Guardians' Tales

Chapter I: Off To School

Era: Tranquil-Mystic Calendar

Cycle: June 18, 2548

Time: 12:00 Galactic Standard Time

Star Cluster: Unknown

Planet: Lane Between

Location: Yen Sid's Tower

One thousand years ago, the worlds were plunged into darkness as a war waged through the galaxy, a war to control all of creation. The Last Great Time War. A war fought between the Time Lords of the Planet Gallifrey and the Daleks of Skaro. The Time Lords fought long and hard to destroy the mechanized monstrosities that Davros, their creator, had genetically engineered. The Daleks existed only to hate and destroy anything that was not a Dalek. Eventually they turned on their creator and continued on their destructive path. The Time Lords decided that the Daleks were too dangerous to allow their continued existence, but the Daleks had grown too powerful to stop in the present. Thus it was decided that the only way to stop the Daleks, was for the Daleks to have never existed.

The Time Lords ventured back in time, through the use of their TARDIS' and tried to stop the Daleks creation...they failed, and thus the Time War began. During the struggle, another race of galactic peace keepers stumbled upon the war and lent aide to the Time Lords in their struggle. That race known as the Celestials from the planet Astral.

In the end, the Time Lords ultimately succeeded at the cost of their home one Time Lord lives to this day and he recalls the one reason why the attempt to destroy the Daleks failed. It was due to a traitor from the Celestials, an individual by the name Orphanim Imperium, a member of a covenant of beings more dangerous and more destructive than any Dalek Armada. The Vanguard, the highest status among Celestial culture.

A faction of the Celestials, led by the power hungry Orphanim Imperium, started a galactic conquest of the worlds immediately after the end of the Time War. They tried to destroy our way of life and enslave us to their will. Were it not for the surviving Time Lord and the righteous Celestial force, the worlds would have been decimated by Orphanim's superior technology and Arcane abilities. The war raged on for two decades before Orphanim was defeated. The conflict did not end without cost, however. In order to save the worlds and protect the rest of existence itself, the Celestials were sucked into a great rift along with their home world and the rest of Orphanim's forces.

The rest of the galaxy, broken and disjointed from the prolonged fighting, was flung into turmoil as countless wars broke out across the realm. Many wanted to unify the worlds under one, iron fisted rule. In the centuries to come many worlds were lost to darkness and death, each believing their way to be right and crushing those who opposed them. Many of them unleashing destructive monsters and demons upon the worlds. Forty years ago, the final pockets of war were quelled and the galaxy returned to a state of peace and stability.

The worlds have been working together since the end of the Fallout Wars to unveil the rest of our expansive galaxy. It was then that we made a startling discovery. A star, more than a millennia old, in the Andromeda Cluster, past Demon's Run. The star itself had not existed there, or anywhere else, for the past thousand years, and it was moving. The star was moving towards an empty pocket that used to house the Celestial home world, Astral. It was determine that this star appeared over two centuries ago thanks to astrological studies and Star Maps.

An expedition was sent to investigate the star. When they came back, they relayed the most astonishing news to the galaxy. The moving star, was the Celestial Being, Astral. The Celestials had returned and the galaxy waited with baited breath, to see if the Time Lords' once powerful ally had triumphed over the remnants of Orphanim's treachery or if the Celestials had succumbed to the corruption of Imperium.

"That's what the textbooks say." The aged man in a sky blue wizard's robe said. He had a long, twin-tipped, gray beard. He sat behind a large oak desk in a chair with green cushioning, his beady grey eyes focused on the three figures that sat in front of him.

"That's what we learned in school." One of the men replied. He wore a white hooded haori with red lining and trim that opened in the front to reveal a navy blue shirt with two gray straps that intersected in an X on his sternum and a tan hakama. He wore armored boots with a gold and black color scheme with a teal piece of armor to protect his waist. In the center of the armor was a blue strip of cloth with an emblem that resembled a heart nestled in the center that curled inwards at the twin peaks with three prongs below it. His hair was put up in a wild topknot ponytail and had a full mustache with a short beard. He had a scar over his right eye and left cheek, indicating a tough battle at one point in his life.

"It was standard education. Instated by the founders of SOLDIER Academy." The other man said in a low, scratchy, elderly voice. He was bald with cocoa skin and piercing amber eyes. He had a gray goatee and eyebrows that showed the passage of time in his features. He wore a black coat with some gray overlay that started at the mid of his back and covered the length of his coat down to his black boot covered feet, the boots had silver trim around the top of the boots and soles. His hands dawned a pair of pure white gloves with button up cuffs and a black band around the wrists. He wore a white button up shirt with two black belts around his waist.

"But is it really necessary Xehanort?" The white clad man asked. "The Celestials have not been seen in a thousand years."

"I do not think the last line is necessary anymore. Especially since Yen Sid and I have personally been to Astral to greet the locals." Xehanort answered calmly, but with the tone a grandfather would take when advising his grandson.

"Really?" A high pitched squeak of a voice cut in. It came from the third smaller figure to Xehanort's right side, an anthropomorphic black mouse. He had large circular ears that appeared to be the same size as his head. He wore a red coat with black short sleeves and yellow straps that hung over his shoulders, a black shirt, red cargo pants with yellow pockets, and large yellow shoes.

"Yes, Mickey." Yen Sid replied. "We did venture to Astral and we did speak with some of the locals."

