AN: To all my readers, sorry for the delay but many things have happened since my last update of my stories, last November I believe. I lost a computer, I got two jobs which I'm still working both (which kills me on the free time front), and getting moved into my new place. Here and now I have gotten the first of the new set of Realm Hearts chapters up and ready for you all. Fans of my Rave Master Naruto fic will be happy to hear the next chapter will be out within the next week or two, once time permits me a chance to lay in the finishing touches, like spell checking and what not.
As for my Naruto Invoke series, that has been semi canned for the purpose of rewriting bits and pieces of it as I have come to realize that I have lost track of what I was intending to write, thus I will nix the parts that went outside my intentions and retain the parts I like that are in my intentions with new materials filling in the in betweens. I'll go into more detail on this with the revised first chapter when I release it here sometime this summer. And now, the Seeker's of Darkness arc...
The quiet that hung over the small area known as Distract Zero of Traverse Town, which is where travelers usually found themselves arriving at; generally via a Gummi Ship or some other such transportation device, was broken as the hum of engines filled the air followed by the red and yellow shell of Gummi 1 coming in for a landing, albeit a rather rough landing if anyone had been there to see it as it happened.
Once the ship was settled and motionless, the dome shaped glass that covered the cockpit opened followed quickly by a white and blue colored blur shooting out onto the stoney ground followed by kissing sounds as the figured smacked his beak against the stone rapidly and repeatedly.
"Oh, the sweet beautiful solid earth" cried Donald as Goofy came stumbling out, wobbling back and forth from the spinning they had been doing just moments before. "I've missed you so much" adds Donald merrily.
"Gawsh, I thought we'd never make it here alive" said Goofy, finally falling onto the ground with his eyes spinning around at ninety nothing miles an hour.
Jiminy then appeared, walking up the edge of the ship and looking down at Donald. "No offense Donald, but I thoughts ducks were master's of navigation. But after the adventure we just had and the close calls we experienced..."
Donald turns his gaze towards Jiminy, which makes the Cricket stop from further comment, then he says "So I pushed a wrong button or two. Not my fault they design these things to be so hard to pilot."
Jiminy didn't buy that. True, he wasn't familiar at all with Gummi Ships; he wasn't even from a world which had such devices, yet the controls had been easy enough for him to follow. But he decides to refrain from further comments about it.
"Anyways, we should begin looking around seeing as we're late enough at is it" says Jiminy finally,
Donald nods in agreement as he gets up. Goofy was back on his feet a few moments later, though he was still wobbly. Once he had steadied himself, Jiminy jumped onto his shoulders and they began heading towards the entry door. But they stop just a few steps in as they hear Pluto barking at them about something.
"Say, what's the problem there, Pluto?" asked Goofy, turning his head to see Mickey's loyal canine who had jumped aboard with them at the last seconds before take off.
Pluto had seen it before they had, mixed in with several other ships the were neatly lines up along the sides to avoid creating a cluster (Gummi 1 being right smack in the middle of the small area, thus making it in the way because of that detail), a Gummi Ship that was green and purple in color with the number 3 printed on the side that they could see.
"The missing Gummi 3" shouts Donald. He recalled Gummi 2 had been taken by Uncle Scrooge and 4 had been suffering from technical issues and 5 was still being built. They were using 1 now so that left No.3, which had been stolen by some unknown trouble makers, which meant whoever had done it was now here...or at least had been here and had left the ship behind.
Donald runs over to No.3 and examines it, finding no clue inside as to who had stolen it. "Should we send it back to the castle?" asked Goofy, walking up to join Donald and Pluto.
Donald thinks for a moment, then shakes his head. "We'll wait till we have a look around first, see if we can find the ones who stole her to begin with. Anyways, lets get going." But, as a safety precaution, Donald hops inside and activates the security lock out with Daisy's name as the password, just in case the thief or thieves came back to try and take it. He also does this with Gummi 1 just to be safe.
They then proceed forward, passing through the large wooden double doors with a large No.1 painted above it into the First District which was home to several people that they could see, even a Moogle from the looks of it; people who had lost their home worlds because of the Heartless yet had been lucky enough to survive and end up here somehow. There where shops of various types scattered about here and there. To their left was a set of doors which said No.4 above it and to their right a door for No.3, likely leading to their respected districts.
No sooner had they stepped into the large plaza, Goofy's eyes catch sight of something in free fall; a shooting star was passing over the town. "Wow, look at that, guys. It's so close too" he says as his eyes watch it sail through the air, then it did a somersault before diving into the area that was District 4.
"Boy howdy, I've never seen a shooting star move like through the skies before" notes Jiminy.
"Ah, who cares about that" grumbles Donald, never once taking a glance at it. "We have a mission to do, remember?"
"Oh, right A-hyuk" says Goofy, following after Donald as Pluto sniffs the ground with his nose.
