"Alright, I should've let you in on this from the beginning." Sirian bean explaining things once the four of them reached his house again. A fire growled low in the fireplace, throwing dramatic light and shadows over their faces.
"I really am sorry," he continued, "and you three have been trusting far disproportionate to my honesty and openness." Riku broke in before Sirian could continue.
"You don't have to tell us, Sirian. Like Kairi said, it doesn't matter what it was. I'm sure you had a good reason not to say anything."
"Yeah," Sora piped up, "you can have your secrets if you need to. We can respect your privacy. I'm sure Auron had a good reason to not have you tell us, too."
"Well, there was only one part that Auron needed to keep secret." Sora noticed the strain on Sirian's mind showing visibly on his face. "You see…"Sirian struggled to find a way to say it. "You see, the islands are not safe."
"Not safe?" Kairi looked confused.
"How so?" Sora asked, remembering when the islands had faded into darkness.
"There is a new enemy on the horizon, dangerous, menacing, and stronger than Heracles."
"What?!" Sora stood up quickly. Kairi and Riku looked confused.
"Stronger than who?"
"Do you mean Hercules? Who could be stronger than Hercules?!"
"Apparently," Sirian started somberly, "Auron has been staying on a far away world and battling I its coliseum, where tournaments for powerful warriors are held. During one of the tournaments, the final contest was between Auron and the local hero, Heracles. Both are accomplished fighters, noble and well-liked by the spectators. During the battle, a strange warrior from another world showed up and interrupted the fight. He challenged Heracles, since he had heard tales of his superhuman strength, and completely overwhelmed him. Auron used a trinket gained from the powers-that-be on that world so that he could travel here and contact me. He wanted me to help him dispatch this enemy in case he posed a threat to the Destiny Islands."
There was a long silence, broken only when Sora asked quietly,
"So…how do you know Auron?" Sirian shook his head.
"I'm afraid that that is one thing Auron forbade me to tell you. I'm sorry." Sora saw the look in Sirian's eyes and decided not to press the matter.
"It's okay," he said, "how do we prepare for this new enemy?" Sora saw a shared smile creep to Sirian and Riku's lips. Riku stood up and answered for the two of them.
"We train. This is a brand new battle, and if we start our training now, we'll definitely be ready!"
"Couldn't've said it better myself." Sora watched as Sirian lightened up for the first time since he had shoved them out of the house before running off to the island.
A few minutes later, Sora and Riku were preparing to leave and return to their homes. Sirian and Kairi were talking in the kitchen.
"Hey Sirian, we're gonna take off…" Sora stopped short at the door as he caught part of the conversation inside. The two speakers had not heard him.
"Sirian," Kairi was saying seriously, "what's wrong? Something's bothering you."
"It's about the warrior that invaded the coliseum." Sirian's voice was hesitant.
"What is it?" Kairi's voice was soft and sweet.
"He didn't just beat Heracles. He led a platoon of inhuman troops and took over the whole world until he could locate his target."
"What is he looking for?" Sora's body went rigid as he heard Sirian's response.
"He was looking," Sirian was quiet and intense, "for a young man, who he was ordered to find and annihilate. A young warrior of the light with spiky brown hair, who wields a Keyblade."