("Hey, Raijinken, forward the story. Or else."

Or else WHAT?

"Or else, we show everybody the video."

What video?

"...Last Saturday night."

You BASTARD... Fine, it's done.

"You also have to give us Kingdom Hearts, and Disney."

Are you retarded? I don't own either of those! Or anything else!

"Well then, video? Meet internet."

Nooooooooo!)

Oathkeeper

Chapter Eight: Finding The Key

The day the heartless were banished was a day where every man woman and child danced wildly in the streets, happy and safe. The day after, was the hugest party Sora had ever seen. They had games, food, everything, and there was no charge for anything there because people were just that deleriously happy that the threat was gone. And Sora himself had his back pounded, hands shook, autograph given and cheeks kissed more times then he could keep track of. Every time he passed close to a crowd, it was a whirlwind that left his head spinning after it was over. Women cried tears of joy when their children would no longer have to have the very real threat of having their heart stolen considered whenever that siren went off. Everywhere he walked, he was looked upon with expressions of adoration, pride... he didn't much care for the gazes of a particular group of women. Most of the time they were studying what looked like a small photo album though, so the female staff of Seventh Heaven, provided they kept their distance, could do what they wanted. After that wonderful celebration, Sora slept soundly, and after the following week, the cogs of fate began to slowly turn again.