"Now where's that 'key' we were sent here to find?" says Donald aloud, passing in between two light post with his hands now crossed over his chest; a sign that he was already getting impatient.
"You know, maybe we should go seek out Leon and his friends?" wondered Goofy. "We were told they would be able to help us look and all seeing as this is a big place."
"Maybe we should ask around? Surely someone in this district will know how to find them" notes Jiminy.
Donald nods in agreement, already making a beeline for a shop with the words "Items-R-Us" in big neon lit signs above the doors. They would start there and, in the process, stock up on needed supplies for both their stay here and the eventual trip to master Yen Sid's He then notices Pluto wandering off, away from them, towards the 4th district and yells out "Pluto, this way. Stay with us, boy."
Pluto looks at him, then back at the door, then he trots off to join the others; his curiosity being put on hold for now despite wanting to find the source of the smell that was making him feel excited.
Over in the 4th District, the star had slowed down and the light had started to dim a little, revealing the unconscious form of Roxas as he floats safely down into the large fountain where he comes to rest; floating gently on the water. His body was covered with various injuries, some from his battle before and some due to the unsafe travel he had just had through the Realm of Twilight without protection.
But at least he was safe...or maybe not as a shadow comes over him.
A figure was standing at the edge of the fountain, looking and studying him carefully. After a moment, the figure smiles and says "So, you've finally arrived...later than what I had expected. But no matter. Now, how should we proceed...?"
Realm Hearts
chpt.21: Sanctuary of the Traversed
They breathed heavily as they ran down the rain soaked streets of Never Was. Behind them, Heartless and Nobodies moved together, giving chase. The sight was odd as it wasn't everyday you saw these two different entities working together. But then again, it wasn't normal to see someone trying to escape from the Organization either. Especially three someones.
Axel led the way with Roxas and Xion following him, Roxas holding Xion's hand as they ran for dear life. Axel would send his chakam's spinning around here and there, taking out attackers that appeared before them in order to keep the road ahead of them clear right up to the end.
"They're gaining on us" comes Xion, allowing herself a moment to look back at the enemies on their tails.
"Just a little farther" comes Axel. "Saix will be waiting for us just up ahead, along with a portal that will get all four of us out of here and to a place we'll never be found."
So, Saix was coming too? Could he be trusted though? Axel seemed to think so which was enough for Roxas anyways. "But how can you be sure we'll be safe?" he asked though, regardless.
Before Axel could answer that question, he turns a corner then comes to a dead stop and it only took a second for them to see why. The glow of red ethereal blades were sticking out from Axel's back, the source being Xemnas who was standing before a shrinking portal. To the side, Roxas could see another figure laying on the ground; Saix, his body breaking apart as he faded from existence.
"Isa...damn you, Xehanort" growled Axel.
"You both should have known leaving was impossible" says Xemnas. "And that doing so has a price behind it to be paid, especially by deserters."
"But how...?"asked Axel.
"You weren't careful enough, Lea" says Xemnas as his answer before slashing both blades in various directions, bringing about Axel's own destruction. Roxas wanted to shout, wanted to attack and destroy Xemnas for this. But his actions are stopped as he feels something slashing him along his back.
Turning back as he falls, he sees Xion dressed now in the garments of the Unversed with Oblivion Keyblade in hand. "Did you really think this would have a happy ending for you, fake existence...?"
Roxas cries out as he awakens from his nightmare, bolting up with a hand quickly going to cover his face. "Ow, my head" he complained as a shadow comes over him again.
"Careful, child" comes the voice of a woman as he feels hands resting against his shoulder and back. Turning to look at her, Roxas sees an old grandma type looking at him with a smile on her face.
"Where am I?" asked Roxas, looking around at his surroundings.
"In a bed, of course, silly boy" said the old woman with a hint of amusement in her tone. "But obviously, that's not what you meant though. You're in Traverse Town if you want to be more accurate."
"Traverse Town?" asked Roxas, confused.
"A town that exist in between the worlds; Traverse Town is a safe haven, a sanctuary if you will, for those who have lost their home worlds to the darkness yet by some stroke of luck or cursed by it, were not turned into Heartless but instead found themselves here in this place where they shall remain till they can return to the home they have lost" she explained.
"Though, to be fair, not all who live here now came by chance. Some found their way here via ship. Others have come here, setting up shops to serve the poor castaways. And then, of course, there is you young one. How is it that you ended up here? I can tell from just looking at you that you have your own story to tell there."
"I...well..." Roxas wasn't sure what to say, what he should tell her.
"Here, have a drink and calm yourself. You can share as much or as little as you wish with me."
Roxas takes the dink from her, thanking her in the process. He then takes a sip and comments that it tasted good. He decides to just tell her the whole story as he didn't have anything to hide. But before he could begin, he suddenly realizes something. Below the sheets of the bed, he was completely naked.
"Where are my clothes?" he asked her, figuring she had undressed him so as to clean them.
