Fire Emblem Hearts
Chapter 10
Themis III
xxx(Daybreak Town)xxx
"Come on Kazuki! You aren't even trying!" a voice said firmly. The kitsune growled as he dashed forward, throwing a wide swing at the speaker. She rose her keyblade in time to counter the attack, and with a slight movement, she pushed the boy away.
He came at her again, throwing several speedy swings, all of which the girl was able to deflect. With a flick of her wrist, she swiftly disarmed the boy, sending his keyblade flying out of his hand. He looked at it with wide eyes, the weapon clattering several feet behind him. Before he could move, he felt the tip of her blade at his throat. He sighed raising his arms in defeat.
"You win again Master," he said, a frown on his face. The young woman sighed, shaking her head.
"You let your emotions cloud your judgment again Kazuki. The keyblade is a powerful weapon, but it alone cannot help you. You have to rely on your skills, along with your intellect to win against the darkness. Strength of heart alone won't be enough."
Kazuki nodded as he looked back at the panting girl. Despite being defeated, the kitsune had been able to do quite a lot to her. Even if he didn't land any hits, he tired her out which was no easy feat.
The young woman in question happened to be one of the Foretellers, one of five keyblade master that overlooked Daybreak Town. She was a young woman of sixteen, wearing a long sleeved, maroon shirt with golden accents. She wore a long, almost floor length skirt and powder pink heeled boots. Around her waist, she wore a maroon sash, which rested perfectly on her hips, and bore the image of a fox. She wore a long maroon cape around her left shoulder, accompanied by a matching hood. The most noticeable feature of her outfit was the mask she wore on her face. The mask of the Fox, worn by the leader of the Vulpes Union.
"You okay? Or did I tire you out?" he asked, giving the girl a smirk. She looked up at him, most likely glaring back at him. He could never tell with her mask.
"I will admit, you did tire me out. However tiring your opponent out isn't going to work. The heartless aren't human, they do not tire. Which is why you must be precise with your strikes."
"I know...I know." he mumbled, turning away from the girl. He walked toward the spot his keyblade had landed, and gingerly picked it up. He gave it a few swings, allowing it to disappear in a shower of blue light.
"Regardless of that, you've come along way. I remember the first day you came to Daybreak Town and summoned your keyblade. You defeated those heartless admirably. I however wasn't expecting you not to pick a Union," the girl said. The kitsune said nothing, as he looked into the distance.
They were behind the Foreteller's Tower, in a private plaza. It was one that was meant to be used by the apprentices of the Masters. So far, only two other Masters had apprentices. Master Ira and Master Aced had yet to find candidates they could train. Master Invi, Master Gula and Master Ava had already made their choices. Ava had approached him in the Fountain Plaza and asked him to follow her. He had been wary of the young lady, at least until she had explained what she wanted. He was still reeling from it all, it was a surreal feeling to be chosen by a master, especially one as talented as Ava.
"Tch...that's because I didn't want to be made fun of. You saw how everyone was looking at me. I come from another world, the keyblade lead me here. I can't help how I was born, yet all they did was point and laugh. It took you 5 six months to realize I was a keyblade wielder after I got here,"
"We were dealing with something, our master had disappeared. So we were very focused on searching for him. In that time, we didn't exactly tend to our unions. I've already apologized to you, like ten times." she said, puffing out her cheeks.
"Yes I am aware, I just like seeing that cute pout on your face!" he said teasingly. She looked away from the boy, her grip tightening on her keyblade.
"You shouldn't tease your master you know,"
"Eh...it's fine. Anyway...about that spar...I wanted to apologize. There's a lot of stuff on my mind lately. I'm still getting used to all this you know? I've been self taught for most of my time in Daybreak Town. Then all of a sudden you choose me to be your apprentice. I guess I'm just...confused about a few things."
"Confused? What's confusing you then?" Ava asked, causing the boy to frown. She noticed his ears drooping, and his tail became still, something he only did when he was sad or disappointed.
"Well...why me? Out of all the keyblade wielders here, why did you pick me?"
"Because I saw potential in you. There's something about you that I can't describe. But you have the potential for greatness. You are balanced, your mana is strong, your kitsune blood gives you good physical strength and stamina. I believe you can make a wonderful keyblade wielder. Who knows? Maybe you have the makings of a master too!" she said cheerfully.
"I'm glad you think so...I can hardly pick up regular combat. I'm surprised the heartless haven't taken my heart yet," he said jokingly. Ava remained serious however, turning to fully face her apprentice.
"Don't you ever say that! Kazuki you aren't weak, the keyblade chose you for a reason. Because you have the strength of heart to protect what needs protecting! You aren't born a master, you have to keep training, day in and day out."
"I know that...it's just...I'm sorry." he said, a sheepish look on his face.
"You know...you remind me a lot of myself when I was first chosen. The Master of Masters knocked on my door one day. I was living alone, just trying to have a normal life. Then this hooded man just shows up, tells me I've been chosen and brings me here with him. I was only 12 years old when I was chosen. It's been a long four years, but I managed to learn everything I could. I promise, I'll do the same for you."