The emerald in his hand shone brightly, twinkling. As he held it and stared into it's depths, songs of the forest played through his mind in tones of whistling wind...
"Man, this book is good..." Sora muttered as he turned the page. Moreover, Leon said this book was based on somethiing that really happened. It was humbling to hear that a boy of ten years, a boy younger then him, had accomplished something as amazing as the destruction of that gigantic parasite. Sora realized that he had done something epic as well, but not only did he have help, he was wielding a legendary weapon. This boy was wielding a lost treasure, but the book didn't mention any spells or charms that the small sword held. All it mentioned was the metal that it was made out of.
'Mythril... wonder if that actually exists? Bet Leon could tell m- hang on...'
"Hey Cid?" Sora addressed the lancer, who had just walked into the toom, unlit cigarette in his mouth.
"What is it kid?"
"Leon told me that this book is baised on a true story. It mentions something called mythril, but I've never heard of it. You work with metal so..."
"Ah, mythril. The metal is a bit rare, considered precious like silver or gold. Thing about mythril is, it's precious for completely different reasons. How does that there book mention it? What's made out of it?"
"A sword."
"Not surprising. Mythril is a metal that rarely dulls or breaks and is easy to enchant. You can tell mythril by the blue tint in the metal. Mythril has a variety of uses, all the practical ones having something to do with battle. Make a weapon out of it, or make a charm or talisman, armor... deadly weapons, protective armor, vital accessories, things like that can do wonders."
"Huh... what kinda charms?" Cid raised an eyebrow.
"You interested? I could make you something if you paid me you know. Me and the moogles are damn good, no fooling. Problem is, you'd have to get it enchanted yourself. The charms could be anything from a chain, a necklace, bracelet... people are fond of rings for some reason, but they'd get in the way I think."
"Hm... about the enchantments? I don't know anything about magic. I mean, I've only seen two spells, I think..."
"Huh? Which ones?"
"Well... Leon said one of them was Stop. He used it on me when we met, to get the Keyblade away from me. And then when we were fighting that army of heartless, he used another one, this really big fireball. Ginormous explosion on the other end."
"Ah, sounds like Firaga. Just about one of the most powerful bits of black magic there is. Least, it is in one of the schools..."
"Schools?"
"Mm. I personally don't use any magic. But I do know that there are several ways of using magic itself. Some people can, and some people have absolutely no ability whatsoever. But, the different methods... it's a lot like my lance. I fight with my own style, but if I learned from a teacher, I'd be using his style. A different teacher would teach me a different style. When we were on our world, there was only one method of magic, but then when our world broke we learned of the existence of several different magic schools, styles. Just like styles of martial arts." Cid stretched back in the chair he had seated himself in, and cracked his neck before continuing. Something about teaching the kid something new made the ship builder feel good. Maybe this was why Leon spent so much time on the kid... "There are some forms of magic that rely specifically on the user, and their stores of energy. And in order to get more of that energy, they have to train in specific ways. There are other forms of magic that rely completely on the environment around the user, and they gather raw magic, mana, fonons, force, or borrowing the power of spirits, however they've termed it and called it. Problem with those schools is that sometimes they simply can't be used on some worlds, because physics and laws differ slightly. But at times, they tend to get better results."
"Our method of magic, meaning Yuffie and Aerith, we use a catylist called materia. Makes use of the body's natural store of energy, and shapes it into a force. Be it a Cure, or a Firaga. Lots of different kinds of materia, and each can manipulate magic in different ways. Sometimes it isn't even always magic either. Now, I don't use magic..." Cid stretched out his muscled arm and Sora noticed a few bright lights within. "...but that doesn't mean I don't use materia. Since they're a catylist, and my energy isn't doing anything, I can use this materia to make use of it. This one, makes it so I don't tire out as easily. This one here, that makes my reaction time better. My reflexes get great with this baby. And this other one... this one's a little weird." Cid put a hand on the glowing spot in question, and gently pulled back. In a brilliant flash of light, not unlike that of the Keyblade. What was once an empty hand, now held a purple spherical crystal.
"This one apparently makes you lucky. Now, I don't much believe in luck, really. Still, it's nice to think something's looking out for you besides yourself when you're alone. I never really noticed a change though, when I put it in. Here, why don't you try it for a while?" Wait, what?
"Huh? Ah!" Sora yelped in suprise as he leaned forward to catch the tossed crystal before it hit the ground.
"Thing about materia, the number you can use at once depends entirely on the person's level of strength. Everybody should be able to use at least one though. Just shove it in, not too hard though. Somebody put in a Fire materia too fast once, blew his arm clean off. He put it in like he was trying to hit his arm off though, probably thought it was macho." Sora turned his head to look again at the crystal.
"The negative effects of slamming a materia in depends on the materia. I have no idea what that one will do if you don't rub it the right way, so best be careful. Don't worry, you aren't gonna die, just give it a try." Well... Cid was sure alright. And putting this thing into his arm would make him lucky? Sounded like a good deal, that was for sure. Sora gently rested the tennis ball sized crystal just above his left wrist, and gently pushed in. Despite the ball being a very similar size to his skinny arm, it seemed to go in without sticking out at all. And Sora felt a rush of... something, he couldn't place the feeling. But something had changed. The feeling faded quickly, and Sora felt normal, like nothing had changed except for the purple light in his arm, which faded too. It was as if nothing had happened after something like ten seconds.
"There ya go. It's a part of you now, centered where you put it in. You can take it out just as easy. Now, I'll let you hold on to that for a while, tell me if you notice a difference. I'm curious now. But yeah, back over to mythril, enchantments are a lot like the effects of my materia. They improve your physical and mental abilities in different ways. The effect depends on the spells cast, and the potency depends on the talent of the caster."
"You sure know a lot about it..." Cid thumped an arm to his chest in a show of pride.
"I'm a craftsman kid, and a damn good one. The moogles taught me well. Gotta know the trade, and they're bitchin teachers too."
"Hm... but you said you don't use magic. How do you enchant?"
