Glad I got those four chapters up. Hopefully, I can update consistently now.

Marie's "male" outfit:

www[dot]swirl3y[dot]deviantart[dot]com/art/Marie-s-Land-of-Dragons-outfit-204569547

Chapter Thirteen
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Familiar feelings

It had been about half an hour since Sora, Ping, Donald and Goofy left to go find Shan-Yu. Things were pretty calm around here, but my head wasn't anywhere close to being calm. I had a lot of things going on in there, and I didn't know where to start. There was the fact that someone lent me a Keyblade, what that Organization XIII member said, my powers, my necklace, and of course Sora.

But really, I didn't want to think about Sora right now, and I decided to push that problem aside. I guess my biggest problem I wanted to solve right now was how I'm involved in Organization XIII's plan.

Yen sid mentioned that I was a part of their unknown plan, and it unnerved me to no end. Of course, I know this is going to take some time so I have to focus on something else. The only other things I could work on was my power, and the person who lent me this Keyblade. The necklace was there too and it was bugging me more than anything, but I had to push that aside since it wasn't the most important thing to solve.

As I sighed, I heard someone shout. I stiffened my position, and I got up. I noticed the three men from before were trying to fight off someone, and when I looked a little closer the man they were trying to ward off was huge! I took out my Keyblade, trying not to shout and run for it. The captain also joined in the fight, and he even shouted at the other soldiers.

"Shan-Yu is attacking! Don't let him out of your sight!" I widened my eyes, and I observed the man named Shan-Yu. I thought this guy was at the cave Sora and the others went into.

Wait, don't tell me...

No, of course not. I know Sora, Donald and Goofy are strong enough to fend this guy off. But then why weren't they here? I quickly looked around to see if I could see 'em, but when I didn't I felt a sense of panic wash over me. This guy is seriously going to get it if he even laid a finger on my friends!

When he pushed the three soldiers, along with the captain away, I growled. I don't care how strong this guy is, he's not getting away with hurting others! I swung my Keyblade around, and started running towards him. He noticed me, but I didn't care.

I swung my Keyblade at him, and he easily blocked it. I retrieved my blade back, and hacked at him again. I peered over my shoulder as the captain was in serious pain. The three other guys were also groaning in pain, and I felt horrible about it. Without even thinking, I swung my Keyblade around to the guy, and I surprisingly got a hit. I wasn't rejoicing much though, since the guy quickly grabbed my wrist.

He brought my wrist close to him, and I was trying hard not to squeal or anything to get out of his grip. I suddenly gasped when he ringed his other hand around my neck. Dear god, I don't want to die! I knew dressing up as a guy was going to get me in trouble, but come on!

I could barely breath at this moment, and my eyes were slowly closing. My hands were struggling to get his strong one off my neck, but I was too weak. I tried coughing, gasping, anything to make him stop. When he moved his hand, I squealed a bit. He raised his eyebrow, and a strong wind passed by. I tried moving my head, but his grip on my neck tightened, and I could almost feel my lips turning blue.

As the wind got stronger, I noticed a loose strand of my hair falling out of my hat. Oh no, please not this! I tried to move my head again, seeing if I could make the hat not fly away. However, it proved fruitless when he noticed. He grunted, and took his other hand off my wrist, now putting all the weight on my neck. I felt a hot tear roll down my eye, and I knew this was going to be it.

I was going to die...

What? Are you stupid? Did Stella and that man not tell you that you have a power growing within you? You know, separate from Kingdom Hearts?

That voice... right, it was that girl's voice who told me about the Keyblade. The voice that wasn't Stella or that man. But, how was I going to stop this guy from killing me...? I can't concentrate...my eyes are...closing.

no... I don't want to die...!

"...?" I heard Shan-Yu grunt, and I slowly opened my eyes. I didn't want to die...no, I don't want to die! As I fully opened my eyes, I felt a surge of power rushing from deep within me. Shan-Yu looked confused, and when we were both blinded by a blinding light, he released his grip on me. I fell to the floor gasping, and I caressed my neck. It felt warm, and I knew I was going to have a mark there...great. That wasn't really important, since something fell off, and I was freaking out when I heard a group of gasps.

My hat fell off, and I felt my hair falling down to my shoulders. My eyes widened at this, and instantly I heard everyone gasp again.

...Well, on the bright side, I don't have to dress around as a boy. I shook my head, ignoring that thought when I looked at the overloading males surrounding me. The captain looked the most distraught, and I felt really bad about dressing up as a guy in the first place... It would have been so much more easier if he had just let women join!

"You...are a woman?" he asked, looking down at me with disgust. Feeling guilty would be a lot more easier if this guy didn't act so sexist, but I guess beggars can't be choosers. I looked away and lowered my head, but when we all heard a familiar grunt the captain and his boys looked over to Shan-Yu.

"Men," he said, placing emphasis on the word. "Let us charge at the enemy! And you, take that girl away!"

He pointed to a random soldier, and he more than eagerly accepted the request. The soldier roughly grabbed my arm, and pulled me away from the battlefield. I told him that I could fight, and how I was useful. Nothing went passed this guy's head, though. I was just a woman in his eyes...a worthless woman who can't do anything like men can do.

As he took me towards the recruitment camp, I had to do something. I couldn't be taken somewhere unless I know Ping, Donald, Goofy, Mushu and Sora are okay! I'd be worried all day, and I know it wouldn't let up. The only thing I could do was...

