I own nothing except the stuff I made up. This story was planned Concepted, outlined and written prior to the announcement of Kingdom Hearts IV as such it must be treated as an AU also of note everything dealing with Kairi in the Manga adaptation going forward is canon to this as is the Child of Destiny prophecy so yeah I might be cherry picking going forward.
The Red Bramble
Raian had gone ahead to warn Riku of what had happen. Kiro felt a sickening feeling in his stomach. A New Keyblade War had begun but it seemed beyond Anya's actions nothing further had happened. He dare not believe they still had time. That was how things got jinxed. He remembered the Empress' words and began to take a huge breath. He summoned New Beginnings and focused on what he remembered about the corrupted Grand Leon Sword.
"Kiro?" Amei asked he didn't hear her. He barely registered his own trembling and fear as he shakily raised his Keyblade. He opened a Portal.
"There!" he shouted feeling a familiar energy on the other side. Zidane nodded and flew in the ship traveled through and instantly they were at a new World Takeshi had been too first.
X X X
Electricity crackles as wind blows some grass away a Rose bush and Farm house are created by the electricity a burst of Red light shines revealing the words
[The Field]
Black Mud then swirls up and swallows it all
The group was far away from the Farm that Takeshi had described. It was nice to trade intel with the others so they knew what to expect. Zidane, Kiro and Amei were mice with the top halves of their outfits. In Kiro's case his head band held his ears down behind him. Nanaki had become a Rat with Red fur.
As they traveled for a bit they suddenly saw a small town in construction. Right now there were mostly Tents and other things. These must have been the Rats of N.I.M.H. As they made their way closer Kiro could hear hammers and power tools to his surprise. But maybe he shouldn't have given what Takeshi told him.
"Where'd Amei disappeared too?" Zidane asked he looked around noticing the now Black mouse girl was gone.
"Quakeza!" They heard her shout. They turned to see her helping to plow a Waterway.
"Amei!" Zidane shouted.
"Well it's not like they weren't messing with the environment anyway." Nanaki sighed.
"I forget how much power she has. And this is just now." Kiro muttered somewhat impressed.
"Didn't take you for a power man," Zidane joked as Kiro blushed.
"It's not like that!" Kiro whined covering his face that was turning red quickly.
"Hey guys?" Amei said making Kiro yelp and straighten up. "You okay Kiro?" She asked.
"I'm fine!" Kiro said hand to his heart as he took a cleansing breath. "What is it?" he asked.
"There's a group talking about the Grand Leon sword nearby." Amei said.
"Oh! Show us!" Kiro said. The girl nodded as they rushed over to where Kiro was seeing a tall young adult rat with brown fur a white shirt and blue vest with a sword. He was talking with a bunch of regal important looking rats and one older mouse with glasses. He had bandages around one of his legs like he only just got out of a cast. A white Goatee and eyebrows above his thick round glasses; He was wearing a teal and reddish brown Mechanic's tunic. He had a cane to help ease his injured foot.
"The Devastation is getting closer by the day! If we don't figure out something soon; we'll all be killed." The mouse said.
"I think it might be best to move," Said one of the leader Rats.
"With the waterway completed just now are you mad!?" snapped another with Amei making a regretful squeak at that moment behind Zidane.
"Excuse me!" Kiro spoke up. He gulped feeling all the eyes on him and took a breath. "What exactly are you talking about maybe we can help with it." Kiro said his voice squeaking a little.
"Boy do you have something called a Keyblade?" The mouse asked. Kiro nodded summoning new Beginnings and showing it off.
The leaders muttered amongst themselves. Kiro had heard, Max, Walter and Takeshi's names a couple of time. "What connection could you possibly have to the Red Bramble?" asked one of the Rats eying him suspiciously, as Kiro shrunk under his gaze.
"We're trying to stop it from causing trouble and fix it. It's not a plant. It's a sword that's been cursed with Darkness." Nanaki interjected.
"Like with Jenner maybe?" The Youngest Rat asked as the Mouse hummed.
"This is either some powerful science. Or Dark, Dark Magic," The mouse replied. "We'll lead you to the Red Bramble and hopefully remove this Sword."
"Got it!" Kiro said grinning.
X X X
Why, why had he been unable to attack and take the Princess? The Woman would've been absolutely no trouble. And yet he faltered. It was good he had gotten away from those blabber mouths. He had found himself in the now war torn land of Guardia. For some Reason he felt at home here. There was a Reason he couldn't remember but he found coming here and Meditating had helped jogged his memory more than working for Maleficent ever did. It made him wonder why he was helping her with her scheme sometimes. Especially when he remembered his intense power, but there was something he wanted. Something that made him desperate for his memories, the Precious thing he couldn't remember. That he had been searching for. But something about those two made him realize it was a person.
