Chapter 36 : Who's IT

The Dark Master was in a VERY BAD MOOD today. He gets his favourite sandwich eaten by one of the Endless workers, who is now resting in peace before he gets a report from Cpl Link saying that one of Maleficent's minions had caught the virus, meaning that one of the Order member went to Agrabah when he and the Colonel strictly told them not to go there. A little side note was that he started to sense an energy that he hadn't sensed since their last incounter, he knows that the appearance of the idiotic light won't be able to bother him this time. Now that he had the virus on his side, he needed to get someone with a similar balance to his own. Not knowing how only threw him into a deeper mood. The Master was tapping on his armrest as he waited for the three Order members that were told to stay at this base but only Maj Snake was in the room.

Maj Snake wasn't wearing his armour, he was wearing his normal garments. He was wearing his cowboy hat, snake-skin vest with a white worker's shirt underneath, brown leather trousers and snake-skin boots. Snake was holding his brown coloured chain-sword which was able to change from sword to whip at his ability.

"Where are the others." The master said coldly while tapping on the armrest even faster. Maj Snake gestured his hat before his lord.

"Don't rattle your little head just yet, sir." Snake said calmly, "Link when to report the news to the Colonel at Ultimate Castle and Lizza is…."

"WHY IS MY HAIR PINK!" Lizza screamed from the other side of the mansion.

"…is coming out of her Neutral status." Snake finished

"Quicker than that iceberg did." The Master growled referring to Nikolai.

The doors burst opened to reveal Lizza, pulling at her now bright pink hair. Lizza was wearing her normal garments as well. Her garments were more of a pirate theme as she wore a white corset and a long, brown lacy shirt, and brown gloves that covers her claw.

"Nice to see you finally join us, Lizza." The Master said in the same tone. Lizza looked at the Master and saw that he was in a bad mood, she stopped pulling at her hair and bowed to him before going to stand next to Snake.

"You do look better with pink hair." Snake whispered to her

"Shush up, cowboy." Lizza cursed back

"That's Major Cowboy to you little missy." Snake chuckled. A portal appeared like before and Link came before his comrades and master.

He bowed to the master and stayed at attention, knowing the master wanted to talk to him. "Now Link, how did you find this out and did you sense any other energies?" The Master asked referring to Sa'luk turning into one of them.

"Like I said before…" Link began, "I was near the area when I had sensed two energies so I when to-"

"Now hold up, when were there two outlaws involved?" Snake pounded

"Like I was saying." Link said, ignoring Maj Snake's question, "I went down to the weakest energy, knowing that was the being who got affected. I find out that it was Sa'luk that got affected and not by any of our members."

"If it wasn't any of our members then who could make him develop the virus so quickly." The Master questioned

"Sa'luk said it was the Keyblade Master." Link answered

"But the Keyblade Master isn't an Endless." Lizza protested

"This is what I think." Snake said as he stood in front of the three, "My Lord, didn't Sgt Abroc report the Keyblade Master being attacked by a Heartless?" The Dark Master nodded, "Well, what if that so-called French judge summoned some of our endless spies without realising. That would explain the two energies on that there sand-pit world."

"Even if that was so…" Link argued with his arms crossed, "The Keyblade Master would only be in the neutral status since he fights for the realm of light. We all know that neutrals can't give off their own energy unless an stronger Endless has the same element power."

"And all Endless are noticed by the Master and the Colonel so he couldn't have the virus." Lizza added. Snake stepped towards the Dark Master's throne. He got down on one knee and took of his hat as he bowed his head.

"My Lord. Where I come from, when we have a hunch or a theory in our tails, we should tie it up in our heads and track it down." Snake suggested. Link and Lizza just stood there with confused faces.

"Do you have any idea what he just said, Corporal?" Lizza asked quietly

"If I did, I'll kill myself." Link replied darkly.

"He said 'If we have a lead, we should follow it'." The Master told them all of a sudden, making them jump a bit, "and I'm of one who wants to know more about this Keyblade Master." Perhaps the reappearance of his idiotic light hadn't been a complete waste.

BOWBOWBOW

Brian and Riku was hanging around in the Bridge, looking at the item's in Genie's package. Riku had cut the other half of his hair to the same length of the other side and made it look like his old hair style that he had when he was fifteen. Sora was driving the gummi, even with Brian's disapproval. Max and Goofy was having their normal father-son chats, Donald was in the kitchen counting all the mummy he managed to get off of Brian and Riku for the package, and Kairi and Hikari was in Kairi's room, having a girl's talk. The two friends was chuckling to themselves as they looked at the pictures of Sora and Kairi at the wedding and dancing together, including Sora's dancing lesson with a picture of them nearly kissing. Riku put all the other pictures away and placed them in his room before sitting back down on the sofa. Brian chuckled before looking thoughtfully at the picture.

Riku seemed to notice his change of mood. "You alright?" Riku asked, concerned about his friend.