Thump.

To some people, I "Karate chopped" him from behind, but it was just a side hand attack that made him fall unconscious for a while. As soon as I turned my legs towards the others, I looked down to face my running shoes.

My male running shoes.

...Well, since the captain probably would've sent someone else to bring me back, I decided to run back to the Gummi Ship and change. I dug into my pocket, and surprisingly I still had the keys. When I dug into my other pocket, I felt the Keyblade, but..

I didn't feel my necklace that I put away! Oh on! Don't tell me I lost it along the way? Great, this is exactly what I need now. A bruise from a scary brute, and the only thing that made me feel safe was now lost.

I think I hate this world more than Halloween Town, now. I think I hate this world more than stairs, and that's saying a lot. I sighed angrily, and decided to head back to the ship and change for now.

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Sora

Sora stabbed the ground with his Keyblade as he leaned on it. He, along with Ping, had just defeated the last remaining Heartless. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, and the barrier that separated him from his two friends disappeared. Goofy and Donald came running towards the other two, and they asked them if they were alright.

"Guess Shan-Yu wasn't here," noted Goofy. Mushu popped out of ping's armour, and kissed his teeth knowing that he had distinctively seen the brute. Nonetheless, Ping suggested going back to the village for now, and wanted to see how Marie was holding up.

"I wonder if those three guys are giving her a hard time?" she asked, laughing and smiling along their walk towards the village. Sora frowned as he heard this, and growled along with that frown.

"If they are bugging her, I'll punch them!" he retorted, not liking the idea of having any guy bug Marie. Ping chuckled, and looked at Sora with an questioning look on her face.

"Do you...like Marie?" she asked, still smiling at the now blushing Sora. He really did love her, but lately, she hadn't been returning those feelings. He was starting to think that maybe it was more than being mad...maybe there was something bothering Marie? Maybe it wasn't him that was the problem...but what was?

"Ehe, I actually do. A lot." he looked away while blushing, and he could tell that Ping was smiling at him. "Just don't tell her. She's kind of mad at me."

Ping understood. Young love, it was something she swooned over, but she certainly didn't look the type. Nonetheless, she nodded. They walked back towards the village, but when the scent of smoke had thrust into their nostrils, Sora suddenly began to panic with Ping. They ran as fast as they could towards the village, and they both saw a god-fearing sight.

The village had been burnt down, and all one could hear was cackling of fires and wind howling through the emptied village. The four friends rushed to the scene, and as they did the smell of smoke was utterly overwhelming. Sora's breathing was erratic after thinking about Marie. Was she hurt? Taken? Or worse...

He shook his head. This was not happening, he didn't about that. The dream he previously had was enough to scare him for at least a month or so. Ping gasped, and that took Sora out of his fearful thoughts. When she ran over to someone Sora saw that it was the captain, and ran over to him. He was wounded, but at least he was still alive. For this, Sora was grateful.

"Captain, the enemy? Where did they go?" Ping asked, bending down to meet with the captain's eyes. He told them that Shan-Yu headed towards the summit, and that he laid waste to most of his men. This made Sora anxious, and bent down beside Ping to look at the captain.

"What happened to our friend?" he asked, not sounding too worried for fear of the captain thinking otherwise.

"Hmph. That person acted like a man when she was really a woman." Sora, Ping and the others gasped. The captain nodded, saying how he couldn't believe it either. He shook his head, and sighed. "It's disappointing that someone with that strength is a woman. Nonetheless, I'll gather up the rest of the soldiers and villagers."

Sora lowered his eyes, feeling bad that Marie was found out. He took a moment before looking back at the captain, and his facial expression was serious. "Captain, what'll happen to the girl?"

Sora tried hard not to say Marie's name, mainly because he would get in trouble. As much as he wanted to run and grab Marie, he had to do what was right for his sense of justice was incredibly high. The captain shook his head again, and got up slowly. "She's being taken to the recruitment camp and under watch. When we return, we'll decide what to do with her then."

Sora slowly nodded, and Ping looked at him sympathetically. She wanted Sora to be with Marie, but Shan-Yu prevented them from doing so. It was his fault, and he was going to pay. She told the captain not to overdo himself, and then told the rest that they had to go. Sora was reluctant, but he went either way.

He just really hoped that Marie was doing alright. As they started heading towards the summit, Ping stepped on something hard. She questioned to herself, and looked down. When she saw something shiny on the floor she picked it up. It was a necklace. A golden crown shaped necklace, to be precise. She raised her eyebrow to this, and wondered if it belonged to any of the villagers. She shrugged her shoulders, and kept the necklace in a safe spot in her armour so that it was safe. After the ordeal with Shan-Yu was done, she would find the person who lost the necklace.

She just hoped the person was still alive.

Sorry this is late. As of today, my grandmother is no longer alive. Because of this, I won't be writing anything for a week. I need some time to just...clear everything in my head. I can't deal with all this stress from school, and my grandma's death is just killing me right now. So, sorry for the inconvenience.

I also won't be answering the reviews I got from the last few chapters. I'm really sorry, but I just need to be alone and pray for my mother's safety to Guatemala. She's going to be taking care of the funeral, since it was her mother who died. I'm terribly sorry, I'll answer the reviews in the next chapter. I'm sorry.