"Oh, the moogles usually do that. Or if you pay a little extra, I can get a professional to do it."
"Like who?" As if summoned, the door knocked a few times.
"Like that guy. Best wizard I know. Magic-wise, he's stronger then Aerith. Course, he can't throw a punch worth shit... Go and invite the man in, I'm getting a few drinks out." Sora picked up his book, and slipped a bookmark into his place. Satisfied, he stood and walked towards the door. On the other side stood what Sora could only describe as a stereotype.
"Ah, hello there! Hang on... I don't believe I've had the pleasure! Merlin, master wizard, at your service."
"Oh, my name's Sora."
"And a splendid name it is too. Could you tell me if there is anyone else home?"
"Leon's putting the finishing touches on a roof across town, Yuffie's delivering a piano, and I still don't know how she's doing it on the rooftops..."
"A conundrum indeed..."
"And Aerith's managing the bar. Cid's here though, come on in." And the old man did. And he was indeed a stereotype of wizards Sora had seen in several storybooks. Long pointy hat, robes, and a white beard that you could play jump rope with. Still, Cid said this man was powerful, so Sora believed him. He adjusted his spectacles, and made himself comfortable in the living room, as Cid came back in with a bottle and a pair of glasses. Whiskey, if Sora read the bottle right from the distance. There were only two glasses though, so he guessed he wasn't getting any.
"Ah, Cid, how have you been?"
"Oh, you wouldn't believe how good it's been if I told you."
"Well, you are going to have to try to sound convincing then. What is it then?" The old man leaned forward, looking quite interested.
"First, let me introduce the kid. Or have you already given your name to Sora?"
"We have. Forgot to shake hands though... do you mind?" Sora did not.
"Well there you go. Anyway, this kid comes falling out of the sky... getting close to a month back now, after his world broke. Leon recruited him."
"Recruited him you say? You mean he fights..."
"Oh, he fought alright."
"Deplorable... have things gotten that bad? Oh, have my wards failed, is that why you needed the help of a child?"
"Oh, he ain't no ordinary kid, this one. And you won't have to worry about your monthly checkup on those wards of yours anymore 'neither. Sora, show him." It was obvious what the craftsman was getting at, so Sora sought out his heart, and pulled... fwash! And into his hand the Keyblade appeared.
"Oh! What is this then...?"
"You should know better then all of us. This here is the Keyblade." Behind the spectacles, Merlin's eyebrows rose impossibly far.
"...You must not be serious Cid... this..." The wizard slipped off his spectacles, and examined the Keyblade more thoroughly. His eyes gleamed oddly...
"Sora! I'm home, meet me in the training room in twenty minutes!"
"Ah, Leon! Please, tell me Cid isn't joking! If he's telling the truth, this is astounding!"
"Oh, Merlin? Is it that time of the month already?"
"Who cares?! Is this the Keyblade?!" Leon walked into the room, and upon taking in the scene, nodded.
"That is indeed the Keyblade. We know it for sure, now more then ever."
"Leon, whatever do you mean by that?"
"Sora singlehandedly used it to seal off the world's heart just last week. Before that, it cut right through a heavily armored heartless as if it were made of butter."
"How is that any different then normal?"
"The first time I hit it, I dented it."
"After that...?"
"I slashed harder."
"I see... and the heartless, they are attracted to it?"
"Like chocobos to greens." Cid chimed in. "The day Sora sealed off the heart, we barely saw any heartless at all. The plaza where Leon and the kid were, looked like a dragon threw a fukkin' tantrum for a few hours."
"There were several. More then I had ever seen in an attack. Then that large one..."
"You believe it was there for the Keyblade?"
"No, it was just there with the others I'm sure. The first time Sora fought heartless here, we saw nothing out of the ordinary."
"Hm..." There was silence for a good few minutes. Finally, Sora got up the courage to say something.
"Uh... Merlin? Could I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"You're good at magic, right?" The man scoffed. Though not arrogantly.
"My boy, every school of magic I have ever heard of, I have achieved nothing less then master rank. All except for summoning, but... Most summoned monsters and spirits are particular about their masters. For some reason, none will ally themselves to me. Why, did you have a question?"
"Is it difficult to learn magic?"
"It depends on the school, and what materials you have at your disposal if such are needed. Are you considering learning?"
"Yeah..." Sora said timidly.
"Hm..." Merlin once again removed his spectacles, and looked Sora over. With something of a grave look, he replaced them.
"Sora, I am afraid I can teach you nothing."
"Oh, that's alright, I wasn't asking you to teach me. I'll pick up a few books, maybe-"
"No, you misunderstand. You are incapable of magic." You could hear a pin drop. The man was mercilessly blunt.
"...You sure old man? I've never heard of somebody being unable to use magic before." Cid said, a pensive look on his face.
"You would be surprised. Sora, before your world broke, had you ever heard of magic before?"
"No, never. I barely believed it when I was told that's what it was."
"Then your world may have been one of a minority. There are several different schools of magic because there are several different kinds of magic, some unique to only one world at all. Sora, your world may have been one where magic didn't exist. A magical dead-zone, so to speak. Since you inhabited that world, you would be magically barren. Of course, that may not be the case. There are also cases where it is simply impossible to use any sort of magic, a hindrance that some are born with."
"You're joking."
"And... whatever the cause, it this rare case happened to the Keyblader?"
"Indeed."
"...Well... Fuck... What are the odds? Looks like somebody out there hates you good Sora. Either that, or he likes watching you squirm. Sick bastard. Probably thinks he's witty, what with the breaking your world, the waitresses, the Keyblade, and now the magical blue balls? What next?"
"Cid, you aren't helping."
"What? I feel for the kid, seriously."
"How could you tell that by just looking at me?" Sora asked Merlin, trying to put whatever sick god twisting reality to his whims out of his mind.
"Magic."
"...Ah... well... I can't learn any magic? At all?"
"You could, but it would be difficult, very much so. There are specialized schools of magic, and you could make yourself capable of these. But it would require you to take an item of considerable magical power, and use that as the catylist. This item would have to be permanantly bonded to you as the result of a taxing and dangerous ritual."
"...You mean like this?" Sora held up the Keyblade.
"... Why... why yes, exactly like that... Perhaps I could teach you something... One school comes to mind that may be perfect for you. I doubt you've heard of the mystic knights, but they were a group of specialized magi. Few exist today, but their art of enchanting swords for magical attacks was formidable, much more so if the weapon in question had magical ability of it's own..."

