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?

74. A Little Research

In the Castle that Never Was. A corridor opened and let Ahriman and his cabal through, Ztardon was shaking at what had occurred as Maleficent groaned. "In the depths of despair, they've always find a miracle to stave off the inevitable." The Horned King was disappointed. "It's annoying." Ahriman had a look at a Pete holding of saying something and to a Zonir with a question of what to do, the Sorcerer shook his head. "And the worst part of this flawless plan, failing as it did, is that we cannot orchestrate it again. We've only succeeding in agitating them even more."

Pete raised a finger to ask. "But, we've found out the goody two shoes were looking into something they really have no business in looking for." Ztardon nodded. "At least." Ahriman sighed and added in. "As well as the threat of the Skeksis being neutralized forever more and our theories proven correct. Ztardon, you have somewhere to infiltrate and set camp?" The Tzaangor nodded and readied to leave. "The herd and I, will be on our way. Zonir, we must not fail again."

The Ogroid wouldn't consider it a failure and followed. "Overzealous, Shaman." With them gone, out of sight and out of mind, Ursula came crawling from a corridor, looking quite satisfied with her her own venture. "What did I miss?"

Maleficent turned to her and answered. "A new discovery that we should address in time, what have you found?" Ursula smirked. "Oh, just another sea bound world with this good friend I made. All these pirates would help fill in for ol Hook." She wondered. "I wonder what happened to him?"

Pete cringed to that and earned the attention of the witches, Maleficent shook her head and asked. "Don't tell me you had something to do with that?" The goon nervously waved. "Well... you see, once you disappeared over a year ago, I'd thought I'd gather an army of Darkness to carried on where you left off." Maleficent wasn't amused. "Have we not talked about that, before?"

Pete remembered. "Y...Yeah, I've might have tried turning him into a Heartless and drove him off from comin' back to us when that didn't work." He quickly asked an annoyed Ursula. "So, who's the new pirate you're buttering up?" The Sea Witch put her palm on her face, paused and decided to tell him. "He's a lot more grim compared to Hooky, but with just the right words, we can convince Davey Jones to get back his freedom. We just need a little bit of time."

Pete asked. "Davey Jones? I think I might have heard of him before." He snapped his fingers. "I think I know what world your talking about, those pirates are a lot meaner too." Maleficent asked him. "Really, then you won't mind telling us what you've done?"

The minion wasn't too worried. "It was nothin' that special, I just happen to find some pirates that wanted to rid themselves of a curse." Ahriman sighed and turned to leave. "I suppose now would be an excellent time to find more worlds to discover, hopefully those that the Guardians of Light, WON'T be forced upon. Let me know if you find another one that interests me." Maleficent promised him. "We shall."

Ahriman tapped his staff and warped himself away to the top of the castle, finding Xehanort talking with a frost bitten Vanitas, the two looked at him like he slammed a metaphorical door open.

The Dark Seeker was annoyed my his presence. "I'd thought if I allowed you and the others to do that, adventure, your moral would improve. What is it this time?"

Ahriman wanted to scream at the uncaring void and didn't wish for those two to get the last laugh. "We've concocted a plan that would have rid ourselves of one of the Keybearers and for some miracle, he survived. Now I got to plan something else."

Vanitas rubbed his fingers together and mimicked playing a small violin. "Boo hoo, to you. You figured out that the Guardians of Light are looking towards the Darkness for something?" Ahriman grumbled, knew that the two were spying on his work and confessed. "Indubitably, they hoped to find clues of a Darkness that is unaffected, by the Light and only found the most twisted of life forms they would ever know. Yet, that Darkness was apart of a Light, once upon a time."

Xehanort found the report completely insane. "They were searching for Darkness itself? What would possess them to go there?" Ahriman shrugged. "My guess is as good as theirs, if you happened to have been spying on me and my allies, then you've seen what kind of answers they sought."

Xehanort nodded. "And Vanitas found the knowledge that would lead us to our final candidate. What is free will?" Ahriman answered. "The freedom of choice, that deludes one to a chain of events. You seek to tip that choice into your favor and see where that candidate's path leads?"

Xehanort added in. "I've seen that candidate, unleash the Darkness to grow a new arm and try to save one of the things you were studying. Yet the Princess of Heart, did nothing to correct it."

Ahriman's eye lids dropped under his helmet. "If it came because he was pushed into a corner, then the Darkness would have came naturally. To use that power to preserve a life, that did not deserve it, is the conundrum." He thought about it. "What isn't, is how the hearts of this galaxy, are more open to compassion than most of the Imperium and the fanatical Minions of Chaos, put together. That has brought about one miracle after another."

Xehanort groaned. "Their bond with the Light, has brought about that and still they open themselves to Darkness?" Ahriman didn't wish to get into a pointless argument with a fanatic of the wicked. "It has drove off the Black Legion, gave hope to the Dark worn Heart of the Undead and defied a demi god. But why have they dabbled in the Dark Arts? Could it be there is something with in that the Light won't provide?"

Xehanort shook his head and didn't find it amusing. "And why would the Darkness want to help them? After how often they drive it back, such a pursuit will only lead them to what I've seen."

Vanitas thought of it. "That's the reason we need to get rid of that Knight and get that screw up away from his friends. What those idiots are looking for is just going to flush all of our plans, down the toilet." Ahriman shook his head and looked to the blank sky. "So long as we hold that sword here, the Undead will not pursue his goals any further. Not with that crown holding all of his answers. The other one, however, would likely seek your death if his ties to his friends is as strong as their ties to each other."

Xehanort put thought into it. "He is traversing a dark path and you believe that is what would make him so dangerous?" He wanted to take his leave. "That is precisely, why he would be a use to us. It would halt their pursuit to stop our plans, regardless of the end result." Vanitas grumbled and held off on saying anything. "I'd would have stuck around to see you scream at your perfect little plan blowing up, but we got better things to do."

He opened a corridor to let Xehanort know. "I'm going to get an invasion going." The Dark Seeker wished to follow him. "And I know just the ones for the task at hand."

With them taking off, Ahriman shook his head, looked upon the void and looked to find a particular, Rubric Terminator, doing a patrol. He gestured that it approach him and be the one to listen. "When you delve too deeply into controlling others, you will commit the worse crime in your pursuit of knowledge, maintaining ignorance to the constant changes of the Universe. Ankhesh, give me a sign that I'm closer to finding the true secret of this Galaxy." The Rubric, simply stood there, unmoving and with not an expression, Ahriman felt something boil in him and he looked to the sky once more, he inhaled and screamed.

At Radiant Garden, during a confusing mid day.

Serah was on a bed in an inn and complained. "Come on, I can walk, you know." She got up and tried to stand up to prove a point, her legs shook weakly and she nearly fell, Lightning caught her and put her back on the bed. "You've heard our magic expert, you've spent so long as that crystal, that you need to rest for a couple days." She point to the crutches. "I'm not letting you far of my sights until you can walk again, it won't take long."

Click.

Ken entered with an ice pack and waved. "Hey, mind if I come in to report?" Lightning didn't and turned to the youth. "How bad were the bruises and... shot?" Ken pressed the pack on his cheek. "Riku made a full recovery thanks to those guys, but he's found out something that we need to know. I need to keep this on me until the bruise comes, you never want to be hit in the face with a wrench."

Serah cringed. "Ouch." Ken agreed. "At least we don't have to worry about the Skeksis anymore. So, what are you two going to do once things settle?"

Serah wondered about that as Lightning asked. "There's a bigger issue going on, right?" Ken nodded. "A war is coming and we need all the help we can get." Serah thought into it as Lightning put together the issue regarding Chaos, the younger sister asked. "If this is about some people that want to bring the worlds into mayhem, like what the Skeksis have done, then I want to help stop them."

Lightning was a bit surprised and heard her sister ask. "Claire, do the others got something for us to get ready with?" Lightning breathed in through her nose upon hearing that name. "Leon and the others got a place for target practice. We can use that while the Keybearers travel the worlds." She gave Ken a sharp scowl. "Don't bring up, my real name. Got it?"

Ken saluted. "Got it, Miss Lightning. I'll be outside with the guys, that world showed us a lot of things we needed to know and I'm worried." The calm woman smiled to him. "Don't be, you're a good kid, you just need time to act like one."

Ken smiled back, wiggled his finger playfully and turned to leave, he made his way to the park and finding the crew, save for Aqua and Mickey, talking about something. Sora asked with a mixture of relief and confusion. "We're finally going to call off the search? Are we doing something wrong?"

Riku nodded. "Yes and no. I'm kind of glad we are stopping, because I was getting bad vibes with it from the beginning." Baldred was carving into a piece of wood with a small knife and asked. "But wouldn't this leave us back where we started? To come all this way and abandon it?"

Riku scratched the back of his head. "I want to wait until Aqua shared the data with those guys at the castle, before I tell you all. Someone at the end of the tunnel, told me what we really need to do to find the Heart of Darkness. We're not suppose to chase it around." Ken entered the scene and asked. "Really? What are we suppose to do?"

Riku took a deep breath and asked. "Let's start with what we found by chasing it, we've learned that the Skeksis were the dark part of some light beings heart, after they used the Crystal to try and purge the Darkness. What ever happened between then and now, has turned all the drives into something evil, without the Light half... all the compassion and a consciousness... they drove that world into the brink of oblivion. The Skeksis are Pure Darkness and nothing they had would help us find the Heart of Darkness beyond thinking it would be as messed up as they are."

Kairi asked. "In other words, all the clues they gave have tell us that the Darkness is not going to help us and that isn't something we need to hear." Baldred agreed with that. "So, what ever we're going to try now, should eventually give us us a good answer?"

Sora yawned and asked. "Come on, Riku, you can tell us what you found on the other side." The older boy would rather he doesn't. "The last thing I want to remember is you and Kairi crying over how I nearly died. So, I'll bite and you can tell Aqua about this when she comes. The trick is to let the Heart of Darkness come to us, let it know we just want to talk. If it is as willing as I think it's going to be, then it will have a lot of reasons to want to be our friend."

Ven was impressed by that answer. "So we need to not worry about it and let things happen as they go?" He breathed in and out. "Good, chasing the Darkness around was bringing back bad memories." The crew felt it was a relief that they didn't have to seek something so dangerous, Ken wanted to lay down under the tree and look to the sky. "So we just got to keep being us for now? I can live with that."

He closed his eyes to take a nap, Kairi found it cute and asked her closest friends. "So now what are we going to do while we wait for Master Aqua?"

Sora thought of one. "We can talk about what we saw." He took out the grey crystal. "We found an endless spell that we should talk to Ana about, it's kind of special compared to the others. It came from Light and Shadow."

