Sora and Aqua touched down in the middle of a swampy clearing, surrounded by trees.

"Where are we?" Sora asked as their Keyblade Riders and armor disappeared. Aqua smiled.

"Magician's Bayou. It's a world that many of the most powerful practitioners of magic come to visit, usually for various magic items or other things. This is the best place to help you learn the Shoot Locks." Aqua said as she spotted a dirt path.

"What's the difference from a Shoot Lock and a Command Style?" Sora asked as they started walking along the path.

"Well, in general, it depends on where the power comes from. Command Styles depend on the heart, while Shoot Locks come from the Keyblade and armor. That's why you and I wear these armor plates on our shoulders." Aqua explained.

"That and to summon the armor when we need it." Sora said as Aqua chuckled.

"Well that goes without saying." Aqua replied as they entered into a peaceful looking town made of simple wooden shacks and shanties. Some of the chimneys on the stacks were belching smoke of various colors, like red, blue, or green.

"This is it?" Sora asked as Aqua chuckled again.

"Yep. The wizards like to live simply here." Aqua said as they walked through the town. It was quite larger than it seemed, several twists and turns on the muddy ground and sturdy wooden ramps, led to different areas of the town. Aqua seemed to be searching for one place in particular. They came to a stop outside a large two story mansion on the edge of town.

"Who lives here?" Sora asked.

"The wizard who taught Ven, Terra, and I practically everything we know about Shoot Locks. I should warn you though; she's a bit of um…an experience." Aqua said as Sora scratched his head curiously.

"Okay?" he said confused as they approached the door. Aqua was about to knock when the door magically opened on its own. They looked at each other and shrugged before slowly entering the grand mansion.

"I see that I have two visitors. Better be good, or I'll toss you out like bad transistors." A haughty woman's voice echoed down the hall.

"I forgot about her penchant for speaking in rhyme." Aqua mumbled with an amused smile.

"Forgotten so much in so little time? Quite entertaining it is to speak in rhyme." The woman said as Sora and Aqua entered a well lit room adorned with lavish and decorative rugs from worlds far and wide. On one wall were nearly fifty diplomas and several boxes full of assorted magical items. There was a couch along a wall with a window behind it and sitting against the adjoining wall was a small red chair. Sitting in the chair was a very short woman with a small black nose and pointed ears. Her hair was blond and in a pair of short pigtails. She wore a robe with black and white stripes, gold linings, and two matching gauntlets. Resting against the chair next to her was a staff with a red gem embedded in the top.

"Professor Shantotto, the greatest wizard around." Aqua said as the tiny woman chuckled and hopped off the chair. She was so short, the top of her head only reached Sora's jaw.

"I see you remembered my name, and acknowledged my fame. Aqua, so faithful and trusting, after eleven years I thought your skills would be rusting." Shantotto (Final Fantasy XI) said with a smile.

"Professor, this is-." "Sora, chosen by destiny's light. Here to learn Shoot Locks to drive off the night." Shantotto explained with a nod to the young Keybearer.

"Wha-! You know my name?" Sora asked as Shantotto laughed heartily.

"But of course I know your name. For it is losers like you that I must tame. And my race, before you ask, is known as Tarutaru and in my presence, you may now bask." Shantotto said, semi-insulting Sora.

"Did she just-." "Call you a loser? Yeah get used to it, she does that to everyone." Aqua said as Shantotto laughed again.

"My this is going to be such fun. It's been a long time since I've had someone to run. But first, before we go much further, tell me your tales for I've been waiting with such fervor." Shantotto said, motioning for them to sit down. Sora and Aqua both sat down on the couch while Shantotto took the chair.

"Well, where would you like us to begin?" Sora asked. Shantotto shrugged.

"Begin where you will, if you please. I find things go easier with some crackers and cheese." Shantotto said as she snapped her fingers and a tea cart filled with various teas, crackers, and assorted cheeses appeared in a burst of smoke.

"Don't eat or drink anything." Aqua whispered, making a cutting motion with her hand across her neck. Sora got the message.

"Well, I guess we could start with when Aqua and I first met. I washed up on the shores of the Realm of Darkness…" Sora started to explain.