"It would seem that they too had just finished a long civil war not four years ago." Xehanort replied thoughtfully stroking his goatee.

"A civil war?" Eraqus repeated. "Why would the Celestials wage a war against themselves?"

"It would seem that the remnants of Orphanim's forces were quelled for a time, but resurged under a new leader. Thankfully, the uprising was quelled before another Celestial War tore through the Galaxy."

"If this information is accurate, then I think it is time the Celestials joined the rest of the galaxy." Mickey stated enthusiastically. "If Orphanim's influence is gone, then we have no reason to fear them."

"I agree with you, Mickey. The Celestials are not a war mongering race." Xehanort added. "But there are many who are still suspicious of the Celestial people for the actions that Orphanim took all those years ago."

"Then we have to show them that the Celestials are trust worthy! Maybe invite one of the Celestials to attend the academy this coming year!" Mickey stated enthusiastically. "If they can show themselves as trust worthy and sincere, then maybe the students can help alleviate any remaining suspicion."

The three older men eyed the mouse in surprise at his proposition, but the idea was appealing to them. "That is plausible, but if we were to invite a Celestial to attend SOLDIER Academy we would not be able to help them in any way." Eraqus stated solemnly. "We may be four well-known figures amongst the worlds, but even we cannot force people to accept the Celestial child or even give him a chance to prove himself."

The room feel silent at the remark. They knew what Eraqus said to be true. After the Celestial war, the denizens of the galaxy mistrust the Celestials. Yen Sid calmly stroked his grey twin-tipped beard as he pondered his thoughts. The issue of a Celestial attending the military academy would pose a great deal of controversy, but he had another matter that occupied his thoughts.

"While the enrollment of a Celestial would be troublesome, it is a risk we must take if we are to prepare ourselves for the future." Yen Sid commented.

"What do you mean Master Yen Sid?" Xehanort questioned as he raised an aged brow and curiously stroked his goatee.

"We have endured a long peace these past forty years, but now I fear that time may be coming to an end and we will need to take up arms against an old foe with new allies." Yen Sid said ominously.

"What do you mean, Master?" Mickey questioned.

"I do not yet know, Mickey." Yen Sid replied as he reached into a drawer on his desk and retrieved a folder with very little paper work in it. "Xehanort, Eraqus, since you two are the Headmasters at the academy, all decisions are left up to you since I have long since retired. But..." Yen Sid placed the folder on the desk and pushed it to the other side. "If you are confident in your abilities and are set on bringing a Celestial to the academy, then you have my full support."

"Thank you, Master Yen Sid." Eraqus replied.

"But, I do feel something in the air. Something foul indeed. Xehanort, I would like for you to take Eraqus and Mickey to the Wolf continent of Astral and search for the boy in those files. He is in line to become the next Vanguard, one of seven if memory serves and the same group that Orphanim hailed from. He has a kind disposition, very wise, and a sharp wit about him." Yen Sid explained in a sagely tone.

Xehanort picked up the folder and looked through its contents. "You mean...him?" Xehanort asked with an amused smile.

"Yes, that boy has great insight for his age and he is known for fixing any problem that comes his way. Though his personality is a bit...eccentric." Mickey and Eraqus leaned towards Xehanort in their chairs to get a better look at the photo. "I want you three to only focus on your activities concerning the Celestials' acceptance into the social norm of the worlds." Yen Sid rose from his chair as did Eraqus, Xehanort, and Mickey who hopped down from his. "I have a matter to look into concerning our future."

Sora's POV

"Sora! Wake up! Breakfast is ready!" I stirred in my bed as my sister called from down stairs. My room is a complete mess with clothes strewn about the floor. My bed covers were thrown off me with my sleep wear fully exposed.

But I'm getting a little ahead of myself. As you heard from my esteemed little sister, my name is Sora, Sora Hikari. I am the first born of two siblings. Right now my sister and I are living with our older cousin Squall Leonhart, or Leon as he prefers to have people call him. I don't know why, he's weird like that. Squall's been staying with us ever since he started attending Balamb Garden as part of the SeeD mercenary program for school. He is three years older than me, four years older than Xion, at age eighteen with long brunette hair that fell to the mid of his shoulder blades. It's slightly darker than mine and less spiky, then again, I don't think anyone alive has hair spikier than mine. You could catch fish with my hair and the scary bit, it's natural.

The youngest of us being Xion at fourteen. She was born at the last possible cut off for school in order for her to attend the same grade as me. She had raven black hair and crystal cerulean blue eyes. She was baby of family and we did nothing to hide it. As her older brother, I always got into fights with bullies that tried to pick on her because of her age and her shyness. She would usually end up defusing the situation by herself, she had an uncanny way of finding an abstract solution to problems. She usually does the housework, even more so in the last year.

Then there is me, Sora, I have extremely spiky brunette hair. The only feature I share with my sister is our cerulean eyes, we've always gotten comments about how our eyes are so beautiful, a trait our mother had. I don't have much to brag about seeing as I'm the lazy one. Don't get me wrong I do help Xion out around the house when I get home from school or hanging out with friends, but I can be very lazy at times and can dominate a game of Blitz Ball or Skating. The up side to my laziness is my extremely goofy personality. If you asked anyone who knows me, the first thing they would tell you is that I can make the best out of any situation and always put a smile on your face. A blessing after what happen to mom.

