Shana: (bangs head) uh…

Sora: (is practicing the move Strike Raid)

Chibi Saint: (is who knows where)

Chibi Demon: (has left with hate for Shana)

Shana: (continues banging head) Stupid Sephiroth!!

Sora: (grins sheepishly) I tried my best.

Shana: (sighs) I know…it's not your fault Sora…Curse Sephiroth for being so undefeatable!!!!

Sora: Ho hum…(throws Keyblade again in a perfect Strike Raid)

Shana: (is ranting now) And why do you have to do it by yourself!? Can't Donald and Goofy actually help in that stinking battle!? What are they doing!? Watching!? And—

Sora: (interrupts) It's okay. I don't have to beat Sephiroth. As long as I can defeat Ansem, we have nothing to worry about.

Shana: But—

Sora: Furthermore, I CAN beat Ansem, easily in fact, so who cares if Sephiroth sits in Olympus Coliseum, waiting for some idiot to challenge him? (adds) No offense, Cloud.

Cloud: (shrugs) None taken. (leaves)

Shana: Yes, but—

Sora: (continues) And why are we even having this conversation about how to beat the hardest boss in Kingdom Heart in your author's note area?

Shana: (gives up, grumbling) To the fic.

------

"Ugh," I groaned.

Sitting up, I opened my eyes. Dark, sinister trees surrounded me. I groaned again, hoping I was not where I thought I was.

"'Course, never had much good luck, have I?" I muttered to myself.

Sighing, I decided to head back to the Prima Vista. At least there was no problem in finding it. The remains of our faithful theater ship towered above the trees. I stood up and grabbed my sword, which was lying bruised and battered nearby.

It was a long walk. Finally I made it into the clearing. Mikane was standing there with Cinna, yelling her head off.

"We should go find Blank! Why is everyone so busy with finding the princess!?" she shouted.

Cinna was cowed.

"I-I don't know…" he murmured.

"Well—"

I interrupted her.

"Mikane."

She spun around.

"Blank! Good of you to show up!" She exclaimed, acting like she hadn't be upset a moment before.

She gave Cinna a look that told him not to mention it to me that I didn't miss. Personally, I didn't think it mattered. Friends are concerned when friends disappear, right? I grinned back at her.

"But why in the world did you jump off?" Mikane demanded, "You got a death wish or something?"

"I didn't jump off," I responded.

"Uh-huh," Mikane said, looking unconvinced, "Anyway, Princess Garnet is missing, and so is Rusty and that little mage boy."

"Are we going to look—"

"Yeah," Mikane frowned. "But I say we just go look for the boy. Who cares if Rusty kicks the bucket?"

"What about Princess Garnet?" I inquired.

"Her too, I guess."

But Mikane didn't clarify if she meant that who would care if Garnet died too.

"I'll look," I offered.

Cinna nodded and ran back inside the ship, away from Mikane.

"I'm coming too."

It wasn't a question or an offer; she stated it as a fact. I didn't mind, so I pointed the way I thought we should check first.

Mikane shrugged and took off down the path. What was wrong with her?

"Girls…' I sighed.

I followed her down the hollow log. After tromping through some muck, we finally made it back to solid ground. The mage boy stumbled towards us, tripping. Mikane caught him.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Sh-She's in trouble…" he stuttered.

"Where?" I asked.

There was a loud thump from ahead. Mikane glanced up.

"What the hell is that!?" she gaped.

We ran to Steiner's side. Garnet was captive in the cage-like top of a plant monster.

"Release the princess at once!!" he gasped.

Mikane rolled her eyes.

"Sure, a giant monster gonna listen to you," she said sarcastically.

She placed the boy next to a tree and whipped out her daggers. Realizing what she meant to do, I unsheathed my sword as well.

"We're going to kick your ass," she sneered at the monster.

We battled the plant beast. Rust-head helped a little. Just as we thought we had it beat, the Prison Cage escaped with Garnet, who was unconscious.

"PRINCESS!!!!!!!!!" hollered Steiner.

"What the heck!?" Mikane growled; she was sure it was doomed, "Where did it go!?"

"She's gone…I was to sc-scared to cast any spells…that m-monster's probably gonna eat her…and it's m-my fault!" he whimpered.

Mikane kneeled before him.

"No it's not," she told him firmly, "Anyone would freeze in front of something like that. Cheer up…er…"

"Vivi,' whispered the boy.

"I'm Mikane. Anyway, cheer up, Vivi!" Mikane grinned, wagging her tail, "Come on! You're very strong for a kid your age!"

Vivi looked up.

"You really think so?" he asked hopefully.

"Of course!" she replied.

I had to smile at Mikane and Vivi. She had never liked to see anyone unhappy. And she always had liked kids. Meanwhile, Steiner was gray-faced.

"How could I let this happen!?" he moaned.

I shrugged.

"'Cause you're incompetent?" I suggested with a grin.

Steiner fell to his knees. Mikane kicked him.

"She's not dead yet. I bet that monster was a minion and it took Garnet back to it's master," Mikane said sensibly.

Steiner was up again before you could blink.

"But then she might still become…We must find her at once!!!" Steiner commanded.

Mikane was about to retort when a shout reached our eyes.

"AAH!!!" yelled Vivi.

Another Prison Cage had captured Vivi!

"Help me, Mikane!!!" he cried.

Suddenly the air in the clearing changed. I paused and even Steiner stopped.

"You bastard," muttered Mikane, shaking, "Get your mitts off Vivi!"

"TRANCE!!!" she screamed.

Her clothes faded away to be replaced by shining white fur. Her hair faded into that same white. Her teeth sharpened into fangs and her hands into claws. She charged at the monster.

"ENERGY BLAZE!!!"

The monster was engulfed in a blast of red light. Vivi, miraculously, was left unharmed and he fell from the top of it. I watched her, jaw dropped, as she sat next to Vivi.

"You okay?" she tried to smile.

Vivi was about to stammer a reply when the monster spewed out spore seeds in a cloud before it went limp. It struck Vivi, Mikane, and Steiner, all of which collapsed.

"Mikane!" I shouted.

I looked at each of them. I had to get them back to the theater ship fast. They needed to be treated. I picked up Vivi and held him with one arm.

Mentally, I was reeling. What she had done was amazing! I had heard of the legendary trance, caused by pain or a sudden fierce emotion. But who knew it was so…so…

I threw Mikane over my shoulder. She was so light! It was so odd.

"P-Prin…cess…" Steiner moaned.

I cast him a glance. What to do about him? Thinking of nothing, I shrugged. Oh well. I could always do it the hard way. I grabbed Steiner's leg and began to pull him back along the trail, still carrying Vivi and Mikane as I did.

------

Shana: (sighs) It's too short. But I gotta stop here. Sorry people who actually care whether or not I post again. I'll try to make the next one longer and get it up fast…Differences are starting to become more pronounced. Yup…they are…What am I forgetting?

Sora: She also wants to apologize to the three awesome people who reviewed her last chapter, Steeple333, RefugeofSouls, and Elendil Star-Lover. She greatly thanks you all for reviewing and hopes you like further chapters.

Shana: Oh yeah…that.

Sora: (goes on) She also wants to ask Elendil Star-Lover if her My Past, Your Future is going to be updated because she really thinks it is a good story.

Shana: ...and that.

Sora: Review! (continues) Of course, it IS a matter of choice. I can say review but only YOU can push the button…

Shana: (hits face) Sora! (drags him away, muttering about his logical logic)