"Your clothes?" she asked."Oh yes, those items you had." She then points over to her fire place where Roxas could see small chunks of fabric from his Organization coat being consumed by the fire. "Right there where they should be."
"Ah, my clothes..." cries Roxas, wanting to jump out of bed to save them but not because it was already to late. He then looks at her, asking "Why?"
"Precaution" she said, her face going from the care free look she had worn before and was now more serious looking. "Those black clothes you arrived in had been bugged; ever fiber traceable by those who hide in that which is between light and dark. They could track and follow after you should they so choose to so I destroyed them in order to keep them from tracking you."
"OK, I get that. But why my regular clothes I had packed up too? They weren't given to me by them" asked Roxas.
The older woman shakes her head. "No choice there sadly. Everything you had was bugged by them, a safety measure just in case you ditched the garments they had given you." She then walks over to a table and pulls the items off of it. "All that was left that hadn't been bugged were these."
Roxas holds his hands out, allowing her to place Olette's munny pouch and the Wayfinder petal into them. Seeing these items safe and sound makes Roxas breath a sigh of relief.
"Now, tell me what led you to be here" she asked.
Over the next few minutes, Roxas related to her his life in Twilight Town, meeting the Organization and joining them, his time with them, and the events that had brought it all to an end and him falling into a sea of twilight. Once he was done, the woman was quiet for a long time as she contemplated what she had been told.
"Ma'am?" asked Roxas.
"Please, call me granny Kaira. Everyone around here does" she said, brushing a finger over her gravy/silver colored hair. "Now, what to do with you. Ah, I know..."
She then walks over to a cabinet and pulls out some clothes; gray pants and a white T-shirt and tosses them to Roxas. "Here, you can wear those for the time being."
Roxas slides the top on first then slides the pants on beneath the covers. "Um...both of them are a little on the big side for me" points out Roxas as the shirt needed to be adjusted several times as one shoulder always seemed to be hanging out and he needed a belt to help keep the pants on. Luckily, Kaira tossed one at him to wrap around his pants.
"Those are just for the moment, something to wear while you are outside, unless you're fine with just going in your birthday suit?"
Roxas shakes his head at that suggestion, then ask "But why would I go outside right now?"
"What, you plan on staying in bed the rest of your life?" asked Kaira, getting another head shake from Roxas. "Then you have to decide what it is you'll be doing next and the best way to do that is to look around, interact with the locals. Maybe they'll give you some ideas. I'll stay here meanwhile and make you some new clothes that will actually fit you, assuming your measurements are accurate to what the tags said on the back of your clothes...no matter though. I'm sure they'll fit regardless."
"Thank you" said Roxas, making his way over to the door and peeking outside. "Say, where should I go exactly?"
Kaira thinks for a moment. "Well, there's nothing of great interest here in district 5 so head out into district 4 and over to district 1. Something tells me you'll manage well enough from there."
Roxas nods and steps outside, finding the area covered with lights almost like it was Christmas time. Wait, was it actually Christmas time? If so, then just how long had been out for. He sees the large double door that led into district 4 close by. "By the way, why are you helping me?"
"Maybe I could say I'm repaying a debt, Roxas" said Kaira.
"A debt?" he asked, wondering how she could owe him one as he was sure they had never met before today. "What do you mean? Have we met before...and how do you know my name? I don't recall having told you my name yet."
"Questions to be answered another time" was her reply with a mental question following that asked 'Who said you have done your end of the deal yet? I can pay it back before the fact.' "You'll understand in time. For now, just go do what you need to do my child. Time may not be on your side."
Roxas didn't like the sound of that. Though he still had so many more questions to ask, he found himself heading to the door that would lead him to the 4th District. But as he allowed himself one final look back at Kaira, he couldn't help but feel that she did seem familiar somehow. But why?
(with Donald, Goofy, Jiminy, and Pluto)
"Is anybody here?" asked Donald as he entered the shop with Goofy, Jiminy, and Pluto following behind him. The shop was small in size and, from the looks of the arrangement of the items on the shelves, rather hastily put together; indicating it hadn't been open for business for very long.
"Yeah, we're open, sir" comes a voice, sounding very much like Donald's but younger in tone. A figure then walks out from the back, saying "Welcome to Items-R-Us. How can I be..."
"Huey?" shouts Donald, his eyes nearly bugging out from seeing his red wearing nephew here.
"Uncle Donald?" yelped Huey in response which makes the blue wearing Dewey and green wearing Louie come running into the room from the back, both looking surprised and a little nervous too. "What are you doing here?" they all asked in unison.
"I should be asking you three that question" was Donald's reply. "You three should be back at Disney Town or over in Duckburg right now."
"Say Donald, you don't suppose they're the ones who took Gummi 3 by any chance?" asked Goofy, making Donald spin around, shouting "WHAT?" as he hadn't even considered that till now. He then looks back at the boys who had started fidgeting nervously.