Well I might as well tell you guys what happened. About a year ago, our mother went on a business trip, she was an investigator and was looking into a lead at the time. We still don't know what it was she was looking into. She was headed to Radiant Gardens, a paradise planet about three systems away from ours. She left from our home, Destiny Islands, on January twenty-second twenty-five forty-seven. She booked a trip on a high class interstellar cruise ship and was moving across the Andromeda cluster near Midgar, when something happened. We don't know the full details, only that the ship was traveling through an asteroid field when it was torn to shreds and there were...no survivors.

We were devastated to say the least. That was when Squall really started to go by Leon publicly and also when he became less cheery. We both work hard to keep the house working while simultaneously going to school and keeping our grades above a B average, luckily mom thought ahead and left us some money just in case something happened, I would've preferred it go unused. Xion? She started taking up the house work full time rather than when Mom asked her too. Me? I kept being goofy, that's all I could do.

Our Mother was kind and loving, her name was Jinsei, it is from a language known as Japanese from a planet called Earth, I think, and it stood for life. She was beautiful, strong, and determined. Her work often took her to dangerous places and put her on the bad side of some corrupt individuals. But she worked with reliable partners. So if anyone tried to hurt her, she would always have someone to protect her. Two people to be exact, well less people and more animal like. They were a pair of Anthropomorphs called Donald Duck and Goofy Goof. Donald was a white duck and Goofy a black dog and they were very good and dependable friends. After Mom died, they always came by to check on us and help Squall and I with the house when we needed it.

I still remember the day we found out about our mother's death. Xion and I were coming home from school with our friends. We were going to study at our house and then play some games if we had time.

"So how's your mother's trip going?" Olette asked. Olette was kind and compassionate, not to mention the voice of reason in our little group. She had brunette hair that fell into two curly strands over her shoulders, her eyes were an emerald green and she wore an orange shirt with a yellow floral pattern and beige shorts and shoes with orange socks. She has such astoundingly good grades its ridiculous! Straight A's since middle school and counting and to top it off, she idolizes our mother.

Olette always talked to Mom when she would come over and help the rest of us with our schoolwork. They were very good friends so it was no surprise that Olette would ask about her, heck, she was like an older sister to Xion. Olette wanted to be a journalist when she graduated college, so hearing about Mom's work always made her excited for when she would make that dream a reality.

"She's doing fine. She sent us a post card of Disney Castle when they came into port there." Xion replied.

"Did she meet Donald and Goofy? They've been partners ever since they exposed the Space Pirates slaving operations on Midgar." Pence added. Pence was a...hefty fellow, yeah we'll go with hefty not that he was fat but he was...big. Pence was a cool guy to hang around, never said anything bad about anyone that didn't deserve it and very much into mysteries and unexplained phenomenon. Pence's current obsession is why the Celestial home world suddenly appeared two hundred years ago when the Celestial war broke out eight centuries prior. He wore a red jersey over a plain white shirt and baggy jeans with blue shoes. His hair was jet black with a black and white trimmed headband wrapped around it so his hair would not fall over his face because he did not feel like getting a haircut like we all told him he should. The alternative, while clever, left his hair sticking upwards in a hilarious spectacle.

"Yeah, they were in the picture with her. Goofy was laughing at Mom because she was holding Donald like a stuffed animal." I replied. "The image of Donald's futile struggling against our mother's vice grip was humorous. As was the look he had on his face that said 'You're choking me!'" I made an over exaggerated pantomime of Donald's, 'OH CRAP YOU'RE CHOKING ME WOMAN' face.

"Good luck, once Mom gets you in one of her hugs, there is no escape." Xion added with one of her cheerful giggles.

"I bet. Your mother is surprisingly strong despite how small she is." The last member and self-declared leader of the group, Hayner, said. "I still remember that arm wrestling contest she challenged Leon to." He wore a gray vest and black tank-top with a Skull on the front that had an X on its forehead and a double X under its jaw. The design looked like it had been drawn by a preschooler...or me. He wore woodland camouflage cargo jeans and matching shoes with a leather wrist band with two studs on adjacent sides and had gelled back curly blonde hair. When we first met, he told me that I looked like an old friend of theirs that moved away ten years ago. I don't remember the name very well since the comparison was rarely brought up.

"I still can't believe she beat him as easily as she did." Pence added.

"It was funny how she yawned and with the straightest face possible asked. 'Whenever you're ready honey.'" We laughed at Olette's mimicking of our mother's nurturing tone and the image of Squall's face as it turned red from straining so hard to move Mom's arm. I think Squall would've burst a blood vessel if mom hadn't ended the match when she did.

When we got home we were surprised to see Squall sitting on the sofa, since he usually has class at Balamb Garden right around now, and Donald and Goofy. They looked to us with blank expressions on their faces and sorrowful eyes that told me something was wrong.

"What's going on Squall?" I asked. The suspicion evident in my tone.

"Sora...Xion..." Donald started in his squawking voice.

"You may want to have a seat for this." Goofy replied in a somewhat serious tone. Now I may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but when Goofy is being serious you shut up and listen, so Xion and I sat down on either side of Squall.

"Hayner, Pence, Olette? Would you mind heading home?" Donald asked, maintaining as much of a calm and polite tone as he could manage.

"Is it serious?" Hayner asked, showing more concerns than I thought I would ever hear from him.

"Very." Goofy replied simply. Once again, the tone Goofy took was uncanny, it actually scared me to be in the same room as him. It was like he was addressing an army battalion or something.

