Chapter LXXVI: The trials of the Coliseum part XII

Cait sith on Nozomi's shoulder felt her suddenly shudder and then freeze as she held the trophy in both hands as she looked on as though in shock her eyes widened, looking at her he then asked, "lass what-"

But suddenly before he could breathe another word Nozomi suddenly fell forwards as her eyes shut in moments dropping the trophy from her hands, looking at her in shock now himself Cait sith quickly jumped into the air as he cried out, "lass!"

At that moment Riku and the king turned in shock as they then saw Nozomi fall to the ground with a hard thud, as she lay unconscious the audience gasped and cried out in fright at this along with all the many comrades they had made in that world, seeing her the king and Riku were instantly alarmed as they both cried out, "Nozomi!!" As they ran to her side in moments, as then instantly Phil, Hercules, Meg, Saria and Ori did the same. While Vincent only continued to stare on from where he was gazing on.

The cheering crowds and harmonious blue sky quickly faded away from Nozomi's eyes as once again she stumbled and saw around her once more the familiar dark emptiness quickly flooding in around her.

"Another one?!"

At once the floor revealed itself to be the same stained glass pattern again as she gazed down at it, "it is! Oh boy… of all thing's to have been in a trashy made up trophy " she spoke too herself disheartened with annoyance.

"PROGRAM ACTIVATED"

And then again once more the same digital squares materialised around and quickly formed together. Looking at it she wondered who on earth she'd be forced to battle this time? Quietly she waited on as she heard the voice once more.

"INITIATING SEQUENCE 3-4… BEGIN STAGE"

Suddenly at once the pillar she stood on began it's ascent again as it moved and then on cue her keyblade the "Starseeker" emerged once more along with her light blue leg armour.

Acting on her initiative she instantly took her keyblade in both hands as she looked with focused eyes as she spoke aloud, "right… here we go again! And this time… I'm more in control!"

Once more the mechanized voice spoke out.

"KEY SET AND READY ENTER COMBATANT'

Then at once the digital ring sounded and the mist emerged again with blocks and from within its depths a heavy sound echoed as a knight stepped out.

This knight that had now appeared was coloured in vibrant purple armour with silver linings here and there, it's dark black cape swayed to and throw as it was revealed to be a female one with a sturdy and yet light keyblade with embroided vines upon it.

Nozomi watched as the knight readied herself into the familiar dueller's stance, Nozomi then acted on the same familiar courtesy as she too stood ready.

"CHASER PROGRAM BEGIN"

With that both combatants rushed forward as the battle commenced.

Meanwhile in the world of reality Mickey had now pulled Nozomi on his lap to see what was wrong and why she had collapsed as Riku and the others gathered all around them all with eyes of concern.

Looking at her with high concern in his eyes Hercules spoke first, "what's going on?! Why's she collapsed?"

Gazing at Nozomi for a moment the king looked up to the Greek hero as he answered him, " I don't know, I've seen her do this before but-"

However he was interrupted as then suddenly Riku said, "it can only be because of that."

Everyone then looked at him with unsure eyes as they were all quiet for a moment before Saria spoke," of that? What do you mean by-"

But suddenly she noticed as did everyone else that Riku was looking at the ground, seeing him do this everyone turned their attentions then to the trophy that had once been held in Nozomi's hands. It was now broken and smashed to pieces as it lay in a ruined mess.

Seeing it like this despite the situation Phil was instantly annoyed as he spoke up," aw now look at what that twinkle toes has done to my own piece of craftsmanship!"

Everyone then distracted for a moment looked back at Phil with annoyed eyes as he continued on with his irrelevant complaints, "It took me five days to get that thing all primed and ready for this here contest and now I won't ever be able to show it to-"

Suddenly then speaking up on the behalf of everyone Ori said, "you know goat legs I doubt anyone really gives a toss on how long it took for you to make that thing." As he pulled his arms behind his head not really bothered by the situation completely.

Hearing this rude comment Phil at once turned on him as he stamped one of his fat legs onto the sandy ground as he pointed at him mad saying, "how dare ya speak to me like that you brat! Don't you know who yer talking to here!?"

