Finally getting back to this story

Chapter 3:

First encounter

Enter Hope Dancer?

It took awhile for Hoshi to explain that what happened back in the parlor was called a Character Change, or Chara Change for short. The simple version she explained it as, it's an ability that a Shugo Chara has that can grant the person they're born from special abilities associated with their would-be self or make them act like their would-be self.

For the rest of the afternoon, Hoshi answered all the questions Kairi had about Shugo Charas and such. What caught Kairi's attention was when Hoshi started to explain X-Characters and X-Eggs.

Kairi looked to Hoshi.

"Wait, Shugo Charas can get corrupted?"

Hoshi kept looking forward as they continued walking.

"'Corrupted' may be a bit harsh but, also accurate. When a child's Heart's Egg ever get corrupted by worries or doubts or any type of negativity like that, it taints it until it turns into a X-Egg. And if that X-Egg hatches then an X-Character is born."

"Because since the Heart's Egg got corrupted," Kairi guessed. "So did the Shugo Chara inside it."

Hoshi nodded.

"Kind of sad once you think about it. Allowing your own darkness to taint your Heart's Egg. But, if you want me to be more honest, it's even more sad when someone loses their Heart's Egg altogether."

"You mean people can lose their Heart's Egg?

"Yeah…sometimes a person's Heart's Egg gets destroyed. Either by themselves, or maybe even by other people. But most of the time, people tend to destroy their own Heart's Egg. When they do, it's like they create a void in themselves or something. They're just not the same anymore you know? I don't anyone is ever the same once they lose their dream."

"Yeah," Kairi said before frowning. "I can imagine that." It was awhile before Kairi murmured, "You sound like you know a lot of people who's like that."

Hoshi heard her because she nodded.

"Pretty much every time I turn around I can see someone like that," she answered. "Can you feel it too? Being in this city?"

Kairi bit her lip. That would explain what she was sensing from all the people, even now more than when she first got here. But Kairi only said that she was just now sensing it. Hoshi was a good friend and all but Kairi still couldn't confide to her the real reason she was here. Kairi felt a bit bad about that but what could she do? She had the world order to think about.

But what worried Kairi was that perhaps losing one's Heart Egg might help transform a person into a Heartless. From what Hoshi had told her it's certainly possible. And that meant that perhaps she would be facing some Heartless and maybe some Nobodies while here.

"How can you deal with X-Eggs and X-Characters?" Kairi asked.

Hoshi thought about that. "Well, somehow you have to purify them of the darkness that's corrupted them. But how exactly I don't know." Hoshi gave a small smile. "I do have one friend who's able to do that. But I suspect that's because of an artifact we have here called the Humpty Lock. I suspect that's what gives her the power to transform with her Shugo Charas. See, when a person transforms with their Shugo Chara they combine their powers with their Shugo Chara. The power that comes from this is a lot more powerful than Chara Change."

"Can you do that?"

Hoshi gave a sheepish chuckle. "I have a few times and the transformations didn't last long. Guess I'm not that good at it. From what I've learned it takes a certain kind of power or something in order to perform a Character Transformation. Sometimes I wonder what kind of power that is."

"Well I certainly don't know, that's for sure," Kairi giggled.

Hoshi gave a smirk. "True. And it's strange. But I have the feeling that you'll find out."

It was around five when Kairi encountered the X-Character. She was walking around thinking about everything she learned from Hoshi with Solei hovering about. As Kairi watched her fly around, she considered that perhaps she could tell her about the reason she was in this world in the first place. After all, Solei was bound to find out anyway if she was going to hang around her.

"Hey Solei."

The Shugo Chara turned and looked.

"What is it?"

Kairi opened her mouth, intending to tell her the truth, when she stopped as she sensed something. Something dark. Solei must have sensed it too because her eyes widened and soon both of them were glancing in the same direction. Without so much as saying a word the two rushed off in the direction of whatever they were sensing. The two ran until they ended up at a seemingly abandoned part of the city. The buildings were run down and some were even falling apart. Soon they ended up in a small run down park. And there, floating in the middle of the air, was a X-Character.

The X-Character was the same size as Solei, only it was completely black with a huge white X in the middle of it's head.

"Useless," it spoke. "Useless useless."

"It's a X-Character!" Solei exclaimed.

"But, who's the owner?" Kairi wondered, looking around. "This place is abandoned, there's no way someone should be around here."

"It doesn't matter right now. We need to deal with this X-Character!" Solei told her.