He could barely make out a face. But she had hair like his. And a voice that comforted him. He remembered holding his cape up to himself when he slept for some reason as infantile as it was. But perhaps these were memories from his childhood. He remembered there were the Princess of Guardia and her friends. Perhaps he could kill two birds with one stone.
X X X
The two had introduced themselves as Ages and Justin. As they got closer through the valley passing fields that had been converted for farmland, they were in a more wild part of the forest. But Kiro felt a sick aura in the air. He could feel the environment suffering. "Somethings not right." Kiro muttered holding his arm around himself and shivering. Amei wasn't looking nearly as peppy as she usually was. Nanaki looked apprehensive. They could feel it too. Kiro could tell.
"It's like somethings poisoned the forest." She muttered sadly.
"Because something has and that poison is starting to spread quickly." Nanaki added with a slight growl.
"So you've noticed we should see the devastation soon." Ages replied as they went forward. And sure enough Kiro could see trees wilting and large branches littering the ground as they began to duck weave and climb over it. Kiro definitely felt all his muscles burn away the extra sugar and calories he had built up during their trip in Land of Mystery.
Kiro suddenly felt the ground feel cold and lifeless like stone and gasped looking down. It was Monotone grey with white grass crumpling like paper that had been soaked and dried. And soon off into the distance where it is was so quiet a pin could be heard dropping was the Grand Leon Sword.
"Uh oh…." Kiro muttered in horror, realizing what was happening it was draining the life force away from the forest and getting closer to the settlement by the day. He went to go in closer but Justin grabbed his shoulder.
"We can't go any closer. If we do that sword will turn us mad." He warned.
"Just like back in Hyrule!"Kiro whispered to Nanaki
"I've been thinking about that for a while." Nanaki muttered back before speaking up to Justin and Ages. "Do you think we can see the victims?" he asked. The two had looked at each other with puzzled looks before looking back at the group. But they agreed and soon enough they came to a camp like medical bay of rats screaming into air tied to their cots to avoid hurting themselves and others. Their eyes glowing bright red just like back Hyrule, Nanaki however scanned them with magic for a second before nodding. "I was right the Hyper status."
"That's what it's been all this time?!" Kiro gasped.
"But that means we can cure them easy!" Amei stated.
"Exactly," Zidane said.
"You mind filling us in?" Justin asked.
"The state they're in is called Hyper. It increases attack incredibly. But the victim becomes immensely aggressive and confused. They'll lash out at anything they see." Kiro replied.
"I see…." Justin muttered a bit confused but following along well enough. And this new information seemed to scare him a little.
"Don't worry it is dangerous; but not an automatic death sentence. Amei you ready?" Kiro asked summoning new beginnings as she summoned her staff and nodded.
"Esuna!" They shouted together as a soft pale mint green light filled the room and instantly the screaming died down and was replaced with relief, relaxation and some slight confusion.
"Amazing!" Justin yelled in awe. He looked at Kiro. "I've seen that weapon before, a young mouse named Takeshi had it. Do you know him?"
"Takeshi?" Kiro asked. "He's a friend of mine." Justin made a sound of awe as Kiro suddenly noticed something nearby he gasped in joy and surprise. "Kion's Heart Binder!" Kiro shouted rushing over and picking up the small trinket. He sighed in relief.
"How'd that get here?" Zidane asked. "It was Corrum wasn't it."
"I just wanted to talk, I was home sick. But he saw me got mad and tossed it into a Keyblade Corridor. I should've known something was up back then." Kiro sighed holding the Wayfinder tight.
"Well lessoned learn. We can leave him in the past; we don't have time to dwell on it." Zidane assured Kiro nodded sadly.
"Speaking of which you all saw it didn't you?" Mr. Ages asked.
"Saw what exactly?" Amei asked.
"The Grand Leon Sword its draining life from Thorn Valley, at a scary pace!" Kiro said grimly.
"Then if we don't stop it…" Zidane began, "It'll destroy the valley and maybe this world as well."
Kiro nodded as he sighed. He suddenly saw a simple gold pendant with a Red ruby in the middle. "Oh!"
"Oh you noticed," Justin replied looking at it nostalgically. Kiro could tell he had grown up in the rose bush and lost someone dear from what Takeshi told him. "This was a mystical amulet that once belonged to the wife of a friend of ours."
"Jonathan Brisby," Kiro replied. Justin nodded. "His wife braved many dangers to save her family and in the end the stone responded to that. Nicodemus our former leader said that it reacts to true courage. And she had that protecting her children. And us for merely helping her…." He added.
