Legend of Kingdom Hearts

Chapter 19 Magic 101

Upstairs was almost a replica of the floor below. There were still many bookcases, though not as many. A large rug was in the middle of the room. A desk in one corner was filled with many different papers, the writing not large enough to discern. Across from it laid a computer that droned softly.

In an opposite corner, a large screen tv that was left carelessly turned on showed that someone had paused in the middle of a heated battle. Connected to it was a black cube-like item, with a separate large black box next to it; in blue were the letters "PS2";the cube had "Gamecube" on the top.

Everyone left the platform and explored. Lionel jumped off Kiyoko's shoulder and now settled himself on top of one of the shelves. Kiyoko stayed and said, "I'll be right back. I need to change into something more suitable for training." And with that, the dais pulled her down.

"What are these contraptions?" asked Link as he pointed to the strange items in the room.

Kail looked incredulously at him. "You're serious? You don't know what a tv is?"

"Or the thing nearby it," Zelda said as she pointed to the computer. Kail stared at them for a second, then politely lectured them on the machines and their uses, including the game consoles.

"Neat!" Kari said. She ran to the Gamecube and pressed the start button. Immediately the action that was frozen on the screen started moving, and Kari found herself in the midst of a tough fight. She found that her character was a boy. A boy who wore a strange green outfit and hat.

"It's me!" Link said, staring at the screen in amazement.

"Yeah, you're quite the popular one on our planet," came Kiyoko's voice from the other side.

The others turned (though Kari was too fascinated with the game to do so) to find her carrying a large tray of bread. There were also knives and a few jars of jam, butter, and peanut butter surrounding them. Kiyoko was now sporting a long blue robe that trailed behind her. She wore a black shirt and pants beneath. Atop her head was a large aqua marine hat that shook on her way to them.

"I brought some snacks just in case," she said cheerfully. She laid the plate on a table.

Eagerly as always, Sora and Link walked to the plate and helped themselves. They muttered their thanks. Kiyoko stared open-mouthed at them as she watched them eat.

"I think," commented Zelda, "that they'll get along with you just fine."

"Wow." Kiyoko issued a low whistle. "Leave some for the rest of us, you guys!" She pushed through them and managed to get some slices. She handed them to the others.

"Thanks," said Kail.

"You're welcome," she said with a smile. "They remind me of Mikau, so I know what it's like."

After everyone had finished (including Kari), Kiyoko conjured up chairs that seemingly came from nowhere and asked for everyone to sit. She sat down herself then abruptly stood back up.

"Wait! Speak of the devil, where's that punk anyway? We can't do combat practice without him!" She stamped her foot angrily. "Damn him!"

"Um," said Sora. "You can't teach us?"

"Well I could, but I suck at physical combat. Magic is my game and swords and stuff are for Mikau." Kiyoko slumped back down and sighed. "We'll just have to wait for him."

There was a small silence. A bird chirped somewhere.

"Kiyoko," Kari finally spoke. "would you mind if I play-"

"The Gamecube?"

As one, they both ran to it and immediately absorbed themselves into the game. Kail followed them and took up the third controller. Within the minute, the three were absorbed into the game. Sora pulled a chair and watched in curiousity.

Very quickly, and hour passed. Two hours. The day quickly passed in front of the tv. After a while, however, the three soon became bored with the games and took a rest. Everyone soon made a big circle on the rug and huddled near the fire; there was a small draft in the house.

Being the impatient one, it did not take Kiyoko long to get bored. Wanting to talk about anything, she said to them randomly, "Have you heard the legend of the universe?" Seeing their confused faces, she plunged into it, happy to have their attention.

"Long ago, ages before our ancestors walked, all planets were connected. Their connection was a Light, the very light of the people's hearts. Everyone and everything bathed in the Light. But being the very humans they are, nothing stayed pure forever…"

"Soon, the people of the universe began to think of the Light as another thing: power. Humans naturally sought power, so fights began to break out. Soon, the inhabitants of all planets began killing, massacring, betraying one another, all for the sake of the Light.

"The Light, however, was tainted. Through the course of the war, the light became unbalanced, beginning to fill with the darkness from the peoples' hearts. It soon collapsed, and all was thrown into the darkness. All had seemed lost, until fragments of the Light shown. As small as the shards were, these parts from the whole had survived, in the hearts of children.

"Combating the darkness, these children fought back. They managed to bring back all the worlds of old, but with one setback. Hard as they tried, the children could not connect the worlds as they once were. For the sake of restoration, the worlds would be closed and isolated from each other.