Ken yawned. "I'm not transposing that, without a full team and we need to do that, far away from here." Sora pouted. "Come on, you know one of my tricks mixes those together. That can work." Ken was dozing off and opened his eyes to have a look, the orbs of light and dark gave mind to double form's power, the boy closed his left eye. "Fine, it could with a couple experts and it's going to be amazing." He went back to his nap. "I love you guys, you do pretty incredible things."

Goofy and Donald laughed to each other about that, Baldred stretched to take his own nape and the teenagers took the compliment, realized what Ken said and were mixed between blushing or for Kairi, laughing it off like a sister. "I love you too, Lil Bro." Sora hid the blush and asked. "That comes up a lot, but that is the first time we heard him say that." Kairi wrapped her left arm around her boyfriend. "Hah! He's called me Sis all the time and we know how many times he's called Master Aqua, Mom. When it becomes a family, you can get away with saying a lot of things."

Riku imagined a lot of nicknames that would get him and Sora punched in the face, Ven wanted to pass a little knowledge along. "I've seen that happen, so what did happen in that world? Me and the others got stuck with the boring job." Riku started with the most interesting start of the journey. "Once me, Sora, Donald and Goofy met Aughra, we've started to learn how other worlds could figure out that there are more out there. You've ever been to an observatory before?"

Ven wouldn't say he has. "I been on a space ship."

At the Castle.

Aqua and Mickey gave their greetings to Ienzo, the Keyblade Master had a whole log of knowledge from the World of The Crystal. The scientist waved hello back. "Welcome back, did you find any clues?" Aqua nodded and gave Ienzo the data log. "Kind of, but Riku has something to say before we call it off. Something almost killed him and we're letting him rest before he tells us why." She took a deep breath and exhaled in relief, she was very aware that their chase for the Heart of Darkness was leading them towards questionable decisions. She asked. "Is this any better than the research that happened here before?"

Ienzo answered that, as he was pretty amazed by the Skeksis and the Mystics. "Our reasons have far better intentions that just research. But I wouldn't say it's a healthy object to pursue." Mickey sighed. "It's scary what happens when Light or Darkness is absent. A whole world was shattered because someone tried to purge themselves of their Darkness." He explained with some horrific memories. "And to preserve itself, the Darkness committed all kinds of scary things." Aqua nodded to that. "I don't need Riku saying it, to know that we are... not going to get anywhere at this rate. What would a True fragment of Darkness do to save itself from us? Is it even right for us to decide what it wants?"

Mickey answered in defense of the morality. "That's not why we are fighting, we need to keep the Worlds in balance." Aqua folded her arms and felt a pointed needed to be made. "If we try to take control of the Darkness, we would be no better than Xehanort. I'm still going to make sure that my more ambitious student understands, that he shouldn't try to go to places we wouldn't go to ourselves."

Ienzo approved of that and had a quote to make. "He who fights the Darkness, should see to it that he does not become the Darkness. If you gaze too long into the Abyss, the Abyss will gaze into you. That is what it means to allow the Darkness to run rampant in your every day life." He wondered and gotten off topic. "Is this what befell the Imperium?"

He realize he needed to get back to the subject as Mickey considered the wisdom. "That might have and there is nothing we can do for them but keep there endless war, away from our worlds." Aqua was aware that Ienzo took his speech from a book. "We'll talk to Riku about what we should be doing. Because we still need to find the host for the Dark, before our worlds spiral out of control from the next Chaos incursion."

Ienzo went to get something on his desk. "I'm open to any good ideas. Me and the children of Twilight Town have also uncovered some knowledge on the Keyblade War." He took out a file to give. "Where one pursued the Darkness, another pursue Light and forever changed the worlds." Aqua took it, opened the file and started reading with Mickey.

In a particularly odd dream.

Ken was with in a high tech throne, in a heavily organized, steam punk base, that had various insignias of the military variety. The one at the top rail, was a heart with two keyblades crossing in an x pattern, keeping guard over what is important. He read into a virtual screen that had random strategies come and go, far too sporadic to make any sense of them. Ken felt the words "You're a kid, act like one." ring into his mind and he pressed a button to make the screen vanish. "I need to look away from this, it's too busy."

He looked around the room and found too many gizmos to press and observe, he was caught off guard by a a figure to his right. An adult sized, humanoid, slick grey robot, in a familiar white dress with a red vest, wearing a yellow flower on her head, having short brown hair in a knotted pony tail, that was complimented by a pink ribbon. The android had a staff with a blunt on two sides and more astonishing to accuracy, she had two, emerald green, lenses for eyes, yet no visible mouth or nose. She gave a friendly wave and Ken scooted over to give her room, the android took the offer and wrapped her left arm around the boy, oddly the arm looked familiar. The android's mouth gave a green squiggly line and she asked in a tone very much like a certain woman Ken knows of. "This is the first time you lost you're arm in a fight. What happened?"

Ken answered her like she was a close friend. "A Skeksis was getting too close and personal for my taste and he was acting weird. Kairi and Lightning shook him off the shock must of turned my arm loose. It's okay, I managed." He thought more into it. "What else is there for me besides mastering what I'm good at?"

The android shrugged. "I don't really know. You've found a good fighting strategy and can bombard the enemy with ease. But I think you should keep listening to your teacher and more to your friends. Everyone seems to be in this war together." Ken agreed and asked. "and we got to win this. You look a lot like Aerith, who are you?"

The android wondered. "I guess I was sleeping until the care you gave to your arm has woken me up. I've never had the chance to talk with you." Ken's brown eyes glistened as he realized who he is talking with and gave her a hug with his cybernetic arm. "A machine spirit in my arm? Cool." He asked confused. "But why her?"

The android had no idea and a question mark appeared on her forehead. "She may have had a hand in the construction, but I know I've came from Pyriel and Magitinus's design." Ken snapped his fingers. "Of course! They design the tech, but she was the one who made the arm fit our anatomy. Now the whole committee has access to the tech and she's gave those two all the credit."

The android flashed an exclamation point. "Is that why this form resembles her?" Ken nodded. "And why you kind of sound like her too, even though you do act different." He gave her a warm hug. "Thank you for being there for me. Without you, I wouldn't have kept doing good out there." The android's mark vanished and her cheeks heated up, she noticed a veil of Darkness at the entrance to the throne room and whispered. "Intruder, detected."

Ken hummed, looked at the corridor, tensed and stood proudly for battle. "Thank you again, I got this." He drew his blades in sync, of light and fire, he flipped Cadia's Light in the air and caused it to shift into the wings of a Valkyrie, they clamped onto his back and caused something to shine on his right eye, a red lens vizor, on his side, the vision is clear, yet number and suggestions appeared. Ken whispered. "Got you in my sights." He held Firekeeper's Wish like one a katana, downward and with the flat end aimed forward.

Approaching from the darkness, was a certain Dark Seeker, looking at the mechanical world with curiosity and boredom. "So this is the world with in your heart? With in your dreams?" Ken's ocular scope turned into an X mark and the image of an angry face appeared above the foe. "It's been Traverse town almost every night and for once, for once in weeks, it became something other than a nightmare." He approached, making sure his wings don't scorch the android and ignited the jets in a warning. "You're not welcome here, this is mine and what is in here is mine to figure out. Three."

Xehanort heard the boy counting down and drew out the Keyblade with No Name, the foundry darkened and revealed bright red lights. Like an alarm was raised and the facility was under a lock down. Ken's darkened image gave off a glowing red eye and wings complimenting the glow, fighting back against the darkened foundry, was a swarm of demonic heartless. Ken aimed his metal hand and fired an orb of fire that burst upon contact, became smaller fire balls and homed in, the stragglers that didn't get vaporized, met a boy flying high in the air and diving down like a missile, stabbing the ground and unleashing a fire storm. "Two."

Ken noticed a dark pool underneath him and flew to the side to avoid the Guardian, the walls pooled dark and almost caught him by surprise, Ken jumped back to avoid the rush and the Darkseeker was ready to attack. "What are you all doing, pursuing something of pure Darkness?"

Ken answered with a shrug. "Easy answer, so you won't have it and so we can figure out how to kick the Chaos gods out and get back to our lives. One."

The Darkseeker vanished and appeared behind the boy to swing, Ken spun and parried with a rather strong strength. The wings guns glowed in white light, the Darkseeker found the behavior childish. "Do you find yourselves in any position to control that and how is this different from the foes you fight?"

Ken used his wings to jet around the Darkseeker, strike, was parried and more surprisingly, Ken let himself be pushed back, he took flight and thought of it. "I don't think it's going to be as asking it with a pretty please. But we can find our own answers, thank you very much." He counted down.

"Zero."

The wings rapid fired beams of light and formed missiles under the wings, following the beams with a whistle. The Guardian flew in the way to absorb the damage and was blown away by the constant fire power, forcing Xehanort to have to avoid the pure havoc, his attempt at a teleport was met with Ken using free flight to avoid the blow and partake in a dog fight. One certainly had the fire power to keep going, Ken laughed in an unbound zeal. "I know that for the first time in forever, my heart is finally free. The worlds do not need to be stuck in this loop. One day, the people will be free from the endless battle between Light and Darkness." He aimed his right hand forward. "And finally look to the tomorrow."

He was lost in his own fantasy, the Dark Seeker, simply found insanity. "You're only deluding yourself, so long as the Light hold dominion, it will always be at war with the Darkness. That is what brings forth, Chaos itself." Ken calmly gazed upon him, enraptured in the hope he holds. "We just need to find some peace and give ourselves the time we need. Since you're just going to keep messing that up, we'll just keep fighting you till you get the hint and go away."

With those words, the light of fire shined above the throne, the wings shifted and Ken landed rather gracefully, it took the form of las rifles, mounted on shoulder pads. They aimed at the Darkseeker, who was becoming intrigued.

PEW!

The guns fired as one and shot out something comparable the focused power of the sun. The Darkseeker used a reflective barrier to block it and saw that the beams were not dying down, it cracked, one more, the Guardian rushed after the boy from the side, Ken sensed the danger, turned his beams off and back jumped. The Darkseeker took it as his change to charge, Ken side jumped in a spin and caused his shoulder guns to revert into something odd that engulfed his metal arm, a cannon like gun with a shield. With one aim, Ken fired, a round of light launched from the canon and sent the Dark Seeker flying.

The Dark Seeker felt the flame radiating into light and tried to retreat to the Darkness, tripping over something firmly wedged into the ground. A wolf like sword, accompanied by a dagger of black wings, the strange combo, merged into one and shifted away. Ken saw what happened and reverted his weapon back to what it was, Xehanort hmph. "That bravado of yours, won't last forever, boy. The flame will fade and everything will return to the Dark."

