"Lea, Kairi." Merlin smiled. "I wish to take the opportunity to just tell you what marvelous students you have been!" he beamed clapping his hands together. "Your time here has been so short, and yet your progress has been unbelievable! You did exactly what I asked you to do, and used each other to your full potential! You even formed a bond of friendship in spite of all odds." he stated. "I am even afraid to say you didn't even need me at all, you did it all on your own."
"No Merlin you helped us!" Kairi assured.
"You did all the work, I assure you." Merlin stated.
"It's because you worked so hard Kairi." Lea grinned.
"You're the one who worked hard." Kairi chuckled as she slightly pushed Lea.
"You worked yourself to the bone!" Lea stated pushing her back also chuckling.
"You were willing to open yourself up! That is way harder than just doing swings with a keyblade!" Kairi stated pushing him again and suddenly they were both pushing each other laughing and Merlin chuckled amused as they finally seemed to finish their little play fight.
"You've both come so far." Merlin smiled. "How-ever, there is a long way to go yet before either of you will be able to become a keyblade master."
"Yeah, that kind of figures." Lea had to admit.
"That's why though, I think it is time for you two to take the next step!" Merlin beamed. "And I think you're ready! You are required to work together for this one and I do believe you can do that now!"
"Of course we can!" Kairi beamed.
"Good!" Merlin smiled. "Then I want you to learn how to combine your attacks! Learn how to attack as one and combine your powers."
Lea blinked. "Urrhh."
"Something wrong my boy?" Merlin asked.
"Well erh." Lea blinked. "My element is fire." he stated putting a hand on his chest. "Kairis element is water! You see, there is this funny thing with fire and water." he swirled his fingers. "They don't tend to mix."
"It'll be a bit more tricky than other elements, but I have confidence in you." Merlin stated.
"Combining attacks?" Kairi asked crossing her arms. "Do people do that?" he asked.
"Well." Axel sighed. "Organization members didn't really do that, we… Didn't trust each other enough to be able to." he admitted. "How-ever you know. Combine wind and fire and you could make an inferno." he stated. "Combine earth and water and you could create a landslide. The effects of combining powers can be devastating. But it require the users to be in tune with each other… No Organization thirteen members ever succeeded."
"You ever tried to do that?" Kairi asked.
"Well… When I was a kid." Lea admitted. "Before I became a nobody I… tried to do it with Isa, but we failed. Then again we were just kids at the time, I could barely even make a flame appear yet. I was just… Overconfident."
"Huh." Kairi blinked. "Well then we are both starting from scratch! We'll both be equally clueless for ones." she smirked.
"How can we possible combine fire and water though?!" Lea asked. "I mean… It is literately fire and water!"
"Well..." Kairi hesitated. "The two of us could become friends, so I suppose anything is possible."
Merlin smiled amused. "Lea, your doubt is understandable." he admitted. "Combining such things as fire and wind to make an inferno, that makes sense. So it is one of the easiest thing to do… Combining elements that makes less sense, is a lot harder indeed. But the effects will only be that much greater." he stated. "learn how to do this, and you will much closer at becoming true keyblade masters. To do this though, you two must be in absolute tune with each other. You must trust each other explicitly. And trust yourselves as well."
"Trust ourselves?" Lea asked. "Oh."
"You'll get it." Kairi assured. "I know you will."
Lea smiled lightly. "Sure. What can you do by combining water and fire though?" he asked.
"I don't expect you two to get this at ones, it will take time." Merlin stated. "It is a big task I set you."
"Yeah no kidding." Lea exhaled.
"Combining water and fire." Kairi frowned. "I know! You can make really hot water and scald stuff!"
Lea smirked. "Indeed we could do that. But how is that more powerful than just a ball of fire?" he asked as he snapped a finger letting a little ball appear. Then let it disappear again.
"Maybe power isn't what you are looking for?" Merlin suggested and they both looked at him. "Magic and keyblades has more uses than just attacks." he commented swirling his beard. "You can heal as well, unlock passages between worlds, even touch peoples heart. It can store and protect hearts as well. If you only focus on power you will never be a keyblade master."
"Oh." Lea realized then he frowned as he crossed his arms as he looked down with thoughtful eyes.
"Lea?" Kairi asked.
"Lemme guess, you are going to tell us to figure the rest out for ourselves right?" Lea asked.
"You got it!" Merlin beamed and Lea exhaled deeply.
"We'll figure this out Lea." Kairi assured. "Two minds are better than one."
And Lea smirked. "Yeah. Of course." he stated. "Still…. Man this is not my style at all. I just don't know what to do."
"Just go with the flow." Kairi suggested in a smirk.
"HAH!" Lea laughed. "All right you got me. So well, I guess we'll just continue doing what we have done and… Figure it out."
"Perhaps, it is not even a question of what you can do combining water and fire." Kairi commented. "Perhaps the question is… What can we do, if we combine Lea and Kairi?" she asked.
"Ooooh, now that is turning things around using the nogging." Lea grinned then halted. "What can we do exactly? Combining Lea and Kairi?"
"Thus far I think we've done a lot, so even more than that." Kairi grinned and Lea smiled as well, affected by Kairis upbeat hopeful attitude.