"Only until the true Light returns would all be set right. It has laid deep in the darkness, sleeping, waiting for that day. Only one of pure heart could unlock it, for if one wished to use the true Light, one would have to have a fragment of the Light itself."

Moments of silence passed by when Kiyoko was done speaking. The bird outside continued its happy chirping.

"Who told you of this legend?" Zelda asked her.

"My granddaddy always told me that story when I was little." She looked at the ceiling fondly, as if remembering a happy memory.

"True light?" Sora inquired.

"Yeah. Not much is known about it beside what you heard in the legend. And," her eyes flashed with sudden anger (Kari noticed the colors seemed to swirl), "we'll probably never find out much thanks to those humans! Not even their stupid books say much, which shows how much they know!"

"Hey!" Kail and Sora shouted.

"What are you talking about?" Kari said. "You're human aren't you?"

Slowly, Kiyoko's eyes returned to normal. She answered her, "Not technically, no. I told you I was a mage, didn't I? We're different than humans."

"How so?"

She grinned and held her palm upward. Quietly, she uttered a single word.

"Brigon."

Instantly, a flame the size of her hand appeared and began floating. But instead of rocketing towards a target, as Zelda's usually did, it simply hung there. Kiyoko uttered, "Hajo udt vceuk!" The flame rose from her hand and began to circle about them lazily. Nothing moved besides their surprised eyes.

Satisfied, she said, "Jkef," and the ball of flame disappeared in the air. "Have you ever seen a mere human do that?" she asked with a smug.

"Impressive," said an amazed Zelda.

"How'd you do that!" asked an astounded Sora.

Kiyoko smiled once more and said, "The ancient language. Only the mages know of its words and meanings."

"Care to explain?"

"Sure!"

Again she put her fingers to her mouth and issued a shrill whistle. Lionel, who had been watching them lazily with one eye from the shelf, stretched and leapt to his perch on her shoulder. They stared at each other for a time as if they were silently conversing. Then Lionel jumped off, ran to his bookshelf, and grabbed a book from the top row.

As he handed Kiyoko the book she muttered, "Good, good." She flipped through the pages swiftly, her eyes moving back and forth quite fast. When she found what she was looking for, she pushed her glasses back and read aloud.

Ancient Text

There have been many cases in the history of the planets of a certain writing that was incomprehensible. Scientists have been baffled for many years of their origin, and what the writers of mysterious origins have to say.

Through recent studies though, these scientists used advanced technology and a certain tribe's folklore to rediscover an ancient language used thousands of years ago. The name of this language is unknown as of yet; even the tribesmen could not tell.

Some info has been found out, however. From what they have gathered from the tribesmen, this "ancient text" as they called it was used in the tribe called the Mages. This age-old tribe practiced in the arts of magic in secluded areas of the universe. Some legends have said they even tempered with iron and other materials to create "elemental weapons". Another states that some have a connection towards the animals from which they can communicate with. More research will be needed to discover whether these are true or not.

The Mages were last recorded during the age of the Light War. The war caused them to flee to distant corners of the universe, perhaps beyond. They kept their magic and identity secret. The rest has been lost to history.

Kiyoko looked up from the book with a smug on her face. She closed it softly and set it back on its place on the top shelf. She turned back to them, still with a smile.

"There you go. These writers have nothing in their books. Barely any info in there," she said.

"Wait, wait, hold on for a sec." Everyone turned to Kail, who had been silent for quite a while.

"Yeah?"

"That magic you did, Kiyoko. How was it different from the magic other people use?"

"Huma? Be more specific, Kail."

"Well," he began, "back on Besaid Island a girl called Yuna saved our lives using a magic called Holy." He saw something in Kiyoko's eyes when he spoke.

"Holy? Holy?" She was staring at him strangely. "The only attack spell a white mage can learn?"

"Well I'm guessing yeah-"

"The only spell that can obliterate many heartless at once?" she interrupted.

"Well I don't think it's the only-"

"You're telling me that you experienced a truly phenomenal event on a remote island away from here as easily as that, whilst here I toiled and read to find its secret?" Kiyoko was barely 3 feet from Kail, and she was starting to scare him.

"Um, I guess?" he said timidly.

She continued to stare at him for a few more seconds. Kail found her gaze seemingly piercing through him. He uncomfortably let his eyes look to the ground, embarrassed.

"Neat! You guys are lucky!"

He looked back up to see Kiyoko (no longer three feet away) smiling. Kail gave a soft sigh of relief; he didn't like people to be so close to him. Especially three feet.

