Chapter 3

The Cauldron

(World: The Black Cauldron)

Before they left Traverse Town, Serena's outfit changed. Lyra said it was because she found a new warrior. And that it may change after we found the next.

Her outfit now was a light blue tank top, with black X's across the front and back. (Kinda like Riku's) She now had on black jeans. And black boots that were under her jeans. The only things that weren't black or blue, were the silver moon earrings on her ears. (Ok so I suck at describing, hopefully you know what I mean. If you want criticize me, except you dani, that's fine)

Actually, Darien's outfit changed as well. It was now a black turtle neck tank top that clung to his body. (Drool.ok we all have our little problems. Mine is obsessing over cute anime boys, and anything anime) He had black pants, and he could now summon his weapon as he pleased, like Serena and Lyra. Also he now had on a white mask, over his eyes. (Ok I know that's stupid, but oh well. And I am not leading up to his tuxedo mask outfit. Personally I think the moonlight knight sounds better than tuxedo mask, but oh well I'm the writer. But can I at least clone a Darien look alike and keep him, hmm where would I put him......I know I'll hide him in my closet! So my mom won't find him, she never looks in there and while she's away during the day I'll keep him handcuffed to my wrist ~Evil grin~ again you can complain if you want to, except for you dani)

After being in the gummi ship for nearly two days, and forcing themselves not to kill each other, they finally arrived to a New World.

It kinda looked like a circle with woods at the top, and a village at the bottom.

"Yep! There are heartless here alright," Lyra said.

"That's obvious they're everywhere basically, but how can you tell without knowing?" asked Serena.

"Well this is the world The Black Cauldron resides in" she answered, while landing the gummi ship on the ground.

Serena and Darien looked at each other for a second, before asking, "What's the black Cauldron?"

"It's a giant black, well Cauldron, with great evil power. It's been in safe keeping for years but now an evil lord has it within his grasps and plans to use it to help the heartless plunge the world into darkness forever. Now the only thing to do is to destroy it, but." she trailed off.

"But what?" Serena asked. She noticed that she didn't want to tell the truth for obvious reasons. Reasons she'd have to tell if she had anything to do with it.

"It can be destroyed but at the cost of a life" she said sadly. Serena gasped, while Darien looked shocked. He had heard of the black cauldron, but not this part. What were they gonna do? If they had to sacrifice one of there own to keep the black cauldron from the enemies' hands. He knew it wouldn't be Serena she was too important to the worlds right now and plus he'd never allow anything to happen to her. (Awww first stages of love, usually or in most anime's it's denial)

"But were gonna have to find away around it and save this world" she said trying to cheer them up, though it was no use. They all knew there was no loophole though. Something like that there just isn't away around no matter how hard you may try.

They walked onto the still luscious green grass, stretching their legs.

After awhile of walking around they decided to walk into the village, instead of heading for the forest. As soon as they had gotten there, a whole bunch of heartless ambushed them.

All summoning their weapons they prepared for battle. "Be careful. They're stronger now. They went easy on us before, but now they mean business" Lyra said.

Lyra was right, they were stronger, but they still were able to beat them. Only it took longer.

"Well that was a little tiring, wouldn't you say," said Lyra sarcastically.

"Maybe we should find a place to stay for the night and then get a start looking for the cauldron tomorrow" Serena suggested.

"What you gotta be joking. With something as powerful as the black cauldron in the enemies hands! How can you even think of resting! We should start looking right away!" said a new voice.

"Who's there?" Darien asked getting in a fighting stance.

"Well it took you long enough to get here. I was beginning to think you'd never show up," said a tall man moving out of the shadows right in front of them, so they could see him.

He was, well as I said before tall, about two inches taller that Darien and he was about 6"1, meaning this new guy was 6"3. He had bright green eyes and smooth, long, light brown hair that was tied in a ponytail. He wore a green turtleneck tank top like Darien's. And black pants with boots under them like Serena's. He also wore black gloves that went up to his wrists. He had a tattoo of the symbol for falcon in green that matched his eyes, on his right shoulder. And the only other distinguishing feature was a slanted scar on his left cheek.

"Who are you?" Lyra asked.

"Call me Toroki. The third warrior of light you're looking for Ms. Serenity" he answered bowing and taking her hand and kissed it. As soon as his lips touched her skin she blushed crimson red.

All of a sudden, Darien jumped in between them and said, "And why should we believe you! For all we know you could be serving the heartless" he spat.

"I take it you're the boyfriend by the way you just acted. And just so you know not only am I a celestial warrior, but now I am also you're rival. And I do intend to win her heart" he said proudly.

