Chapter 118: Remembrance

During their search for the young Kovu and Kiara, Ventus and Hikari took this chance to get to know each other better as they travelled across the savannah, the sun shining directly down at them. While Hikari told him about her life in Little Devon with Brian and Max, Ventus told her about Land of Departure and his friends. From his description of Land of Departure, Hikari couldn't help but imagine the night sky full of starts, something that she missed seeing, the castle that stood proudly in the centre of the world, the sight just sounded beautiful in her mind.

"Hmm, Hikari? There is a beeping noise coming from you." Ventus snapped her out of her daydream, looking at her strangely from the noise that she was producing, scaring some birds away.

"Huh?" Hikari quickly looked for the source of noise to find that it was the communicator. For animal use, Brian had quickly redesigned the communicators for ear piece use, using voice command to activate and deactivate the device. "Oh right. Communication open." A small beep is held before she continued, "This is Hikari."

"Hikari. Where did you move my snacks?"

"Serves you right for having pork pies on the ship, Silver." Hikari only giggled before replying. "Besides, the communicator is for missions only."

"This doesn't solve my hunger problem and since when did we follow that rule-"

"Communication close." Another beep went off, cutting off Riku halfway.

Ventus chuckled at this. "You guys close?" Knowing from the stories that he had been told, he knew that Hikari called Riku, 'Silver' on some occasions.

"Of course we're close. We're friends." Hikari smiled making her way through the grass.

"Really? You guys seem closer than that." He questioned.

Hikari halted before looking back at Ventus seriously. "We do?" Before Ventus answered, the communicator rang again. "Hold that thought. Communication open."

"What if it's Riku again?" Ventus smiled in humour.

"Only one way to find out." Hikari responded before speaking in the earpiece. "Hikari here."

"Hey Hikari." Max's voice came through. "How you guys doing?"

"No sign of the targets yet." She sighed, placing herself on the ground, looking at the large savannah around her, looking as if it never ended. She still had no idea how Sora, Donald and Goofy went across the place multiple times when they were last here. "How's the search for the keyhole going?"

"We've gone all the locations that dad and Donald know in the Pride Lands and no sign of it. I wish Brian was here to help." He sighed.

Even though Hikari understood what Max was feeling, she knew from the way he's been acting that he needed to be on his own. "I'm sure you guys will find it." She told him.

"I hope so." Max responded. "It's hard to believe how Donald and my dad can get easily distracted."

"Donald and Goofy knows what's at state." Hikari assured him. She twitched slightly, listening to Max trying to convince Donald and Goofy to not make him try the selection of 'grubs' that they had just found. "On second thought, good luck Mac. Communication close."

"Nooooooo-" Max's voice was cut off, making Hikari giggle slightly.

"I feel bad for him." Ventus said, hearing Max's call of distress from the earpiece before Hikari hanged up on him.

"It won't last." She smiled. "He'll properly become ill from trying those grubs."

"So that was what Max was yelling about?" Ventus grinned before turning his direction to some voices in the distance. "And you hear that?" he asked, grabbing Hikari's attention to the source of the noise.

"No! No! No! You're doing it all wrong. Try again." An annoyed male voice spoke from the other side of the bushes.

"This time I'll get you." A cheery voice said determinately.

"Just go."

Ventus and Hikari looked at each other before popping their heads through the bush, seeing one lion lying down while another began to run their distance. The lion lying down was a brown-coloured lion with a dark brown mane and tail-tip and a muscular build, his eyes are emerald green with yellow scleras. The other lion preparing to hide in the grass was golden yellow coloured lioness with brownish-red eyes, similar to Simba's appearance. They watched as the lioness disappeared into the grass while the brown lion remained on the grass, listening out for the lioness' movements.

"So, what's the plan?" Ven whispered, making sure not to chance the brown lion's attention.

"Just one. Follow my lead." She whispered back, pulling her head back.

"Follow your-" Ventus looked back, only to find him get pushed forward, throwing out of the bush and landing on top of the surprised lion.

Hikari could only laugh at Ventus entanglement with the brown lion. "Why do keybearers always fall for that?" She giggled, remembering that Donald and Goofy had managed to pull the same trick on Sora in the Land of the Dragon.

The brown lion roared viciously, untangling himself from Ven, as he glared at the blonde lion below him. "Who are you?" He snared darkly.

Ventus quickly collected himself together and looked back at the brown lion, seeing that he was just about ready to pounce. "I'm Ventus." He greeted. "My friends call me Ven."