"Too bad she couldn't come with you." Amei muttered sadly. Jonathan gave a sad smile.
"They'll visit," he said cheering up.
"We don't have time to reminisce!" Ages growled impatiently we'll have to evacuate!
X X X
Magus cursed himself in his mind. How was he bested by mere singing!? It wasn't even magical! He sighed and analyzed everything from that night. As he did he found himself focusing on the conversation the two women shared; it was full of love and light: a bond that was incredibly strong. He realized right then that what had happened was he was reminded of having such a bond. It wasn't fear that made him fled rather shame, maybe.
There was a girl. That he loved more than anything a loss that drove him in the past. Drove him to some kind of revenge against something a 'Lavos' of sorts, it was also that bond that helped him endure his mother's cruelty. But he couldn't remember. What was it?! The name was escaping him like a carrot on a stick. He remembered something though.
"The Prince and Princess of Guardia they knew me, they called me by name." He turned paying no mind to the frantic state of Maleficent's castle and disappeared into a Dark Corridor of his own creation unaware that had been seen.
X X X
"Evacuate, but the construction of the city!" Justin began but Ages cut him off.
"It can't be helped, I know this is hard Justin, but sometimes failure is the only option." He said sympathetically. Justin nodded, he looked disappointed but he knew Ages was right. There was only one way. Get the Grand Leon Sword out of here, but how. Just touching it induced a state of Hyper.
Kiro snuck off wandering back closer to the sword. He was a bit further away than he was the last time he was here; he dialed the number to call Noctis and the others. But as he did, the sword shone a sinister red, the wave of death shot towards him. With a terrified shriek he ran in the other direction. He ran and ran trying to think of what to do as he instinctively was running back to the camp. He tripped and gasped. But a heavenly light had shone on the sword. The death spell had stopped inches from Kiro's trembling body. As he stared in shock panting he looked at where the deadly magic just was. He could barely hear Noctis yelling at him to answer getting worried. Shaking he lifted the phone to his ear.
"I'm Alive…." He muttered shakily.
"What happened over there!?" Pronto called from over the line.
Kiro took a deep breath, "the Grand Leon Sword. It's here in a world called the field farther away from where Takeshi was. But it's draining life from the forest here. As well as inflicting what we know now as Hyper. The former was almost me just now." Kiro sighed steadying himself.
"So now what?" Gladio asked.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out." Kiro admitted. He sighed then he glanced at his Keyblade for a minute.
"Too bad we can't just teleport it here eh?" Freja asked.
"That's it!" Kiro shouted excitedly. What we need is a plan to pull the sword from the ground. Once that's done I can use my Keyblade to open a portal but there's one thing I need to do before we can pull that off. Did Cindy make a containment chamber for the sword.
"Of Course I did what you take me for?!" Cindy asked.
"Perfect! I need you to send me pictures of the inside. So I can get it as right as possible!" Kiro said.
"Uhh Sure….." Cindy replied slightly confused but Kiro was starting to get them on his Gummi-Phone one by one. With a Silent fist bump to himself he rushed back to camp with some good news.
X X X
Magus instantly teleported to Guardia, the once peaceful land was covered in scorch marks and littered with many corpses. In the main city, most of the buildings in the main city were in ruins over run with monsters. There wasn't a single living civilian in sight. "Curious where is-"
"Janus that was you; Plowing your way through my minions." said a voice Magus turned immediately to the source of the voice.
"I remember you Dalton….You always did have delusions of grandeur."
"HA!" Dalton scoffed. "It's not a delusion if you succeed! So are you here to rescue your little friends if not-GAH!" Magus immediately answered with a blast of Firaza to his chest. Dalton snarled an unleashed a barrage of spells that Magus blocked with ease. He dodged out of the way from a blow to the sword and summoned his own scythe.
He slashed away Dalton's weapon before covering it in a veil of shadows, "Darkness Sickle!" He shouted unleashing the powerful attack Dalton dodged barely Magus smirked as he saw his attack graze his opponent. "Dark Mist!" He shouted allowing him to escape the man he had more important things to attend to than the buffoon. If what he said was true then he really did know the Prince and Princess they were his next Priority.
X X X
Janus had ran, he was more focused on his own goal then fighting him it seemed. "Bah," Dalton muttered. He glanced at the attack and where the ground had been struck. Janus had gotten extra help on his Dark Element. From where he didn't know or care. But he knew that if he had been just a bit slower that would've defeated him instantly. It was only thanks to the Chaos Emeralds he had the speed to dodge. They had enhanced his abilities. He had wanted to toy with Janus but clearly if were to be careless, He'd lose. He turned to the castle teleporting back to his well-earned throne. Sitting and placing a hand on his side where Magus had cut into his flesh.
