AUTHOR'S NOTE:
First, I already beaten Kingdom Hearts III and I can say that it was worth the wait. While not the best game in the series I can say it was worth it.
Personally, I'd give it an 8.5 out of 10.
Now without any further delay, let's begin the next chapter.
CHAPTER 2: WHO ARE YOU
*LAZY AFTERNOONS*
Twilight Town, a world in between light and darkness, always enveloped in perpetual twilight, is bustling as usual with the people coming and going. In the section known as Tram Common, a young teenage girl with white, long, wavy hair, stares at a poster. She is wearing a pink tunic shirt over a long black skirt that goes down to her knees. She wears a pair of arm warmers on her arms; stopping just before her elbows. Around her neck is a small, black chain. On said chain is an orange, egg-shaped gem with an outer golden ring. But her most unique trait is her eyes, which contained two colors. From the pupil, they are yellow before instantly becoming red.
"What are you looking at Charlotte?" a woman's voice calls to her. Charlotte turns to her right, where a young woman is walking towards her. The woman was wearing an orange, long sleeved dress shirt over a white shirt and black tie with a brown skirt that stops short of her knees and black leggings. Hanging from her right shoulder, is a brown purse with flower motifs on it. As for the woman herself, she has long brown hair with several bangs and is strung into a pony tail on the back of her hair; wrapped by a green band. Her sea green eyes shine with kindness; reflecting the smile on her face.
"I'm sorry, madam," Charlotte responds with a slight bow.
The older woman giggles in response to her gesture. "You know you don't have to call me that. Just call me Olette."
"Yes, I'm sorry," she says with another slight bow. She turns back to the poster, "what is this for?" she asks.
Olette looks at the poster before drawing a nostalgic smile. "It's the tournament for a sport we have here in Twilight Town, Struggle."
"Struggle?" the white-haired girl asks as she looks back at the woman.
Olette looks back at Charlotte before nodding. "It's actually quite popular," she says before turning back to the poster. "It's mostly young boys that play it. I still remember all the times that I would root for my friends playing the tournament near the end of our summer vacations." She gives off a slight chuckle before looking back at Charlotte. "Sorry, I just simply enjoy the memories I made with all my friends."
Charlotte gives a sad smile before looking at the poster, "You're lucky. I don't remember anything at all. Just only my name."
"Sorry," Olette says with a slight frown. "Do you still remember nothing?" the younger girl simply shakes her head. The older female's eyes widen slightly before she giggling. Charlotte looks back at her with a curious stare. "Now I'm the one that's apologizing," Olette says with a smile and closed eyes.
Charlotte makes a slight gasp before a slight smile makes its way on her face. "It's okay. I'm grateful that you're taking your own time for my sake."
The young woman nods before pulling down her left sleeve to check the time on her watch; which is facing the same direction as her palm. "We still got plenty of time before the next train," she says before lowering her arm. "But we should still get there early. The station is more packed these days." Charlotte nods and follows Olette towards the inclined street to the station.
After a few minutes, the two finally finished climbing the paved hill and past the gate, with the station in front of them. Just as they got to the middle of the outlook, the station's doors open; revealing a young woman with steel-blue hair "Olette," the woman spoke. Olette looks up the stairs before smiling.
"Hey, Fuu," Olette responds with a smile. The woman, having her left bangs cover her left eye; her other eye is visible with a deep red iris, nods. She wears a deep blue uniform shirt and pants of a duller shade of blue which stops at a pair of black boots. Fuu continues walking down the steps and stops a few feet away from the other two. "You're patrolling here today?" Olette asks.
The other woman nods. She looks down at Charlotte. "Is she the one?"
"Yeah, she's the one I told you about," Olette responds while looking at Charlotte before looking back at Fuu. "I already checked in with the records and confirmed that no one has reported her missing."
"So, you're going to the lab, then?"
"Yep," Olette says with a nod.
Charlotte looks up at her, "Lab?" she asks with a tilt of her head to the side.
"Don't worry, in a way you can call it a station of sorts," the brunette responds before looking back at Fuu.
"Like to chat some more, but we got to get to the train taking us to Park Station."
"Understood," Fuu says with a nod, "Take care." She turns to the street that the other two came from.
After Fuu is halfway to the gate, Olette remembered something, "Just a moment." Fuu stops before pivoting on her left foot to look back at the brunette. "I just heard something earlier today. Are the rumors true?" the brunette asks with a worried expression.
Fuu stands there for a few seconds. "Affirmative. Be careful."
"Got it," Olette says with a nod before looking back at Charlotte, "We should get going." Charlotte nods in response and follows the older woman to the station.
The train slowly slows down before making a stop next to a platform in front of a wooded area with people moving around here and there. The sign in the ark above the platform says 'PARK STATION.' As soon as the doors open, both Charlotte and Olette walk out the door. After walking through the path for about ten minutes, Olette turns to Charlotte. "Come on, this way," she says before walking off the path and into a more wooded area.
"Where are we going?" the white-haired girl asks as she stops with a curious tilt of her head. "Why aren't we sticking to the path?