The brown lion was taken aback by this; he wasn't used to lions being friendly. "Huh?" Despite the confusion, this didn't stop the lion from ducking as the lioness attempted to pounce him, the lion only shook his head before glaring at the blonde lion. "What do you want?" he growled.

"We were looking for you guys." Ventus answered.

"Us?" The Brown Lion raised an eyebrow.

It didn't take long for the lioness to pick up the conversation taking place. "Did my father send you?" The lioness asked firmly.

Hikari eyes grew to panic that this, they were coming out as spies for Simba, despite the fact that they were. She quickly burst out of the brushes, grabbing the lions' attention. "Ven, there you are! We're supposed to be looking for the keyhole." She quickly glared at Ven, who looked completely confused on his part.

"Keyhole?" The lioness questioned before her expression grew with excitement. "You guys are from another world! My father told me about the other worlds! What are they like? Is it dangerous? Do you guys fight bad guys?" She began to ask.

"For all we know, they could be the bad guys." Kovu growled at the two.

"If I was a bad guy, we would have done something by now instead of showing ourselves to you." Hikari pointed out to the brown lion before looking back at the lioness. "I'm Hikari." She greeted.

"I'm Kiara." The Lioness smiled. "This is Kovu." She shrugged to the brown lion.

"Yeah. Yeah. Nice to meet you." Kovu quickly said before looking back at Kiara. "Look, you said you wanted to learn how to hunt now can we carry on with that?" He asked impatiently, trying to avoid Hikari and Ven's glaze.

"Can't we help them find the keyhole? It sounds more fun." She asked him excitedly.

"Fun?" Kovu questioned. He truly thought that he was helping Kiara get better at her hunting skills, mainly because she wasn't very good at it and it is needed for the lioness to control the hunting groups.

"Yeah Kovu. Come on, you'll enjoy it." Kiara grinned at the confused lion before looking back at the snow leopard and the blonde lion. "If that is alright with you guys?" She asked, knowing the feeling when people she didn't want to follow would anyway, mainly Timon and Pumbaa.

"We don't mind at all." Ventus nodded. "We'll properly get lost anyway."

"Great!" Kiara said happily as she began to lead the way. "We'll try the water hole first. Maybe we could chase something while we're there."

"H-hey!" Kovu looked nervously at Ven and Hikari before running after Kiara. "Wait for me!" He called out.

Ventus watched the two lions walk ahead before turning his head towards Hikari. "Quick thinking." He said.

"Thanks." Hikari nodded. "I'm used to it from all of Brian's failed flirting techniques." She quickly said before following the two lions with Ventus by her side.

BOWBOWBOW

Rain…

The rain fell heavily…

He had a feeling that something bad was going to happen. Not because of the weather or the atmosphere that it was giving off. It was the feeling he had in his heart, he knew something was going to happen since seeing his Master talk to the Colonel about a battle, one to be held on a world where pride once stood high, a battle that was to determine not only the fate of the war but the fate of his life. He wanted to stop the arrangement happening, if only he wasn't taken out from behind, he could have stopped it. But now the rain falls heavy, his short auburn red locks stuck to his pale skin, his blood shot eyes looked around the area desperately, his clothes were soaked to the bone.

For a wasteland, he didn't expect to be so much rain, knowing his luck lately that he must have entered the world during the rainy season. Despite the thought, he had no time to consider the weather, his clothes or his health for that matter.

He needed to find the man that was like a father to him.

So he ran across the empty wasteland, his trainers splashing hard into the huge puddles forming, searching hard for any 'Pride Rock' that he heard the Colonel suggested to his Master. After running across the land like lost prey, the sound of metal slamming against each other rapidly was faintly heard, he turned towards the direction of the noise to see a huge rock in the distance. Without a second thought, he cast haste onto himself and began to race across the wasteland.

Rain…

The rain felt lighter….

He remembered the reason the Colonel and his Master was here. There was an agreement for the duel; the duel was to be solely on swordsmanship only. There wasn't going to be any use of Endless abilities or Magic or Outbursts, just a fight between two men and their weapons. That way, whoever was to lose, they lose with some honour left in them, that their honour will guild their hearts to where they belong. The slight mention of honour reminded him of his late teacher in the Order… another innocent heart lost.

Rain…

The rain felt harder….

The sounds halted….

