Author's Note:

(Okay. Here begins the journey into the "meatier" part of the plot, otherwise known as, "the introduction of new worlds." I figured I had to start the "widespread-world-destruction" somewhere. Anyhow, enough of my idle banter. Enjoy!)

Chapter Seven

*******************

The doors burst open as Cloud sent a powerful kick their way. The trio rushed into District One and beheld a grim sight. Goofy and Donald lay unconscious, while Aerith knelt beside them, trying to cure them. Sora, Leon, and Cid stood their ground, facing-off against two giant humanoid females, each with three faces, and four arms, each ending in a different sort of weapon, be it either a sword, club, axe, or pike. One was clothed in gray, while the other was wearing a similar outfit, but colored black. The gray one raised its club-arm, and hammered Cid into a nearby wall. The black one prepared to skewer the fallen pilot with its pike-arm, but a small object streaked through the air just then, planting itself just below the blade. The remaining warriors' gaze followed the path of the projectile, and saw a muscular figure standing atop one of the low walls beside the central stairs. He wore a white shirt, and leather shorts. On his arms, were full gauntlets, with small shields at the elbows. Sheathed at his hip, was a scimitar. On his back, hung a buckler shield, and in his hand, was a crossbow, newly fired. The stranger placed another bolt into the crossbow and drew it back, ready for another shot.

The humanoids turned their heads to face the newcomer, who fired again, landing the bolt in the chest of the gray humanoid. The warrior then dropped the crossbow to the ground, leaping off the wall and drawing his sword. With the prowess of a tiger, coupled with the strength of a titan, the warrior executed a series of slashes and hacks into the gray humanoid, knocking it backward with each blow. "What are you waiting for?" shouted the warrior, glancing at Griff, Cloud, and Tasha. "Destroy the other one!"

The trio nodded, and assumed battle-stances, forming a staggered line in front of the black-clothed giant. Sora and Leon formed a similar line behind it, their weapons ready. Sora opened the assault, jumping into the air, landing hit after hit with his keyblade. Leon and Cloud were next, introducing their weapons to the giant's torso. Griff and Tasha, on the other hand, stood back for a moment, wondering what they could possibly do to help. Griff got an idea, and dropped into a crouch. His young eyes narrowed at his attack point, and he rushed forward, leaping into the air, bringing his swallow up and around for a slash across the dark-clad giant's abdomen. The creature hissed, and raised its upper-left arm, twin pikes mounted on the end. The giant swung, clobbering Griff in the head. The young man landed with an "Umph!" as Tasha finally moved in, her claws extended.

A howl split the air, as the gray-clothed giantess crumbled to dust, the strange warrior standing victorious. He hurried over to Griff's side, holding a small plant root. "Eat this," said the stranger. "It'll help." Griff reached up and took the root, stuffing it into his mouth without so much as a second thought. Almost immediately, his vision cleared, and his mind became alert once again. "Whoa…" Griff murmured, standing to his feet. "You'll have to tell me what kind of plant that was once this is over with." The stranger brandished his scimitar, eyeing the dark-clad giantess. "Ravana has more physical endurance than Kali did," he said. "It'll take more than just simple attacks to kill her."

That said, the stranger raised a fist to the sky, and small red globules swirled around him. He opened his hand, and extended it toward the giantess known as Ravana. Three discs of light appeared in a triangular shape above the stranger's head. One-by-one, the discs shot forward, cutting into Ravana's form with little difficulty. Ravana looked down at her wounds, and then back up at the stranger. At once, her body spasmed, then went rigid, before finally disintegrating in shafts of bright light.

Griff blinked, staring at the spot Ravana had once occupied. The weary fighters lowered their weapons, relieved that the battle was over. They walked slowly to the aid of their friends, who were just beginning to stir. Goofy picked himself up, dusting himself off. Donald awoke with a squawk, jumping up and down, his hands balled into fists. "Where are they?!" he demanded. "I'm gonna kick their--"

He cut himself off mid-sentence, looking around to find that the giantesses were nowhere to be seen. He immediately cleared his throat, and went about the group, healing them of their injuries. "Thank you," said Aerith, looking to the stranger. "I don't know how we could have managed without your help, Mr.--"

"Riot," said the stranger. "Ashley Riot, of the VKP Riskbreaker militia. I'm looking for a man named Sydney Losstarot. I lost track of him when Lea' Monde vanished. I blacked out, and woke up here just a few moments ago."

