Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts or anything like that. All is owned by Square.

---------------------------------------------------

Chapter 2

Discovery

Kylia slowly walked through the streets, nimbly dodging thieves and people with long practice. She was the merchant-girl of the House of Yamikina. She was supposed to go to market to buy all sorts of things, from food to slaves. Today, of all days, was the day to go slave-buying. If she had waited one day more, she would not have met the girl.

This girl she met at the slave market. She looked like a regular person, in jeans and a tee-shirt. But her aura was different. In Kylia's eyes, she was a powerful being, able to either destroy or heal an entire world. In anyone else's eyes, she was a normal 7-year-old, as when she asked the servants.

Small pickpockets, some as young as three, tried to grab the girl's bag, but she held on to it tightly, as if her life depended on what was contained within the bag. Kylia walked up to the girl, shooing the boys away. The girl quickly looked away from Kylia. Kylia knelt down, putting her face to the eye-level of the girl.

"Hello. I'm Kylia. What's your name?" she asked slowly, hoping the girl knew English.

"You don't need to treat me like a kid. I can understand you just fine," the girl responded.

"What's your name?" Kylia repeated.

"I'm... Akara," she answered.

Now we're getting somewhere. Thought Kylia.

Kylia had a closer look at the girl. Her shirt was many sizes too large for her. Her jeans had a few holes in them and she had a pair of sneakers on. The girl's shirt was a bit torn in the front, revealing bandages on her torso.

"What happened to you?" Kylia asked.

"Something attacked me, that's all."

Let's see if she's telling the truth. Kylia thought as she called on her magic. It said that she was telling the truth, but only part of it.

"Come with me, we'll have someone look at those."

"... Okay."

"Amazing! Your tissue shows no signs of injury, not even a scar! After an attack, you should at least have a scar. But instead of one, you seem to have a weird tattoo."

Akara was surprised, but tried not to show it.

"Actually, it was..." Akara was cut off by a nurse coming rushing into the room.

"Doctor Jaki! There are weird reports of black creatures attacking the Marketplace! Hundreds have disappeared, and in their place, more creatures come! Wounded are coming in quickly!"

"Semoin! Bring up our shields after the last person has come in!"

"Yes, ma'am."

Akara and Kylia were escorted down into some caverns.

"What is this place?" asked Akara.

"This is the refugee camp. Our country gets attacked often, and usually attacks are centered at this city. These caverns are shielded by magic, so only another mage can break in. But don't worry. Semoin is one of the best Shield-mages ever. It would take a truly powerful mage to get in. I just hope those creatures aren't immune to shields."

"But Kylia, I was..."

"Be quiet, Akara."

They were shoved into the back of the caverns, squished and stuffed between hundreds of others.

A voice came out of a speaker.

"Attention all civilians! I repeat, attention all civilians! The creatures are continually attacking the city! Anyone who has any knowledge of them please come forward to Dr. Jaki. I repeat..."

"Kylia..."

"I said be quiet!"

"KYLIA!" yelled Akara.

"What!"

"I know what those creatures are!"

"You do? Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because you wouldn't let me!"

Kylia pushed Akara toward Dr. Jaki.

"Umm..." murmured Akara.

"What is it?" Jaki snapped.

"I know about those creatures."

"What!?"

Akara took a deep breath. "I know about those creatures!" she yelled.

"You do? Great? What are they, for starters?"

"My dad was doing something about this, and I read a part of his report. He called them Heartless."

"Okay..." Jaki said, writing it down on her notepad, "What are their weaknesses?"

"I think they don't really have a weakness. A person came to the castle and told dad that they were afraid of a weapon, called a 'Keyblade'. But I think that if you had mages or something, someone who could attack with magic, that maybe they could hold them off. I don't know if they can be hurt by normal means."

"Okay. Semion?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Get our warrior monks and the war-mages out there. Try to kill as many as possible. Use as many evasive manuvers as needed, and better bring a few healers out there to keep those fighting alive."

"Yes, ma'am."

Semion walked to the front of the crowd.

"Attention all civilians! We need your help! Anyone who can use magic please step forward!"

A few people stepped forward, from accomplished war-mages, educated at the university, to village healers, skilled in herbal medicines and basic healing. A few heavily muscled people in orange tunics walked toward Jaki.

"We are here to serve you, madam," one of them said.

"Good. Grab your preferred weapons and go out there. Kill as many as possible."

"Yes," they answered, walking toward a pile of weapons.

When all of them were ready Semion lowered the shields just enough to let them out. The people stood in the back of the caverns, cowering in the shadows, hearing battle raging outside. Akara clung to Kylia while the battle raged on.

"Kylia?" asked Akara.

"Yes?"

"I've always admired fighters. They never seem helpless, always knowing what to do. I wanted to become one, but my father said I had a duty to the people. Do you think that I may be able to learn how to fight here?"

"After the battle, I'll take you to the monks. They'll decide whether you're fighter material or not."

"Okay."

The fight raged on, no one knowing who was winning. After a few hours, the sounds of battle stopped. Everyone stood still and silent in anticipation of who had won. No one came down the stairs at first. After a while, when the people's hopes were fading, people wearing orange tunics slowly walked down the stairs, followed by a few war-mages and healers. They set their weapons down.

"They have been driven back."

The people cheered with unmatched enthusiasm, Akara and Kylia along them. Neighbors hugged each other, kids jumping around. The cavern was filled with echoes of cheer and happiness.

"This battle has been won, but this is just a small part of the growing threat of the..." Jaki whispered into Akara's ear, "What was it again?"

"Heartless."

"The Heartless!" Jaki continued.

Jaki walked toward the warrior monks.

"I need you to find anyone who is fit enough to fight to join our cause."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Um, Ms. Jaki?" asked Akara.

"Yes, Akara?"

"Do you think that I may be able to join the monks?"

"Maybe. I'll take you to their training facility tomorrow."

"Yeah, she's in fit battle condition. The way she helped out in the battle yesterday, we'd be honored to train her."

"Good."

Jaki walked toward Akara and Kylia. Akara wiped her eyes.

"I guess this is good-bye, Kylia," Akara cried.

"It's not good-bye," consoled Kylia, "I'm sure that when you finish training, we'll see each other often."

"I guess..."

"Come on, Akara. They need to give you a tour and show you your room," urged Jaki.

Akara waved to Kylia as she went into the training facility. She wouldn't emerge for nine more years.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, how did you like it? Again, please review or e-mail me at !