Haru halted his actions, finishing off his haste spell, as he looked up at 'Pride Rock' he could see that the rock was tilted upwards, being supported by another huge bolder below it. He looked up to the top of Pride Rock, seeing the Colonel on his knees while his Master had his beloved keyblade aimed at Devil's neck. The boy stood with anticipation, this was the moment that would make history. With the Colonel out of the Order, Nikolai will be free, the Order will become blind and lost and the Resistance can finally strike to take back the Order had stolen from them all those years ago. He waited for the final strike, only there wasn't any strike as the Master removed his keyblade away from the Colonel and turned away from the Jealously Endless.

He didn't understand, he remembered how his Master wanted to revenge the loss of his friend, the one that held part of his heart. Why was he letting the Colonel go? It didn't make any sense? His eyes widened, watching the scene in horror as he shouted, "LOOK OUT!" He choked on a sob, tears falling alongside the raindrops on his face.

He watched the Colonel summoned his weapon and strike his Master through the back, despite the fact that he had just spared his life moments ago, watching as he whispered words into his Master's ear before kicking him off the edge of the rock. The Endless could only watch his Master fall to his doom.

Rain….

It all seemed forgotten now….

Haru ran over to his fallen Master as fast as he could, the sound of raindrops was silent to him now, only the sound of his heart beeping rapidly as he ran to his Master's side. Falling to his knees, he could see that his Master was still alive, perhaps there is hope. He quickly looked up, seeing that the Colonel looked down at the two, before disappearing into his portal.

"Haru…" His Master spoke weakly to him, catching his attention. "W-what are you—do-do-doing here?" His white hair stuck to his blurred face, his battle garments ripped and soaked.

"I'm here to save you, you crazy old fool!" Haru shook his head, trying to concentrate on his magic. "Curar-" His spell halted, feeling 'Silent' being cast on him. He looked down at his Master, his eyes full with hurt and confusion. He looked at his Master in question, since he was unable to ask him.

"There is no point." He answered his unspoken question. "T-there is always a t-time w-when you feel t-that you are ready to pass on, t-to let the Light hold your heart once more. T-tonight is my night." Haru shook his head at his Master's words, he wasn't going to let his Master die, he knows silent will wear off eventually then he can heal him and take him back to the Resistance and things can go back to the way they were. "T-things can't go back, Haru. De-de-destiny has played its part. But I w-want you to t-take this." With shaky hands, Haru watched his Master take his left hand and place his keyblade into his hand.

"No!" Haru's voice returned. "This is yours. It's your oath."

"And now it's yours." The Master said firmly. Haru didn't object after that, he just let his Master speak. "In your hand, t-take t-this Key." As he spoke, Haru noticed small amount of light coming from his body. "So long as you have t-the makings, t-then t-through t-this simple act of t-taking, its wielder you shall one d-d-day be. And you will find me, friend—no ocean will contain you t-then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love."

The Master let go of the keyblade, allowing Haru to hold it to his own, watching as the keyblade within his hand glowed before disappearing completely in a flash of light. "What?" Haru couldn't believe what was happening.

"The blade will appear from time to time." The Master began to explain, groaning slightly as more lights appeared. "Only when you know what you are destined to do, will the oath appear and a keyblade wielder you will be."

"I don't want to be a keyblade wielder!" Haru told him, grabbing his Master's claw with his own. "You're the keyblade master! I'm the mage! That's how things are!" He sobbed. "How am I supposed to know what my oath is? What I'm destined for?"

He looked at his Master, only to watch everything around him turn white…..

BOWBOWBOW

Brian remained in the spot where he had his flashback; he placed his paw on the ground, looking at the spot sadly. Even though his paw was only on the ground, he could feel it in his heart, his body remembers the rain, his heart remembers the ache and now his mind only remembers some of the memories itself. He only sighed, he was given his father's Keyblade but he would only become one once he had discovered and understood his destiny. What was his destiny? Why did his father give up the chance to finish the Colonel? And why cannot he remember the moments that he wielded the keyblade in the short moment of times that it has appeared like Hikari had mentioned so many times. "Stupid chains." Brian could only mutter angrily, rolling onto his back as he looked up at the clear blue sky, watching the birds fly by. "Fly now birds, this won't last for long." He mumbled, the memories of the wasteland filling his mind.

Storm waited patiently in the tall grass, watching the Aversion Endless talk to himself and look up at the sky. The Shock Endless raised an eyebrow on the Endless' behaviour but decided to push that thought away. The mission was to take out the Endless, he does that and his sister will be safe and sound. "Sorry Brian." Storm positioned himself, ready to strike at the distracted lion. "You would properly do the same."

"Brian!"