"Simple, the lab is this way," Olette says after turning around. "Before, you would have to go through a drainage canal that was hardly used. It was then to put in a vote to close it down and create a park in these woods along with the new rail line." Her smile becomes sheepish, "It's just that only a certain few know about the lab and we like to keep it like that."
"Are you sure you can take me there?" Charlotte asks with a frown, not wanting to get the older woman in trouble.
"Don't worry," says the brunette with an inviting wave of her left hand. "They already know you're coming. Besides it's the only place left to help you."
"What do you mean?"
"You'll see," she says with a gentle smile before turning around. "We don't want to keep them waiting, right?"
"O-okay," Charlotte says before following the brunette onto the off-beaten trail.
After traveling the woods for a small while, the density of the woods weaken and immediately see a clearing ahead. As soon as they reach the clearing, a two-story mansion stands. In front of it is a gate that takes up the entire width of the clearing. The iron bars at the entryway are open towards the mansion. Standing to the left of the entryway, from the girl's perspective' is a young man with messy blond hair. He is wearing a military-camouflage vest over a black shirt and a pair of heavy, black jeans over a pair of brown boots. Around his neck is a pendant of a yellow 'X.' In his right hand, is a silver hilt and pommel below a long, blue bat-like object, resting on his right shoulder. It nearly looks identical to the weapon on the poster Charlotte saw earlier.
He turns to the incoming females. "Olette!" the man says while raising his weapon for a few seconds.
"Hayner," Olette greets back with a smile.
The two ladies stop in front of him before he looks down at the white-haired girl. "So, this is our latest customer, huh?"
"Customer?" the younger asks with a tilt.
"Yep, that means you need to pay up front for our services," he says with a cheeky smile.
"Cut it out, Hayner," Olette says with a disapproving frown while crossing her arms. "This is no time for one of your bad jokes."
"What," the man responds with a shrug, "can't I have a little fun?"
"Come on, she's still a kid. Beside you know we don't charge for anything."
"Yeah, yeah. Always the serious one," Hayner says with a dismissive wave as he looks away for a few seconds.
The woman sighs; shaking her head and bringing a hand to her temple, "Why don't you act your age and just let us through?"
"Since when you need my permission," Hayner responds with a wave. "The 'genius' is waiting for you at the basement. Better not keep him waiting."
"Right," Olette says softly, deciding to pick this up at a later time. Olette walks past her friend.
Charlotte looks up, "Um…" she starts out, trying to find her words.
Hayner beats her to the punch, "Just forget what I was saying earlier. By the way, name's Hayner."
"Uh…Charlotte," she responds.
"Well, go on," tilting his head towards the mansion with a more genuine smile.
Charlotte nods before catching up to Olette. "Is he always like that?"
"Not always," she says with an exasperated smile. "He only acts like that when he's extremely bored. Overall, there isn't anyone else I would trust more than him. Of course, he's less dependable than the next person we're meeting."
"Hey, I heard that!" Hayner rebukes as the girls enter the mansion.
Inside the mansion, lies a room filled with circuits and monitors simply known as the Computer Room. In one of the corners, is a slightly heavy, man with black, pineapple-shaped hair, sitting in front a bunch of monitors. The man is typing away on one of several keyboards in front of him. "Let's see…" the man starts to say, "where did I place that file regarding Ansem's latest findings…"
"Pence," Olette's voice called to him. He swiveled on his chair, facing the brunette and the white-haired teenager, Charlotte.
"Hey Olette," Pence says with a raised hand to his friend. He turns his gaze on the other girl. "You must be Charlotte. Olette already told me you'll be coming in today."
"Yes, it's nice meet you sir," she says with a slight bow.
"The pleasure's all mine." He turns to his friend, "Did you tell her exactly why she's here?"
"Not yet," Olettes responds with a small shake of her head, "I think it would be easier to explain it here."
"Makes sense," Pence responds with a shrug and a smile.
"What makes sense?" Charlotte asks, looking between the two young adults.
The two grown-ups look at each other before wearing slightly serious expressions.
"Charlotte," Olette begins, "its best that you know. You are not from this town."
"In fact," Pence continues, "you are actually from a different world."
Charlotte looks at them with a dumbstruck expression. It took her about ten seconds to finally let the words sink in, "A different world…"
Pence nods, "You see, this particular facility is actually a communications line with other worlds. Every now and then, we get visitors from other worlds. Mainly those that just started seeing the unknown or gets pulled into some random gate or portal. Our job is help these outsiders find a way back home."
"While we cannot travel to other worlds," Olette continues, placing a hand on her chest, "we have connections to those that have that ability."
"So I'm an outsider?" Charlotte asks out aloud, with a hint of fear.
"We're not saying you don't belong here."
Pence follows up, "It's just that its your best bet in finding out your past."
"My past…" she says in a loud whisper. "You think, the key to my memories…" she pauses before looking up, "is in a different world?"