He disappeared into the void and the alarms died down, the foundry became one with the night and the sight of calming blue nights, made the facility, tempting for exploration. Ken took a deep breath and returned to the throne, finding the Machine Spirit of his Arm, talking with the Firekeeper by the warmth of the fire. "I find the intrusion, most illogical. Why hasn't he accepted that Kendry is refusing to go with him?" The blind maiden sighed. "That dark man, seeks to bring Kendry's world into the Abyss."

Ken agreed with the frustration. "The nerve of that guy, coming into my dream. This is why Riku, Mom and the others are sheltering me as they are and getting hurt every time they risk themselves." He thought more into it. "I'm glad they're still alright, all the bleeding from that big hole in Riku's chest, scared me. I still want to help find that Fragment, so we can show the Dark Seeker where he can bite it once we get rid of Archaon. The new idea still works, but it's taking our current problem out of our minds and making it into a later issue." He tilted his head left and right. "So I guess now, is a good time to seek strength, hold back the mess and the rest will follow when it comes again."

The Machine Spirit flashed an image of a smiley face, on her forehead. "That is the logical decision for an illogical problem." The Firekeeper agreed. "His kin, will keep lighting the way." Ken approached the Firekeeper and gave her a hug. "And you too. Thank you for always having my back." The Firekeeper hugged back and Ken felt his back on something soft. He found his eyes closed and opened up to find Sora getting excited over something. "And that is what is beyond the sky we share. Do you think that maybe, somewhere in a world, there is someone looking at the sky and wondering that as well?"

Kairi rubbed the boy's hair in affection. "Maybe, that would be sweet to figure out." Riku and Ven found the play a bit much, the silver haired boy noticed Ken sitting up to give a yawn. "You've slept through a cool story about how some people might figure out that other worlds exist." The youngest boy didn't mind and pulled himself up. "I've heard of an observatory before I spaced out. Technology is pretty incredible. I've also been thinking, since we're kind of putting that chase on hold, what are we going to do to get ready for the coming problems?"

Kairi felt that was a good question and asked. "Yeah, we might be putting that thing on hold, but we know the Dark Seekers aren't going to stop." Riku thought about it and twiddled a finger. "Well, we still need to keep our skills up and I promised this guy and his group of friends that I would help them train up for our usual problems. One of them called the training montage a Shugyo." Sora blinked. "A Shugyo? How would that help?" Riku raised two fingers. "Two words, big city. It makes this place, Twilight Town and Traverse Town, combined, look like a village in comparison and we're going to places that might be huge and full of people."

Ven got curious about that as Kairi imagined the towns she's been in and thought of taller buildings, she was looking overwhelmed and found Aqua with a file, along side a rather intrigued Mickey. Kairi nearly squeaked as her vision turned to buildings even larger than the big castle. "M...Master Aqua," The Keyblade Master heard the tone and asked. "What are you all talking about? Does it have anything to do with what is related to this?"

She showed the file documents, Kairi shook her head. "No, no. Have you ever been into a city before? Like a big one?" Aqua remembered a particular one. "The one I been to in the Realm of Azyr?" She answered boldly. "Yeah... those are-" she tried not to say it, due to Kairi getting scared silly. Riku waved. "I was talking about a city I've been to... that I don't think is as big as that. I've compared this place and the other towns we've been to, as villages." Aqua agreed with the statement. "And that says a lot since we've all been into these kinds of places and smaller, our whole lives."

She approached. "Anyways, the Twilight Town kids came through with what we're looking for, turns out that some Light obsessed freako, really did started the Keyblade War and he crossed a point to where the X Blade did what it did. Ken, did the man wear a white robe?" The boy nodded. "Yep. So what happened in there, really did happen? I still don't get, why that had anything to do with me."

Donald doesn't get it either. "If you time traveled before, you would have known already." Goofy explained to the confused group. "We and Sora did that once when Pete was causing trouble." Aqua nodded. "Ah. So, it would be safe to say this really was Tzeentch, trying to mess with us and pass along info that we really don't want." Riku felt it was a safe decision. "And that could lead to him fooling us as we get more and more desperate to find the Heart of Darkness and end his game. Which is why I called it off, someone from the other side, in... the Final World our hearts go to before moving on to the next life, told us that we got to let the Heart come to us, let it know that we don't mean it harm and that we need it's help."

Aqua put her right hand on her right cheek. "That could work, it could take a while, but it can work. So. Ken, Kairi, do you want to help me find Xion and Dupmic, I've had them help Merlin on that project I wanted to start on."

The students were ready to going, the Keyblade Master asked the group. "It's time you see what I was talking about first hand, go ahead of us and find something unusual."

Sora was feeling a little anxious and had Goofy and Donald get ready to follow him out, Riku thought to save time and asked the Undead. "Baldred, you got a minute that can help?"

The Undead nodded. "I'm all ears." Riku pointed to where the Train Station is. "Go to Twilight Town and ask the Crestfallen Gang-" he almost laughed to the joke. "that we're going need to ask them questions about what job they specialize in. Make sure Exrirsa isn't giving them too hard of a time, she might claim to mean well, but with a heart... she could be a lot scarier in how she does things."

Baldred got up and promised him. "I'll find a grave digger if the worse has happened. Time was convoluted back in that world, so we might have been gone for days or less so." Kairi imagined it. "With three suns, night tends to be pretty short. I hope she isn't driving those guys to the ground, we don't need that around here."

Baldred agreed and took off as Riku and Mickey readied to leave the town, Ven waved to Aqua. "I'll wait until you guys are done before we head back." The Keyblade Master gave Ven a thumbs up. "Kairi and Ken got the gummi ships anyways. You're going to like the surprise."

At Merlin's House.

Dupmic condensed a splash of water and heat it up to where it evaporated, he sent a small cloud to a space of nothing and Xion caught it, she caused it to darken into a storm cloud and shoot down tiny lighting bolts. Merlin was quite impressed as Dupmic answered. "And that is just a little for the demonstration. This Steam Magic is going to be incredible when the rough gets going."

Xion giggled to that. "Who knew this would give us so many options." The wizard agreed with that. "Only your imagination, limits you." Dupmic agreed back. "Now we got to figure out how to use the Steam Shots like how the tank did it." Xion saw people coming and cringed. "Shoot, there goes the surprise."

Dupmic hummed and turned around to find Aqua and her students, Kairi asked. "What tank?" The hooded boy phewed. "That was close," he and Xion went to an nearby alley and showed the odd family a particular door. "Few people are allowed to use this, but this will lead you to that Hammer Heart Arena you wanted done." He asked the following wizard. "Hey Merlin, can they use this as a short cut back to that world?" Merlin supposed so and with a spin of his finger, caused the door to glisten to the trio's presence. "If they wish to, but do not assume they will always pick the short cut."

Aqua agreed with the wisdom. "Especially since you don't know if we made a promise to someone that we'll take them with us on a flight. Everyone else is taking the long was as well... if you call hyper space travel a long way."

Xion didn't mind in the slightest. "I get it. It's a cool trick that worked in that movie. Ana should tell you how the thing works as well, me and Dupmic might have picked up on a trick from one of the challenges." Ken guessed. "That tiny thunder we heard? How did you make that happen?"

Xion answered with fanfare. "Steam magic!" Aqua gasped. "By heating up water particles into a vapor and either shooting hot steam or make a cloud that can become a tiny storm. Who came up with that idea?"

Dupmic answered with an attempt to get some credit. "We both came up with the idea and Xion already turned hers into the storm cloud. I want to go for making shots of hot steam in the way that tank did it. It was a pretty tough fight, there is only one place you can really hit and the steam hurts. Ana will explain why we're still alive and well."

Aqua looked pretty tempted to have the kids come along and Xion asked. "So, what are you guys doing now?" Kairi answered rather proudly. "We're calling off our search for something pretty dangerous, we've found some helpful info along the way and our plan to let the thing come to us is going to take a while. So now, we're going on a trip that could take us to a big city."

Xion looked around Radiant Garden's structure and Ken explained. "It's Anor Londo, levels of big. Do you guys want to come along? We're making a stop to the training world to check the Arena out, get a few choirs done with a big project on the way and then go off to do..." he blinked and tried to remember the pronunciation of the name, Kairi finished for him. "Shugyo. But more importantly, having a little bit of fun." Xion wanted to answer yes as Dupmic thought of a plan. "A training game and a city to crash? I think Xion and I got a way for a short cut." He took a small effigy of silver hair. "Karla ought to tell us if this would work for opening that Chasm. After we settle in, we'll try to find you."

Aqua relaxed to the mention of the name. "She's the only one of the two real experts on this and you've tried it before with her?" Dupmic nodded. "The Chasm is a lot safer now and if another Darklurker shows up to make it dangerous, we can handle it."

Ken wondered. "Baldred didn't say anything about running into that when he took a trip through the manor. So that Darklurker, could be the only one. Thank goodness." Dupmic smirked under his hood and promised. "Then we'll be there a lot sooner." The teacher and students, stepped out of the way and Merlin wished them luck. "Have a safe travel, don't get lost when you enter such a world."

Xion isn't making the promise. "We probably will, but we'll be okay." Dupmic imagined it and lead the way as Xion followed him fast with a cheer. With that, Aqua turned to Merlin and thanked him. "That was a lot done in a short amount of time. Thank you for helping us get started." Merlin adjusted his glasses. "Any time, madam."

The group exit the alley way and went about their separate ways, returning back to the park and finding Ven having a talk with Yuffie. "So we've been gone for over a day and nothing else was happening?" The ninja nodded to that. "We've just found out that Lightning is back and her sister is put on bed rest. We'll show them the town in a couple days." She noticed the group and turned to them. "So, what's this I hear about wanting to know our specialties?"

Aqua took out a note pad and a pen. "It's part of a design idea I'm working on. You're a ninja and I think we know enough about you, but what do they do?" Yuffie took out her large shuriken and gave an awkward smile, like she has had a history of underhanded work. "I'll start by saying, I have a couple habits."

At Twilight Town.

Baldred arrived to see the gang gathered around a large, connected square of town, strange white figures placed traffic cones at the exits. Lea sensed the presence and turned to find the Undead, like his usual merry self. "S'up?"

The rest of the gang saw him and acknowledge his arrival, with Medy asking. "You came at a bad time. Want to know what that crazy lady was doing yesterday?" Baldred could guess by the lack of bruises. "Not beating you senseless yet?" Lea felt that was summed up right. "She spent the whole tournament, observing how it gets done, today however." He turned to find Exirsa, sitting on a bench and overlooking the Struggle set up. "So, how did your adventure go?"