"I'm not her boyfriend and we have reason to suspect you" he barked trying to hide the blush, after being called Serena's boyfriend.

"But Darien, how come you didn't suspect Lyra when we first found her?" Serena asked.

"Because the Keyblade responded to her, you said so yourself" he nearly yelled.

"Well the keyblade is responding but it's a little different. But there definitely is a celestial warrior here. So how bout he joins us and I'll decide whether or not he's the real deal" she said.

With that he shut his mouth. Only cause he could no longer argue, he'd just have to go along with this guy.

They stopped in a restaurant for a quick bite, and then left to look for the cauldron.

Fighting heartless is a little hard, but Lyra was having an even harder time keeping Darien from killing this new guy. Especially when Toroki offered Serena his arm, and she took it.

"Darien chill! He's not gonna hurt her if he really is a celestial warrior" she said struggling to keep him under control.

"Yeah but if he isn't a warrior of light, he may hurt her" he said angrily.

"Well we can't do anything about it right now, but don't worry I'm on your side I think he's a little fishy too" she said. Then she whispered, "Let's lay low for awhile and keep an eye on him, alright?"

"Sure that's a good idea," he said watching Serena laugh at something he said. He wasn't sure what it was, but he felt something boil inside of him making him feel like he should be the one making her laugh and not this guy.

He instantly scolded himself for even thinking that.

Even so the trip through the forest had been a relatively quiet one.

It was beginning to get dark, when they came to a sudden stop. As they found a giant castle right in front of them.

"What is that?" Serena asked, feeling fear rise in her. And the big, dark swirling cloud overhead wasn't helping.

"It's the castle of the horned king. He most likely is behind the heartless in this world" said Toroki.

"So I take it we have to get in there without being noticed, right?" Lyra asked.

"Yep! But I heard a villager talking about a secret entrance on the side" Toroki said.

"Then I guess that's where were headed" Serena said getting her sword out.

"What are you doing?" Darien asked.

"Well ether way were gonna end up fighting heartless so might as well be prepared" she answered.

"Oh" he said as he and the rest of them pulled out their weapon.

"Serena quickly studied Troika's weapon. It was one of those things where there's a big spiky ball on a stick, except the stick was metal. (What the hell are those called! I'd appreciate someone telling me in a review. Thank you). On the metal stick had a green falcon decorating it.

They walked around the side quietly to avoid unwanted attention. Once they reached a certain section they started feeling around for something.

"Hey guys I think I found something" Serena called. They all stopped what they were doing and came to look. Toroki was the first to reach her.

"Oh you mean this," he said pushing a brick.

"No not that one!" Serena yelled but it was to late a trap door opened under their feet and they began falling.

"Serena!" Darien yelled. Lyra started looking for what they pushed, but couldn't find it.

"Where did it go?" she said while franticly searching.

Meanwhile.........

Serena and Toroki found themselves in a smelly, dusty hallway.

"I told you it wasn't that one," she said rubbing her head.

"How do you know?" he said rubbing his bottom.

"Because it was too obvious meaning it must be a trap, so I noticed the one next to it was plain and ordinary unlike the other ones. So I guessed it must be it," she said.

"Very well done Keyblade master, you seem very smart," said a voice from the shadows.

"Who's there?" she asked then she remembered something, "Fire!" And all of a sudden a flame came out of the Keyblade a lit up the room.

In the corner of the room was a big giant troll, with heartless jumping around him like they were dancing, but these Heartless looked different, they had helmets on.

"Ah even more impressive. But do you have what it takes to beat me" he said.

All of a sudden lights shot up and created a cage like space.

"If you manage to beat me you must find a way out of here. But that's if you manage to beat me" he said before charging towards them.

He jumped up and the force that hit them, when he landed, knocked them down.

Then the giant troll started spitting out fireballs and attacking them.

Serena dodged them as best she could and attacked with all her might and his forces seemed to weaken a little.

"Serena get behind me!" Toroki yelled.

"Why?" she asked throwing a fire spell at him, trying to fight fire with well fire.

"Just trust me," he yelled as a fireball hit his arm. "Ahhhhhhhhhh" he screamed.

"Toroki are you all right?" she asked worried.

"Yeah, I'm fine just get behind me" he said. "Freeze!" he screamed as a fire came straight for him all of a sudden.

But it didn't reach them; the fireball turned into a giant ice cube and made a loud echoing noise when it hit the floor.

"Here Serena, I'm gonna give you the power of ice to fight this guy" he said as a blue glow surrounded her. "All you have to do is say, 'Freeze!'"

