CHAPTER 7
Rescue
"No, Lea! You are not doing it right!" the sage Merlin criticized the fire-headed student, lightly tapping his cane on the ground in his frustration. Lea opened his eyes and scowled once again, having been stopped for what must be the hundredth time already. Why does he always pick on me so much? Even when I was young…
Lucky for the crash-course student, he had a sympathizer. "Oh, hush you old coot!" Flora reprimanded, lightly tapping the long-bearded wizard on the shoulder with her small wand. "He's doing just fine," she insisted, giving Lea a nod of approval for his efforts.
"Merlin's right," the overweight blue fairy called out in disagreement, supportive to Merlin's reproach. "His hand position is all wrong!" she complained, pointing with her wand to his tense outstretched wrist. She rapped his hand with her stick three times as if it were punishment for bad behavior; this did nothing but further irritate the firebomb.
Merryweather received a reprimand from Fauna, the third fairy of the trio. "Leave him alone," she insisted firmly, her sweet nature lessening her command's effect. "It's harder than it looks. When have you ever summoned a keyblade?" the green cloaked sympathetic asked her stubborn compatriot. She knew even though they had magically suppressed the time of Castle Oblivion, Lea's keyblade would not appear instantaneously.
The headstrong heavyset fairy was never one to take well to reprimand. "He's never summon one like that!" she insisted, yelling in her whiny tone at Fauna. Her face flushed as red as Lea's hair, and she gripped her wand tightly, obviously close to unleashing its power and starting a short war between the fairies … again.
Lea crossed his arms, annoyed and in no way amused by this display. The firehead rolled his eyes and let out an irritated sigh, which was ignored by the old arguers. "I'd do better if you guys didn't comment on every move I made," he proclaimed sarcastically and forcefully, which promptly shut up the three fighters and amused the old magician.
Composing himself, Lea took a few deep breaths before closing his eyes and tightening his brow, concentrating on one word: keyblade. He owned it, willed it and imagined it, determined to be successful in obtaining it. With an outstretched arm, he waited, concentrating solely on that word. But after seconds turned to minutes, his arm flopped down to his side again and his expression turned from concentration to disappointment. "Nothing. This isn't working," he claimed, feeling no different at all except a growing disappointment in his lack of progress. "Why can't I do it?" he asked himself, critical about his poor performance.
Their expressions were easy for Lea to read; he had always been skilled determining what one thought by what they expressed. While Merlin appeared to be contemplating his question as if searching for a correct answer in an exam, the three fairies appeared compassionate despite his difficulties. Well, except one of the three, who was bursting with negative remarks. "I'm telling you, you're not flicking your wrist right!" the pudgy blue fairy insisted, having no sympathy for the student.
"Merryweather!" Flora and Fauna cried in outburst. Merlin did not come to his supporter's rescue, as it was obvious this criticism was completely downgrading and not constructively critical in the least. The fairies needed no further initiative and launched into another dramatic episode. Lea turned his back on the group and walked a few paces away, facing the white walled corner as if shunned by his teachers.
In truth, he was shunning himself. How hard can it be? Am I really that weak that I can't do this? His arms crossed and his eyes closed, shutting out the world and being absorbed in his personal world only he understood. There has to be some other trick to it that I'm just not getting. Why is this so hard for me? I've got to get on top of this.
A light tread behind him broke his concentration, waking him from his trance. A flash of blue to his right startled him only for a moment before he recognized – due to the lightness of foot – that his visitor must be the old coot, not the old grouch. Turning his eyes into slits, Lea said the one thing he had been too hesitant to think in fear of a initiating a wave of distracting memories. "Roxas made it look so easy," he murmured quietly, barely above a whisper.
"Who's Roxas?" Merlin asked, his question appearing genuine and curious, a hand to his beard. Despite working with Master Yen Sid and the keyblade wielders in the past, he had never been informed about Organization XIII's keyblade-wielding and deflecting member, Roxas.
Great, that did it. Lea thought. The tsunami of memories of Roxas overtook him, and scenes of their time together flashed before his eyes. The missions and ice cream treats, the times Roxas made him feel real, their last meeting in the subconscious – all of it came flooding back to him. "A friend of mine," he insisted dismissively, unable to fully control the choke in his voice. Lea was immediately furious with himself. You idiot…control your heart. …Man, I hate this thing sometimes.
