After the initial information debriefs about the legend of the dual keyblade wielder the group took more time to recover and to update everyone on the events outside of Traverse Town.
Something or someone had opened pathways to worlds and by doing so connected them with one another. With the sudden connection, the darkness that slithered around the worlds used those pathways to infiltrate the worlds and prey on the unsuspecting.
"It was as if they were suddenly directed to rush in," Yasuto said.
"A black wave," Mitsu murmured under her breath.
"Is that what happened to the Island?" Sora asked.
"I'm not sure, maybe?" Yasuto replied. "You did say one of your friends was taken and dragged into the open door right?"
Sora nodded as he thought back to Kairi and how she had flown through him as she was dragged into the door. The door had sealed behind her and prevented him from attempting to rescue her.
"Yeah," Sora muttered.
"It's best that we not speculate until we do what we're supposed to do and find the King," Shige spoke up.
"The King? What happened to him?" Yue asked.
"His curiosity has gotten the best of him...or at least that's what we think. We as in the Queen and the others," Yasuto replied.
"Ah," Yue sighed as if he remembered something.
"Oh yes there's more that we need to tell you lot since you've been recognized as keyblade wielders in all," Shige began.
"Whaaat? More?" Sora sighed.
"There's more to just fighting the darkness, keyblade wielders are champions of the light and maintain order throughout the worlds," Yasuto began. "All of that responsibility is on you two for the moment,"
"It sounds worse than homework," Mitsu commented, Sora laughed and slightly nudged the girl next to him.
"This is serious," Yasuto frowned. "Listen up you two,"
Several hours and some hands-on training on the streets of Traverse Town the group returned back to Cid's shop and thanked the man for allowing them to take refuge in his shop for as long as they have.
"I hope you lot are up for a long ride," Shige began and stretched.
"Ride?" Mitsu began.
"Ride where?" Sora asked confused.
"We're leaving Traverse Town. You thought we were joking about traveling to different worlds?" Yasuto replied.
"As we said, there are worlds that need to be tended to and swarming with Heartless. It is our duty is to destroy them and return peace to the worlds," Yasuto continued.
"We...thought you were joking a little bit… but how do you suppose we're traveling to these new places?" Mitsu asked.
"You'll see," Shige replied with a smirk as he patted her on the head. Mitsu swatted the man's hand away and frowned.
"We could look for Kairi and Riku at these new worlds right?" Sora asked.
"Of course, they could have been transported to a different world than you...which that seems to be the case," Yasuto commented.
Mitsu and Sora looked at each other hopeful to find their friends that were scattered across the new worlds.
"Let go then," Mitsu suggested eagerly as she and Sora began to the door and on to their new adventure.
"Be careful," Aerith said as the group exited the shop.
"Yue, Bring them back in once piece," Cid said as he continued to lean onto the counter.
"What? I didn't say anything about going—" Yue started when Mitsu suddenly attached herself to the man's arm. Almost immediately he tried to remove the girl from his arm.
"W-What are you doing you crazy girl," Yue struggled as he tried to pry her from his arm.
"You have to come, you've been with us this long so why not?" Mitsu asked she looked up at him, the look she gave him made him purse his lips together in hesitation.
"Besides, I'm sure others can take care of Traverse Town without you," Mitsu added. Yue looked back at the others, Leon turned away from the man while Yuffie and Aerith nodded in agreement. Yue then turned to Cid, the look the older blonde-haired man gave him was enough to say what was on his mind.
"I…guess…I can go," Yue said hesitantly. Mitsu smiled as she detached herself from the man's waist and was out the door, again.
"Welp, I guess we'll be seeing ya later Yue," Cid began as he began to tend to his stock behind the counter unbothered by the man's departure.
"I'm not even sure why I let myself get convinced into doing this," Yue sighed.
"Oh stop Yue, you'll be fine. You can support them in their journey as keyblade wielders," Aerith gave him a gentle pat on the shoulder; Yue sighed as he looked at the brunette.
