In Twilight Town, Axel, Terra, Ven, and Kairi were watching from the edges of the sandlot as Riku showed Xenix how to wield her Keyblade inside the sandlot itself.

"Alright, the basics of wielding the Keyblade are simple. The Keyblade itself knows how to fight. You'll feel it move and react on its own. The key is to allow it to guide your moves. Over time, you'll learn to predict the Keyblade's moves and make them before it does. Eventually you will stop feeling the Keyblade move for you. The Keyblade itself is teaching you how to wield it so just let it." Riku said as Xenix gave a nod.

"Okay." She said, examining the Keyblade curiously.

"Alright, come at me." Riku said, his Keyblade summoned and ready. This alarmed Xenix.

"W-What?!" she asked.

"I'll defend myself, don't worry. You're not going to hurt me. But I need to see how much you know already. You might've gotten some of your Other's skills so we'll need to see what you're capable of." Riku said, Xenix giving a nod, clearly not wanting to attack Riku.

"I'll…I'll do my best." She stammered, Riku noticing her hesitation.

"On second thought, let me ask this. Is there someone you'd prefer to spar with instead of me?" Riku asked as Xenix glanced towards the others.

"Um…well…who's the best swordsman of all of you?" she asked as Riku looked towards Terra.

"Terra, you're up." Riku said but Terra shook his head.

"I can't." he said.

"What? Why?" Riku asked, surprised.

"I…I can't explain it. It's like I have this overwhelming desire to keep from harming her." Terra said as Riku scratched the back of his head.

"Okay, anyone else?" Riku asked as Ven stepped forward, summoning his Keyblade.

"I'll do it. I might not be as good as Terra but I know how to dodge a blade well enough." Ven said as Riku nodded, stepping out of the sandlot.

"You mind working with Ven?" Riku asked as Xenix dropped into a fighting stance reminiscent of a Kendo swordsman.

"I'm ready." She said.

"Alright. Ven, remember to just block or evade." Riku said as Ven gave a nod. Xenix suddenly leapt forward, swinging at Ven who blocked her first few strikes before narrowly dodging another.

"Whoa!" he yelped as he dodge rolled to one side.

"Don't worry Ven! If she hits you, I've got Cure ready to go!" Kairi called from the sidelines.

"Like that makes me feel better! YIKES!" Ven yelped as Xenix continued to attack. He hadn't anticipated her skill to be as advanced as it was but he quickly adapted and started deflecting or dodging more without worry. As Xenix sparred with him, Riku stepped over towards Terra, glancing at him.

"What's up?" he asked.

"I can't explain it. There's something holding me back. I don't know what it is or why. It's like I know her and yet I don't." Terra said as Riku gave an understanding nod.

"I know what you mean. There's a part of me that knows her somehow. You mentioned that I'd been having a dream about some girl but I forgot it?" Riku asked.

"Yeah. Made you pass out and everything." Axel chimed in.

"Maybe Xenix, or rather, the person Xenix was, is the girl from your dreams." Kairi suggested.

"That thought had occurred to me. She looks familiar though but I can't place where I know her. I take it that Xenix is an anagram of her Other's name?" Riku asked, Terra and Axel both nodding.

"It is. E-N-I-X. I've been working with various anagrams of the name without the X, but so far the only one that sounds right is N-I-X-E." Terra explained, Riku pondering for a moment.

"N-I-X-E. Nixe…hmm." Riku pondered.

"Axel, do you recognize the name?" Kairi asked but Axel shook his head.

"Nope. Sorry." He replied.

"Maybe it's someone Sora knows." Kairi suggested.

"It's possible. The kid's got friends in practically every world he visits." Axel replied.

"Is it possible that Xenix, or Nixe, is someone we hurt during our darker periods, Riku?" Terra asked but Riku shook his head.

"I'm not getting that feeling. I feel like I've known her for a long time." Riku said, Terra giving a slight nod.