Whether Merlin had caught the break in Lea's voice, the previous Nobody couldn't tell. Still, his next appeal to pathos suggested he had indeed heard this momentary weakness, or that he was being nice to Lea for once. "You know I only pretend to be critical," he insisted, his tone as generous as he could manage. Lea's head turned and his eyes met the wizard's, who continued with his speech of praise despite Lea's expression. "You're actually doing quite well, considering you're just starting."
"Actually?" Lea questioned, completely composed and wanting to regain his emotionless facade. There's no way I'm letting THIS guy know I care about things. "That's a backhand compliment right there," the bad boy insisted in the most sarcastic, unfeeling way he could, standing cross armed and cheeky, completing the effect with an rebellious facial expression accompanied by the mischievous glint in his eyes.
This made Merlin laugh; he was clearly amused by Lea's cover-up. "Well, I'm giving you a compliment, am I not?" Lea didn't respond except to twist his lips into his devilish grin. Merlin continued with his task, getting down to business. "Now, your form isn't the problem; it's your thought process. When you think of a keyblade, what do you think of?" he asked his pupil, who now clearly displaying real interest in this conversation.
"Hmm," Lea thought, turning away and closing his eyes for a moment to think. First off, where does he get these questions? I feel like I'm taking a pop quiz. Second, what really is a keyblade? Guess I didn't study enough for this. After a few moments, Lea opens his eyes and responds impassively with a shrug of his shoulders and half-hearted answer. "…a powerful weapon, I guess."
"Is that all?" Merlin asked, appearing legitimately surprised that this is all Lea thought about such a marvelous, intricate, and complex tool. When Lea did not present any more alternatives, Merlin fed him another question. "What does it get its power from?"
Lea contemplated this angle again, determined to answer it correctly and not completely bomb this test. Considering that Sora and Roxas both fought against evil, the keyblade must be created for good intentions and powered as such. But Riku had a keyblade when he fought for darkness too… No, he must just be an exception. Xehanort lost control of his keyblade when he turned to darkness. "Light, right?" Lea commented, still not completely sure but having no better answer.
He was wrong. "No," Merlin insisted, failing Lea on this imaginary assignment. Okay, fine, Lea thought, I don't know, old man! Roxas had one, I liked it, I want one of my own! Merlin continued to explain the process while Lea absorbed every word. "The heart of its wielder," was the wizard's reply in regard to a keyblade's power. "You need to reach deeper in your heart to summon your keyblade."
"And how am I supposed to do that?" Lea remarked provokingly, turning away from the bearded sage. The student uncrossed his right arm and supported it on his left, his outstretched hand making him appear incredulous and defiant but also suggesting he was attempting to grasp an answer. This development had dashed Lea's confidence, but he refused to show it. That's still hard for me, he thought. I've been so used to not having a heart, that it's hard for me to control.
Merlin's response was simple for once. "Practice makes perfect," the old man insisted, nodding in agreement to his own proverb. "Besides," he continued, "you were always one to act on impulse." It was a surprise to the old man when Lea, his back still turned to his teacher, drew his arm back and started laughing heartily as if Merlin was funny. "What's that for?" he asked his pupil, who seemed to be in an unstoppable laughing cycle.
Lea turned back to Merlin while trying to stop laughing, hands on his hips and tears in his eyes. "I'm just remembering that prank I played on you when I was fourteen," Lea recollected, trying to control himself. Upon seeing the old wizard stroking his beard with a confused expression, Lea lost it again, wrapping his arms around his chest as he burst out again. Between laughter spells he was able to explain which of the many pranks he was referring to. "The one where I snuck into your house and switched all of the bottle labels."
Lea kept laughing, but Merlin was not amused. The old man was shocked momentarily at this being the cause for Lea's outburst before remembering he had been the one who was pranked. Truly appearing angry, his face turned red and cross before he began his reprimand. "I thought I taught you a lesson!" the sage remarked, poking Lea in the stomach with his walking stick as a reminder of the rebel's previous pain.
Lea was beginning to calm down. "Hey, the punishment was worth it to see the look on your face," the student insisted, not remembering the aftermath but instead the process and gain of his adventure. "Your beard was blue for a week!" he remembered as the details of that day came back to him in a flash. He and his accomplice had snuck into the old wizard's home while Merlin was out, crept over to his chemistry set and switched certain labels on jars. When his friend left in fear of being caught, Lea stayed behind to see the result. As soon as Merlin mixed two of the chemicals, a puff of blue smoke had stained his beard and he could not reverse it with magic. Seeing the old magician scramble had sent the hiding teenager Lea in a laughter spell, exposing himself and earning him a ton of punishment. But still, Merlin's beard! Way worth it!