"But…" Kairi looked at the X-Character. She dropped her bag and glared at the X-Character. Just what could she do? She had to do something. If she was right, and sensing all the dark and negative energy coming off of the X-Character she just might be, then it might be possible that the X-Character could aid in turning it's owner into a Heartless. But what could she do? Her Keyblade would be useless against the X-Character. Her Keyblade could only do real damage against a Heartless. So what could she do?

"I don't want to be useless anymore!" Kairi blurted out. Unaware to her at first though, she had started glowing. Not just her, but so was Solei. When she finally became aware of this fact she was temporarily blinded by a pale blue light. Next thing she knew it felt like she was in the middle of a small tornado due to the fact it felt like there was wind swirling all around her. The bow in her hair was blown away and her clothes seemed to be glowing pale blue. Solei appeared in front of her, winked, then her egg closed in on her.

Soon Kairi's skirt transformed into silver dancer harem pants; her tank top into a large off-shoulder silver shirt and pale green halter top; hoodie into semi-see-through blue sleeveless cardigan; black boots into a pair of tan heeled sandals. The bow that was once in her hair became a clip that was used to pull back a part of her hair.

Once all that was done, Kairi felt herself being spun by the wind then found herself saying in a voice mixture of her own and Solei, "Chara Nari: Hope Dancer!"

The second Kairi's vision returned to normal (during that whole thing she thought she saw herself in some strange dimension surrounded by multicolored shimmering lights—like a bunch of stars). Then she looked at her new outfit in awe.

"What…what is this?" she wondered out loud.

This is a Character Transformation, came Solei's voice from inside her head. Remember? Hoshi explained it.

"This is a Character Transformation?"

That's right. Also known as Chara Nari for short. And now, now we can fight that X-Character.

"Now that," Kairi smirked, "I like to hear."

No more sitting on the side lines?

"No more," Kairi agreed.

Soon a pair of daggers with a curved blade appeared in an explosion of pale blue and green light. The daggers had silver blades and a pale blue and green hilt. Kairi grabbed the hilts and somehow, she instantly knew exactly how to fight with them. Not just that but the daggers felt perfectly balanced in her hands. It felt like the first time she ever wielded Destiny's Embrace.

And we can fight with these, Solei said. You're Dancing Daggers.

"Dancing Daggers? Seriously? That's the best you got?"

We can work on the naming of weapons later. Fight now!

"Got it," Kairi grinned, then leapt into action. The X-Character was faster than it looked. Every time she slashed at it with one of her daggers it swiftly moved out of the way.

"This isn't working," Kairi scowled as she stared at the X-Character. She growled that the sight of it teasing her. "Got any ideas?"

We can use one of our attacks, Solei said. Flourish of Steel. Just concentrate you'll know what to do.

Kairi nodded, crossed her arms in front of her then closed her eyes. She felt the daggers in her hands almost hum with power. As she stood there she could hear the X-Character's taunts growing more and more faint. Then, when she felt the time was right, she jumped into the air and spun around. She felt one of her daggers strike the X-Character right on.

Kairi opened her eyes then saw it get sent flying back and hit the ground. Looking at her dagger she saw the blades were glowing.

Now that we got it, Solei said. We just need to figure out how to purify it.

"And how do we do that?"

Just think. It'll come to you.

Kairi wanted to curse at Solei for not giving her a straight answer but when she thought about it. She did know exactly how to do it. Her daggers disappeared in the same light they came from. Then, as if being driven but an unknown force, Kairi began to dance. Now, Kairi wasn't exactly the best dancer in the world, but she certainly wasn't the worst. As she continued to dance she became aware that her body was glowing.

"Curing Waltz!" Kairi called out, clapping her hands together in the direction of the X-Character. All the light that she was bathed in got directed into circles that flew through the air directly at the X-Character. The X-Character cried out as the circles of light flew at it and soon it's black skin started to crack. Next thing Kairi knew, she was staring at a completely different Shugo Chara. This one looked like some kind of construction worker.

"Thank you," the Shugo Chara said. "My master dreams of rebuilding this town since grew up here. But since he's failing in his studies he began to doubt this dreams."

The Shugo Chara bowed once more, retreated into it's egg then flew away.

We did it! Solei cheered. We beat and purified our first X-Character!

Kairi nodded, then fell to the ground. Not long after she did Solei reappeared next to her and she noticed that her appearance had returned to normal.

"Are you okay?" Solei asked.

"I'm fine," Kairi panted. "Just tired. That Character Transformation took a lot out of me."

"Come on, let's go home," Solei smiled.

Kairi smiled back.

There it is guys, Kairi's first Character Transformation :) Until next chapter!