"Thanks Ava...I know I can be a hard ass sometimes, but I promise to take your teachings very seriously." he said, giving the young woman a bow. She flushed, quickly shaking her head.
"A-anyway, you've come very far with regular fighting techniques. However swordplay alone won't always help you. I believe it's time for us to move to the next stage of your training." she said.
"The next stage?" Kazuki asked, ears twitching slightly. She didn't say anything, rather she held her keyblade high into the air.
"Light, lend me your strength!" Ava chanted, a swirling orb of light enveloped the tip of her keyblade. She quickly brought it down, firing it at Kazuki. He let out a scream of surprise, taking a step back as the orb of light struck him. He almost expected it to hurt, however he opened his eyes, noticing his hands glowing a light white.
"What did you do to me?"
"It wasn't anything special, I just unlocked your hidden potential. I don't exactly know why it is hidden. However, everyone is born with equal parts of light and darkness in their hearts. I just unlocked your light, you'll be able to use a wide array of skills now, all of which are boosted by your keyblade." she said, matter of factly.
"Wide array of skills...you mean like what the other keyblade wielders use?" he asked curiously.
"Yes and no...the others use powers stored in special medals. They are affixed to their keyblades, and they borrow the power of those people. You however, will be taught a special set of skills. One of the many reasons I chose you to become my apprentice, is because you and I share similar affinities." she said, turning away from him. She snapped her fingers, conjuring some training dummies with her magic. Taking a few steps away from them, she prepared for an attack.
"Teleport Strike!"
Kazuki watched with amazement as Ava took a step forward, disappearing right into thin air. She flashed behind one of the training dummies, delivering a swift strike. She disappeared again, this time coming from above. She finished the attack, appearing from the side, slicing the dummy's head clean off. It burst into sparkles, a small haze lingering in the area.
"What the hell was that? You were there, and then here and then you disappeared!" the boy exclaimed, causing the girl to giggle.
"That's a skill called Teleport Strike. Using your keyblade, you can slip through gates and flash before your opponent. I learned to do quick strikes. However, everyone starts casting teleportation glyphs. The stronger you get, the more strikes you can get in." she explained.
"Teleportation, glyphs? That sounds too complicated for me."
"Well we could start with something easier. Tell me, do you have any friends?" she asked curiously. He gave her a nod, glancing towards one of the dummies.
"Akira and Sabishii. Master Invi and Master Gula's apprentices. I met them both in Daybreak Town's central plaza. I was returning from a mission and this guy from Unicornis was picking a fight with this girl. I stepped in, and he started making fun of me. Hehe...I still remember what Akira said to him." the boy said, holding back a laugh. Ava tilted her head slightly, a playful smirk on her face.
"Oh? Mind sharing this with me?"
"I...well he used some pretty dirty words. My mom said it was unbecoming of a man to speak like that in front of a lady," Kazuki said. The girl rolled her eyes beneath her mask.
"Speak freely Kazuki, I may be your master, but I'm your friend first and foremost."
"Okay...well Akira walked up to the guy and said, "If you make fun of him one more time, I'm going to shove my keyblade so far up your ass, you'll be able to open doors with your mouth." then he spat in his face and walked up to me." the boy replied. He cringed, expecting her to say something, but instead she started laughing. She laughed so hard she ended up dropping her keyblade, just so she could clutch her side.
"Oh that's rich! I only wish I could see his expression...I don't really like people that are mean. Especially those that are mean to their fellow keyblade wielders. I'm happy that Akira was able to help you then, he seems like a very nice boy."
"He is...and Sabishii is pretty cool too, we've actually fought together. Last time the heartless attacked Daybreak Town, she showed some really strong stuff. She was super speedy too...turns out she's from the same world I am. She's a wolfskin, and a really powerful one at that!" he said excitedly.
"I see...so you look up to your friends, because they're strong. Then this may work. There is a special skill called Faith. Normally, it is a skill that has the user form swords of light to use in battle. They direct them with their mind, in conjunction with their keyblade to attack. However, there is a sub-skill that you can learn."
"Sub-skill?" Kazuki asked curiously.
"Mhmm...one called "Phantom Blade". It is a skill that not only allows you to borrow the strength of weapons, but allows you to do a teleporting throw. Say you throw your keyblade and it sticks to that wall over there," she paused, pointing towards the nearby wall. "With Phantom Blade, you'll be able to teleport to it. Almost at the snap of your fingers."
"Wow...that sounds wicked strong...but wait if its a sub-skill then why aren't others using it? Wouldn't it be like Teleport Strike?" he queried, causing her to shake her head.
"Not at all...this is more of a passive skill. One that activates whenever it is you need it. You can also form constructs of your friend's keyblades and use them in battle. That however reflects on the bond you share with them. If your friends are your power, then you will definitely make full use of this skill,"
"Hmm...how do I learn it?" he asked, earning a smile from Ava.