"It would appear Goofy's observation was right on the money" says Jiminy, hopping over from Goofy to stand on the counter. "Mind telling us why you did it, boys?"
Donald, his face cross, places his hands on his hips as he awaits their response. "We didn't mean to cause any trouble" says Louie.
"We were just following some business advice Uncle Scrooge gave us before he left on that mystery errand he went on" adds Dewey.
"And he said you should steal a Gummi Ship and come all the way to Traverse Town to do business at?" wondered Goofy.
"No, but we figured we would get some good business here if we came seeing as there wouldn't be much competition. Besides, its not like borrowing one Gummi Ship would matter seeing as the king has four of them already" says Huey.
"It wouldn't matter?" yelled Donald, making them jump from surprise due to the anger they heard.
"And have you had ANY business since coming here?" wondered Jiminy, getting a no in the form of shaking heads from the three boys.
"We've been open for a week and so far, no one has even come in to look at our stock" groaned Dewey.
"We've been thinking about advertising to get the word out" adds Louie.
"Well forget that" yells Donald. "Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you have caused back at the castle?" Donald then explains to his nephews all that had happened and the reason why they were here now.
"Gee, we're sorry Uncle Donald. We knew Uncle Scrooge and master Merlin had borrowed a ship but we didn't think the others would be taken as well and that you would be in need of one" says Huey.
"Perhaps, but that's still no excuse for taking one without even asking permission first" says Donald before taking a deep breath then sighing. "Anyways, we still have a mission to complete."
"You boys wouldn't happen to know where we can find Leon or his friend's?" asked Goofy.
"Leon?" asked all three together before huddling up and speaking in whispers to one another. When they break apart, Huey says "They have a little base over in the third Distract, though they have also been known to hang out over in the second district, either inside the hotel or in the underground channel where they do their training exercises at."
"Well, at least we know where to look then" says Jiminy before hopping back onto Goofy's shoulder.
"Then we better head out and start looking for them then, A-hyuk" agreed Goofy.
Donald nods as he moves to the door, stopping long enough to look back at his nephews and says "Now you three need to get back to the castle and apologize to Queen Minnie. Got it?" The nephews nod though they aren't planning on leaving right away though.
Once they were back outside, Donald leads them over to the large doors that connected the 1st District with the 3rd, passing through quickly to continue their search. But neither Donald, Goofy, no Jiminy take notice of Pluto wandering off away from them, instead moving over to the door that led to the 4th District, which opens as soon as they had left with Roxas stepping out from beyond.
"Now, what should I do?" he wondered as he scanned the area.
Pluto races towards him, barking happily as he comes to a stop before Roxas. "Huh? Well, you're a friendly one, aren't ya boy?" asked Roxas reaching out and petting Pluto. "Sorry, but I don't have any treats to give you."
Pluto responds by leaping forward, pressing Roxas against the wooden door and licking him several times before pulling away and running away a bit before stopping, looking back at Roxas, and barking at him excitedly.
"Wait, are you wanting me to follow you?" asked Roxas, getting his answer in the form of Pluto jump/flipping in the air before running towards some stairs. "I guess that's a yes then" says Roxas, following after the brown furred canine.
Pluto comes to a stop before a large building with Roxas arriving a few moments later. Looking up, Roxas reads the neon lit name aloud. "Cid's Accessories?" He wasn't sure why, but the name was bringing back memories of the El Sleezo from Kermit's world. Was that a good sign or not?
"So, you think I should go in there then?" he asked, looking at Pluto who nods excitedly. "Well, I guess it's better than just standing around outside looking at a building" agreed Roxas as he steps inside. Pluto then races off to do his own personal exploring of Traverse Town.
"Um, hello?" said Roxas, his eyes falling onto the tall man with blond hair, wearing a white shirt and blue jeans that had oil smears here and there and goggles resting upon his head.
"Yeah, welcome to my shop" says the man as he turns around. "So, what can I...huh? A kid?"
"Yeah, I guess..." agreed Roxas, walking up to the counter. "Is this a place I'm not suppose to be in?"
The man shakes his head, saying "Eh? No, it's nothing like that. I'm guessing you must be new to Traverse Town as I haven't seen you around before."
"Yeah, you could say that. I'm Roxas."
The man nods, then says "Well, sorry you had to be here in this out of sync town, kid. Name's Cid in case you hadn't figured that out. So, when did you arrive here?"
"I'm not sure exactly. Not long I think" answered Roxas.
"I can relate to that myself. Anyways, I take it you're in the exploring to get the lay of the land right now, huh?"
Roxas nods. "Well, that's what miss Kaira said I should do. Told me to come here to the 1st Distract; that doing so would help me figure out what I should do next or something to that effect at least."
"Kaira?" said Cid, visibly surprised. Roxas nods and reaffirms this. Cid then scratches his hair fuzzed chin with one hand while carefully reaching down below the counter with the other and pressing a button without Roxas taking notice.
