Sora, Kamina and Esdeath gathered in a circular room inside Moya. The DRDs directed them their like bloodhounds chasing a perp; no doubt to discuss their plans and the chain of command. Two captains was one thing, but that captain's chair wasn't big enough for the three of them. The three of them sat around a large round table as Kamina was the first to start the discussion.
"Alright! So after thinking long and hard; I've decided that Sora should be MY second in command!"
Esdeath shrugged. At least he was consistent; even if it was consistently idiotic.
"Tell me, were you always this stupid and overconfident or did you have to work on it? I mean really...you think YOU should be in charge? Absurd. Do you live under a rock?"
"I was BORN under one, thank you very much!"
"Well, I'm sure that rock is missing you greatly right now. You made it seem smarter by comparison."
"You sunnova-...I'll come over there and kiss your feet if you can tell me ONE PERSON who misses YOU!"
"..."
Sora almost wanted to chastise Kamina for that comment. But it didn't look like it really bothered her that much. Sora was being awfully considerate of Esdeath; mostly just to stay on her good side. But even her "good side" wasn't all the great, so he shuddered to think what her BAD side might be. Kamina's attempts at pissing her off were not helping. Sora thought he should jump in before things got out of hand.
"Why don't we just go around and talk about our...leadership...qualities...and stuff? O-okay?"
The two of them ceased their bickering and decided to take Sora's advice. Again; Kamina was the first to pipe up.
"I'll go first. I'm a leader of a band of freedom fighters called Team Gurren. We fought against the Beastmen using their own weapons; Gunmen. I pilot my mecha, Gurren and kick serious ass. I gotta be leader...Who the hell do you think I am?"
"Uh...Kamina? I thought we already discussed this? Anyway, if you're done...I am the most decorated and feared General in the Empire. I have slain no less than 10,000 men of my own power, I have conquered and laid waste to dozens of civilizations and rebellions. I also wield the Imperial Arm known as Demon's Extract; the blood of a draconic Danger Beast that gives me full command over the element of ice. I've won many wars...little man. Tell me...did you win yours or is that unrelated to why you are here now?"
Sora quickly started up before Kamina could process the insult.
"UM! ...Well, I am Keyblade master. I've traveled to many worlds and faced a ton of different enemies. Titans, Dragons, Gods, Genies, Heartless, Nobodies, and...a One-Winged Angel. Aaaaand...I saved a stuffed animal from a children's book once. Um...that's about it, I think."
Sora was never very fond of talking about himself in great detail when it came to his accomplishments. It always felt like he was bragging. Esdeath wouldn't stop staring at him. He wished she would stop, but he wasn't going to bring it up with her; let alone even make eye contact. Kamina was trying to wrap his mind around Sora's...interesting resume but he gave up trying to make sense of it pretty quickly as he made a declaration.
"Alright! Now we just VOTE for who we want to be leader. I vote for ME!"
Both Esdeath and Sora rolled their eyes almost in sync...which made Sora uncomfortable. But it was his turn. He wanted to vote for Kamina, but wasn't sure how Esdeath would take it. Why was so he worried about her? He was already dead. What more could she do to him? ...Let's not think about that, actually.
"Um...I vote for myself."
He figured he'd play it safe. But if everyone was gonna vote for themselves, then this was gonna be a looong meeting. It was up to Esdeath now.
"...I vote for Sora."
Her vote caught both of the guys off guard. She said it so confidently. No second guessing. No doubt in her choice as she rested her cheek on her fist with a smile. Sora couldn't respond. But Kamina sure as hell had something to say.
"WHAT?! You can't do that!"
Esdeath's eyes widen as she displays her first feeling of genuine confusion. The look almost felt alien on her face to Sora. But it was the first time he saw her express something that didn't make him cower or cringe.
"I can't? Really? I'm sorry...I thought this was how a Democracy worked. I'm from an Empire, so I'm not familiar with the concept of Freedom of Choice. Should I vote for myself? That seems like nothing will get accomplished then. Is THAT how Democracy works?"
Sora found her ignorance and naivety on the subject strangely cute before he quickly smothered the thought from his mind. Although, if she behaved like this more often; he might not be so overwhelmed by her presence all the time. Hell, she might even be approachable at some point. Perhaps teaching her new things would be the best way to go about making her more...friendly. He certainly didn't want to be the one learning "People skills" from HER.
"No, Esdeath. Your vote was fair. But are you sure about it? You want to make ME the leader?"
"Of course. You're experienced with traveling and navigating in a similar environment to our current one."
"But that would just make me the navigator. Why do you REALLY want me to be leader?"
"...Because you meet all my criteria. Just like Tatsumi..."
"What does that mean?"
"I mean...my criteria for...a great soldier. If you are the one to lead us; I know we will make it to our goal."
Sora got that weird vibe from her again. Not a hostile one, but it didn't make him feel at ease either. Was he the only one getting these vibes from her? He liked to think Kamina was getting them too, he was just better at hiding whether or not it bothered him. A familiar angelic voice interrupted the three of them.
"Oh. So you've decided on a leader already? Most Familias wait until all FIVE members are accounted for before deciding on a leader. But I guess this makes integrating new members easier if you already have a hierarchy."
It was Pit. He returned just as he promised. Sora took what comfort he could in that.
"Pit! You're back!"
"Yup. Looks like you're all starting to get along. I thought I'd deliver a new Spirit to you."
Esdeath ignores Pit and looks behind him to notice a small child riding on one of the DRDs like a cat on a roomba.
"What is THAT?"
"That is your new Familiia. Hey! Stop playing with it! It's busy working."
The child sprints over as group takes in his features. He was small. Half of Sora's height. He wore an oversized dark coat reaching down to his shins with sleeves that went way past his hands, as well as a long dark blue scarf, he had dark blue hair and a pair of luminous yellow feline eyes, along with a hat that seemed to be shaped around his cat ears. Sora has been getting a lot of feelings from people lately. Perhaps it was the intuition of his "other selves" that provided the perspective. But this feeling he got from this kid was completely contradictory to his expression of a friendly smile. It was a feeling a crippling loss, howling loneliness, a deep fear of the unknown hiding behind that cute cat-like grin. It was like the kid had Oneshot...and he blew it,
"Hello. My name is Niko. It's nice to meet you all."
Back on the other Leviathan; which has been given the name, Talon. Ori explores his new home alongside his Familia member that Pit left him. A huge, muscular man with no shirt, no shoes and no arms...well, no arms that weren't made of gold. He had pure white spiky hair and glowing white eyes. His whole body was covered in strange carvings that resembled tattoos but were clearly indented into his flesh like cracks in a tile floor. Every step he took was like a mountain crumbling in the distance. His walk breathed anger and a desire for vengeance that was unmatched in all the multiverse. In a word; he was WRATH. Wrath incarnate. Even his voice exudes power and an anger boiling just underneath the surface.
"...You said your name was Ori?"
"Yes. And you are...?"
The tiny white creature had the opposite voice. So soft and calm. Like the whispers on the wind. The two of them shared only one thing in common: A tattoo of three looping fireballs. Ori didn't have to wait long for the large man's response.
"...Asura...is my name."
*Things should be a bit more interesting with someone like Niko around. I wonder if he can channel his meta-powers to-
(Niko:) "That Kingdom Hearts 3 gameplay is looking CLEAN" ...Yes it is, Niko. Yes it IS.*