"Then I think we should leave for now. What do you two think?" Hayner asked Olette and Pence.

"I don't think we should be here for this." Olette stated. She earned a stare from Hayner and Pence. They nodded in agreement, and I'm glad they did.

Pence looked back to us and gave a weary smile. "We'll see you guys later then." They left the house and then Donald told us the horrible news.

I am very grateful our friends left. What happened next, was not pretty...which I'll have to tell later, I really don't like talking about mother's death like this.

As I got out of bed, nearly tripping over my assortment of loose clothing laying on the floor, I moved down the hall to the stairs in my black shorts and white sleeveless sleep shirt.

I meandered down the hallway and the stairs making my way towards the kitchen, past the hanging pictures of us and Mom. As I got closer to the kitchen I could smell the bacon, mmmm bacon, eggs, and pancakes. The scent of food finally woke me up enough to take in my surroundings, the oak dining table and matching chairs, the wood counter tops, and the various black pans hanging over the stove that my raven haired sister was cooking at.

Xion was still in her sleep wear, she probably woke up early and started fixing breakfast. Her clothes were similar to mine, except her fluffy black pajama pants had an ice cream pattern embroidered into them, sea-salt ice cream to be exact.

"Well look who decided to join the living." And there was the calm and jeering tone of our older cousin Squall. He maintains this calm and mature disposition even when times got rough. He wore a plain white T-shirt, blue jeans, and a silver pendant on a chain that resembled a roaring lion's head with a raging mane, it was a graduation gift from one of Mom's trips when Squall was still in high school. He was reading the Destiny Island's Newspaper, "How'd you sleep?"

"Fine, until I had to wake up." I replied with a yawn. I took a seat at the dinner table, Squall sitting adjacent to me still reading his paper while Xion flipped a pancake in the kitchen behind him.

"If I don't wake you up, your stomach will." Xion replied with a chuckle. Even Squall laughed at the joke.

I was about to reply when. 'Growl.' That was my stomach reinforcing my sister's joke while adding comedic effect. Even my bowels are goofy, how does this work?! They just laughed harder at me.

"See?" Squall said with an amused smirk while Xion was chuckling like a hyena.

"Oh shut it." I replied bitterly.

"If you didn't wake up, I would've dragged you out of bed and down the stairs by your ankles." Squall added with a humorous scoff. "So have you two decided where you're going for High School?" That's Squall for ya. Always to the point, and followed by Xion, who has probably got some idea of where she wants to go.

"I'm thinking about Twilight High in Twilight Town on the main land. Though I'm still not certain yet." Of course she would go there. It's a good school and Xion has an AB average not to mention she wanted to be an actor, and Twilight High is the best place for someone like her with their art program. I'd be shocked if she went anywhere else.

"You can definitely get in with your grades." Squall replied. He went to Balamb Garden, a military school that allows him to get paid for whatever it is he does. He never really talks about school, only that some dude called Seifer has been bugging him since the day he enrolled last year. All I know is that I don't want to meet the guy.

"What about you, Sora? Any ideas? Probably not." Squall asked me. I hate it when he does that. You ever had someone ask you a question and then answer it before you ever get a chance to think of a reply? That really gets on my nerves, and the worst part? He was right, I never once thought of where I should go.

"I guess it kinda slipped my mind." I replied rubbing the back of my head.

"Seriously? It's the second week of summer and you still haven't thought of anywhere you would want to go?" Xion asked me as she folded an omelet.

Oh, did I forget to mention that school let out two weeks ago and Xion and I graduated? My bad. "Give me a break guys. I barely made a B average in school. I'd only get in on my Blitz Ball career and even that's pushing it."

"Well you'd better find a place before the summer-" 'Knock, knock, knock.' Whoever was at the door cut off whatever Squall was about to say. Thank you random occurrences!

"I'll get it." I rose from the table and made my way to the door. 'Knock, knock, knock' the banging of the door became more frequent with every second it took me to get there. "I'm coming!" I called out as I reached the door. I opened it to find two unexpected visitors for this time in the morning.

"Hi ya, Sora!" The tall bi-pedal black dog Goofy greeted me with a bear hug.

"Mornin, Goofy." I replied just as enthusiastically despite having my lungs crushed. He wore a yellow vest with an orange turtle neck, yellow pants, and a green hat.

But where there's a Goofy. "Hey!" There's always the squawking of Donald Duck, his voice matching Goofy's. He wore a blue sailor uniform over his torso and matching hat. I still don't know why though.

"Come on in, guys." Squall called from the table.

"You guys want some breakfast?" Xion asked the two family friends.

"No thanks, Xion." Goofy replied. "We've got somethin mighty important to tell ya." What could this be about?

"This doesn't sound good." Squall joked, having folded his paper up and placed it on the table. Goofy and Donald eyed each other in confusion, but quickly dismissed it, being used to Squall's sense of humor.

"Do you want to tell them the news or should I, Donald?" Goofy sounded like a kid waiting to tell his friends about a surprise party.

"I'll do it, Goofy." Donald turned to us, Xion having placed our breakfast on the table and taking a seat across from Squall. "So have you two decided on where to go for school?" He asked me and Xion, we just shook our heads no. "That's good since you two are about to be separated." Wait, What?!