Baldred answered rather calmly. "Nothing too interesting on my end, though most of the youths have had more to tell. We had to call off a search at the end of the venture and Riku spun a tale from his dance with death. It's a long story of how that happened." His lips smacked. "So, I was tasked, to inform you that they are going to be on their way here for a small errand of importance. They wish to know about your specialties, your... Class. Don't spare the details,"

Lea was surprised, looked at the obvious Bard of the group, then to his blue haired berserker of a friend, who was itching for a go at the, not really crippled, Adeptas Sororitas. "You guys heard that?"

Isa turned to his friend and looked at the Undead. "You're a mixture of a Paladin and Red Mage. If Sora and the others are seeing that, then they are going to the right place." Dorlu heard that and joined in. "Yet, what is there reason?"

Baldred saw the curious smirk and answered with a slight laugh. "It would be more effective, if they tell you themselves. Aqua has created something special and a special place should make special gear." Elrena initially dismiss it and perked. "Wait, how special? It's... related to the keyblade?" Her antenna like hair stands, straighten up at the she summoned hers. "There's no way, she's going to make that fancy armor I've heard about." Lauriam broke his calm observation and put together why the talk of job classes was important. "She's seeking to craft them based on the specialties of the four unarmored Guardians?" He almost blushed to the passionate intentions. "It's little wonder they look up to her. A heart that kind, is rare."

Elrena agreed. "Only three other hearts that we know of, hold that kind of kindness. One of them is a Princess of Heart, but one of the other ones have earned the reputation and the other... well he isn't around that often to show it all yet."

Baldred guessed. "But you wouldn't be wrong to assume Ventus along with Sora. That boy saved my soul from going Hollow." Elrena nodded. "Heart number five is close, very close, but we haven't checked up on him that much either after the Black Legion incident."

Baldred asked with curiosity. "If I told you his kindness is a little farther than you believe and a couple more match it, would you believe it?" Elrena nodded. "Totally, if they've helped you get out of the gutter, then those are your best of friends." She thought of an idea and approached Exrirsa, disregarding the potential danger, Lauriam guessed. "Would it be reliable if you speak of what we could do from a sport you know nothing about?"

Baldred shook his head. "Compare to actually using your skills and speaking to those who have a better idea of what you can do... I don't believe it will work." Medy noticed the white figures disappearing in a grey rift and Elrena talking with Exrirsa. The Adeptas Sororitas took a blue bat, stood up and used the light to fill in her missing limbs, she pressed the bat's barrel firmly down, like one wielding a sword. Elrena dismissed her blade, listened to something and went to get the collection of bats laying neatly on a pile near the group. She got with in speaking distant and told them the news. "It's a simple match, we just go after her one at a time with the skills we got and see how long we last. Since she's a war veteran," She paused and Medy guessed. "We're still going to get our butts kicked?"

Elrena nodded. "Well, lucky you. Guess who's going to fight her first?" Medy nearly wet himself as Elrena twitched her hand, pointed a finger and directed it to herself. "Me!" She nearly laughed at the thought that she had the others fooled, Lauriam laughed to that and Lea busted his wind pipe. "Ha! That's a good one."

Baldred sighed and sat down to watch. "Show some courage, even the most daunting of adversaries could prove beatable." Medy had it with the teasing and put his foot down. "Yeah, yeah, like or not, she's the least horrifying of the monsters we got to deal with, eventually and if we don't get in there and show them who's boss, we're all screwed anyways."

Dorlu was impressed by the speech. "That's strange, coming from you. You're not wrong through. Perhaps this day could become a little more entertaining." Elrena agreed with that. "Exactly, this is just a game that will help us in the long run and once that's over, we can finally get to the business." She turned. "Alright, ladies first." She marched to one end with confidence that the fight one be a kick in the pavement as Exrirsa slowly approached her end, having the toy bat lowered to the ground, like a sword. Dorlu counted down loudly. "Three, two, one."

Exrirsa sprinted at Elrena and swung the bat upwards, the nymph of the group jumped to the left and hit Exrirsa in the face. The Adeptas Sororitas took the blow and bopped her foe at the shoulder, forcing her to block and be exposed to a spin swing.

Bonk!

The audience felt a tension rise and the match becoming more serious.

At the Land of Departure

Ana simply let Sora and the group through the otherworldly door and into the Hammer Heart Arena. "And that is how we get prepared for our first real battle. This place feels a bit like home." Donald and Goofy were bewildered and saw what was under the heart statue, a computer and a slot fit for a hand. "Now, just put your hand on this and memories of your past battles, will be downloaded into this. That way, anyone can fight them." Sora remembered something quite similar and approached it. "There was a weird place in that cavern that held the Data of Organization XIII, this feels exactly like that." He put his left hand on the slot and watched the screen light up brightly, it was a certainty, due to the countless battles he has fought, it felt like five minutes until the screen dimmed down, he turned to ask. "So... that's all we got to do?"

Ana nodded as Riku had his turn. "That was fast." He had his go as Goofy, Donald and Mickey stepped in line, Sora noticed the door opening once more and letting Aqua, her students and Ven through. The Keyblade Master was especially impressed. "Wow, Ana, you and the others have outdone yourselves." The Stormcast pressed her hand on her chest in a salute. "Thank ya, but it was Dupmic and Xion that did all the testing, I just provided them with simpler foes to test it out on. Wanda was the one who hand crafted the Steam Tank battle and brought the idea of making those kinds of battles."

Kairi guessed so and remembered something, she took out the cards of Skarsnik and Wurrzag. "Like the guys we fought a couple days ago?"

Ana gasped, took out her card of Sigmar and Ven took out the card of Settra. "So that is what the slot is for. If we put those in, we might cause a reaction like what Wanda have done. I would take caution in fighting them, right after inserting those." Ken didn't mind and thought of a couple more. "Miss Aqua, do you got the cards we found at the castle?" Aqua took out the card of the Everlasting Dragon. "I have one of them, go get the card of Jambert, it's time we show the tale of that man's journey."

Ken saluted and took off, leaving the others to get in line, Mickey was the last to input his own memories in the virtual stew and the group brought the cards, the Keyblade Master gave Sora a request as she started with her personal memories. "Once we finish setting this up, I want you to see what we fought that caused those cards to show up. Going against a Dragon and overcoming it is the stuff of legends. You know a particular that turns herself into one?" Sora remembered. "Maleficent? I fought a storm dragon that was turned into a Heartless too. There are tougher ones than either of the two?"

Riku remembered one he fought. "Sinh came from Baldred's world and he was not an easy one. Are there others like him?" Aqua asked. "Let me start with a story, we and Jambert were having a journey through a forest, when we encountered the Black Dragon, Kalameet. Who sought to make the cavern bellow his territory, as Jambert and Ken learned the hard way. Ken escaped the dragons breath, but Jambert... wasn't as lucky, due to the nature of death, our friend found himself by the bonfire and he took the dragons actions as a challenge. Kalameet is everything you've come to expect from a real dragon, he also has a special move that will leave you especially vulnerable. When Jambert dealt the final blow, it caused a strong reaction with in the castle. Of two other dragons, at their final moments. Sinh met his end by Baldred's hand and the last one, who've Benedict battled with... is something else. They were called, the Everlasting Dragons, for a reason, they've predated that world until the gods wiped them out. Three in particular, remained and it took some knight from nowhere, to put an end to their long tale."

She asked a rather overwhelmed Sora. "Consider Kalameet, the exhibition match. Do you have what it takes?" The boy nodded. "I can take him." Kairi had her turn, inputting her personal data into it and inserting the cards of the Orc and Goblin. Suddenly, the computer flashed the image of a crooked moon and of the fanged face, two encounters were labeled. Kairi read it outloud. "Da Warlord's Squiglapalooza and Wurzzags challenge?"

She pressed the button on the Goblin like fight and saw the image of Skarsnik, Gobbla, squigs and many models of squigs, squigs with a rider and two chained up squigs, put together. "Those crazy goblins really like those squigs?" Aqua had a close look at the foes, realized the implication and sighed.. "I think I know where that is going. Squigs are some mean critters and I seen those chained up squigs together, they are huge."

She recommended to Kairi. "Go check Wurzzags Challenge instead. I don't know if any of us could handle that many squigs at once." The Princess felt a small blow to her confidence and checked the other challenge, seeing the image of Gorbad, Azhag and Grimgor. Connecting the three images is the picture of a familiar tribal mask, Kairi guessed. "I see, like before, this is a rush of the three war bosses. But what makes this a challenge compared to before?" She pressed the button to turn it off and heard something from the computer curse. "Ah, zog."

That convinced her that the challenge was rather special, Ven put in the card of Settra and caused the screen to light up in a desert sun. Showing a bracket with the title. The Eternal King, the boy pressed the button and saw the image of Settra on his chariot, with the light of paradise, behind him. Ven realized and quickly turned the mode off to place his hand in the other socket. "I'm getting what this is now. The challenge modes is those guys, but they have someone new that we should pick up on."

Ana put her card in last and watched the screen quickly download something with the storm in the background. "I think you said that you might caused a what if for Settra, where by some miracle he beaten Nagash and took the power that Necromancer stole. With that power over the afterlife and someone with a title like, The Bringer of Light, I'd say your going against the force of Heaven itself. As for me, I never had the chance to fight Sigmar and I don't think if I can do it."

The group understood why and Sora gave her a thumbs up. "He's a great man who became a lot more than any of us could imagine. I..." he confessed. "I don't know if any of us have the stomach to take him on." Kendry returned with the card of Jambert and asked. "I'm back, Stitch was getting into weird fights with Zurg, I had to lock him out of my room." He approached the screen, saw the image of Sigmar and was hesitate to turn the mode off. "We don't have to fight all these guys, if we don't want to. Ana, what kind of person is Sigmar these days?"

Sora and Ven remembered Loru's open criticism, the oldest boy answered. "Despite how busy he is, he still cares a lot about his people and he allowed them to be open to him about what they feel about him." Sora thought about it. "So... even if some of us might have a problem with fighting him, he wouldn't mind if we show him what we can do?"

Riku nodded. "Who knows, he might feel a lot better about our issues if we proven that we could beat him." Ken inserted his card and helped them finish. "But that will be for later." The computer did a rather mundane download and showed a selection of foes Ken is familiar with, from the Asylum demon, all the way to Gwyn. Ken looked a little disappointed and put his hand on the other slot. "I might as well have done this."

The computer, downloaded the rest of Ken's memories, the boy turned and pointed his thumb to Aqua. "It's yours to finish up."

The Keyblade Master understood, put her hand on the slot to download her decades worth of experience and looked upon the card of the Dragon. "Once I'm finished, we'll head to the rafters and watch." The download was complete and Aqua inserted the card, three, images loaded in. The Bringer of Calamity. The Slumbering Sin and one particular that was blank, Aqua squinted her eyes and pushed the image, seeing what was missing and found, naught a hint. "That's strange. I guess we don't know much about that dragon after all." Ken felt a name burning in his heart and guessed. "If we want to have Midir in this, then we'll have to learn more about him. These three dragons were part of the three known cycles. The beginning of the endless cycle, the cycle itself... and the end."