Ori ignoring him looked away as he simply began to clear out one of his ears with his small right finger as Saria looked down at him anxiously as she was worried by his sudden impolite behaviour.

Phil beginning to get more and more irritated then began to point a prosecuting finger at him as he then started to say, "Are you even listenin to me here! Kid! I'm talking to-"

However then suddenly stopping this stupid argument Cait sith spoke up, "will ya just give it a rest ya darn nanny goat!" Phil immediately was halted by Cait sith's voice as he looked at him blankly for a moment as an angered epression quickly returned but before he could speak on Cait sith carried on, "what this nobody lad I agree there is rude but ya're also missin the point! Yer dumb old cowbell of a trophy ain't the issue here! It's what's happenin to that daft banshee there! Got it!"

Phil was then immediately made to pause again and as he did he realised then finally too that this was no time to make a petty argument over a trophy, a person's life was in potential danger right now.

Riku quiet having to listen to this ridiculous argument then sighed as he went onto say, "Good… now the thing that has caused this."

With that everyone then watched as he walked over to the remains of the trophy and then bent down as he picked up what it was that had caused this mess.

Everyone watched on quietly as he then picked up something from where he was kneeling, turning around he then showed what lay in his hands, and there where it had once been painted white with silver swirls had now been replaced by a dark onyx black, a Lachesis report cube in his hands.

Nozomi in the darkened realm continued to fight against the knight as she rushed at her and dodged as best she could any blows that she too had tried to lay upon her.

This knight unlike a couple of the other female knights she had faced was faster and nimble as she had nearly matched Nozomi's speed. Making her have to try really hard to pace herself

Gritting her teeth as she jumped away from another oncoming blow Nozomi was now floating in the air, twisting forwards quickly she then decided to get in quick as she spoke in her mind, 'one quick strong kick should be enough!' The knight with her back turned on the ground Nozomi quickly made her move as she raced in quickly.

The knight though sensing her turned around fast Nozomi however unaltered kept racing on, however suddenly before she could say another word the knight then cartwheeled back as Nozomi struck into the ground.

Getting up quick then to chase after her Nozomi looked around for her elusive opponent and saw then that she was now no longer on the pillar! Wide-eyed Nozomi darted her head left and right as then she sensed something. Turning around she looked up quickly and saw the knight was now in the air, floating.

Seeing this Nozomi looked on wide-eyed, "floating?" She asked herself. However she saw that the female knight was only staring down at her as Nozomi shook her head slightly as she spoke aloud again, "this is no time to gawk!" With that she summoned her wings as she then ran into the air to commence her assault again. Running quickly and fast at her Nozomi was fully focused on her when she noticed the keyblade in the knight's hand was slightly thinner as some of the vine designs on it had lessened. But why had?

Suddenly something happened before she could even register it as something struck into her quickly from behind, turning painfully as she felt the strike she suddenly saw with sudden shock a keyblade! Floating in the air!

"What the heck is this!?" Looking at it dumbfounded she watched it as it floated for a moment and then suddenly rushed forwards to strike her, "agh!" she cried quickly avoiding it, Nozomi then turned to look back at the knight who she could now see was surrounded by four light lilac glowing coloured keyblades as the thinnest one was now the one that remained in the knight's hand as she gazed at her.

Nozomi was shocked! This knight was controlling four floating keyblades! However she realised then that these other ones that had emerged were merely just four copies of the original keyblade as it was proven from their thinness.

"That is so not fair!!" She cried out mad, however still determined Nozomi decided to continue her strike anyway as she rushed forwards saying, "I don't care how many weapons you have!"

Watching her as she rushed forwards the female knight only stood silent and still in the air as Nozomi approached.

Seeing her like this Nozomi knew what she was doing was foolish but she had to at least try to do some damage! So pulling her arm back she moved to perform a slash as she was now close to the knight.

Suddenly then quickly and furiously the four keyblades rushed forwards fast at her! Nozomi seeing this quickly stopped in the air as she moved then to smash the keyblades as they came flying at her. Slashing quickly she batted one away! Two! Three and now finally onto the fourth!

However she suddenly felt pain from behind her as her back was struck and then left and right on her sides as it made her fall back in the air!