"Don't worry about us here, we can handle Traverse Town," Yuffie began as she tried to shoo him out of the shop. "Go on, go,"
"I'm going, I'm going," Yue grumbled as he slowly meandered out of the shop. He silently admitted to himself he was shocked at how easily the girl convinced him into going with them. He didn't know her nor had any connection with her but she managed to pull him along as if they had known each other for years.
Leon watched as the door closed feeling uncertain about what was to come. He turned to look at Cid who had begun to do inventory on his wares in his shop.
"There's nothing you can do Leon…you know you couldn't go with them," Cid began as the door closed.
"I am aware of that," Leon replied.
"Have you found anything that would get you back to Balamb?" Aerith asked.
"No not yet…but I trust that the others can handle themselves until then..." Leon trailed off as he thought back to his home and the state it was in before he was ripped away from them. He and the others shared the same experience of being ripped away from their homeworld and being transported to a different world or to Traverse Town.
All with the hope of returning to their world.
"Woah! This is awesome, an actual flying ship!" Sora said excitedly as he turned to look at the interior of the ship Mitsu had followed suit and also inspected the interior of the ship. The two teens were a bit skeptical when the two men mentioned they arrived at Traverse Town on a ship and was blown away by the sleek and sophisticated ship in front of them.
The inside was spacious but narrow, complicated computers lined the front of the ship and above were a circular dome of windows.
"Pretty cool, huh," Shige smirked as he walked past the two teens and sat down in one of the two seats.
"We thought you were joking…but this is pretty cool," Sora said as he continued to look around the ship.
"You can practically see all of Traverse Town," Mitsu gasped as she began to point out places where they had traveled in Traverse Town.
"Strap in everyone, we're leaving," Yasuto said as he sat next to Shige in the empty seat. Yue silently sat down at the lone chair by the side computers of the ship and left the two seats open for Mitsu and Sora.
Mitsu and Sora eagerly scrambled to their seats and strapped themselves in, the two teens were nearly bursting with excitement.
"So where are we going to first?" Sora asked looking towards the cockpit. Yasuto took at quick glance at the two teens and then to Yue before he spoke glanced back at Sora as he began starting up the ship.
"I know there are a few worlds close by. We'll just stop at one of those and go from there," Yasuto replied as the ship whirred to life.
"A new world…" Mitsu said quietly as she looked at Shige flipping switches on the control panel.
"I wonder what it's gonna be like…" Sora trailed off as he got comfortable in his seat.
"We will only know by going…can we go now?" Yue replied.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Shige huffed as he nodded to Yasuto.
"Alright then here we go,"
The nearly inaudible whir of the ship's engine increased as the ship began to hover and rise into the night. Mitsu and Sora had their eyes peeled on the sky and the buildings that disappeared below.
"We are actually flying!" Mitsu gasped softly, her eyes sparkled with excitement as she watched as the sky became filled with the stars.
"This is amazing! Are we in space?!" Sora asked as his head darted from left to right.
"Yes," Yue replied simply.
"Cool!" Mitsu and Sora turned to one another their excitement nearly bursting at the seams.
Riku moved several pieces of green foliage from his path, though the foliage provided some cover the heat, humidity and the bright sun above reminded him of Destiny Island. He wiped his brow before he dug into his pocket and pulled out a star-shaped charm, it was a charm that Kairi and Mitsu made for each of them. Riku squeezed the charm remembering that day and the look on the girl's faces when they gave it to him. He played it cool when they gave it to him but he was silently appreciative of the two girls and their gift. With a heavy sigh, Riku pocketed the simple charm and looked to the sky.
"Have they arrived already?" Riku asked out loud before he began to push through the thick foliage.
"Wow! This place looks and feels like Destiny Island," Sora said as he was the first out of the ship followed by Mitsu. The ship had landed on the beach not too far from what looked to be a settlement of some sort.
"Yeah definitely! The smell of the sea, the noise of seagulls…yep if I didn't know any better I would think that we were on Destiny Island," Mitsu chimed in as she looked to the sky, Sora looked to the sky as well.
The cloudless sky, the golden sand, the thick jungle-like foliage and the warm sun beamed down on the crew, it was just as if they were transported back to their little kingdom of Destiny Island.