Brian nodded his head, not taking his glaze from the picture. "Yeah, it's just that seeing them like that. I-It reminds me of something."

"Like what?"

"Well…their bond."

"Their bond..." Riku slowly repeated.

"Yeah…Kyle once told me that the very soul in one's body and heart is very similar to two hearts that have a great bond, finding identical feeling would show…" he paused, his face placed in an thoughtful expression as he tried to remember.

"What would it show?" Riku asked, interested in the connections of the soul, heart and body. Brian tried to think of the answer but ended up getting a sharp pain in his head, making him grab his head. "Hey Brian, don't hurt yourself." Riku joked.

Brian just punched him playfully in the arm. He gave the picture to Riku and went over to the Chocobo egg. He took the egg out of the case and brought it back with him as he sat on the sofa. While Brian was checking the egg, Riku looked at the picture, smiling happily before placing it on the table and facing Brian. "What did Kyle say when he called?" Riku asked

"He said 'the results were unreliable' which I did not want to hear." Brian said in a monotone voice, still having his attention on the egg.

"This is when you done that test, right?" Riku asked

Brian nodded as a response, "I was right about the Heartless theory and now we have to be on our feet because we have no idea what is happening to Sora."

"You think Sora has the virus?" Riku said in a low tone.

"I can't really say anything without results. The only change there'll be is the place where he was affected and his fighting ability." Riku nodded, showing that he's listening. "I don't know for sure so it's best not to tell anyone about this, if anyone asks, the results were clear."

Riku didn't like the sound of this secret, "Brian, I don't think-"

"It's safer for all of us." Brian placed his right hand on Riku's shoulder, "For the safety of the worlds and our lives." Riku sighed before nodding in agreement.

Just then, Sora walked into the bridge and walked towards the two, "Hey guys, what were you talking about?"

Brian leaned against the sofa and stretched, "You know, normal stuff that normal guys talk about like cheese or weapons or even girls that we might have seen during our travels to other worlds."

Sora looked at Riku with a confused face, "You were talking about cheese?"

"Apparently." Riku simply said.

Brian yawned before actually noticing that Sora wasn't driving, "You complained about me not letting you drive so why are you not driving?" Brian raised a eyebrow.

"We're 30 minutes away from the next world so I just put the gummi on Auto-course." Sora informed them.

"Sora! What did I tell you about Auto-course?" Brian moaned

"Don't worry, I'll turn it off before we'll leave." Sora promised.

"What world are we heading to anyway?" Riku asked

"Port Royal." Sora answered, "It's the place with all the pirates."

"We can count Kairi out then." Riku simply said while relaxing against the sofa.

"Why do you say that?" Sora wondered, "Kairi might like it." Sora grabbed a chair from the side of the room and placed it on the other side of the table.

"Kairi said that she doesn't like pirates because of what happened on Captain Hook's ship." Riku said, "Besides, she has been to three worlds straight. I think that she should pass on at least one world."

Sora nodded in agreement, best not to push Kairi too hard. "Donald and Goofy are coming, saying they want to see Jack, Will and Elizabeth again. Are you coming?" Sora asked the two.

"Someone has to keep an eye out for you, Donald and Goofy." Riku chuckled, Sora chuckled as well before he faced Brian for an answer.

"I wish I could but I got banned from that world." Brian replied as he checked on the Chocobo egg that was still on his lap.

"How did you get banned from a world?" Riku and Sora in unison and amusement.

"You know what? I haven't got a bloody clue." Brian was silent all of a sudden before he carried on, "I know that Hikari won't go because she will end up decking every pirate there and Max might go, depending if he's in good terms with his dad or not."

"Yeah, I hope that Max can come." Sora said

"GO AWAY DAD! I'M NOT A LITTLE KID ANYMORE! I'VE GOT MY OWN LIVE!" Max yelled to his dad as he passed through the bridge and into the training room with his bow in his hands.

Sora, Riku and Brian watched Donald come out of the kitchen to see if Goofy was alright. "That answers that question then." Brian said as he got a pack of cards out of his pockets and passed them to Riku. Riku started to deal the cards out when Kairi and Hikari came in the room. Hikari saw the three and she crossed her arms and glared at Brian. "What?"

"I seem to remember that Max is not only MY friend but YOUR friend as well. I think you should come with me to calm Max down." Hikari glared

"Why should I? Goofy only cares about him, it's his fault that he won't accept it. Besides, the only way to calm Max down is to duel with him and I end up kicking his butt every time." Brian scoffed.

Hikari walked over to him and slammed his head on the table and kept his head there until he agreed to come. While Hikari was holding his head down, she didn't notice Riku mouth 'wow' and glare at her with wonder. Sora had to snapped his fingers in front of him to snap out of it. Brian finally agreed to help as he left the table and handed Kairi the Chocobo egg. Riku carried on dealing the cards out while thinking what had happened that he didn't notice Brian swiping the picture of the table before going in the training room with Hikari.