She had been so focused on the last one coming at her that she hadn't noticed the other three keyblades had now regrouped and were now rushing in on her from behind and the sides.

"Oh no!" She cried desperately cringing from the pain as she opened her eyes and then saw to her alarm the knight was quickly advancing towards her quickly with her own keyblade now moved back to cut into her.

Nozomi then pulled out her keyblade as she made to strike back the oncoming blow however suddenly the four floating keyblades gathered around the knight as they all started to try and stab into her left and right.

"What the!" Her eyes wide in shock Nozomi then batted with her own keyblade back left and right trying to keep them away from her as best she could falling ever downwards, however they were too quick for her as they then began to overwhelm her as she then was quickly stabbed left and right all over as she was then sent flying to the floor.

The knight seeing this then withdrew her four flying keyblades back as she made them rejoin with the main body one in her right hand, and with that as Nozomi looked on with pained eyes she was quickly sent plummeting into the ground being struck hard and fast crying out painfully from the stinging blow.

Back in the real world Vincent watched as Riku held the Lachesis report in his hands quietly as he showed the others what had caused what was going on now. Saria then tentatively asked, "What is that?"

At once Riku replied to her, "a Lachesis report."

Blinking as he heard this Ori looked on with curious bored eyes as he asked, "Lachesis report, what the heck is that supposed to be?"

It was then the king then decided to take the part in answering, "they're a bunch of cubes and reports that me and the fella's have come across during our travels that somehow relates to somethin important… somethin that we still don't know much about yet."

Listening to this brief explanation everyone was quiet as the king said this to them but this still didn't satisfy Meg as she asked, "but why has it only made Nozomi faint! That's what we want to know! What's going on?"

At this both Riku and Mickey became quiet with saddened expressions that then puzzled everyone there, even Vincent looked on with quiet suspicion from where he was standing with his arms folded.

Cait sith staring at the two melancholy guys already knew himself what was really going on… but would these two really reveal the truth about everything. As though responding to this question Riku began to speak, "she is-"

But then suddenly he felt an all too familiar feeling again as he shuddered slightly, everyone then looked on with alarm, especially the king as he then began to ask worriedly, "Riku are you-"

However he was interrupted as Riku then collapsed onto his knees as his heart was once again in severe pain as he gasped loudly almost near to a yell. At once everyone rushed to his side as they saw him do this, the king then became truly anxious but he couldn't move from where he was as Nozomi was still on his lap.

Cait sith looking at him with worry in eyes asked him quickly, "lad what's wrong with yah! Is it-"

Gasping hard from the pain Riku looked at him one of his eyes closed in pain as he then answered him, "yeah it is… it's the same pain in my heart again."

Meg hearing this echoed worried, "pain in your heart?"

Phil having listened to this then spoke, "ya've got a heart condition why didn't ya tell me!"

Riku looked at him annoyed as he was about to answer when suddenly another angry painful pulse stabbed into him all over making him unable to respond as he cried out again as he collapsed more.

Hercules immediately saw that this was serious as he looked on with worry but then he looked on at the audience that were all staring down all confused and worried just as they all were… he couldn't let the audience be unnerved by this so quickly he spoke, "Phil."

Hearing his star pupil speaking Phil looked at him and asked, "what? What is it Herc?"

Hercules then looked at his trainer with serious eyes as he told him, "Phil you gotta make the audience leave quickly! We can't have anything that'll make any of them panic or hysterical."

Phil hearing this turned his gaze from Herc and then to the audience himself as he looked around, he then returned his gaze back to Herc again as he then said, "I see what ya mean kid but I can't make 'em all leave like that quick on my own."

Meg who had heard this then added, "If you need help then I'll give you some."

Phil hearing her looked at her as he nodded, "all right then so me and-"

However suddenly, "I'll give you guys a hand too."

It was then Meg Phil and Hercules turned then to look at Ori who was still seemingly unstirred by everything as he volunteered to help out. Everyone looked at him in surprise especially Saria as she asked, "Ori you're going to help them too?"

Feeling everyone's surprise Ori however only simply shrugged as he replied, "well sure why not? Sides I'm getting bored just standin around here, I'd like to have at least one thing to do."

