Kingdom Hearts III Keys of War
OMG hiiiiiiii readerssssssss of the majestic Fanfiction. It is I, Soraroxas123 whose making a sudden return to writing. I know it's been almost a year since ive updated anything, but ive been caught up in real life issues such as no job and trying to find out where i'm going in life. But it's okay, i may still be unemployed, but my options at the moment are looking good so i thought hey, why not get back into a bit of writing? So without further a do, here is the long awaited Chapter 8 of KH Keys of War...enjoy.
Chapter 8: Princess and the Pyro
Radiant Garden – Marketplace
As the midday sun beamed brilliantly upon peak hour cluster, a familiar pair of red heads conversed amongst themselves as they weaved their way through chirpy market goers. The first of whom was noticeable by her fox themed attire, Kairi. She strode along with a perplexed boredom and occasional smiles at shoppers to drown out her companion's complaining. Her companion in question was none other than the spiky haired pyro, Lea. Since the surprising induction to his keyblade training a few months back, the pyromaniac had abandoned his nostalgic coat for a less unsettling attire: red/black long sleeveless top black/grey hooded vest, grey baggy pants and red/black shoes.
"Ughh, since when does grocery shopping have anything to do with Keyblade Training?" Lea complained whilst he hefted bags of assorted potions and ingredients for the ever ageing wizard.
"Well you could've been turned into a frog. That look on Merlins face wasn't any happier when I got back yesterday; I'd suggest no spicy food," Kairi replied sarcastically.
It'd only been a day since the Princess of Heart returned to Radiant Garden after the talks at Yen Sid's tower, yet her impatience to world travel sparked an irresistible urge to spar or go on Heartless patrol to alleviate her nerves.
"This sucks." Kairi pondered with her gaze adrift. "I can finally do some of the fighting like the guys, yet I've gotta stay put here like I'm a porcelain doll; there's only so much of Lea's banter I...oof"
"Oh Kairi, didn't see you there, are you all right?"
Kairi was cut off mid thought as she looked apologetically at the woman she'd barged into: braided brown hair, pink dress and bright green eyes.
"Ah Aerith! So sorry about that, at least I ran into you and not old Scrooge" Kairi chuckled with a scratch of her head.
"Pfft, you're just a klutz Princess. I swear she's the 3rd person you've ran into today," Lea scoffed with a grin, earning himself a powerful elbow to the chest from a clearly offended Kairi.
Aerith couldn't help but chuckle at the younger pair's antics. "Hehe, the way you two carry on is like that of a brother and sister; Merlin being the grandfather in your case…"
"HELL NO!" the keybearers exclaimed; comically butting heads at Aerith's bewilderment.
Despite the overall hysteria, the fellow apprentices had grown somewhat closer as friends from their time together. Throughout the few months under Merlin's guidance, they'd grown to be near equals with the understandings of their keyblade skills; Kairi proving more adept as Lea endured some technical difficulties. Yet during that time, couldn't count the amount of apologies Lea gave for her kidnapping when he was Axel. Though with a humble smile, she reassured him each time that she was okay with such things of the past; often getting a laugh when Lea got over emotional.
"So anyway guys, how is the training going?" Aerith intervened with a curious expression. "Last I heard from Merlin was that Lea torched one of his oldest spell books…"
"Ugh….Please don't remind me," the pyro groaned with a depressed aura, Kairi patting his shoulder with a snicker. "Turns out this Keyblade business ain't as easy seems; I swear that book was alive like the furniture …" Begrudgingly, Lea moved his free hand where his Keyblade Twilight Blazer materialized; grinning for a moment before its form shifted into his old charkram.
"Ugh, see my point? Princess over here is a natural compared to me," Lea grumbled as he twirled his charkram on his finger.
"Ow come on Lea," Kairi giggled. "You'll get it eventually. I mean flattering me is nice and all, but it really doesn't suite you."
"Gee, no more compliments for you then," Lea retorted with a smirk
Despite Lea's words of flattery, Kairi was indeed surprised at how far she'd come in just a few months. Whether it'd been her initiative to learn, or Merlin's audacious training methods. Kairi was more than certain she'd become a force to be reckoned with; not an old man's tool for selfish intentions.