"I'm sorry this is a bit of a shock, but-"
"No," Charlottes says, shaking her head, "it's alright." She looks down, clutching on her pendant. "I want to know who I am exactly. And if the answers are outside of this world…" she closes her eyes. Seconds later she looks up at them with determination, "then I will go the outside."
Both adults smile at her resolve. "Great," Pence says enthusiastically before turning around. The computer makes several beeps as he touches the one of the several touchscreen keyboards. "All right, I just got a signal out, so someone can pick you up." After typing for a few more seconds a panel in the wall opens up just left of the monitors. Coming out of the panel is a mechanical apparatus with a dish and needle pointing down towards a flat surface. "While we wait," he spins his chair around, "can I see that pendant of yours?"
"This?"
"Yeah, this device can scan just about anything. If your pendant is made out of a certain material, it can make a comparison with our records and help determine exactly which world you came from." Charlotte nods before taking off the accessory. She hands the crystalline object to the older man. Pence places it on the scanning platform. After hitting a few keys, a bright light exudes from the apparatus, making a slight whistling noise. It wasn't long before a beam shoots out of the needle and onto the crystalline object. Several screens on the monitor are instantly going through records while detailing the analysis of the object. The man makes a small hum with a hint of surprise.
"What is it?" Olette asks.
Pence hums for a second, "There's bad news, and weird news."
"What's the bad?"
"Whatever this thing is made of, it's not in our records."
"And what's weird?"
"Well, this is no ordinary piece of jewelry. It seems to be holding some type energy." Pence picks up the item before handing it over back to Charlotte, "Hard to tell what it is. Most likely its some sort of enchanted item."
"Enchanted…" Charlotte asks as she places the pendant back around her neck.
"Yep, and according to the data on its energy signature; its very unique and definitely not known in our system. My best conclusion at this point is that it has something do with you. Maybe if you can try to harness it, it might help you jog a memory or two."
"Harness it…" she says while looking down at it.
Olette speaks with a raised finger, "I may not be magical in any sense, but I heard from a friend once is that the best way to understand and harness a magical force is to try and feel it out. And if that isn't enough, just look into yourself."
"Just look into myself…" she says in a barely audible whisper. She narrows her eyes before looking at the two adults. "Okay I'll give it a try." She grasps the gem with both hands before closing her eyes.
She doesn't know how long her eyes were closed; searching for anything within her in a void of complete blackness. An audible growl breaks the silence around her. She opens her eyes to find nothing but darkness. Another growl rumbles the air; coming from behind. Her eyes widen with fear. She turns around before her pupils dilate. A giant, clown-like face hovers in front of her with a hungry smile. She is familiar with it all too well, the nightmare that has been haunting her. She takes a few steps back; hoping it would not come closer.
Suddenly, a hand about the same size as hers with black fingerless gloves, gently grabs her right hand. She immediately recognizes the gesture and slowly turns towards her right. Once she is able to see behind her, the fear in her eyes dim and eventually replaced with light surprise. She is looking at a younger version of herself, wearing a small smile and unique clothes. Little did she know she now appears at the same age as the girl holding her hand in more normal attire.
Charlotte's eyes snap open, with a small gasp. "Are you okay?" Olette asked with a worried look.
Charlotte looks at the older woman before a small smile appears on her face. "Yes, I'm fine." Pence decides to ask if she saw anything. She immediately tells them what she saw, both the face of the nightmare that's haunting her, and the younger version of herself in the strange clothes. She asks if any of that is important.
"Honestly, I don't know," said the man. "Even though I've been going through Ansem's notes, I'm not exactly a psychological expert regarding dreams and visions." Charlotte looks down in disappointment. "But," he continues, catching her attention, "if I could take a guess, it sounds like the figure you saw may have been who you were in the past."
"You think so?" Charlotte asks before looking at her pendant. To her surprise, it seems to have a brighter gleam then she recalled.
Olette can see the younger girl's surprise, "While you were getting in touch with it, it started to glow and to tell the truth you also glowed for a bit."
"What!" she looks at the brunette with astonishment.
"Why don't you try it again, but don't just feel it, try to harness it and see what happens?"
"All right," is all Charlotte said before looking at the gem and closing her eyes. A few seconds pass before her pendant starts to glow. A second later, the amnesiac girl begins to glow as well.
Again, she is found in a void of darkness with eyes closed. She opens her eyes, they widen slightly as she sees her child self once again and see now notices she too appears at the same. She looks back at her mirror version, who nods and walks towards the girl. Moments later, the real Charlotte takes a step forward before taking two more steps. The mystical version of the white-haired girl continues to walk. Just as she is about to walk into the original; a light emanates between them before it engulfs them.
Through the haze of light, a small, black hand, holding onto a clear crystal. "Take this," a male, slightly squeaky, voice said, "You're going to need this Force Gem when things get real tough."
In the laboratory, the two adults look at the girl in astonishment as both the girl and the pendant glow; the light overtaking them. In one final flash, Charlotte is no longer wearing her normal clothes. After opening her eyes, Charlotte gasps at her clothes. She slowly spins around several times; going over outfit in different angles.
