halvek to jump on, it flew out of the way a meteor barrage and towards Aqua and Ven. The keybearers saw meaningful flight and hoped on, the boy whistled. "Wow, Halvek, what happened in there?"

The Nagivator climbed onboard and answered. "Ya can thank Namine later. Me and Ol' Bountiful will handle the elevation while you blast the head to kingdom come!" Aqua gasped and blushed proudly of something as Ven grabbed onto a rope, looked at the Robot's head and fired zigzagged beams. Aqua grabbed a rope of her own and fired a prism rain. The Robot's eye cracked from the sheer destruction. It swiped it's cleaver at them, the Frigate dropped and Halvek ordered. "Fire the carbines with the Keybearers shots. Once they finish, let it have it!"

PEW! PEW! PEW! The Robot Head took more damage and beeped. "Warning, further damage will unleash the unbound core! Cease, fire!" Aqua hmph. "Too bad!"

She flung a crystal arrow as her finisher as Ven enveloped in storms and screamed. "WRAAAAAAR!" The scream shot out into a maw like storm and tore the plating off the robot The Frigate fired it's canon, the elemental blows caused the head to crack open and the shell smashed into the wound.

BOOM!

The head was blown off, the Frigate lowered itself as the Robot's limbs went limp and was on it's hands and knees. The machine, beeped. "Beginning, Extermination Mode. 5." The keyblade veterans jumped off and Halvek climbed down. "4." Halvek ordered. "Get out of here, Ol friend. We're in for it now." "3." The Frigate disappeared as Yen Sid readied one more spell. "Sora, you and your friends are next." "2." Sora gritted from the pressure as Kairi pleaded. "Hurry." "1" The hole of the robot's head sparkled. "Gravity!"

Yen Sid pulsed one more spell, the Robot shot a pulse of gravity that forced the wizard down, Aqua, Ven and Halvek fell down like they were smacked. Sora and Riku felt the pressure lessen, Kairi quickly climbed up. "Ow." Ken lifted from his spine. "That wasn't fun." Riku agreed it wasn't. "If we don't hurry, we'll get stepped on again. Sora, let's move!"

The spiky haired boy nodded, he and Riku flowed straight in to find a dark core, the silver haired boy guessed. "This is it. Let's smash this junk up!" He sprinted to the core.

BLIP!

The boy's blow was reflected and knocked him back, Sora looked around to find a core giving a faint glow. He charged and let loose a combo, Riku got up and saw Kairi flying in with golden wings, she was ready to attack and the boy ordered. "Don't, help Sora smash the defense node!"

PEW!

Kairi saw another orb shoot a laser at Sora, she stood in the way and deflected it, WOOSH! Ken blew himself in and saw the trio having a slight struggle, Riku advised. "Focus on the defense node that Sora's attacking." He got up. "I'll keep the other node busy."

He sprinted to Kairi's side and helped her deflect the beams, Ken saw Sora unleashing everything, took Cadia's Light and readied to chuck it like a spear. "Heads up!" FLING! Sora side stepped to his left and saw the gun like keyblade stab the machine, Ken leaped with Fire Keeper's Wish and cut into the machine like one a katana. The two boys made quick word of the defense node and with blunt and precision, smashed it to bits.

The main core tried to flicker something and beeped deep. "Repairing."

Sora cringed. "Guys, we need to hurry and smash this thing!" Ken drew his blades and leaped in front of the attack node, he punched the machine and formed a barrier of stone. "Go, I can deflect this and shoot!"

Riku wasn't arguing. "Good plan."

Woosh!

He charged at the main core and went loose as Kairi approved. "Let us know when you got a big one coming." She joined her childhood friends and like a trinity of light, they carved chunks of crystal off of the core and cracked it. "3." The beep indicated repairs, Ken flipped Cadia's Light to make a barrier as Kairi and Sora flung a glob of electrified water. "2. Riku and Sora went to the cores side and sliced as one to form an X shaped mark. "1." Ken ignited Firekeeper's Wish with dancing fire as Kairi back flipped and formed a massive ice crystal. "Incoming!"

PEW! Sora and Riku jumped out of the way and watched a ball of chaotic fire and crystal of ice crash into the core.

CRASH!

The Core busted open and short circuit. "Self Destruct. Immediate." Riku signaled. "Go, go, go!" He and Sora flowed out in an instant, Kairi leaped out and Ken flung and tripped out. BOOM!

The core was destroyed and the Iron Golem sparked in light. It slowly disintegrated into crystal powder. The group felt gravity return to normal and tried to watch a massive victory. The Destiny Trio looked back at the collapsing giant and to Ken landing on his knees and crawling to the group. He spun and sat down to watch. Their first major obstacle in Pandemonium, crumbles before them. The dust of battle settled and the Elements of Order felt free to move, the group celebrated in a small dance and Loru approached Ana to get her up. Yen Sid felt some of the behavior was childish and tapped his staff to pulse a light, the hostile air lessened and a disk of light summoned a Moogle. "Kupo!"

Yen Sid ordered. "You will provide with our needs until I deem it otherwise." He looked upon the lock, with markings of Fire, Air, Earth and Water. "Hmm, this could be a problem."

Loru asked. "Unlocking that door isn't as simple as relying on the Keybearers?"

The wizard nodded to the Drakesworn. "Not unless we have hearts, strongly attuned to a single element. I feel dark hearts are keeping it locked." Began groaned. "Of course they are." The Skink clicked to the group, they knew their entry wasn't quite done yet. "Four Archfiends, keep the lock closed. We remove them," he put his thumb to himself. "and we will open the way in place." The Eidolon sighed. "And thus, our aid would end?" Yen Sid closed his eyes. "For now."

Riku looked at the door ways to guess. "And that leads to the 4 Arch Fiends. We'll cream them." Loru advised against going in all at once. "If we try that, we might get ambushed from behind." Mickey agreed with that. "So how about we split up? Riku, would you go with me, Donald and Goofy to where that poisonous fellow went?" The boy nodded as Donald asked. "But what about Sora?"

Ana scoffed. "Oh, we can more than that. Ven, Sora, we're guarding Loru. I'm not letting that witch lay a hand on him again." The boys approved as Loru had Nightscale go to the door of wind.

The Skink went with Mickey's group. "We will fight, Scarmigliones poison, with poison."

The Eidolon looked upon Aqua and Kairi with a light smile. "You'll do. That fiendish turtle will pay for his thief of me." Kairi didn't mind that and asked. "But, what about Ken? We can't just leave him alone down the path of Fire."

Aqua agreed to that. "The instant someone gets wind of this place, we'll have a bigger mess to deal with." The Aspect of the Sea watched Ken talking with Halvek and Began, he wasn't worried. "He won't be alone. Do you trust the Duardin more than me?"

Aqua turned to the Aspect of the Sea and had her hands her hips. "Ana told us about your people. It is kind of sad that you don't got much of a choice, but what they do and what you approve of doing are not things we allow." She thought. "Although, you don't really hide what you are." Kairi guessed. "We do trust you and any one from the Deepkin, but we can't trust them to not go out and hurting people to survive. It's like being lost in the woods and having to eat something just to survive." The Aspect of the Sea sighed. "That was suppose to be a rhetorical question."

He aimed his trident at the one armed boy and the dwarves. "Do you trust them to watch the boy?" Aqua and Kairi nodded in sync, the Princess asked. "Do you and the Deepkin, have any other choice to get by?" The aspect shook his head, Aqua felt she heard more than enough. "We'll talk more about this when we have the chance." The Aspect sighed. "We shall, sometimes, two seas, cannot, will not, co-exist." He opened his eyes. "But, we share the same ocean." He lead the way into the path of water.

Ken looked at the groups and at his teacher and rival's group. "Wow, looks like we're not the only small group." He asked Yen Sid. "Anything particular we got to do besides beat the Archfiends and replace them with our guys?" The Wizard shook his head. "Expect anything, but the task here, is simple. I will make sure this foyer remains ours." The one armed boy saluted in thanks and turned to the dwarves. "So... what's the plan when we get in the path of Fire?" Halvek answered with his device pointing the way. "I'll call Ol' Bountiful if we need her. But you and Began are the warriors." Ken looked to Began. "He's the warrior. I can shoot though and get in for quick hits, though." The Fyreslayer sighed and looked Ken in the eyes. "That's more than enough. Do what you've done back in the Underworld and we'll be back here in thirty minutes." With the groups decided, they departed to the four paths, to finally bring Four Archfiends to Justice.

At the Castle That Never Was.

Ahriman, Ztardon and Zonir were lost deep with in a dark vision and stood with in a circle, one overlooking a third of the ritual. Vanitas sat on a chair bored out of his mind. Ahriman gasped and raised his staff in sync with his minions.

RIPPLE! RIPPLE! A faint wind blew, an eight pointed star rippled in mid air and opened into a Corridor into the Dark Realm. Ahriman and his minions stopped and turned to an observing Xehanort and Archaon, the Sorcerer reported. "It is done, we've found the precise presence of Be'lakor with in that forsaken realm. That would mean that the instant, you three set foot in there, he will notice you."

Archaon cared little. "Let him," He ordered Dorghar to fly him in, the Seeker of Darkness felt an odd, burning hatred with in the Everchosen and drew out his keyblade. "Keep the corridor open."

He jumped in after Archaon and Vanitas followed, having a distrusting glare to the Sorcerer. Across the rift, was a dark, wasteland that distorted figures of melded flesh, specters looking to scream and the land either bleeding, decaying, twisting or pulsating in sheer wickedness. He cringed and asked rather arrogantly. "Wow, I didn't think this place would get worse."

Xehanort watched Archaon approach the darkness and turned to Vanitas to agree. "Reality itself, is nothing here now. It is but putty to the Dark gods." He advised Vanitas. "Concern not, Ahriman. If he knows what's good for him, he will not cross us right now." He and his minion felt they were being watched from all around, the minion felt a whisper. "What kind of secret, is the Everchosen hiding?" "Ask him."

Vanitas was unnerved. "Who freed one of your gods again?"

The band of villains heard laughter from all over, a voice with in the darkness, answered. "It matters not, here! For they are fickle." Archaon gave a glance to Vanitas. "Control, your thoughts."

Puff! Puff! "Shhhwheeeraaaaaaa." A horde of shadows, dark mists and a black Bloodletter, on a dark Juggernaut appeared, they sprinted at the three. Archaon flapped above the horde and dived down on the Herald for a quick kill as the Darkseeker and Masked boy dived into the Heartless Swarm and incinerated them in dark fire.

WOOSH!

Dorghar turned left and swung with his claws, Archaon saw hints of shifting shadows. The Darkseeker, heard a whisper. "You've returned as the ever, eternal pawn of the Darkness."

The Darkseeker turned right and saw a fanged maw at his face, one of a particular, large, winged demon, who practically blended in to the dark realm. Xehanort attacked. PARRY! He was being pushed back, Vanitas sprinted after him. "Found you, Belly." He let loose a vicious combo.

