Hauru made her way down into the cave of wonders, guided by Saïx's scent. He was close. She knew it deep in her heart. She'd heard tale of what happened on this world. A treacherous vizier tried to seize power by wishing to be an all-powerful genie, only to be trapped in a lamp himself. Such tales, Hauru suspected, reminded her why Saïx's existence offended her so. He drew his power from the moon, as she did, but was unwilling to pay the same cost she had to endure. Hauru's frustrated growls echoed throughout the cave as she went deeper and deeper down. She suspected Saïx would not be nearly as powerful underground. His power came from the full moons light, which did not shine in the Cave of Wonders' depths. I have been waiting for this for so long. Hauru clutched at the necklace that she wore, careful not to damage her clothes. She figured out during her first change that she didn't ever grow large enough to destroy their clothing, which was just as well. Hauru's condition was expensive to manage even without having to buy a new outfit after every full moon.
She came upon a massive chamber, filled to the brim with all manner of sparkling gold and gems. There, in the chambers center, she saw a figure clad in a black coat with his hood raised. The scent matched. Before the figure removed his hood, Hauru knew exactly who she had come across. She had found him. Saïx. The Luna Diviner, the false wolf, Organization XIIIs No. VII. Blue hair cascaded down as he turned to look at the lycan wielding the Fenrir keyblade. "I suspected I'd find you sooner or later. The Superior perceives you as a serious threat. All I see is an animal." Saïx's remark cut Hauru deep, reaching her very heart. She dropped low and bared her razor-sharp teeth, her icy blue eyes focused exclusively on Saïx. "Did I touch a nerve?" Saïx summoned forth his Claymore and took up his ready stance. His yellow eyes began to glow. Hauru knew it shouldn't be possible for him to unleash his fury so far away from the full moons light, but it was happening. Hauru charged, hoping to end him before Saïx could start his vicious offensive, but to no avail. He charged forward, slamming his hammer down with every step and creating powerful shockwaves of lunar energy. All Hauru could do was dodge and evade. But once Saïx got close enough, Hauru delivered a slash with Fenrir right across his face. Saïx had expended his energy and his eyes returned to normal. Saïx raised a hand to his face. Somehow, Hauru had drawn blood. Hauru took advantage of Saïx's distraction and delivered a series of powerful blows with Fenrir, the last one cutting in the opposite direction across his face, leaving an X-shaped wound.
To Hauru's amazement, Saïx's resolve only seemed to strengthen. "Perhaps I spoke too soon," Saïx said. "But no matter. I will put you down, lycan!" Hauru was taken aback. Nobodies always freaked her out. She knew they had no hearts, knew they had no emotion. She wasn't sure if their false displays of emotion were for their own benefit or a psychological tactic, but it was scarily convincing. Hauru didn't want to give Saïx an opening. She rushed him and leapt into the air, hoping to bring her full weight down on him via her keyblade, but Saïx blocked the attack effortlessly and flung Hauru into one of the nearby pillars. The force of the impact broke the Pillar and by the time Hauru recovered, Saïx was right on top of her. She managed to roll out of the way before the attack could connect. "Stubborn creature, aren't you?" Hauru growled at the nobody for that remark, and managed to land a series of powerful slashes while the Nobody readied for another attack. Hauru's confidence was short lived. Saïx charged at the keybearing lycan. Hauru managed to block the attack, but the overwhelming force of it sent her flying. She managed to recover her balance, but not before crashing through another pillar.
This lunatic is going to bring the cave down around our ears if the keeps up. Hauru thought. I have to finish this quickly. Saïx fought like the Berserkers he controlled, but didn't suffer the same speed penalty. Hauru ran towards him, and her first strike was blocked. The cave echoed with the sound off clattering weapons as each of Hauru's successive attacks was blocked. Even the reach provided by Fenrir wasn't enough find a crack in Saïx's defense. It went on like that for a full minute before Hauru slipped up, allowing Saïx to land a powerful combo with his hammer. Saïx's last blow brought Hauru to her knees. As she struggled to get back on her feet, or rather her hindpaws, Saïx struck her with a powerful blow that sent her tumbling back.