Lea was obviously the only one amused. "Not another word, boy, or you'll get worse this time," Merlin insisted gravely, rapping of Lea's head lightly with his wooden wand. Lea collected himself and prevented his laughter; he was unable to contain his smile, though, and his attempts to do so were definitely amusing. Merlin stared at him hard until he managed to stay serious. "Let's try again." Turning back to the crystal and the fairies, he led the student back to the session. If it could be called that. "Not this again," Merlin remarked in annoyance. While Lea and Merlin had had their own private conversation, the fairies had exploded into another full-blown war, bursting out at one another in a frenzy. "Will you three never stop your bickering?" the wizard demanded, attempting to separate the fighters while Lea watched the show.
The main combatants were Flora and Merryweather, as per usual. And as expected, the argument had somehow drifted from the blue fairy's cruel remarks to the typical battle of the colors. Only this time it was an active fight. "Pink!" Flora insisted, firing a blast at Merryweather. The pudgy fairy was able sidestep the spell, causing it to strike a white column, resulting in a pink stain on its flawless white stone.
"No…blue!" Merryweather exclaimed, firing a counterattack at her opponent. Flora was also able to avoid the blow by ducking under it. It flew over her head and hit the person standing behind her who was trying to break up the fight. Merlin's beard was once again blue. It wasn't the same shade of cobalt as the experiment explosion had resulted in, but Merlin's baffled face accompanied by his cerulean beard threw Lea into a hysterical laughing fit. The fairies stood in shock for a moment muttering to one another before joining Lea in his gaiety, laughing their heads off while Merlin looked like his head was about to blow.
"You think this is funny!" the old man shrieked, resulting in even more uncontrollable laughter. Now Lea was clutching his sides as if his ribs were about to explode, and Merryweather and Flora laughed as rambunctiously as ever. Only Fauna attempted to control herself, but even she couldn't stop herself from dying of laughter. Merlin clutched his wand so tightly he could have broken it, and his face, hot with anger, should have been more than enough warning about his near eruption. "I have had enough of your arguments!" he proclaimed, pointing his stick at the three fairies. "One more squabble between you three, and I'll turn you all into Heartless!" This caused everyone to quickly sober up – even Lea was surprised at the intensity in Merlin's face. He seemed so mad, the fire controller could almost imagine the flames of anger surrounding the magician. Of course, Lea doubted the old sweetheart would carry through with this threat, but his intensity… And in that moment, Lea had a greater respect for Merlin than he had ever had before – Merlin had scared him.
After a few moments of tense silence, Merlin released the fairies from his hard glare, and they came back to life, breathing as if afraid to and muttering quietly among one another. With a few unintelligible statements and a few sweeping movements of his magical hands, Merlin had removed the stain from his facial hair, reversing the situation though his words did not disappear. "Back to our lesson," he declared, regaining his calm, scholarly nature. The fairies turned to him and nodded in agreement, Flora still pale from fear, Fauna concerned but unafraid (as she had done nothing wrong), and Merryweather seemingly pacified. The wizard turned to Lea, reminding him of their private conversation's purpose. "Try summoning your keyblade again. This time, focus on your heart's inner power."
"And don't forget to –" Merryweather cut herself short when all eyes fell on her in hard warning glares. Her hands flew up to her mouth as she watched Merlin fearfully, knowing she should have held her tongue. I didn't think she had it in her, not after what Merlin said, Lea thought. I mean, even I wouldn't have it in me to stand up to him right after he said that…and that's saying something. The awkward silence only lasted for a moment before Lea shuffled his feet as if taking up a stance in which he thought he would most easily summon his keyblade, sure he would now obtain his prize.
All eyes were on him now, so he closed his, more relaxed than his previous attempts, seemingly at peace now knowing the secret. Focus on my heart's light. Focus… Lea thought, reaching deep inside of his heart. This feeling is so familiar, yet so strange. …Find the light. What is your light? What is light in your life? Light… Through his closed eyelids he saw a blinding flash of light and cringed at the intensity. I've done it! he proclaimed to himself, opening his eyes in full anticipation of his personal keyblade.
