Disclaimer: I don't own Kingdom Hearts

Chapter 20: Pisces

Damn it not here again. Mika swore to herself. I promised myself that I wouldn't use the Corridors anymore.

Mika floated in the darkness between realms. If she concentrated she could generate a walkway that would lead her to any world she wanted and to worlds she didn't even know existed. At the moment she was content to simply float in the darkness feeling both emotionally and physically lost.

Kairi was just trying to make me feel better after all. So what do I do? Tell her to fuck off and run back here the second things got tough for me. What would she say if she saw you floating here doing nothing? Rin dear I'm sorry that I have strayed so far. I can still remember the contract that brought us together.

-KotH-

Mika was walking through the woods with her newest client, a woman by the name of Rin. The woman was of the same height as Mika. Short dark blue hair framed an innocent face as sapphire eyes stared ahead sometimes darting back and forth as a branch snapped or the wind rustled the leaves to loudly. Now whereas Mika had a warrior's body muscles and scars gained from fighting monsters, Rin had a smaller more "feminine" body. Her skin was pale as a ghost from staying in the house taking care off "womanly" duties and her frame was slender as a twig. That wasn't to say she wasn't a busty woman though and her hips could entrance any man that walked by, or in this case Mika. That was the hard part about liking women. You couldn't really just proclaim it out loud without causing a large scene and many people trying to burn you at the stake for such things. Everyone Mika had run into, other than her younger brother, had thought there was a demon inside of her making her chase after women instead. No one ever caught her though as she was an apt Mage and with a simple Thunder spell she could scare away most idiots.

Rin had contracted Mika into taking her through the Goblin's Forest. At first Mika had been against it as nothing in the forest was enough of a challenge for a mercenary of her skill. Then when Rin offered twenty thousand munny for a simple trip Mika leapt at the offer. The normal rate for going through the Goblin's Forest was only five thousand. Being offered four times the normal pay Mika would have been stupid to pass it up. Now however, walking alongside the silent as a church mouse Rin, Mika started to regret her choice. The woman hadn't spoken since they left the village and that was four days ago. Even after Mika had asked her why she wanted to go through the forest or why she was willing to pay so much for Mika's services the blue haired woman had remained silent. After four days though the silent Rin broke her, well silence, as they reached the halfway marker for the forest.

"Miss Mika I would like to stop here for the day." She said in a soft voice that Mika almost could hear.

Miss Mika. I like the sounds of that. Mika thought to herself as she looked at the woman in confusion.

"Now why would you want to do that?" Mika asked. "It's not even noon yet. There's still over half a day of sunlight left to use."

"Because there is a rare plant that grow around here and it makes the most wonderful blue for painting." Rin said with a smile as she walked off the path and into the woods.

"Oh no you don't" Mika said grabbing Rin's shoulder and pulling her back onto the path. "There are goblins in there and your contract is only for escorting you through the forest."

"Exactly Miss Mika. I plan to travel through the forest. It is not my fault you failed to ask if I planned to use the trail." Rin explained the loophole to Mika her voice no longer soft but commanding. "Or did you think I would pay such high prices for something so easy as an escort on a path. I know the rates for you mercenaries and twenty thousand is still more than enough to cover this expedition into the forest."

The complete one eighty personality had caught Mika off guard. She had been outplayed. This woman had tricked her into doing more work than she had originally thought but the pay was still high. She could always quit and leave Rin alone in the forest but that just wouldn't sit right with Mika later. Especially if anything happened to her after she left.

"Alright smarty skirt, let's go get you this plant." Mika growled as she walked into the forest ahead of her client.

"I'm sorry to have tricked you but I didn't think anyone would come in here simply to help me get a flower. I had already tried three other mercenaries before you and they laughed at me and said 'If a woman wants flowers she should get her man to get it for her.' Then they all offered to show me what real men can do." Rin explained her voice having gone back to the previous soft and almost scared sound.

"Yeah most guys are pigs." Mika stated as they walked deeper into the forest. The trees were becoming more clustered together and Mika could smell swamps on the wind. "Listen do you know where exactly these flowers are supposed to be growing?"

"Yes in the center of the forest on trees that grown near the swamps. The decay of goblins that die in the swamp give life to the trees which in turn provide a special enzyme to these flowers that make their paste a very unique blue. As an artist it is my job to provide my clients with the best paintings I can." Rin told Mika as they continued towards the swamps.