"That's...well, it's surprising to be honest. Old lady Kaira...likes her privacy which is why she lives way out in the 5th District. Weird to hear her giving someone advice. Mind filling me in on the details, both on the events that brought you here to us and how your meeting her went down?"
Roxas couldn't help but notice Cid's sudden change in both tone and demeanor. Something about Kaira being mentioned had unnerved him. Was that a bad sign? He wasn't sure yet he went ahead and told Cid about himself and his adventures up till now, though he left out certain details.
Basically, he talked about Twilight Town and having to leave in order to protect his friends. Traveling around to several worlds with the aid of a group he had joined, though leaving out the details on them. How he had fallen into the twilight; making it sound like an accident, and hinting at the Keyblade though not saying it by name aloud. He wondered though if Cid was reading between the lines.
"Boy, sounds like you had quite the adventure before coming here. So, what are your plans now?"
"Honestly, I don't know. I'd like to go back home to Twilight Town, but something tells me I'd only be putting everyone there in danger if I did return right now. Plus, I'm not even sure if I could return seeing as I don't exactly have a ways of traveling between worlds now anyways" admitted Roxas.
"Well, that is a hum-dingier of a pickle, huh? Let me see if I can think of a solution" said Cid as he closed his eyes. A few moments later, he hears a cat meowing from outside, or what sounded like one at least to anyone not in the know. He opens his eyes and says "Why not head over to the 3rd District and consult with old man Merlin. Maybe he can help out."
"Merlin?" asked Roxas.
"Yeah, a crazy old coot if ever there was one but a powerful old coot all the same. If anyone can help ya, it would be him. Just head out the door, down the steps and enter the door on the left with the number three above it. Then look for the metal door with a flame symbol etched into it. Merlin's place will be just beyond it."
"OK, I got it" says Roxas, turning and running to the exit. He stops, looks back and says "Oh, thanks for the help." Roxas then runs outside.
Cid waits till the door had closed before sighing. He hated when people thanked him under these conditions. "Sorry kid, I'll make it up to ya later if I can..."
Roxas had exited the shop and had only taken a few steps before coming to a dead stop. Something didn't feel right in the air. It was a feeling that made him become cautious. Looking around, he finds himself becoming a little agitated. Where was it? When and how would it strike? What and who too?
And then a shadow passes over, above him. Not a Heartless Shadow mind you, but just a regular shadow but it was still unnerving enough to make Roxas jump and call his Keyblade out on sheer impulse. He waited, his head darting back and forth with eyes rapidly looking in every direction.
But nothing appeared. Had he just imagined it he wondered?
'Man, recent events have left me all jumpy.'
"They'll come at you from the darkness" comes a voice, making him jump again. "So long as you have that, the Keyblade, they will keep coming."
Roxas turns towards the direction the voice was coming from, just in time to see a man dressed in black pants, a white T-shirt, and a black jacket coming walking around the corner of Cid's shop. In his hand was a sword unlike any Roxas had seen before; a blade coming from the revolver section of a gun.
"They won't stop till they have your heart" finished the man before saying aloud to himself. "Why would it chose someone like you, though? He doesn't seem all that tough when you look at him...no offense, kid" he added, realizing he had been talking aloud.
"I'm already aware of all that, thank you. I know all about the Heartless and my name is Roxas, not kid. Got that memorized, whoever you are?"
"I see..." says the older boy, swinging his Gunblade around a few swings before bringing it to the ready. "Then I hope you don't mind if I test you out a bit." The man then leaps into the air, bringing his weapon down hard against Roxas who back flips clear to avoid the attack.
The man quickly thrust an open palm out before himself, a flaming light then appearing there which is released as a fireball. Roxas easily disperses it with a swing of his Keyblade, then is forced to defend himself as the man had already launched himself forward, bringing their weapons clashing against each other.
This last for a few moments before they break away, then go at each other with more slashes and strikes with occasional fire balls being blasted out from the man as well. This guy was good, Roxas had to admit that. But he wasn't no slouch either given the things he had learned from the Organization. Add what he gained during the Charn incident; the battle against ten thousand Heartless, he wasn't all that worried about losing. Sure, he had done a heart resonance with Xion then to enter Master Form and he was still recovering from that little matter back in Never Was that had brought him here, but this was still nothing he couldn't handle.
Roxas runs in close, slashing round hard which the man blocks though the move does push him back a tad. Believing he may have gained a momentary advantage, Roxas takes it by lunging forward and delivering a hard palm press against the man's chest, blasting him back a ways and causing him to stumble as he comes to a stop.
"Not bad" says the man , regaining his footing. "But you won't win if that's all you can do." For him, play time was over and it was time to start getting serious.