Seeing this seemingly uncaring attitude didn't really please everyone but Saria suspected otherwise inside, so beginning to walk off first he then said, "Well c'mon then let's get this show on the road shall we?"

Blinking as he watched the rude nobody boy walk forwards Phil wasn't going to let him get away with that attitude as he said, "hey yer not doin this on yer own without a supervisor watchin ya!" As he then chased after Ori quickly.

Seeing those two headstrong fools leave Meg simply shook her head as she began to leave herself but quickly she looked behind as she told Hercules, "take care of things here wonder boy!"

Hercules nodded as she left as he returned to trying to ease Riku's pain with Cait sith as best he could, while Saria watching them leave showed a small smile for a moment as she was glad that Ori was at least easing a little bit, but then suddenly she heard another pained gasp.

Turning quickly she looked to Nozomi who was now gasping painfully as she turned too and throw, seeing her this way Saria immediately ran to her side as she then dropped to her knees and took Nozomi's hand as she said, "Oh Nozomi please be all right! Please you got to wake up!"

Mickey staring at the nobody girl as she did this then truly realized inside that this girl really wasn't bad after all, but then turning back from Riku who he saw was still struggling he looked at Nozomi and her own pained expression as he whispered, "c'mon Nozomi, ya gotta pull through!"

Nozomi on the ground was gasping painfully as she had now got back up on her feet struggling as she felt the stinging of the blades all over her body. Looking at the ground she thought to herself, 'I was too rash… I gotta do better than this!'

She then looked up to the knight who she saw was still floating in the air, Nozomi looked at her with gritted teeth as she then continued to think, 'those blades on their own like that were too fast… I can't concentrate on so many at once! I gotta plan a way to-'

However there was no more time to think as then suddenly the female knight was now tired of waiting as she then flew down fast and furiously towards her.

Nozomi seeing her coming quickly acted herself as she jumped out of the way and began to run on the stained glass floor quickly away from her as she landed, however she looked behind her and then saw with sudden worry that the knight was now moving faster than before.

Seeing this she looked on distressed as she cried out, "oh c'mon that's no- whoa!" As suddenly the knight had now caught up to her as she tried to take a swipe as her.

Nozomi seeing this dodged bending down and then jumping back and then flying forwards herself to counter however suddenly then on cue the four keyblades emerged once more from the female knight as she directed them to attack her.

Alarmed seeing this Nozomi immediately retreated quickly back as she then ran to the edge and then around away from the knight, however the keyblades only continued to follow her like incoming missiles at a fast speed, seeing this Nozomi looked on more desperately anxious.

"Oh man this is so totally unfair!" She spoke aloud, as she continued to run on mad but then she noticed suddenly that the female knight herself was now starting to fly straight at her from the other side of the stained glass platform.

Nozomi seeing her coming and feeling the oncoming missile keyblades felt as though time slowed down as she then thought to herself, 'I'm surrounded on all sides! What am I supposed to do!'

For now she was close to the edge and so there were now three paths of doom, being barraged to death by the oncoming keyblades, cut down at the hands of the fast knight or the never ending darkness of the abyss.

Seeing this Nozomi felt despair in herself what could she do?! She closed her eyes frustrated as she thought to herself, 'if only I was faster I could-' suddenly then a rushed idea came to mind, if she could! But looking at the path ahead and around she knew it would pure luck if it worked… but approaching fast she had nothing else to lose!

The knight catching up to the girl quickly watched on as her keyblades chased after her opponent. Then suddenly her opponent looked at her for a moment and smiled slightly before rushing on and jumping straight off the edge into the dark abyss!

Quickly coming over to the edge stopping the knight looked down and watched and saw her vanish into the blackness as she saw nothing more of the girl at all… she'd been swallowed whole… defeated…victory was hers. Seeing that this had been achieved the knight was silent for a few long moments and then suddenly she called upon her floating keyblades as she then made them all fly back into her main weapon in her hand. She then turned and began to walk to the centre of the pillared floor…

But then suddenly! "Haste!"

