Shorty: Yeah, filler chapter that I really couldn't drag out any longer. Ah, well. It's just a bit in Traverse Town. Anyways, we got a new keyblade. Only two more after this one. And a new combo. Second to last one. Aaaand... KoTOR II is totally kick ass. Anyways, R&R
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"Are they awake yet?"
It had been a few days since they got back to Traverse Town. Kairi was already moving about on her own, but Riku and Leon had both yet to do anything more than lie like dead things in their beds. It worried Sora, and he wished he could help, even though Aerith assured him there was nothing to do but wait and see.
She shook her head sadly. "They're stable, so they aren't getting worse, but they don't seem to be getting noticably better."
Sora sighed, then walked off down the hall. Currently, the gang was once more holed up in the house near the Third District entrance, and it had quickly changed from empty to homely in a short period of time since he left. He passed Cloud on the way to the main room, not surprising since he seemed to show up whenever Aerith was alone. In the main room, Zell and Arc were talking as Rikku hung onto the white-coated blonde, pestering him with questions as Yuffie conversed with Orchid and Montblanc. He flopped onto the couch with a sigh, resting his head on the arm rest, and closed his eyes. His brilliant blues snapped wide open and he tensed slightly as a pair of arms wrapped around him, then relaxed as he recognized the feel of the hands that caressed his face.
"My, aren't we serious today?" asked Kairi from where she knelt next to the couch behind his head, arms wrapped firmly about him. She smiled at his upside-down face as he looked at her, then sighed and relaxed.
"I guess," admitted Sora. "I mean... I just sort of thought... that after we went to Hollow Bastion, it would all be finished up, finally. Well, I didn't really think that... based on last time... and there's still that guy in the portal." He sighed. "I just hoped it would end when we brought Riku back, and we could all smile again. But Riku's not any better... possibly worse... and the Heartless are stronger than ever. Now, even Shadowless roam about freely."
"Don't worry," assured Kairi. "Things will work out."
Just then, the door slammed open, and Cid came in, followed by another man with blond hair and a gruff face.
"Hey, look who I found, guys," said Cid Randell, former Judgemaster.
"Oh, it's you guys," groaned the other man.
"Cid!" exclaimed Sora, shooting up in his seat. "Cid Highwind!"
"What, really?" asked Zell, turning around in his chair.
"Of course it's me, who'd you think it was?" he answered. "I heard you were all in a bit of a slump, so thought I'd drop by."
"Don't believe him," said the spiky bearded Cid. "It just so happened that me and some other guys saved his butt when he was getting chased by Heartless ships just out of Traverse Town. Looks like he's been on the run for quite some time."
"Aw, man, it's great to see you, Cid," said Sora, walking over and shaking Highwind's hand enthusiastically.
"What's all the noise about?" asked Cloud as he came walking in with Aerith. "Hmm? Cid? Hey, where've you been?"
"Just playing tag with the Heartless, Spikey," replied the man sardonically. "You been having fun here?"
"So you're the Cid Sora knew?" asked Orchid curiously.
"No, I'm Ansem, can't you tell?" replied Cid drily. "Of course I am! How many damn times is everyone gonna ask me the same damn questions?"
"Yeah, he's kind of explosive in that way," cautioned Yuffie. "Tip of advice, try to stay out of his workspace. I swear, touch one thing and he'll kill you."
"Oh, the thief. Looks like the gang's all here," noted Highwind. "Well, to start things off, I'm sure what you need is a route to Hollow Bastion, right?"
"Right," said Arc. "But the way's cut off, too many Heartless swarming the Gate, there's no way we'd survive it."
"Well, that's where I come in," said Cid. "Just so happens, I've got a whole slew of Navi-G's, all mapping out warpholes in space. And there's one I bet everyone, including the Heartless, forgot about. It goes right into the castle's back door."
"Hey, isn't that the one I used?" asked Sora curiously.
"Same exact one," confirmed Highwind. "It'll let right into the place so you can put a stop to all this nonsense."
"That's great," said Orchid excitedly. "Time to raid Hollow Bastion!"