As he watched the soft green light seal up the cut, the annoying brat had cut into his best armor. As he straightened himself he gasped finally his device had found the Grand Leon Sword. The Sword of Power that could slay Janus and Lavos once he had that he'd be all powerful. He looked into the device seeing the sword in the ground draining the life away from a small village of Rats and other Rodents. "Oh ho so that's where you went." He smirked. He also noticed rodents resembling the brats who had tried to stop him from before. He realized it was them and smirked as the little group talked possibly to steal his blade.
"To catch mice you use a cat." He said snapping his fingers as a white boot stepped into the room.
X X X
"Is that really what we need to do?" Justin asked as Kiro nervously stood before the council Mr. Ages and Justin included.
"Ye….Ye….yeah…." Kiro stuttered a little bit before taking a breath. He focused solely on what he had to say. "What we need is to the pull the sword out. If only for five minutes, then I can use my Keyblade to open a portal and send it away." Kiro replied.
Justin nodded, "That could work. I have no objections to this plan."
"But we can't touch the sword!" One of the council members pointed out.
"Maybe a pulley can," Zidane suggested. "We don't know the effects of inanimate objects on the sword."
"That is true we would need a way to test it though." Nanaki replied.
"If I may," said a Grey rat with a purple tunic a bit round bodied. "I think I might know the answer, "Kiro remembered him as one of the victims of The Sword's Hyper status. "When I touched it with my sword nothing happened. It wasn't until I touched it myself was I effected by its evil magic."
"Well that answers that. We need a pulley system or a crane." Ages said. Kiro was in awe but skeptical. Can these rats really in spite of their size. No! Takeshi told them of the city if they could do that a crane to pull up the Sword should be no problem.
"We need to find parts for the crane." Said one of the council members, "We must start looking for anything we can use immediately."
"We need something for the teeth to grab the sword." Kiro pointed out. "Anything else we can use as well!"
"Right we need to start looking right away." Justin agreed.
The Group immediately got to work spreading out and searching outside the forest Kiro got to higher ground. Hopefully there weren't any Hawks about. He looked over to see some scrap an abandoned car in the distance hopefully there were things there they could use. He sensed Justin behind him having the same idea as Kiro darted through the grass on all fours.
X X X
As Magus made his way through the burned fields he noticed the landscape littered with dead bodies. Something about this seemed very familiar. Was he in a War here? But at a much younger time for the Kingdom. A Frog with a sword kept drifting into his mind. He focused as hard as he could on trying to remember faces as much as he could especially the girl's.
He scoffed at several Monsters that suddenly surrounded him. He blasted them away with Thundeza. They yelped in pain one surviving one was immediately slashed in half by his scythe. Magus stared down unimpressed. Just mindless low level mooks were used to patrol this area. Dalton always did have an easily inflatable Ego. However….
"Magus?!" said a voice Magus turned around to find the Engaged Prince of Guardia staring at him in shock.
"You!" Magus shouted. "I've been looking for you and the Princess!"
"You have!? Do you remember?" Chrono asked.
"No," Magus replied. He summoned his scythe. "You have answers to questions I have and you're going to give them to me!" he said rushing forward with a yelp Chrono dodged out of the way. He quickly pulled out his Rainbow Blade. He blocked the attack and jumped away before unleashing a falcon slash.
The two unleashed a Thundeza that clashed through the bright glowing of the bolts of energy Chrono saw Magus' eyes shift like he had been reminded of something. Chrono remembered they had clashed like this before. Maybe if he talked he could jog Magus' memory just enough to make him stop attacking.
"Magus that happened back in your castle six hundred years ago remember!?" Magus asked clashing against the scythe and ducking and weaving out of the slashes aiming for his neck and stomach.
Magus glared at him. "You make a fool of me! Neither of us would've possibly lived as long and be as spry as we are!"
"That's because you got thrown in time from your original era! You were from the Kingdom of Zeal! But your mother caused a disaster to hit and caused you to be separated from your sister." Chrono explained quickly. Magus froze for a sec.
"Sister…yes….she is my sister, the precious one is my sister!" he said in realization. He stared at Chrono for a second lowering his scythe. "Are you really willing to just pass me this information."
"All we did before this mess happened was defend, ourselves that's all!" Chrono.
"You say that like we're friends." Magus muttered skeptically.
"More like Allies, I'd be lying if I said we weren't enemies before." Chrono replied.
"Enemies….on of yours was mine…." Magus muttered he then remembered interfering with a Knight and his squire who wielded the Grand Leon sword. A familiar voice had scoffed at the broken sword. The Sword he himself had broken.