"Such a pitiful creature," said Saïx. "And if this is you at your strongest, then the Superior's fears seem overblown". Hauru tried to haul herself up and Saïx knocked her right back down. Hauru stood shakily on her feet, it was a struggle to stay conscious, much less battle Saïx. She did the only thing she could. She left the area and realized she had to get back to the city proper. A health potion would keep her fit to move, but her injuries would take longer to heal. She was dazed from the numerous blows she'd sustained, and the labyrinthine nature of the Cave of Wonders was made harder still for the wounded lycan to navigate. It must have been hours before she found the exit. It was still dark out, but the moon was beginning to set. She managed to summon her glider to traverse the desert, but she collapsed once she reached the city's outer wall. By then, the sun had risen and she'd reverted to her human form. The pain of the change was the last straw. She saw a figure wearing the Organization's coat slowly approach her. And then, everything went black.
Hauru walked alone up to the massive doors of the chained castle. The man who had brought her there had vanished. She was greeted by blue-haired girl named Aqua, charming and lovely. She led the young Hauru through the castle and brought her to the throne room to stand before Master Eraqus. "Master," she said, "I found her just outside the castle gates. I'm not sure how she got here, but she wields a keyblade". Eraqus made a gesture with his hand and Aqua left.
"You certainly seem fairly young to be wandering the worlds by yourself," the wise master said. "But you did well to find your way to our doors when you did". Hauru looked worried, but never told Eraqus why. Her curse, the thing that made that hunter chase her. She knew how to manage it, but the risk of discovery here was far higher than it ever was anywhere else. But where else could she go? "You're safe here, young one. What is your name?"
"It's Hauru," she said, clutching at the necklace she wore. She tended to do that when she was nervous. As if calling out for guidance from a father she never knew. "What exactly is this place?"
"The Land of Departure. It is here that wielders of the keyblade train to become true masters. All to keep the Realm of Light safe from the creeping dark," Eraqus explained. "You have already met Aqua, one of my older students. There are two more that train here. For now, feel free to get to know the others". Hauru bowed and headed off, following the sound of clashing wooden weapons. Just in front of the gate, the other apprentices were sparring. Hauru watched for a while, appraising their techniques. But Hauru was noticed by the youngest of the three, with messy blonde hair and a jacket that was black on one side and white on the other.
"Hey," the boy said. "You must be Eraqus's new student. I'm Ventus, but most people just call me Ven." Ventus gestured to the young man with the massive tan pants and brown hair. "That's Terra".
"Hi. I... I'm Hauru".
"I saw you when Aqua brought you to see the master," Terra said. "That keyblade looks like one from the stories. Where'd you get the chain for it?"
"Oh, I... It was moms," Hauru said.
"I like your necklace," said Aqua. "It must be special".
"It's a gift. My dad gave it to mom before he left. And mom gave it to me. She's probably worried sick about me".
"I'm sure you'll see her again," Ventus said reassuringly. "In the meantime, we can be your family".
Hauru shot awake and found herself in unfamiliar surroundings. Her jacket and potion cuff were hanging on a post along with her belt and corset. She tried to move, but every nerve in her legs screamed in sheer agony. Hauru tried to suppress any kind of reaction. She wasn't in the storehouse she was crashing in. No, this was much better-appointed. She knew she was still in Agrabah, a fact that was confirmed by the scents wafting in through the open windows. She realized, from the stiffness in her movement, that someone had bandaged her wounds for her. She must have broken a rib or seven. She saw a hooded figure coming in, wearing a black coat just like Saïx. "Stay back!" Hauru shouted. She summoned her keyblade, still bearing Fenrirs form. "I'm warning you. Don't come any..." Hauru was cut off by the searing pain in her chest and back.
"You're in no condition to fight. Put that keyblade away before you hurt yourself". The figure sounded younger than she expected. A boy, without question. Perhaps no older than herself. Physically, at any rate. Hauru's time in the unchained realm was spent without aging. "I brought you here to rest, so you could heal". The cloaked boy said. Hauru gripped her Keyblade tighter and swapped out the chain for Starlight, changing it back to the ancient pattern she was used to.