"So you paint for a living?" Mika questioned easily thinking of ten things she would rather do than sit in front of a canvas and paint pretty pictures.

"But of course. I just said that." Rin giggled.

"Right." Mika said as she rubbed the back of her head in unease. "So do you need this for a painting you're doing now?"

"Yes but the painting isn't for a client. I have been working on a painting for myself of a knight and an Ice Dragon but I need this blue for the dragon's underbelly. None of the blues I have seem to match the icy blue of her scales." Rin informed Mika

"So you like those knights in shining armor slaying beasts stories?" Mika questioned

"Oh no." Rin said quickly. "The knight and dragon are working together to stop a dark force from entering the valley. The creatures a very peculiar and I've only seen them in my dreams. They are small and black with large flat feet and they are hunched over. They have round heads and two large yellows eyes. Little antennas twitch on their heads as the waddle about."

"If I ever saw such a funny looking creature I'd laugh myself to death." Mika proclaimed. Such a creature wouldn't make for much sport it sounded. If it did exists it probably won it's fights by making it's opponent laugh itself to death.

"Yes they do appear to be funny looking but a power exists in them and it strikes fear into my heart." Rin said with a shudder. "Oh Miss Mika!" Rin shouted. "There on the bottom of that tree."

Mika followed Rin's line of sight and spotted a blue flower. Its stem was a blood red colour leading up to very pale blue almost white petals. The petals were arranged in a perfect circle like a little landing pad for small insects. Mika went to go and pluck the flower but was stopped as she felt the air around her charge. Recognizing the familiar feel of magic Mika threw up a Shell spell around her and Rin. Lightning converged on the green shield causing cracks to appear in it.

Horse laughter echoed through the forest. The sounds of the forest's inhabitants. Goblins walked out from behind trees and into Mika's view. They were your standard green skinned, ugly as hell, dressed in loin cloths, goblins. There were three wearing bone necklaces and a feathered headdress marking them as shamans. Stupid as goblins were the magic they managed to cast was powerful.

Clutching the spears of the humans they had actually managed to kill six goblins charged screaming their heads off. Reaching over her shoulder Mika grabbed her staff and magically undid the latch holding it on her back. Whipping it over her shoulder the end of the metallic rod slammed into the first goblin's head knocking him out.

"Stay near me Rin" Mika instructed.

The woman nodded her head and stood behind Mike putting the mercenary between her and the goblins. With a smile Mika stood her ground as the remaining five goblins tried attacking her all at once. Two of them tripped over their companions dropping their spears on the ground. Another one of the uncoordinated creatures then tripped on the fallen spear as he tried to throw his and managed to skewer on of the other three charging goblins. This was exactly why Mika had thought there was on challenge in the goblins forest. The idiotic things killed themselves before they even got to you. How anyone managed to lose to them was a mystery.

One lone goblin kept the charge going and thrust the point of the spear towards Mika who swatted it away with her staff and then followed it up with by bringing the staff down on the goblins head like she had done with the first one. As it fell down dead a jet of flame shot out from one of the shamans. Water gushed out of Mika's hand as she pointed her palm at the flames. The opposing elements clashed and canceled each other out. Using the moisture in the air from her attack she crystalized it into ice spears and slammed them into the fallen goblins leaving her with just the shamans to deal with.

Lightning from one of the other shamans flew towards Rin as Mika finished off the goblins on the ground. Unable to cast again so quickly Mika did the only thing she could think of. Spinning herself towards the lightning she extended her staff out. The metal staff acted as a lightning rod and pulled the spell into it and to Mika. As the electricity coursed through her Mika swore loudly. Once the effects of the spell wore off she was pissed to say the least. Sending her own Thunder spell at the creature she ran at it giving the goblin a choice of death by lightning or by angered Mage. It chose the first letting the spell slam into its body. Falling to the ground the goblin twitched a few times before the strength of Mika's spell finished it off.

Turning her attention to the remaining shamans Mika sent a duel jet of ice at them both. Without hesitation the two magic goblins turned tail and ran away from the magical mercenary. With a nod of her head like she expected as much Mika put her staff back into its holder magically sealing the clasps.