Swish!

The daemon faded through them and flew back. Archaon heard the sound of battle and jumped off of Dorghar, pouncing on the Daemon Prince and yelling. SLASH!

The Slayer of Kings sank into the Daemon, Be'lakor pushed Archaon off with his claw and asked. "I knew you would come, Everchosen. Is it not wonderful here?" He twisted his claw and the group sensed something from behind them.

SWIPE!

They parried an assault from their own shadows, Be'lakor speared Xehanort with his tail and laughed, the Darkseeker smirked and unleashed the Guardian. POW! Bel'akor took the blow and circled around them as the Everchosen shot an arcane bolt, the Daemon took a full blunt to his head and snarled. "What are you even doing, wasting your time upon this...childish Realm. I thought, you were above this."

Archaon snarled back. "Do not, play games with ME, Daemon! You seek the same prize as all these mortals who followed the Dark path!"

Xehanort agreed with that. "You, are but another contender for Kingdom Hearts and... we've been informed that you seek to be the sole ruler." He waited for the Daemon to attack as Vanitas shrugged. "And since we've gotten enough head aches, it was actually decreed, by a general consensus, that you need to die."

Be'lakor's mouth turned to a condescending oval. "Ooooh. So you will go back to fighting amongst yourselves? You are not the first ones in this Realm to strive for the Dark powers." He snapped his fingers. "You will not be the last."

More dark figures emerge, scrawny, malformed shadows, with hollowed eye sockets and carrying sticks, their number was even more vast. Rising behind them, was a giant with fel wings and a burning, purple aura. It's eyes, sparked in the purple. Xehanort and Vanitas, felt a different whisper with in their minds, one of Archaon. "That Darkside is the only thing among these Husks, that pose a real threat. If you would handle that, I will make Be'lakor regret opposing us."

The two agreed with the plan, Dorghar dived after Be'lakor and the Everchosen sprinted after him, catching the Daemon off guard and attacking with vicious swings. Xehanort and Vanitas summoned a wall of ice and charged the Darkside.

The Husks attempted to grab them by the legs and were kicked back into the pile, the Darkside quickly slugged them in a combo, not quite what they were use too. Be'lakor vanished and reappeared behind Archaon and was blind sided by the Guardian, the Everchosen stabbed Be'lakor in the chest and met laughter. Vanitas nearly made an ooooh and summoned dark chains to keep the Darkside contained, he cut the thing in the neck as Xehanort noticed the purple heart with in the heart shaped hole and cut into it with his blade, trying to yank it out. The Darkside flexed and consumed itself in a pillar of flame, scorching the two by surprise. Be'lakor head butted Archaon off and tried to cast a spell, Dorghar's bird head pecked him and stopped it as Archaon slashed him in the stomach. The Darkside smashed it's fists at Xehanort as Vanitas appeared behind it and thrust into the cavity. "Surprise!"

Stab!

The purple heart was punctured by the gear buster and was holding on, Xehanort hummed. "Pathetic." He unleashed chains from his keyblade and used it to yank the heart from the other side.

PULL!

The heart ripped out of the Darkside and caused the body to collapse, the Husks attempted to sprint the two and the Darkseeker applied pressure to the heart, unleashing an inferno that engulfed them all.

Be'lakor saw his battle being lost, turned into dark mists and flew away. "Heh, hahahahahahahaahhahahaha!" Archaon roared and chased after him, Dorghar looked at the Darkseeker duo with a glare and interrupted their victory, they followed the Everchosen towards a cavern with a deep hole, going down into a swirl of dark colors, blending and colliding. Blood red, puss green, vibrant purple and a mixture of purple and pink. Vanitas whistled. "So that's where Be'lakor's really hiding?"

The Everchosen growled. "Yes, an epic center for the powers of Chaos. But we have this border now and all that is here." Vanitas laughed to that. "Ha! That Daemon is such a loser." He stepped back. "Should we go back before Ahriman gets any-" Trip!

Thud!

He fell on his back mid sentence, a trip over something that caught Xehanort's eye. Pluck! "Hmm?" The Everchosen looked upon a horned crown. "He left that behind?"

The Darkseeker glared upon it and felt a weird warmth. "And not by mere accident." Vanitas guessed by the rather pristine condition of the crown. "Unless the Crown rejected him and got tossed aside like trash."

The Everchosen examined it with a scowl under his helm. "What kind of crown, found here, would reject a Daemon of Darkness?" The Darkseeker guessed. "One of unusual origins, could it be possible... that this came from the World of the Undead?"

Vanitas gasped. "Something useful from there? Finally." Xehanort theorized with a rather indifferent expression. "The things of that world, have always contradicted itself. But, with this and that moonlit sword, we could actually get started on learning that worlds secret. Why?"

Vanitas guessed. "Why, despite, everything, do those undead morons resist the Darkness? Why has that freak, found a way into the Guardian's good graces despite wielding that power? It's clear he knows a LOT more than one spell."

The Darkseeker was impressed by the questions. "The sooner, we understand those questions, the sooner we can rid ourselves of that head ache."

Archaon laughed amusingly and got on Dorghar. "One day, he will find himself back here, brave fools like him, have always find themselves back here." He ordered. "Come, I believe we will handle this from the other side now. Be'lakor's arrogance, serves some use."

The two followed the Everchosen back the way they came and found a corridor out, perfectly intact. They jumped out and found Ahriman, Ztardon and Zonir looking at them like victors. The Sorcerer knew they expected the worst and asked. "So, Be'lakor is aware we are on to him and you've came back with more research?"

Xehanort kept the burning heart and the Crown close as the corridor closed. "Yes, and why would you be interesting in simple baubles?"

Ahriman laughed to that. "Gathering knowledge, whether useful or useless, is always a past time of mine. Hearts are more of your specialty, while artifacts of history are among mine." The Darkseeker felt that was a valuable point. "And how much research have you conducted on that sword?"

Ahriman answered proudly. "Besides the malevolence, it holds a vast power over the Soul Arts that some of us have witnessed Aqua using. What ever, lurks with in the blade, knows of this sorcery. If we understand the entity, we could commune with it and learn more."

Xehanort guessed. "That sword holds an evil heart. How has that Knight, carried on with that on his back?!" Vanitas guessed. "He is either too stupid to realize it or... like every other greedy man out there, knew of it and didn't care, so long as it had great power." Xehanort answered. "Or, because he's conquered the spirit, much like how he has conquered a Child of the Dark."

Archaon guessed. "His arrogance is the stuff of legends!" He turned. "I, should request something of that Witch. The undeads influence to the Keybearers is a danger to everyone."

He left and Xehanort decided on something, he presented Ahriman with the crown. "Study this, log it and bring the data to me. Perhaps we can turn this Crown against the Undead and then we can return to our issues with the Keybearers."

Ahriman took it smugly. "I thought you will eventually see my ways. Things are going just as planned." Vanitas knew Ahriman knows something. "So you figured out where the Keybearers are going now?" The Sorcerer nodded. "Archaon will learn of that, very soon and they will hand Garland over to us." He took his leave with his minions. "I will be in the library."

With him gone, the two felt sore, Xehanort confessed. "I really despise that man, but he's useful." Vanitas chuckled and wanted to go lay down from the assaults on body and mind. "We just need to figure out what he's really up to before he can start throwing away worn tools. He's screws us over one moment and he works well with us in another." He limped and left the Darkseeker to examine the burning heart, quickly realizing. "This is constructed."

At Twilight Town.

Xion was having some ice cream with the Trio of Twilight Town, at the clock tower overlooking the town. Hayner finished a rather recent tale. "And that was how we found out about Roxas." Pence added in. "Which eventually, lead to Sora and the others figuring out about the mystery of Ven and why he and Roxas look identical." Olette wondered. "What kind of life did he had, or that he thought he had." Xion had a better question. "Why would he be put into a simulation of the place?"

The teenagers shrugged, Hayner relaxed. "One of the guys might know more, but all leads on our end lead to the virtual computer room blocked out and kind of useless otherwise. Some smart aleck that the guys tried to chase down, closed the way to this dark world before we'd figured it out."

Xion thought about who they were talking about and had the quick image of Ahriman, she frowned, wishing she could say more. "Sheesh. Well, it wasn't going to help me remember more about who... or what I was, anyways. If there was something about me in there, it would have been brought up."

Olette agreed and looked to the sky. "And if Roxas only remembers the important bits, then I guess your best clue to that is from those guys. Getting in with them is probably going to be a lot easier now that we see that trick work."

Xion hoped so. "I told Ken of a little secret that he should have told most of them by now and thinking about it, it should get explored more. When is he going to get back?"

Pence noticed a hooded boy leaving the train station and looking around in a hurry, Xion noticed, looked down and gasped. "Woops! Was I really here for that long?" Pence asked. "We kind of seen this guy before, is he the brother you talked about?" Xion nodded. "Yeah. I'll let Dupmic know how I've been doing, maybe he knows what else is going on too." She wiggled her feet for a jump. "I'll be right back."

Leap! Flip!

She landed rather gracefully and saw her brother looking frantic. "Sorry for being here all day, brother."

The hooded boy turned around in astonishment, wondered where girl came from and looked up to find the trio of Twilight Town looking down upon him. Hayner waved an ice cream pop as an invitation, the Replica waved back and considered it. "You've had fun the whole day, but we still have to keep something of a low profile. Anything interesting happened?"

Xion signaled it was kind of. "I figured out what happened to Roxas how Olette and the others knew of him. But that isn't the information you wanted."

The Replica shrugged. "I don't really know him and he's important to you." He pointed at her. "I've gotten some info I like to pass along before I go goof off here. The guys that broke the time loops came back and our wise guy wanted to cause more havoc, Ken took off with them to take care of it and came to the Bastion to drop someone off and let close friends and relatives know before he head off with the Guardian's to put an end to this chaos."

Xion gasped. "Wow! Feels like we're just sitting here, doing nothing." She was tempted to something and her brother asked. "What are we suppose to do now? We're not apart of that team and I don't imagine us being apart of it anytime soon. Not with...Dad, having so many of his problems on our shoulders. The only thing of note that Ken did before leaving is visiting Karla and taking that Kiln with him so he can give the Transposition a go. That ought to be an interesting turn of events."

Xion wondered. "I wonder if they find anything new to make... where ever they are at. I guess... we make sure nothing weird happens while they are away?"

The brother nodded. "The Bastion ought to be alright, but I thought to come here so you'll enjoy your day without any... surprises. Oh and apparently, Baldred is taking his business here as well." Xion snickered. "We found out about that a while ago, when we see him, we'll go figure out what he is up to before we head back home for the day." She asked in a whining tone. "Now, are you going to want to meet my friends? They'll think the wrong way if you just brood."

The Replika gasped. "Brood?!" He grumbled and looked Xion in the eyes. "Xion, those guys will find me out and if that happens, I'm doomed. How about I go hit that library and pick a comic to pass the time? That will teach them a thing about me."