"Don't relax your guard Sora, even if I'm not trying to kill you." Leon said, preparing to strike. Sora nodded, and prepared himself to counterattack. It was their time for training, after a lesson from Merlin. This was their first time using live steel. And as an added bonus, they were training outside, in the park. It was something that appealed to Sora somehow...

"We've looked everywhere. Why wouldn't the King give us more clues then to look for a key? It could mean anything..."
"Well, he did say we would know it when we saw it." Goofy replied, leaning against a tree in a park. So far, every world they searched turned up nil. And there were so many worlds left to search... "And look on the bright side. We got to see a lot of new places. And there's a good chance we'll find something here. It's where a lot of things end up after worlds break. There's gotta be lots of things we could use, even if there ain't a key here."

Swords clashed, over and over again. The Keyblade moved in the practiced motions, which by now were beginning to feel more comfortable to him. As he fought, he began gathering energy into the sword.
"Let the Keyblade be your focus. It should be simple, if it is as bonded as you claim. Just like a part of yourself." The Keyblade was a part of him. And it was true, though the Keyblade was the only part of him he could channel into to begin with.
"Change the energy, bend it, mould it. The energy is as much a part of you as the Keyblade is. It will become magic. Magic you will then turn on your enemies." Slowly, as he was still learning, the energy began to change into a form of offensive magic. Merlin had told him that he was most atributed to lightning, a common element. As such, it was the element that was easiest for him to use.
"Now, unleash."
"Hah!" And then, the magic became unstable. The spell lost form, and was not what Sora had intended it to be.
"Ah... that did not work out as planned... you did do it right... perhaps I forgot a step..." Even so, the attack was somewhat destructive, and Leon got the hell out of the way. Electricity destroyed the ground where he was once standing. Then, a slash to the outstretched Keyblade sent it flying.
"Badly executed. The way you struck left your grip awkward. Next time, keep a better hold."
"Ah... yeah..."