The knight then turned quickly and saw from the other side of the pillar floor Nozomi was rushing fast and furiously forwards charged by the speed-enhancing spell as she had pretended to fall and had been lucky to find the edge of the pillar and run up it to back where she was powering up in the meantime.

Seeing her oncoming assault the knight quickly then floated fast and high into the air as she turned around and called out her keyblades to attack Nozomi quickly as they all sped forwards towards her.

Nozomi however anticipating this quickly called out her wings once more as she flew into the air and then aimed her keyblade quickly as she unleashed one of her main attacks, "Swift star rays! With that the beams of light raced out smashing away the keyblades in moments and then Nozomi quickly unleashed another attack from her left hand as she cried out, "Blizzara!" As she sent four balls of icy magic at the keyblades freezing them making them unable to move as then she quickly rushed up to take care of the knight.

The knight seeing her now on her quickly tried to strike her once more with her own keyblade however with the speed spell still on her Nozomi dodged fast as she then struck fast and furiously at the knight with her many hard kicks as she struck all over the knight left and right as she was unable to dodge. Then finally at the end Nozomi began her ending move, "Astral Aerial-" suddenly however the haste spell upon her had faded away and then suddenly the knight had taken the time she was distracted to then grab her foot. Nozomi looked on wide eyed as she began to cry out, "what the-" but suddenly she was spun fast around and around making her dizzy beyond belief.

Trying to not let herself lose focus Nozomi closed her eyes as she gritted her teeth down hard and suddenly as she did this she was released as the knight struck her with her keyblade as she sent her flying down towards the ground once more.

Gasping from the pain Nozomi felt herself flying through the air downwards as she was made to look up at the knight who then pulled her right hand out forwards and clenched it as then suddenly her four flying keyblades were released from the ice as they rushed to their mistress.

Having them around her the knight then flew forwards fast and furiously as she had her keyblade aimed straight for Nozomi while her other keyblades surrounded her ready to the attack as well.

Nozomi falling felt aches all over as she thought to herself, 'man I mucked up big time?!' she looked up past her incoming doom as she then saw the glowing orbs in the sky and felt somehow soothed inside that there was at least some light in the darkness.

"I wish I could do more …" she spoke as she reached her right hand forward with the keyblade in her hand, she then slightly twisted it a little. As she did this she looked at it sadly as she turned it a little more slightly almost in a spin as she then looked up back to the orbs. Suddenly as she did this she noticed too that the orbs seemed to move with her keyblade and then looking at her keyblade she saw too that it too seemed to glow slightly.

Feeling something inside herself that compelled her she then began to spin her keyblade again, and once more the lights moved! This had to be something as she saw that her keyblade was beginning to glow even more, seeing this she then spun it more and more faster and faster!

As she did suddenly the orbs in the sky flowed around faster and faster and then began to spiral faster and faster as they started to fly to her and her keyblade like her 'Swift star' attack yet this was something far more that she could feel inside!

As each orb flowed into her keyblade she began to spin faster and faster as it literally began to spin around like helicopter blades, feeling herself battle charged Nozomi then knew what to do!

Arriving on the ground hard pushing her feet back still spinning her keyblade faster than she ever had in her life as the knight was then upon her, Nozomi aimed her keyblade at her as she gritted her teeth and the shouted out, "LUMINOUS!"

The knight charged at her now only a meter away as she was now ready to strike her four keyblades rushing forwards however Nozomi then finished, "TORNADO!!!!"

With that suddenly a huge spiral of light rushed out of her keyblade just like a tornado as it absorbed the knight into a fast turning angry wind of light as she and her keyblades were sent flying into the air.

Feeling it's burning power the knight's replica keyblades were quickly destroyed in moments and then the knight herself blinded by the light couldn't see then as Nozomi had flew into the air and cried out, "take this!!!" With that she sliced into her cutting the knight through her core.

Then landing on the ground fast Nozomi looked up into the air flicking her keyblade out to see the knight halt in the air and then shiver and shudder until finally then it crumpled and fell to the ground in moments with a metallic clatter.

Looking at her as she was finished Nozomi was silent as she closed her as she felt another white light engulf her…

CHASER PROGRAM COMPLETE

…

SIGNATURE RECOGNIZED NOW RELAYING, PROGRAM X-M 4

Upon the grass outside in the warm sunlight of the shining sun the three-keyblade knights stood together in front of the palace all of them quiet.