Kairi placed the egg back in it's case before taking a seat, where Brian was seating before and took the cards. The three of them played for a while in silent before Sora began talking, "Hey Riku?"

"Hmm?" Riku placed a card in the middle and picked one up.

"Me and Kairi found something out while we were in Agrabah." Sora continued while repeating what Riku had just done.

"Really? What was it about?" Riku asked, keeping his attention on his cards. Kairi put two cards in the middle and picked two cards up before answering his question.

"You." She said

This made Riku put his cards down and look at his two best friends confusedly, "Me?"

"Yep, about you and the 14th member of Organisation." Sora replied, "Riku…Man, why didn't you tell us?"

"It's hard to explain." Riku said sadly, "How did you find this out?"

"An Oracle." Sora replied, "We tried asking it about King Mickey but with the balance being jumpy…"

"Can you tell us about Xion?" Kairi asked, "Me and Sora have asked Naminé and Roxas but Naminé said to ask you.."

"…and Roxas doesn't remember much in the Organisation since you and Ansem the Wise send him to the virtual Twilight Town." Sora finished her sentence.

Riku sighed before looking at his friends, "The truth is, I can't remember a thing."

BOWBOWBOW

Max was panting from lack of breathe, being tired and was completely beaten. He had his bow out which was separated into two blades that acted like swords. Brian was out of breathe too with his staff summoned and had fixed the 30cm blades on them again. Hikari was at the side of the training room, keeping an eye on the two and had a bag of potions just in case one of them decided to past out. Brian ran towards Max and strike at him, Max tried to jump over Brian to avoid the attack but Brian jumped up as well and slammed his staff at Max's chest, making him fall on the ground. Brian disposed of his staff and handled out his hand. Max disposed of his weapon and took it.

"You're getting better Max." Brian panted as he pulled him up, "You nearly had me there."

"Not enough to please my dad." Max muttered as he and Brian walked over to Hikari for potions.

"He's just worried about you, Max." Hikari said as she handled both of them a potion, "If you had a son, wouldn't you want to keep him safe?"

"Yeah but I would give him the choice to fight with his team mates and have his freedom, something my dad isn't giving me." Max said angrily.

"What exactly did Goofy say?" Brian asked before he drank his potion.

"He said 'I should stay on the Gummi Ship since Port Royal is too dangerous, Ah-yuck!' That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard." Max replied while personating his dad. Max drank his potion before facing Brian and Hikari.

"He does have a point." Hikari said, "Port Royal isn't the safest place and it's not like you'll be the only one that isn't going."

"Oh yeah, name one person who isn't going apart from you and Kairi." Max replied darkly

"Brian isn't going." Hikari replied.

"What? Bri, why aren't you going?" Max questioned, he was surprised by this.

"I got banned." Brian simply said.

"Daniel did tell me the reason but it slipped my mind." Hikari smiled

"Ha! You can't moan at me for forgetting things now." Brian cheered. Hikari just rolled her eyes and picked up her supplies before the three started to head towards the stairs that leaded to the bridge.

Max then stopped and looked at Brian, "Hey Brian, what was your dad like?"

Brian and Hikari stopped and both Hikari and Max looked at Brian, waiting for a answer. "My dad…" Brian said repeatedly while placing his hands behind his head. Hikari noticed that Sora done that as well as he thought but decided not to mention it.

After a while, Brian faced Hikari, "Hey Hikari, what was my dad like?" he asked her

"Why the HELL are you asking me for?" Hikari complained

"I've told you so many times, you can save me the discomfort." Brian replied as he ascended the stairs.

"Do you hate your father so much that merely mentioning him ignores you?" Hikari questioned angrily to him. Brian froze on the middle of the staircase and muttered something to himself, not facing Hikari or Max. "Brian?"

Brian turned his head to face her, "Yeah?"

"The question about your father." Max reminded him.

"Oh right, yeah. Umm….yeah, I'll go with that." Brian replied and went out the room. Hikari sighed with annoyance and concern on her friend.

"Is Brian alright?" Max asked her.

"I'm not sure, Max." Hikari replied sadly, "He seems to be having a off day again."

"What did happen to Brian's dad anyway?" Max asked

Hikari sighed as she and Max ascended the stairs, "He got killed by one of the Order members right in front of Brian."

A/N: Poor Brian and Sora… I can be cruel. I noticed that I have put the chocobo chapter up near easter and Goofy mentioned chocolate egg, talk about timing. I didn't write Riku telling about his life during Sora's sleep because I have no idea what it might be and will properly mention it when the game has come out in Japan and I decided to ruin it for everyone. Time for messages…

Sailor winx: I wish chocobo's were in the game too.

kisdota- The Freak Gamer: It amazing what peddlers have these days

Shadow S: I HATE LONG LISTS, THANKS ANYWAY PURPLE CHOCOBO.

Kingdommad