Instead he found his hand was still empty, outstretched and clutching air. He blinked a few times, trying to make sure he wasn't just imagining it. But it was true; he had not summoned his keyblade. "Come on…" he said quietly, again distraught in his failure. "I thought I had it," he insisted, staring at his empty hand before letting his arms hang down, not caring that he was showing emotion.
"Don't worry, dear. You'll get it," Flora insisted, resuming her role as Lea's personal cheerleader. Fauna nodded in agreement, but Lea didn't see it. His eyes were glazed over – he was losing himself to his thoughts again. Is it because I don't know what my light is? What is my light? I haven't had any light for so long…even when I still did have a heart. And any light I do have is always…taken away.
Lea awoke himself from his zombie-like nature and flooded his mind with a number of other questions. "Well, what was the flash?" he asked, completely regaining his normal disposition. If it wasn't my keyblade, what was it? The only other thing in this room besides us is…
"The crystal." Merryweather stated, finishing Lea's thoughts. While Flora and Fauna had been watching their student, Merryweather had turned to see the orb glowing with a lavender glow, igniting the entire room in its purple hue. Lea was mesmerized by this light, its brightness seeming to generate a warming heat Lea found comforting in a way.
"Strange…it isn't self-activating," Merlin noted pensively as they all approached the glowing sphere. Lea heard the comment but dismissed it. Let him think what he wants. This light…it's so familiar… The purple gave way to white smoke, and from within its swirls a scenario arose. It featured Riku in a white room Lea easily recognized as the Room Where Nothing Gathers, the meeting place for the Organization. The keyblade wielder looked incredulous as he turned slowly, gawking at the seats. The point of view shifted, focusing on the seats as jets of darkness poured into a seat before receding, revealing someone dressed in a black Organization cloak. The view scanned the entire gang, resting momentarily on the face of someone Lea had never thought he'd see again: Xemnas. Directly next to him was Braig – another surprise. So this is where he's been the entire time? Lea also vaguely recognized the being sitting parallel to Xemnas as Ansem, the Seeker of Darkness, also known as Xehanort's Heartless. The seat in between them, originally occupied by Xemnas, had a flow of darkness streaming into it, yet the dark being was not satisfied enough to emerge.
"What's happening here?" Merryweather asked, but everyone ignored her, especially Lea. He was completely enamored in this vision. Is this real? What in the world is this?! I was there for every full Organization meeting, and Riku was never there, or Ansem! And Xemnas and Xigbar never sat there – I've never seen this. This never happened. Is this happening now? He focused again on the vision as it continued to scan over the cloaked members, many wearing their hoods to hide themselves. Who are they? As the view focused back on the conversation between Riku and a cloaked figure Lea did not recognize, Lea started to see what was behind him.
Sweet hearted Fauna noticed Lea flinch. "What's wrong?" she asked, stunned by his suddenly concerned expression. This wasn't the only feeling behind Lea's disposition. Desperation, longing, triumph, and terror were swirled in a large mess of conflicting emotions when Lea saw who sat in the chair. "Roxas!" he exclaimed, stepping closer to the ball, not believing what he saw. Yet he didn't dare blink – he didn't want this to be a lie.
"Who? Where?" Merryweather asked, drawing closer to the crystal ball. She and the other two fairies now came closer as well, stunned by Lea's sudden outpouring of emotion. Merlin hung back in his own contemplative state, pondering different angles to this case instead of being consumed by emotions.
That's what Lea was – consumed by his emotions. "There!" he pointed assuredly at the sleeping character. The closer his finger got to the orb, the hotter it burned, but Lea didn't notice. All he saw was his best friend he thought was gone forever sitting comatose in a chair, guarded by an evil-looking cloak-wearing fiend. This makes no sense…but I don't care.
"Lea, that's Sora," Flora insisted, pointing to Roxas just as Lea did. He watched her hand in his peripheral vision for a tremor of hesitation or at least shock from the heat, but neither expression revealed itself – she was serious.
Lea refused to take his eyes off his best friend. "No. I see Roxas," he insisted firmly, pulling back from the crystal and clenching both fists in utter bewilderment at these strange events and the surge of emotions he felt. He was worried for his friend, but now confused. Is that Sora? Why do I see Roxas? Or do they see Sora, and it's really Roxas? WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?!
"What's even stranger is that these scenes aren't in this world," Merlin commented. With this, the perspective shifted from Riku and the cloaked man and their muffled conversation to the seat of Number I, which still was unfilled but a form began to take shape. Suddenly a bright flash filled the crystal, and when it was lifted the moment reacted as if a screen had been paused. The entire vision was coated in a blue purple light, and everything was frozen.
