Here is chapter nineteen. Thank you Grim Reaper Kid, caitlinkeitorin, and kiyohunter for reviewing last chapter!

Chapter Nineteen: Choices

Mala chewed her lips as she paced around the empty barracks. It'd been a couple of days since she'd helped Gillick escape, and ever since she'd been thinking about what Tollun had said. Send an assassin after Gillick? She sighed heavily. She knew Trevor hadn't disobeyed the order from the expression he'd worn since receiving the order. But it was hard to believe he'd actually done it.

She felt guilt gnaw at her conscience. She knew about the assassin, so she could try and track down Gillick and warn him. After all, what was the point of saving him if he was just going to be killed anyways?

She stopped, shaking her head abruptly. No, she couldn't do that; the leader of the Light Army knew what he was doing. If he thought Gillick was becoming a threat, well…truth be told, it wasn't that surprising. Besides, she didn't even like him; he'd even stated that himself.

She heaved another sigh and restarted her pacing.

Of course, Gillick wasn't her only problem right now. There was also the matter of Riun. Last she knew, he was being confined in one of the many rooms in the massive fortress, and was being kept tightly under guard. For a relatively harmless kid, the actions seemed pointless. She supposed…Tollun could think he was a Dark Army spy…but, to Mala, that seemed unlikely.

But then again, how much did she really know about this boy? She'd traveled with him for a while, sure, but he could still have hidden motives…

She stopped pacing, hanging her head. She was a thief; thieves were supposed to be clever. They had to be able to figure out various different things that could happen, and prepare for them. Yet, right now, this ability seemed to be more of a hindrance than an aid.

The sound of footsteps sounded behind her, and she whipped around to see Trevor walking in. "There you are," he commented. His voice sounded almost normal, except for the undercurrent of depression running through his voice. "Most of us are in the Dining Hall, you know."

"I know," she replied quietly. "I just…didn't really feel like going."

Trevor sighed. "Probably not a good idea. Come on." He turned on his heels and left.

Mala remained where she was for a few seconds, thinking. Should she go? She'd rather stay here and think, but…well, it didn't seem to be getting her anywhere. Besides, this would give her a chance to get to know the Light Army Keybladers better. She turned and walked slowly out the door.

Trevor obviously had decided not to wait up for her. Since she'd spent so much time exploring the base, she didn't mind too much. Her footsteps echoed softly off the stone floor as she made her way towards the Dining Hall.

Upon entering, however, she began to regret her decision. The room was filled with people and noise. Instinct told her to slink into the shadows and stay out of view. She had to remind herself that she was working with the Light Army now, and that she had nothing to fear from these Keybladers. Taking a deep breath, she made her way towards one of the tables.

A Keyblader looked up at her as she sat down. "Hey, you're that non-Keyblader recruit, right?"

"Yep," she replied, trying to calm her nerves. She extended a hand with a smile. "I'm Mala."

The Keyblader took her proffered hand and gave it a small shake, returning the uneasy smile. "Kale."

And that was about where their conversation ended. Mala wasn't sure whether she preferred the silence or not. She slowly ate the food placed before her, trying to ignore the awkwardness she was feeling.

"The Dark Army!"

Heads all around the Dining Hall shot up at the words. Mala looked around for who'd been shouting them, her eyes finally landing on a person panting in the doorway. One of the Keybladers stood. "What about the Dark Army? What's going on?"

The other Keyblader took a deep breath. "It's…coming here," he panted, leaning against the doorway.

"What?"

"I…saw them…on the horizon."

Another one of the Keybladers stalked forward and picked up a small human. "This is your doing," she hissed, holding him by the collar of his shirt.

Mala's heart lurched as she saw who it was. Riun. She hadn't even realized they'd brought him in.

The boy was looking at the Keyblader in confusion and fear. "What?" he asked, voice shaking slightly.

"Don't play dumb," the Keyblader hissed. "We all know you're a spy for the Dark Army."

Someone else put a hand on the antagonistic Keyblader's shoulder. "Calm down. We don't know that."

"And, in any case, that's the least of our worries."

Mala jerked her head back around at the sound of Tollun's voice. His eyes were flowing over the assembled Keybladers, aiding to his already-commanding presence. "What do you want us to do, Master Tollun?" Trevor asked, standing slowly.

"We'll meet them before they reach us," Tollun replied calmly. "Then we'll send them back where they came from!" There were cheers from the assembled Keybladers before they began filing out of the Dining Hall. Mala wanted to reach Riun, but was unable to through the current of people.

It didn't take long for her to be pulled outside. The Keybladers spread out as they made their way down the mountainside, allowing her more freedom of movement. She looked around, trying desperately to find Riun. She didn't like that his loyalties were with the Dark Army, but…she couldn't honestly make herself believe he was a spy.

Trevor found her before she could find Riun. "You nervous?"

She shrugged. "No." It was a lie, but she had other things she needed to worry about besides Trevor.

He snorted, amusement sparkling in his eyes as if he recognized that she wasn't being truthful. "Good." He turned his head away from her, and back towards the dark mass that was approaching them on the horizon. "When you're fighting for the sake of the Light Army, it's not good to be scared."

His words made her remember something else. "Is that why you sent the assassin after Gillick? For the sake of the Light Army?"

He wouldn't meet her gaze. "Yes."

"But…don't you feel any regret?" she asked.

"Of course I do."

"Then…why obey the order…?"