Aqua listened to it well. "And the Firekeeper hasn't told us more because Benedict didn't speak much of him?" Ken nodded. "All I know, is that he eats the creatures of darkness. But why did Benedict fight him?" Riku shrugged. "Who knows. Come on, we want to see what these dragons can do."

He lead Kairi and Ken to one side of the rafters as Mickey guided Goofy and Donald to the other. Ana and Aqua took Mickey's side as Ven took the teenagers side. Leaving Sora to turn on the challenge and cause the Arena to transform, into a canyon with a water fall going down a pond that formed a stream, leading into the unknown. He heard the fling of an arrow and of a screech of pain, he looked above to find a black dragon falling down in a spin, having an arrow the size of a tree, wedged into it's left wing.

The dragon crashed onto the open side of the canyon, was in a daze and it gave Sora time to realize that such a beast has survived a shot and a fall, like that. He slowly approached with his keyblade in hand, as Kalameet bit onto the arrow, broke it in two and shook his wing to shake the splinter off, the Black Dragon looked upon the boy and his single orange eye glowed, issuing a challenge, Sora used his free hand to taunt. "Bring it on, cyclops."

Kalameet growled and sprinted at Sora, the boy rolled to the left and swung at the dragons hind legs. Kalameet stopped his charge, smacked the boy with his tail and sent him towards a wall, the dragon spun and inhaled to breath a torrent of yellow and black fire, Sora rolled left, waited for Kalameet to finish and baited him to an attack. Kalameet flapped his wings and flew to the air, he dived after the boy, who side stepped, jumped at the que of a head smash and struck the dragon at his sides. Bonk! He felt a rock falling on him, looked above and saw a land slide was coming, he turned to the other side of the arena and flowed to it in order to escape. Kalameet turned and sprinted after him, Sora slide under the dragons dash and saw it spin around to breath fire on him, the boy used a deflect spell, glowed his blade in light and flung it to Kalameet's head like a boomerang.

BONK!

Kalameet's head reared from the impact, ducked his head to avoid the comeback and moved his neck to the left, he breathed out a stream of fire and moved his head to the right, Sora caught the blade, jumped and glided to the back of Kalameet's head. He grabbed the dragon by the horns and struck the back of his neck, Kalameet swiped his head left in a jerk, caused Sora to loose a bit of his grip and for him to realize the dragon is shaking him off. The boy let go and jumped off at the right ward shake, he raised his blade and used it to dash at the dragon in a sonic strike, striking through the dragons underbelly and appearing on the other side. Kalameet stomped his rear legs in a counter and crushed Sora under it, the black dragon slammed his tail on the wall and sprinted, the boy got up from the injury, realized more rocks were falling and rolled right to avoid the land slide. Giving the dragon time to turn, dash and smash his claws at the boy, Sora rolled between the dragons legs and rolled again to avoid the stomping, he healed himself and walked left to avoid a tail swipe, Kalameet turned to him and walked back as Sora kept going a distance.

The dragon dashed to Sora, flapped his wings and baited him into rolling a dodge that was for nothing, Kalameet took flight, spun and breathed fire down upon him. Sora glided far to the pond and saw a dark inferno reflect on the water, Kalameet dived down to him and landed by his side, Sora shot an ice spell and watched the dragon rear up the boy rolled to the dragons right and avoided the folding of wings that were followed by an eerie orange glow of the eye. With that chance, Sora hovered and fired beams of Ragnarok at Kalameet's rear hide causing the dragon to fall forward from the shot. He heard the painful roar, stepped back and watched Kalameet crawl back up, the dragon faced towards the boy, running out of room and being in between a hill of boulders and open space. Kalameet dashed towards it in a sprint and circled to keep the boy from running, the dragon reared up and inhaled, Sora looked to the wall on his left, jumped to the wall to avoid a downward breath of fire and jumped towards the Black Dragons chest.

Puncture!

He stabbed the Dragon in his heart and knocked him on his back, Kalameet tried to claw him off as he fell and landed in a thud, the force knocked the dragons head back as the body grew limp. The arena shined in light and the arena gave a hum. Sora panted in victory and gave a flex to show off.

At the audience seat.

Kairi had her hands at her hips, quite impressed by Sora's feat and looked to the others, finding Riku stiff and speechless, Ven trying to say something but couldn't and Ken having his fists close to his face, his eyes having a shine that resembled heart marks, the Princess focused on the one likely to talk. "Wow, you weren't kidding when you and Master talked about this guy."

Ken nodded, swooned like a fan boy and repeated the word. "Awesome, awesome, awesome." Ven agreed with that with the same levels of admiration. "That, was the stuff of fairy tales. Those are the kinds of bosses we've put in there?!"

Ken slowed his breathing as Riku focused on Aqua jumping off the rafters to congratulate Sora. "We'll be good for the real stuff if we can beat these. So, who's next?"

Kairi stiffened nervously. "Uh... don't we got...something important to get done before we pack up for that city?" Riku thought about it. "Yeah, we do need to talk with that gang, pretty soon. We can always come back here to finish the day before the trip, afterwards."

In the arena.

Sora had the mental image of Kalameet, deep with in dark recesses his mind, an orange eye, shined like a star and caused the darkness to scatter. The voice of Aqua, snapped him out of it. "Sora, that was incredible." The boy agreed with that. "Jambert really did fight him alone, in a show of strength?"

Aqua nodded. "Even someone who comes from a mundane origin, who was only chosen because of dumb luck and the slightest showing of merit, can become someone great." She felt tears coming down and wiped them away. "That is just one of the many battles that are waiting here."

The boy wished he got the chance to know the knight, even an illusion of him. He noticed Kairi and Riku stepping down to congratulate him as Mickey, Goofy and Donald felt they seen enough. Kairi said it out loud. "You showed that Dragon who's boss. How do you feel?"

Sora folded his arms and tried to think the words. "Proud, tired. Do we got to get going right now?" Riku pointed his thumb at the door. "There's a kiln waiting for you in the lobby. As soon as your fan is done over heating, you can get that endless spell processed and help out with gathering the info on the job classes. You know the Committee more than anyone and you and Kairi could handle that while the rest of us handle those former nobodies."

Ven dragged a hyper ventilating Ken to the arena, Aqua saw her student trying to control himself and asked. "Ven, you and Ken go to Twilight Town and take to the gang, Baldred ought to help you out." The one armed boy understood and asked Sora. "If you want me to help you with the Endless Spell, could we do that when we get back." He was overheating more. "I need time to calm down."

Sora didn't mind it. "That would be cool, Do..." He scratched the back of his head. "do you know another boss like Kalameet that we could... try together? Maybe we can try that ought before we pack up."

Ken puffed his cheeks. "Ornstein and Smough? It took me, Miss, Jambert and Solaire just to even things out and-" He stopped. "...Those two fought them by themselves." He shook, clenched his fists and raised them to his chin. "No, no, no! If I'm going to keep up, I need to take on something that tough by myself. Sinh is so mine." Sora was blown back by the prideful decision and Riku wanted to pass a warning. "Did Kalameet bring the whole cavern down when you handled him? Or was that new?"

Ken answered. "That was definitely new, so I should expect Sinh to have something to make him harder to deal with?" Riku snapped his fingers and warned the group. "Expect all of those guys to have a small change to how they were fought, it would matter."

The would be challengers had it noted and were ready to leave as Aqua realized, she doesn't have much to do. "I... guess while you do that, I'll go plan out the trip to the Mirage Arena." Ana readied to lead out. "I'll go get the parchment paper."

At the Struggle Match.

Medy was shaking his legs at an Adeptas Sororitas that, despite taking some strong blows from the rest of the gang, looked like she was barely dinted in the tournament. She slow approached him and as he blinked, she dashed. The bard summoned a pillar of water to slow her down, side stepped and squealed. "I don't fight like this!" Bonk!

He hit her in the shoulder, didn't cause a flinch and watched her turn head, switched the toy bat to her other hand and smacked him in the head with it, sending him rolling to the ground, he was on his side and saw Exrirssa walking to him with the bat. She crouched and evaluated him. "You didn't run and you managed to slow me down. That, will have to do for now." She offered to help him up, was refused and watched the bard crawl back up, she turned to Dorlu and called. "Next!"

The Gambler was not liking his odds as a wild Ventus and Ken appeared. Observing half the gang staying around, Elrena being the only other one around and having signs that she got bonked in the head. Ven looked confused and asked. "Where did the others go? We want to talk to them about something."

Elrena groaned. "You missed them half an hour ago when they got knocked down in one hit." She emphasize. "Yes, even Isa! He was going at her before she stopped playing around." Baldred recalled where the three men went off to. "I believe Lauriam went to the forest to look at the flowers after his... ordeal."

Exrirsa nodded. "While, Isa and Lea overcame their fear of me, to check on him." She explained the rather harsh tournament. "I've never said any of this is going to be gentle and this is no more than what I've undergone."

Elrena gasped. "Wait, you were going easy on us?" Exrirsa had ill news to give to her. "In a way, I was. What is to transpire soon, would cost countless lives if we are not ready to dive into the fires of Hell. But it should be the only major battle that requires it. A fortune that you do not have to train fanatically for a whole life time of warfare."

The gang counted that blessing and Elrena relaxed. "Yeah... that won't be necessary and it's the reason you're not tossing us into a meat grinder?" She asked the boys with a half smile. "So, what you need us for?" Ven explained with memory of the details. "Mr. Halvek helped us make something of a forge and now Aqua and I can get started on making Keyblade Armor. We kind of thought to make it special and make them based around the job classes we've been hearing about, we want to ask people who've specialized in that and you guys match some of them."

Dorlu and Medy went "Huh?" as Elrena asked. "Don't you guys have that Committee at the town for that?" Ken nodded. "We do and that's why Sora, Kairi and Riku are the ones paying a visit to that place, I think Ven was talking to Yuffie a bit to know what a ninja is."

The electrical woman hummed. "Hmm, then there is nothing I can tell you myself, that's my specialty too and that's what my blade uses when it isn't lightning." She pointed her thumb to the two men. "But these guys can definitely tell you theirs."

Exrirsa thought of something and clapped in a request. "Why tell them, when you can show them? Baldred, you are to assist Ven in a game."

Medy realize he has to fight again, right after another. "This soon?" Exrirsa looked at him with a silent yes as Dorlu considered it a little more entertaining than a hopeless fight against someone who has had years of actual military combat. "Is this going to be considered the final match of the day?"