"I'm just getting warmed up" yells Roxas, charging in then sending out a Strike Raid at the man who jumps over it before angling and thrusting the Gunblade weapon downwards, trapping the Keyblade as a result.
"Warmed up, huh? Here, let me help you with that" yells the man as he lobs several fire balls out at Roxas in rapid succession. While Roxas knew he could recall his Keyblade to his hand easily, he knew he wouldn't get it back as quickly as he would need it and he would be injured by this attack.
So he pulls that trick out from under his hat.
\
"Aero" he yells, a barrier of wind kicking up to shield him just in time; dispersing some of the flaming projectiles or sending others spiraling off. The barrier last only a few seconds before fading out, but it had done its job and Roxas waste not a second more in recalling his weapon.
The man returns to standing upon the earth again. He hadn't expected the kid to already know magic. Maybe he could...
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Tell me yours first" challenged Roxas back.
"Very well" says the man, pointing his blade at Roxas. "One final clash. If you can impress me enough, then I will tell you."
"If that's how you want to play it, then fine" says Roxas, bringing the Keyblade to the ready as well. The two fighters stare each other down, making the air tense from the aura's they exude, for what felt like an eternity. And then they both moved, going and striking at one another with all that they had.
For just a moment, they stood with their backs to each other, unmoving. Then the man collapses to his knees, his breathe heavy as he uses his Gunblade to keep from falling onto the ground completely. "Not bad, brat."
Roxas looks back at him, a small smile etched onto his lips. "Yeah, same to you..." His eyes then roll back into his head as he collapses onto the ground; the Keyblade puffing away a few moments later. After a moment, then man returns to his feet though he was still wobbly.
"Oh, you're slipping there Leon."
Looking up, the man named Leon sees a girl dressed in khaki short shorts and a green tank top with her stomach exposed looking down at him from the roof the the accessory shop. She was grinning fiercely at him.
"I took it easy on him, that's all. Though, to be fair..." says Leon in response as he looks at Roxas. "He was better than I had expected him to be too."
The girl nods in agreement before jumping down to join him. "So, what do we do with him now?"
Leon leans down and picks Roxas up, slinging him over his shoulders. "We'll take him to a place where he can rest more comfortably than he would sleeping on the ground. Once he wakes up, we can hear his story and will proceed from there."
(Donald and Goofy)
"We're lost; aren't we fellas?" asked Jiminy.
"We're not lost for I know exactly where we are" said Donald confidently as he looks around him. "Um...we're in a narrow space...back alley...um...following a canal and...um..."
"So, do ya think we're getting closer to their secret base?" wondered Goofy aloud.
"How should I know, ya big palooka" grumbled Donald, feeling tired from all the walking they had been doing and not wanting them to know he had no idea where it was he had led them.
"You know, maybe we should have made that left back there before the stairs" says Jiminy. "Something tells me the hotel they may be at was right there, waiting for us to check inside."
Donald comes to a stop with Goofy passing him before stopping himself to look back. "And how do you know that?" Donald asked.
"Well, it did say Hotel Traverse on it so one would think..."
"Let's let me do the thinking around here, got it" snapped Donald, now feeling really annoyed as he goes stomping off.
Goofy and Jiminy look at one another, both knowing this wasn't going to end any time soon. They continue down the alley till they had reached a barred off section of the canal with only a fancy looking door awaiting them at then end of the turn.
Donald looks back and says "That must be the place..."
"Um...excuse me?" comes a voice, soft and kind, cutting through the silence of the back alley and making all three travelers jump in surprise. "Who said that?" yells Donald, spinning around and looking every which way as do Goofy and Jiminy. He hated it when he was surprised like this.
So busy were they in their search for the voices owner, none of them fail to notice the barred off path along the canal open and a figure stepping through, coming up behind Donald and tapping him on his shoulder. "Sir, I'm over..."
Before she could finish; as her finger touched Donald's shoulder, the duck mage gave out the loudest squawk he had ever made in his life, jumping a good fifty feet in the air before landing on top of Goofy who was barely able to keep himself from falling over as a result and Jiminy barely having enough time to move around to avoid being squashed by Donald's sudden landing.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to scare you" said the girl; their eyes now falling onto her. She was dressed in a sun dress that was pink in color though most of the pink was light enough in color to be considered near white. A flower like ornament present in her light brown hair that was tied back and braided into a pony tail. She was beautiful young girl to be sure. "Are you three the ones sent by the king?"
"You mean king Mickey?" asked Goofy.
"Is he here now?" asked Donald, hopefully.
The girl shakes her head, then says "He was here a days before, using a star shard to travel around. He asked us to help him keep an eye out for some key bearer he said would be coming as well as several of his friends that would be coming to gain his assistance. I'm assuming you three are the friends?"
"That's right, miss" says Jiminy, jumping down and making a gracious bow. "Cricket's the name, Jiminy Cricket; the king's scribe."
"Name's Goofy, A-hyuk. Captain of the Royal Guard" said Goofy, making a rather clumsy looking bow.