Xion's teasing, intensified. "So you did like those comics?!" She readied to jump to the tower. "Okay, but no stealing. Got it?"

The Replica vowed. "I won't, I only pay if I damage the goods." He turned and waved. "Byeee!" He took off and Xion leaped back to the tower, finding the Twilight Town trio intrigued.

Olette asked. "Sounded like you had fun knowing about something. How does he fit in the bigger picture?" Xion rested up and looked to the horizon. "I don't know, what I will tell you is my brother is kind of adopted. He has a condition like I do, but it's because he looks exactly like someone that he is scared of and if he faces him, that could get ugly. Apparently, Sora and the others are in another adventure somewhere and Ken went with them. So I won't expect them to be back today."

The group groaned, Hayner complained. "Come on, give us something to do." Xion agreed that it was getting boring. "But, Baldred's coming over here for a lot longer. So, it could be a chance to learn about things that the guys haven't told us already."

The teenagers found that a little interesting, Pence asked. "But how are we going to learn more about him?" Olette guessed. "Figure out what he is going to do in a different place. So, what is your" she quote. "brother, going to do here?" Xion answered with a plan made. "Find a library and read some comics. You want to join for that?" The mystery solving kids, deeply considered that.

In Pandemonium.

Riku, Mickey, Goofy and Donald looked upon a decrepit mountain, barren of even plant life save for shriveled bushes. Confused by the grey cloud, Goofy asked. "Weren't we in a palace just a while ago?" Mickey nodded. "Yeah, wonder why?"

Aster' los followed behind and looked to the sky. "Not everything, is as it seems." Woodmaw sniffed the air as Donald guessed. "This is all an illusion?" Riku tapped his forehead. "Or this place represents the power of Scarmi. He's suppose to represent earth, right?"

Woodmaw nodded as his master kept staring, the Skink answered in riddle. "But he speaks, poison. Something that strips the earth, bare. Why?" Rumble! Rumble! Grab! Donald felt something cold and clammy grab his legs, he jumped and tried to shake it off, finding a dark, grey, corpse like heartless with a missing eye socket and tattered clothes, rising from the ground. "Wrarararawk!"

Mickey quickly struck the Heartless away, a dozen more rose from the earth, decayed and some, covered in moss. PEW! PEW! PEW! Four ghost like heartless, with gloves and an eye hanging from the socket appeared from above and two lanky heartless that resembled wrapped weeds, appeared next to Riku and Mickey. The boy drew his weapon first. "I think we found the answer!"

A massive fight broke out with the party and the undead, Donald cast fire balls in rapid succession, Goofy spun wildly with his shield, Riku and Mickey unleashed a fountain of light and the Skink raised his staff to the air to summon comets. Pelting the undead like heartless and in the span of a minute, vanquished them.

With the coast clear, Mickey realize why the path up the mountain might be complicated ."We need to watch out step next time. We don't want these fellahs getting the jump on us again." Donald agreed with that. "It isn't going to be fun." Aster' los had no concept of the word fun and tilted his head at the path. "It, would be a disaster." He closed his eyes and hummed. "We take away their surprise and in exchange, we fight these Heartless directly."

Riku half turned to ask. "And how are we going to dig up these-" He saw the Skink glow, it should have been obvious to him. "Oh! You could dig these guys up." Donald appreciated that and saw the faint glow of life magic. "You're going to combine that with earth magic, just so you won't miss anything?" Aster' los's eyes opened with a jungle green glow, he jumped off Woodman and speared the earth.

RUMBLE! BURST!

In an instant, a mighty tree emerged from the earth and shot it's roots into the soil, breaking the ground apart and digging up the Rotted Heartless, by the numbers. Donald was impressed by the work as the Skink answered. "Yes, you've been taught of these arts as well?"

Donald had his hands at his hips and he smiled confidently. "I've learned from my times as a Court Wizard. I got to be taken seriously if I was going to travel the worlds." Goofy chuckled to that. "Hi yuck. Me and Donald learned as we traveled with Sora. Where did you learn those tricks?"

Aster' los jumped onto Woodmaw's back with his goal in mind. "Spawned, Quetartsa guided me. We are all part of Old One's plan." Riku blinked. "You were created by the Slann as part of something that been going on for ages? Does he know what the Old One's plans are?" Aster' los readied for something as Woodmaw shook his head a no, the Skink hissed. "We, find thief!" Woodmaw sprinted past the group and up the mountain, Donald sighed at the implications. "That's cold blooded."

Mickey agreed with that. "Where ever the Slann came from, came from the Old One's. If they disappeared on them, then they must have tried to make things work as best as they can." Riku felt a good comparison in his mind. "We've been told about how they work like a machine, that isn't too far off. Aster' los had an important role to play for his people and the Slann, operates what those people do, through him."

Mickey guessed. "But, Aster' los seems to have been built with free will in mind." Riku nodded as Goofy scratched his head. "So while he tells the Seraphon at that there temple what to do, the Slann takes his work elsewhere?"

Mickey nodded. "That sounds about right, when Aster' los got kidnapped, he was stolen from those who depend on him for the answers." Riku was ready to fight some heartless. "And was stolen from the Slann, because without him, that Temple is going to fall on hard times the next time it needs maintenance. We need to catch up with him before Scarmi tries something."

There ascent up the mountain was nowhere near as bothersome as their entry, with the heartless flushed out, they were the ones able to ambush the most dangerous zombies while the sudden heartless, meant to supply the ambush, were picked off like stragglers. They caught up to Woodmaw, biting down on a rather large zombie and yanking the torso off.

FLING!

The band of four felt the cold ferocity lurking with in the Skink, he was hunting for something, the Skink looked upon a bridge and had Woodmaw slow it's approach. A raspy voice, spoke. "Such pleasure, I will take, when I deliver all into the gatesss of hell." A dark mist, shrouded the bridge, a figure in a yellow robe appeared before the Skink, behind the four straglers, were a swarm of large zombie like heartless.

Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Riku prepared for battle as Aster' los confronted Scarmiglione, the four didn't waste time on fighting and using the powers of light and fire magic to turn the battle in their favor. The Archfiend of Earth, summoned mossy, root like constructs to shield himself from the sprinting Troglodon. "Feed upon thissss lizard, my beloved children!"

RUSH!

Woodmaw spit on one, clawed on another and chomped, the root zombies, clawed and drained, the rider summoned pillars of rooted earth to shatter the constructs and hissed. A comet rained down upon the Heartless swarm from behind and pelted the Archfiend, Woodmaw dashed at Scarmiglione, bit into him and tossed him over the bridge, sending the Archfiend screaming to his doom. The group from behind finished their fight and caught up with the Skink, Mickey knew what happened and chose not to say anything, Aster' los stepped aside. "The Archfiend, will not trouble us again."

Riku admitted."That was kind of easy with you here. Now let's see what's ahead." He lead the way with Mickey to the other side of the bridge and found a dark crystal, Goofy guessed. "Well, what do you know. I'll bet if we take out the dark power, it will make it easy for Aster to get control of this place." Riku readied with his keyblade. "Easy." Aster' los and Woodmaw followed without much concern. They took another step forward and felt a nauseous mist, Aster' lost and Woodmaw turned to find a dark figure that appeared as a giant, brown, green haired zombie with rib like growths sticking out of it's body.

POUNCE! The Zombie attacked the duo from behind, smacked it and breathed a gas upon the duo. Woodmaw was in a daze as Aster' los passed out. Riku cringed. "How?!"

The zombie balked. "Foolssss! My true sssstrength, lies in death!" He glared at them with malicious intent. "All who see my face, must die!" He smacked Mickey back, Donald cast a healing spell as Goofy shield based Scarmi. Riku sprinted to the Fiend of Earth and performed quick slashes, the fiend head butted him and sent him rolling to the ground with a sting of dirt in his eyes. The boy stood up and realized he was blinded, Donald growled and flung a fire ball.

BOOM!

Scarmiglione screamed and spewed out a brown gas. "RWAWR! I won't lost to the likes of you." HUFF! He engulfed the party with foul gas that went into their luggs and caused them to choke, Mickey hacked and raised his keyblade. PEW! The burning ceased and Riku felt his vision return. "Hack! We need to get him off us, fast!" He focused in the frenzied Archfiend, hovered and bolted to him like a morning ray. PEW! PEW! PEW! He sprinted all over Scarmi for a rather devastating combo of light and finished with a landing that enveloped Scarmi in the light. The Archfiend pulsed in darkness and Riku felt something shivering in his spine, like a dreadful curse. Aster' Los slowly got up and limped. "Burn the corpse, bless the dead, what do we miss?"

Goofy was punched into the ground as Mickey guessed. "I'm not so sure, but we need something strong." Flick! He went into melee with the Archfiend as Donald looked upon the distant tree and to the rotten fiend. "Huh?" He turned to the Skink. "Hey, mister expert, you say this place is barren of life,"

The Skink nodded. "Yes." He stopped to a plan the duck insist on. "If we give this dead guy life, what will happen to him?" The Skink answered that. "His flesh, will be made pure." Donald tapped his foot and waved his wand for a spell. "Watch out, we got this!" "Heal!"

POP!

Riku found that redundant and saw bells of green light appear above the Archfiend, he cringed to the idea of healing the dreadful foe and saw shrubbery grow on the foe. Scarmi saw and tried to pull of off, Aster' los clicked and whispered something to the duck. The two stood side by side and cast a healing once more, glowing as one in green and yelling as one. "Grow!"

The plant power shrouded the Archfiend and caused him to panic, he sprinted at the casters on all fours as his skin broke out in grass and roots. The mages cast one more time. "Blossom!"

Pulse! The growth became more intense and the Archfiend was slowing down. "N...no! No!" The mages aimed their staffs. "Flourish!"

Pulse! The roots covered the openings of the fiends body and consumed it, Scarmiglione collapsed and tried once more to move. The roots, held him down.

A dark, poisonous heart emerged from the bush and flew down the mountain, leaving Riku and Mickey to approach the crystal and aim their keyblades, it a simple shine of light, the crystal became empty and blue. Aster' los gave Donald a head tilt in curiosity and approached the crystal. "Give, life to the earth, the dead... become one with the earth."

Goofy nodded. "Yep, it's what they call, The Circle of Life." Donald realized that he and the Skink might have invented a new spell, he looked astonished by the implications, then squinted his eyes at Goofy, tapping his foot. "Mmm! I was going to name it that if you didn't say anything."

Goofy didn't mind as Mickey broke the fight. "Congratulations Donald." Riku smirked. "Where did that phrase come from anyways?" Goofy was greatly tempted to tell Riku about a certain adventure Sora had in a feral world as the Skink channeled his will into the crystal and caused it to glow a floral green and brown. "Woodmaw and I, have this. Return to the others." The band of four watched a stream of green magic flow to the way they came from and followed it.

In the path of water.