Talk about a mixed message! We were staring at them like a dear in head lights. After a year of living without our mother and two weeks into our summer of being junior high school graduates, we get hit with this? I seriously wonder if Cosmos has it out for us or if Chaos is trying to make our lives a living hell. Either way, this is not funny.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Xion replied trying to keep her calm.

"Exactly what Donald said, Xion. You two are going to be separated soon. With Leon attending Balamb year round starting next semester, the Destiny Island's legislation has dictated that anyone under age twenty can't legally care for anyone younger than them if they are not present at least eight hours a day." Goofy explained.

"That's not fair!" Xion exclaimed rising from her seat.

"Easy there, Xion." Squall replied.

"How can you be so calm about this, Squall?! They're threatening to pass us around to some random homes with strangers we know nothing about!" Xion was getting red in the face now, she was so livid at the news.

"Because Goofy and Donald are a little too chipper for the harbingers of bad news." Squall replied. That got Xion to calm done some, I could tell she was still pissed about the news, but she sat back down and waited to hear the rest.

"Ayuck, that's right, Leon." Goofy replied with his form of chuckling.

"We found a way for you three to stay together and still be able to attend school." Donald Squawked.

"There is a catch though, but if you're willing to try it then we can handle the rest, ayuck." Goofy added with a flex of his deceptively scrawny arms, he may look thin, but I've seen him help mom move a fridge BY HIMSELF! I seriously wonder what he does for a living.

Squall eyed Xion and me, we gave a collective nod and looked back towards Donald and Goofy. "What do we have to do?" Squall asked.

"It's actually quite simple, you three just have to attend classes at SOLDIER Academy year round until you two are eighteen, or until you graduate university. It's High School and University rolled into one and the entrance exam for high school guarantees acceptance to university." Donald began, we kept silent but let him know we were still interested. "With Xion's grades, Sora's athletics, and Leon's enrollment in Balamb Garden, we were able to get you three considered for the entrance exam."

"Actually, it would only be Sora and Xion who would have to take the exam. With Leon's enrollment in Balamb, he's automatically exempt from taking SOLDIER's entrance exam." Goofy added. "Since we work there from time to time, we have recommended Sora and Xion for the exam, ayuck. We couldn't guarantee that you'll be accepted into the school directly, but this is a very good alternative."

Squall leaned back in his chair, obviously mulling over the proposition in his head. I didn't know much about SOLDIER Academy, aside from it was a military institute and the fact that Olette's sister transferred there from Balamb. I don't think Xion knows either and since Balamb Garden is a military institute as well, I would assume that Squall knows more about it.

"SOLDIER is a long ways away." Squall said, I guess he was considering it.

"I wouldn't mind doing it, if only to prolong this situation till we can support ourselves." I added. "If this school offers food and board, then I wouldn't mind traveling away from here for a little while." While I didn't know where I wanted to go for college, I definitely wanted to fly a ship and maybe SOLDIER will let me pilot a few if I go. "What about you Xion?"

I could tell Xion wasn't okay with the idea of leaving the Islands or going to a military facility. She wanted to be a professional Actress and I doubt SOLDIER is going to offer anything in the way of art.

"If you're worried about enjoying your classes then you've got nothing to fear." Donald said, catching all of our attention.

"The first semester you two will be attending you'll have to take the basic requirement courses, but you'll be able to take any course ranging from art and theatrics to combat and quantum mechanics." Goofy added with a reassuring grin.

I know which courses I'm not taking.

"It's not the courses that concern me. What about our friends here? Balamb is just one system, who knows how far SOLDIER is from here." Remember when I said Xion was as timid as a turtle? She has a very hard time dealing with new people and making friends.

"SOLDIER is six systems over, Xion. Close to the Central Galactic HUB on planet Resident in the mid rim systems." Donald replied. "The exam starts in three days and if you two want to make it in time to take the exam then we have to leave today."

"And as for your friends..." Goofy started when the door opened revealing Hayner, Pence, and Olette.

"They told us everything." Pence said.

"And we think you three should go for it." Olette's sister Selphie added. She had the same brunette hair, although curled into loops on the sides and back of her head, green eyes, and a yellow sun dress

"So let's stop wasting time and get you guys packed already." Hayner stated impatiently.

"I guess it's decided then." Squall said as he got up from the table. "I'll pack my own things, just bring three bags of what you absolutely need and meet down here to finish your breakfast, then we leave for planet Resident." He then went for the stairs so he could pack his things.

"Don't just sit there you two. You have a test to get ready for." Selphie replied enthusiastically as her and Olette pushed me and Xion up the stairs.

We were at the Cosmic Port three hours later, standing in front of Donald and Goofy's Gummi Ship. It was a large ship easily the height of a one story home and a fourth as long. It was red with yellow stripes and very cubic in appearance with a glass dome aft of the main body. If you asked me, I'd probably say that it wasn't possible for that thing to carry us across a highway, let alone ferry us between worlds. But it was very much capable and one of the many in standard use in the military and residential systems.

Donald and Goofy had already boarded and were getting the ship ready for the trip. Selphie was helping them, since she was headed back for the start of the school year, she decided to ride with us. From what they told us, it was going to take most of the three days to get there and when we arrive we'd only have two hours to make it to the ferry that would take us to the Island SOLDIER Academy is located. Needless to say, we would be in cryo-stasis through the whole flight.

Pence was talking to Squall, probably to say something to him about looking after us and making sure we keep our grades up. If anyone else tried that tough guy act with Squall, they'd have shrunk under his gaze. With Pence, you just can't take him seriously. He's probably the only person who can make Squall grin.