A few minutes later…

"Then we defeated the Twilight Thorn and left Axel in Twilight Town before we came here." Sora finished explained as Shantotto took a sip of tea.

"Ah, a resounding tail, but the lack of details is where you fail. But all of this is now irrelevant, for an old wind bag comes, and is about to rant." Shantotto said with an amused smile. Merlin then burst in an annoyed expression.

"Now-now-now see here madam! I will not have you calling me old! I mean really!" Merlin said crossing his arms.

"Merlin! It's you!" Sora exclaimed as the wizard turned to the young Keybearer.

"Sora my lad, how have you been?" Merlin asked with a smile.

"I've been pretty good." Sora replied.

"Good to see you're still young as ever." Aqua said as Merlin laughed.

"Ah, Aqua always good to see you as well. I heard from Leon that you were back, and I must say that I'm quite relieved." Merlin said as Shantotto snapped her fingers, causing a chair to appear behind the wizard. When he moved to sit down however the chair slid backwards, causing him to fall flat on his bum. Sora and Aqua quickly covered their mouths, turning red from holding in their laughter. Shantotto was smiling mischievously.

"Shantotto you-you-you, gremlin!" Merlin spat angrily as he pulled himself into the chair.

"Flattery gets you absolutely and positively nowhere. By the way, whatever happened to all your hair?" Shantotto asked with a sneaky grin. Merlin just scowled and pulled his pipe from his hat, smoking it in annoyance.

"Um, can we get to the topic at hand? Namely teaching Sora the Shoot Locks?" Aqua asked as Sora nodded.

"Yeah, I'm kinda eager to start learning them." Sora said as Shantotto leapt off the chair and grabbed her staff.

"If you insist we go before this becomes an obsession, come with me for class is now in session." Shantotto said as they each followed her out the front door.

"Being the master, you should instruct. It is my job to watch and his…to self-destruct." Shantotto said, pointing to Merlin with a hearty laugh, further annoying the wizard.

"Okay then Sora. Like I said a while ago, the Shoot Locks don't come from the heart like the Command Styles do. They come from the Keyblade and armor. But the thing is that they're all unique to the wielder." Aqua said as Sora pondered.

"I'm not sure I understand." Sora said as he scratched his head.

"Okay, let me put it this way. Every Keyblade wielder has their basic Keyblade right? Like mine here is…oh hang on a second." Aqua said as she pulled the keychain from her Keyblade, causing it to revert to the basic shape.

"This is my basic Keyblade, the Rain Fall Keyblade. It doesn't matter what Keyblade you're wielding at a given time, the same three abilities stay with you regardless of the keychain being used by the Keyblade." Aqua said, placing the keychain back onto her Keyblade, making it revert to the other form, Rain Storm.

"So the basic Keyblade and the armor gives you your Shoot Locks?" Sora asked as Aqua nodded.

"Yes they do. And despite what I said earlier, the heart has a brief role in determining what Shoot Locks you will gain. It's like the heart has a set of blueprints that it works on and alters as time goes on until a Keyblade comes along and gives the blueprints for the Keyblade to work from. The Shoot Locks stay within the Keyblade itself. The heart only updates them and changes them accordingly. They don't gain their power from the heart." Aqua explained as Sora nodded understandingly.

"I think I get it now. So how do they work?" Sora asked.

"The way it works is kinda tricky. You have to aim your Keyblade at your opponent or opponents, using it like the sights on a gun barrel, to mark which enemies you want to target. For some abilities, the targeting aspect doesn't matter and it relies on simply charging the Keyblade with energy. For instance, you've probably noticed me fire off a number of multi-colored bolts of energy on occasion right? That was Rainbow Shower, one of my shoot locks. The one you saw me use in Olympus Coliseum against the Heartless was Shiny Bloom, and the one I used to attack the Twilight Thorn, the one with those magic filled bubbles, was Bubble Blaster. There was also one you almost got creamed with when we were facing Lingering Sentiment. One of Terra's most powerful Shoot Locks, called Ultima Cannon." Aqua said as Sora's smile vanished at the mention of Terra.

