Chapter XXXII: In the Radiant gardens part VII

Startled as she touched the cube once again, she felt that familiar tremor and the world once again dissolved away. Returning immediately once more were those rectangular shapes.

"Again?" She asked herself puzzled.

"PROGRAM ACTIVATED"

It was once again that digital voice and it was definitely the same thing again, but why hadn't snowball been affected? "This is really weird!"

"INITIATING SEQUENCE 1-3… BEGIN STAGE"

Watching she saw the world once again morph as the black darkness returned in full force and herself being lifted. Standing upon the stained glass pillar she wondered aloud to herself as she rose, "I wonder what kind of an opponent I'm going to have to face this time?"

Coming to a halt once again it shuddered and then once again on cue Nozomi's keyblade came alight in her right hand.

She then also felt her leg armour appear again as it strengthened her, she wasn't too surprised though by this as she assumed this was now to be the regular occurrence now.

Looking at it she looked on with determination, ready to defeat whatever this thing was going to bring to her next. She clenched her keyblade tightly as she heard the mechanized voice once more.

"KEY SET AND READY ENTER COMBATANT"

Hearing the voice from above Nozomi then heard that digital ring and saw the mist appear once again as more digital blocks appeared. From their swirling depths once again appeared another knight.

This one though was vastly different to the past two, for where they had been adult in body this one was younger, from the looks an adolescent of around her age. This one as well like the past one was female, but this time it was coloured dark blue.

Watching the knight Nozomi saw it point to her in a duellers stance, Nozomi used to this did the same as she looked at it coldly.

"CHASER PROGRAM BEGIN"

Rushing forwards as the young female knight did, the battle commenced.

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Having moved out of their hiding place Hari and Pete had gone above onto the roof of the Bailey also being careful as not to be spotted by any pesky members of the restoration committee.

Suddenly Hari seemed to freeze as though feeling something in the air, Pete staring on ahead was bored at still having to wait, but then he suddenly heard a slight gasp from Hari.

Looking at her himself surprised, he saw that she held her head for a moment as though in pain, he rushed to her as he asked her panicked, "hey, what's wrong are ya alright?!"

Hari her hand upon her forehead paused for a moment as she looked upon the ground, silent for a few moments she then removed her hand from her head as she turned and looked again at the faraway fort.

Pete was quiet as he waited for a response from Hari, finally she spoke, "it's seems another has been activated."

Puzzled he asked her, "activated? What's been activated?"

Still looking at the fort Hari answered him, "a training program."

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Battling the knight Nozomi was surprised at how well she was doing, "man I can't believe how easy this is!"

Thrashing the knight again with another kick she sent her dark blue opponent off her feet, during the battle Nozomi had gone all out with her skills she had learned up to that point. She had practically left no time for her opponent to fight back and any attacks that she had given back to her were incredibly weak.

Watching she saw the dark blue knight get back on her feet, Nozomi pumped wasn't going to give her a chance to fight back, running forward with all her energy she shouted fully battle pumped, "you're finished!"
Feeling her wings appear once more she was prepared for her ultimate attack, kicking the knight to her side she then readied her keyblade as she cried "Astral Aeri-"

However she was cut off as suddenly the knight had caught her oncoming blade with it's armoured gauntlet. Nozomi was really shocked as she spoke "Wha-!?"

Suddenly then with its other hand it launched something at her, it struck Nozomi back really hard as it sent her into the floor.

"What the hec-?!" She began to ask painfully, however as she turned to look at her middle she saw ice spreading all over her chest and stomach. What had hit her was a high level Blizzaga spell which effects were beginning to spread over her body.

Looking at it startled she looked at the knight again as she saw that she had restored herself with a powerful Curaga spell. Its damage was healed in seconds; it then turned and looked at her. Silent for a moment it then rushed towards her at full speed another Blizzaga spell forming on the end of it's keyblade.

"Oh no… I'm in trouble!" Nozomi breathed aloud truly worried, for she was only a beginner and was not ready for these high level spells.

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Riku had watched with widened eyes as Nozomi had suddenly collapsed the moment that she had touched the cube. Dropping it immediately he rushed to her side dropping the cube in seconds.

Looking at her all over he spoke worried in concern, "Nozomi! Get up! Wake up! What's happened to you!"

However no matter how much he cried out she wouldn't awaken, he'd even tried to slap her face as he held her in his lap truly worried. If he had known how dangerous it was he'd never had let her touch that damned cube!