"Who were they?" asked Leon, gesturing to the remains of both Kali and Ravana. "They were conceived by the dark," answered Ashley, "guardians of Lea' Monde's innermost areas. I'm assuming they came here the same way that I did, although in all the confusion, I also lost track of Agent Merlose, my partner."

Ashley sheathed his scimitar, looking the others in the eye. "I was sent by the Valendia Parliament to recover the Gran Grimoire, a magic artifact capable of granting the user virtual immortality, as well as magical powers that far exceed anything one could possibly imagine. Sydney was the last known individual to know the location of the Gran Grimoire. He's the key to finding it."

Griff, Tasha, and the others exchanged glances. "What does this Grimoire look like?" Griff asked. "No one knows," said Ashley, crossing his arms. "Most Grimoires come in the form of a book. Others resemble jewelry and such."

"Perhaps we could be of assistance," said Aerith. "What does this Sydney look like?"

"Why ask when you can see for yourself?" said a voice. They turned around. A figure stood partially bathed in light. He wore no shirt, although he wore light armor on his arms and shoulders. He wore pants of a similar style, and a cape hung from his waist, stopping just above his ankles. His long, unkempt hair was blonde in color, and his deep-brown eyes seemed to stare into their very souls. The figure stepped forward, holding his arms slightly outward and away from his body, a gesture of peace. This didn't seem to satisfy Ashley, as the Riskbreaker drew his scimitar. "What business do you have here, Sydney?" asked Ashley. The blonde man shrugged his thin shoulders. "I mean harm to no one, Riskbreaker. I only seek answers."

Sydney walks slowly toward them, his arms still open and forward. "What caused Lea' Monde to disappear, Riskbreaker? You of all people should know the answer." Ashley shook his head. "I know not," he admitted. "Oh, but you do," said Sydney. "It is the very source of power that Lea' Monde embodies. It is the Dark, Riskbreaker! Why must your head be as thick as your muscle?" Sydney slowly walked toward Griff, stopping in front the young man. "Honestly, Riskbreaker, your mind often rivals that of this one here." Sydney extends his hand toward Griff, speaking in a low voice. "You harden your heart to bury the death of your family, Gideon Lombardi. You blame yourself, and will go to any lengths to protect others. Is this not true?"

Griff's eyes widened in shock. "How did you know that?" he half-shouted. "I didn't even tell Tasha!" The young man brandished his swallow, glaring at Sydney. The blonde man's face remained unchanged. "Do you really mean to kill me, Gideon?" asked Sydney. "It won't accomplish anything." It was then that Ashley stepped forward, weapon still drawn. "Sydney Losstarot, I place you under arrest, pending trial in Parliament headquarters."

Sydney smirked. "And how do you plan to take me there, Riskbreaker?" Ashley fell silent, unable to answer. He sheathed his scimitar, not taking his eyes off Sydney. "When this matter is sorted out, I'm going to take you into custody." Sydney raised his eyebrows. "Fair enough, although you may wish to decide where to go from here, for a start." Sora stepped forward, sweat beading down his noble-brown hair. "If the Heartless are back, then it's a strong possibility there are worlds that are in danger. We have to save them, if we can."

"I agree," said Leon, drawing the attention of the others. "As the Keybearer, it's your duty to defend worlds on the brink of destruction." Donald scratched his head. "How are we going to get there, though?" he asked.

Sydney laughed softly. "Just because you think you've traveled to every world, doesn't mean that there aren't more of them. Getting there might simply require another path." That said, Sydney turned away from them, exposing the ornate tattoo on his back. It looked like an "X," but had another line dividing it in half vertically. The man walked away, leaving the others standing in bewilderment. "So, what now?" asked Tasha.

"We try to save the worlds," answered Griff.

*********

High above, from the top of the doors leading into District Three, a man clad lightly in armor watched them. He stroked his goatee, the color slightly darker than his short, brownish-blonde hair. His earring glinted in the moonlight, as did the rapier at his side. Romeo Guildenstern, captain of the Crimson Blades, crossed his arms. He turned to look at the two figures lying bound behind him. Both wore hoods over their heads, and lay still, unconscious. He jerked his head to the side, signaling to the soldiers standing watch over them. The Blades saluted, and gathered the captives in their arms. His lips curled into a slight smile.

"I've got you now, Sydney Losstarot…"

************

(And there is the villain of Vagrant Story, Romeo Guildenstern. I'm not going to reveal the identities of the captives yet, but I'm sure you'll figure it out in due time. I'm out. Later!)