"Oh. I see." Sora said. Aqua noticed this and glanced over her shoulder at the two wizards who were watching in silence.

"Okay, hold on. Training's on pause for a minute. What's your problem Sora? You've been all sulky since Twilight Town. Is there something wrong?" Aqua asked as Sora sighed.

"It was something that happened in the old mansion. You called Xehanort something. Something that I hope wasn't, and isn't, true." Sora said as Aqua arched a confused eyebrow.

"I don't remember calling him anything out of the ordinary. Just by his na-…oh." Aqua said as her eyes widened in realization, "I haven't been completely upfront with you have I Sora?"

Sora looked at her with an annoyed look on his face.

"I dunno, have you?" Sora asked, crossing his arms.

"Well…" Aqua said, feeling small.

"Tell me the truth. Why did you call Xehanort, Terra?" Sora asked as Aqua took a deep breath.

"Because…Xehanort, is Terra." Aqua said as Sora looked away in annoyance.

"I knew it! I knew there was something extra to all this!" Sora said angrily.

"Sora, wait! Let me explain!" Aqua said pleadingly as Sora shook his head.

"Xehanort is Terra?! You're trying to reconnect with your friend who happens to be the world's greatest enemy?! I don't believe this!" Sora exclaimed.

"Sora! Please!" Aqua pleaded, on the verge of tears.

"I'm not helping you try and make friends with Xehanort, not after all he's put me and my friends through! His heartless possessed Riku! He stole Kairi's heart! He made the Heartless, which not only destroyed countless other worlds, but my world also! He created Organization XIII through his nobody! An Organization, who shattered my memories and caused me to have to spend a whole year asleep inside a giant pod! A year of my life I can never have back! I've been willing to go this far Aqua, for yours and Ven's sake. But I refuse to go this far for Xehanort." Sora said, turning his back to her. Aqua was on her knees by now, tears flowing.

"Sora! Please! It's not what you think!" Aqua said but Sora ignored her.

"It's time I went off on my own from here. Goodbye…Aqua." Sora said, walking off down the road, leaving Aqua behind on her knees, watching him disappear into the streets.

"Sora! Sora no!" Aqua called out tearfully reaching for him before her arm dropped in defeat. Shantotto and Merlin then approached from behind.

"Ven…Terra. I've failed you both. I've even failed you, Master Eraqus." Aqua sobbed, looking at both hers and Terra's lucky charms.

"You shed your tears in vain. Pursue him so his trust you may regain." Shantotto said as Aqua looked up at them curiously.

"What?" Aqua asked.

"What are you waiting for madam?! Go after him!" Merlin said as he helped Aqua onto her feet.

"But he won't believe me…will he?" Aqua asked as Shantotto laughed heartily again.

"The truth shall set your spirits free, and once again your apprentice he will be." Shantotto said as Aqua nodded with a look of determination.

"Right. I just hope he listens." Aqua said before she ran off, hot on Sora's trail.

Meanwhile…

Sora was walking alone through the streets, still a little upset over the recent confrontation. He suddenly felt himself trip and fall face first into the mud. As he push himself up and wiped the mud off his face, he saw a pair of black and white wing tipped shoes. He looked up to see a dark skinned man in a black suit, matching pants, purple vest, tribal necklace, and a top hat with a skull and crossbones on it with a feather sticking out of the base. He also had a cane with him with a large round purple orb on the top. The man gave a friendly smile on his mustached face.

"Enchanté." The man said smoothly as snapped his fingers and Sora magically was lifted up onto his feet and the mud completely disappeared. The man removed his hat, revealing a head full of matted and curled black hair, "A tip of the hat, from Dr. Facilier. How ya doin'?"

The man put his hat back on and then handed Sora a small white business card. It had a picture of a skull wearing Facilier's top hat on the right and the following written to the left: "Dr. Facilier: Tarot Readings, Charms, Potions, Dreams made real."

"Uh, hello." Sora said as the man slid around to his side, his arm around him, before leading him off down an apparently random street.