He sighed heavily. "I belong to the Light Army. I can't disobey the order; it would mean I was being disloyal." His eyes grew darker. "That's how I got promoted to general, you know; I was willing to fight and try to kill my brother for my army."

"But why did you have to-"

"Come on, we should get moving," Trevor interrupted. He hurried forward through the mob of Keybladers.

Mala, however, stopped where she was. She thought about what the young general had said with a heavy heart. She admired his loyalty; it would be hard for her to do something like that, even for the Light Army. And it made her wonder all the more about what she should do.

She tried to shake off her worries. Gillick…Gillick will be fine. He's a good fighter. But she couldn't help remembering the wounds he'd had. He'd had no choice but to ask for help, which was something he seemed reluctant to do. And…the Light Army wouldn't hurt Riun. He's just a little kid, after all. But the way he was being treated made her feel nervous.

She shook her head forcefully and hurried forward.

The approaching members of the Dark Army slowed and stopped as the Light Army neared. Mala pulled her bow off her back, knocking an arrow in preparation. She scanned the ranks of the Dark Army, noticing how small they seemed compared to the much larger group of Light Army Keybladers. She frowned. Why send such a small group…?

She froze, an idea suddenly blazing into her mind. What if they were just the frontrunners for an ambush. She remained where she was while the other members of the Light Army continued forward, looking over her shoulder and watching for any sign of an attack from behind.

Voices drifted towards her from where the two armies stood. She slowly shifted her gaze so that she could see what was happening down below her. She couldn't make out what they were saying, but she could still see their actions. Tollun was talking to an unfamiliar member of the Dark Army. For the moment, they seemed calm.

A movement caught her eye. She whipped her head around, lifting her bow instinctively. When she noticed nothing, she slowly lowered her weapon, turning her attention back to the Keybladers below her.

Tollun seemed to be growing angry. The Dark Army Keyblader, however, still seemed calm. Hoping to get a better idea of what was being said, Mala let her gaze travel over some of the other Keybladers of the Light Army.

Her blood ran cold when she saw a small figure standing in amongst their ranks, guarded on both sides by stern looking Keybladers. Riun! Why did they bring him here? Didn't they realize it was dangerous to bring a little kid onto potential battle ground.

Her ears perked up at the sound of rattling stones. She whipped around, this time managing to catch a glimpse of someone dashing for cover. Her reflexes acted before her mind did; her arms jerked her bow up and sent an arrow flying. The projectile missed, but it was enough to startle the person out of hiding. She could see armor glinting in the light of the sun. "Ambush!" she called, stringing another arrow and sending it flying.

She wasn't sure whether it was her words or her actions that caused the Keybladers to spring into action. All she knew was that the formerly calm terrain was suddenly filled with the sounds of battle. She sent arrows flying towards assailants now plunging down the mountainside. She grinned as her injured opponents fell to her flying projectiles. She knew it wouldn't be long before she ran out of ammunition, but she also knew there were still more Light Army Keybladers here than Dark Army; this battle wouldn't last for too long.

That thought, however, made her feel a pang of nervousness. When the battle was over, the first person they'd probably blame for the ambush was Riun. Who knew what they'd do to him afterwards? She glanced over her shoulder towards the fighting below her. If he survives.

She was forced to return her attention to the forces coming down on top of her. As she shot an arrow, she couldn't help feeling a returning sense of guilt at the fact that she wasn't doing anything to protect Gillick from the assassin. Why should I care? she hissed silently, releasing her second-to-last arrow. It's not like he does.

But she did want to protect Riun. And, if anyone could keep him safe from the Light Army, much as she hated to admit it, it was him.

Light Army Keybladers had joined her in fighting the enemies on the sloping mountainside. If she wanted to save Riun, now was the time. Mala took a deep breath, feeling her heart squeeze. I'm sorry, Trevor; I'm not as loyal as you. She turned and dashed down the slope, lifting her voice to call out, "Riun!"

The battle surging before her caused her to stop short. This wasn't like the ambush, where she could pick off enemies before they reached her. If she wanted to find Riun…she was going to have to go into the thick of the fighting. "Riun!" she called, taking a step forward. Then a Keyblader bumped into her, and she fell to the ground.

Her courage was quickly deserting her. She couldn't go into a battle like that! She had to run…had to get out before she was killed…

She was about to turn and flee when she heard a familiar voice. "Mala!"

She whipped her head around, relief blazing through her. "Riun!" she cried as he dashed towards her.

"The battle started," he panted, "and then, all of a sudden, I was surrounded and being pushing around everywhere." He was shaking, and his eyes betrayed his fear.

"Don't worry," she whispered to him, trying to master her own fear. "The two of us are going to get out of this battle. Then we're going to get back up to the fortress and find your Chocobo. We'll get out of here on that, and go to find Gillick."

Riun nodded, his lip quivering slightly. "Ok."

Mala pulled out her last arrow, stringing it on her bow, and gestured for Riun to climb up on her back. He did so without complaint. She stood slowly, and then hurried more quickly off towards the fortress.

By now, the area behind her had become nearly as big a battlefield as the one behind her. She held her breath, trying to ignore the fighting around her as she pushed forward. Just focus on the fortress…focus on the fortress…

A figure suddenly loomed in front of her. She yelped and, without thinking, loosed her arrow. The weapon imbedded itself in the woman's shoulder, causing her to cry out in pain. Mala didn't waste to opportunity; she hurried forward, finally breaking free of the fighting mob.

She didn't look back, despite how much her heart was aching. This was the choice she'd made, and she couldn't go back now.

And there's the end of chapter nineteen. Review?