"We aren't going to find it here. It's probably going to take years. There are so many worlds out there."
"We could find it at any time. The King probably wouldn't stick us with a quest unless it was possible."
"I'm not saying it's impossible, I'm saying that it's going to be hard! We are searching for one key, one, amongst hundreds of worlds! It's not going to fall into our laps!" Thunk. "...Or... fly and almost take off your head..." Goofy reached up, and pulled out the giant key that had just flown out of nowhere.
"Well... he did say we'd know it when we saw it. This looks pretty much like what we're after."
"And look! It's the sign of Disney Castle!" True enough, dangling from the key's handle were three circles, shaped like their king's head. "This must be it! Quick, let's get back in the gummy ship. We need to find the King!"
"Hey! That's mine!" Goofy and Donald turned to see a boy running to them, waving an arm in the air. "Hey, sorry about that. I guess I should've been more careful. Can I have that back?"
"Sure." Goofy said, holding out the Keyblade. Donald promptly snatched it out of his outstretched hand.
"What are you doing!? We need this!"
"But he says it's his. Maybe it's not what we're looking for?"
"It has to be!" Donald turned to Sora. Since this was a world that knew of the existence of other worlds, he was allowed to pull rank. "You. What's your name?"
"...Sora."
"Well, Sora. We have been ordered by King Mickey to search for this key. As such, it's important that, now that we have it, we take it to him immediately. You understand?"
"No."
"...Why not?"
"No, I understand. What I'm saying is that you can't have it."
"... Then by my authority as advisor to his Majesty, King Mickey the First, I am hereby confiscating this key until such a time as we no longer need it."
"Donald...? I'm pretty sure the King wouldn't want us to steal..."
"It has to be done. He'll get it back when the King's done with it."
"You aren't taking it." Sora said, stubornly.
"We need this key far more then you do. You'll be compensated, I'm sure-"
"You aren't taking the Keyblade."
"The what...?" Donald looked at the key again in shock. This Sora had just called it the Keyblade. The same spoken of in legends...? "If this is the Keyblade, then this is without a doubt what our King is after. We are taking the Keyblade. Our king has ordered it."
"Then your King is a spoiled jerk, who will not be getting what he wants this time." Donald's jaw hit the floor. Goofy however, spoke up.
"Naw, he isn't. The King barely asks for anything. He said that finding the key was important, so it's probably going to end up saving people. That's usually how it goes, after all."
"Well, even if he is as good as you say, you can't have the Keyblade. I can't risk it falling into the wrong hands."
"Why are our hands the wrong ones?!" Donald yelled. The boy was quickly making him angry.
"I don't know you. You might even be lying about the King, about everything. I don't trust either of you."
"You know, he's got a good point there."
"Goofy, you are not helping. Look, we have the Keyblade now, so it's coming with us. Understand?" Fwash! "...What?!"
"Well, I have the Keyblade now. So it's coming back with me. Understand?"
"Give it back!" Fwash! "Wait, where did it go?! What did you do with it?!"
"Put it away. Oh, hey Leon!"
"Sora, who are these people?"
"Don't know, don't care. They're trying to steal the Keyblade."
"Oh? And why would they be doing that?" His gaze grew cold. If something as important as the Keyblade was involved, he may have to kill these two. Sora wouldn't be able to.
"Because we were ordered to!"
"Uh, Donald? We weren't ordered to steal it. Just find it and bring it to the King."
"Not. Helping."
"But couldn't we always just leave it here, and go get the King? It's not going anywhere if Sora can make it disappear like that."
"But that's not what we were ordered to do!"
"Who ordered you?" Leon interupted.
"His Majesty, King Mickey the First!"
"Prove it."
"This letter! Now you see we can take it!" Donald produced the letter that had charged them with finding the Keyblade in the first place. Leon took it, read it over, and sighed.
"...It looks like we have a lot to talk about, in that case. Follow me."
"Huh? Where are we going Leon?" Sora asked, confused.
"Home. This is going to take a long itme to resolve I can already tell. I want my comfy chair." Nobody argued. Though, nobody in the right mind would argue with a man still holding his gunblade.