"So you figured out my weakness, impressive. But it won't be enough!" the troll said. All of a sudden the new heartless they had forgotten about came out of a swirling dark light.

Then the troll started jumping up and down so they couldn't stand up, but he also shot bigger fireballs at them.

Serena tried to stand up but it was no use. And the Heartless seemed to be unaffected by it.

'This is hopeless!' Serena thought that as she let the heartless attack her.

'Don't give up. You can't let the darkness win. Look inside yourself, you'll find the answer' called a voice that sounded oddly familiar. (Corny I know)

"Father" she whispered.

"Serena get up!" Toroki called.

She opened her eyes to see Toroki with blood running down his arm, leg and face.

She was about to ask if he was all right, but then she noticed she was bleeding even worse. Her arm was cut, as well as her leg. And her head hurt. And the she saw blood dripping from her cheek and lip.

She looked at the heartless and then at the troll. And then she closed her eyes and visioned the troll in her mind's eyes. And she noticed something she didn't before.

She jumped up with al her might, and ignored the sudden jolt of pain through her body. Then she did one more jump before he could knock her down again and kept doing it as she dodged fireballs.

Finally she jumped up and did a flip in the air and landed on his shoulders. While he tried to shake her off, Toroki stood up and destroyed the other heartless.

Serena managed to get the Keyblade in his mouth so he couldn't close it.

"Toroki shoot the ice spell in his mouth! There's a fire there and you should be able to put it out. Come on we don't have much time!" she yelled.

"Alright" he said as he took aim as the troll managed to shake Serena off. But he didn't have time to jump and knock him down before Toroki screamed, "FREEZE!"

And a big blue beam came out and hit him right in the mouth and steam came out of his mouth. He started jumping up and down, but found something was wrong.

All of a sudden he started to freeze up, and became an ice cube.

Luckily Serena recalled the Keyblade to her before it could freeze with him.

"Serena would you do the honors" Toroki said.

"Gladly" she said as she prepared for one final attack. Then she said, "Fire!" and the giant troll was reduced to a puddle of water on the floor.

"Great thinking Serena! How'd you locate that flame in his mouth anyway" Toroki asked.

"I listened to my heart," she said. And silently added to herself, 'Thanks dad'. Then she fainted from exhaustion.

A few hours later she woke up, from Toroki shaking her. "Hey Sere I found the way out".

"Hey what happened, I don't feel anything. What happened to all my wounds? And what about yours?" she asked.

"I used a potion. Heals ya real quick" he said laughing. She said thanks, before getting up and walking toward him. After opening a door, they walked down a new hallway.

"Ok let's go find Darien and Lira" she said.

"I don't know. Maybe we should go find the cauldron instead," he said.

"What? How can you even suggest that? They could be in trouble and need our help. And plus if this horned king is as powerful as you say he is, then were gonna need all of us together to beat him" she nearly yelled.

"Fine" he growled.

And basically the rest of the walk was quiet. Until they had to turn a certain direction, then they'd argue over which direction to go.

Eventually they came to a fire lit chamber. And in the center was a huge cauldron, with green steam coming out of it.

"Is that the-"

"Yes the black cauldron" he finished for her.

She looked around and noticed something. She looked closer and realized. "Oh my god! Toroki look! It's Darien and Lira and their about to be killed!" Serena said as she tugged on his arm.

"Toroki?" she asked when he didn't answer.

Her answer was a very evil laugh, which came from Toroki!

"Toroki what's wrong with you?" she asked becoming scared.

"Nothing, Serena" he said. Then he grabbed her arm and made it so she couldn't move.

"I congratulate you for beating my brother. That was very smart of you, but you're not going to meddle in out affairs ever again" he said smoothly, a little too smoothly.

"You're.You're Bro.Brother?" she asked.

"Yes, you know that troll we fought, except he really isn't a troll like me were shape shifters who serve the horned king!" he laughed evilly.

"But then why would you serve him when your one of the Hikari five?" she said trying not to believe what he was telling her.

"Foolish girl, I was never one of the Hikari five! I just shape shifted into the real Toroki, who is our prisoner. It was easy top fool you, and when the keyblade reacted to me it was telling you I was a heartless minion, but we shape shifters give off a different aura then regular heartless. Darien was right to suspect me. My real name is Reioku," he said.

As soon as he said that he started to change. His hair turned blue, his eyes bright yellow. And he now wore a black robe. That completely covered him, so you couldn't really see what he was wearing underneath.

"But why? Why would you do this Toroki?" she asked in shock.