"Learning it is the easy part, it's getting to materialize the constructs that's difficult! Here I'll show you!"
xxx(Themis)xxx
Kazuki awoke to a loud slam, causing him to jerk in his seat. The bright light made the boy cringe as his vision cleared. He could see nothing but a blurry pink mess before him. He let out a yawn, stretching his arms a bit.
"Ava?" he said softly.
"I do not know who this Ava is, but I'm certain she'd be angry with you too! I provided you with access to my library to study, not so you could take a nap on this expensive oak table!"
His vision had finally cleared, and he was finally able to see the angered Duchess of Themis standing before him. Maribelle looked exasperated, anger visible in her eyes. Her hair was slightly out of place, and her outfit was wrinkled in a few places. He also saw a smudge of dirt on the side of her leg. His confused look shifted to one of concern.
"Is something the matter Maribelle?"
"Yes, but that is none of your concern. I took a fall from Vera during combat practice today, nothing I'm not used too. It seems Baron Alberto has returned, and is back to his previous ways. I came here to see if I could avoid him, only to find you sleeping here,"
"Sorry...I came here early this morning. I was practicing my archery skills, but as soon as the trainees came out, I took my leave. Not before Captain Marcus decided to "Train" me. He put me through a regimen worse than Frederick's, and kept saying "You're a kitsune, this is nothing for you" every time I did an extra set. It's been like that every day this week," the boy said. He cringed, feeling his muscles aching again. He had skipped out on visiting Anna for an Elixir, as he was running out of funds.
"I apologize...Captain Marcus is one of my father's best, a man who fought in the last campaign. I wasn't aware he was treating you like that. You do seem a lot more tired than when you first arrived, why haven't you spoken up?" she asked.
"Because I'm a guest here, and I can't fight worth a damn. Meaning I'll take whatever I can get and grit my teeth."
"Darling that is no way to train. Did Chrom ever force you to do that? Or Frederick? When he noticed you were tired, did he immediately ask you to do another set?" the woman asked, causing the boy to shake his head.
"No...we always trained for an hour, if we could keep going, he'd allow us too. Then we'd move on to weapons training after half an hour of resting. After that, we'd take a bath and prepare for the march."
"Precisely, if that routine is what works for you, then stick to it. If you feel like someone's methods aren't working, then don't follow them. Had I done that when I was learning healing magic, I doubt I'd be a good healer right now." Maribelle said firmly. She pulled the chair out, taking a seat before him. "Anyway, I suppose we can use this time to catch up. I've been so busy this week that I haven't had the time to chat,"
"I wouldn't want to take time away from you Mari...you are a busy woman after all."
"You aren't, you are one of my comrades. I promised Lissa I'd teach you how to read and write. Something that we've been neglecting. So it is the perfect time for us to pick up where we left off," she said. She took a hold of his notepad, flipping through some of the pages. She paused at one, reading its contents.
"Uh...something you find interesting?"
"Yes...your level of penmanship. It's remarkable, you've dramatically improved, I daresay this is the finest handwriting I've seen. Besides my own of course," she said, sounding very impressed.
"Um...well I've been practicing a lot. Jasmine has been a good help, she noticed me struggling and decided to help me. Thanks to her coaching, I'm able to write full sentences now. She had a unique way of drilling the letters into my head," he said, rubbing his neck.
"Yes, fried chicken is an excellent motivator."
"That's because you haven't tried it! Jasmine is amazing, did you know she puts lemongrass in the batter? How could I resist!" the boy said excitedly, tail wagging happily.
"Regardless of her cooking skills, she did a marvelous job. I would assume you've been reading as well, if so then I have nothing left to teach you. However, I can continue checking on your studies every once in awhile."
"I'd appreciate it. But I do have to ask...why did you agree to teach me in the first place? It can't be just because Lissa asked you. A woman of your class...why would she bother teaching a lowborn guttersnipe like me?" he asked. She quirked a brow, reaching for her parasol. The boy stiffened a bit when he saw it, making her smirk widen.
"Let's just say, you interest me. A kitsune found sleeping at the base of a tree, readily joins the Shepherds, no questions asked. He proceeds to wield a legendary weapon, and shows great fighting prowess, yet despite that, he's clueless about the world. You are an oddity,"
"Am I really that interesting?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Of course darling, there's something about you that I wish to understand. You remind me of the Hero-King, Marth. Once a normal boy, he was tasked with felling the great beast Grima. Fast forward 2000 years, and here comes a man, who for intents and purposes, is totally normal. A great calamity washes over the world, and here he is, keyblade in hand, ready to take down the darkness."
"I thought you said Fairy-tales didn't interest you? You seem quite intrigued by my appearance here." Kazuki replied.
"Of course, any man who catches the interest of my dearest Lissa is a man of interest. Not only that, you seem to possess a silver tongue. You are quite the smooth liar. You have many roped around your finger, so perhaps I just wish to uncover the real you,"
"What are you talking about?" he asked curiously. She shrugged, leaning back in her seat.
"Never you fret, it was merely an observation. I'm not saying you aren't trustworthy, but I just like to be careful. Especially when the life of my precious friend is at stake," Maribelle said firmly. He remained silent, not exactly knowing what to say. His ears twitched slightly, as he focused on the girl. He could hear her heart beating beneath her ribcage, along with her soft breathing. Her face remained neutral, but he could see the mischievousness in her eyes.