Radiant Garden- Merlins Training (A few days earlier…)
In a space cut off from the outside world, a familiar old wizard dressed in blue with a long white beard stood before the red headed keybearers.
"Ahem," Merlin began as he cleared his throat. "As you are aware, the threat of Xehanort and other evils are growing by the day. Yet in light of this, you both remain vigilant in your training and you should be proud of what you've achieved in these past few months."
Though Kairi gave a nod of approval, Lea simply rolled his eyes with a smirk.
"Yeah, we're proud and all that stuff. So does this mean we can travel the worlds yet?"
"Lea…" Kairi murmured with an elbow to his side.
"Hey, I was just curious don't hit me"
Merlin could only sigh at such antics. "As much as I admire your tenacity, Yen Sid and I both agree that until you're both competent for Mark of Mastery, it'll be safer to train here away from prying eyes."
As much as they wanted to complain, the red headed duo knew the wizard was right. Merlins training spaces were created from special magic that ignored the flow of time, a few hours training could only be several minutes in the outside world.
"Anyhow, why not get today's lesson underway shall we?" The old wizard chuckled.
With a flick of his wand, several items of furniture poofed into existence; each of them floating as if life was breathed into them.
"Okay, today's training is fairly simple. I want you to utilise both your physical and magic skills in order to wipe out all the obstacles before you, understood?"
"Yes sir," the two replied in unison with keyblade's drawn.
"Excellent, then I shall watch on from afar…Now begin!"
As Merlin poofed away to his viewing space, the apprentices stood back to back with weapons poised.
"All right Kairi, time to smash your record of fast furniture removal."
"Haha, you wish Lea. Surely this is a test of Keyblade skills, not egos if I recall."
The two apprentices could only smirk at each other as they charged the floating furniture; Keyblade's Destiny's Embrace and Twilight Blazer flashing into existence.
Like that of a nimble fox, Kairi propelled herself high as she slammed and sliced her blade against a rickety wooden table, before turning swiftly to counter the headstrong set of draws; the furniture splintering into speckled remains. The Princess grinned as she then made her way down with the point of her keyblade glowing a deep blue.
"Watera," Kairi exclaimed, the spell dousing her pursuer of a lamp before it poofed away.
She then gazed up at the remaining furniture which felt the most intimidated by her with a determined nod, "All right Lea, time to show I'm not all talk."
With a twirl of her blade, Kairi fired off several more Watera spheres that soaked deeply into the lounge ware; if sentient they'd cry with Destiny's Embrace then being raised.
"Thundara"
Several lightning bolts then rained down upon the already drenched furniture, each one poofing away in a flash of electricity.
The Princess simply leant against her blade with a giggle, "Hey Lea, did I leave you enough?"
From the opposite side of the room, the former 'Flurry of the Dancing Flames' took no note of Kairi's newfound sarcasm. Instead, Lea was trying his best to maintain his composure as he hacked cabinets with Twilight Blazer, whilst he scorned low lying furniture with streams of flame from his off hand.
"Heh, can't take the heat?"
The Pyro smirked as he was suddenly surrounded by tables and chairs; waiting casually as he raised his blade and flaming hand.
"Aerora!" Lea exclaimed maniacally as a surge of fire and wind bellowed through the cluster in an orange hue; Kairi having to shield herself with a sudden Reflera.
"Really?" She thought with a stoic expression.
As the flames died down, Lea looked around for any remains; the final wardrobe catching the corner of his eye.
"Hmm, this may be overboard but time to end this."
As the wardrobe fumbled its way toward him, Lea gathered all the fire he could muster into the tip of his blade; an oversized fireball that looked like a Mega Flare.
"BURN BABY!" yelled Lea as he swung the blade forward...only for it wasn't his Keyblade anymore, it'd reverted to a charkram with fizzled out flames.
"Are you kidding me?! This is so not, oof."
The pyro's tantrum was silenced as he'd been knocked and held down by the animate wardrobe.
"Ow heavy, my gut, get off," he groaned until the cabinet lifted itself into the air; Lea bewildered as an airborne Destiny's Embrace struck it down.
"Zero Gravity, of course she had to think of that…"
With the last of the training over and weapons dismissed, Lea sat himself disappointment to find a hand and innocent smile before him.
"Heh, looks like I win hot head," Chuckled Kairi.