Kairi and Aqua fought their way through a horde of pirate like heartless with in a flooded castle. With a combination of lightning, they made short work of them, the Eidolon blew odd mists to incapacitate a giant yellow crab with a giant pincer and a habit of flinging mud. He stabbed it between the eyes with his trident, twisted his weapon and hoisted up for a quick kill. The room was clear of danger and they advanced to a hallway leading somewhere to their right. SPLASH! ROAR!

A giant grey stone fish, with green barbs, appeared before them. It dived down and fired it's barbs upon the three. The Eidolon sighed and conjured an arcane barrier, deflecting the attack. "This things are annoying." Aqua agreed on that as Kairi thought of something. "Not if we can hook it when it comes up, Master. I think I got an idea." The teacher was all ears. "Shot lock?" Kairi nodded and focused on the ripple coming at them. "But not alone." She hovered, aimed her blade and formed a star of light, Aqua gasped, smiled and focused herself. "Not without a combo." She glowed in a white blue and hovered with her student, filling the star with the power of a blue crystal.

Splash!

The Stone fish emerged to body slam the two. FLING! FLING! FLING! The teacher and student flung a barrage of crystal stars at the heartless, the first one knocked it back, the second one dealt a critical blow and the third one finished it off.

The duo relaxed, floated back to the ground and felt nothing else was in the hall. The Eidolon grave credit where it was due. "That is convenient. Do you always, synergize this well?" Kairi smiled to the gloomy Sea Aspect as Aqua had a glimmer of pride in her eyes. "We haven't fought together before, but all the sync me, Ana and Ken have studied under Master Aqua, has finally paid off."

The Keyblade Master almost laughed to that. "You and the others weren't ready for a serious battle like that and the incident at the castle was an exception." Kairi figured. "And most of the battles in those illusions weren't fought by just the two of you." Aqua exhaled. "By the end, Jambert never did need us. Once we are finished with Garland and his nonsense, we can get back to your training."

Kairi hummed at something she forgotten about. "We still need to tell Ken about the Genji Armor," The teacher agreed. "We should, once we get his say, we can get started on that." They found a distant throne room and felt an evil presence ahead. The Eidolon insist that he takes the lead. "And how has the other student acted when you request that... thing?" Aqua figured. "We all thought it was cursed," The Eidolon hummed. "I see."

Kairi nodded and had her blade ready for a fight. "Turns out it wasn't, but I think all of us are going to be happy about where this is going. I've made some friends back in the islands that are all about the sync."

Aqua perked. "Really? Who are they?" The Princess thought about it and answered. "It's a little complicated to explain where they came from, but they are kind of animals with special powers and have had experience with team work."

The Eidolon remembered. "They were not from that sea and you will have more questions than answers." Kairi nodded and tip toed. "So, if we focus our sync in a combo like that, we could out do ourselves even more." Aqua had her blade ready for a fight as the presence grew stronger. "We have been doing those anyways, but some of our sync are better than others."

The three entered the throne room and found something curled up in the seat. "It sounds like you're become a kin to a family." The trio readied for battle as something bubbled from the shell like cushion. "I'm afraid that, won't do at all."

Crack!

The throne came apart as the cushion revealed itself to be a turtle shell. "Mwa, ha, ha, ha. You've made the mistake of coming here." Cagnazzo revealed himself. "Bow before your Drowned King! Bow before your briny end." He sprinted after Aqua to smash her into the ground, the keyblade master back flipped and signaled Kairi to split and circle around. The Eidolon summoned a strange, fanged manta and flung it at the Archfiend, it bit on the head for small damage and slithered around it, looking for more weak points. Aqua let loose a quick combo, sparked in lightning and skid right to avoid a head butt, Kairi rushed from the left to strike the Archfiend in the head. A flicker of strange light shined upon the princess, Kairi felt her nerves stiff and fell on her knees, she gritted her teeth, she knew she was exposed to a free attack.

SMACK!

Cagnazzo laughed at her and smack her across the throne. "Hwa, ha, ha, ha. Nothing will protect you from this." He looked at her to cast something, Aqua yelled. "Hey, eyes over here!" SPARK! "THUNDER!" PEW! BZZT! A bolt of lightning struck Cagnazzo, he cringed and yelled. "WRAR!" He cast an odd gleam as Aqua tried to yell her spell, no noise came out. "Hwahahhahahaahaha!"

He jumped back and enveloped himself in a water shield, he was charging for something. The Eidolon cringed and knew what was coming. He posed for a spell and waved out a soothing mist, Kairi felt her nerves working again and guessed what she needed to do. "THUNDER!"

PEW! BZZZZZZAP! The jolt of lightning struck Cagnazzo through his watery shield and blasted it apart, interrupting his charged attack, Aqua felt a little relief in knowing that was stopped and sprinted to the Archfiends head, Cagnazzo caused a glitter of light to be cast on Kairi and curled up in his shell. The Princess felt nothing in particular and raised her blade to shout something, she was silenced. Aqua's blow did nothing and she flipped, the Eidolon fired a blast of eldritch energy and summoned his mists. "This could sting, breath this in." He unleashed the mists, Aqua and Kairi wondered what he meant and inhaled to try and say something, the mists went into their nostrils and caused a foul feeling burn in their throats, they hacked. "BLEH!" Got out of their mouths and yelled. "What was."

They realize they could speak, the Eidolon smiled to them and floated away, getting out of the splash zone and having his cloak far away from the water.

Cagnazzo shrouded himself in water to charge something, looking quite furious. Aqua and Kairi looked to each other, focused, hovered and raised their blades in the air. "THUNDER!"

PEW!

A bolt of electricity shot from the ceiling and caused scary dark clouds to form. PEW! PEW! PEW! Bolts of lightning pelted from the ceiling and at Cagnazzo's general area, the conducting water channeled it to the archfiend and gave him a nasty zap, the ones making direct contact obliterated his shield and forced the Archfiend into a scamper for his life, the dark clouds shined a crackle. "BOOM!"

A crack of a whip jolted from the sky and struck Cagnazzo, he screamed in a burning pain and collapsed into a smoulder. The duo felt enough was enough and dismissed the storm. The teacher and student saw they won, cheered and hi five each other, much the annoyance of the Eidolon that looked ahead and found a dark glowing crystal. "Well done. I believe this is something of interest."

Aqua and Kairi saw the dark crystal and approached, they noticed a dark heart floating out of Cagnazzo's corpse and let it flutter away. The Keyblade Master confessed. "We probably would have gotten blind sided by that guys big trick if you didn't get us working. What do you have left to do, when we are done here?"

The Aspect of the Sea closed his eyes and answered. "You'll need aid against the Forces of Chaos, do you not?" Kairi guessed. "So you'll go ask your people if they are willing to help? We have a way for you to get back home, Master has visited the Realm of Beasts." The Aspect of the Sea asked. "Princess, with a kind heart. You know the price we will ask if we are allowed to aid you."

Kairi nodded grimly. "Yes, your people aren't going to help us because they want to. They are going to do it for the souls of anyone that follows Chaos or follows Archaon." Aqua agreed with that. "Or because if Archaon gets his hands on Kingdom Hearts, our problem is going to quickly become theirs. There's already a problem with you know who, being let loose in the Realms."

The Aspect of the Sea cringed to that knowledge. "We've all sensed She Who Thirsts, if you wish to know a secret, all of our ordeals came, because of that Chaos god." Kairi shivered. "Slaanesh? That thing is weird, like... bad weird." Aqua agreed with that. "More than others, that thing and it's followers, know how to play with what you want and for some, that want can make them forget what they had before and forget that there ARE limits of whether the thing you want is worth it or not."

Kairi nodded. "I've talked with the people at the Bastion, those Chaos Space Marines that were after them... apparently had plans for them and it's definitely something horrifying." She pitied the Aspect of the Sea. "And because of those freaks, someone suffers and they have to deal with the aftermath. If someone tried to help you, it didn't quite work."

The Eidolon paused for a moment, Aqua guessed. "That is the reason why you all had to do what you do AND deal with those who care more that you're stealing their property than about the people you... have to kill, as well as deal with the followers of Chaos. I don't know what is worse, the fact that we have to work together despite knowing what you do, or the fact that you and your people are trapped into this evil. Is there anything, we can do?"

The Eidolon shook his head. "Nothing, lasting. But... your concern is appreciated." The keybearers focused on purifying the crystal, in a few seconds, the crystal became that of blue, the Eidolon focused his power upon the crystal and caused it to turn dark blue with a glimmer of light blue. "I have this, go and see if the others require your aid."

The ladies appreciated the help and turned to leave, Kairi took a deep breath. "Thank you." They left the Aspect of the Sea be, with him out of the mind, Kairi asked. "So, we're really going to bring an army over into the worlds one day? Just to fight another war?"

Aqua nodded. "Looks like it. Sora and Riku are some of the best we got and they barely did anything to Archaon," Kairi knew that. "And they had Ana with them too. If Ven's correct, Archaon returned back to the realms for something and I think it's so he can bring his own army over here. Is history going to repeat itself? People fighting each other for the Light of Kingdom Hearts?"

Aqua bit her lip. "It's... very likely" she turned to her student. "this wasn't what I had in mind when I took you and Ken in. Even if we needed to prepare for a major battle, all of it is meant to stop another war from coming."

Kairi understood. "We took the Keyblade so we can protect the worlds and our friends. We had a taste of the kind of war we're in for when the Black Legion came, we've all got blood on our hands and it isn't easy to get it off."

Aqua turned around. "And I'm worried that some of us are developing the mindset of having to go to war. Did Ken tell you anything specific after he was done in the underworld?" Kairi shook her head. "Not a lot I understand, besides Lightning talking about another problem we need to look at. But, I think Sora, Donald and Goofy would know more about that Underworld. Out of all the things Ken could have picked up, he's a little more concerned about a hat he picked up from an Ork that painted himself purple."

Aqua's mouth twitched in confusion. "Why would a Greenskin paint himself purple?" Kairi was more bewildered. "That Ork was apparently an infiltrator, we never seen a Purple Ork before." Aqua raised her tone. "Why would that even work?" Kairi answered just as outraged. "I don't know, but apparently it worked."

In the Path of Air.

Sora and Ventus looked up at a tower shrouded in a twister, the dangerous wind triggered their instinct to not get any closer. Loru got off of Nightscale and enveloped his hammer with wind. "This, is annoying. Nightscale, stay here for now." The Stardrake grumbled as Ana approached Loru with her own glow of power. "She's holding herself up in there, like a coward. If we get rid of this twister, we can get in."

Loru felt that to be a mutual thought and channeled the power of wind into Ana's keyblade. "So, let us remove the blockage and open the way." The Hammerblade aimed with the might of the storms and fired a gust of wind.

WOOSH!

The vortex made contact with the wind and disrupted the twister. Ven was shaking in the legs as Sora asked. "Ana, you're a little more angry than usual. Think we should slow down?" Loru cringed under his helmet as Ana approached the tower. "Sora, what that witch has done to Loru as a Stormcast is unforgivable. We are forged to protect the realms and what has she and Garland forced Loru into doing?"