"She's playing a dangerous game, one that could very well change our relationship. I can't exactly reveal myself to her either...changing the topic might make things worse...but what card to I have left to play?" he thought to himself.
"That orb you were given, have you figured out what it's for?" she asked. Kazuki shook his head slightly, reaching into his pocket for the orb the Hooded Man had given him. He placed it on the table top, being careful it didn't start to roll away.
"I haven't figured out what it does. That hooded man said it was a special orb. But when I hold it, I feel a strange connection to it...as if it had belonged to me beforehand. Which is odd, as I don't remember ever owning anything like this," he said. Maribelle took it in her hand, looking at its center. She held it up to the light, noticing the odd swirling energy contained within.
"This is...a summoning orb!"
"A what?" he asked.
"These orbs are very rare, they contain a very special power. It allows those that are compatible with it, to call forth heroes throughout time. Not only that, in the past, summoners were able to summon powerful entities from other worlds! This is a very rare thing to possess, Kazuki!" the woman said with an impressed tone.
"Why would that man give me this?" the kitsune asked, a look of confusion on his face.
"I'm not certain, however it does seem like he knows you. I'm not exactly sure what the deal is with you. You don't show the typical signs of amnesia. You remember things about yourself, and yet...there are things that you don't know." Maribelle said.
"I wish I had the answer to that Mari, sadly I don't. I'll have to figure that out later. Still, this summoning orb does raise a lot of questions. Guess I'll have to figure out what it does," the boy said, taking the object back from the blonde.
"Hmm...well perhaps we should seek some summoning tomes? Perhaps they will help you in your endeavors. It is clear that strength of heart alone will not help you against the darkness,"
"You know...someone else said the same thing to me once. She said that my keyblade alone wouldn't help me. That I needed both strength of heart, and friends. I guess what she meant was, my friends are my power...if that's the case then I at least have another friend I can rely on." he said, giving the girl a small smile. She let out a giggle, standing up from her seat.
"I'm glad you consider me a friend dear, though earning my total trust will take you quite awhile. However, if Lissa sees good in you, then I'll just have to put my faith in you. Come, it shouldn't take us long to find some tomes," she said. The boy really didn't get what she meant, but decided to follow along. The last thing he needed was to be whacked by Maribelle's parasol.
xxx
"Have you found anything yet?" Kazuki asked, closing his third tome. Maribelle sighed, shaking her head as she closed her own.
"Apparently not...it seems this information is a bit out of date. Not a lot of people come across a summoning orb. Summoners are quite rare in this world of ours. The ability to open outrealm portals usually lies with royalty. Perhaps this gem belonged to a noble or a royal of another nation," the blonde suggested, earning a shrug from the boy.
"It would make sense...seeing as the darkness likes getting its mitts on important stuff. I wouldn't put it past the Hood to just steal it. However, if I don't unlock it's power, I fear it may fall into the wrong hands." he said. Maribelle frowned, tapping her chin in thought.
"Hmm...wait a moment, would you summon your keyblade for me? I wish to examine it."
"Uh...okay I guess," the boy said, holding his hand out. In a flash of blue light, Divewing materialized. He noticed the girl's eyes tracing the blade rather closely. Her eyes rested on the blue gem at its hilt, a small smirk appearing on her face.
"Indeed, it's just as I thought. Kazuki dear, have you perhaps thought of inserting the summoning gem in your keyblade?"
"Huh? Now that you mention it, no I haven't. Why would you suggest that?"
"It's simple dear. According to that tome of yours, the one Miriel handed you, the keyblade is a weapon capable of opening gates. A summoning orb does the same. Pair one with the other, and you'll be able to bring forth heroes from other realms. Those that may lend a hand in battle." she said. Kazuki's eyes lit up a bit, his tail wagging happily to and fro.
"You're right! And if I can open gates to other realms, then I can probably call for help. I'll have more friends helping me fight the darkness, not only that, I can most likely borrow their power too! Oh I am so going to try this!"
The boy set his keyblade down on the table, fiddling with it for a moment. He noticed the small clasp at the hilt, which he easily flipped. He removed the orb that was already in place, placing the summoning orb where the first originally was. He noticed it start glowing a bit brighter. The rings that had been at its center had disappeared, instead being replaced by a glimmering key.
"Divewing feels a little different...hmm, perhaps I should try it,"
He stood up from his seat, holding his keyblade upright. He closed his eyes briefly, wondering what exactly to do. He didn't feel anything different, and no one called to him. He frowned, opening his eyes.
"Hmm...I didn't feel anything."
"Perhaps your heart has to call out to someone. You can't expect a gate to just open before you darling. Send a message out, a request...something." Maribelle said, taking a sip of her tea as she watched the boy intently.