"Had to be sure." He replied. By now Xenix hadn't made any improvements over Ven save for the brief period where she'd caught him off guard at the beginning and now she was just wailing on his Keyblade.

"Alright I think we've seen enough." Riku said, stepping into the sandlot, the fight ending.

"Sorry if I hurt you." Xenix said but Ven gave a dismissive wave.

"Not at all." He replied as he stepped out.

"You clearly know the basics of swordplay but your skills are a little lacking. We'll come back to that but for now, let's see how well you comprehend magic." Riku said as Xenix raised her hand.

"You mean like this?" she asked, causing a fireball to appear in her hand.

"Yes. Good you know how to use fire spells. Now let's-…" Riku said but was interrupted by the arrival of Hayner, Pence, and Olette.

"What's going on?" Pence asked.

"Who's the girl?" Olette asked but Hayner was already sliding over to her.

"Hey there, the name's Hayner." He greeted with a grin. Xenix was caught off guard and Riku was scowling towards him.

"Uh, Hayner, do you mind? We're kind of in the middle of-." Riku said but was interrupted.

"I don't recognize you. You new in town?" Hayner asked.

"Um…well." Xenix stammered, still startled by Hayner's arrival.

"I think she is." Pence said as he approached.

"Hayner, you're not going to-?" Olette asked, approaching with Pence.

"Uh huh, consider us your official Twilight Town Welcoming Committee." Hayner said as he and Pence picked her up under the arms and started hauling her off into town, Xenix with a bewildered look on her face.

"Um…Riku?!" Xenix called as Riku groaned, running a hand over his face.

"Don't worry, I'll get her back!" Kairi said as she and Ven ran after them, leaving Terra, Riku, Axel, and Olette alone in the sandlot.

"What…what just happened?" Terra asked as Olette groaned.

"It's Hayner and Pence being boys again. Ugh it's like they forget I'm a girl too sometimes." Olette grumbled.

"Are they always like this when there's a new girl in town?" Riku asked.

"Whenever there's one close to their own age. I imagine it'll ease off once they get a girlfriend." Olette said as Terra scowled.

"No way am I letting them date Xenix." He declared authoritatively.

"Same here." Riku added. Olette proceeded to give them both a curious look.

"Um, I don't think that's necessarily your call to make." She said before walking off in the hopes of catching up to the others, leaving the three men behind, watching her leave with stunned expressions on their faces. (Music Cue: A Girl Worth Fighting For Redux – Mulan II)

"Well I don't need her to be all smug and snooty."

Axel said as Terra and Riku both nodded.

"I got a scar right here that says I kicked Dark Booty!"

Terra said, pointing at his chest with his thumb as they walked into the marketplace.

"We have everything we dreamed we'd find when we came back from war."

Riku said, referring to their recent battles, Terra and Axel both nodding in solidarity.

"Yeah! Everything but..."

They said before spotting the candy store owner, Jessie, walk past with a fresh shipment, watching her pass them, not giving them a single ounce of notice.

"…a girl worth fighting for!"

They said, Riku quickly elbowing both men in the gut.

"Hey suck in your gut!"

As all three of them said…

"There's a girl worth fighting for!"

They watched as Jessie stepped inside her store and finally noticed them, giving a friendly smile and wave.

"And I think she wants us to come over!" Axel said with a grin as he slicked back his hair.

"My girl will laugh at all my jokes
but tell it to me straight."

Axel said as Terra scratched his head.

"She'll rub my head when I get sick."

Then Riku chimed in as Axel made the first advance, approaching Jessie's shop…

"And let me take her on a date.
If he can find a girl who likes his flaming nose trick…"

Riku said, watching as Axel made flames shoot from his nose, irritating Jessie who reached for a struggle bat beneath the counter. Clearly this wasn't the first time she'd seen this trick. Terra and Riku both saw her raise the bat and grimaced…

"…Ooh he really better just propose quick."

Terra said before both men cringed. A second later, Axel trudged back towards them, slumped forward with a red mark forming on the side of his head.