"What will it take to get you to understand! I'm not Toroki!" he yelled. "Now what are you going to do? Surrender and be killed or let your friends die? Take your pick, Serena" he said.

"I surrender," she said dropping the keyblade as well as to her knees.

"But before I die. Can you please tell me? Tell me why you became evil?" she asked as she was tied up.

"Fine! You're gonna die anyway. First of all, the brother we killed isn't my only brother" he said grabbing her and pulling her over to the cauldron.

"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.

""The celestial warrior you're looking for, Toroki. Is my elder brother" he said while she gasped.

"I was jealous as well as my twin brother. He got all the attention from everyone, because of his powers. But I never said anything because no matter how jealous I was I could never hate him. He was to kind and even helped me with things. I idolized him. And we were always good friends; he'd even let me and my brother tag along with him when he went to work. He said he'd always be there for me. But then he went away for a little while" he sighed a painful sigh, before continuing.

"But then he did the one thing that I could never forgive. My wife, by know he had been gone for ten years, except he came home for my wedding and was my best man. We had just received news that we were gonna have a child, when we found out that she had a disease. I sent out a letter to my brother telling him that he could use his magic to save her and the baby. But as the weeks flew by he never came, never sent a response. And then she died. He promised that he'd always be there for me, and when I needed him the most he wasn't there. And so when the horned king appeared before me, and offered me a chance for revenge. I couldn't refuse. And I put a spell over my brother to control him" Reioku said.

"Reioku, do you think that he maybe never got the letters because someone had interfered and caused this grudge so they could use it for their own plans, to get to Toroki. And even if I'm wrong, do you think you're wife would want you to seek revenge on you're brother because of her. I mean if she knew how close you were I don't think she'd want to be the cause of this feud," Serena said looking at him with sad eyes.

He paused for a second.

"Shut up! What do you know about her! Don't you dare ever talk about her, you didn't even know her" he yelled, while smacking her.

"Get you're hands off her Reioku!" called a voice.

"Toroki? How the hell did you get out!" he yelled.

"You will not harm her! And if you do, brother or not I will kill you. For it is my duty to protect her," he yelled.

Serena looked at him. He looked exactly like the Toroki she had come to trust.

"You will kill me? Ha! Don't make me laugh. I'm already dead. My soul is at least. It died with my wife and unborn child" he smirked, "As well as when I found out that I was betrayed by the one person I had trusted the most!"

"Reioku, I did not know of your wife's illness. And I'm deeply sorry. But Serena is right! Someone did stop those letters from reaching me. When I had heard of what happened from a villager somewhere else. I rushed home, but it was to late and you were already being controlled by the darkness" he said sadly.

"But even so, I can't believe you would do this! I know you are in pain, but still evil isn't the answer," he said.

"I know, but I knew I could never be strong enough to fight you. But with the heartless at my side, I'll get rid of you once and for all" he yelled.

All of a sudden a dark ball was in his hands, and then he started throwing them at Toroki.

Serena could only watch as the two brothers fought. She saw all the hatred on one side and the pain on the other as they fought a meaningless battle.

"Stop it!" she yelled with all her might. The rope that had been tied around her wrists and ankles all of a sudden disappeared in a bright light.

"Both of you stop it right now! This fighting is pointless. Reioku can't you see how much pain this is causing Toroki? Even if you can't, what happens if you manage to kill him? Will your pain go away? Will it bring your wife and child back? No. So please stop this fighting," she said as she started to cry.

They both stared at her for a minute and then Reioku all of a sudden grabbed his head and started screaming.

"I won't do it! I won't hurt my brother! You can't make me!" he yelled.

"Fine then" came and evil voice.

Just then a beam of light came out and went right threw Reioku's stomach.

He collapsed on the ground, as blood started pouring out beneath him.

"Reioku!" yelled Serena and Toroki at the same time.

They were unable to reach him because, more beams shot out and they had to keep dodging them.

"Serena, are you all right?" asked a familiar voice.

She turned around to see Lyra and Darien dodging blasts too.

"But I thought you were." she trailed off as she saw the Darien and Lyra that were tied up turn into heartless. 'An illusion like before' she thought.

"Actually we found the real secret passageway, and we rescued Toroki here" said Lyra.

"He told us what was going on with his brother, and what he was doing" Darien said.

They continued dodging blasts, trying to find out where they came from.

Then the blasts stopped and, out of the shadows came and dark figure with a brown cloak on and heartless surrounded him. His face was hard to see under the hood he wore, but it looked like a skeleton head except instead of white it was black. And he had horns on top of his head.

