~Work to Do~

Today's mission is to team up with Larxene and go to Wonderland to destroy an Emerald Serenade. I read the intel Saix hands me.

"Trying to keep up with an Emerald Serenade is an act in futility," I read aloud.

"Ooh, Larxene is gonna love this."

The Nobody aforementioned is currently fidgeting impatiently next to the dark corridor. Just wait until she realizes that there's something that can move faster than her. Sparks will fly… literally.

.:In the Lotus Forest:.

I watch the Savage Nymph with amusement as she races after the Emerald Serenade, hitting it with a thrown kunai every dozen tries. She's already used up all her magic, but the Heartless is hardly even scratched.

"You know, I'd like to be done with this mission before next year," I inform her, grinning. Stopping next to me, she glares at me, panting.

"I'd like to see you try."

"Gladly," I say with a smile. I lean back against the stem of a lily pad and close my eyes.

"What are you doing?" she asks me.

"Instead of trying to keep up with that thing," I say, lazily waving a hand in the Heartless' general direction, "I'm setting up an ambush." As an afterthought, I add wickedly,

"Got it memorized?"

If looks could kill, I would be nothing but a smear on the ground right now.

It's a good thing looks can't kill, or Larxene would still be chasing that Heartless at this time next year.

Anyway. Back to the mission.

I use my control over life to gather as many of those lethal little animals in the small clearing Larxene and I are in. Then, I make sure I'm ready, and I wait…

And wait.

…And wait some more.

After 10 minutes or so, the Emerald Serenade comes whizzing right into the trap. I smile triumphantly.

"Attack."

Flowers and strong vines lash out and latch onto the Heartless, effectively binding it down as my wonderful animals, Larxene and I rip it to pieces. A sparkling heart rises from the Heartless as it dissolves into darkness.

"And that," I tell Larxene proudly,

"is how you do it."

I probably shouldn't get within twenty feet of her for at least the next two weeks.

~Practical Application~

Just my luck. Paired with Larxene today. It hasn't been two weeks yet… this is going to be painful. Sighing, I accept my mission from Saix and settle down on a couch in the Grey Area to read it.

World: Twilight Town

Objective: Learn about Limit Breaks.

Oh. I'm going to learn how to Limit Break from Larxene. At that moment the Savage Nymph walks into the room and spots me. A cruel smile spreads over her face. Limit Breaks… They can only be used when you're really beat up, right? So that means…

"C'mon, Number XIII," Larxene purrs.

"It's time for some practical application."

Oh, shit… I groan inwardly as I'm dragged into a corridor of darkness.

.:Twilight Town:.

I hear the rasp of the corridor closing behind us, like the door of a jail cell. No, worse. You don't get electrocuted in jail.

A mob weak Emblem Heartless pop up, and Larxene practically squeals with glee.

"I'm here to teach you about Limit Breaks. Lesson one is…"

The Savage Nymph summons her Floudre and lightning-fast, she stabs me with every single of the small knives, jolting me with electricity every stab. I fall to the ground twitching as the electricity courses through me. Kingdom Hearts damn you, Larxene…

"…you have to be on your last legs."

I eventually stop twitching and get up unsteadily. I was definitely on my last legs. Maybe not even on my legs at all. Swallowing the insults and various other things I wanted to do and say to the Nobody, I hiss,

"So how do I use my Limit Break?"

"Easy," she says happily. "In fact, it's so easy I think you can figure it out yourself. You hang out with Zexion, you should be bright enough."

Frustration courses through me and I summon my keyblade, eyes narrowing. Forcing myself not to attack Larxene, I turn to the Heartless and vent my rage at them.

"Take this!" I snarl, launching into a savage attack. Every animal and plant within my range of control lashes out at the Heartless as I hack through them, my Keyblade glowing brilliant bright green. I am moving so fast that I simply appear as a blur. Then, suddenly, abruptly, the Limit Break ends. I look around and see puffs of darkness dissipating into the air. Every single Heartless was gone. With a feeling of satisfaction, I turn to face Larxene.

"Beat that," I challenge her. Another horde of Heartless, larger than the last, appears.

"Hmph. Gladly," she smirks. After she let herself get beat up a bit so that she could use her Limit Break, she stepped back from the mob. Her eyes narrowed.

"You're getting on my nerves!" she hisses, and suddenly she's everywhere, electricity flying through the air. Even before her Limit Break ends, every single Heartless has vanished in a puff of darkness. I whistle admiringly.

"You know, Larxene… That wasn't half bad," I comment, impressed. She turns to face me, still glowing with the effects of her Limit Break, and, to my utter surprise, she smiles and high-fives me. Huh. Didn't expect that.