Lea could only give a wry smile as he took the girl's hand.
"Next time princess, next time."
Back to Present-
"I'm sure you'll both become fine keyblade wielders, I mean it didn't take Sora too long to pick it up that's for sure," said Aerith with a heart-warming smile.
The thought of Sora was enough to bring a slight redness her cheeks,
"Haha, yeah. Sora's always been one to learn in his own unique way…"
"Oh god, I just made another compliment about him. Lea's bound to make fun of me again…huh Lea?"
Kairi looked perplexed as Lea remained frozen with a stern gaze toward the crowd; his fists clenched whilst shaking groceries.
"Lea are you okay?" Kairi asked nervously before she followed his gaze with wide eyes.
Hidden in the shade of plaza crowd, a figure hooded in black stared back at her; yellow eyes piercing as they raised a finger.
It felt as though time fell still, everything silent before a sharp pain struck Kairi in the chest.
"One Down"
"N-Nooo!" Kairi yelped as she fell to her knees in agony; clutching her chest as groceries fell flat.
"Wha-Kairi?!" Lea exclaimed both shocked and confused.
"Kairi?! What's wrong, are you okay?" Aerith spluttered as she held the shaking teen's shoulders in worry.
"The-they've started..." Kairi winced, looking up at the pair dullest of eyes. "I can feel it…Aurora…she's gone…Xehanort's taken her!"
Though Aerith remained concerned, Lea's face turned to that of anger as he looked back to crowd, the figure slinking back into an alleyway.
"How dare you…" Lea snarled as sprinted after the figure through the crowd, dropping the groceries much like the others.
"Lea wait!" protested Aerith before Kairi shakily got up herself, eyes shadowed as she chased after her companion.
"Kairi," uttered Aerith as she placed her hands together in prayer. "Please stay safe…"
Radiant Garden-Restoration Site
"Ugh, get of the way!" Lea shouted as he sliced his flaming Keyblade through the last Berserker nobody. He'd lost sight of the figure halfway through Borough, but they'd seemingly left a trail of Heartless and Nobodies for the angered pyro to follow. He'd taken a moment rest against the wall, staring at Twilight Blazer amidst short breaths and astonishment.
"Huh, so now you want to listen to me? Man, Princess makes it look so easy."
"Lea!"
"Well speak of the lovebird," Lea pondered as he turned to find Kairi had caught up with him; her face red like that of her hair.
"Did you find them?" She asked between breaths.
"No," Lea replied with a sigh. "I lost em in the borough. But whoever Xehanort sent to spy on us left a bread crumb trail…"
"I see…"
Kairi bit her lip as she placed a hand over her heart. The pain had passed during her sudden run through the city, but her mind weighed heavy over the trauma she felt.
"Hey are you sure you're okay?" asked Lea as he placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Yes, I'll be right," Kairi replied with a sniffle. "We Princesses of Heart are connected in a special way. Though I'm not physically hurt, I could feel the pain, Aurora's pain, as she was taken away."
She clenched her fist as she looked up at the Pyro; indigo eyes filled with determination. "Which is why I'll keep training. I'll keep training till I'm ready to travel the worlds and save everyone; just like Sora and Riku."
Lea could only grin at the girl's newfound energy. "All right then Princess, what do ya say we follow on this bread trail of theirs?"
Kairi nodded in agreement as the pair headed toward the Postern, only for Lea to comically fall on his face.
"Ow, what the hell did I trip on?" Lea groaned as he rubbed his nose.
"Uh, of all the things, I think it was this book," Kairi replied as she held a leather book in her hand. It was slightly weathered, brown in colour with vine like design around the edges.
"Seriously," grumbled Lea quick to his feet. "I bet its Merlin getting back at me, what's it called?"
With a blank cover, Kairi turned to the first page, "The Jungle Book?" She replied as the book gave off an odd glow; the pair vanishing as it hit the pavement…
To be continued
Soooo guys how'd I fair with this one? As i'ts been awhile since I've written anything, please feel free to PM and review me about any concerns or helpful tips you'd like to share. As for chapter 9 i cant be certain when it'll be started, but I can assure you i will never give up on this series. With all the KH3 trailers and such out recently, I've got many interpretations to try...so please enjoy my series and i look forward to what the next chapter brings...