Her body is wrapped by a peach tube top, adorned with white cotton fur at the top and bottom and stops short of her naval. She has arm warmers, also adorned with white fur at the top, that go down to her wrists. She wears a pair of baggy, russet pants clinging to her waist and stops short of her knees. Underneath them is pair of jet-black leggings covering them down to her feet, which are encased by a pair red ballet flats. The base of her neck is adorned with a black fur collar. Attached to the collar is a thin, dull maroon cape that goes as long as her hair, ending with black fur as well. On top of her head is a black hairband with cat ears.
"If you ask me, you look like a Magical Girl from a fairy tale," Olette commented with smile, "It suits you perfectly."
"Umm… You think so?" she asks with a small blush as she slightly scratches her cheek. Suddenly, a beeping noise echoes through the room, startling her, as Pence and Olette turn to the monitors. Several screens were flashing red. "What's going on?"
"It's the proximity alarm", Pence says a serious face, "Looks like we got trouble in the city. As well as the nearby area. Bringing it up now." Some of the monitors have places of the town and the mansion's front gate."
"Hayner!" Olette cries out, seeing her friend fighting off white, ghost-like monsters. His Struggle bat glowing blue with electricity running through it. "Pence, this is bad we need to send a distress signal.
"Already took care of that. But at this rate those monsters will get through the front gate."
Charlotte looks down, putting a hand on her chest. After looking at the ground for a few seconds, her eyes turn serious. She looks up to the adults. "I'll help him."
"What?" Olette looks back at the younger female in surprise.
"I think I can do it. With my Force Gem active, I should be able to fight."
"Force Gem?" Olette asks with a tilt of her head. Her eyes widen, "Oh, you mean your pendant?"
"Yeah, I remember what it's called now."
"Then go for it," Pence says with casual tone and wave, before his tone turns serious, "I don't think Hayner can hold out much longer."
"Right!" Charlotte nods before running up the stairs. After navigating her way back into the foyer, she runs down the stairs. Before she can reach the doors, white wisps gather in front of them before two ghost-like figures, with heart-shaped symbols as their faces, appeared from them. She jumps back, planting her right foot behind her while raising her left arm in defense after landing. The two monsters charge at her. "Ha," she lets out as she jumps over them. She finds herself astonished that she jumped as high as the second floor.
After she lands, the monsters turn around and charge at her again. She strides to her left, avoiding them with ease. With her right hand in front of her, the curls her fingers on instinct. In a small flash of light, she is now holding onto a small, black trumpet with red dots. Without a thought, she breathes in deep and blows into the trumpet. Bubbles shoot out of the magical instrument as its sounds. The bubbles impact the monsters, causing them to be tossed around in place before fading away.
With the monsters gone, her eyes widen as the adrenaline from the scuffle wanes. She takes a good look at her weapon, it has a yellow brim, two feather-like protrusions like ears behind it, one red, the other blue, and a black ring above the grip with a yellow plus sign between the ring and handle. For some reason, that scuffle felt familiar. Perhaps this is who she was before losing her memories. She shakes her head at the thought, needing to focus on the task at hand and runs towards the doors.
Hayner swings his modified weapon, which is charged with electricity, hitting one of monsters stunning it. Hayner swings again, causing the stunned monster to vanish upon defeat. Two more of the white creatures remain, with two more appearing out of nowhere. One of the creatures rushes at him. The fatigued, young man gets hit and is sent back to the gate's wall; next to the entrance. The young man pants as he takes a few steps forward before falling back to the ground, "Dang it," he says as he winces in pain.
The mansion's door opens and Charlotte runs out. Seconds later, the whole sky seems to glow catching her attention as she stops. The sky suddenly flashes before the colors of twilight return. The sight amazed her for a few seconds, before recalling why she is out here. She runs through the gate standing in front of the four monsters. Hayner sees this, and could only offer a few words, "Hey, be careful."
"Don't worry, I can handle these things," she says with a sure voice. The monsters float around as she takes her stance, summoning her trumpet. After a few seconds, The Magical Girl takes a deep breath and fires a barrage of bubbles from her trumpet. Her attack destroys the two monsters in front. The remaining creatures approach. One rears back before thrusting the spike on its bottom half at her. She jumps out of the way, only to find the other ready to strike. The monster thrusts its arms. Charlotte ducks in time before springing herself with a backflip, kicking the attacking creature, disorienting it. She draws her attention back to the other one as it charges at her. She jumps to the side; avoiding it. It charges again at her, the Magical Girl jumps over it and towards the main gate. This results in the charging creature running into its disoriented brethren. Taking the chance, she blows into her trumpet. The bubbles impacting the creatures, which disappear in defeat.
Charlotte slightly pants as Hayner reorients himself on the ground before turning off his weapon. He looks at the Magical Girl with a smirk, "Wow! You're not bad."
Charlotte eyes widen, before pivoting just enough towards him just so she can turn her head with him with a nervous smile. "Uh…Thanks," is all she said, not used to having someone commending her after a fight.