"Destiny Island, I forget that's where you two came from correct?" Yue asked as he rolled up his sleeves and unbuttoned his shirt to adjust to the sudden warmth adjusting himself to the warm weather of the new world.
"We've barely have been on this world and it's already too bloody hot," Shige huffed as he furiously unzipped his trenchcoat, undid his tie and shirt before he angrily slung his coat over his shoulder.
"Definitely too hot," Yasuto said as he too unzipped his overcoat and also undid his tie. Sora and Mitsu looked at the two men and noticed the sweat on their foreheads.
"You two look pitiful," Yue chuckled as he walked past the two suddenly unkempt men. Sora turned to follow with a grin on his face.
"Thank you for your unwarranted comment," Shige scoffed as he followed, Yasuto followed seconds later. Mitsu had also turned to follow and stopped in midstep, her attention suddenly focused on the deep viridescent foliage behind them.
"Is there someone there?" Mitsu asked as her eyes strained to search the shadows of the foliage.
"What's wrong Mitsu?" Sora asked as he slowly came up behind her.
"I thought I saw someone back there," Mitsu pointed, Sora began to look with her and gave up after a few moments.
"I don't see anyone, maybe it's just the shadows you know?" Sora replied.
"I guess...but I feel as if we're being watched," Mitsu murmured.
"I bet it's nothing. C'mon you have to see the sorry state that Shige and Yasuto are in," Sora laughed.
"Y-yeah," Mitsu turned to Sora and nodded. Sora jogged ahead to catch up with the others and left her behind. With a small sigh, she ran a hand through her hair and turned to catch up with the others.
After a small trek, the group came to a hill and just below laid the settlement they had seen before they landed.
"We're almost there...are you two going to make it?" Yue asked as he looked worriedly at the two men that were profusely covered in sweat.
"This place really reminds me of Destiny Island," Mitsu commented as she inhaled deeply and exhaled a moment later.
"It does...but hey it looks like people are running from something down there," Sora said as he used his hand to shield his eyes from the sun and peered down at the village.
"Wait, really?" Mitsu also peered down at the village. "You're right! Let's go!"
The girl darted off without a second thought, Sora startled by her sudden leave followed after her. Yue sighed heavily as they ran off without a word to them.
"I just want you all to know...this is what you signed up for," Yue sighed.
"If it wasn't so bloody hot, this would be fine," Shige panted.
"Let's just go after them," Yasuto huffed. through the brush for several minutes, the group stumbled upon civilization, unfortunately, the village was in chaos.
As the two teens ran into the village everything was in chaos, buildings were damaged, some homes were destroyed, people ran had begun to run out of the village to escape whatever attacked the village.
"What's going on!?" Sora asked as people ran past him.
"Do you think it's a heartless—" Mitsu began when a gunshot rang through the village. Mitsu and Sora both looked behind them to see if it had been Yasuto but the three men had yet to enter the village. More gunshots rang through the village
"Let's go girls!"
"It's too freakin' hot for this!" Shige shouted irritated as they finally arrived in the village and into the chaos.
"Mitsu, Sora-!" Yue began when suddenly the two teens dashed off, keyblades in hand as heartless began to attack the villagers.
"Really…" Yasuto sighed annoyed at the fact they were thrown into chaos as soon as they arrived to this new world and the fact that both Mitsu and Sora continuously ran off.
Three young-looking women that stood in front of a large four-armed worm heartless that had made its way to the beach and left destruction in its wake.
"Did it come from the temple Yunie?" a small lithe blond woman asked.
"I'm not for sure about this one," the one called Yunie responded.
"It doesn't matter we just need to take it out," the taller woman with white hair replied.
"Then let's do this!" Yunie yelled as she pointed her dual guns at the Heartless and fired.
The blond and the white-haired woman charged at the Heartless. The Heartless raised one of it's it's large arm and swung at the two women. The white-haired woman reacted quickly and used her sword to block the brunt of the blow and allowed for the small blonde-haired woman to run along the arm while Yunie shot the arms that attempted to grab the woman.