The eldest of them all then spoke to the others, "have you guys seen it?"

The youngest one there nodded his head as he replied, "yeah I have… its total chaos out there! I don't know how the king is keeping things in check."

The second eldest one there clearly female then spoke, "yes… he is having great difficulty, it's not easy for him dealing with all the pressure alone, I know all of the court blames him mainly."

At once then the eldest one replied, "yeah maybe… but we know better, right?"

Hearing their friend say this the other two nodded instantly, "yes," they both answered.

Removing then his mask it was then revealed to be Terra as he then said to them, " I know that we'll be able to make it through this… we just gotta keep going right?" He asked.

The youngest replied, "yeah besides, if anyone can get this one solved it'll probably be you Terra."

Listening to this comment it was then Terra laughed as he replied, "yeah right Ventus, I'm not gonna let you slack! I don't want to be the one left with all the hard stuff."

The young one Ventus shook his helmeted head as he replied, "as if I would, I'll solve this way before you."

At this reply Terra simply rolled his eyes as he replied, "sure you will."

Ventus smiling under his mask simply then turned and said, "well I'll see you guys later!" With that he waved his hand not turning back as he left.

It was then that Terra was left alone with the female knight that was there. A long silence came between the two of them… but then the girl spoke as she said, "Terra…"

Looking at her he then asked, "yeah?"

It was then she walked towards him as she stood in front of him as she then said, "please be careful… I'm worried when go off on your own so much these days… if something happened to you that I couldn't help you with I-"

However she was halted as Terra put his hand on the girl's mask where her mouth would be.

Silent she then stood quietly as Terra lifted her mask off as he then said to the blue haired, blue-eyed girl who stood before him, "I will be all right… besides, I'd never wanna leave you waiting, because you hate slackers right?"

The girl then blushed slightly at his touch as she smiled gently, Terra seeing this himself smiled just as gently as he then put a hand to her face and stroked her cheek as she then too felt his hand with her own.

Further warm sweet silence came between them but it was then the girl made her move as she said, "well I best be off too… I'll see you around Terra." As she then took a step back.

Terra then nodded himself as he replied, "yeah, you too… Aqua." The girl smiled as she then placed her helmet back on and then too left in the same direction as Ventus.

Quiet for a little watching Aqua go Terra was silent as he sighed sadly and then from the shadows a voice from an older man spoke, "well then I see you are as gentle as ever…"

Terra then looked on irritated as he saw to his right hand side was Xehanort as he stood smiling smugly against a single pillar.

Turning his face away Terra then replied, "It's none of your business."

Lifting his eyebrows Xehanort then replied, "I guess not… and talking about business I'd say it's time you and I discuss about our own."

Terra silent looked down at the ground but then turning back to look at Xehanort and his annoying smile he then went to speak to the sinister old man.

Awakening from the vision Nozomi looked up to the sky as she repeated to herself the new name she'd learned, "Aqua…"

But then suddenly as she said this she felt warmth around her right hand as she heard a familiar voice, "Nozomi!"

Awakening properly then Nozomi looked then to see that it was Saria holding her hand as she looked with immense amounts of relief as she then said, "Nozomi you're awake!"

Blinking Nozomi then sat up quick as she said, "Saria! What happened I-"

It was then the king spoke as he got up to look at Nozomi, "ya just went through another faint spell there Nozomi, ya've been unconscious for half an hour."

Hearing this Nozomi then felt bad as she then replied, "I see… I'm sorry Mickey, Saria." She spoke as she looked at the two of them sadly.

However Saria simply shook her head as she replied still smiling, "no it's all right don't apologise, I'm just glad that you woke up, I mean with you like that and Riku the way he is I-"

However at the mention of Riku Nozomi instantly became worried as she asked, "Riku!? What's wrong with Riku?"

At this Saria stopped instantly as she looked down as she then darted her eyes in the direction Riku was before looking down again. Nozomi not understanding looked to the right and then saw Riku was kneeling on the ground as Cait sith was reaching a hand to his chest as he was using yellow glowing light once more to heal him as he gasped painfully clenching his chest tightly.