Kiyoko took a brief look at her gold watch. She became disgusted.

"Three hours!" she shouted at it. "Three fucking hours and that bastard hasn't shown up! Where are you, Mikau!"

"Three hours?" Kari repeated. "I think we should really be going, guys. If we're going to find the last person or whatever, we need to hurry up."

"Oh gosh!" said Kiyoko. "I'm sorry to keep you guys so long, and I haven't done a single thing. I haven't even shown you how to use magic properly!"

"That is fine," Zelda replied. "Really, I-"

"No, no, no. It is my duty to show you properly, no matter what. I need to go with you guys, even for a short while."

"And what makes you think that?", Kail said as he crossed his arms in uncertainty. "I don't know if I can fit you in. My ship hasn't handled that many people before."

"Please, I'm begging you!" Kiyoko was on the ground and tugging at his pants. "I won't be a burden! Mage's promise!"

"I don't know…"

There was a hint of desperation in her voice as she spoke. "In return, I'll help you with any problem, magical or with weaponry. I'll fight to the end. I'll be loyal and won't whine, too much at least, and I can take care of Lionel for you; we've been the best of friends for qui-"

"OK!" Kail shouted. "Will you let go of me and shut up if I do?"

"Yes!" Kiyoko stood up from the ground, ignoring the stares she got from the others. She dusted herself off.

"Now let's get going!"

They were now just outside the atmosphere of Traverse Town. Kail pulled up the world map on the computer. He typed in a few letters and a larger map came up.

It was a picture of a large building. Steel pillars supported it from all angles. On both sides of the humongous doors were two statues of soldiers; one a man and one a woman. Each had a sword held in an attack position, as if they were waiting for the heavens to attack them. Atop their crowns flames burned.

Kail informed them of the planet. "It is called the Artemisia Coliseum. Many tournaments are held there, but at a cost."

"Let me guess," Kiyoko said. "you step in, you shouldn't come out?"

"Exactly. The tournaments usually have conditions to them, and those who disobey them pay a terrible price. Lucky for us, they're holding a rookies' tournament right now."

"Joy," she said sarcastically.

"Must we go, Kail?" asked a concerned Zelda. She was eying the screen in unease.

"Yeah, do we really have to?" agreed Link.

"I would think so. Aren't you searching for some person? That person could be down there. And besides," Kail said as he leaned back into his chair, "there's no harm in practicing."

"I suppose so…"

"But," Sora began with a grin, "maybe Link here doesn't want to go because he's scared."

"What'd you say?" Link said dangerously to Sora.

"Scaredy cat, scaredy cat!" Sora continued to taunt him. "Won't even go to a novice tournament!"

"Why you little-!"

There was a small crash as they collided. Shouts and curses were heard from Link while Sora only laughed at him; thankfully neither pulled out their weapons. The others laughed at their brawl; even Kiyoko could tell this was probably going to happen often.

"Hey!" Link shouted at them. "Are we going to this thing or not?"

Kail replied, "Alright then, let's get this show on the road!" He pushed more buttons and a small replica of the Prime Star appeared near the new world. Red lines moved in a line from the ship to it. "It should take us about and hour to get there." He pushed another button and the engines roared. The ship began moving forward at a fast pace that knocked some of them off balance.

"So what now?" he asked them.

"Well," said Kiyoko. "I did promise to show you guys how those spheres worked. I think we have enough time to practice with them, eh? Pull em' out and let's get practicing!"

As Kari and Sora did so, she pulled the long sleeves of the cloak up and fixed her hat and glasses. She closed her eyes as if in a meditative state.

"Hey, Sora?"

"Yeah, Kail?" the brunette replied.

He smiled and whispered to him, "Thanks for convincing Link."

Sora smiled as well and whispered back. "No problem! I never thought those reverse psychology things would come in handy."

"Oy, Sora! Get yer ass over here!" Kiyoko called to him. "We aren't getting any older over here!"

Again, I'm very very very very sorry for the extremely slow updates. The final part was done late at night as were other parts, so if I missed something or something seems out of place, blame summer.

To get your hopes up, I'm almost done with a new story for FFX (which is one of the reasons why this took so long). It's basically a "humorous" recap of the game, R-rated style! And it's rated that for a good reason, kiddos. I'm about 70 done at the point.

Anywho, THIS FIC IS NOT DEAD. NEVER WILL BE UNLESS I SAY SO MYSELF. Just making it clear. .

Drop a review with any questions, comments, needs, or concerns. Or just give me a normal review. .

To a hopefully faster chapter next time! drinks

Med