Storm halted his movement, sighing in disappointment as he watched some of Brian's party approach him, making the lion snap out of his thoughts and look towards them. He recognised the red turtle as one of Hikari's friends from Little Devon; he could only assume that the other two were from a different world. "Damn!" He cursed. He couldn't strike now; he needed Brian to be on his own. It's bad enough that his sister thinks that he had betrayed her for joining the Order, the last thing he wants is to get caught out taking her best friend out. He had to wait for another chance; he remained watching from the tall grass.

Brian looked at Max, seeing his friend's face pale. "What's wrong with you?" he questioned.

"I feel sick." Max gagged, glaring back at Donald and Goofy. "Why did you make me eat those grubs?"

"We thought that you might like them." Donald shrugged.

"They sure were yummy. Ahyuck!" Goofy grinned.

Max could only retreat into his shell; the sun was giving him a headache. "They were disgusting!" Max's voice echoed from his shell. "I'm gonna lay down…" Max slowly placed himself out of the way, resting on the side of Pride Rock, before treating back into his shell.

Brian shook his head at this, only Max could cheer him up with an image of him trying to swallow a slug. He looked back at Donald and Goofy. "Any luck finding the keyhole?" He asked.

They shook their heads. "We went to all the places we went to below, all expect the Elephant Graveyard." Donald explained.

"And that's in the Outlands." Goofy finished.

"Right." Brian sighed at this. "Communication Open. Connection Gummi Ship." He waited for a connection before hearing Riku's voice. "Riku, can you get Kairi to scan the Outlands for potential keyhole."

"Will do." Riku confirmed. "Though, it might be a while. Sora is in one of his bad moods at the moment."

"Really?" Brian said in disbelief and slight annoyance. He didn't need this. It was like the virus within Sora was going quicker than anyone expected. "Has he had his remedy? What the hell placed him in a bad mood?" He dared asked.

"I don't know. I came out of the simulator, called Hikari to ask for my snacks when Sora just went to his room, slamming the door behind him. Me and Kairi are trying to get him out." He explained.

"Just leave him in there. Let him cool off. It's better than hearing random duels happening again." Brian told him. "If it gets too bad, get Kairi or Sora to come down here. Max looks like he's going to pass out any minute." He quickly looked back at his friend, chuckling slightly at his ill expression.

"Will do. Kairi properly won't leave the door so I'll scan the Outlands for you."

"Thanks. Communication Close." The red lion turned the communicator off before his mind returned to his Master and his unspoken destiny. The memory in mind, he faced Donald and Goofy. "You guys still following King Mickey's Orders?" He asked them, watching them nod in response.

"I feel bad that we can't tell ya where you are from." Goofy frowned.

"It's fine…" Brian smiled sadly, knowing that only he could remember everything. He needed to know one thing though. "Did you guys ever meet my father?"

"I have!"

The three off-worlders turned their directions to an old looking, hunched baboon. He was more like a mandrill with mostly grey fur, with the exception of the fur on his forearms and lower legs, being dark grey, and his belly, being light grey. He has a wild mane of long, shaggy, white fur on the back of his head and on his chin, creating a beard of sorts. He had tan skin and eight small, sharp teeth, four on his upper jaw and four on his lower jaw. He sports the distinctive mandrill facial features, including the upper half of his face being a light shade of blue, blue rings around his yellow eyes, a very large nose and a blue posterior, carrying a staff made out of a long, bent tree branch with what appear to be two orange fruit tied to one end. Before Brian could question the baboon on the knowledge of his father, he watched the old baboon disappear chanting, "Asante sana! Squash banana! We we nugu! Mi mi apana!"

"Hey!" Brian shouted out, trying to grab the attention of the mad mammal. "Come back!" Watching the baboon head towards a cave, he quickly dashed after him.

"Brian! Come back!" Donald and Goofy quickly rushed after the crimson lion.

Max could only watch, feeling too ill to even move. "At least I won't have to eat any more of those bugs." He said in relief. He watched as some of the lioness came back, alone with Simba. He smiled weakly as the Lion King approached him. "Hey Simba."

"Max, right?" he asked, watching the red turtle nod. "What happened to your friend?"

"Him, Donald and my Dad just followed some crazy baboon chanting something random." Max told him.

"Ahhh. Rafiki." Simba spoke, understanding the baboon's actions before he looked towards Rafiki's cave. "If anyone can help your friend, it's Rafiki."

A/N: Yay! I enjoyed the flashback ^^ Writing for this world is harder than I thought. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Again, sorry if its late. I remember that I updated every week in college but now I'm lucky to get one a month done in uni. Damn coursework and exams ¬¬

Kingdommad