I was chatting with Hayner and he was playing tough guy. "Make sure you study, Sora." he said with folded arms. "Olette is not gonna be there to help you so you need to focus."

"Relax Hayner, I can handle myself." I replied feigning annoyance and flashing my oh so goofy grin.

He put me in a head lock as a response, but he was still laughing. No one can resist my grin.

"Just take care of yourselves. We'll try to visit if we can."

"We will Hayner, you worry too much."

Xion's POV

Hayner was talking to Sora. I don't know what they were talking about since I was talking to Olette.

"Looks like this is it." Olette said with a sad smile.

"Yeah..." I replied wearily.

"Don't sound so glum, Xi. It's not like we aren't going to see each other again." She tried to reassure me. I know she's right, but it's still hard to leave. I mean, Olette is my best friend. She was the first one to talk to me in middle school when I was too shy to interact with anyone. "Don't tell me you're scared to make new friends." It was more a statement than a question. She never was one to beat around the bush.

"C'mon, Olette, you know I don't do well around people."

"Not with that attitude. Just relax and be yourself. If they don't like it, then guess what? They aren't worth your time." Olette placed an arm around my neck and led me to the ramp where Sora and Hayner were standing. I guess Pence was done talking to Squall since he was standing with them now.

"We plan to visit when we have time." Hayner stated.

"We'll be sure to write you guys." Olette added. "In the meantime, I got you a going away present." She took out a small ball of paper and handed it to me. I unwrapped it and took out a hand-made tan pouch with a blue diamond stitched in the center and a red emblem. It was soft and felt very delicate, but it was also elegant and simple at the same time.

"I made that myself when school let out." Olette told me. "I was saving it for your birthday, but this is just as good."

"Thanks." I hooked the pouch to my belt strap by its pull strings. "I'll take good care of it."

"Good, now get going. You got an exam to ace." Hayner replied with a cocky grin.

We walked up the ramp and placed our bags behind the passenger's seat.

"You three ready?" Goofy asked.

"Seems like it." Squall replied for us. He sat on the far right side with Selphie and Sora in the middle and myself on the left.

"Then buckle your seat belts and get ready for lift off."

We looked out the window to see Hayner, Pence, and Olette wave to us from a safe distance as the ships engines hummed to life. I waved back meekly as did Sora, Squall just propped his head on his hand as we began to ascend while they waved back energetically.

I kept waving at them as they grew ever smaller. Soon they looked no bigger than ants and then they were swallowed by the Cosmic port's silhouette as it continued to grow smaller. Eventually I was waving to the planet and eventually the spot of light where it occupied space, I stopped waving after that and turned to face the back of the co-pilots seat where Donald was sitting.

"So, do you guys want to hear about the test now? Or Later?" Donald asked.

"Sure, the sooner they know the better." Squall replied for us. I saw Sora groan silently, since it probably implied him to study the whole trip.

"Don't worry, Sora, you won't have to study much." Selphie replied, which made me very curious. She was on the student council and excelled at anything you threw at her...despite her being a klutz. Serious, I have no idea how someone so diligent can be so clumsy. Back when she and Squall went to Balamb together, she apparently tripped over a small hill during one of their field trips.

"If this test is so big, than wouldn't we have to study a lot to prepare?" I had to ask, though the answer I was about to get made me wish I hadn't.

Kairi's POV

As you can tell from the subtitle, my name is Kairi Kokoro, age fifteen, ruby red hair, sea blue eyes, smooth creamy skin, and bored out of my MIND!

I live in Radiant Gardens, a beautiful bouquet, see what I did there, of brick and stone houses that formed into a large disk and meadows of lush green grass and a pallet of different colored flowers with pristine sparkling water all around and through the town.

I was in our 'gym' in the back of the house. Mom and Dad always used it for practice and the like. I was practicing my hand-to-hand skills on the sand bag. I had gotten better since I was younger, I enjoyed boxing at a young age. I plan on practicing the speed bag later. I may be strong but I need to be quick as well if I want to be effective in a fight.

To give a little context, junior high let out two and a half weeks ago and I had to clear my calendar for the first part of summer. The reason being? I'm waiting for my sister to give some news regarding a certain...issue. She hasn't heard anything regarding it and said that today will be the absolute latest that I'll have to wait to hear anything in regards to it.

In the mean time I'll just keep beating away on this bag until my arms fall off. I'm wearing a white spaghetti strap top and sea blue shorts with a very cute star shaped fruit on one side, what was it called again? Paopu? I think that's what it's called...anyway, it's a really pretty fruit that's said to have 'mystical powers' for anyone who eats it. I don't know if the legend is true or not, or even if the fruit even exist, but I digress.

The gym didn't have much in the way of equipment, besides a sand bag and speed bag, it had an open section for sparring and going through the motions of a fighting style. It matched the aesthetics of the house what with a floral painting one of the bright white walls, I won't mention much about it since it has no context to what will be happening later, but at least you'll know how we live. It was a very luxurious house with open space and a pristine view of the gardens and lakes. I live with my grandmother and two sisters which you should meet later on. Depends on how the author decides to write this part.

I seriously hope you guys don't make breaking the fourth wall a thing in this series.

It's a point-of-view fic man, what do you think?

...I'll get the spackle.