Ven felt it making sense. "The complete opposite." Loru agreed with the answer. "Exactly, this could be partially my fault." The Hammer blade laughed to that. "I've been wanting to make you cease your teasing, for years. To finally humble you. But not like the way that it happened, this is a lot more personal. You lad's understand?"

Sora folded his hands behind his head. "We do, there was one jerk I know who let it go to his head and done a lot of dumb things until he wasn't himself anymore. Some of that happened because someone gave him the idea to go down a dark path and it got worse." He thought more into it and felt Ana's anger. "If I see someone try that on my friends again, they'll be sorry."

The Stormcast appreciated the understanding. "Those people are some of the worst." She raised her blade to yell. "For the Stormcasts!" And in a flicker of light, was in cased with in an orange crystal mid rally. The group jumped in astonishment, they looked up to the tower and found a barely covered, blonde woman with long hair, sitting on a ledge, closing her legs, resting her hands by her hips and leaning back in a smug manner. Ana looked up to see the Archfiend of Wind and pounded in her prison, speaking all manners of murderous vows, Barbariccia laughed at her. "Heh, heh, heh. Even when transcended, beyond a mere mortal, you still hold on to their vices."

The crystal hovered to the top of the tower rather fast. Loru growled at the Archfiend as Sora barked. "Hey, give her back and face us!" Barbariccia stood up. "No," took satisfaction on seeing Sora get more angry and is seeing Ven try to fly after her. "If you are all so eager to die, then climb the tower and find us. Let's see how you fair without this demi god amongst you." She laughed, enveloped herself into yellow wind and flew off with the crystal, Ven groaned. "Come on." PEW!

For more insult to their injury, a swarm of feminine, soldier like heartless, appeared to guard the narrow bridge. They keybearers readied for battle as Loru cloaked himself in wind and insist. "I'm coming Ana."

He charged at the pace of a knight in heavy army and quickly sped up, enveloping himself into a rolling storm that knocked the Heartless away. Sora and Ven followed him into the tower, upon entry, they found a purple, puppeteer of a Heartless commanding a collection of wooden puppets to launch and ambush. Loru crashed the puppeteer into a wall and caused a gust to blow in the confine of the room. The boy kept their ground as the puppets were blown out asunder and towards a door that had an eager Stardrake trying to get in, Nightscale was annoyed by the heartless and vaporized them with a lightning breath. In the mist of the initial charge, Sora and Ven realized Loru is able to back up his bark. Loru looked around to find nothing but a collection of panels that began to glow. "...So that's how we're going to ascend." He saw Nightscale and approached him. "You're too big, if you can, find the top of the tower and if it has a ceiling, wait. You'll know when you can make an entry."

The drake understood, blew a gust at Sora and Ven in a request and flew off. Ven understood the body language of "Don't let him get hurt." and guessed. "If we step on this, we could get jumped." Sora figured and approached. "So we all go in at once?" He smiled. "They'll get another thing coming."

Loru approached the panel as well. "Since Nightscale isn't here with us, we'll have to make due with-" He directed to Ven. "A nimble youth who's becoming attuned to the storms and sky." and to Sora. "A versatile youth who could move the sky upon a legion in the blink of an eye if he could." and to himself. "And of course, I. Who happens to hold the power of the storm."

The boys felt flattered, Ven scratched the back of his head. "Thanks, but you haven't seen everything we can do." Loru almost laughed. "Well, considering where we are, I presume blowing this palace up right now, would be a foolish mistake. Don't hold back as much as you were, we don't have the time."

Sora asked bluntly. "Hold back!?" He took it as a challenge. "We'll show you, holding back!" The three jumped on the panel and felt themselves teleport to the room above, finding a doorway to the right corner ahead of them and as expected, were set in ambush by the feminine Soldiers, dark icy beasts and a soldier dressed like a menacing black knight. It didn't take long for the trio to wipe them out, Sora focused on the beasts with enveloped strikes of water, Ven sweeping the Soldiers up in the wind and Loru smashing the Black Knight in the head. Sora switched to the Hunny Spout, form changed it into pistols and peppered the stragglers into submission. He aimed at the battered Black Knight, turned his pistols into a launcher and fired a massive glob to finish the last of the Heartless off.

The boys were feeling that Loru was smiling widely, like a child, under his helmet, the Stormcast lead to the next room. "This could be another trap for all we know. Be ready to move."

Sora and Ven felt the jokes stopped and kept caution, they found a large door leading to what looks like an elevator. As expected, barriers formed, one blocking them from the elevator and another blocking them from leaving, a trio of insect like heartless appeared, a tall pink mantis with a spear, a stout, blue beetle with scythed talons and a small pink hornet with barbed talons. A three on three.

The Mantis Sister cast a reflection spell on the Beetle Sister, who charged at Sora. The young boy back flipped and countered with a quick combo and heeded the mental que to not use any spells, the Hornet Sister cast blizzard on the Beetle Sister, Ven and Loru immediately found something off, the Drakesworn yelled out. "Watch out, this is their strategy."

Sora hummed, watched the freeze spell make contact with the Beetle Sister's reflective barrier and was given a face full of a blizzard spell that engulfed Ven and Loru for rather massive damage. Sora landed on his back, rolled on his feet and tried to look like he could tough out the next blow, he healed himself and Loru bounced the Beetle Sister back. Ven leaped at the Mantis Sister to unleash a couple of swings and keep her distracted. The Hornet Sister buzzed in annoyance, flew far away from the Mantis Sister and called to her. The Mantis Sister swiped Ven back and leaped to the Hornet Sister, to perform a Reflect spell on the Beetle Sister. Sora saw the pattern and jumped in front of the Hornet. "That isn't going to work this time."

SMACK!

The Hornet was smacked in a quick combo and flew to the entrance, she blew a raspberry at Sora and tossed an orb of toxic power at the Reflection spell. Sora called out. "Incoming!" Ven turned to see the spell and timed himself with Sora to reflect the toxic wave. Loru braced himself with a shroud of lightning and took a good portion of the damage. The Beetle Sister charged at Ven and tried to keep him from attacking her Sisters, like a goalie. The Mantis and Hornet wall jumped to avoid Sora and Loru and get close to the Beetle, they attacked Ven as one.

The older boy wall jumped to avoid the gang attack and flung himself back to his group. Leaving the Sisters, free to do a Delta Attack, Ven cringed. "This isn't good. We got to break that sync."

The Mantis Sister cast reflect on the Beetle Sister blocking the heroes from her sisters and the Hornet Sister sparked in lightning. Loru felt an idea come. "If all else fails, we should take that Beetle down first," The trio cast a defensive spell to endure the burst of lightning, Loru finished. "She's the more disruptive one."

Ven felt it made sense. "She's the one they are directing the spells to! Sora?" The young boy flickered to his second form. "I'm on it!" He and Ven raised their blades in sync and rushed to the Beetle Sister in sonic speed, slashing across her in multiple directions. The Mantis Sister flinched and rushed at Ven with her spear, the boys noticed and back flipped, Sora aimed his blade to conjure multiple beams of light as Ven focused on something and glowed. "This should help!"

A floral collection of trees appeared, a rolling green Sloth bear barreled at the Mantis Sister as a dark green rustle of grass rippled to the Hornet Sister. BONK!

The Mantis Sister was knocked to a wall, the sloth bear landed on his stomach in a fumble as a black panther pounced on the Hornet Sister. He looked upon himself and realized the lunacy of his predicament as the bear pulled himself up and asked. "Man, Bagheera. What happened?" Bagheera guessed by the odd place and heartless. "Eh, we been called." Sora fired the beams at the Beetle Sister and was astonished. "Baloo? Bagheera?!"

Ven smirked to the two. "That's how a summon works. Hey, Baloo, could you help us take care of this Beetle? She's kind of giving us a hard time." Baloo stood up and adjusted the fur of his arms, like one would unsleeve an arm. "You call it, I'll do it."

He roared to gain the Beetle Sister's attention and sprinted after her, the Hornet Sister flew in the bears way to conjure a fire spell. PEW! PEW! PEW! ZZ ! ZZZ! ZZZ! Electric arrows pelted her off course, Loru had a bow and arrow at his disposal.

The Mantis Sister readied a reflect spell for the Beetle Sister, Bagheera pounced on her to stop the cast and the Beetle tried to roll away. Sora pulsed a red barrier that knocked the Beetle into a stun. Giving Baloo the chance to punch the Heartless in the face. She looked battered and Ven gave the animals a thumbs up. "We got it from here guys! Thanks for the help."

Bagheera flickered with a prideful smile. "Good luck, man cubs!" PEW! Baloo waved goodbye. "We'll catch up again soon!" PEW!

Ven quickly sparked in wind, jumped to a wall behind the disoriented Beetle Sister and flung himself at her with the precision of a samurai. SLASH!

He landed next to her, flipped his blade and watched the Beetle Sister release a captive heart and dissolve. The Mantis Sister backed away from him and cast a reflect spell in preparation, Sora powered down, switched to the Happy Gear and did close combat with her, quickly getting her into a stun lock. The Hornet Sister aimed a fire spell at Sora to get him to back away and was bull rushed by Loru, who unleashed his electrical combo on her.

Sora flipped the Mantis Sister up high and form changed his blade to mechanical claws and used them to tear her to ribbons. Leaving the lone Hornet Sister in a corner, Ventus readied to finish her off with Loru and Sora changed the claws into yo-yo's. He flung them at the sister and caused the toys to glow teeth, swiftly finishing the fight. Sora flipped the yo-yo's back and had them revert back to the Happy Gear, Ven could tell that Loru was closing his eyes like he was greatly impressed. Sora saw the barriers disappear and phewed. "Alright, that wasn't too bad." Ven agreed with that. "I knew you learned that trick, but...wow." Sora didn't mind the flattery. "You were pretty strong, yourself."

Loru agreed with the boys and lead to the elevator. "It's no wonder this realm endured all it's hardships and it's no wonder two of it's people survived the Realm of Ghur." He stepped on and turned, proud of the two. "I think, I understand why Sigmar reforged Ana into a Hammer Blade. A wielder of the Keyblade."

Sora and Ven followed the Draksworn, the older boy thought of it. "Since the guy has the power to speed up the process... and because Aqua fixed Ana's heart after their fight with Nagash, I guess that was how that happened. He's taking this mess pretty seriously." Sora agreed with that. "One of his problems became ours." Loru looked felt the elevator ascending and looked up. "He can't be everywhere at once though, that is why he's created the Stormcasts. To carry out his will and protect the Realms from the Forces of Chaos and from those that seek to threaten it's people. You've seen, first hand what these evil people are capable of doing if they had their way, time and time again."

Sora and Ven remember grimly, the young boy guessed. "Which is why you kind of act like a jerk to Ana and anyone who you think can do better. The more of us fighting against this, and the more of us that are good at it, the more likely we'll win in the end."

Loru saw the top of the elevator shaft in sight. "I have to, in case you hold yourself back. But, it turns out I don't need to instill that on you two. This could be booby trapped."