Everyone thought the same thing, 'The horned King'. (Oh yes I've only seen the black Cauldron once so my description of the horned king may be bad. Wait aren't all my descriptions bad. I think I need a hug ~sniff~.)

"Hmm.Impressive you managed to get this far. And Reioku I'm surprised you managed to get out of my mind control. Oh well you'll be dead in a couple of hours, so you'll soon be with your wife and child. See I told you I could make your pain go away" he said.

It was hard to hear, but they all thought they heard Reioku say faintly, "You bastard".

"Now as for you meddlesome four, I think it's time you stopped meddling in our plans," he yelled as he held his hand up and three big black disks started appearing and thrown at them.

They tried to dodge the blasts but they were too fast and the heartless were swarming around them.

"Ahhhhhh" screamed Darien as one of the disks cut into his side.

"Darien!" Lyra yelled, but that distraction caused her to be hit in the leg.

"Darien, Lyra are you alright?" Serena asked trying to keep focused on the heartless and disks.

"Yeah, I think so," they said.

"Serena! I can get rid of the Heartless by using a spell, but I will be out of strength after that. While Darien and Lyra covered me, you go and fight the Horned King. You'll have more of an advantage," Toroki yelled. (What bimbo came up with the Horned King?)

"But-" she said.

"Don't worry go! Darien! Lyra, you heard the plan right?" he asked. After they nodded, he held his hand up and yelled, "THUNDER!!!!!!!!!!!!"

All of a sudden lighting bolts came out of no where and one by one the heartless were destroyed, as well as the disks.

Toroki collapsed and started panting heavily. Lyra and Darien ran over to him. Before he fainted he said, "Go now Serena." Then he lost consciousness.

Serena started to head over to him anyway. "Stop Serena you heard him, Go. Go now while we have this opportunity" Lyra said.

Though she felt bad about, she turned around and headed for the horned king, whom at the moment seemed to be having a hard time from energy loss as well.

'This is my chance his guard's down' Serena thought as she charged for him. 'This is for Reioku. And all the pain you caused him'.

She was about to attack, when the king looked up and disappeared.

'Huh where'd he go?' she thought. She soon got her answer.

He reappeared right behind her, and grabbed her neck so that she couldn't breathe. She tried to get his hands off, but found his grip to hard.

"Did you now that the black cauldron wasn't originally called that? It was actually called the Nosomu Cauldron, or the Wish Cauldron. Many came from all over the different worlds to come and make a wish. But so many wishes caused many disasters, that tainted the cauldron to turn evil, so now every wish made will turn into a disaster. The only way to turn it Back to that state is to have a person pure of heart dropped into it. And you get the honor of doing that and as it becomes pure once again" he said throwing her at the cauldron.

Or at least that was what he thought.

A golden light went right through him as he threw Serena, but the impact was so great that he threw her the opposite direction. Cursing as he held the place where the beam was shot right threw him; he accidentally stumbled into the cauldron.

Then a flash of bright green light flooded the room. While Serena could only stare in shock. She thought she heard Reioku's voice saying, "Come on it's gonna blow!"

Only it wasn't her imagination, after the light and smoke cleared and she was able to see again. He was right there next to her.

"Are you alright?' he asked panting heavily.

"Yeah, but what about you? That blast of light came from you wasn't it? You saved my life. Thank you" she said.

Reioku turned to look at her and gave a small smile, before collapsing.

"Reioku what's wrong?" she asked, starting to cry as she put his head gently on her lap to rest.

"I'm sorry for what happened. Letting that guy trick me! I'm such a fool," he said.

"No your not. I forgive you, and besides why are you saying sorry you're the one who saved all of us" she said while smiling, but that didn't stop the tears coming down her cheeks.

"Stop crying Serena. A smile looks much better on you, now dry those tears. You know, you remind me so much of my wife. To bad I'm going to die other wise we could have been great together" he said.

The others started to walk over to them, with Toroki leaning on them both for support.

Reioku noticing them said, "Well Darien I guess you won. Take good care of her in my place. Oh and please wait until after you're married to have kids".

"What are you talking about?" Darien said turning beat red, which matched Serena's blush.

"Oh yes, by the way Toroki please forgive me.," he said as he trailed off, his eyes closed never to open again.

"I forgive you brother, but there is no need for forgiveness when what happened was not your fault" he whispered.

While Serena however said, "Reioku? Reioku please wake up! REIOKU!!!!!!!!"

Finally done, wow 14 pages yay to me. Anyway sorry haven't updated in awhile but oh well. The chapter here isn't it! Please stay tuned for the next one. Please help me choose a world and make it an anime one this time. I would very much appreciate it thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! R&R