"Hadn't you better worry about yourself Cyrus. I do not think you've the time to be concerned with the Well Being of others." The armored man rushed forward with a Yell he opened his hand.
"Schattenblitz!" He shouted striking the man right through the heart with the Darkness encased lightning he was sent flying back and sparking as he hit the ground hard tiny sparks flew off his body as his squire screamed in horror and rushed to his side.
"Cyrus!" the boy shouted.
"Glenn run…run, take care of Queen Lenne I beg…." Magus snapped his fingers and intense flame hit Cyrus body once it had stopped Cyrus' body disappeared into glimmers of light.
"CYRUSSSSSSSSS!" the boy screamed. He jumped up almost ready to attack but froze.
"What's wrong boy not going to try your luck?" Magus asked. The boy growled but Magus could see him trembling.
"HAHAH!" Laughed the voice he remembered was a former general. "Scared little frog with no Pond to jump into how about it Lord Magus can you give him a more fitting form?"
"Very well no act of defiance goes unpunished."
"NO!" the boy screamed as an intense beam of magic hit him sending him flying off the falls.
Back in the real world Magus shook off the Memories and unleashed the spell he just remembered however….
"Luminescence!" Chrono shouted his light imbued Thundeza danced wildly against his own Shadowed imbued one there were bursts of something in between the two but Magus couldn't tell what. Once the spells had fizzled out smoke had filled the area he saw this as his chance to sneak around and get him from behind he wouldn't kill the boy just beat him enough to make him, chattier.
But Chrono was proving to be very hard to take out. He unleashed another Flacon Slash that Magus used Reflera against. It was enough to land several hits on him. Magus then followed up once again with a Schattenblitz spell however.
"CHRONO!" shouted a female voice a bullet of some kind whizzed past him and hit Chrono enveloping him in a powerful Refleza which Magus had to dodge the blast of. The minute he landed however he had his legs frozen by beams of ice.
"What!?" Magus growled as the two females from before showed up the purple haired one had two blasters in her hands while the other who he recognized as Princess Guardia immediately cast Curaza on Chrono.
"Magus stop you idiot! You really want answers all you had to do is ask!" The Princess snapped.
"She's right; everything you've done and are doing is for your sister! If you just stop being trigger happy we can help you!" Chrono shouted. Magus blinked as he groaned holding his head. In pain causing him to stop his scythe he barely heard them all shout his name as Memories began to flow into his head. But suddenly the last and final thing he saw was a piercing Red light.
X X X
Magus had seemed to have gone limp for a second before grabbing his Scythe again and attacking all of them. Chrono quickly pushed the girls out of the way before clashing his sword again. "Magus!? Magus stop!"
"He won't," said a voice they turned to see an old man with his face covered in bandages his arm was in a large black sleeve attached to a black jacket. Under that jacket was a white robe of sorts in a style Chrono had never seen before. Beside him were the two that had tried to kill Lucca before.
"You two!" Chrono growled.
"You've come back for Lucca! We won't let you hurt her!" Marle added.
"We're not here for her mon Cheri." Harle replied to their surprise. Lynx suddenly rushed down and grabbed Marle around the face and grabbing the rest of her as she muffled and struggled jumped back before Chrono could do anything.
"MARLE!" Chrono shouted rushing after them only for strange enemies to appear out of nowhere and threw a flurry of metal stars. He quickly swiped several away but several more cut into his skin. "Lucca!" he shouted turning to Lucca the girl was on her knees she had dropped her gun and was frozen in fear and hyperventilating. Chrono growled glaring at the two who had Marle tightly against Lynx's chest. He had her arms pinned behind her and a hand over her mouth she was thrashing wildly. The Man glanced at her and she passed out.
"That's better." Lynx said.
"Marle!" Chrono said as Magus rushed at him again Chrono had to dodge then use Luminesce to blast several back. Once he finished though the enemies he saw the group, begin to disappear into a Dark Corridor.
"Vrrnnnmmmm!" Marle called her eyes filled with fear.
"NO!" Chrono shouted slicing through several of their thugs and Heartless using fatal blows as he rushed towards the portal and jumped inside.
"CHRONO!" Lucca said finally snapping out of her trance. She gasped horrified. "I'm sorry…" she said falling to her knees blubbering apologies.
"There's nothing to apologize for. You have PTSD." Said a voice she gasped and turned. She saw a man with a scar and white hair. Was this Master Riku; One of the three legendary heroes?
"I should apologize if I had gotten here sooner this wouldn't have happened." He said holding out a hand for her. She took it and he helped her stand. Right now she had to help Chrono and Marle.
X X X
Kiro jumped onto it, it was a Pair of car clamps and each one could hold a part of the handle. The Hardest part would be getting them on. "These are perfect!" Justin said.