But why did it happen when SHE touched it? What was it about her that-

Suddenly then it was when he remembered king Mickey's words that he had been told in Notre dame about, about her true existence… it must have been the reason for this!

However before he could wonder anything more about this suddenly he noticed a huge patch of ice was beginning to form over Nozomi's body.

As this happened he felt a sharp pain within his heart, that made his teeth clench as he held onto his chest with his free hand.

"Why's this happening?" He asked painfully as he gazed at Nozomi's own unconscious tormented face.

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Nozomi could see her own cold shivering breath as the ice was covering now large chunks of her body, it was getting harder and harder for her to move, she had tried her best to fight back against the female knight and her unceasing ice blasting onslaught.

"Man even my own spells haven't been able to hit her!" She gasped as she was now really worried as any spell that she had tried to cast back against her had been either dodged or thrown back. She was now out of all the HP potions she had and the MP ones as well and she was now doing her best to evade.

Unfortunately anything she had tried to get rid of the ice hadn't worked at all, and was now all over her body, arms legs torso and back. It weighed her down now really badly and she could barley move.

"What am I supposed to do now!?" She asked really anxious with worry as she saw the knight preparing another ice spell, a really big one.

Her eyes looked at it widely, she tried to step back and as she did she unconsciously put her hand in her right pocket as she felt the stone that Pence, Hayner and Olette had given to her. As she felt it she could feel it vibrating violently, puzzled at this she pulled it out.

Looking at it she could see it was shining with power as it buzzed and glowed with green energy.

"What is this it's-"

However she was cut off as she suddenly saw that the knight had launched its attack at her, there was no time to runaway as it charged at her.

"AAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

It struck her as it burned into her with ice hurting her beyond words throughout her whole body as it then encased her in a huge ice crystal, her face frozen in fright.

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Riku looking at her his own eyes in horror as now the ice had overtaken her whole body and his pain had only got worse with it.

"Nozomi!" He asked truly anxious himself, he had no way to get rid of the ice on her encased body, any spell that he could try like fire would ultimately bring more harm than good and there was nothing that he had on him that would help.

"What can I do? What can I-" however he was cut off as suddenly he saw something glowing from within Nozomi's right trouser pocket. As he gazed at it he was puzzled forgetting his own pain as the whole world was absorbed in green light.

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The knight gazed at Nozomi's frozen body and was silent for a few moments, seeing that victory was hers it stated to proceed to walk away when suddenly a green light shone all around, it then turned back in a hurry and gazed at the amazing sight.

Nozomi's right hand which had not been frozen was still clasped around the green gem, and had now dropped from her fingertips as it had done its power was then released.

Becoming a green drop it splashed and rippled into the ground as it did so it suddenly formed and changed becoming a spirit with flowing long green hair. As it formed it looked at Nozomi and her frozen state, it looked at this worried for a moment with its golden glowing eyes but then looked with determination it moved it's arms outwards becoming long and flowing like wing's.

Taking them it then flew and wrapped around the huge ice crystal as loads of plants appeared and insects covering the whole thing in green grass. Finally wrapping itself all around, the spirit flew upwards as it finally disintegrated all the ice gently into a small patch of green. Nozomi lay on top of it breathing lightly as she felt a soothing warmth fill her getting rid of every inch of pain she had felt.

Opening her eyes, blinking slightly unsure of herself she got up slowly asking herself, "what? What happened I?"

It was then the spirit flew down to her and gazed at her, Nozomi conscious then looked at the spirit herself startled, her eyes in surprise then asked, "You are?"
The spirit smiled at her joyfully as it held it's green hand out to her, Nozomi seeing the gesture reached her hand out too as then she and the green spirit's touched. Clasping it Nozomi recognised the warmth, looking at their joined hands and the spirit's joyful face looking at her. She then said, "You're the one who saved me?"

The spirit grinned further in response, Nozomi seeing this smiled herself and then spoke truly grateful, "thank you!"

However she was distracted as she then saw that dark blue young female knight once more proceeding towards her, looking at it and back at the spirit she told her, "looks like I've still got some business to finish!"

The spirit looking at her then too saw the knight and knowing what Nozomi meant she turned and nodded to her just as determined as she was now.

Floating to her side the spirit flew beside her as Nozomi ran on to attack, as she ran the steps she took formed into green grass as she ran turning into MP balls as she proceeded.

She felt her magic meter increase and knew then she could attack properly this time!