"I finally found you," a female voice rings through the air, prompting Charlotte and Hayner to look around. The space in front of the pathway to the woods ripples with a white mist, catching their attention. Walking out of it is a black-cloaked figure. The cloak comes with a hood, covering their entire body. Along with the cloak's hood, the figure wears a white mask completely covering their face. The mask itself has the same emblem as the creatures they just fought, a heart shaped question mark with eyes. The figure stops in the middle of the clearing about five yards away from Charlotte. One could see that this figure is about a head taller than her.
Charlotte takes a step back, bringing a hand to her chest. "Who-Who are you?" she asks warily.
"You don't recognize my voice?" the masked girl asks with a tilt of her head before straightening out. "Oh, come on. Don't tell me you got whacked by a Forgotten?" She asks with a shrug of her arms, revealing that she is wearing even more black under her cloak. "Oh well, no difference really. You have no idea what a pain it is to find you. Now, time to come along," she finishes as she starts to walk.
"No," Charlotte states in a low tone.
"What?" the cloaked figure stops.
"You're the one who sent those monsters right? How can you do this?" she says, swinging her arms in front of her.
"Honestly, who cares what is right?" the masked girl responds with an uninterested tone before placing a hand on her hip. "Now, are you coming or not?" Charlotte responds by shifting to her stance, gripping her magical weapon tighter. The other girl sighs. "Have it your way then. After all, doesn't matter. I've been told to bring you in." She places her right foot behind as she let her arms hang loose to her sides. "But I wasn't told to bring you in one piece.
The two combatants stare down at each other. Without warning, the masked fighter, zooms in and instantly punches Charlotte in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her. The mysterious foe immediately follows up with a punch towards her face; sending the defenseless girl a few feet away before hitting the ground. The magical girl groans, before trying to get. After a few agonizing seconds she manages to stand; clutching her stomach.
The black-cloaked girl sighs at the Magical Girl's futile attempt, "Sheesh, can't you see you are outmatched?" Charlotte glares in response before firing out bubbles from her trumpet as it sounds off loud. The mysterious figure jumps back a few times, leaving the bubbles burst in empty air. The white-haired girl pants with concerned eyes. Charlotte's opponent loosens her stance, "Fine then. Guess I can try out my new trick on you." The cloaked figure waves her right hand in front of her; conjuring flames into it before firing a fireball at the trumpet user. The targeted girl willed her body to move, but it refused; still recuperating from the recent beat down. The fireball explodes; consuming the girl.
The stack of smoke from the explosion lingers at the ground the Magical Girl was at. A metallic object suddenly flies through the smoke; spinning through the air. The cloaked magic user lets out her shock before backflipping into the air. The weapon continues to fly under her before suddenly returning towards its original position; passing under her again just before she lands on her feet. The object is caught at the hilt, surrounded by two handguards, by someone's left hand. Its wielder, a spiky blonde, young man with blue eyes. He sports a white jacket with a red underside over a black shirt, a pair of beige slacks and sneakers of black and white. As for the weapon it is now revealed to be a key-shaped object made of two metals, one black, the other white, combined together and at the end of the shaft are jagged teeth.
Standing behind the man is Charlotte, wearing an awed expression. The man turns to the girl behind him, "Are you okay?" he asks in a calm, concerned voice. The Magical Girl only nods in response. He looks up, finding the blond sitting next to the gate, "Hayner how's it going?"
"Just dandy, Roxas!" the local responds sarcastically. "What took you so long?!"
Roxas merely shrugs, "Sorry, I was busy fighting monsters all the way over here."
The black cloaked girl remains silent during the exchange, staring at the newcomer's weapon. "That's a Keyblade, isn't it?"
Roxas immediately turns to the cloaked assailant with a neutral expression. "So you know about the Keyblade. Honestly, I don't really care where you know that from. All that matters," Roxas immediately throws his Keyblade up into the air. After reaching its peak, it falls towards its owner, who catches it with his right hand. He waves it in a circle before pointing it at the invader "is teaching you a lesson!"
*THIRTEENTH REFLECTION*
"I'd pass, all I'm here for is her," the masked girl takes a step back, while raising her right hand in front of her.
"You want her, you'll have to get through me first," Roxas crouches slightly, bringing his Keyblade behind him.
The two stare down for a few seconds before both fighter's spring at each other. Just as the two are about to clash; Roxas's eyes widen slightly, before leaning back. His opponent's kick barely goes over the young man's body. She's fast… he thought. The girl suddenly goes low and sweeps Roxas off his feet. The Keyblade Wielder is surprised by how fast the girl is. Yet Roxas already predicted she would go for his feet this time and was prepared. With a flick of his wrist; he twists his Keyblade before thrusting it into ground. The next instant; he spins his body around his Keyblade; and delivers a counter kick back at the cloaked girl. Knocking her towards the trees to the left of the mansion. The cloaked female tumbles on the ground before rolling up to her feet, sliding for a few more yards.