"My thoughts exactly we just need to get them on the sides of the top of the sword then pull!" Kiro said. "We just need to move it." Kiro said as suddenly the clamps rose. With a yelp they jumped down and looked around. Kiro instantly recognized gravity magic. He looked around and saw Amei using Graviga.
"Good idea," Justin muttered in awe. Kiro pitched in with his own magic as did Nanaki. They made their way forward carefully. "Anything we have to watch out for?"
"Nothing that's out during the day," Justin replied. "But there might be wild cats around."
"Oh dear," Kiro muttered. Usually he liked cats but right now in his current form…Kiro also noticed the big open skies. Many Hawks and other birds of prey that, were just as active during the day. The Forest looked so far away. He gulped he had to focus. He tried to not look at the sky. He heard a screech and almost screamed Justin covered his mouth as they dropped the clamps and hid. They looked up it was a Red Tailed hawk. They stared watching as it flew by. There were several Heartless around. But the Hawk had rushed down and dive bombed them. They died with the Hawk looking very unsatisfied.
But it seemed to sense something it hopped close to the ground. Kiro quietly gasped as they all hid. No way, did it didn't notice the Car Clamps but would it care?" It pecked at the ground as if searching for something. After what seemed like an eternity the Hawk took off. Kiro sighed in relief. Once they were sure the bird was gone. They immediately picked up the Clamps again and rushed towards the forest as quickly as they could.
Soon Kiro felt branches and large grass surround him. It made his little mouse form feel safer. As they got closer to the camp other rats rushed around them as he Amei and Nanaki dismissed the magic.
"It's a good thing you readied our water source young lady." Ages told Amei as he motioned for them to follow. Kiro saw that the Rats had quickly put together a pulley system. "This one is powered by water wheel the combined might of us all and that wheel should lift that sword. Get ready boy."
"You got it!" Kiro replied rushing ahead as Justin and Zidane took the Clamps to trees above on Ages instruction.
Kiro looked at the sword ahead of him soon after. They had attached the clamps to a chain and managed to attach the clamps to it with a lock. They had opened the clamps with elastic that Justin and Zidane would cut once they were in a good position to grab the hand guard.
Kiro readied himself summoning his Keyblade as he concentrated on the inside of the containment chamber he head the distant snap of elastic and a strange noise from the sword's magic reacting to it. He glanced up worried the sword would touch them after all. But Justin and Zidane were fine. He took a deep breath and went back to focusing.
"Poor Little Kiro can't get a simple task right." Jeered Kaen's voice in his head, he was getting nervous should he mess up they'd lose the sword again and they'd have to start all over again. And the Sword could do worse!"
"Why can't you do anything right!? How are you worse than your own father the antithesis to life?" Corrum snapped in his mind. He growled as they kept mocking and snapping at him in his head. He glared at his thoughts inwardly narrowing his eyes in focus.
"I'm not worthless! I am not stupid! Neither is my father! They're wrong I know they're wrong!" Kiro said to himself as he saw the sword rise slowly from the ground he was about to open the portal when suddenly fire surged out many screamed as they panicked and fled the pulley not only snapping from the force of the pull but the strange fire that danced around trapping the mice in a ring of fire. Kiro gasped he could see Amei and Nanaki trying to put it out as other rats began digging up sand to smother it including Justin but Kiro's mind was on the attacker.
When she revealed herself it was a lavender furred cat with a Red gem in her forehead with a pony tail at the top of her head with darker fur. She had large yellow clouded eyes. A purple large tunic with the bottoms lined with red and white pants. Matching white fluffy gloves and that same fluff rimmed her red and white boots.
She kneeled down and picked up the sword before long though she screamed in pain. The Fire she controlled now surging around her engulfing the area. Kiro gasped trying to put out the fire but it was too much with his small size. But he had to save the Rats, save his friends.
Kiro climbed as he could. "Waterga!" He shouted using the spell to put out as much of the fire as possible. "You all need to get out of here! I'll hold her off!" Kiro shouted.
"Kiro that's suicide!" Justin shouted.
"She needs to be stopped she's out of control!" Kiro replied as he stared at the cat girl slashing and screaming as fire flew off her. "If I don't stop her, the whole forest and valley will burn and maybe this world with it!" Kiro said determinedly. Suddenly a bright red light surrounded him. Somehow Justin's Pendant had flown off his neck and around Kiro's. Then a Bright scarlet light erupted from it and Kiro felt his body shift and change. He let out a yelp as suddenly he found himself human again.
