Of course, of course this was real, of course you're in Kingdom Hearts after your own death, it's the only rational explanation. Reikarth slowed her breathing as Sora walked into view. She was in Kingdom Hearts, after she died. Why not, better than before.

Leon was speaking, she was too distracted to care. Clenching her hands into fists as she hid away from view she felt tears spill into her vision. Hysterical laughter threatened to bubble out of her, this was real.

"They'll keep coming at you as long as you continue to wield the Keyblade" That was something to unravel, she had a Keyblade too. Why did she have one? It was infinitely cool until she factored in being hunted down for the rest of her life. Leon's concern about a kid being chosen by the blade made a lot more sense now that she was the one holding it. She envied Sora's simple faith in his ability. Or maybe she just had the benefit of knowing the consequences behind it.

They had begun fighting and it was obvious that while Sora was trying his best Leon outclassed him. Sora kept missing swings and failing to act on openings, each time he narrowly dodged Leon's attacks she flinched, she didn't want to watch this. The buzzing in her head sprung to life as a sizable gash was left in Sora's arm after a failed dodge, Cosmic Guide shimmering to life in her hand as she felt a tug. Something was going to happen, despite her knowledge on how the fight ends. She needed to stop this before something bad happened, or at least give Sora an edge.

Stumbling down onto the street, remaining out of sight of the two combatants she peeked out from behind the Accessory Shop. Sora was still standing, an empty green bottle in his grip. Leon wasn't giving him any room to breath, each hit adding to Reikarth's growing anxiety, this was going to go horribly wrong if she didn't interfere.

She was right, maybe Leon slipped up, or didn't realize where he was aiming, but as he knocked Sora back and prepared to fire Reikarth knew the shot would be fatal. This wasn't a game, those were real bullets coming out of a real gun….blade. Cosmic Guide flashed, and she drew up the energy from before. Pointing her Keyblade at Leon's back, she fired the blizzard. She could feel that it was too quick, it wouldn't be very strong and was a waste of mana, but hopefully it would stop him from hitting Sora. Pressure built in her skull as the magic formed and against her better judgement she yelled.

"Freeze!"

The ice that was produced may have been lopsided and flew haphazardly but it did the job. Slamming into Leon and throwing him off balance. Sora looked up at her as the light of the spell faded and she suddenly felt very shy, almost unnaturally so. She had to leave right now, before she had to answer questions, before Leon got over his surprise.

"Who are you?" Too late for that she supposed. His voice was low but not as threatening as she expected, still she flinched away, old habits die hard. "Kids aren't supposed to be out at night." thankfully she still had the wits about her to retort though.

"People aren't supposed to attack others in the night either" Leon's eyes flicked over to where Sora was standing, eyes widening in realization at what this looked like to a stranger. He made to take a step forward "don't come any closer!" She warned, pointing the end of Cosmic Guide at him. It was a bluff, she couldn't afford to cast another spell, not if she wanted to get away after, but Leon didn't know that. His eyes narrowed at the sight of her weapon, but she had a feeling that he didn't know it was a Keyblade, the Final Fantasy characters didn't have the best grasp on the Keyblade and her's did not look like the Kingdom Key.

"Lower your weapon and head inside" Leon said, nodding toward the accessory shop "you aren't involved in this" He looked pretty uncomfortable about her intrusion, it was clear that he didn't want to fight her.

"I'm feeling pretty involved" she choked out, the tension was getting to her. "I'm sure that he" she pointed at Sora "would like it if I stay involved" how was she supposed to get out now? Every word she spoke just dug her into a deeper hole. Leon huffed and took a step forward. Tensing Reikarth dug into her magic power, worriedly trying not to panic. She didn't think she would last long against Leon. Stepping back she looked over to Sora, who had taken the time the stand off gave him to recover with another potion, he was preparing to fling himself at Leon. Catching his eye she nodded.

Leon flung forward to swing at her and she leapt back prepared to cast, trying to keep from using up all her magic. Sora ran at Leon from behind while the blizzard hit him in the chest, stumbling back Sora took the chance to slam his Keyblade into Leon's back. Jumping up she swiped at him, trying to ignore the pain in her leg and the growing throbbing in her head.

Leon blocked her strike with the gunblade before turning around to fend off Sora's attacks. Hitting the ground she took off running, passing by Sora and shooting him a quick thumbs up. Swinging around she flung Cosmic Guide hard at Leon. Something about her must've changed upon coming her because it slammed into him straight on, she had never been this accurate before. It made him stumble, boosting her confidence, that was prime combo material for Sora there!

Of course the universe couldn't give her a break, just as she started running again she heard a crack and the pain in her leg intensified. She stumbled forward, cursing quietly, how had she not realized how bad her injury was, running like that had definitely torn open whatever healing her leg had gotten in since her fight with the heartless.

Sora let out a yell behind her, but her sounded more confident than in pain, she was sure he was fine. Smiling as she fled from the scene she limped toward Third Street. The buzzing was mercifully silent as she left, which was especially pleasing as the headache from using to much magic set in. Something warm started up in her chest she pushed hard at the doors.

Which immediately fled as a gun shot rang out leaving a hole in the half open door. Freezing she stared at the hole in the door as her mouth dried, that was a bullet, she was shot at. Against her better judgement she looked back, the end of the gunblade was smoking, Leon looked worn out but Sora had hit the ground. Some stood next to him, Yuffie? Please don't.

The shock made her jolt back into action and she flung herself through the door. With her leg injury she wasn't going to be outrunning anything but maybe she could hide somewhere? She remembered something about abandoned houses, perhaps they wouldn't look there, maybe they weren't going to look for her at all. She really hoped she wasn't bleeding.