"She's right...I can't just hope for the best. I gotta make a request with my heart...okay then, here goes. To anyone who can hear this message, my name is Kazuki. I'm currently in the country of Ylisse. The darkness has invaded this land, and has sent emissaries to all four corners of the world. Please, I need your help to combat it, and bring back peace to this land. Even if its sharing your power with me, any little bit helps."
He opened his eyes, half expecting for his request to fail. To his surprise, a keyhole formed before him from thin air. The tip of his keyblade was encompassed by a fearsome glow. A thin beam shot from it, connecting to the keyhole. It exploded, the light around it shattering as a gate started to take shape. Maribelle's eyes widened in surprise, and she took a hold of her staff, preparing to bash someone with it.
Kazuki however wasn't expecting the person he had summoned to be a young woman. She walked through the gate being an emotionless expression on her countenance. Her crimson eyes, while dulled, seemed to bear an odd sense of curiosity in them. She had a regal air to her as well, as if she was born to royalty, and if the boy were to hazard a guess, from how she was dressed, that would be a certainty.
This young woman was rather beautiful, with dulled long platinum blonde hair, with various spiky layers. She was wearing a long sleeved shirt, red and black with various sections exposing her arms. The garment bore golden markings all over it, along with an odd looking crest attached to a small belt on her waist. She wore long red, black and gold stockings, diamond shaped sections leaving her flesh exposed. Her feet were adorned with heeled boots. The low lighting of the room bounced off her headdress, making the boy cringe a bit. She blinked a few times, as she paused before the boy.
"Um...hello." the boy greeted.
"Are you perhaps the one who summoned me to this realm?"
"Yes, I need some assistance. Ylisse is being invaded by creatures of darkness. I'm loathed to admit it, but I'm still a bit weak myself. Would it be possible for us to forge a contract? In exchange for your services, I could perhaps help you with something." Kazuki said. He bit the inside of his cheek. "What am I saying? This isn't how I had it envisioned in my head!"
"How curious...I came here to forge a contract with powerful heroes from this realm. I wasn't expecting to end up in another situation all together. I'm afraid I must decline your request. I aim to conquer the nation of Askr, and bring them to their knees. I haven't the time to lend my strength to a fool like yourself,"
"Excuse me?" the kitsune snapped, not expecting the young woman to reply to him that way. She giggled, reaching behind her back for a tome, which she held out before her.
"However, I will say this once. You will forge a contract with me, whether you want to or not, you will help me in my endeavor. If not, then your nation shall fall as well,"
"Great job Kazuki! You ended up summoning a warmonger, that doesn't exactly help us does it?" Maribelle cried, tightening her grasp on her staff.
"You were the one who pushed me into summoning her right? Well now we gotta deal with the consequences. Alright Princess, let's cut a deal. If you defeat me in battle, I'll do whatever you want. However, if I win, then you forge a contract with me, is that understood?"
"Hmm...a wager...it matters little to me. You are far to weak to defeat someone like me. Let us do battle then, once you are defeated you shall join my ranks, Hero of Ylisse." the girl said in a monotone.
"No no no no! If you wish to duke it out then take it outside! I shall not have my family's precious collection of tomes destroyed by you two imbeciles!" Maribelle shouted. Her normally pale skin was now red with fury. Kazuki swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Yeah...we should go outside,"
"It makes little difference to me where we battle," the girl said with a shrug.
It didn't take long for the pair to find themselves outside. Rather than battle in the training grounds, Kazuki requested the battle to take place far away from the mansion. So they had found themselves in his favorite clearing. The boy had been trying to gauge his opponent during their brief walk. He could tell nothing about the girl, other than the fact her heart seemed to be attuned to dark arts. With every beat, he could see a beautiful shining light within her, only for it to dull by her darkness. She showed no emotion, how she talked, how she walked, how she expressed herself, it just made him sad. It had been a rather odd few minutes.
"So uh...may I at least have your name? I would at least like to know who I'm fighting." Kazuki said, as he stood before the girl. She sighed, giving him a slow blink.
"Veronica, Empress of Embla."
"Empress?" the boy asked. He shook his head, holding his hand out. Divewing appeared in his grasp, much to her surprise. Maribelle stood nearby, riding on Vera. She had insisted on being nearby, in case the two of them killed themselves or worse, left each other so injured they'd be wishing for death.
"I don't particularly trust that young lady. I don't think I've ever heard of Embla before. How peculiar." she thought to herself.
"If you are finished yapping, I'd like to get on with this," Veronica said, holding her tome out. It started glowing a vibrant green, floating out of her hands.
"I don't really like the look of that tome." Kazuki thought, as he shook off his nerves. Before he could even react, Veronica launched her attack.
A brilliant green flame sailed directly at the boy. Thanks to his quick reflexes, he was able to avoid it. He felt its heat on his arm as it flew by him. He let out a yelp of surprise, as several more fireballs came his way, all of which he was forced to dodge. Veronica had a bored expression on her face, her right hand was glowing with magic as she continued launching fireballs at the boy.
"How boring. This boy will certainly hinder me on the battlefield, I doubt he'd be a good soldier." she mumbled to herself. Her eyes widened, as she was forced to jump back. One of her fireballs had been deflected back at her. She glanced at Kazuki, who gave her a grin.