Taking her keyblade back she prepared a spell, feeling it's hot warmth develop on the end of her keyblade Nozomi then released it all out once as she cried out, "FIRE!"

With that the ball of energy headed towards the knight at full blast, as she looked at the attack coming towards her she then went to dodge out of the way.

However as she went to do this, the spell went faster than what she had cast before and then struck her! It was doubly more powerful than what she was anticipating.

Damaging her Nozomi was further excited and then suddenly felt the spirit nearby as it continued to smile at her, it was then she realised she was the one who was making it possible for her to win.

"Man you are so awesome!" She spoke delighted as she looked at her.

The spirit delighted at her response looked at the knight who recovering from the spell was now rushing towards them both.

Looking at what the spirit was Nozomi then held her keyblade ready to strike back against the knight, however as she did suddenly the spirit became a small sphere of energy that then rushed and entered the key end of her blade.

"What the? What're you-"

Suddenly the knight's keyblade struck against hers stopping her from continuing. The two of them struck back and forth, the knight had given up now with it's magic attacks, which meant that it must have run out of MP, but it was still formidable in it's physical strength.

"Man I have just had about enough of you!" Nozomi cried out angrily as she struck once again, but as she did though she felt her keyblade resonate. As she felt it pulsing she suddenly felt a surge in her right arm as she suddenly knew what to do.

Striking the knight with a kick to its side Nozomi then dodged another blow that was coming to her head. Feeling the power resonate more strongly Nozomi then launched her knew technique, "Emerald mana drain!"

With that she struck the knight in the side again as she did there was suddenly a huge surge as it soared all over as then the green spirit erupted from within the knight as a huge swarm of pink blossoms rained all around reducing it's HP greatly.

Then seeing her chance her own power surged as she then struck it with her finishing move, "Astral Aerial Smash!!!!"

The knight shuddered violently as then it finally collapsed in on itself into a pile.

Nozomi once again contemplating closed her eyes as she felt everything being soaked in white light.

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CHASER PROGRAM COMPLETE

…

SIGNATURE RECOGNIZED NOW REPLAYING, PROGRAM X-M 3

A group of three were gathered together in a desert as they discussed something amongst the three of themselves together.

Nodding then two of them departed forwards through two portals that appeared however though the third one stayed behind as he felt the appearance of someone he knew all too well.

Looking at him he listened to his words he spoke.

"I believe you'd find your way by now, cross the wall between the light and darkness to me."

"I'm tired of waiting for you, Terra!"

He demanded impatiently looking at the young man irritated.

The young man answered him as he pulled his right hand back and then spoke angrily.

"…I have a friend"

"Answer me, Xehanort."

"What have you done to his heart!?"

The man Xehanort smiled as he looked at this display of pathetic power, "I have-"

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It was then that Nozomi awakened after experiencing the replay, "that was?" She asked aloud.

"You're awake!" Riku spoke as he looked down at her relieved.

Nozomi blinking then suddenly felt herself and then realised she was on Riku's lap as he looked down at her worried.

Looking at him Nozomi couldn't believe the situation she had gotten herself in and then looking at his face she felt her heart thump and suddenly then embarrassed to no degree burning red she suddenly slid off his lap as she then backed away, "what the heck was I? What did-"

However as she finished backing away she suddenly felt a sharp point, looking she saw that she had bumped into the Lachesis report looking at the cube she saw that it had changed and was now shining dark blue in colour with the Roman numeral "I" upon it.

Picking it up Nozomi gazed at it as it folded in on itself once more and revealed more faded papers, "it really was another one! That makes three for the collection now! We're really doing well now aren't we-"

Suddenly beneath her the floor started to vibrate as it shone with red energy, looking down Nozomi heard a ringing sound.

Riku looked on shocked, "what's going on now!?"

Nozomi just as baffled suddenly-

Covering his eyes from the blinding red light it then felt it dissipate after a few moments, looking back to where Nozomi was he saw that… she had vanished!

"Nozomi! NOZOMI!" He cried out alarmed.

"I'm down here!" She cried back.

Hearing her Riku rushed forwards and saw that where the purple insignia had been on the floor had been had disappeared and looking down the hole that was now there he saw Nozomi was lying in it painfully as she cringed.

"How'd you get there?" He asked really puzzled.

Nozomi still cringing looked back at him as she answered, "Beats me I was-"

Suddenly then she felt something, looking around her she saw something that alarmed her.

Looking back at Riku she then shouted to him, "there's someone in here!"