The Adeptas Sororitas nodded. "If you do this, you would have shown me your merit. The rules are still the same, pick up a bat if you must, for the blows are not to be lethal." Medy exhaled and took out his guitar. "Thank you!" Dorlu took out some dice and cards as he had a smug smile. "That rule could be arranged."

Baldred sighed and picked up a bat. "So we are forbidden to use our sorceries and Miracles, while they are allowed such?" Exrirsa examined the two men. "One, in his own words, is in no position to take up a sword and fight, that isn't how he battles. I have seen him play that thing, regularly and I HAVE seen him use that as a catalyst. Dorlu however, I've only seen him use that silver tongue of his and it is with in luck that he is only to fight you two."

The cards give a glisten and Dorlu insist. "Indeed madam, for luck is my speciality." The two parties walked to a side of the arena and Ken turned to leave. "I'll go check on the three and see what's up. Good luck guys." Baldred and Ven appreciated it and braced for a fight against an unorthodox duo.

In the forest.

Lauriam was completely disoriented from a heart to heart talk with two people he never thought he share it with. Lea and Isa had two ice cream pops as they listened, the red head pitied the man's ordeal. "So that's what's on your mind. You won't be able to find out how she was killed if the worlds go up in smoke."

Isa agreed with that and advised the pink haired man. "You should move on from that, if you're not going to find those answers." Lauriam had a stubborn scowl and his fists clenched. "Good luck explaining that to HER. She only wants results and for us to let go when it's time." He noticed a blonde boy in a purple military hat, marching into the forest and guessing out of nowhere. "It's pretty hard to do. Exrirsa really is giving y'all trouble?"

Lauriam considered the circumstances and shook his head. "Not really, everything we've seen from her is someone who has a life time of a strong faith and an endless war to fuel her mind. Without a heart, it's all became a desire to win that war, no matter what it will cost." Ken guessed from what he overheard. "So she's going the optimal route against some of the craziest things we've seen. Facing the heart of the problems works too, if you know what it is. The Forces of Chaos will take advantage of you if you keep your issues bottled up."

He wanted to ask if he came at a bad time and tried to think if he should ask his question, Lauriam shrugged and breathed out his complicated mess. "I... know what the issue, but it's a mystery that isn't too important right now. You've didn't come for pleasantries?"

Ken shook his head. "Not really, I've heard some of you specialize in particular jobs? And I want to know what they are." Lauriam looked the boy in the eyes and answered calmly. "You know the basics of an assassin and you are something of a sniper, yourself." Isa added his own input to Lauriams assumption. "I've heard he is the gunner type and has a little aspect of the Red Mages."

Ken felt it was accurate. "Spot on. I know of the obvious and Geomancy. I've also heard that the Red Mage uses all kinds of magic and skills, but they are not pros at a particular one. That's not what they're good for." Lea almost laughed to the basic knowledge of the Red Mage. "You're going to get screwed, the instant someone finds out that one trick your good at."

Ken had it noted. "Which is why you're good with those disks and with the fire spells. One of those two will get through and that will lead you open to options." The fellow pyromancer put his finger on the side of his head. "Like," Ken went with what he knows. "For you, it's flinging fire twisters, making dangerous fire balls that can go any direction, blowing stuff up, heating everything to where someone is going to burn and scorching the earth. Those disks can cut into you like hot knives and will give you the jump. Or if your dealing with someone who doesn't mind the fire, you got a sharp disk that can cut someone."

The boys eyes lit up in flames. "For me, it similar, because I mix the fire in with the wind and use the flame like explosives. I use it like... gunfire and I can make lava with one of these." He formed a fire ball that danced. "A special kind of hot. I use the smoke and ashes as well too. And now, we're going to talk about what I can do with a gun that can turn into a lot of ranged weapons."

He stopped intentionally and Lea smirked at the passion for the flame and of the power to level a whole army. "That's the power the Keyblade has given you and then some." Ken nodded, took out a small note book and written it down. "Red Mage, jack of all trades, master of none but are the best at adapting." He showed the man the description and guessed. "I think by now, I just need to find what a typical red mage looks like."

Lea memorized several tales with the look. "Just find a story book with some joes and you'll find one, easily." Isa smirked, gave Lea his ice cream pop and walked to a clearing. "What is all these questions for?"

Ken answered with no regard to subtly. "I found some Genji armor and gave it to Miss. She is planning to use it as a base to make some very special armor for me and most of the other keyblade wielders and if the gear is suited for the job we are good for, then we are going to be good to go for when this war gets worse, when we got to fight Archaon again or if we get in a spot where we're going to get shot up."

Lauraim found it common knowledge and joined with Isa to the clearing. "We are fighting an insane demi god and the army of darkness, that he and his cohorts command. Woe when any of them take complete control. I suppose any aid, is better than none." A petal appeared in his right hand and a rosey keyblade appeared in a scatter of blossoms, Lea cringed and scooted away as the graceful man asked the boy. "Shall we demonstrate what we're good at? I believe you caught Elrena off guard, back when you were just learning." Isa brought out his claymore and his expression became a smile. "That was nothing but luck. That isn't going to help him again."

Ken realized he got into a boss fight, circled into the clearing and drew his weapons at the challenge. In a battle ready ground, the boy processed the taunt and whined. "Come on that was weeks ago. You're not getting the jump on me agai-" Isa's smile turned into a stoic frown in a split second and he charged at the boy in a break neck pace with his weapon ready for a swing, Ken yelped and blew out a cloud of smoke. The berserker swiped his claymore and found it went through the smoke, he kept a wolves eye at the surroundings, Lauriam closed his eyes and swiped his blade towards the nearby bundle of bushes, letting loose a scythe's worth of petals that revealed a figure with in. That figure sprinted at the two, Ken aimed Cadia's Light at the off guarded fighters and fired, one shot got Lauriam at the shoulder, two got Isa in the chest. The boy had his blade, ready to spear into the berserker, Isa readied to smack him across with his claymore. SWIPE!

Ken leaped a flip, landed behind the man and smacked him at the head with Cadia's Light as Lauriam took a distance, Isa glowed red gave a battle cry and sharply turned to Ken with his weapon swinging. The boy cringed, ducked and jumped back, Isa charged at him and kept close, to deny the boy the chance for another hit and run, Ken inhaled and breathed out a cloud of poisonous mist, Isa breathed it in, coughed and sluggishly waddled out of the cloud, he tried to shake it off and was light headed. He heard a whistle to his right, turned to find Ken by a tree and Cadia's Light wedged to the ground in a glow.

RUPTURE!

A jagged stone erupted from the earth and sent the berzerker flying to a tree, Ken took a deep breath at one problem resolved and felt something approaching behind him. SMACK! He was smacked sharply in the back by a blade, puffed his cheeks to keep the pain in and nearly stumbled as he used his air magic to fling himself to the center, he turned and found Lauriam about to close in for a more elegant approach, unaware of a lingering flame right bellow him, he noticed a flicker of light, looked down and saw the flame about to burst. BOOM! Ken saw the man, consumed in black smoke and enveloped Firekeeper's Wish in mist, he pressed the blade in the ground and engulfed the arena in fog, gaining control of the arena and keeping himself aware of a foe of frontal offense and of a foe of stealth.

At Radiant Garden, at Merlin's house.

A rather open Dilan finished describing something to Riku. "And that is the art of the Dragoon." The silver haired teenager had it noted as Sora listened. "That explains a lot." Riku agreed to that. "They jump like how a dragon flies and use the sky as their home turf." Yuffie found the idea impressive. "I never thought we get to hear about that sort of stuff." She closed her left eye in confusion and asked ignorantly. "So what's the whole idea of Shugyo?"

Riku put the note book away and answered. "It's just something made by a bunch of guys that are defending that city like a bunch of super heroes. They wanted to learn how to fight the Heartless and a Chaos Lord happened before they could finish. That was when we saved the day, but then I left before we got back to that training course." He remembered. "A super hero from another world is stuck there and is helping keep the peace, while a mercenary with a mouth is... kind of lost there. We need to get back to resolving that before Deadpool does something stupid."

Leon asked. "Deadpool's the merc?" Riku nodded and Sora remembered some of the stories. "I've heard he's another wack job." Riku added in. "He sometimes talks funny as well." Leon thought of it and suggest. "Maybe we need to know about what Deadpool and Spiderman's world, before we try getting them back home. It shouldn't be too hard."

Cid wondered in regards to the story of such a dangerous person, on the loose. "How the heck did he get away from you, in the first place." Riku readied to head to the castle. "Kairi ought to be finished talking with Tifa, Aerith and the sisters. Sora, you got get the last bit of info from Cloud before we can finish. I'll go see what the other three at the castle are good at." Yuffie knew Riku was trying to change the subject. " Come on, we won't laugh."

The silver haired boy wanted to leave and Sora's puppy dog eyed, curiosity convinced him to confess. "He pulled the oldest trick in the book, the-" he pretended to be shocked and pointed in the yonder. "Oh look, Darkness,-" he dropped the facade. "one." Sora was bewildered. "How did he figure out that would work?" Leon shrugged as Dilan guessed. "He must have realized that you fight the likes of the Heartless so often that you would not take the encroaching Darkness, so lightly."

Leon agreed that it was the most likely case. "Anything about that world, we should know about?" Riku was a less embarassed and answered with a restored moral. "It's a big city, it would be easy for things to get out of control and we have a lot of ground to cover. It's both a trip meant for... Shugyo and it's kind of a vacation from all the stuff me and the guys have been through for a couple days in a row."

Yuffie found that, perfectly understandable. "I get it, seeing something a lot less dark ought to be good for you all." She winked to Sora. "Come on, let's go find Cloud and check up on the ladies interview." She grabbed him by the hand and lead on before he could say much, giving Riku the freedom to carry on his trip.

At the shopping square.

Kairi had a purple clothed head band on her head and turned to Tifa and Aerith to show it off. "That should finish this city set." The ladies found it quite stylish and cute, Tifa in particular. "You're going to knock those boys dead." Kairi appreciated that compliment and of earlier advise. "Thanks for that, and thank you, for the tips of how Monks and Sages work, all we need now is for Cloud to get Lightning here and we'll finish this up."

Aerith smirked and noticed Cloud and Lightning approaching, talking about something and more importantly, having something of smiles. The blonde man finished. "They'd let me on the team for worse, this could be a good time to get a break and learn about them." Lightning was surprisingly smug. "Beats going out alone." She noticed the band of ladies and didn't cease the smile. "Alright, what did I hear about an interview?"

Kairi answered that and took out a notebook and pen. "We're just asking about job classes, what a typical one looks like and how they do what they do so we can get ideas. Master Aqua is making something based on those." She started with the normally brooding man. "Cloud, you and Leon are both fighters, but what makes the two of you different?"