While the author is off fixing the fourth wall, let's finish this exposition shall we.

Anyway, I was still punching away on the sand bag, occasionally kicking it to add some variety. The radio blared in the background so I had some noise while I workout. The current station I was listening to was GNR or Galactic News Radio if you want to say the whole title. The speakers had a generic reporter that everyone has seen on TV before: blonde, tan business suit and tie, been working a few years, really stupid/serious look on his face. Basically the lovable eye candy until he gets his first gray hair, I think his name Villiers or something like that, he was talking about the current events and happenings in the worlds.

"In recent news, the Imperial City Zaphias has yet to decide on the succession of the throne. It is a mystery why the Council has yet to announce a successor or even locate a legitimate heir..."

The same usual politics and recent events as always. I never really liked politics, they always seem to be full of hypocrites and liars.

"Colonization efforts into our vast galaxy have progressed at an exponential rate since the tragedy of Midgar where a passenger liner was shot down and destroyed last year, leaving no survivors. This was one in a string of incidents involving similar circumstances throughout the Andromeda Cluster. There has been much speculation as to the culprits behind this campaign of murder. A main culprit are the Space Pirates under the command of the notorious Ridley. Another, and widely believed culprits, being the Celestials since the weapons used are consistent with the ones used by Orphanim Imperium in the Celestial war a millennia ago."

The Celestials…that race has been responsible for a lot of wars and massacres since the end of the Celestial War. We had just finished, what the galaxy hopes to be, the last of the 'Fallout Wars' as they have been dubbed by the history books. The Fallout Wars finished about forty years ago, give or take half a decade, each one having a different title to it, with different goals, but all stemming from the same source.

The ship they were talking about was called the Savant. My parents was serving on that ship as part of a covert mission to recon the Celestial home world and see if they had finished off the remnants of Imperium's army, so we would know if the Celestials were still our allies or if we needed to prepare for another Celestial war. Since my parents are dead and the very concept of the Space Pirates having any kind of involvement was not thought of until three months ago, my gut is on the Celestials...but I have no proof.

"Hey, Sis. What are you doing?" The soft greeting of my younger twin sister, Naminé, called from behind me. She has the same eyes as me and my other sister, which you will meet soon hopefully. Naminé wore a similar white top to me with short beige pants. She had the same Aqua blue eyes as me, but had long blonde hair that fell over her right shoulder and curled slightly. Her skin was slightly paler than mine, but it was hardly noticeable unless we stood side by side.

She walked in through the kitchen door, holding a sandwich and sketch pad, she loves to sketch and wants to be an artist, but the only school that has a decent enough art program for her skill level is the same school I'm trying to get into. Which I will not say anything about just yet. She took a seat on the bench by the door and started sketching away in her book.

"I'm just listening to the news while I work out. The same boring stuff that's always on. They mentioned the Colonization attempts though." The boredom in my voice was very evident as I hit the sand bag once more before moving to the speed bag, the mention of the Colonization issue did strike a chord with Nam, and not for the reason you would think.

"You still want to know about the deaths don't you?" It was more a statement than a question.

"I've already solved it, I just need some proof."

"And how do you know you're even right? Just because Astral happens to be moving through the Andromeda Cluster, doesn't mean they had anything to do with the Savant's destruction." She was very much trying to reason with me, but I am a very stubborn person and I kept to my guns.

"The weapons used to destroy the Savant were a combination of energy and projectile ammunition. The only species known to use this kind of weaponry were the Celestials." I was trying to keep myself calm and collected. Every time I talk about this subject I tend to get a little angered by the thoughts and connections that formed in my head, so I focused on hitting the speed bag. I just kept hitting the speed bag faster and faster to avoid exploding on her. "And the last time the weaponry was used was-"

"By Orphanim Imperium's army during the Time War and the Celestial War. Isn't that right Kairi?" I was cut off by the mature voice of me and Nam's older sister, Aqua. She was older than us by two years and, just to keep the oddly inconsistent yet natural hair color trend going, had natural short blue hair that cleanly raged to the left side of her head and Aqua blue eyes.

She wore a black and blue turtle neck halter-top with white stitching on her torso and two pink intersecting straps that formed to an X on her back and chest being connected by a silver badge. She said her Master wore something similar to show who he personally taught. She had on black shorts and thigh high stockings, pointed silver and black armored boots with a sharp hook on the outer side of each. She had on a white sash, which looked to be tucked under her top slightly, that formed to a loop on each of her thighs over two sea blue drapes on her hips. On her arms are white bell-sleeves with segmented armor on each of her upper arms and tan fingerless gloves.

"Just because the weapons are similar, doesn't mean that the Celestials are responsible for our parents' death. For all we know, the Space Pirates could have found an old relic from the war and used it to draw suspicion away from themselves." Aqua always considered the possibilities, one of the lessons her Master taught her. She had a good point, most of the Celestial's technology was sucked into the rift along with their home world. Anything that escaped it was flung far across the galaxy.

"If that was the case, then why did it take a year to even consider that possibility? It should have only taken two months at the very most!" I punched the bag extra hard to emphasize my point. Honestly I was just being overly stubborn, but losing loved ones is never easy. It doesn't help that one of the suspects has been under scrutiny ever since their home world was discovered. The other, they don't have the backbone to attack a SOLDIER transport vessel!

"..." Whether it was because Aqua knew I was right or she simply didn't feel the need to continue the argument I wouldn't know.