Roxas touches the ground before resuming his stance. After facing each other for a few seconds; Roxas charges in as the girl waves her hand; covered in flames. She launches a fireball at the Keyblade Wielder. Roxas attempts to dodge by pivoting with his front, left foot. But the fireball hits his arm and he reflexively drops the Keyblade. The girl conjures more flames and fires two more fireballs at the same time. It took about a second before the flames arrive in front of him. Before they could hit him; Roxas instantly moves to the side as a flash of light. He quickly appears next to the girl who makes a slight gasp. The young man already has his left arm cocked and a shining light in his left hand. He thrusts his hand forward. Just before his attack can hit, Roxas feels something odd and the girl manages to backflip; avoiding the pulse of light in the shape of his signature X-shaped necklace. Roxas looks at the girl with wary eyes.
He thrusts his right hand towards the Keyblade, which disappears instantly and appears back in his hand. The Keyblade Wielder instantly speeds towards her in a flash of light. After stopping just in front of her, he swings his weapon horizontally. The girl ducks; Roxas attack goes just above her head. She spins to the right before extending her arms. Roxas eyes widen before backflipping away and lands in front of Charlotte. What was that… Roxas wonders as his opponent straightens up. Nothing occurs for a few seconds. Roxas brings a hand to his mouth as his eyes narrow.
After about fifteen seconds, he moves his hand from his face before grabbing his weapon with both hands. He lifts it over his head before swinging it halfway; the Keyblade now pointing towards his opponent. "Time to end this," he says before his weapon glows. He raises his Keyblade again. With a short yell, his weapon flashes and Roxas spreads out his arms to his sides. His single Keyblade becomes two weapons; one in each hand. His right weapon is all white and has a straight edge before ending with a sword-like notch. His left weapon is all black and has a jagged edge to it. At the end of this weapon are the same teeth of his Keyblade. The young man falls into his dual-wielding stance after spinning both swords.
The masked figure appears slightly shocked. Roxas takes the opportunity and disappears in a flash; reappearing in front of the cloaked girl. Roxas quickly goes on the offensive; the girl twisting her body as she is forced back to avoid any of the Keyblade Wielder's strikes. Just as he was about to land a hit on her mask, the girl raises her right fist to deflect the black blade with sparks and a clang of steel. Roxas still maintains his offensive as the girl continues to dance away from his attacks and makes several parries. After ten seconds, the young man stops his assault; both weapons pointing towards the girl. The cloaked fighter pants as specks of light floating away from the knuckles of her hands. Without warning, Roxas continues his assault. After five seconds of dodging the Keyblade Wielder's attacks, the mysterious girl jumps high with Roxas in pursuit.
Time seems to slow down as he closes in. At the height of her jump, she moves her arms in front of her. Roxas performs a double jump; backflipping away. The girl looks up at the Keyblade Wielder with both shock and confusion. The sound of a trumpet is heard around the area. The cloaked girl looks down before gasping in surprise as a torrent of bubbles are right in front of her. Her eyes catches Charlotte with her black trumpet in her mouth behind them. The bubbles explode with powerful shockwaves just before they hit the masked fighter. Unbalanced from the surprise attack, she falls to the ground with a loud thud. She rolls from the impact twice before trying to get up. She barely gets on her knees before the tip of Roxas' Keyblade, now back to its original form, is placed right next to her face.
The girl makes a sound of annoyance. "Fine, guess you win this time."
"Who are you?" Roxas calmly demands.
"Not telling. Next time; I won't hold back." She thrusts her hand onto the ground. The ground flashes at that moment. Glowing glass-like shards burst out from below, creating a glowing fissure beneath the girl; who falls into it. The light vanishes as the ground returns to normal.
Roxas turns to the Magical Girl before walking up to her. Roxas kneels down slightly so they are at eye level, "Thanks, couldn't pull that off without your help"
Charlotte looks to the left as a small smile appears as she pushes her index fingers against each other, "I didn't do much, I simply did what you told me." Her mind flashes back when Roxas placed a hand in front of his mouth during the battle. At that time, he was actually whispering to her. He told her that he'll get the attacker's full attention. Once he gets it and made the feint, that was Charlotte's chance to attack. Charlotte quickly brings her mind back into the present, widening her smile a bit.
The Keyblade wielder nods before getting up. He strolls up to Hayner. Once they are within a few feet, Roxas stops and raises his Keyblade towards the sky. The tip gives off a green glow before giving off a flash as he turns it. A green aura surrounds Hayner for a few seconds, before he gets up with a small grunt. "Thanks for that, man."
Roxas dismisses his Keyblade. "No problem," he responds as the two elbow bump.
"Roxas," Olette's speaks out as she walks through the gate.
"Good to see you again," the spiky blonde replies with a smile.
"Definitely. I'm guessing you're the one that got our distress signal."
"Distress signal?" Roxas asks with a head tilt, "I was already here; hanging out at Sunset Hill before those monsters attacked. Took me awhile to get here." He turns to the white-haired girl, "I don't think I've seen you before now that I think about it."
"I'm Charlotte," the girl responds with a smile. "Thanks for your help earlier."
"I do what I can. Was that girl the only one giving you problems?"
"No," she responds with a shake of her head, "I was actually fighting against those… things."