"Why would a nobody do that for me? I hunt down and kill your kind". The figure brought his hood down to reveal his face. He was blindfolded and had a long mane of silver hair. He smelled of ocean breeze and salt spray. An islander? No. Hauru knew those smells. Her birthplace. This boy was from the Destiny Islands, just like her.
"They wouldn't," the cloaked boy said. "I'm not one of them. Put the keyblade away. You're not in any danger". Hauru grunted and dismissed her keyblade. "That's better. Saïx really did a number on you".
"You should see what I did to his face," Hauru boasted. "What's your name?" Hauru demanded. "And why are you wearing that?"
"It's Riku. I think you owe me some answers first, since I saved your life". Hauru nodded in agreement. "First off, how come you have a keyblade?"
"It's thanks to my mother," Hauru said. "She bequeathed it to me when I was very young. I guess she saw some kind of potential in me."
"And why are you taking on the Organization head-on? It's reckless."
"How is what you're doing any different?" Hauru asked. "I made a mistake some time ago. This is my atonement. If I bring them down, I can be forgiven. And if I die..."
"I'm not trying to hunt them down one by one. And I'm not doing this alone". Riku calmly took a seat beside Hauru. Hauru, meanwhile, was more nervous than she ever was. She had no reason to think he knew her secret, nor could she ask. Best to play along, even as she felt her wounds start to heal on their own. Just one more gift that came from being a lycan.
"So why are you doing this?" Hauru asked. "Running around the worlds, dressed like them". Riku took a deep breath and let out a long sigh.
"I'm doing it so my best friend... sleeps in peace". Riku never liked having to think about what lead him to this point. "He means a lot to me. And if he's ever going to wake up..." Hauru cut him off by reaching a comforting hand out to his shoulders.
"I know how it feels. I have a friend who's been asleep for a very long time. I'm scared he won't wake up". Hauru remembered Ventus, a fellow apprentice under Master Eraqus. Xehanort had brought her to the land of departure so she could be properly trained in the art of wielding a keyblade when she was just twelve. Assuming the man who saved her all those years ago really was Xehanort. Her memory was a little fuzzy, and spending eleven years in the Unchained Realm didn't help whatsoever.
"Let me take a look at your injuries. I already bandaged them as best I could," Riku said. Hauru's eyes went wide.
"That's not really necessary. I'll be fine". Riku prodded anyway, and Hauru found that they had stopped hurting. Uh oh. I need to get out before...
"Does it hurt when I do this?" he asked. Hauru shook her head and Riku's expression changed to genuine shock. "That's impossible... You're already..." Before Riku could even finish his sentence, Hauru got up and put all of her gear back on.
"Listen, I want to thank you for what you've done, but I need to get going. My work is never done". Hauru managed to get to the exit to Riku's domicile before he called out to her, which froze her in her tracks.
"Wait! What's your name? Will I ever see you again?"
"My name's Hauru. And that depends. I have to go". And like that, Hauru was gone. She rushed out through the bazar to the outer wall and breathed a massive sigh of relief. That was too close. But for some reason, Thoughts of this boy, who risked so much to save her, couldn't leave her mind. This boy, this Riku had saved her, but she still wasn't sure why. Lycans are not particularly easy to kill, but Hauru was worried that there would be even tougher foes than Saïx. But maybe the organization thinking she wasn't a real threat was a good thing. They would underestimate her, get cocky, and that was something she could use. But the whole situation wasn't right, as far as Hauru was concerned. Lycans were at their strongest under the full moon, so her mother said in the stories she told. How could Saïx have beaten her as easily as he did? Her thoughts were interrupted by the realization that she needed to brew more monkshood potions to keep herself calm and under control come the next full moon. One sky, one destiny. One sun and moon. There were exceptions to this. Halloween Town had a full moon every night. But she could think of that later. She summoned her keyblade and swapped out the chain, transforming Starlight into Fenrir and summoning her glider after donning her armor. It was time to go. Beasts Castle was a reliable source of Monkshood, and served as a logical next stop. As she ascended into interspace, she silently hoped that she'd see more of Riku.