Merlin's statement and this pause allowed Lea to recuperate. Okay, you need to think about this, not only rely on emotions. Continuing to stare at the orb, he crossed his arms and entered his own world, trying to sort things out. Is this really happening? …State the facts first, then the theories. This is taking place in The Room Where Nothing Gathers in the Castle That Never Was in the World That Never Was. Xemnas is there, but he was defeated by Sora, or so Mickey told me. Ansem was killed by Sora in their first journey. Brag is there…no…that looks like Xigbar. Braig didn't have a ponytail or grey streaks in his hair – only Xigbar did. So is that Braig or Xigbar? …that doesn't matter. He hasn't been spotted since the other apprentices and I all woke up, meaning he could have been there. I don't know who that other guy is, but Riku is there. Master Yen Sid said he couldn't find Riku, so this could be where he has gone. The person in the chair is either Sora or Roxas – either way, they are unconscious. …But who are the others? And what is happening here? When did it happen – in the past? Now? Lea reflected on his contemplation session – he didn't really answer any of his questions.
Lea didn't have any more time to think about it. The crystal recaptured his full attention when dark ripple effects broke the frozen image, resuming the scene. The view remained on the highest seat in the circle, but the character had fully been restored. In the boss' seat sat an old balding man with dark skin, a silver goatee, pointed ears and yellow eyes. He wore a white and black coat with a red liner over a white shirt; white gloves and black boots completed the outfit. To Lea, he appeared to be a feeble old man, but the gasps of the fairies and sage told Lea there was so much more to this man than meets the eye. "Who's that?" Lea asked the others, not taking his eyes off the strange sight.
"Master Xehanort!" Merryweather gasped. This was the first time Lea had heard actual terror in the blue fairy's voice. True, he hadn't known her long, but she had not been afraid of Merlin enough to keep quiet, yet here she was, not saying a word other than a fear-filled response as to who this old man was. This made Lea immediately alert.
The other fairies were just as concerned as Merryweather. "But that's impossible!" Flora insisted as if trying to believe this was a bad dream. Lea wanted to believe it too. Despite being glad at seeing Roxas again, Lea knew that if this was real, Roxas was in big trouble. Or Sora. Whoever.
"Oh, dear!" Merlin exclaimed silently, as if afraid to raise his voice. Lea took his eyes off the crystal to study the others for a moment. The three fairies were hushed and subdued, their little wings alert as if ready to fly in retreat at any moment. While Flora appeared unconvinced and doubtful, Fauna and Merryweather clearly believed this scene as Fauna was clearly concerned deeply and Merryweather was incredibly fearful. Merlin clutched his cane tightly to support himself as he stroked his beard anxiously. Lines of worry creased his face and he had paled considerably. Seeing them like this almost made Lea scared. Almost.
"Who is he?" Lea asked, the name not ringing a bell. He had known a Xehanort, but they did not look anything alike in age or appearance. In fact, that Xehanort had been where both Xemnas and Ansem the Seeker of Darkness had come from, therefore he could surely not be here if both of his counterparts were. And this character had been given the title "Master". Why?
"He's the whole reason there is a keyblade war, dear, and everything related to it," Fauna stated gravely, the normally sweet lilt in her voice giving way to worry. Her elderly face, usually in a loving – almost grandmotherly – expression, was knit in tight concentration and concern; she did not look away from the ball as she spoke. A tense silence followed as the scene continued, this Master Xehanort character having a muted conversation with someone below him. Lea still didn't really understand this, but he did take understand this: Note to self: Master Xehanort is evil. Hate Master Xehanort. …Done.
"Merlin, is this real?" Lea inquired, studying the new scene closely. The vision had shifted to looking straight down again as the other members did, watching Riku and Mickey, who seemed to have just appeared out of nowhere. Now Lea was even more confused. I just saw him not too long ago. …if this happened before, he most likely would have mentioned it, so this has to be a current event. If it is real. I really hope it isn't, or we may have a big problem here.
Merlin's answer was not much of a comfort. "It's highly possible," the genius remarked, watching the scene in fascination. Now Lea was worried…and confused. If this is possible, it has to be happening right now; otherwise Mickey would have surely said something. But how are Xemnas and Ansem there? They're dead! And is Braig really Braig, or is he Xigbar? Who was that other guy? And is that Roxas or Sora? …This is definitely a strange vision. But for now, I must assume this is real.
