Nixe and Riku were flying through the stars on Nixe's Keyblade Glider, bound for nowhere in particular.
"Any ideas where we should head next?" Nixe asked.
"Perhaps a world where there isn't anyone out to get you." Riku mumbled, earning a glare from Nixe although her expression was unreadable due to her helmet.
"What exactly are you implying?" she asked.
"To put it bluntly, you've nearly lost all three of the fights you've been in. I beat you first, you nearly lost your heart in the second, and you nearly fell for Third's manipulations in the third. You could really use some practice." Riku explained as Nixe huffed.
"You're forgetting De Vil Manor." Nixe argued.
"That doesn't count and you know it!" Riku said as Nixe brought the Keyblade Glider to a stop.
"Hey, for your information, I've been fighting Heartless for most of my life! They're easy to deal with!" Nixe explained as Riku gave a nod.
"Yes but not every foe is like a Heartless. How do you propose to defeat bigger and deadlier foes than them?" Riku asked as Nixe shrugged.
"Hit them until they disappear or until a cutscene starts?" she asked, Riku glaring at her.
"You're joking me right?" he asked back but Nixe remained silent.
"Umm, well…" she stammered, causing Riku to sigh.
"Okay, clearly you need some help in the fighting department. Can you think of anyone who would be able to help?" Riku asked as Nixe thought for a moment.
"Hmm…well, there is one person besides my mom that we could talk to. He'd be hard to convince though." Nixe said as Riku gave a nod.
"Okay. Where can we find this person?" Riku asked as Nixe turned the glider around.
"One of the most secure worlds I know about: Steadfast Stadium." Nixe said as they streaked off into the stars.
…
Roughly ten minutes later, Nixe and Riku were looking out from an alleyway in Steadfast Stadium, marveling at the neon lights and jumbotrons. Nixe seemed a little apprehensive about stepping out into the bustling city, especially when she saw a tall man with blue hair, an X-shaped scar over his face, a large claymore sword on his back, and wearing a clandestine black suit and sunglasses patrolling the streets.
"I set one foot out there, Mom will be on me faster than you could say 'busted.' Any suggestions?" Nixe asked, hearing the ruffling of fabric behind her.
"Here, use this." Riku said, handing her his coat. She turned and saw that his clothes beneath had changed to a simple white and yellow vest, baggy light purple jeans, and shoes (A/N: His KH2 appearance). Nixe blinked at him curiously.
"How'd you change clothes like that?" she asked.
"The clothes you saw me wearing earlier is similar to your Keyblade armor. It's summonable armor." Riku said as Nixe pulled on the coat, zipping it up and pulling the hood up over her head.
"I still kinda stand out but at least I won't be recognized right off the bat…say wait a minute, didn't that girl from Lantern Kingdom have a coat just like this?" Nixe asked as Riku scratched his head.
"Did she? I didn't notice." Riku replied as they stepped out into the streets, heading for the stadium.
"So who's this person that can help you?" Riku asked as they walked.
"None other than the reigning champion of the Stadium. From what I've heard mom say, he was one of the founding Guardians of Sublime but regularly wandered off to explore. He's a powerful fighter, and only Mom's been able to beat him at all. I've only met him a handful of times but he says he owes me a few fighting lessons." Nixe explained as they approached the stadium. No one was standing guard and a large scrolling sign overhead read "Closed for Maintenance – Will reopen soon." Nixe led Riku inside the stadium, the two sneaking through the halls, hearing the sounds of fighting from deeper inside. As they reached the empty arena stands, they saw a brawny man wearing only a pair of raggedy grey shorts and a red headband around his scraggly black hair, battling a number of dummy targets with his fists and a large arrow shaped sword. He had a strange T-shaped tattoo emblazoned on his chest. Nixe smiled the moment she saw him, watching as he smashed effortlessly through a number of dummy targets.
"That's him." She said as Riku furrowed his brow.
"Him?" he asked but Nixe had already jumped the barricade and dropped down into the arena floor, landing on one knee, the stadium's sensors immediately detected her arrival, causing the dummy targets to freeze as a buzzer sounded. The man let out a groan.
"Augh! Come on! What's going on?!" the man grunted as he turned towards the hooded Nixe who smirked towards him. He then let out a sigh.
"No autographs right now, kid. If you want an autograph, you can wait until after the next match." The man said as Riku dropped down next to her.
"She's not here for an autograph." Riku said as the man arched a curious eyebrow.
"She?" he asked as Nixe pulled back the hood. The man recognized her instantly and grinned.
"Hey! Little Nixe, it's you!" the man said, driving is sword into the ground with only one arm and propping his right foot up onto the guard, leaning against his knee in a relaxed pose. Nixe grinned back.
"It's good to see you again, Sir Jecht." Nixe said as Jecht, (from Final Fantasy X) laughed.
"I'm kinda surprised to see you kid. You've got a lot of people lookin' for ya." Jecht said as Nixe sighed.
"I know but please, don't tell anyone I'm here. I'm trying to find a way to help lift the curse on Sublime, to free it's people. But someone thinks I need more experience when it comes to fighting." Nixe said, glaring at Riku who crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at Jecht who shrugged.
"Never hurts to get some practice in, kid. I'll get out of your way. Don't worry, I won't rat you out." Jecht said, pulling his sword from the ground and resting it on his shoulder before turning to leave.
"She's not here to practice, she's here to learn from you." Riku said as Jecht spun towards them.
"What?! Me teach you?! Forget it!" Jecht replied.