"I may not be a good soldier, but that doesn't mean I can't fight, sweetie." he replied with a wink. Veronica grit her teeth, flipping rapidly through her tome.
"Rexcalibur!" she chanted, launching the ice spell at the boy. He flipped out of the way, in time to avoid the giant ice pillars that rose from the ground.
"Strike Raid!" he cried, spinning in mid air as he threw his keyblade. Veronica hastily made a magical barrier, blocking the first strike. Kazuki quickly caught the blade, throwing it a second time and then a third. Her barrier shattered, allowing him to get a few hits in before jumping back.
"This is it, Judgment!" he chanted, throwing his blade full force. Veronica cried in pain, being launched into the air by the exploding light. Kazuki seized his chance, jumping into the air, following up with a speedy combo. He pulled his keyblade back, slamming the girl into the ground, hastily backing away.
Despite the barrage she had taken, Veronica was quickly back to her feet. She grabbed a hold of her tome, cringing a bit in pain. She placed her hand on its cover, rapidly throwing a spell at the boy.
"Nosferatu!"
"Kazuki watch out!" Maribelle cried, urging the boy to move. He jumped to the right, hoping to avoid it. Veronica smirked, flicking her wrist. The dark spell struck his chest, making him scream in pain. He dropped to a knee, seeing all of Veronica's injuries instantly recover.
"Hah...dark healing magic?" he asked.
"Nosferatu is a spell that not only injures targets, but saps away their strength. Do be careful with it dear," the noblewoman replied. Kazuki nodded, quickly standing up as he faced the princess before him.
"This one is tough...I've fought heartless and risen, but neither of them hit me with that spell. She's proficient in both anima and dark magics...this one is gonna be a bit tough," he thought. Veronica flicked her wrist, attacking with an Elwind spell. Kazuki swung his blade sending out his own Elwind to cancel hers out.
Veronica sighed, this time deciding to get a bit closer. Her tome glowed a brilliant green, as she launched a wave of magic at the boy. Kazuki held his keyblade up, guarding against the attack. He grit his teeth, feeling the sheer strength behind the magic.
"I'm not gonna live through this attack, it's too strong. I gotta get out of it!"
"Remember Kazuki, if you are ever facing a tough opponent, use Reflect magic. Reflect casts a powerful barrier, even the strongest mages have issues countering Reflect magic. It may be the difference between surviving a bout and losing one," a female voice said. Kazuki nodded to himself, focusing on his magic power.
"Alright voice, I'll take your advice. Reflect!" he cried out. His keyblade glowed a brilliant white, as it cast a barrier before him, deflecting the last of Veronica's attacks. He reached into his pouch, uncorking a vulnerary with his teeth, downing the bottle's contents.
"You're pretty tough, for a tome mage." the boy said with a smirk. Veronica narrowed her eyes, but said nothing as she rose her hand again.
"Micaiah's Pyre!" she cried, launching a medium sized ball of green flame at the boy. He quickly rose his blade, blue embers sparking around its tip.
"Fox Fire!"
Kazuki jumped in time to avoid the explosion, as blue and green flames melded together. He shot an Elblizzard at the flames, quickly dousing them. The Emblan princess prepared a second spell, her hands glowing a fearsome green as her tome floated before her. Her hair seemed to move of its own accord as she built up the magic power.
"I tire of this, time to end it. Elivagar, show lend me your strength!" she cried. The pools of fire turned into swirling orbs that floated around her, and with a snap of her fingers she shot them at the kitsune. He ran forward, sprinting toward the princess. He slashed one of the orbs apart with his keyblade, rolling out of the way of another fireball. He sprung forward, raising his keyblade above his head, blue sparks running across it.
"Sparkstrike!" he shouted, bringing it down hard. Veronica moved her tome in time, using it to guard against his attack. She pushed him back with magical flames, quickly firing off more green balls of fire at him.
"Tch...you are far more resilient than I thought. I must seal this contract posthaste!" the princess said, her monotone making the kitsune frown.
"I'm not going to be defeated that easily, I need your strength Veronica. So I won't give up, you'll have to kill me before that!" Kazuki cried back. Veronica rapidly flipped through her tome, the pages crackling with electrical energy. She placed her hand on one of the pages, magical runes forming around her hand.
"ArcThunder!"
The bolt exploded from her hand, heading straight toward the keyblade wielder. He hurriedly rose his keyblade, casting a reflect spell before himself. He growled, trying to maintain the spell. The reflect started cracking, making the boy start panicking. Finally, it broke allowing the remainder of the spell to connect. He screamed in pain, as the lightning magic coursed through his body.
"Face it, you don't stand a chance against me. I have been training in the magical arts my entire life. You will forge a contract with me and help me bring Askr to its knees." she spat. Kazuki chuckled, forcing himself to stand straight.
"I dunno why you wanna bring this Askr kingdom down. But I need your strength. I will get it, and not even you will stop me!" he hissed angrily. He clutched his head in pain, gritting his teeth in pain.