Kiro thinking quickly changed his Keyblade into Legacy of light and unleashed a large flurry of water arrows putting out the fire and keeping the girl doused. He then covering himself in shellega rushed forward and pushed out into a nearby clearing where the junkyard was. "There that should keep you from burning them to a crisp!" he growled changing his Keyblade into Toony Justice and changed the hammer immediately slammed into the ground. The cat jumped up and expertly parkoured over the rocks that followed but Kiro saw he did scathe her slightly.
She jumped down with fists made of fire. Kiro dodged out of the way switching the weapon to the gun mode and shooting at her. Kiro wasn't fond of guns but they had more power than a bow. But he felt like he could aim better. Regardless she had knocked them out his hands and sent him flying back into the car. Kiro dodged another blow resummoning his Keyblade.
A Powerful Triple Firaga came at him. Kiro used Hydro mill to shield from the attack before landing a combo on her. She blocked it halfway through however and kicked him in the side of the face making him hit the ground.
Kiro quickly healed his face and rolled out of the way of a high jump kick. The cat groaned as she hurt her knee in response. Kiro felt bad but he couldn't heal her now he saw his chance. "Aqua Splash!" He shouted unleashing a torrent of water that knocked her far back. In a manic roar she charged again.
Kiro dodged out of the way. In her state of Hyper she was basically rampaging which gave him the advantage but if he didn't end this soon she could literally die of anger. Kiro jumped up high when she came at him like a massive fire ball. She crashed as he dodged. She was getting worn out. He needed to put her to sleep but to do that he needed to keep her from going on fire first.
But she was going back on fire faster than he could put her out. He had to think he summoned the hammer of Tooney Justice again and slammed it as hard as he could. He caught her on a rock. He had raised it as high as he could as he chased after her he suddenly noticed she looked scared. Like something was breaking through the Hyper Status.
"Esuna!" Kiro shouted instantly he had healed the hyper status. The Cat instinctively and expertly dodged another blow from him and worked her way down the mountains. Her mind had returned to her but it was too late. Kiro had figured out her weakness. He focused he knew the spell he had to get it to come back to him. "Zero Gravity!" Kiro shouted unleashing the attack sending her high into the air. She screamed in fear thrashing wildly her eyes widening. Kiro quickly jumped up where the large rock was and whacked her in the back of the head. Instantly she passed out. Kiro grabbed her on his back and jumped down expertly. Laying her down he used Water arrow again to put out the remaining fire. He then tapped into his phone. "BB-8 I've got someone here for you to beam up." there was a bunch of beeps on the other side of the line. Instantly a greenish yellow light came down surrounding her as she was teleported to the Tantalus.
Kiro turned at the sword and walked to it. Carefully avoiding the camp the Rats of NIMH set up he made his way to the sword glaring at it. "You've caused enough trouble here already!" he growled lifting his Keyblade and casting Zero Gravity again. The sword rose up a few feet into the air. He then opened a corridor with that he cut the spell and the sword stopped. He got a text from Noctis two minutes later. They had the sword confirmed.
Kiro took a deep cleansing breath and felt, himself, drop to his knees. When he opened his eyes again he was a mouse again. Zidane and the others had run over to him. He looked up. "I'm alright it's just exhausted from the whole day. And we finally got it!" he said grinning showing the text to them.
The group cheered happily but it was cut short when they remembered that the whole fight had witnesses. They turned nervously to the Rats of NIHM. Several of them looked at them like they were freaks others where in awe. Kiro nervously grinned.
X X X
After what was a forced and lengthy explanation several of the rats seemed to have finally calmed down. There were a couple that looked kind of disgusted with them for the deceit. Kiro couldn't blame them for that. Justin and Ages along with Sullivan ended up being the most curious though.
"I knew humans could do a lot but nothing like this." Sullivan said in awe.
"It's not exactly common among us either. We're special like you." Kiro explained.
"I see," Justin replied he looked at the pendant. "You had courage in your heart just like Mrs. Brisby."
"I couldn't just let you lose your home. Not after everything you've been through." Kiro replied. "Speaking of which is the camp ok?"
"It's intact. And other than some smoke inhalation and some minor burns we didn't receive any major damage. The forest however is another story." Ages said sadly as Kiro looked around. There were nothing but withered trunks and grey soot now covered the ground. Kiro hung his head.
"I wish I could've stopped her sooner." Kiro muttered.
"You did what you could." Justin comforted him. "And Nicodemus once said; that things will die but from the ashes something new and better could rise. Remember that and you'll always have hope."
"Hope," Kiro muttered smiling. "That's pretty wise Justin." Kiro said smiling. He noticed Ages looked a bit thoughtful like he liked what the young Rat said as well. Kiro smiled but they had to get going. That Cat was going to need someone to explain everything to her when she woke up. "Kiro you saved us all for that we're grateful!" Justin said as Kiro looked around at the smiling rats and smiled back waving a little. After saying their goodbyes the group left, unaware that several small sprouts had sprung up from under the ash.
