Chapter Eight

Radiant Garden

A great citadel stood below the Gummi Ship as Sora and the others were landing in a docking bay. There were many different types of Gummi Ships and people moving about. Sora was thinking Cid would be around, but he couldn't find him with the crowds.

"Gawrsh, everything looks so peaceful here now!" Goofy commented. Everyone was staring out the window as well. Donald nodded in reply.

"I'm wondering how busy the Leon and the others are." Sora said. "Looks really crowded now. I know you guys will just hit it off with Leon and the others, Tidus."

"Cool, anyone there play blitzball?" he asked.

"Can you stop asking if Sora's friends play blitzball, Tidus?" Selphie answered.

"Sorry, I just want to see if blitzball is in other worlds." Everyone started laughing.

The Gummi Ship landed in an empty docking spot. The friends disembarked and started looking around. Sora noticed a mechanic working on a different ship. He walked over to the mechanic.

"Hi, do you know where I can find Cid?" he asked.

"He's on his break right now, sorry." The mechanic turned around and it turned out to be a girl about his age. She had blond hair and blue eyes. She wore a button up shirt that was white with small blue stripes.

Sora started to rub the back of his head with embarrassment and laughed. The others came up and met the mechanic. "Oh, sorry, I mean, it's just that I've never met a female mechanic before." Kairi giggled and the others joined in as well, which made Sora feel even more embarrassed.

"That's all right, not many people are used to seeing female gearheads." She gave them all a gentle smile. "My names Winry Rockbell, what are your names?"

"I'm Sora; Cid and I are friends."

"Name's Riku. I've never really met him before, but he seems nice." He introduced himself and the others followed up.

"My name is Kairi. I've only met Cid once and was really kind."

"I'm Mickey Mouse; I'm king of Disney Castle and friends with Cid and the other restoration committee.

"Donald Duck! I'm Cid's friend, too."

"The name's Goofy! Same here for me."

"I'm Tidus and these are my friends Wakka and Selphie." He pointed at them in the wrong order. Winry giggled as Tidus realized what he did. He began to blush.

"Well, well, look who we've got here! It's Sora, Kairi, Donald, Goofy, and the King!" a gruff voice spoke up. It was a man with short, spiky blond hair and blue eyes. He wore a blue sleeveless t-shirt and black jeans and had a cigarette burning in his mouth.

"Cid, great to see you again!" Sora cheered. "This is Riku, the friend I was looking for before, and these three are Tidus, Selphie, and Wakka, they're from the world I'm from."

"Well nice to meet you all!" They all nodded to show that they acknowledged him. "Kairi! Well aren't you looking like a dozen… roses. Ah, shit! I thought I forgot something at the store! I wanted to get Shera and nice bouquet of roses." He started to shout.

"I'd be willing to get them for you, sir." Winry announced.

"That's sweet of you, Winry, but we've got a bunch of work to do today."

"Hey Cid? Where are Leon and the others? We'd like to see them." Mickey asked.

"Oh those guys are talking to Master Ansem! The Restoration will soon be finished."

When Sora heard Cid say the name 'Ansem,' he knew it was Ansem the Wise, a former king of Radiant Garden. "What!?" Sora, Donald, Goofy, Riku, and Kairi exclaimed in unison. "Ansem the Wise is still alive?"

"Yeah, he came back just three months ago and we decided he should rule over Radiant Garden again." Mickey gave a silent sigh. Donald and Goofy looked at each other in surprise. Sora grinned and started heading to Ansem's study. The other stayed behind and said their farewells.

Sora hurried up through the halls to see his friends and meet an old ally who helped saved to worlds from darkness. He could finally show his appreciation to the man who helped defeat Organization XIII.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SHORT!!!" A boy's voice could be heard from around the corner. Sora slid two feet across the floor and felt people bump into his back and they all fell to the floor. They looked up and noticed a huge suit of armor standing with two people with blond hair. The older one had spiky hair, blue eyes and wore a dark blue shirt and black jeans. He also wore a long black sleeve on his left arm and was connected to a shoulder pad that had a wolf insignia. He had the same insignia as an earring in his left ear. The younger blond had golden eyes and his hair tied back in a braided ponytail. He wore a black outfit underneath a long red jacket that had a crucified snake with a crown above it and angel wings on the back of the snake. He also wore a pair of white gloves. He looked really angry with the young adult. "I AM NOT A SMALLFRY!!!"

"Well quit acting like one and start acting more like a World Alchemist." The young man clapped his gloved hands together and a blade ripped through the right glove. He charged at the adult.

"Ed, don't do it!" the suit of armor reached out to try to hold him back, but didn't reach in time.

"Did that suit of armor just speak?" Donald asked Wakka.

"Ya it did. Amazing, that looked like one of those suits of armor in old horror movies that would follow you and when you look back, it up against the wall again." Wakka said.

The adult took out a huge sword and blocked the arm blade and pushed him back with his sword. The suit of armor caught the short boy in his arms.

"Are you okay, Brother?"

"I'm fine, Al. Look, you might not know it, but Human Alchemy is too dangerous and forbidden. You want to end up like me or my younger brother?!" He became aggravated.

"Whatever, Shorty." The man looked at the kid with disgust.

"WHAT!? LET ME AT 'IM, AL, LET ME AT 'IM!!!" The young Alchemist's brother carried him off and held him back and left the castle.

"Hey, Cloud, um… What's up?" Sora asked. The man turned away and walked off. Sora, Donald, and Goofy looked on as their friend just ignored them. Kairi looked at Sora as he tilted his head down and looked down at the floor in sadness. She reached out and held his hand. He looked back at her and slightly smiled.

"Let's go see Ansem and the others." Riku suggested and they all head down the long corridor to Ansem's study.