Chapter LIV: Pressing Forward

The bo shuriken launched towards Ushio as she rushed towards Genex. The older gentleman controlled the long, needle-like weapons with precision as they swirled around the girl. Before she could reach him, a rush of the bo shuriken flooded towards her. Planting herself firmly on the ground, she brought her Keyblade up to block the oncoming attack. The force proved strong as Ushio felt her feet move slightly despite her best effort to remain planted firm.

As the bo shuriken flew away, Ushio moved from the defensive to offense. She ran to Genex. Her Keyblade connected as she swung several times, each hitting the man. Staggering back, she pushed on as he prepared his next move. From beneath her, a stream of the needles shot upward. Ushio flew back, the weapons nicking her all over.

Genex moved as the bo shuriken followed him. Given his older age, he still moved swiftly through the flowery field. Pointing directly at the brunette, the shuriken rushes towards her as she swung around and blocked.

With the needles currently out of her way, she charged the Neo Seeker after launching off Firaga his way. The blast of magic fire hit him as Ushio reached her target. A series of blows was unleashed as Genex flailed about. Ushio felt an edge over him until he quickly made his way behind her. With a snap of his fingers, the bo shuriken began to rain down from above. Ushio tried her best to dodge and block, yet the amount of falling projectiles allowed several to land their target.

"All this was avoidable." Genex spoke. "Yet, you couldn't help but follow along. Even now, you persist."

As he spoke, the bo shuriken gathered together, forming a tightly packed formation. With a grand swiping gesture, they launched towards Ushio.

Ushio watched as the attack approached her. Once more, she buckled down and stood as strong as she could. The flood of bo shuriken pushed almost as one. Finding herself being pushed back, Ushio also found her strength giving out. She thought to herself how she couldn't let up even for a second.

"It is truly fascinating that one pushes on when faced with insurmountable odds. For why does the body, mind, and heart believe nothing is impossible?"

Ushio continued to be pushed back as the attack pressed on. Her feet dragged backwards as she attempted to hold her ground. Yet, a strength welled up inside her.

"It is weird." she called out. "Yet, you saw what I saw in those worlds, didn't you. How when pushed into a corner and faced with giving up, they all moved forward. They refused to give up. They continued on and faced those odds. Maybe you didn't stick around long enough to see the end or maybe you just forgot, but everytime they achieved their goals. In the end, they listened to their hearts and it paid off."

With her final words, Ushio threw her full strength into changing her block into a mighty swing. Faced with the sudden change of force, the bo shuriken scattered around the area. No longer hampered by the pressing onslaught, Ushio rushed forward with one final swing. Her Keyblade fell as she passed Genex.

The two stood facing the opposite direction. Flower petals flew through the air as the wind died down. As Ushio and Genex remained motionless, Genex went wide eyed before falling to his knees.

"Urgh…" he cried out.

Ushio turned to face him as she walked over.

"You're right." Genex said, his voice weakening. "Those you aided never gave up. They followed their hearts and it lead them to where they needed, over every obstacle. I suppose even now I truly don't understand the full workings of the heart. I guess this was all a fool's errand. Yet, in the end, it was where my heart lead me."

Uttering his last words, Genex faded away.

Left alone in the moonlit garden, Ushio felt a bit of sympathy for the man. Taking a breath, she walked back to the path and continued onward.

—

Waking in the flower filled expanse, Aqua and Mickey got their bearing. Unable to find any of the others nearby, they set forth in their search.

Unaware of it, a figure watched from a nearby plateau. Clad in a black cloak, they had a set of crimson and dark grey armor on. It was the same person Ushio had encountered as she chased after Aster.

"Once more light and dark clashes." they spoke. "In the end will this be what leads us to our goal or is this merely a stepping stone on the path forward. Go forth key bearers and show the way."