"Anyway." Nam cut in changing the subject. "What about our enrollment? Did we get in?"

Somehow I completely forgot about our enrollment. The main reason I had cleared my schedule for summer. Thank you Naminé! I stopped my abuse of the speed bag and gave Aqua my full attention.

"Well..." Uh oh, I don't like the sound of this at all. Don't tell me we didn't get in Aqua! "I gave my Master your enrollment papers, but he told me that they were approaching the one hundred recruit limit." Aqua's solemn tone was like daggers in my soul. I looked to Naminé to see her in the same state of disappointment as me, and that's tough since she's always the optimist.

I lowered my head in defeat. "So we-"

"Obviously got in!" Oh no she did not just do that. That cheeky grin on her face said it all. I can't believe she pulled that stunt on us.

"What?!" Naminé replied with unrestrained surprise. Aqua moved to a window on the far wall, next to the radio and sand bag I was wailing on earlier and tapped it lightly with a very satisfied and very smug grin on her lips.

"Your enrollment into SOLDIER was accepted." She flicked the radio off so there would be no distractions.

"YES!" Naminé and I exclaimed as we practically tackled Aqua. "We're in!"

"Not necessarily you two." Aqua said as she managed to pry us off of her. "You still have to pass the entrance exam."

"We'll pass it easily, Sis!" I stated confidently, there was no way I was going to fail at this point.

"So you say, but I hear that the test is going to be slightly different his year." Aqua warned me. She has this habit of poking people in the head to calm them down when they were getting over zealous. Which she did to me, and ever since her training at SOLDIER she tends to leave a slight bruise now.

"How so?" Nam asked while I rubbed my forehead, I already felt the soreness coming.

"I don't know. The Headmasters aren't telling anyone the details. All we know is that it will be different from what I had to go through." Aqua's face went pale at the memory of her entrance exam. She wouldn't go into detail about it without her eye twitching and she usually answered with one word. "Yiazmat..." There's the twitching brow. I still don't know what a Yiazmat is, and I'm kinda curious to find out.

"Well we'd better start packing." Nam said changing the subject.

"Right! The test starts tomorrow and we have a one day trip ahead of us." I exclaimed. I began to head for the door when we were interrupted by~.

"And where are you getting ready to go?" The aged voice of our grandmother called as she, too, exited out of the kitchen. She wore a simple blue Sunday dress and had her gray hair tied into to a topknot.

"We got accepted into SOLDIER, grandma." I replied.

Grandma grimaced slightly, I already knew she wasn't that pleased with us going off to SOLDIER. She already lost Dad and Mom. So it's to be expected, though she never really tried to talk us out of it after Aqua joined.

"So you two are going to join SOLDIER as well?" She stated more than asked.

Me and Nam were a little hesitant to answer her, since we both knew how she felt about violence and murder, but we had to respond. "...Yes." We replied.

"I don't need to remind you how I feel about this decision." Grandma replied glancing at Aqua. Grandma and Aqua had an argument about Aqua's choice to join SOLDIER. When Aqua said she wanted to help the worlds like Mother did, well, Grandma didn't try to convince her otherwise after that. I guess she knew that Mom's stubbornness was inside all of us.

"We know Grandma." Aqua replied, Aqua and Grandma are still close now, despite Grandma's apprehensiveness towards Aqua's SOLDIER attire. I still wanna know where she got those clothes, but that will have to wait. "I'll look after them for the first year their there." That's Aqua for ya, always the protective type.

Grandma nodded, she looked at me and walked in my direction. "Kairi. I know how you feel about the Celestials..."

I see where this is going. "I'm not obsessed you guys. I know I can go a little overboard, but it's not like I lose sleep over this."

"Kairi, you kinda are." Thanks Naminé, really appreciate the support.

"None the less, I would like you keep one thing in mind and that goes for you two as well." She was addressing all of us now.

"Yes, Grandma?" We replied in unison.

"Nothing is ever black and white. Sometimes the right answers, however difficult they may be to find, are a few shades in between. Keep that in mind, and you'll find your way in life."

"We will, Grandma!" We exclaimed as we rushed over to Grandma and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Come on, Naminé, we need to pack if we're going to get to the Cosmic Port in time." I grabbed Naminé by her wrist and pulled her through the kitchen to the stairs.

Aqua's POV

After my little sisters left me and Grandmother alone, I felt like a talk was coming on.

"How is School Aqua? I hope you are taking good care of yourself."

"I'm doing alright Grandma. How are you holding up?"

"My grandchildren are off to the institute that took my only son and the mother of his children. Oddly enough, I feel...at ease." That was unexpected, especially coming from Grandma.

"Is that so? I feel a little nervous. Kairi's obsession with the Savant incident has me worried." I really was worried about Kairi. She was probably closest to our parents at the time. I was always busy and Naminé was off at art competitions since she was seven. So, Kairi would be left alone with them.

"She will be fine. Kairi is head strong just like her father, but she has your Mother's self-control. She won't do anything that could hinder her search for answers." Grandma had a point. Kairi won't do anything crazy, at least for her first two years at SOLDIER. Until you're a junior in the High School division of SOLDIER, you don't get sent on actual missions.

"And if she doesn't, I'll be there to keep her in check." I replied. I started walking towards my sister's rooms so I could help them pack. We only have twelve hours to get to Resident and I am curious to see what the Headmasters are planning for the entrance exam.