Cloud thought about it. "In how we fight? It mostly depends on the weapon and how we use it, nothing more, nothing less. It's like how Sora fights most of the time, including, when he uses magic." Kairi gasped. "So that's where the Paladins come from!" Cloud nodded. "Especially if the knight can use the Light."

Kairi turned to Aerith. "So come of the jobs really can mix together and become their own thing. Like how Aerith uses healing magic along side offensive magic if it comes to it. All I need now is a picture of what a Sage and Monk looks like." She asked Lightning. "What of you? You're another knight as well?"

The pink haired woman nodded. "Ravager, mystic knight, pick which ever sounds good. We add magic to our weapons." Kairi began to think deeply into it. "Could it be that knights came before the art of the Keyblade? I've seen the ancestors of certain guys we've met." The group actually thought into it, Aerith thought about examples Kairi should be familiar with. "In the traditional way, yeah. The knights in themselves, must have taken the magical prowess of what the black and white mages have learned. So, the family tree of those skills might go further down than we know."

Kairi felt there were more examples of the knight. "Like, those who use magic and archery? Or if Lightning is correct, an Ork assassin who sneaks up on you before trying to smash you."

Lightning felt there was one more example of a hybrid. "Or the class called the Blue Mage, who can learn spells not found in the books and are used by the monsters they find." Kairi knew the best example of the practice. "Like the Transposition of Souls or things like Souls, to learn spells that are found from the monsters. With that, we kind of dabble into that ability for anyone to use." Tifa found a name for them. "The Blue Knight and the Spell Thief for the ones who aren't really mages."

Cloud felt enlightened by that knowledge. "So like it or not, that potential could be found anywhere in the worlds. With or without a keyblade, it doesn't matter, when you learn the way to get strong." Aerith smiled to Cloud. "Which is why we aren't just going to let Kairi, Sora and the others fight this war by themselves. With all of us, the ones who wanted to start this war, won't stand a chance."

Kairi nodded and wanted to rally. "They think we're a joke, but they can be beaten! We got to keep pushing them back until we find a way to get them out of our worlds, for good. With that strength, everything else we need, will follow!" The cheering attitude was given one back by Tifa and Aerith. Cloud and Lightning weren't going to go; hip, hip horray, but they smiled more confidently. They heard someone coming, Aerith noticed Sora being dragged on a rather rare moment by Yuffie, the flower girl waved to him. "Sora, you've gotten what you needed?"

The boy nodded. "Enough about knights, dragoons and mechanists. It sounded like you guys were discovering something." Lightning laughed to that. "Nah, we were just putting together ancient history and finding out what could be done." Kairi approached the boy and explained. "Those job classes go pretty deep and I think there is a reason why we've guessed that the Genji armor was something that came before the armor we're working on. Everything we've known, came from this, they are the ancestor to the way of the Keyblade."

Sora gasped, turned back to think of the moment he first met Leon and turned back to Kairi. "Wow! So that's how we gotten far, by being self taught." Kairi put her thumb to the group. "We owe these guys everything." They turned to the grown ups as Yuffie gave a nervous smile, Aerith tried to insist it wasn't that big of a deal as Tifa was more assertive about it. "You've done most of the work, I'm just glad most of us helped along the way."

Yuffie asked with amazement. "Glad we had a bigger part in being here today. Do you think that's also why a lot of people from across the worlds are able to fight with Sora and the others tp take back their worlds?"

Sora felt his brain working more. "It does, the strength from the heart came naturally, people just need to learn to use it. We just need to make sure they do and fight back against those who think they can't or don't want them to learn the strength." Kairi blushed. "Couldn't have said it, better myself."

Sora noticed the cute head band and tried to focus on the duty. "If you guys need more people to help spread that message, you'll let us know?" Yuffie nodded to that as Lightning promised him. "We'll let you know, even if we probably won't have to deal with anything too crazy around here for a while."

She took a deep breath as Yuffie wished the two luck. "Good luck with that Shugyo, hope you guys learn more new things." The duo promised they would and Sora asked. "Do you guys want to meet us at the entrance? It feels like, even if we're are doing our own things, we are all sticking through this together." The group didn't see why not.

At the Struggle Pit.

Ven finished off the last of self duplicating water clones and dodged a wave of water that burst like a wave of noise, he sprinted at Medy and forced him into another stun lock. Baldred was before a trio of cards and was scrambled at the time limit of when to pick, he thought of something and used his chime to unveil the booby traps from the card with a green triangle. He tapped at it and raised his bat to his shoulder, Dorlu revealed himself and went to his pack of cards.

Bonk!

He was bonked on the chest and face, at the end of his rope, he drew a card in a dramatic fashion and revealed a card with a three and the face of three chickens, he looked upon it and breathed in relief. "It appears, you've been beset by three chocobos."

He waved to the knight in apology, Baldred asked as lights shined. "What is that suppose to mean?"

Flicker!

Brawrk! A trio of large, yellow feathered birds rushed from the light and trampled him, one knocked him over, the other two stepped on him, the birds disappeared and Baldred growled. "Of all the ridiculous-" Dorlu took out a six sided die. "That is among the wildest of cards." He rolled the dice and it landed on a two, nothing but a stiff breeze came, Baldred tried to get up as Ven flipped his bat, knocked Medy on the shoulder and sent him spinning on his knees. The bard was taken down and the undead tried to regain some dignity, Dorlu snapped his fingers and called his dice back, he pressed his hands together and shook firmly. "This game wouldn't be so interesting if it ends now."

Roll!

The dice rolled and Ven felt enough was enough, he blew a gust of wind and caused the dice to roll towards the bench, causing it to roll long. Dorlu realized it was going to take longer than expected and that he was wide open for a swift combo that knocked him on his knees, the match was over and the dice, landed on a four, it pulsed in green light and invigorated the gambler and the bard. Medy laughed to the timing and Dorlu clapped with a stronger one. "Ha, ha, ha, ha! Good game."

Elrena was impressed by the unusual combination. "Not bad, not bad at all." Exrirsa agreed with that. "They could keep a veteran Keybearer occupied and push this warrior to heights that match his reputation. Perhaps we would last against the likes of the Varanguard."

Dorlu gave a sportsman like bow to the winners. "We are unorthodox, but we are effective. Baldred, have you fought anything like this before?" The Undead remembered inviting others to constant battles over a bridge and intense heat. "I've joined a covenant that worshiped a Black Dragon and I've fought the weirdest people imaginable."

Exrirsa believed that. "What you fought in your world, are likely and unlikely, what you'll find beyond. Consider that when you find more perils." She turned to the street leading to the forest. "Speaking of which, those three are long over due of a return. This is much more than just a simple gathering of data."

Elrena realized and flinched. "Oh, no." Ven guessed. "The same kind of thing that happened here, is happening out there?" The blonde woman nodded and was ready to take off. "I'll go tell them to knock it off," Exrirsa approved of the idea. "See that they do, before they level the whole forest."

The blonde woman dashed fast and Exrirsa tried to calm down, she asked the boy. "What is your next strategy, Ven? For we must keep ahead of the enemy." The boy listed the few things planned out. "Aqua and I are going to go on a trip while Ana and Mickey watch over the home base, get some stuff for the project we came out here for and try out the Hammer Heart Arena for some training."

He explained. "There was a world me, Aqua and probably Terra, visited to fight things and get cool stuff. It was used for training, once upon a time." Baldred raised an eyebrow and asked. "The thing you've called upon Merlin for?"

Ven felt the question had a point. "We can't really depend on a world that might not be there anymore and there are things we want to keep secret." He looked at Medy and Dorlu. "Things that we fought are things none of you should have to fight." Exrirsa frowned at the concern. "But they are foes we might battle, one day regardless of our choice. Do not be surprised if we arrive in a sudden."

At the forest.

Ken jumped from tree branch to tree branch, to avoid a berzerker jumping up high and using his claymore to smash the branches off, the boy was realizing he was running out of branches in his attempt to avoid getting hit, an assassin pounced at him from a branch higher, Ken back flipped and used Cadia's Light to form a fire orb, drawing the attention of a berzerker that rushed at him from the side, Ken redirected the shot at the split second and fired it at Isa in point blank range. Knocking him away and causing the orb to scatter into many, Lauriam landed behind the boy for an attack and Ken flipped his hand, palm upward, he flicked his finger and caused the fire orbs to whistle to his behind, like fire works, the boy side stepped left, left the assassin to the flame and used the fog to run as far away as possible. Isa flung his claymore to blow the fog away, Ken flipped a cartwheel, hanged upside down and aimed his blade at the two, firing another fire ball that shot down rays of fire power. Isa and Lauriam got hit by the rapid shots and were in a stun lock, Ken finished his flip, landed on his feet with some grace and quickly turned, he tipped the fire ball and shoved it towards them.

BOOM! An explosion blew against the trees, Ken regained his breath and saw as the smoke cleared, Isa shielding himself and Lauriam braced with a reflect spell. Ken felt the fast pace battle had concluded and took out a note book. "The Assassin hits you when you are not looking and the Berzerker hits you where you're looking, but even harder. M and G."

Lea raised an eyebrow at what the M and G stood for. "And you're definitely a gunner," His eyes looked to his beaten friend. "He's an elemental one, but he's definitely a gunner. You seen many of those around?"

Ken doubted. "I seen gunblades, but those don't count. Guess there is only one place for me now if I want to learn of that one." He turned to the town and spoke in a rather dark tone. "The Library."

Elrena arrived on the scene and saw the aftermath of the fight, she was relieved that the forest wasn't completely wrecked and had ill news. "Tough luck, it's closed. But haven't you seen enough by doing it?" Ken grumbled and his serious tone lightened. "You know what one looks like?" Elrena nodded and rested her right arm on her left and used it to relax her head. "A lot of us watched westerns, if you seen a cow boy, then you can guess what an average gunner would look like."

Ken never saw a western. "I don't, but I guess they fight like the likes of Han Solo. Aim and shoot before they do. I need to see another of my kind before I confirm anything, since that's what you all say I act like."

Isa had a vivid memories and spoke from behind the boy, getting his attention. "Isa has a little vivid memory. "It's either that or a ranger and I don't think the one who matches the closest, will be a help to you." Ken guessed. "Guy with an eye patch and two cross bows? I know he isn't welcome here." Lea agreed with that. "In all honesty, if the guys back at Radiant Garden, don't trust him and if they gave us the word to watch out if he shows up around here, then he isn't going to show up even if he wants to." He wondered. "What happened to Braig, anyways?"