"Well let's get your flowers and get out of here before they come back with more." Mika said walking over to the tree where the blue flower sat undisturbed.

Picking the flower up Mika held it out towards Rin who took it in her gloved hand placing it in a large bottle. Together they both searched for more of the flowers and after half an hour of searching they had collected a dozen of them. Rin stated that they would be more than enough for her to use and even experiment with. They walked back to the path they originally deviated from. When they reached the well-worn path and light shone down on them Mika started to feel dizzy. Shaking it off and thinking that it was simply an after effect of the Thunder attack she suffered Mika continued to the path.

"Okay then do you really need to go through the forest to do you want to head back?" Mika questioned as she stood in the middle of the path her thumbs pointing in opposite directions.

"I want to head back Miss Mika. I live in the city where we first met. If you would be so kind as to take me there I would much appreciate it."

"Then let's get going."

This time on the walk through the forest Rin was more talkative. She told Mika of paintings that she had done for clients. Rin was very descriptive of both the people she painted for and the art that she created for them. Apparently Rin's work was in high demand even among the nobles and it was because of them that she was able to sell her paintings cheaper to the regular citizens. Rin never put anything less than her all into any painting so even the common folk could have her best work hanging up in their homes. Her business sense was extraordinary and when Mika asked how she learned all of this Rin told her that her father had been a merchant. The trade routes, buildings, and everything associated with her father's business had gone to her younger brother. Her brother did finance her once in a great while if Rin couldn't find anyone to sell to.

"I don't live off of Siruis' money though." Rin stated sternly. "I have only had to ask for a couple hundred munny once. He did however make it clear that a woman of twenty three should find a man and settle down. 'It is how things are done dear sister' he said."

"I'm twenty two and gladly single." Mika declared with a grin. "Course it's a hell of a lot harder when you go off fighting whenever you please and finding someone to accept that."

"I find it very brave that you put your life at risk to help people."

"It's not always helping someone though. Helping one person can very easily mean hurting another. More often than you'd think I have to fight another mercenary who's been hired to prevent me from doing my job." Mika replied a twinge of sadness in her voice. "It's hard to do sometimes. Even more so when you have to fight someone that saved your life. All mercenaries know that it's a part of our job. Occupational hazard you might say."

"Why do you do it then?" Rin asked in a polite but curious tone.

"The pay's good if you have the skill. I started off in a group but once my skills developed I left and started out on my own. I get to pick my own jobs and get to demand my own prices that I don't have to split with anyone else." Mika told her. "Then there's months where you can't find shit for work and have to resort to doing things like farm work to keep food in your belly."

"Is this one of those months?" Rin giggled.

Mika hung her head. "That obvious?"

"Now that I've gotten to know you better."

"Gotten to know me better? We've been talking for less than a day."

"You wouldn't have come into the forest for the flowers if it wasn't one of those months." Rin pointed out. "This is clear because you seem to think highly of yourself and for good reason. After seeing you take those goblins out and protecting me so easily you must be highly skilled."

The two kept walking back to the village and talking about things they had seen and done. With each sunrise Mika felt a small pain in her hand that went away after she mentally shook it off. After the four days of walking back they came to the village where the two women met. Rin led Mika to her home a small wooden structure that looked like your standard peasant home.

The sun was high in the sky as Mika went to say good bye to her employer. As she reached into her pouch to get the contract and have Rin sign it saying her work was completed Mika once again felt the small pain in her hand. Only this time it didn't go away as she tried to ignore it like before. The small annoyance that had plagued her for the last few days became a roaring fire that ignited her arm in pain. It didn't stop at her arm though as pain continued to cover her entire body.

Seeing Mika in pain Rin opened her door and ran over to Mika linking her arms under the fallen woman's then proceeded to try to drag the mercenary into her home. Mika was much heavy then she looked though and it took a great deal of strength on Rin's part to manage to get her over the threshold. Once they were inside Rin continued to drag Mika towards her bed. With a great deal of effort Rin hoisted Mika onto the bed.

"Just stay here I'll be back with an herbalist." Rin said.

Even through her pain Mika couldn't help but think Yeah like I'm going anywhere.