"Remember, believe in the strength of your heart. Each of these skills are powerful on their own. But with the strength of your friends, they'll double in power. Believe in yourself, and in your bonds, and they will become your power!"
Veronica's eyes narrowed as she prepared another attack. Her body glowed bright green as she channeled her magic to her hands. Kazuki held back a smirk as he pulled his keyblade back. He started running at the girl, bringing his keyblade forward, firing an Elruin at the princess. She easily deflected the spell, which exploded into a bright light, blinding her for a moment. She let out a gasp as Kazuki teleported in front of her, slashing her with his keyblade before she could react. He disappeared a second later, appearing to her right. He flashed around her body, attacking her so fast she had no time to counterattack.
"What power is this?" she mumbled, clutching her shoulder as she glanced up. She noticed a bright blue glyph that appeared right above her. Kazuki appeared fight in front of her, using the glyph as a springboard. He pulled his keyblade back, channeling light into it. The girl rose her book, casting a protective barrier.
"This is it! Teleport Strike!" he shouted, slamming his keyblade into the barrier. It broke apart with ease, the strike hitting her square in the chest. Kazuki panted, feeling the fatigue of the battle. He glanced over his shoulder, seeing the girl dropping to her knees.
"I must say, you pulled off an excellent victory. Despite you calling yourself weak, I believe you can do great things when you apply yourself dear," Maribelle said, as she rode up to the boy. She held her staff up, using a Cura spell to heal his injuries.
"Thanks Mari, I guess you are right...maybe I am improving," he said. Despite his injuries being healed, he still felt quite fatigued, as his magic was being slowly replenished. The noblewoman's eyes fell onto the defeated princess, who was glaring at the pair.
"What will you do with her?"
Kazuki said nothing as he walked toward the princess. He kept his grip on his keyblade tight as he knelt down before her. She clutched her shoulder as she looked away from him, her hand reaching for her tome. The kitsune quickly grabbed a hold of it, snapping it closed. He gave the girl a smirk.
"So...as per our agreement, you have to forge a contract with me. All I require is your assistance. When I call you forth through the gate, you'll fight by my side. Not as my slave, but as my friend. I need your help to fight against the darkness. Please Veronica, say you will?" the boy said, holding his hand out. The girl's eye twitched, face contorting in annoyance for a brief moment.
"Friend...you wish to be my friend?"
"Well sure! I didn't summon you here for anything else. I need to make lots of friends, their strength are my power. If you agree, then I pledge to you my trust, and my friendship," he replied, giving the girl a grin. She sighed, giving him a nod.
"I agree to your terms. For as long as you need it, Elvagar's strength shall be yours. My friendship shall also benefit you, I shall come to the battlefield when you need my help. However, I expect the same from you. If I require your help, then you shall give it...is that understood?" Veronica asked.
"Uh...well I mean...I don't mind but, what's with the flush?" the boy asked. The girl looked away, her face growing crimson.
"I...do you like tea parties?"
"Aren't you a bit too old for tea parties?" he asked curiously. She glared at the boy, forcing herself to stand up.
"If you think about saying you hate tea parties, I will pop your head clean off your shoulders. Do you understand?"
"Yep! 100 percent. Maribelle, would you mind healing Veronica's injuries?" Kazuki asked, glancing at the troubadour. She gave the young man a nod, shifting her gaze back toward the princess.
"It is an honor to have you join our cause, Princess. I wish to learn more about Embla, whenever it is you have the time," she said, sending a small wave of healing magic toward the girl. She slowly forced herself to stand, retrieving Elvagar from Kazuki's grasp.
"We can converse over tea if you'd like. If we are to work together, then I need your help. Soon, the kingdom of Askr will fall, and I shall conquer it in the name of Embla."
"Hmm...it's pretty late...maybe I should send Veronica bad home. I wouldn't want her to get in trouble or anything." Kazuki said, glancing at his keyblade.
"Perhaps it would be a wise idea. The contract has been forged, you can summon her back any time you need," Maribelle said. The princess remained silent, pretending to find her book interesting at the moment. Kazuki was about to say something when a loud explosion rocked the area.
"What the hell was that?" he mumbled.
"I'm not sure if you've noticed, but it smells like smoke." Veronica added, glancing at the two. Another explosion filled the area, along with the distant screams of people. Kazuki closed his eyes, his eyes perking up as he tried to listen to his surroundings.
"What is that...metal on metal...breaking glass...marching? No...those are swords!"
"Kazuki...is something the matter?" Maribelle asked, causing the boy to stiffen a bit.
He could feel that darkness returning. The last few days had been rather peaceful, the darkness always ebbing at him. This time however he felt it all over his body. His hair was standing on end, it was as if it was threatening to swallow him whole. Veronica called his name a few times, but the boy remained immobile. His ear twitched as a portal opened behind him. He rapidly spun around, slashing the air in time to clash swords with an Armored Knight Heartless. Several more portals opened up around them, spawning more of the aforementioned creatures.
"Heartless!"
"Here? But why?" the blonde noblewoman cried.