"You said you owed me lessons!" Nixe argued but Jecht turned away.
"That was years ago, kid. I was young and dumb back then. I've been around, I've tried my hand in training folks but none came through." Jecht replied.
"The people of Sublime and Steadfast are counting on me, Jecht! Please, teach me to fight, to be a hero like you!" Nixe said as Jecht glared at her. (Music Cue: One Last Hope – Disney's Hercules).
"So, ya wanna be a hero, kid?
Well, whoop-de-do!"
Jecht said mockingly, causing Nixe and Riku to scowl at him…
"I have been around the block before,
with blockheads just like you.
Each and every one a disappointment,
Pain for which there ain't no ointment.
So much for excuses,
though a kid of Si's is,
askin' me to jump into the fray.
My answer is two words…"
Jecht said, his arms crossed in preparation to shut her down before Riku suddenly fired a Dark Firaga towards him, causing him to block, with an alarmed expression on his face…
"O.K." He squeaked as Nixe let out a cheer.
"YES! I won't let you down Sir Jecht!" Nixe declared as Jecht slumped forward with a groan.
"You win,
Oh goddess,
Oy vay."
Jecht grumbled as, with a wave of his hand, new practice dummies, target drones, and a myriad of assorted practice equipment appeared…
"I'd given up hope that someone would come along,
A fella who'd ring the bell for once.
Not the gong.
The kind who wins trophies,
won't settle for low fees,
at least semi-pro fees,
but no, I get the greenhorn."
Jecht grumbled as led Nixe and Riku towards the start of an obstacle course.
"I've been out to pasture pal, my ambition gone,
content to spend lazy days and to mow my lawn."
Jecht said as he tossed Nixe a wooden training sword, tossing his own aside and picking up another one for himself, motioning to come at him.
"But you need an advisor,
an Aeon, but wiser!
A good merchandiser,
and WHOA!"
Jecht yelped as he dodged a swing from Nixe and saw her step on a spring pad which sent her flying into a nearby wall, Jecht and Riku cringing at the sight.
"There goes my ulcer!" Jecht grumbled. Soon they were at the start of an obstacle course, Nixe with her Keyblade in hand.
"I'm down to one last hope,
and I hope it's you."
Jecht said as he gave Nixe the go ahead, Nixe rushing into the course, striking at all the target dummies as she ran…
"Though, kid, you're not exactly,
a dream come true.
I've trained enough turkeys,
who never came through."
Jecht said as Nixe went tumbling out of the course, right at Riku's feet, a confused look on her face as to what just happened. Jecht then face palmed and shook his head, saying…
"You're my one last hope.
so you'll have to do!"
"You alright there, killer?" Riku asked as he helped Nixe to her feet.
"Shut up." She mumbled before Jecht snapped his fingers, at least three large dummies with maces coming to life and rushing at her. Riku quickly ran as Nixe dove into the fray.
"Quit just jumping in headfirst! Assess the situation kid!" Jecht yelled as Nixe quickly dove to one side, quickly looking the dummies over but didn't notice a fourth dummy coming at her, smacking her across the field, Jecht quickly grabbing her out of the air and setting her down.
"Demigods have faced the odds,
and ended up a mockery.
Don't believe the stories
that you hear on that ol' crock TV."
He said as Nixe sighed in frustration. Riku then stepped over towards her.
"To be a true hero, Nix, is a dying art.
Like painting a masterpiece, it's a work of heart."
He said as Jecht nodded in agreement and shoved her towards the obstacle course again which had reset itself…
"It takes more than sinew,
comes down to what's in you.
You have to continue to grow!"
Jecht said as Nixe quickly dodged a blow from the practice dummy and proceeded to incinerate it with a Firaga, the first tier three spell she had ever used, to her amazement and Jecht's delight…
"Now that's more like it!" Jecht cheered as the course disappeared, being replaced by at least seven dummy targets in white.
"I'm down to one last shot,
and my last high note.
Before that blasted Underworld,
gets my goat!"
Jecht said as Nixe took a calming breath and set off against the seven training dummies, her armor active as she charged in, laying waste to the dummies who, despite their fierce skill, Nixe managed to gain the upper hand.
"Our dreams are on you, kid!
Go make 'em come true!
Climb that uphill slope!
Keep pushing that envelope!
You're my one last hope
And, kid, it's up to yo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-ou!"
Jecht said as Nixe proceeded to emerge victorious, standing atop a pile of defeated dummies, not noticing that fourth big dummy again as it brought a large mace down towards her.
"YAH!" she yelped, jumping forward just in time and then blasting it with a Firaga, hitting it in the head and defeating it. Riku was smirking towards her but Jecht wasn't that impressed.
"How'd I do?" she asked.
"I thought you did fine." Riku said but Jecht shook her head.
"Fine for amateurs perhaps." Jecht mumbled.
"Like you could do better." Nixe argued, Jecht grinning challengingly.
"Oh you did not just go there." He said, hefting his sword onto his shoulder, waving his free hand across in front of him, causing the arena to clear itself of all the training equipment.
"Uh, what's this?" Nixe asked as Jecht chuckled.
"Your final exam at the School of Jecht! Sing your song of prayer now, kid! We're gonna rumble, one on one!" Jecht said, as Nixe gulped nervously but dropped into a fighting stance, Riku quickly running to reach a safe distance to watch the battle that was about to unfold.
End Chapter 42
Jecht is from Final Fantasy X.
The song above was "One Last Hope" from Disney's Hercules and has been slightly altered to fit the scene. I do not own this song.