"You should have seen her man," Hayner said with an impressed tone, "she fought those things as if they were nothing."
"I wouldn't put it that way" the Magical Girl replies while looking down before looking back up, "I just did what I could." The three adults nod in response.
"I'm sure you did a good job," the Keyblade wielder says with a smile before sighing, "Still, can't believe I let her get away."
"Don't worry, man," Hayner says as he puts a hand on Roxas' shoulder. "You'll just have to restrain her the next time."
"Yeah, besides I'm worried about those monsters, never seen them before." Roxas looks up to the sky, "I just hope this is the only world they've been attacking. I have to check in with the others and see if there were similar attacks." Roxas takes out his Gummi phone and picks out someone from his list. To his confusion, an error popped up saying it cannot connect. "That's weird. I can't get a signal out."
"About that" Pence's voice rings out. Everyone turns to the lab's technician, who is walking through the gate. "We may have a slight problem."
"What type of problem?" Roxas asks with a frown.
"For some reason, the distress signal we were sending is bouncing back. Not only that, I can't get in contact with the outside anymore like you."
Hayner crosses his arms, "Meaning?"
Pence turns his head to him, "Hate to say it. But I think we're all stuck here." He turns his towards the Keyblade Wielder. "Did anything out of the ordinary happened out here? Other than the monsters and that cloaked person."
Roxas brings a hand to his chin as he slightly looks at the ground. "Come to think of it, after I cleared out the tunnels and got out the station exit. The sky flashed for a moment.
"I remember that," Charlottes pipes up. "It happened just as soon as I got out of the mansion."
Olette looks down with a worried expression, "And there were rumors of those strange monsters roaming about for the past couple days," She looks up towards the Keyblade wielder, "Do you think our world has…"
"Doubt it," he responds immediately. "If that happened we wouldn't be having this conversation right now.
The brunette lets out a chuckle, "Of course."
Pence places his hands behind his head, "Considering our circumstances, most likely we must have gotten isolated from all the other worlds. If we can't leave, no one can probably get in either."
"Hold on," Roxas quickly rebukes. "That girl we were fighting earlier left through some kind of gate. Chances are it's the same type of gate those monsters are using to get here.
"Forgotten…" mutters the white-haired girl.
"Huh?" Hayner says in response as he and everyone else turn to her.
Charlotte turns to Hayner, "Just before she attacked me, she mentioned something about me getting hit by a Forgotten."
"Forgotten?" Olette asks with a tilt of her head.
Hayner's eyes widen, "Oh those white things that have been attacking us and the town?"
"Forgotten, huh," Roxas says as he brings a hand to his chin as he looks down. "I guess," he drops his arm and looks at the others, "it makes some sense in calling them that."
Olette turns to the spiky blonde, "How so?"
"I happened to run into Rai unconscious on the way here. After taking out the surrounding enemies, I checked up on him. He came to and looked at me all weird. Even weirder, he didn't recognize me."
"Come on, this is Rai we're talking about here," Hayner responds with a wide grin and a flick of his arm. "The guy can't even count right when going up and down the stairs.
Olette turn to the mansion's guard with a slight scowl, "Hayner, he may not be smart, but he's not forgetful." The woman crosses her arms, "He met Roxas a number of times, and do you think he would forget someone that was able to beat Seifer so easily four years ago?"
"Okay, okay point taken," the resident blonde shakes his head with his arms in the air for a few seconds. "Sheesh get off my case will ya?"
Pence speaks up, "Anyway, back to the topic at hand." He turns to Roxas, "if you need to leave you need to find out where one of their gates to this world."
"And that's the tricky part, isn't it," the world traveler responds exasperatedly. As if on cue, the Keyblade appears in Roxas' hand. He looks at it with a perplexed look, "Weird?"
Hayner looks at him with a questioning face, "Wait, you're saying it popped up on its own this time?"
Roxas nods as Olette looks up towards the sky. Immediately, she points towards it, "Look!
Everyone followed Olette's finger towards the sky away from the mansion. There they see a glow of light before it forms into a keyhole.
"Well, that was easy," the Keyblade wielder says with a smile. He turns his head back to the others. "Time for me to head out then," he says before turning back to the keyhole.
"Wait," Olette blurts out prompting the Keyblade Wielder to look back. Olette walks behind Charlotte. "Take her along," the brunette places her hands on the younger girl's shoulders. "The reason we sent out a signal in the first place is so we can have one of you to get Charlotte home."
"Home?" he asks before realization hits him, "Wait, is she from a different world?"
The older woman nods. "Unfortunately, she has amnesia, so she doesn't remember much. Hopefully, if you take her with you, she can find her answers."
Roxas gives a quick shrug, "I don't mind. But what about you, Charlotte?" he asks as he walks up to her. He kneels down to her eye level, "It's going to be dangerous. We'll be world hopping for a bit and I suspect each world we go to from here on is filled with those Forgotten. Are you sure you want to come?" he asks with a serious expression.