"Donald Duck, court magician" said Donald, looking proud. "So, has the Keybearer shown up yet?"
"At present, no as far as I can tell. But maybe the others have found him. I was told to go meet them once I found you three over at the hotel. Once there, Leon will fill you in on everything. Follow me and I'll...oh, how rude of me. I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is..."
(Roxas)
The waves gently lapped against the sand as Roxas looked on towards the golden glow of the setting sun. In his hand, a piece of paper was being jostled around ever so slightly by the wind. "Somewhere out there. I wonder if there is a place I once called home?"
"There you are, Roxas" came Olette's voice, drawing him from his thoughts as he turns his head and sees the brunette running across the beach towards him. "So, what'cha doing all the way out here, silly? Are you the likes to take long quite walks out on the beach at dusk kind of person?"
Roxas shrugs, smiling a little as he says "Could be. Hard to say when you have memory issues."
Olette took a moment to think about how to respond till her eyes spot the paper Roxas was holding and she quickly reaches out and grabs it, spinning around and looking at it before he could snatch it back. "Hey, don't look at that" cried Roxas, feeling a little embarrassed at having someone else see it.
"Why?" she asked. "It's not a bad drawing, really." On the paper was the image of a boat with Roxas on it, sailing the waters. "So this was what you were doodling in class today. So, does this mean you were a pirate before coming here?"
Roxas shakes his head, saying "No...at least I don't think I was. It's just..."
"Yes?"asked Olette, leaning in close till her face was inches from his.
"Well, in that book we're reading in class now. The one about the kids who built a raft and sailed the ocean seeking an adventure. Well, I was thinking maybe I should build a raft and sail off. Maybe if I did that, I might find were it is I came from."
Olette nods, then ask him "So, are you saying you're unhappy here. That you don't like being with us?"
"No, nothing like that" said Roxas, shaking his head furiously. "It's just that I..."
His words are stopped as Olette places a finger against his lips; silencing him. "I know what it was you meant. If you want, I can help you build your raft if you ever decide to go for it. I'm sure Hayner and Pence would help too if you ask them."
"Yeah, I know you guys would. Thanks" said Roxas.
"And when we build that raft, we'll go together...just the two of us" adds Olette, looking to the side with her cheeks blushing lightly.
"You mean us, Hayner and Pence, right?" asked Roxas.
"Yeah, of course I meant them too, silly" she said though she really did just mean the two of them. She looks away, out across the ocean.
"I just can't wait. Once we set sail; it'll be great..."
"HEY! TIME TO WAKE UP YA LAZY BUM."
Roxas eyes open slowly and he groans while coming out of the dream though it was really more a memory than a dream as that had happened a few months after he had come to Twilight Town. "You OK?" came the voice again.
"Yeah, I think...so" he said, his voice failing him as he turns his head, seeing Xion standing next to him. He was in shock; assuming he was still asleep as there was no way she could be here.
"You did pretty well back there in that fight. I can see you holding your own against weaker Heartless. But you'll need to serious improve yourself if you want to face the more serious contenders in their ranks."
"Xion? Why are you here?" he asked at last.
"Xion? Who's that? My name is Yuffie, the greatest ninja to ever be born" said the girl who appeared to be Xion at first in his eyes. Roxas reaches up and rubs his eyes then looks again, now seeing the girl as she really was.
Short cut brown hair with a head band, a green top, and beige shorts and a giant shuriken strapped to her back. Yuffie looks back and says "I think you were a little to rough with him, Squall."
"That's Leon. You know that" comes the tall young man who was leaning against a far wall. It was the guy he had been fighting earlier, Roxas was quick to realize. He looks around, taking in his current location.
"So, where am I?" he finally asked.
"Hotel Traverse, the Dawn Suite to be more exact" said Yuffie. "After you passed out, we brought you here so you could rest in comfort."
"Oh...thanks" said Roxas. A question then pops into his head. "By the way Squa...Leon. Why did you attack me before?"
"I wanted to see if you had any skills to speak of seeing as you have a Keyblade and all. And while you will need to improve yourself greatly, you're not completely hopeless either" said Leon.
"Gee, thanks...I think" said Roxas sarcastically.
"By the way" comes Yuffie, getting Roxas attention back onto her. "Who's this Xion girl you thought I was earlier?"
"Oh? She's...a friend of mine. Should have known you weren't her seeing as your hair is a different color. And her chest is bigger too...CONK...ow."
"Jerk" mumbled Yuffie, her hands crossing her chest as her cheeks puff up.
"Yuffie, go find Aerith for me. I'm sure she must have located the king's agent's by now" said Leon.
"Sure, not a problem" said Yuffie, turning and exiting the room.
"The king's agents?" asked Roxas as Leon walks over to him.
"You'll understand after you meet them. Once all of you are together, I'll explain what it was we were told. Oh, and by the way. A few things you should keep in mind."