Seeing this Nozomi instantly became alarmed as she said turning to the king, "your majesty! Don't tell me Riku!"

Mickey then nodded as he responded to her question, "yeah, he's had another one of his painful heart attacks… Cait sith has been trying to heal him for the last half an hour."

Hearing this Nozomi replied, "half an hour…" it was then a thought occurred to her, Saria released her hand as she and Mickey watched as she then got up as she walked over to Riku Hercules and Cait sith.

Walking over to them Hercules still kneeling looked up glad to see that she was awake to which Nozomi nodded and smiled quietly but then looking over at Riku she saw that he had his eyes closed as his lips were clenched as she saw that Cait sith was struggling just as much as his eyes were concentrating hard.

Seeing this Nozomi then looked down and saw then the cube that had now changed into a vibrant purple colour with the insignia "III" upon it, reaching her hand forward towards it she then took it and as she did suddenly it glowed brighter and then finally formed into sheets of faded paper with scrolls of unreadable writing.

Then as this occurred suddenly Cait sith spoke, "oh finally there! Man ya almost exhausted me to death lad!" As his yellow light died away and he collapsed on his legs his tail and ears down.

Breathing in and out hard Riku responded, "It's not my fault I'm going through this! I-"

Suddenly then Riku noticed Nozomi crouching beside him as she held the new Lachesis reports in her hands, Cait sith looking at Riku then looked and then saw Nozomi too and cried, "lass!

Making her jump out of her thoughts Nozomi turned and replied, "oh! Cait sith, hi what's up?"

At once hearing this Cait sith ran over to her in a moment as he then spoke out irritated," what's up! Lass ya had another one of them fainting fits! Them and me others were worried sick! Ya sure picked a fine time to act up didn't ya! Ya right old banshee!"

Annoyed at this comment once more Nozomi bit back her tongue slightly to stop from retorting as she replied, "well I'm sorry… and anyway could you get these translated."

Hearing her request Cait sith then replied, "Yeah I will, well at least ya found one more thing to help on the quest."

Ignoring the comment Nozomi handed the report over as Cait sith did his usual old magic trick again, while he did this Nozomi looked to Riku who looked at her. Looking at her Riku could see a sadness there but before he could ask she spoke, "were you in pain again?"

Hearing this question Riku replied, "Yeah I was… just a little after you went under again."

At the mention of this Nozomi felt a jolt in her heart as she realised finally, every time she'd found a report Riku had immediately or just a small mount of time afterwards collapsed with horrible pain in his heart… but why? Why would this happen? Was it her fault that-

"Nozomi?" Riku asked as he saw her look away with a pained expression.

Hearing him she jumped as she looked at him and quickly mustered a smile as she replied, "uh yeah, well I'm glad you're feeling better snowball and-" suddenly then she looked up and noticed something.

Thinking she was acting weirdly Riku asked again, "Nozomi what is it this time?"

There was no response from her this time as Nozomi only instead pointed to the sky, Riku seeing her do this then looked up himself and then saw just as Hercules and the others did too. Huge black clouds were forming as they then blocked out the warm sunlight making everything have a cold and haunting atmosphere.

Vincent standing still from where he was saw the recovery that had occurred and was glad at least there was now no longer a crisis however he too noticed just as Ori Meg and Phil who were now just arriving back.

Cait sith looking up then asked, "Hey is there a storm brewin?"

"Oh something's brewing all right." Came a new just as haunting and eerie voice in this dark atmosphere.

Looking around at this Mickey then asked, "Who's that there!"

However nearly everyone else knew whom that voice belonged to and Hercules Saria Ori Meg and Phil turned to where they all heard it coming from.

For there at the other end of the arena in a smog of smoke and flames appeared someone who Hercules thought he wouldn't see again for a very long time as spoke surprised, "it can't be…"

However Saria looked on absolutely terrified as Ori looked on now on just as high alert, while Vincent looked on angry with his blood red eyes his clawed hand on the trigger of his gun as there appeared finally in all his gloomy glory with his sharp toothed grin, the lord of the underworld… Hades.