"If I were a bettin' man, and I'm not, I stay away from games of chance…unlike others I know…" Facilier said, glaring at a small pink fly on his collar who giggled, but Sora didn't notice, "…I'd wager I was in the company of a mighty warrior from among the stars."

"Wow, does everyone around here know who I am?" Sora asked as Facilier grinned and nodded.

"Why of course, son. You're in Magician's Bayou. A place of true and great magic." Facilier said. Sora looked over his shoulder behind him when he thought he heard Aqua's voice calling for him. Facilier snarled slightly before shoving him into a nearby alleyway. The alleyway led into an open area with a single dead tree in the center and a door with a sign over it. The sign was unreadable due to it being in the shade of the surrounding buildings.

"Step this way my friend, and I can show you magic like you've never seen before." Facilier said as Sora looked at him curiously.

"Really?" Sora asked.

"Oh definitely. It's a dangerous world out there for one as young as you." Facilier said as Sora smiled.

"Well I'm not totally defenseless." Sora said as Dr. Facilier grinned challengingly.

"Oh really? And what might this method of defense be?" Facilier asked as Sora reached out his hand, summoning his Keyblade. Facilier was impressed.

"Well would ya look at this. A Keyblade. My-oh-my it's been quite a while since I've seen one of these beauties. You mastered Command Styles yet?" Facilier asked as Sora shrugged.

"Almost. I've gotten all but my Tier Two Unique Command Style figured out." Sora replied.

"Uh-huh, and what about Shoot Locks?" Facilier asked as Sora looked thoughtful.

"Well…My master had started to teach me about those…but then we got sidetracked and I kinda blew up at her. I wonder if it's not too late to apologize." Sora said as Facilier shook his head.

"Mmm-Mmm-Mmm, not very likely. I foresee that your days of being trained by this woman are over. She won't take you back." Facilier said as Sora looked down in sadness, placing his hand on his chest.

"I…I dunno." Sora said ponderingly.

Nearby…

Aqua was running through the streets, searching for Sora high and low.

"Sora! SORA!" She called before stopping to catch her breath, doubled over with her hands on her knees. When she looked up she thought she saw Ven standing before her, pointing towards a nearby alleyway with a sense of urgency on his face.

"Ven?" She asked as Ven mysteriously vanished. She stood up and looked towards the alleyway curiously. She then saw a single puff of smoke appear in front of her, revealing Shantotto.

"I see your search has yet to fail. I suggest you find him quickly, for this is the Voodoo District in which we now hail." Shantotto said as Aqua looked around. Sure enough, many of the buildings had a number of odd items dangling from the overhangs of their roofs that were clearly Voodoo oriented.

"Voodoo?" Aqua asked as Shantotto nodded.

"Voodoo, a powerful magic it may be, comes at a very great cost to the user and sometimes to thee. Depending on one's intentions the outcome is different. When used for good, your fate is irreverent. When voodoo is used for evil and villainy, one wrong move or broken talisman can doom one's soul to anonymity." Shantotto explained.

"So you're saying, that if you use voodoo for evil, that the practitioner puts themselves at risk as well as anyone they use it on?" Aqua asked as Shantotto nodded.

"Okay then. Anyone in particular I need to watch out for?" Aqua asked as Shantotto nodded again.

"A skilled practitioner lives down the way. A thieving charlatan named Doctor Facilier. He is a criminal and a crook. One of his victims was transformed into a fairy tale book!" Shantotto said as Aqua turned towards the alleyway.

"Where does he live?" Aqua asked as Shantotto turned to face the alleyway as well.

"He lives through there, in a hole in the wall. Be careful, once he makes a deal, the stakes become tall." Shantotto said as Aqua's heart started racing. She could tell that Sora was in there and she quickly summoned her Keyblade before giving chase. Praying that she wasn't too late…

End Chapter 18.

A/N: A quick note regarding the Shoot Locks. There are numerous Shoot locks listed on the Birth By Sleep Wiki page. But for the sake of saving time and space, I'm only reducing the Shoot Locks down to three per Keyblade Wielder.

Also, Magician's Bayou is my world. I made it up, though it is partially based on New Orleans from Disney's "Princess and the Frog."