The boys looked up to the ceiling and figured, the concern was noted, they saw the door way out, focused and flowed to the ledge. LEAP!

Loru jumped high and landed behind them, the elevator slowed down into a stop, the Stormcast turned to realize he's been wrong and the boy laughed to that. They found a larger room ahead, one with a raised platform and ventured on ahead. Finding Barbarricia looked upon the orange crystal, with an Ana that was still banging against her prison, the Archfiend taunted. "Such a bravado, to be compensated by an unbound hurricane of rage."

She turned to the males with malicious intent. "To have come so far with one goal in mind. I will enjoy, breaking you all in the storm!" She jumped off the ledge and hovered for battle, Sora and Ven fed electrical light into Loru's hammer and qued the Stormcast to hurl the hammer. FLING!

The Archfiend skid out of the way and laughed in arrogance, the boys pulled back on seeing the hammer miss and caused it to boomerang back. BONK! The Archfiend was smacked in the back with the electrical hammer, cringed in pain and tried to regain her battle stance as Loru caught the hammer, she unleashed a storm of lightning, the boys jumped out of the way as Loru rolled, got caught in a bolt and was ready to charge. Sora and Ven sprinted with the Stormcast for a unified strike, the Archfiend enveloped herself in wind and blew the three away as a living tornado. She followed that spell with another thunder storm, striking them all down and bringing them in critical condition, the storm twisted, something dreadful was about to be unleashed. Ana saw that, drew her hammer blade and in a spark of lightning, strike.

CRACK! She saw the crack and charged again.

Sora and Ven cast a healing spell in sync and tried once more to attack the Archfiend, the twister shielded her again. The duo thought of something and tried to focus as Barbarricia raised her hand to the clouds. "You won't get the chance to use that, now." She gave a wide lipped smile. "you will die!"

SMASH! She saw hints of an orange crystal scattering and a flash of her shadow. DING! The trio of males saw a furious, winged Stormcast leap down from above and smash Barbarricia in the back with the Hammerblade, broke her twister and sent her falling. CRUNCH! The Archfiend was unceremoniously crushed into the pavement, landing on her face. Ana stood up and watched Barbarricia try to get up, looking at the trio of males that were completely astonished, coughing blood and rolling her eyes back. She fell back on her face, dead. A dark heart of a hurricane emerged and flew away as something crashed from the ceiling, Nightscale. The Stardrake landed dramatically and roared for battle, realizing the fight was over and staring dumbfounded. Ana smirked to the males. "You came in a hurry. Thanks for getting her to turn around like that."

Sora and Ven didn't find it much of a problem as Loru went up the stairs. "How long were you waiting to do that? She was about to cast something... dreadful."

Ana dismissed her blade and followed him. "Long enough to calm down when I realize she had that trick. Nothing said I can't use the keyblade to bust something open." Ven hummed. "Guess it can work like that." Sora agreed. "Touche."

They followed the Stormcasts up the stairs and found a dark crystal, the three keybearers approached to dispel the dark as Nightscale flapped to the perch, Loru thought of the longer strategy. "Do you suppose that heart... is going somewhere?"

Ven felt the weird sensation. "It's going back the way we came, so... we might have another fight coming." Sora felt it was a certainty as well. "Garland made these guys out of hearts, unlike those last guys we fought. They actually think in comparison."

Ana figured as well. "Instead of being an elemental construct, they can think and feel like us. If that heart is evil, then it might have one more act of spite to give us."

Pew!

The darkness was dispelled, Loru and Nightscale approached the crystal and feed the crystal their power, forming a grey half with a stormy white under half. The Drakesworn advised. "Just what kind of ordeals await us further in this forsaken place? Once you deal with that lock, you should council with the others."

The trio agreed with that, Ana grumbled. "That will be our duty. Come on lads, Nightscale opened a short cut for us." Sora knew what was coming as Ven looked to the hole in the ceiling. "I guess we could jump across that and-" grab!

He was held under Ana's left arm and yelped, Sora grumbled and let Ana pick him up. The Stormcast flapped her wings and promised. "That... would have been a rough landing." She took flight rather gently, past the hole and to the path they came.

In the Path of Fire.

Halvek felt like he was in a weird fever dream as he looked upon the foundation of a foundry. Ken saw a conveyor belt going in and out of something and Began noticed a turn to the left. "Alright, what is this stromez ori doing ere?"

Halvek shrugged. "How if I know, most of the work I found ere got nothin' on the Kharadron's craft." Ken slowed his approached and thought. "But, you haven't found all of it. Radiant Garden is nothing but steam punk, guess Garland took the idea from there."

Began lead the way and felt head blowing to the left, the conveyor belt, moved. Five strange boxes, with a familiar dark emblem, traveled out of the other room. Ken and Halvek quietly aimed, the boxes sprung open to reveal three cybernetic knights, with tiny jet packs and a canon like mouth, and two, steel grey lantern like heartless with four canons at their hips. The Cyknights fired their jet packs and pounced on the three as the Cannon Turrets hovered to the sides and prepared to fire. Ken jumped back and skipped to the right as Halvek dashed left and fired his pistol at one of the Cannon Turrets, Began swung his grandaxe at the Cyknights with wild abandon. Ken's shots vanquished one of the Turrets as the other rapid fired at Began, while the Cyknights clawed. The one armed boy rushed to the free space, landed his feet on the wall and used his air magic to spear into the cluster of two knights.

WOOSH! He quickly slew them and left the lone knight to be cleaved in two. The Cannon Turret shook in shock, merged it's cannons into one and fired a strong shot at the boy, Ken spun Cadia's Light and deflected it, the blade glowed. SWOOSH! Ken swiped a burning wave to finish the last of the heartless off.

With the room clear, Ken felt he had his answer. "This is a weapons factory." The conveyor belt kept moving, Halvek guessed. "And we're not going to be free of them unless we get moving and execute the Archfiend." Began grumbled to the door. "What's a bunch of mass produced junk got on something made by hand?" Ken wanted to answer as the Fyreslayer lead and answered for him. "Nothing!"

Havlek looked offended. "I see that, but when you got quantity over quality, it isn't gonna matter so long as they work." He and Ken followed, entering the inner workings of the foundry and finding a furnace up above and hammers tinking away, they saw more Soldiers being put together on the belt as Cyknights, Cannon Turrets overlooking the assembly and fiery lizards feeding flame into the many furnaces. Ken whispered. "This is too narrow for Ol' Bountiful to just blow up. How about, I go on ahead and break apart this before we charge in?"

Halvek wanted to agree as Began growled and marched. "Or how about you watch this!" He kicked up the pace, Ken cringed, turned to Halvek and shrugged, he signaled him to stay close. Began dashed to a cluster of three Cannon Turrets and yelled a fiery shout, incinerating them.

The machinery turned it's assembly tools towards Began and revealed fiery yellow eyes, they launched clamps and drills at him, the Fyreslayer leaped on the conveyor belt with a half assembled Cyknight, with a burning aura and an axe ready. The Cyknight looked up and shot bullets from it's mouth.

Sizzle!

The bullet's vaporized. Ken shot at the Assembly Parts for quick kills as Halvek notice the furnace revealing fangs, it shot fire balls. "Oof! We got this whole factory mad!" Ken saw, grabbed the Kharadron and used his wind magic to leap up to the upper platform for a narrow escape as Began rushed at the furnace and leaped at it's forehead. Smashing his axe deep and jumping back to see the giant hole, Ken focused and form changed Cadia's Light into a missile launcher. "Boom!"

PEW!

He launched a missile, saw it zoom into the hole and waited. FFFW! The missile exploded, the furnace sparked brightly and dimmed. The assembly line stopped and the danger was clear, Ken reverted his weapon back and traversed the cat walks to a doorway, Began jumped onto the catwalk and readied to charge. Halvek barked. "Hey! Talk to us next time; ya hot headed, muscle brained-" Began laughed at him. "And take half an hour getting past here? Oh, don't worry, I'll let you have the next one."

Halvek blew a fuse, Ken stood in between them. "Guys, stop it. We do need to hurry up and get back to the others, this just... speeds up things." He lead in. "Halvek, tell us what you spy if things get out of control."

The Navigator felt that was enough. Tink! Tink! He head something ahead, the sound of a blacksmith. "Like that?"

Ken slowed his step and entered a room that was larger to the right, he turned and found a dark grey robot, with a steel looking hammer for a right hand and a free hand that looked dark blue. The head looked like a blob of molten, blue metal and it's eyes were more focused on what was before it, a shroud of darkness. Halvek and Began entered to find the strange robot, behind it was an enclosed furnace and above it was a green pipe. The robot saw faint shadows and looked up, it heated and caused sparks of flame to appear in the walls, the Cannon Turret's appeared, latched onto the walls and aimed to fire.

The Smith pounded its hammer onto the dark blob, the blob formed into a medal. PEW! PEW! PEW! The Cannon Turret's fired at the three in rapid succession, they had to focus on avoiding getting shot as the Smith used its free hand to pour water upon it, finishing a platinum Heartless Emblem. It put it on and drew a dark energy from it's constructs, the anvil and the pipe. Halvek cringed. "We got to smash those cannons before I can get Ol' Bountiful here." Ken agreed with that. "And we need to smash everything first."

Began noticed the Smith forming a barrier around it and thought of a plan. "I'll keep big ugly busy, don't hold back!" Ken promised he wouldn't and focused on one of the Turrets, he flipped, swiped his blade to form a fiery circle and fired a beam of sunlight. WOOSH! He flung to the turret and incinerated the thing in seconds, he flew to the other one to do battle and drew attention to the guns.

The Smith looked up at the annoying boy, the pipe spat down a blob of darkness for it to work on. It readied it's hammer to heat it and shape it into another turret. SMASH! Began sank his axe on the anvil and looked the Smith in the eyes. Taunting it. The Smith rushed at him to smack his hammer, Began jumped out of the way and struck him, knowing his blows do nothing. Began took his chance to approach the anvil and place an aether bomb, he lit it up and sprinted away. BOOM! The bomb exploded and turned the anvil to scrap, Ken called Firekeeper's Wish and slashed his blades on the second turret. He jumped in the middle of the room, saw the explosion and intentionally dropped on his back, he swiped a fire ball to the back left Turret with Firekeeper's Wish and charged with Cadia's Light. One turret was scorched away and the other was punctured into scrap. The pipe dropped another blob of darkness as Ken landed, directly on top of him, the boy rolled to avoid it.

The blob swelled and ruptured into a splash of dark slag that homed in on the boy, then another. The Smith sprinted to the blob and pounded his hammer upon it, trying to reforge the anvil. Ken returned to Halvek with the que, the Kharadron focused and caused light to shine from underneath, summoning a cannon turret with an occupant seat. Halvek jumped on and aimed for the pipe.

BOOM!