Ken let the group know that he had no idea. "Me and Miss found him when we were climbing this castle of illusions, but he left for good once we stumbled into the Abyss again." Lea, Lauriam and Elrena knew the place Ken was talking about and more so of what the Abyss is, Ken wanted to return to the intended subject. "Anyways, Elrena, if you came here, then that means Ven got the answer he was looking for as well?"

Elrena nodded with a proud and sweet smile. "Yep, I wasn't much of a help since you had your info, buuuuuut, Medy and Dorlu showed enough of what Bards and Gamblers do. The things you do, to make things work out well." She thought of a good example. "Things with Exrirsa went pretty well, all things considered, she's fought worse things than the Heartless and I kind of knew the Struggle matches were the sure way to make things work between us." She let the men know. "She's calling you all back for an evaluation, I think we all passed with flying colors, but this is only the beginning."

Isa wasn't looking forward to that. "She's going to tell us what we're going up against and for the sake of our sanity, that's all she is allowing to happen." Ken is spooked by memories of the Daemons. "It's probably best you guys are told about it before it happens again. Those Daemons aren't popping up that often anymore, but there is a reason no one lets an outbreak of those guys happen. When they show up, things get really bad, really fast."

Elrena cringed in agreement from her own encounter and turned. "That's why we got to hurry and get this over with."

At the Struggle Pit.

Exrirsa noticed a group returning, Ken, Isa and Lauriam had clear signs of a battle, yet the Adeptas Sororitas was pleased by knowledge of experience. "You've returned. You've done well, a little disorganized in distributing the knowledge, but experience is the best mentor you can have in the adult world." Lauriam was oddly charmed. "That is appreciated," Lea put his thumb over to Ken. "We already had our-" he quoted. "fight, before. So I just told him what I am."

Ken flipped his note. "Red Mage, Berzerker and Assassin." Ven listed his. "Bard and Gambler over here. Are we missing anything?" Ken nodded and asked Exrirsa. "There's one job class the guys say I act like, a Gunner. Someone who uses guns to fight," The Adeptas Sororitas's pleased expression turned to one of recollection, Ken asked. "This is probably a dumb question, but do you know any unit that uses them?"

Isa saw the strange face and stepped in between the boy and clearly dangerous Nobody to explain. "He likes to fight at long range, keep his distance while he shoots, escape when someone gets to his quarters and when he shoots, he makes sure the shots hurt. Often adding fire into it or anything that can keep us from getting back in that easily."

Lauriam added in. "Unless, you can keep him distracted," Exrirsa closed her eyes and nodded. "That sounds, much like a Seraphim Squad. You don't have to defend the child, I know a little of how he fights... but that was not recent." Ken felt a lot safer and asked. "What are they?"

Exrirsa answered with a nostalgia. "Although, I've never partook in that role, but they are always the first behind the enemy lines and often, they silence the big guns." She looked disappointed in herself. "I can not help you with that idea, for if you seek to make something resembling that." She presented her body as an example, Ken understood. "Not the first time I got told something like that, because I happen to be a boy."

Exrirsa thought more of it. "Do not despair, I have met something that could be suitable. But I require time to deliver a more detailed example and to have my forces make adjustments." She addressed the gang. "You've proven you can fight, you know of our enemy and with me watching, any insubordination amongst you will be quickly dealt with. It's astounding how fast it this took."

Elrena was the first to feel a weight drop and gave a silent praise to the Light, Exrirsa sighed to personal complications. " An ally of ours should provide us with an access to... stronger visuals. I lack a heart for it's proper use, but I know others that have fought the nightmares that await us. When that comes, I expect you to quake before what is at stake and I expect you to over come it, for the sake of the worlds and of yourselves." Elrena felt the warning has made the moral worse than intended. "How many times have you fought those things?"

Exrirsa answered with an imitation of shame, "Many, when a planet's government falters to the sway of Chaos, I am among those who purge the taint with flame. Be they guilty or innocent, for what will befall the ignorant who stumble upon the clutches of the Great enemy?"

The group were taken aback by the grim confession and Medy tried to laugh it off with a realization of joy. " Ha, ha, ha. We don't get to fight that."

Ven cringed to more grim info. " I think I know what she's really talking about, we all are going to have to fight the kind of people that can cause the daemons to show up and it doesn't take much for that to happen."

Isa rolled his eyes and wanted to state the obvious feeling. "Well it's little wonder Exrirsa had little issues with going on without a heart. It was use to this sort of thinking before it got lost." The Nobody did not deny it and asked. "Define, little?"

Lea stood in between his friend and Exrirsa, signalling to the two. "Time out, we get that our boss always had issues, whether she wants it or not. It might have gotten worse." Exrirsa nodded in awareness. "And this, you've witnessed first hand. You've have any objections towards my means?"

She raised her eyebrow as the group, who were in her position and faltered, shook their heads, Isa spoke on their behalf. "No ma'am." Exrirsa nodded back and looked to the train station she used as her base, she flickered in grey. "Then you understand why I am more concerned about the ensuing war. When I am done with my own personal adjustments and am prepared to ensure something for the lot of you, you will not notice a thing." She asked Ventus and Kendry. "Return to the others, I'll arrive for my input when I have the chance."

The boys swallowed hard and Baldred stepped in to suggest to the gang. "Well, it appears the task is lying before us. I didn't expect something this grim to be what units you all." Isa agreed with him, with a tone very sincere. "And we were finally starting to get along before she... opened herself to us."

The boys felt difficult to leave on the note, Ken spoke. "It also looks like she is going to be Miss's issue again, very soon. Thanks for the help guys, we do appreciate it."

The group appreciated that as Ven waved. "If Exrirsa is going to do what I think she's going to do, then we might see each other soon." The one armed boy nodded. "Got another busy trip, but it ought to be a breeze compared to the last two."

Elrena winked to the buddy of hers. "That sounds a lot more fun, have a good time, Ken." Ken winked back and took off with Ven, returning to the train station and finding the Twilight Town trio getting the vibe of not going up the tower for an ice cream break. Olette turned, found the two and waved. "Heya! You look like you've had a busy day."

Ken stepped forward and admitted. "We did and we also got the info that you dug up." He sighed with a weight gone. "We called off the search for the Heart of Darkness and we're going to try something more fun to get ready. Is there anything you and the guys need from us?" The girl winked to that. "Well, since we got free time to explore. We want to check out the Arcade at King Mickey's Kingdom one day, if it looks fun, we want to invite you guys for a spill. Can you talk to the others about that when you can?"

Ken was interested. "I'd like to check it out with you if the games are cool. If you can give us a couple days to finish this one more trip, I'll see if Sora and the others won't come as well." Pence and Hayner realized Olette asked Ken on another date, tried not to snicker to each other and let the girl react, Olette nearly smiled out of control and revealed her intention. "Yes! Let us know, when you get back and when you're ready. We'll be busy checking it out as well."

Ken gave her a hand shake on it. "We'll date that as soon as possible." With the word and hand shake, Olette and her friends stepped aside, she asked Ven. "If you want to check it out with us as well, you're invited as well." The older boy considered it and remembered what is more important. "I'm not making any promises, Aqua and I are going to be busy while most of the others are away. But I'll try."

The younger kids felt that was more than enough and gave their goodbyes, with the two boys going to the station, Hayner congratulated Olette. "You pulled a smooth one, right there."

Pence wondered. "Is he going to figure out what he shook on?" The girl of the group, counted on it. "He made that amusement park a lot more fun than it would have been. He's smart enough to figure this out as well." She felt an idea in her mind. "Say, if Ven does get busy, how about we invite Xion and Dupmic along? Make the night about us kids? I want to talk to Xion about something as well, just so we don't get into a fight." The boys felt that was smart, Hayner admitted. "You both like him and there's nothing worse about that than a cat fight."

At Radiant Garden's Castle.

Riku written down the specialties, Ienzo, Even and Aeleus mentioned. "Black Mage, Scholar and Gladiator. It's weird how you guys started talking about the Onion Knights from the fairy tales."

Ienzo did feel it was weird. "They're a strange one, it is said that it isn't until they are at the peak of their training, that they become much more powerful warriors like in the stories." Even wondered about that. "But how are they able to achieve that?" Aeleus guessed. "Through hard work and determination?"

Riku wondered. "If you ask me, picking these Job Classes can make anyone capable of achieving the impossible. Is that one of the reasons why a Goblin was able to be picked by a Keyblade, come in here out of nowhere and rescue that Orruk we've been holding up? He had to proved something to bring it's attention."

Even guessed. "He was probably insane enough to jump into the Darkness where so many of his kind wouldn't dare. With the power of the light, he was able to summon those like his kind." Ienzo figured. "Or the power of The Bad Moon. That could have gone a lot worse had that things goals been less than benevolent."

He knew he said an oxymoron as Riku considered. "I'll warn Aqua and Ven that that looney is out there, in case their little expedition doesn't go well and they have to look elsewhere." He put the note away. "If that gang your in contact with, gotten their act together, you'll find out. Let us know what happens when we get back from doing Shugyo."

The scientist considered it a child's way of preparing for a bigger ordeal and thought nothing of it, Ienzo confessed. "Isa is the one who calls me about that, we could be having one any day. Good luck and keep the Light alive a little longer."

The boy appreciated it and left, making his way out of the castle and finding Sora and Kairi giving a pep talk to the committee, the spiky haired boy raised his blade with the knights. "And if those who follow the Darkness have anything to say about us, we'll prove them wrong!" The group cheered. "All for one!"

The rally ended and the group were ready to return to their activities, Riku entered the scene and asked. "You two had fun," Sora turned to Riku and had his eyes at Kairi. "She brought up something really important, a lot of us wouldn't be here if it wasn't for these guys helping us along the way."

The Princess nodded. "They taught Sora how to fight while the two of us were lost and if he didn't know how to fight, he would have been toast." Riku felt that was a strong point. "And if he didn't get stronger, he would'nt have saved the two of us and we wouldn't have gotten as far as we did now. I've talked with those guys at the castle and picked up on more bits of history, while only a select few could use the Keyblade, just about anyone can be a fighter, mage, thief and any other job that can make a difference. That is what the Darkseekers underestimate and what the Forces of Chaos overlook when their warriors come for us." He thought. "Maybe that could be what we can teach Hiro and the others."

Sora and Kairi felt that was a golden idea, the Princess asked. "Mother's going to be quite happy to know of this history. Think we got enough?"

Sora and Riku felt so as Ken and Ven arrived with signs they got into a fight, the one armed boy had a report. "More than enough, also Exrirsa might be paying Mom and Ven a visit. I think she wants to help as well."

Sora and Kairi weren't really that surprise, given their past experience with this particular Nobody, Riku shrugged as Ven insist. "We'll warn Aqua about her, I think the King and the others will be heading back with their own ideas."

Riku lead the way out. "Come on, we got one more thing to do before we head out to Shugyo."