"Take this!" the blond shouted as she jumped and threw what looked to be bombs at the heartless along with a fire spell. A large explosion rocked the beach, water, and sand flew into the sky and rained down on everything and anything in its path.
The Heartless unfazed roared and prepared to summon a large spell.
"Yuna!" The white-haired woman yelled.
"I'm on it!" Yuna yelled as she began firing faster at the Heartless in an attempt to disrupt the spell, the blonde-haired woman landed next to her and darted off towards the heartless.
"This thing just won't give up!" the woman shouted.
"Force it!" The white-haired woman called out as she landed a heavy blow on the Heartless. A roar echoed throughout the village, the dark energy whipped across the beach and picked up more sand and water in its wake. The three women quickly shielded themselves as the sand and water whipped across the beach. The sand began to gather and conceal the heartless behind a wall of sand and water.
"Everyone! Be careful!" Yuna shouted through the commotion.
"Yuna—" The blond woman began but another roar rang through the village again.
"She's fine! Do your part!" the white-haired woman shouted.
As quickly as the small sand storm had started, the sands settled revealing the Heartless and Yuna.
"Yuna!" The two women shouted.
Through the guise of the sandstorm caused by the heartless Yuna had been snatched up in the commotion. In one of the arms of the heartless Yuna coughed and heaved from the sandstorm.
At that moment Mitsu whizzed pass the two women and straight for the Heartless' arm that held Yuna. Mitsu sliced through the Heartless and slid a few feet from the heartless only to quickly turn heel and dart to cut through the other arm. She slid to a halt this time in front of the two women, she watched as the arms exploded into light as they fell from the Heartless.
Sora came from behind Mitsu and jumped to deal the finishing blow to the Heartless and landed a few feet away from the heartless to catch the woman from crash landing into the sand.
The Heartless exploded into light and dark orbs rapidly flew into Mitsu's dark keyblade and vanished from her hand.
"Sorry I landed on you so hard," Yuna said as she hurriedly got off of Sora.
"I-It's ok, I'm fine," Sora gave a small pained smile.
"Thank you so much for your help," Yuna began.
"Is everyone ok?" Yue called out as he jogged on to the beach and to the group. Mitsu gave the man a thumbs up.
"We're good, we took care of heartless and everything," Mitsu replied.
"Those were some cool moves out there," the blonde began. 'But um…"
Mitsu watched as the blond began to circle and inspect her and then Sora.
"Just who are you guys anyway?"
"Keyblade wielders," the white-haired woman said as she looked to Mitsu, Sora and then Yue.
"Keyblade wielders? Here?" the blonde replied a bit shocked
"Thanks for your help…I don't want to think about what would have happened if you weren't there to stop the creature," Yuna said.
"No problem! It's what we do apparently," Sora replied with a huge smile, Mitsu nodded in agreement.
"My name is Yuna and these are my friends," Yuna said as she motioned to the blond and the white-haired woman.
"Paine," the white-haired woman said as she crossed her arms.
"My name is Rikku. Nice to meet ya," the blond-haired woman replied with a smile. Yuna nodded as her two friends finished introducing themselves.
"Who are you guys?" Yuna asked as she looked Sora, Mitsu, and Yue.
"My name is Sora,"
"My name is Mitsu," Mitsu replied meekly.
"Yue" Yue replied with a curt nod.
"I see…You guys don't look to be from here," Yuna commented as she looked at their clothing.
"We aren't…where is here actually?" Yue asked as he quickly surveyed the area and saw that Shige and Yasuto were nowhere to be seen.
"This is Spira…and this is Besaid to be exact," Paine replied.
"Spira?" Sora repeated.
"Besaid?" Mitsu questioned.
"Yup," Rikku replied.
"I could really go for a cold drink right now," Shige sighed as he stood behind Yue and Yasuto at his side.
"Civilian's safety secured…" Yasuto murmured and wiped his brow.
"You two don't look so good," Mitsu looked worriedly at the two sweat-drenched men.
"No, you don't…let's go I can take you someplace cooler," Yuna said as she began to lead the group through the damaged village of Besaid.