"Woah there, I don't think more than one ship could possibly slip by unnoticed," cautioned the man.
"Okay..." pondered the girl. "Well, in one ship, we can probably fit me, Arc, Montblanc, and Sora... yeah, that'd work, right?"
"Sounds about right," shrugged Cid Randell.
"You're good to go as soon as I get the Navi-G installed into your Gummi ship," said the other Cid. "I'll get right on it." He left the house, headed for the gummi garage.
"Finally, we can end all this," sighed Orchid, flopping down on the couch.
"I wouldn't be so sure," said Sora dubiously, sitting back down next to her with Kairi.
"Well, if we're gonna go, we should get prepared," said Arc, getting up. He walked over and out the door. "I'm gonna go buy us some supplies."
"Oh, and I should get those papers to Merlin," kupoed Montblanc, following him out.
"Is there anything we can do?" Orchid asked Cid Randell, who had settled down at the table.
"Not that I can think of," he said. Then he got up and walked over to her. "But... there is something I can do." He stopped before her. "Can I see the two keychains you have?"
"Uh, sure," said Orchid. She summoned the keyblade and took out the Mage Bloom chain, then also removed the chain for Devil's Rose and handed both keychains to him.
"Let's see... I think..." muttered Cid as he held the chains in his hands. They began to glow, and he slowly brought his hands together. Suddenly, there was a brilliant light, like that of a newborn sun, and then it was gone. In his hand he held a new keychain. It was a silver cross on a bright metal chain. Entwined about it were vines of black and green, the black sprouting little red roses and the green sprouting little purple blooms. He handed it back to her, and she held it carefully. "Well, try it on."
Orchid nodded, then clipped the new keychain onto the loop of the Glass Rose as everyone in the room, even Yuffie and Rikku, watched expectantly.
The change happened swiftly. Green handguard vines were inlaid with silver, and shining crosses appeared delicately on each and every razor sharp leaf around it. And the Glass Rose, in all its flawless beauty, was replaced by something for more perfect in its simplicity. Where once was a crystaline bloom, white petals, pointed, yet not threatening, soft, yet absolute stood. It radiated its own personal aura of power.
"The Judgment Lotus," said Orchid softly. The others also stared in wonder until the trance slowly wore off. "It's the combined powers of the Mage Bloom and the Devil's Rose. And something more."
"What do you mean, more?" asked Zell.
"A new spell," she explained. "Flare."
"That's powerful magic there," said Cid. "Be careful where you point that thing."
"Coolies, Orchid's got a new toy!" squealed Rikku happily.
"Have I ever mentioned your even worse than me?" asked Yuffie.
"Well, Oathkeeper's good enough for me," said Sora. He smiled over at Kairi. "It's very special to me, for some reason."
"Mm...that's nice," she smiled, leaning her head on his shoulder.
-
"Hey, before you go, one thing."
"Yeah?" asked Orchid, turning back to face Cloud as she walked up the stairs into the Gummi ship.
"Take this," he said. He tossed something round and shining up to her and she caught it easily. It shone bright like the sun, yellow and warm, yet somewhat harsh, golden, yet dangerous. "You'll probably need it." And then he left, without another word.
Orchid shrugged, then absorbed the energy. It wasn't a magic, she could tell that much, so she assumed it was a combo of some sort, like Moonlight Rave or Meteor Barrage. Whatever it was, she was sure she'd get a chance to try it in Hollow Bastion. She walked into the cockpit, then settled into her seat.
"We all ready?" asked Sora.
"Ready as ever," said Arc as he started the ship up. "We cleared, Cid?"
"Cleared to go," Highwind's voice crackled over the intercom. "Now get the hell out there and kick some ass!"
"Then we're off, kupo!" squeaked Montblanc.
"Back to Hollow Bastion," said Sora.
Orchid just sighed. They were on their way. On their way to finally face him. She wondred what worried her most. Facing someone that she had idolized for years, and how power unimaginable, or facing her best friend in real combat? She wished that it wouldn't come down to that, but she knew it would. In the end, she would stand alone against them.
"Eriks..." she whispered softly.