-KotH-

Afterwards you offered to let me rent out the spare room you had. You said that it could be my base of operations while I was in town instead of staying at the "dusty old inn" that travelers used. The longer I stayed there the less jobs I took. It wasn't long before I joined the city guard to stay closer to you. Mika continued to remember. I still can't believe you were the first one to say I love you. I was in such shock at those three little words. You had showed more courage in that one moment then I have in all my years of living. I know what you'd say to me right now Rin. You'd tell me to stop the pity party and go back to Sora and Kairi. You were always right and even though you're gone, you still are.

With a look of determination on her face Mika created a pathway in the darkness to lead her back to Destiny Islands. In black world that surrounded her a dark blue walkway appeared under her feet and led to a similar coloured portal. As Mika landed on the created pathway she looked upwards. It was as if she expected to see Rin staring down at her from wherever the dead went to. With her eyes set back on to the portal Mika made a mad dash to it. She cleared the short distance in no time at all and walked through the portal with a purpose, a purpose to protect the universe for Rin.

Coming out of the Corridor Mika found herself standing on a top of a tree overlooking the beach she had just left. The sound of a battle caught her attention and she looked closely at the beach. Hovering above the ground with glowing wings and wearing a white dress was Kairi. Next to her also floating above the ground was Sora his outfit now white with black circles on it. He too had a pair of energy wings. The more interesting part about them was the fact they had two Keyblades and seemed to be controlling them telekinetically.

Across from the two was one of the Warriors that Mika truly loathed. Pisces. That rainbow bitch was attacking Sora and Kairi. Strong as the two kids might be Pisces was fighting in her element. As a Water Mage the living rainbow could draw strength from the ocean and use the salty water for her attacks rather than using mana to create the water. A blue bladed scythe was held in her right hand the curved blade looked very much like wave ready to crash down on its victim.

Well I have the element of surprise. Let's see how well Pisces can stand up to a Thundaja. Mika thought to herself as she drew in mana into herself preparing to cast the fourth tier level spell. Pulling her staff into existence Mika channeled the mana into the weapon. Like her brother's Icebrand her staff assisted in the casting of powerful magic. Yellow energy crackled down the staff as more energy was poured into it. When enough mana was gathered Mika pointed it up towards the sky. Black clouds started to gather above her and a single lightning bolt shot down to her staff granting her the power of Thundaja.

"Hey Pisces!" Mika shouted at the woman. "I've always wanted to do this. THUNDAJA!"

Like she did with most spells Mika pointed the tip of her now supercharged staff towards her target and let lose the attack. A very large lightning bolt wider than its caster was tall erupted out of the staff and shot towards the Water Mage.

-KotH-

Back before Mika returned.

Kairi looked up at the speaker to find a woman with white hair kept in a ponytail wearing what was best described as a rainbow dress. As always the white mask of the Warriors covered her face. The fashion atrocity that floated before Kairi made her throw up a bit. A large scythe was in her hand. Clearly the Warriors were mimicking the Organization. Not only did they both have thirteen members but now they were mimicking weaponry. If this woman started to use flowers as an attack Kairi was going to have to consult Naminé on if Marluxia might have come back as a woman.

"Really fighting in heels isn't that hard. You must simply have grace young one." The woman said in a tender tone. "But sadly you won't have the time to learn grace. See my leader has given me the orders to get rid of you little group. I guess it's only fair that I tell you my name. I am Pisces and I will drown you in the very oceans you once played in."

Oathkeeper flew into Kairi's hand as she prepared to fight. She wasn't sure of her ability to fight using the powers of her Drive. It was to new for her to rely on, she could easily make a mistake. Brightcrest stayed floating around her though as Kairi did want to test her ability to control the Keyblade's flight. Sora stood next to her and his wings started to glow more brightly as he left the ground. He pointed one hand towards Pisces and Oblivion shot off like a rocket on course to the rainbow before them.

With a swipe of her scythe Pisces knocked the Keyblade off course. Gesturing with the same hand he used to send Oblivion off with Sora pulled the Keyblade back to Pisces. Water flowed from the ocean and formed a wall behind Pisces stopping the flying Keyblade from reaching its destination. Oblivion returned to Sora in a flash of white light.

"Did you kids not get the hint that I gave you? I control water you half pints." Pisces explained. Water from the ocean floated up to her and formed a sphere around the woman. "The waters you once played in will be the death of you." She said again.