"Like what?" asked Roxas.
Leon sticks one finger up and says "One, never tick Yuffie off. It never ends well. And two, do yourself a favor and don't go falling for her either as it will only end in heart break."
Roxas nods, saying "I understand. So, you and her..."
"No" says Leon quickly. "We're just friends. Besides, Yuffie is only attracted to...older men I guess you can say. One particular older man to be honest..."
Outside the room, Yuffie walked down the hall, heading towards the closest exit. As she went, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a pendent depicting a beast; a present from the only guy she had ever really loved.
"Vincent. When will you return..." Her words are cut off as she feels it coming in fast.
A few seconds later, the door to the room flies open and Yuffie runs in, yelling "Squall, the Heart..."
Before she could finish, a Soldier appears and makes a quick beeline for Roxas. But Leon is quicker, bringing his Gunblade out and around, knocking it back. Roxas jumps out of bed as the Heartless spins in mid air, jumping out a window.
"Yuffie, go find Aerith" yells Leon, chasing after the Heartless with Roxas following after him with his Keyblade appearing in hand.
Outside, the commotion is heard as Aerith leads Donald and Goofy and Jiminy into the hotel. "Oh no" she says, hoping her friends were OK.
"Come on Goofy, lets go" yells Donald as he charges forward. Just as he reaches the door, it comes flying around and slamming him into the all as Yuffie comes racing out. She runs right past Aerith, not seeing her causing her flower loving friend to shout out to her and follow right behind her.
Donald, meanwhile, collapses onto the floor with Goofy standing over him, then reaching down and picking him up. "Come on, Donald. Now's not the time to be taking a nap, A-hyuk."
Donald moans, groans, or maybe mumbles (or all three) as Goofy follows after the girls.
Roxas clears the window, having followed Leon outside into the back alley where he was already taking out some Shadow's. But the Soldier wasn't with them from what he could see. "Come on" says Leon, already moving towards a large wooden door. "There's bound to be more of them in the 2nd District."
Racing through the door and emerging next to a small fountain, they found themselves presented with a horde of Heartless; Shadow's and Soldier's and Large Bodies, among others awaiting them. Without wasting a second, they go onto the attack. But with each Heartless they destroyed, more would appear to keep things hairy.
"There's no end to them" yells Roxas, recalling the battle in Charn and seriously wishing he could call upon the Form power now as once you use it, you don't ever want to not use it again.
"If we could just find the big guy; the one who's leading them..." said Leon till his eyes catch sight of several residents being chased by Heartless in the direction of the 3rd District. "Roxas, I'll handle things here. You go help the people in the third district."
"You sure?" asked Roxas. Wondering if Leon could handle all of this himself.
"Go" yells Leon as he slices through a Soldier. "Down that path, hurry" he adds, quickly pointing out the route Roxas would need to take. Though still unsure, Roxas nods as he leaps over several Shadow and heads off as ordered.
"Now what am I going to do?" wonders Leon, knowing even he might not be able to keep this up as the Heartless had never attacked like this before. It was almost like...
The sound of metal cutting through the air catches his attention as Yuffie's giant shuriken comes slicing in, taking out a Heartless that had been sneaking up behind him he had failed to notice. Looking up at her, she gives him a coy grin and says "I just saved your butt, Squall. You so owe me one, loner boy."
Despite the situation, Leon can't help but grin ever so slightly while saying "That's Leon, remember."
She laughs as she jumps down to stand at his back. A moment later, they are joined by Aerith who shouts out "Shield", causing a barrier of magic to surround them before bringing her staff to the ready. "Hope I didn't miss any of the fun."
"Hold on" comes Donald as he and Goofy come running down the stairs to join them, their weapons already at the ready to attack the Heartless. "We're helping out too."
"We can handle this" shouts Leon. "You two need to get over to the third district and aid the Keybearer since something tells me they're going to be after him more than us."
"The Keybearer" squawks Donald.
"He's already here?" asked Goofy.
"Follow that side path to get to him, hurry" yells Yuffie. The duck and dog look at each other, nod, then run in the direction they were told to, hoping they would get to him before the Heartless got him.
3rd District
Roxas was done by the fountain, depicting two dogs, fighting Heartless. He was tiring as he still hadn't fully healed from the previous fights. But he refused to lose as he had stuff he needed to do. Reaching deep inside himself, he pressed on. Above, Donald and Goofy entered the area, quickly looking around in their search for the Keybearer when a black and red colored Heartless appears before them. "Yikes, there's more of them" says Goofy.
"No problem. Let's go get them, Goofy" says Donald as he attacks the Heartless with a Fire spell. But this Heartless was a bomb and being hit with fire makes it explode, sending them flying into the air and crashing down onto Roxas. As they lay there, stunned momentarily, none could have known what this had started for them.
The meeting of the star crossed...
to be continued...