A cannon shot, doing critical damage, Ken aimed both keyblades at the pipe to fire, causing it to fragment. Began leaped at the forming blob to smash it again and tempt the Smith to look up, another canon shot made impact with the pipe and finished it off. The barrier faded away, the Smith glowed red, smacked Began with his free hand and burst in flames, collapsing into a different shape. Resembling a dark blue tank with a single nozzle, the yellow eyes glared at them all and the trends spun.

It rushed at the duo responsible for the destruction of it's creations, the two ran out of there, the turret spun to Ken and the nozzle shot something out. A dark bullet with eyes.

POW!

Ken was sent flying to a wall, caught himself and was in pain. WOOSH! A fire ball shot it from it's side, it turned to Began and was hellbent on running him over, it smashed him under it's trends as Ken shook himself, flipped Firekeeper's Wish and flung chaotic fire balls. One ball made contact and burned the Smith in molten steel, a second one drew it's attention, Ken placed both blades together and hurled a large fire ball. It made contact and burst with the force of an eruption, the tank was pushed and sizzled in the molten steel. It rushed at Ken and prepared to fire, the boy was more prepared and dashed to it's right, avoiding the rounds and shooting back. Began summoned his turret again and shot a round of light.

POW!

The round punctured the tank and caused an inward explosion, the turret head raised up like it was howling and spewed smoke. Ken circled around, found the hole and hurled a grenade of light into it. The tank pulsed, stopped and collapsed, a captive heart released from the hatch way and the Smith faded away. Ken and Began felt sore and saw two doorways by the furnace. They tried to pick which one to go and Halvek dismissed the turret and went right. "That was bizarre."

Ken exhaled and followed with a little sweat. "Yeah, that got pretty dangerous," Began took the back lead. "You've fought warmachines like that one before?" Ken lost count. "A lot of them," They entered what looked like a large office connecting both paths, with a dark crystal behind a desk. A spark of an inferno appeared and became a twister of flame.

Began clenched his fists and yelled. "You!" Ken guessed. "The guy who turned you into that Magma Demon?" The Fyreslayer groveled. "He let that Demon twist me more after I found myself reborn in that crystal. He was called Rubicante." The Archfiend of Fire appeared in his cloak and looked upon the tired party. "I was under orders to allow that perversity to happen. You've already proven to yourself to be a fine warrior without it." Halvek grumbled and was ready for one more summon. "Then why go through all the trouble?"

Rubicante was ready to get to the point. "For that is my masters wish, Began's heart was already grounded to dust and was made to serve another. Now he marches unto another war, as a slave to his emotions." Began took his weapon and smiled in an agreement. "Ya got that right! We've made scrap out of this factory and we're about to settle this grudge." Rubicante chuckled and clapped. "Anger such as yours, have always brought about such incredible power. But they will not avail you, for the frozen winds of Hell's ninth circle, could not penetrate the cloak I wield."

He undid his cloak to reveal the body of a demonic man. "Come, I will heal your wounds. Face me at full strength!" The trio felt a surge of green light and their injuries becoming nonexistant.

Ken dismissed Firekeeper's wish and posed to strike. "Thanks, we'll show you what we are." DASH! He flung to Rubicante's torso, punctured it and flipped back, Rubicante cringed in pain and curled back into his cloak. With a wave, he unleashed a firaga spell that knocked the three back. Rubicante followed with a sprint to Ken, uppercutting him and swiping his cloak at Halvek.

The Navigator rolled away and let Began charge, the Archfiend kicked and leaped, leaving behind a gust of flame, he landed by Halvek and charged a fire ball. Ken yelped, stabbed Cadia's Light in the ground and caused a rubble beneath the Archfiend.

BURST! A rupture of a burning light sent Rubicante to a wall, Ken sprinted to follow his attack, Rubicante swiped with his cape to knock him back and pelt the dwarves with flame. Began jumped infront of Halvek to take the damage. Rubicante jumped to the center with the glow of an inferno. Ken jumped to Halvek and stabbed the ground once more, summoning pillars of earth to shield himself and the vulnerable.

Rubicante unleashed an inferno that engulfed the room, Began felt the blunt, gritted his teeth and pushed against it, those behind the barrier were protected, although the rocks became heated. Began smashed his axe into the Archfiend, Rubicante stepped back with an adrenaline high. "Marvelous, you're life with in the flames have served you well, Runefather."

Began saw the smile and smiled back. "You'll get use to the flame when you go tame an ol' Magmadroth." PEW! A pillar of light erupted from the stone barrier, a frigate flew out with it's canon aimed. Halvek pointed onward as Ken manned the gun. "You'll have more than that when we send you packing back to hell. Fire!"

Ken pulled the trigger and shot shrapnel, Rubicante dashed to the right to avoid one shot, Ken sharply turned the turret with the Frigate and fired where the Archfiend sprinted to. Peppering him with many shots, the carbines had their round and dealt another lethal looking glance. Ken stepped off the gun, flipped Cadia's Light and form changed it into jet like wings, he drew out Firekeeper's wish and jumped off, Began charged with the boy as Rubicante prepared a fire ball. PEW! SWIPE!

Ken used Firekeeper's Wish to deflect the fireball and with Began, smashed the Archfiend into a wall. Rubicante was surrounded by cracks, pulled and fell on his knees, shaking. "I...interesting." He laughed. "You are all fine warriors indeed, if your companions have bested the others, then the Spirit of Discord himself, will find no easy foe with in you."

Ken let his wings revert and panted. "Good, he needs to get throttled for what he's done." Rubicante was about to fall from his wounds. "Ha, ha, ha. May you all continue to prove yourselves, worthy adversaries." Thud. He fell and a heart of dark fire emerged from the body. It floated away and left the keybearer to the dark crystal, he approached it and used his blade to dispel the dark.

Halvek dismissed Ol' Bountiful as Began readied himself for his duty, the Fyreslayer asked the boy. "And you consider yourself the weakest?" Ken made quick work of dispelling the dark and turned. "Kairi has stronger elements and can actually stay in your face, Miss Aqua taught me a lot, Ven's had just as much experience as her, the King is fast, then we talk about Riku and especially Sora. They also have more experience with fighting one of our biggest enemies than I have and a lot I do, makes me a target." He looked at Rubicante's body with pity. "But, it's kind of nice to feel like I'm not a burden."

Began sighed and approached the crystal. "Listen here, you're far from a burden, you just need to keep forging yourself until you are ready to dive into the art of the fight." He focused and caused the crystal to glow like lava. "When you feel like you reached your limit, when it feels like you can't do anything, just keep pushing yourself. You might outdo yourself." He ordered. "I got this crystal, get back to the others!"

Ken saluted and followed Halvek out, at the hall way and away from the Fyreslayer, the Kharadron confessed. "I promise ya, things are going to get much worse before they can get better. Sometimes, you got to drown out what others have to say to you and follow your instincts."

Ken turned to him, letting him know he is listening, Halvek thought of something. "The voices from all the people, seeking to put you down, means as much as a Grots stool. You listen to your own voice and listen to the people who care about what you have to say, you'll feel a lot lighter in the end."

Ken guessed. "So I got to put up with my bad luck, do what I think is right and don't stop until I think it's enough?" He remembered. "Speaking of which, there is... something I want to ask Miss about. I found it and I want to know if it is mine to keep." Halvek listened. "Did ya now? Well, ya going to have to ask her for permission soon. What is it?" Ken thought to dial back. "It started when I heard of-"

At the Foyer.

Yen Sid noticed streams of a luscious earth, a sun lit sea, a mighty storm and of a wakening volcano, from across the corners, coming out was slithers of dark hearts. A particular adversary comes. The various party groups arrived to see the dark hearts circle each other, Aqua and Riku expected that to happen and Sora asked. "Would you guys beat it? We don't have anymore time for you."

Yen Sid agreed with that and addressed the dark hearts. "Fiendish hearts, from the depths of Darkness! You're master must answer for his crimes! Begone from this place and return to your slumber."

The hearts closed in on each other and enveloped itself with foul gas, briny water, violent winds and a deep inferno. They spoke as one. "You will not ascend, our masters domain! So long as malice exists, we will be eternal! From the desecrated earth, the drowning seas, the devastating winds and the inferno of war!" The dark powers merged into a single body.

"We are Geryon and this place, will be your tomb!" WOOSH!

The powers blew against the party and pushed them back, Sora and Aqua pushed against the power in sync, Goofy shielded himself and stepped forward and Ken grabbed Halvek by the arms and hurled. "Get Ol' Bountiful in there!" FLING!

The rather unusual band made it across the force as all others were pushed back and sealed in barriers, Goofy pushed into the eye of the storm and joined up with Sora and Aqua. "Wait for me fellas!" Thunk! Halvek screamed and landed on his stomach, he pulled himself up and had some criticism for Aqua. "You're pupil's as ambitious as an Admiral when he gets Aether Fever!" Aqua hummed at the team composition. "He is, but I think sending you over here might be for the best." Goofy saw the darkness take shape, forming into some mishmashed fiend, with a shield on its left hand and a curved sword on its right. "Wowzas." He braced himself. "We got a tough one 're fellas."

Sora readied for a fight as the form took color, having the head, torso and cloak of Rubicante, the arms of Cagnazzo, the spiked shoulders of Scarmiglione and hair green legs, that have the feminine shape of Barbariccia, the shield and sword were of a black color. Geryon gave a combined laughter and lunged at Sora and Aqua.

Aqua back flipped as Sora jumped on the cleaver and leaped to Geryon's shoulder, he unleashed a quick combo and bashed his head with the blunt of his blade, the fiend turned his head and gave Aqua the chance to fling her keyblade, it spun mid air near contact and carved. Geryon flexed and unleashed a mighty twister, knocking Sora and Aqua back and flowing the wind to the air. Geryon aimed downward and hiss in a Barbariccia's tone. "Maelstrom."

Halvek was adjusting his device during the wind attack, found a tether of air magic and aimed it to the air. BLINK! The twisting air, didn't come, giving Goofy the chance to call out and raise his shield up. "Sora, I'm ready!"

The boy understood, dashed to the shield bearer, Goofy sprung Sora and himself in the air. Sora grabbed Goofy by the arm and flung him down to the Archfiend.

SMACK!

Geryon was knocked to the ground, performed a downward flipped and flew high in the air to try again, being much more successful in summoning a multitude of twisters. Sora, Aqua and Goofy ran from those as Halvek shot at the Archfiend, Geryon blocked with his shield and swiped his blade, launching the twisters at the group, Sora and Aqua avoided them, but Goofy and Halvek were sent back against the barrier. Geryon finished it's combo by spewing gas to the air, turning the clouds brown and blowing them down. Sora and Aqua held their breath as Halvek was completely unaffected, due to his suit. Goofy felt a burning in his throat and was unable to speak. He charged brazenly at the descending Archfiend to try and shield bash him, it blocked him back with it's own shield and glowed in an inferno.