"You wish!" Kairi shouted. "Sora and I can take you down no problem."

The Brightcrest Keyblade spun in a fast circle before it shot a Thunder spell at the water sphere. Before the lightning reached Pisces a small orb of water detached from the sphere and absorbed the attack. The small ball of water floated in the air with electricity coursing through it. The sphere elongated into a spear shape and flew at Sora. Putting his palm up at the spear of water Sore casted Reflect and the attack bounced off harmlessly. With a snap of her fingers though Pisces turned the electric charged water turned to steam.

"Kairi I don't think low level spells are going to cut it. She seems to be a mage." Sora observed.

"Very astute Sora." Pisces congratulated. "I might favour the element of water but I am a very good mage. Good being a relative term mind you."

"So what do I do Sora?" Kairi said quiet enough so that only he would hear. "I don't know any third level spells and only a few second levels. Luna taught me many spells before we started the higher levels."

"Just add more power until it becomes a level two spell." Sora said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Sora you aren't supposed to do it that way. Too much mana is lost in changing it from level one to two that way. There's more to it than simple power." Kairi let out a sigh. "Remind me to teach you the correct way after we defeat the living rainbow."

"Alright we'll attack her together. Let out another Thunder spell and I'll my Thundaga to it." Sora said as Oblivion started to crackle with the power from the spell. "After all water conducts electricity."

Both of Kairi's Keyblades spun around ready to both unleash a Thunder spell. Sora's Kingdom Key floated unchanged next to him. That didn't last long however as Pisces decided she had given them enough time to chat and had sent spears of water at the two. The Kingdom Key moved and intercepted that water strikes. The Keyblades was engulfed in fire as it spun in a circle the intense heat causing the water to dissipate.

"Now Kairi! Thundaga!" Sora shouted as the Oblivion called forth lightning from the sky to zap Pisces.

"Double Cast: Thunder!" Kairi shouted. She didn't fully understand where the information for the spell had come from and simply chalked it up to a Drive ability for now.

Kairi's two Thunder spells hit Pisces' water sphere at the same time as Sora's Thundaga spell. The resulting combination did not have the desired effect however. Instead of shocking the woman inside the sphere simply vanished under the strain. Pisces looked down at the two Keybearers with anger in her eyes. It was clear as day that she didn't even think they would make it past her shield. With a battle cry she flew at Sora her scythe poised ready to strike. As she swung the deadly weapon at Sora the blue blade met the blue blade of Kairi's Brightcrest. This gave Sora the chance to use both of his own Keyblades to attack Pisces. Before the two Keyblades could even twitch Pisces had moved away from the two.

"Naughty children getting rid of my water sphere." Pisces said as if she truly was scolding two kids. "Now you will have to deal with my Ocean Wave!"

True to the spell's name on the beach below the three the water receded. Off in the distance Kairi could see a wave growing. As it came closer to them it grew in size. If that wave hit them they could die by the shear pressure that would be put on their bodies. That didn't even take into account they would be under all that water for who knows how long before they could find the surface. As Kairi stared at the massive wave coming at them Sora took her hand and pulled them both high into the sky far above the reach of the wave, or so he thought.

The Ocean Wave spell was nothing if not adaptable. Water at the bottom of the wave curved upwards. It was an odd sight to see as the bottom of the wave came up at them. It was as if the top had now become the bottom and more importantly Sora and Kairi were still going to be hit.

"We have to break her concentration." Kairi shouted. "A spell that strong would require her to keep a chant going even if only in her head."

As if to prove Kairi right when they turned their gaze to Pisces they could see her lips moving as if she was speaking the chant going on in her mind. Together both Kairi and Sora flew towards the spellcaster. In sync they sent Oathkeeper and Oblivion at her keeping their other Keyblades in case they had need for a defense. Right before their blades hit they veered off and came in again from the sides. This time the two Keyblades cut along Pisces' back and front leaving small gashes. Even with the two attacks landing though the Water Mage continued her chant for Ocean Wave.

Trying a new tactic they grabbed the Keyblades they still had and tried a normal physical attack. Pisces held out her scythe blocking the two vertical slashes to only be hit by the flying Keyblades one again.