"Well I have to say based on today I'm cranky."

He said as they started running towards the station courtyard.

"I'll just spend my life with you two."

Riku said with a shrug, causing Terra to scowl.

"Pass the hanky."

He replied as they saw the station courtyard up ahead.

"And there's no one there to steal my chair…"

Axel said as Terra followed up…

"…and twirl around the floor."

"Wish that I had a girl worth fighting for!"

They all said…

(Riku)"I would be true!"
(All)"To a girl worth fighting-…"
(Axel) "I'd make fondue!"
(All)"For a girl worth fighting-…"
(Terra)"I'd even kiss you!"

Terra said, pointing at a female figure up ahead with her back turned and a head of red hair.

"For a girl worth fighting..."

They said but froze when the woman turned around, revealing it to be Kairi, causing the three to deflate instantly.

"…for."

They said anticlimactically as Kairi blushed slightly with a pitying look.

"Um…" she stammered.

"Uh, any sign of where Xenix went?" Riku asked but Kairi shook her head.

"She ran off. I think Hayner and Pence scared her and she ran." Kairi said as Riku sighed, Ven walking out from inside the station.

"I'll find her. If the four of you see Hayner, Pence, or Olette, keep them occupied. I've got an idea as to where to find her." Riku said before running off into the station.

"So, Axel…why do you have a bruise on your forehead?" Ven asked as Terra shook his head.

"Don't ask." He said as Axel's eyes widened in realization.

"Hey, I think I may know how we could spot Xenix." Axel said as Kairi arched an eyebrow.

"Really? How?" she asked, eager to know and find Xenix.

"We get a better vantage point from the station tower." Axel said, motioning to the train station tower. Terra was already looking up towards it but as he did, he spotted something, a figure he couldn't make out.

"I think there's someone already up there." Terra said as they all looked up towards the tower.

"Is it Xenix?" Ven asked but Terra furrowed his brow.

"It's not. It's someone else." Terra said. They could tell the figure was shrouded in a tan colored cloak that had seen some wear and tear. Beneath it was a forest green colored short sleeved work shirt with matching shorts that went to just past the knees, a pair of brown hiking boots on its feet, and black gloves on its hands. The figure stood atop the tower for a moment before noticing the four of them and suddenly leaping down headfirst towards the ground.

"WHOA!" Ven exclaimed, attempting to run catch the figure but Terra held him back!

"Wait!" he ordered, watching as the figure fell towards the ground and suddenly righted itself before it hit the ground, landing on one knee, completely unscathed.

"What the-?!" Ven said as they started to move towards the figure.

"Kairi…" Terra said, noticing that Kairi seemed apprehensive about the person. She looked towards him with a look of uncertainty. This look was enough for Terra to quickly slap his armor piece and summon his Keyblade.

"Who are you?!" Terra asked, pointing his Keyblade at the person. The figure glanced towards them, a pair of blue eyes glaring back at them. The figure's face was obscured by a piece of cloth, matching the cloak around it. Only the eyes were visible as a result.

"Keyblade." The Unknown said with a deep masculine voice as it rose to its feet. The figure then turned towards them and raised its hand towards them as if reaching out for a hand shake but the look in its eyes did not imply a friendly greeting. Suddenly they a strange black sphere appear in the figure's hand. The sphere quickly morphed into the shape of a katana with no guard and a black hilt. The black blade suddenly solidified into an actual katana. The Unknown proceeded to drop into a fighting stance.

"I'll ask again! Who are you?! We mean you no harm!" Terra said but the Unknown didn't reply. Suddenly, Kairi and Ven's Keyblades appeared in their hands on their own, alarming the wielders.

"It would seem that he does." Axel said, summoning his chakrams as the Unknown stood ready to fight.

End Chapter 36

Who is this Unknown? Why is it willing to fight the gang? Find out in the chapters to come.

The song above was "A Girl Worth Fighting For (Redux)" From Disney's Mulan II. It was edited to fit the scene. I do not own this song.