X X X
They had decided to return to Haven Valley to rest for a bit, unsurprising when they got there. (After having to restrain their guest.) They found she had spell on her to control her mind and suppress her will. Lunafreya got to work right away. Kiro was busy cuddling the small cream and light brown colored kitten as they were socialized now mostly the little brown one still was spicy. He held her in his arms as they were watching Lunafreya work on the Purple cat girl.
"How is she?" Zidane asked as Amei him and Nanaki watched.
"There's a lot of magic here for control and subservience. It'll take some time but I can remove it." Lunafreya replied.
"That's good." Kiro sighed in relief, letting the kitten down.
"So any idea what we're gonna do about this?" Barret asked gesturing to the thorny red sword in the reinforced steal and magic case. "We finally got it but how do we fix it. Garnet and Luna pretty much confirmed it's corrupted."
"That's a Good question." Zidane sighed unaware he was being watched from nearby, a small brown elf like creature with a white robe and gold collar and blue eyes.
"If I may," Garnet suggested. "There's a man in a world Lunafreya and I have been too in the past. His name is Preston B. Whitmore. He's a Millionaire Industrialist and Philanthropist. He also has many books on strange Zoology and other legends; maybe you'll find something there."
"Good idea babe!" Zidane said winking. She gave him a half lidded glance disapproving. "Ahh right," He muttered sheepishly clearing his throat.
"You heard of him too?" Kiro asked.
"Yeah, he's eccentric but he knows a lot. It's not a bad place to start." Zidane replied.
"Then let's go!" Kiro said they heard an egg crack they turned to see the man who was bandaged before sitting there with some Whiskey a glass a raw egg and tobacco. Kiro's nose crinkled in disgust and shock as his eyes widened. "Dude go back to bed you're not well!"
Special attacks and Spells
Quakeza: The Most powerful Quake spell unleashes powerful Earthquakes that wildly rock and damage foes
Zero Gravity: A spell that lift foes into the air and causes them to flail helplessly allowing for an opening
SchattenBlitz: A Thundeza spell infused with Darkness it actually sucks light into itself and converts it to power it can paralyze, confuse and silence enemies.
Luminescence: A Thundeza spell infused with Light it unleashes a powerful blinding flash and strikes enemies and paralyzes them. It is Chrono's Ultimate Spell
Triple Firaga: A spell used by ? unleashes a barrage of large Fire balls to strike the opponent.
Justin: The Newest leader of the Rats after Nicodemus' Murder. He's a friendly fellow and has great potential even remembering some of his master's former sayings. He was instrumental in helping us figure out how to deal with sword. (The Secret of N.I.M.H 1982)
Mr. Ages: A Bit of a grump but very intelligent and not apathetic. He is working and leading the Rats alongside Justin until he grows into his role. (The Secret of N.I.M.H 1982)
Sullivan: According to Takeshi he helped Jenner with a coup de tat. But came to regret it and helped to stop Jenner soon after. While he was too much of a coward "His words not mine" to stand up to Jenner he vowed to be braver when facing the unknown road he and his companions faced. (The Secret of N.I.M.H 1982)
Mrs. Brisby:The small mouse and widow of Justin and Ages' late friend Johnathan she showed great courage when helping the Rats of NIMH and her own children. She sounds a lot like my mom. I hope I can be as brave as her (The Secret of N.I.M.H 1982)
Spike: A Man Prompto and Noctis found alongside the kittens during a flash flood. He was out injuries for several weeks. Next time he woke up He immediately wanted to mix a raw egg with Whiskey and Tobacco….Yuck. He claims this 'Prairie Oyster can cure hang overs….I don't buy it! (Cowboy Bebop 1998)
?: One of the Brainwashed Warriors that Dalton captured for his takeover of Guardia. He sent her over here to attack Thorn Valley and retrieve The Grand Leon Sword. However she fell under the influence of Hyper and went out of control fortunately I was able to stop her before things got beyond saving. She is a lavender cat girl with a strange jewel in her head and looks like Royalty. ?
I'm admittedly a bit worried about the pacing of this chapter and hope it's not too bad ^^; you may have noticed that Kiro switches to Water Spells against Blaze. Despite ice being established to work against Fire. Which it kind of was back in KH2 when there were no water spells, KH didn't have a definitive Type Chart for the elemental spells. So I just ripped off the one from FFX as it had one while adding my own stuff. But after I posted that chapter, Missing Link came out with one. Chapter 21 has been updated to reflect that
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