"It matters little why these creatures are here. You summoned me to destroy them correct? Then let us do that!" Veronica cried, flipping through her tome. Almost instantly, she started fighting back against the creatures, launching flaming balls of green fire at them.
"Maribelle, you need to go back to the mansion and warn everyone. Me and Veronica will go to town and see what we can do. We'll meet at your mansion later, understood?" he asked.
"And leave you here alone? Are you daft?"
"You have a responsibility! You are the duchess of Themis, the people in this town look to your family for guidance. Your father and mother will need to prepare for whatever is going on, so go!" Kazuki cried, raising his blade in time to parry an attack. Maribelle gave him a nod, tossing him a pouch filled with vulneraries.
"You owe me for those! I expect to see you alive at the end of this invasion." she replied. She tightened her grip on her reins, giving them a flick. "Let's go Vera, to the mansion!"
With a loud neigh, the white mare took off toward the mansion. Kazuki finished off the last heartless, turning to face Veronica. He gave her a nod, turning back toward the town. Another explosion rocked the area, followed by more despaired screams.
"Come on Veronica, we need to head into town."
"Indeed, let us venture forth. Perhaps I can find and recruit more heroes for my cause," she said, a small smirk tugging at her lips.
"This girl is something else, but she's strong. I'm glad that she's on my side...I better go...those people need me,"
xxx(The Dark Realm)xxx
"Hey Akira...I want to ask you a question," Sabishii said, causing the boy to glance at her. The group of four had been steadily walking, away from the Castle they had passed not that long ago. The dark realm had been crawling with Heartless, which they had been defeating. Thankfully, they had hit a dead zone, where nothing seemed to move.
"Sure...what's on your mind?"
"It's...well...it's hard to explain. I've been getting these weird thoughts for awhile now. Even before I landed here. They were these odd dreams. Have you ever heard of a place called Daybreak Town?" she asked. Akira remained silent, as he looked up the path.
"I have...I hate to admit it but...I've been having the same dreams for awhile. Recently, I had this dream where we fought these Heartless. They were really tough...but we ended up defeating them. I remember you were there, and so was Kazuki. There was this other girl too...I think she was a keyblade master."
"Keyblade master huh? I didn't know you could be a keyblade master. Then again there are things about the keyblade I myself don't understand. For awhile, I questioned whether the keyblade made a right choice. But eventually, I realized that my heart is strong, and it's my duty to help those in need. To protect what needs protecting." the spiky haired boy replied. Sabishii nodded, glancing over her shoulder. She noticed Ann and Noire talking with each other. She couldn't hear what the conversation was about, but both girls were laughing rather loudly.
"Do you ever wonder, if something bad happened to us? Like...maybe something happened, that ended with us being brought to Japan. That world served as our safe zone, until the darkness destroyed it," the ravenette said.
"It would explain why we felt so tired when we woke up. I remember being really tired when I first appeared in the Hyperdimension. You mentioned being tired too...maybe Kazuki felt the same."
"Guess we'll have to find him before we can ask him huh?" Sabishii said, a small smile on her face. It quickly turned into a frown, and she looked away from him.
"Akira...that dream you had...I had it too."
"Hmm...did you?"
"I did...I think it was a memory. Etched deep in my heart...it was the day that I met Adam...and the day I started losing my love for you," she admitted. Akira didn't say anything, rather he continued walking, glancing at the dead trees.
"I see."
"I'm sorry...I shouldn't have brought that up. I didn't want to retch up old drama."
"It's fine Sabishii...you already apologized. It's a moment in our lives that we can't forget. The two of us grow stronger from it. Despite what happened, we're still friends right? I just wish I could pull reality from fiction. It's all blending together, and becoming a lot harder to separate the two." he replied.
"I'm sure we will...eventually. The mind may forget, but the heart never does. We will unlock our past together as friends...but first we gotta find Kazuki. And get out of this dark realm!" Sabishii said, earning a nod from the boy.
"That's right...I've got to protect the Hyperdimension though. That means I have to find out how to stop the dark forces threatening the Zero Dimension. Once I have that settled, we can search for him together!"
"Hey, don't forget about me. I'm a keyblade wielder too, so I want to go along with you two. We'll find Kazuki together won't we?" Ann cried, joining her friends.
"We will, then we'll be back together. The Daybreak Gang, just like the old days!"
"I'm loathed to admit it, but I believe I'll go along for the ride. Lastation wouldn't be the same without their S-class Agents. I'm sure Neptune and the others agree. You two are invaluable friends, so you've got my support, 100%." Noire added, earning a smile from Akira.
"Thanks babe, I really do appreciate it." the boy replied. He stopped, holding his hand out. He looked around for a moment, his heartbeat quickening. "Look alive ladies, seems we've got company,"
Before long, the group of four had been surrounded by Shadow heartless. Among them, Soldiers, Armored Knights and Bolt Towers. Akira summoned his keyblade, prepared to fight.
"Let's go, stick close and don't be afraid to ask for help. We can't afford to lose our hearts here."
"Right!"
With a battle cry, the four began their battle against the heartless, once more.