Charlotte didn't speak right away. She looks down before dispelling her transformation, causing the traveler's eyes to widen slightly. She grabs onto the gem of her pendant before looking at the Keyblade wielder with a determined look. "Yes. I want to know who I am, what I am, and I'd like to know exactly what my nightmare is all about."
"Nightmare?" he respond in a serious, yet curious tone.
The magical girl looks down. "This nightmare that keeps haunting me. I know it has to do with my past." She looks back up, her determination shining in her eyes. "That's why I have to figure it out. So I can finally face my fears with it."
The young man smirks with closed eyes. He opens them, "No problem. I won't leave you behind until you remember your past." Charlotte nods followed by Roxas's own. "Okay, then ready to go?" Charlotte nods with a smile as she walks up to him. Roxas points his Keyblade towards the Keyhole. A magical seal appears below him and Charlotte as the others step back. The Keyblade fires a beam of light at the Keyhole. At the moment of impact, the Keyhole turns into a white hole in the sky. The light from the opened gate dowses the Keyblade Wielder and the Magical Girl. The two float before ascending into the gate.
"Good luck, you guys!" Hayner shouts with a big smile.
"We'll be rooting for you!" Pence says as he gives them a thumbs up.
"Be safe, you two," Olette says a caring smile as she brings her hands behind her.
The two look back at them as they continue to ascend. Charlotte waves her hand towards the town residents. "We will, and thanks for everything. I hope I'll see you all again someday." Roxas nods in agreement before they turn back towards the gate. The two disappear, along with the gate.
On top of a rooftop of an office building, a young woman with blonde hair, clothed in white garments, walks to the edge. From there she can see the rooftops of many buildings in the city. One of the more prominent builds is far taller than the one she is on, displaying commercials on a big screen, with the numbers "104" below it. She can hear the noises from the crowded streets filled with people and traffic. The woman has an idea of where she is at, Shibuya.
A male voice echoes, "So you're the one who got my message, Naminé."
The young woman turns around finding a man slightly taller in her, cloaked in a white aura on the other side of the rooftop. Naminé gives a warm smile. "And you're the one who called out to me, Joshua."
The glowing man walks towards her, "Not you specifically, you were the closest Keyblade wielder I sensed." The man stops at the center of the floor.
"I see. In that case, what is it that you need? You hardly get us involved unless you think it's something very important."
"Indeed," Joshua nods. "I happen to have an… intriguing guest right now. The person in question happened to fall into my domain, but is clearly alive."
"And this involves me how?" she asks with a tilt but her eyes filled with certainty.
"I'm sure you are aware that I did not call you just for that little aspect."
Namine ponders for a moment before her eyes widen slightly. "This person is from another world. That's the only explanation."
"Yes, unfortunately I'm unable to get any substantial information. The subject of this matter barely has any recollection." The man puts his hands into his pockets, "However you and I both know how finicky memories are. I managed to take a glimpse of them and determined that not only this person is an outsider, but may hold the key to the upcoming crisis."
"Crisis?" the woman looks at the man with a stern look.
The glowing male nods before gazing into the sky. "From what I can sense, several worlds have already been closed off by some otherworldly force. And I assure you that it is not the Heartless' doing."
"I see, so you wish for me to take this person to the outside."
"Actually, I have a better idea," the man states as he removes his left hand from his pocket. "Despite their amnesia, they clearly hold their memories, including the forgotten ones, above all else. A suitable entry fee. And if this player should win the game I have already planned out, they would gain back all of their memories, including those long forgotten in the heart." The man smiles, "Of course to ensure their victory, a suitable partner is necessary."
Naminé's eyes widen at the implication. Nothing is said for a few seconds before a smile slowly forms on her face, "And that's the real reason why you called out. Very well, if this person is truly important for the safety of all worlds," she closes her eyes as her gentle smile widens. "When do we start the game?"
Oswald's Report 14
Thanks to my assistants, we have finally perfected the Force Gems. In order for these gems to absorb the necessary power, those that will use it must focus on a particular force dwelling within them. Once its focused, the gem will then absorb the power that sleeps within them.
To ensure they don't go to the wrong hands, I shall keep them with me at all times until I can find appropriate owners. I need to be careful in who I select; there are some that could misuse them. I already have one person in mind to give one to.
Yet, this is cutting pretty close to the edge of reason. But if this works, then I will have finally completed my mission. I shall use these gems as a basis and observe them. Through this observance, perhaps I can go back and make the necessary modifications to the gems that failed to perform the process that I envisioned. I can only pray that everything goes exactly as planned.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
That's another chapter in the books. I've posted "Charlotte's" Magical Girl costume for this fanfiction on my DeviantArt account, same username as my FanFiction account. It's what I think she would look like five years older from her original design. Granted it's not fully done but I hope it gives you all an idea of what she looks like based on the description in this chapter.
As you have just read the "first" Oswald's Report, you can probably guess how many chapters I have planned at least.
Let me know on your thoughts on how this is coming along.
Preview
MAGICAL GIRLS
We need to find the others.
FORGOTTEN
And now the time has come
I got to admit, I'm surprised.
Where are they all coming from?!
Next Chapter
THE HOLY QUINTET