"Try stopping my spells now." Kairi yelled. "Double Cast: Blizzard"

From the tip of Kairi's Brightcrest two ice shards appeared and slammed into Pisces who finally had her concentration broken. The water of Ocean Wave fell out of the sky and back into the ocean below. Water from the attack hadn't even reached the land. Flying away and landing on the beach Kairi and Sora started to feel the drain of Drive Form. It wouldn't be much longer before they would have to revert. Pisces landed on the beach in front of them not far from the bridge they used to get to the small circle island.

"Hey Pisces!" a voice shouted from Kairi's left. "I've always wanted to do this. THUNDAJA!"

Feeling the source of the magic all three people on the beach turned to face the source. Standing on top of the tree that the tree house was in was Mika. Black storm clouds were above her and Kairi wondered how they had managed to miss the sky going dark. What was amazing though was the size of the spell that Mika had sent at Pisces. The large lightning bolt rammed into the white haired woman at such a speed that there was no time to throw up a defense. The full impact of the fourth tier spell hit Pisces. A cloud of black smoke and white sand blocked the view of Pisces.

Mika jumped down from her tree and landed with a puff of air next to Kairi. There were trails from where Mika's tears had fallen on her face still but instead of the sadness and anger that Mika displayed when she left a look of determination was on her face.

"It's good to have you back Mika." Kairi said as she dropped out of Drive Form unable to take the strain for much longer.

"Yeah well someone had to get rid of Pisces. I'm just glad you two are okay." Mika said with sincerity.

The smoke around Pisces dissipated and revealed the woman lying face down in the sand her body charred from the blast. Kairi felt the need to throw up but Sora blocked her view of the scorched woman. He too had dropped out of Drive Form.

"Sorry you two had to see that." Mika apologized. Slamming the butt of her staff on the sandy ground Kairi could see over Sora's shoulder the ground under Pisces shift. The charred body was swallowed up by the sand never to be seen again.

"Thank you Mika." Sora said as he moved over to her. "Are you okay now?"

"I should be asking you two that question." Mika said as her staff vanished and she crossed her arms. "What were you two thinking taking on one of the Warriors? Was it not made clear that they should be trifled with and should be brought down with us working as a team?"

"We didn't exactly have a choice. Someone ran away from us." Sora exclaimed throwing his arms into the air.

"That's when you run away and wait for that someone to make a dramatic entrance that saves your hides." Mika returned.

"We had it under control." Sora yelled at her playfully.

"Right and you two didn't drop out of your new Drive From the second I showed up." Mika said with a smirk. "Speaking of which have you two come up with names for those things yet?"

The two teens were caught off guard by the sudden change of subject. Kairi however was the first to respond. "I'm thinking of calling my Valkyrie Form."

"I think I'm going to be simple and call mine Angel Form." Sora stated happily.

"Kairi, nice name. Sora, be original." Mika said. "Anyway we should get going, don't we have a Keyhole to find."

Right on cue a Keyhole appeared up in the sky. Whatever force controlled when they appeared had a bad sense of humor. Taking her Oathkeeper Kairi pointed it to the sky and the beam of light shot out and into the Keyhole sealing her home off from an immediate threat of Heartless.

"Hey since we're home should we stop and see our parents?" Kairi asked a little excited at the idea of seeing her parents again.

"No." Sora said even though Kairi could tell by the look on his face that he wanted the exact opposite. "We still have other worlds to seal and we have to get Riku back as fast as possible. I want to see everyone just as badly as you Kairi but we'd get caught up in telling stories and our parents might not let us leave again so easily."

"You know for a kid you sure are smart." Mika said as she rubbed Sora's hair. "Come on then get that gummi ship remote out of your pocket and let's head on out.

Sora pushed Mika away from him. He reached into one of his many pockets and pulled out the device Mika spoke of. As always the blue light of gummi transportation enveloped the trio and took them back to the Highwind.

(A/N): For those who know what a -Za level spell is I just want to say that the –Ja level spells are of the same strength. It annoyed me actually when –Za appeared in 3D instead of the normal –Ja spells. So you won't be seeing any Stopza spells in this fic instead it would be a Stopja. I thought of this as I wrote Thundaja out.

Also anyone that leaves a review, and has an account, will be told the next world the Sora's group will be going to. Yep I'm bribing you now.