As the scene progressed, Lea's desperation grew. Roxas's chair was raised above the rest. Mickey and Riku turned to see this and tried to stop it. But as Mickey jumped up the tall pillars, he was trapped in a violent choke hold by Xemnas. Riku was pinned by Ansem before he could even attempt a rescue. Lea could read their expressions: anger, fear, and desperation. He knew this was urgent; the suspense welled up inside him as he watched. "Someone has to help!" he insisted urgently, but no one moved. What could they do? The view shifted back to Master Xehanort, who now stood on his chair at the same level as Roxas. With some magical gestures of his hands and a point of his keyblade, a bright orb was fired at the cataleptic keyblade wielder. Filled with sudden dread, a desperate thought crossed Lea's mind: Once whatever that is hits Roxas, he'll be gone forever. "No!" he shouted, trying to reach Roxas through the crystal itself.
Lea hadn't felt the heat until it was too late. Upon contacting the crystal it exploded, knocking him back hard. He scrambled to his feet frantically before bewilderment took over. He was uninjured; the others had not been moved. The crystal ball itself was still there, and purple light again filled it completely. However, the entire scenario they just witnessed inside the orb had escaped – it was now an illusion in their midst. Lea turned around incredulously just as Riku had earlier; however, the silver-haired hero now walked defiantly to Mickey's side, joining him in protesting this villain. Lea didn't know what to think or say. "What is this?" he asked puzzled; it was all he could think to say.
Merlin was surveying the scene as well, but his expression seemed hopeful in a positive way. "It seems as if what we just saw was a vision of the future, and these are the events in real time," he stated intellectually. Lea was mystified by this but accepted the explanation without question, whirling around quickly in hopes of seeing Roxas still alive, even in the form of an illusion.
How is that possible?" Flora asked the magician, uninterested in the repeat of events. However, Lea wasn't listening – he had found the cause of his distress. It wasn't Roxas. The fairies were right. It was Sora.
"We did compress the time of this world – perhaps that's the cause." Merlin's comment was unheeded by the hopeful firelocks who gazed at the sleeping illusion of the keyblade wielder…Roxas' Somebody.
"I can't let that happen to Sora!" Lea exclaimed, wielding around to face his instructors, a new fire in his eyes. He may be Sora, but Roxas is still in there! And I promised…best friends forever. Lea was reckless but resolved. "I'm going to help," he insisted firmly, hoping he would not be questioned.
Merryweather was the first to raise an argument. "Are you crazy?" she exclaimed overbearingly, having a hard time appearing worried and mad at the same time – she just seemed whiny as always. "You can't just rush in there with no plan at all!"
"I've got to go. I promised I'd always get my friends back – that includes Sora too." Lea was determined and would not be dissuaded; he stood defiant, fists clenched at his sides and his face hard as stone. But as he argued uselessly, he saw the events continue and knew he was losing valuable time.
"But you can't fight them all by yourself," Fauna insisted, clearly concerned for his well-being. Lea ignored them. He didn't need a plan – he would make it up as he went along. He wasn't worried about what would happen to him, but only about what would happen to Sora – and in extension, Roxas. Lea wasn't scared; he was angry, cocky, and ready to destroy – he was Axel all over again. And nothing would stop him.
"Ladies, let him go," Merlin insisted, saving Lea the trouble of leaving without a leave. "We mustn't delay him any longer," the understanding wizard remarked, turning their attention back to the current events. Mickey and Xehanort appeared near the end of their conversation, and everyone had seen what happened next.
"Oh, all right," Flora gave in, resigning the reproaches for all three fairies. "Be careful, dear," she pleaded, the genuine concern in her tone surprising Lea. It's almost as if…they care. Why? Oh, right, they care because they have hearts…right? Or is there something more… No matter what the reason, this small extension of emotion touched him.
"I'll try," Lea responded honestly, thanking his instructors with a smile. It was the least he could do. Turning from them, he extended his hand and opened a path, hoping he could get there in time using the Corridors of Darkness. What will I do when I get there? No time to think about it – I'm sure my natural skills will kick in.
He was stopped one more time, but this was a necessary precaution. "Lea, I wouldn't rely on your keyblade yet," Merlin warned his young fire blazer. "It's too unpredictable." With a solemn nod Lea summoned his two Chakrams and dashed into the portal, working out this play in his head and how he should execute it.