Third Street was poorly lit, perfect. Slamming the door behind her she had a burst of inspiration and brought the big wooden bar down, locking it. Her head hurt, all that movement must've worsened her mana loss somehow. Moving sluggishly toward a small door, looking like it lead to something like an apartment, she thought about her bed at home. It made her chest hurt, and she was filled with an intense loneliness. Falling through the door, she just managed to close it before her legs gave out beneath her. The bloom of pain as her head cracked against the floor was enough to press her deep into slumber.

Which of course couldn't be peaceful. She slept fitfully, colours and slivers of memories taunting her from beyond an inky veil. Occasionally she could feel herself moving, awake but not as she gasped for air, as if resurfacing from the depths of the ocean. It never lasted, if she had woken she was quick to sink back into sleep.

Something was yelling at her, to wake up. She felt it grasp her hand to pull her along and as she was dragged along she felt her other hand grasping at someone else's, dragging them along to. You aren't supposed to be here, it screamed, you've changed something.

What? She asked, what have I changed? But nothing answered her. It felt resigned, scolded even, she could feel it. The ground gave way beneath her and now she was falling, falling, falling into the abyss, bits of glass falling with her and around her and inside her, she was screaming-

And she woke up.

Reikarth lay there unfeeling, not quite sure if she was really awake, if anything was. Opened eyes recognized that she was still in the apartment she had collapsed in. She had slept, she had awoken, she was still here. She noted that her leg injury seemed to have stopped hurting.

Any last hopes that this may be a dream drained from her, as silly as it may seem she had hoped that she would wake up in her bed, free to appreciate the morning. Putting her hand over her eyes she used the other to pull herself up, she was sad yes, but it felt dulled, and she wanted to move right now.

Clawing her way up to her feet, she frowned. Looking out the small window looking out it wasn't light out, she couldn't have slept long then.

Stepping out onto the street Reikarth tensed herself, she couldn't afford to be relaxed. The next sequence of events was the boss in Traverse Town, Guard Armor she was pretty sure. Being in the Third Street didn't seem like such a good idea anymore, this was the boss room. It was unnaturally quiet right now, she wasn't sure if that was more or less terrifying than the heartless actually appearing.

It made her wish for the buzzing, however annoying it had been. Something was comforting about the constant white noise, it filled up the empty space in her chest. She found it disturbing almost, now that it was gone, what had she done to make it disappear?

Crashing erupted from further within the town, jerking her head up Reikarth darted toward the Second District, the noise had to have come from there! Dark purple gunk forming on the streets as Heartless sprung up around her, big beady eyes gleaming in the darkness. They had been waiting for her to move!

Her throat caught as she hurtled her way through the doors to Second Street, she caught sight of Leon and Sora fighting through the Heartless. Something was off about the way the Heartless were moving, it had to be because of their boss.

Not wanting to lose her momentum she tumbled neatly along the walkway, thanking her mother for those old classes she had been forced to take. Breezing past the nearby Heartless she saw Sora heading towards Third Street, he was on the right path then. When she made to follow Cosmic Guide shimmered into her hands, tugging her back.

Growling she shook the Keyblade, looking around, there must be something she was missing. Swinging hard at one of the nearby Heartless to keep it at bay her eyes widened as she realized what was off. Donald and Goofy! Sora met them before he fought the boss of Traverse Town. Feeling Cosmic Guide gently warm beneath her fingers as she whipped around to see if they were anywhere close her eyes widened, she could use Cosmic Guide to show her the way!

Hearing a shout she turned to see that Leon had noticed her and was gesturing for her to follow him and Sora. Shaking her head she dashed to where her Keyblade had yanked her, catching Leon's exasperated huff out of the corner of her eyes. There would be a lot to explain if she were caught by the end of this, hopefully she could dodge round actually having to.

Moving through the back streets she heard angry quacking, and magic crackling. Grinning giddily she tried to keep her excitement in check, yes she was going to see disney character's, no she wasn't going to freak out.

Turning around a corner Reikarth found herself on the business end of an admittedly not very intimidating staff.

"Woah! Hey hey hey!" She shouted, raising her hands up as Cosmic Guide was dismissed from her hand. Donald scream unintelligibly as Goofy, attempting to cancel the forming fire spell grabbed the end of the staff. Reikarth held her breath as everyone watched the crackling staff end calm, the magic stifled by Goofy's gloves.

Then it burst. Reikarth feeling the burning sensation flow along her skin, soot covering everyone in range as a bright light blinded her.

Coughing she waved her hand to try and clear the air. Donald and Goofy fared no better than her it seemed, they to were coughing and covered head to toe in soot.

"WHAT WERE YOU DOING!" Donald yelled, at her or Goofy she couldn't tell, he was hopping up and down, waving around his still smoking staff. She eyed it warily.

"Well gwarsh Donald, you were gonna hit her with that spell, couldn't let that happen to…" Goofy looked at her "What's your name?" She smiled, that manic energy once again trying to overflow into her. She pressed it down once again and held out her hand.

"Reikarth" she said, pointedly not looking at Donald, who looked like he was going to combust. "I heard you fighting back here and thought I'd come and help" Lying by the seat of her pants wasn't as difficult when the other party didn't know you she realized.

"Well" Goofy said holding a finger up to his chin " we were supposed to find the big ole Heartless in charge of this, and help the Keybearer but we got a little-"
"We aren't lost!" Donald interjected "we're heading toward-"

"Third Street" She said placing her hands on her hips. At Goofy and Donalds expressions she hastily added "that's the only place it could be, I know where that is. Come on I'll take you there." Turning around she head back, hearing the cartoonish footsteps of the people behind her. This was so surreal.

"Donald didn't you say that it was going to be in-"

"Shut up! I know where I was going" No, she wasn't smiling, this was serious.