Chapter 26

In the City of Light, Radiant Garden, Riku, Mickey, and the Earth Land Mages were escorted to the Town Square to conduct an investigation to find Terra. Their escort was Dilan, a palace guard. He was one of the people who founded Xehanort and one of the people who were turn into Heartlesses. His Nobody was Xaldin, one of the Nobodies who founded the Organization, but Xaldin met his end by Sora. Dilan has now been revived and is continuing his post as palace guard.

When they reach the center square, Dilan said, "This is where we found him. It's all yours."

"Thank you, sir Dilan.", said Yukino, a Celestial Mage in Sabertooth.

"Let me know if you need anything.", said Dilan. "Right now, I need to return to my post and assist Mermaid Heel with anything."

Dilan then left to return to the castle.

"So this is the place.", said Mickey.

"Where Aqua fell into the realm of darkness after she dove in to save Terra.", said Riku.

"Yeah, she said he was acting strange."

"Strange how?", asked Minerva.

"She sensed darkness in him and they ended up getting into a big fight."

"Right. And in the aftermath, the two of them disappeared.", said Riku. "Around the same time, the guards found a stranger with white hair lying unconscious here in the square-a man calling himself 'Xehanort'."

"What happen next?", asked Sawyer.

Mickey then explain. "Ansem the Wise took the stranger in, but that was a mistake. Xehanort betrayed his master, stole his research, and along with his fellow apprentices, separated his heart from his body."

"Isn't that like what Acnologia did when he ate the Space Between Time?", question Erik.

"No.", said Jellal. "This Xehanort meant to do this while Acnologia didn't know the consequences of eating the Space Between Time."

"Space Between Time?", asked Riku. "Acnologia?"

Rufus explained. "The Space Between Times is a magical dimension deviated from the power of 'nothingness'. Acnologia was a Dragon Slayer and the King of the Dragons. He had slaughtered many dragons as retribution, as he believe they cause pain. But, the seven Dragon Slayers of Fiore defeated him."

"He was really powerful when his body and soul were separated.", said Richard

"Amazing.", said Mickey. "Anyway, Xehanort's heart took his master's name, 'Ansem,' and traveled to the past to give his younger self instructions. He even briefly had control of Riku. His empty body stayed in the present, took the name Xemnas, and founded Organization XIII. Their goal was to prepare thirteen vessels for Xehanort's heart."

"Until we put an end to the Organization.", said Riku. "But all the while Young Xehanort had been visiting the future to choose thirteen vessels of his own-hearts with strong enough ties to him to begin a new Organization, the Real Organization XIII."

"And now they're looking for a fight with us.", said Olga.

"But what happened to Terra? I thought you said that Aqua saved him.", asked Sting.

"Yep, she did.", Mickey answered. "The problem is we didn't notice. Riku, do you remember the end of the Mark of Mastery exam, when Master Xehanort made his grand return? That's the Xehanort I remember. He was already a pretty old man then. But how do you explain Ansem and Xemnas, his Heartless and his Nobody? Isn't it strange how young they look? Why aren't they old men?"

"Maybe they got themselves a makeover.", Sorano suggested.

"Fro thinks so too!", said Frosch.

"I don't think that's it.", sighed Lector.

Mickey answered. "No. It's because Xehanort was using a different body when the split happened. That face from the portrait I mentioned-it wasn't just some stranger that Ansem the Wise took under his wing. It was the young man whose body Master Xehanort possessed."

Everyone gasp.

"No way!", said Riku. "That was Terra? Master Xehanort was using Terra?"

"Yep. Master Xehanort told us 'another on our list' belonged to him. He was talking about Terra. Turns out, Aqua saved more than just her friend that day."

"She had Xehanort stayed in this realm as well.", Meredy finished.

"Okay, but Master Xehanort is an old man again now.", Riku pondered. "Where did Terra's body go?"

"I'd like to know that myself.", said a curious Macbeth.

"This body switching thing is really confusing.", said an annoyed Sting.

Mickey thought for a moment and then gasp. "It's cause Master Xehanort's collecting vessels! He claimed to have two of our seven lights. We got Sora back, but Terra mst still be on Xehanort's side."

"He's with Organization XIII?", questioned Riku. "We should warn Sora."

"Yep! And Merlin, too."

"Yeah.", said Riku. "Hey, Jellal. Can you tell us more about the Space Between Time?"

Jellal explained. "It's basically a black hole. When someone or something touches it, it disappears, forever. It was created when the Eclipse Gate was open by Anna and Layla Heartfilia in order to travel 400 years into the future, along with 5 Dragon Slayers in order to defeat Acnologia."

"Are you planning on sending Xehanort there?", asked Mickey. Riku nodded.

But Jellas said, "That won't work. After Acnologia's defeat, it has been long gone."

"Okay, then could you tell us about the Eclipse Gate?", asked Mickey.

Rogue explained. "The Eclipse Gate was a Magic Item created and used by combining Celestial Spirit Magic and a certain Magic from the Books of Zeref. It takes the form of a giant gate that enables people to travel through time when the sun and moon intersect in a Solar or Lunar Eclipse."

Sting joined in. "It was created by the Black Wizard Zeref and was used as part of a collaborative scheme between Zeref, the Celestial Spirit Mage Anna Heartfilia and the pacifist Dragons to defeat Acnologia."

"Zeref?", asked Riku.

"He was considered to be the strongest, most evil Mage of all time, who possesses extremely dangerous, and powerful Magic. He is the founder and former Emperor of the Alvarez Empire, under the alias of Emperor Spriggan. He also used living magic to create demons called Etherious or the Books of Zeref. But he was defeated by Natsu during the war.", said Jellal.

"I wonder if he was as strong as Xehanort.", Riku pondered.

"Is the Eclipse still available?", asked Mickey.

Yukino shook her head. "No. A year ago in Earth Land, Fiore was hosting the Grand Magic Games and the kingdom was gather magic from everyone to power the Gate. The Gate is the subject for a plan known as the Eclipse Project. By using Magic siphoned from the participants in the Grand Magic Games, the twelve keys and a Celestial Spirit Mage, the Gate is set to open, allowing some individuals to travel back 400 years in time where they would kill Zeref before he could attain immortality."

"The project was a cover for another plan, intended to avert the destruction of Fiore as told to Hisui E. Fiore by an individual who claimed to be from the future. This second plan involves making use of the large amount of Magic stored within the Gate over the past seven years. The second plan is known as the "Eclipse Cannon". This is actually a deception as the Gate can't operate as a cannon.", said Rogue. "The moment the Gate opened, a flight of Dragons emerges and starts wreaking havoc atop Mercurius. The Gate, however, was closed by both Lucy and Yukino, who, together, utilize the connection between the Gate and the 12 Ecliptic Zodiac Keys. But, Natsu's last attack against a dragon results in the Gate's destruction."

"Earth Land Magic is really amazing.", said Riku. "Do you think Celestial Spirit Magic will be the key in ending the Organization?"

"I don't know.", said Sorano. "Celestial Spirit Magic has amazing power and can be used to power ancient technology."

"I would have to say Dragon Slaying Magic would be the best option.", said Macbeth

"Dragon Slaying Magic is a form of ancient magic and can hold unpredictable power.", said Erik.

"This will take sometime to find a trump card.", said Mickey. "But right now, we should tell the others about Terra."

"Right!"

Hey guys before I move on, I'm having trouble deciding what Fairy Tail would look like in Toy Box. One is to have the gang dress as Final Fantasy characters and the other is to have some character dress as characters from Edens Zero. Which do you think will work?