Aqua focused on Geryon, hovered and formed a crystal prism, she flung it to the air and had it rain crystal soul arrows of multiple colors, Sora focused himself, turned Happy Gear into yo-yo's and opened two rifts of light, he flung the toys into the rifts and caused many to appear around the Archfiend, the yo-yo's pelted it from all sides. Geryon sprinted to the two and spun to let loose the inferno. That knocked the duo to the wall, Goofy protected Halvek and hid behind his shield to avoid the damage. Aqua cast a heal and broke a sweat, Geryon focused his sword swings on her and forced her to take a defensive position, Halvek focused on a glow of light and shouted. "Sora, Goofy, it's time to man the guns!"

Sora felt an idea and sprinted to him. "Hey, mind if we make a couple adjustments?" Halvek grumbled. "Not without my permission, you get to man the sky cannon and maybe," He looked to Goofy. "Maybe throw in a little surprise if we can get the elements in our favor."

PEW!

Ol' Bountiful appeared in it's radiance and had a cock pit waiting for someone, the trio jumped on, the frigate dashed across the foyer as Aqua noticed what was called upon. Sora jumped into the gun's cockpit and fired bolts of lightning shells at the Archfiend. Giving Aqua the chance to get away, another shell fired and she focused on that, flowed to the shot and flowed to the frigate.

BOOM!

Geryon felt another shot and turned around, he shielded himself and laughed like Cagnazzo. "Hwahahahahahahaha! Drown!" The ground became wet and turned at a pulse of the Archfiend's power, unleashing a tsunami. Goofy braced his shield and in sync, Aqua channeled a reflective power to form a barrier around the Frigate. The tsunami still knocked the Frigate to the ground, but the passengers weren't worse for wear, Halvek steered the ships sides as Aqua gave the aether carbines the power of light. Pelting Geryon with small shots. The Archfiend flew at them with the speed of wind and got into the frigate's personal, Sora jumped off the gun and pounced on Geryon's face. Smacking it on the skull with the blunt of his keyblade and flipping to it's back to unleash a combo. With no one to man the gun, Halvek ordered. "Aqua, you're turn, Goofy, you see the shells capsule right there?"

The shield bearer nodded. "What about it?" The Navigator snickered. "It just so happens that you and Sora, wanting a hand at this, gave the sky cannon a small... adjustment, if you crawl in, you'll see." Goofy thought none of it and went to look, finding a chamber just his size. "Like this?"

Geryon tried to shake Sora off as Aqua thought more into the plan. "If you go in there, shield first, we can... shoot you out of the canon." Goofy gasped. "Like one of those circus acts?" The Keyblade Master smiled to the plan. "Exactly, don't worry, you probably won't get hurt."

Halvek agreed. "Not if a keybearer shoots you with a magically made shell, instead of a real one." Aqua nodded. "You're the shell. Can you do it?" Goofy saluted. "Yes I can, ma'am!" He crawled in shield first and closed the hatch, he let Aqua know in a muffled. "I'm ready to be fired!"

Aqua manned the gun, found the attack ridiculous and aimed at a Geryon that caught Sora in a slash, the boy parried and was knocked to the wet ground, the Archfiend sparkled in lightning. "Die, Warrior of Light!" Aqua gave the canon a glow in mystical power and fired, shooting Goofy out in a stream of blue light. "I got this Sora!"

Geryon looked at the sound, saw a shield coming to it's face and tried to block it.

WRAP!

A yo- yo wrapped around his shield arm from bellow; a Sora, that leaped into the air with the yo- yo's smirked, like he got him and let himself drop to let gravity keep that shield in place. POW! BOOM! Goofy made contact and caused a ripple in blue light to consume the Archfiend.

Geryon, Goofy and Sora fell into the water. The boy hand a more dignified landing, yet Goofy landed on his rear, Geryon crashed back first into the water and bleed from its head. It tried to get up, rippled in dark power and collapsed, the Frigate lowered down, Aqua jumped off and asked. "Did we get it?"

The dark hearts floated out of Geryon's chest, the body collapsed into the simple elements in sync. They floated into the air and disappeared. The barrier disappeared and a collection of cheers graced the band of four. Kairi pounced on Sora and knocked him into the water as Donald and Mickey helped Goofy get up, really impressed by the coordination. Halvek leaned on Ol' Bountiful's gun and let Aqua jump off, to watch Ven speechless on what to say. Ana, Riku and Ken noticed Yen Sid approaching with a rather proud smile, the wizard twist a wrist and dispelled the water, getting the groups attention and tapping a spell upon the foyer, making the place feel even more safe. The group listened to the wizard. "That, was most commendable. With the Archfiend's gone, you can finally traverse to the upper reaches."

Mickey made sure Goofy could stand, after how he got shot out of a cannon, and asked. "Us?"

The Wizard nodded. "I fear that someone has to stay behind to ensure no ill fortune befalls our friends maintaining the lock." Click! The group turned to find the multi-locked door shifting, the elemental locks merged into one, pulsed into a keyhole and clanked, a door leading to the upper stairs, has opened.

Riku felt a chill blowing down. "What ever awaits us, can't possibly be good." Pew! PEW! PEW!

Kairi got off of Sora and was the first to see three figures appear from a grey rift, she gasped at the ghostly, grey appearance, that had grey, rifle like weapons and scopes. "Nobodies!" One of them signaled another to approach the group, while the other two slither on ahead. The lone nobody knew the half the group were less than trusting and brought out something, a white flag, it waved it around.

Roxas stepped out of Sora and let the group know. "These guys are here to help us. For as much as they can." Riku asked the nobody. "Did Exrirsa sent you?" The nobody nodded, giving Riku reasons to trust it, Roxas turned. "They're scouting ahead for us, so we don't run into a trap with blind folds. If anyone has a reason to take a break, now is the time."

Goofy, Donald and Mickey found that a relief, the mouse asked. "We'll be talking with Halvek in the mean time." Goofy saw the rather questioning look on his king's face and was ready to explain what happened.

Sora and Kairi got up to feel the adrenaline of victory wear off and Roxas insist. "I'll be asking around for something and get right back. If Resira's been training these guys, then they won't waste time."

The two didn't mind and let Roxas approach a zoned out Ken, Riku is guessing by Mickey's decision. "Hey Sora, is this the first time Goofy or Donald have done something that... crazy? Getting shot out of a cannon, is kind of a new one."

Sora remembered the more wackier incidences he has had with the two. "It isn't new and it worked, did it?" Riku nodded. "Donald and that Skink destroyed, Scarmi with a new healing spell they invented. I'm sure Halvek can explain himself." He looked to find Halvek asking something back and Mickey being confused. "Unless he planned that and allowed you all to partake in the group summoning so that Frigate doesn't hurt Goofy."

Kairi figured that. "It make sense if he saw what Sora and Goofy had done without him. Does it feel a little hard that we are leaving some of our friends behind?"

Riku and Sora felt it was, the spiky haired boy looked at Ana chatting with Yen Sid. "Ven and I had a couple things to talk with Loru about, he's been trying to bring the best out of Ana." Riku guessed. "He's acted like a mild jerk so Ana would one up him?" Sora nodded. "And when Ana got captured, he stopped pretending and did what needed to be done."

Kairi thought about it, looked to a nervous Ken and smirked. "That's how a good rival can help you. You bounce off each other and help each other improve." The smile lessened. "We're going to need it, when we are done here, Loru and the others got something important to do for us and this could... escalate again." The boys groaned, they knew a war as inevitable.

At Ken's area.

The one armed boy was nervous upon looking at an injured Aqua and tapped his fleshy hands on his metal arm. "Do I have to ask her now?"

"Are you going to get another chance? That armor you found, should be yours."

Ken turned to Roxas and yelped, he thought about it and asked. "Did she checked on that, while I was gone? It came from one of Garland's goons and he's played tricks on us before." He hummed. "Hmm...hmmm." He clenched his mechanical hand and decided. "I'll see what they are talking about first."

Roxas stepped aside and had a smile for him, Ken felt more confident and approached. Aqua listened to Ven's tale. "I knew he could back up that talk, you should be proud to impress him. That mans scheme works well."

Ken guessed. "Talking about Loru? He stopped pretending to be a jerk after Ana saved his life." Aqua turned to her student, finding the questioning look on his face. "It's a little deeper than that, but yeah. Do you got something on your mind?"

The one armed boy nodded. "Is it... rude if I talk about that armor we left behind? I kind of want to know if I can keep it." Ven whistled at the bold question, Aqua held a laugh. "It is about time you asked." She tried to form a serious scowl. "We've checked the armor for anything suspicious and it turns out, it is perfectly normal armor. By all accounts, it's yours."

Ken gasped, smiled, clapped like a kid and stopped his excitement in a realization. "...But..." Aqua continued. "But, with a base like that, I could use it to help with a project I want to get started on when we can. Can you guess what it is?"

Ken immediately thought of the keyblade armor. "It's that stuff? The stuff you and Ven got?!" He nearly hyperventilated and tried to calm down. "You're going to use that to make better stuff!"

Ven stepped back as Aqua's scowl turned to a smirk. "I knew you'd be happy to hear that." Ken's smile returned. "I be happy to let you use that thing, if you'll excuse me."

Aqua knew what Ken was going to do and watch him sprint back to Roxas, who told him the news and cheered. "WOOHOOOOO!"

Sora, Kairi and Riku heard the woohoo and knew their friend was allowing something incredible to happen, Kairi asked her friends something that got them excited. Aqua looked at her student's like a proud parent and asked Ven. "No matter how far they grow, a part of them always stays the same. When should we get started?"

The oldest boy thought of it. "Maybe... after this one thing we should check on when we get back. Someone Ken made friends with has grim news about a Skeksis." Aqua took a deep breath. "We should check it out, or they'll become our problem like how Garland is now."

Slither! Slither!

A duo of rather frantic nobodies, returned from the stairway, the body language speaks something that might be disturbing. The able group gathered and Roxas approached them to ask. "What did you two find?"

The left nobody signaled that Roxas comes closer, too timid to speak it out loud, Roxas allowed the whisper and began to look uneasy. Halvek dismissed Ol' Bountiful and asked. "Well? What's on the horizon?"

Roxas thanked the nobody and whispered. "I'll tell them, tell Exrirsa, we said thanks." The nobodies disappeared in grey and Roxas turned. "Okay, it's nothing but bad news. The crucible is definitely a trap, apparently it will reflect some things that have been in our nightmares. Expect, the worst to happen in the illusions."

Kairi felt Namine asking. "Is this Castle Oblivion again?" Roxas folded his arms. "It's a lot like it, the illusions will kill us and we'll need to prepared for anything."

Riku shook his head and lead the way. "Well, onward to the Crucible of Nightmares! Let's not abandon hope when we enter there." Sora grumbled as Roxas faded into him. "That's not funny."

Ken agreed with him. "We had worse than nightmares to get in our way." Riku turned to the younger boys with attitude and had a taunting smile. "Oh we have, are you guys chicken?"

Sora took it as a challenge, racing Riku to the stairway and waiting for the group to follow, ready to lead on to the upper Crucible.