"So how's her training going, Aqua?"
"It's going rather well, actually. She's improving not only in her use of magic, but her fighting ability too."
"Is that so?"
"I've been having her spar with Ventus every now and then. She's making real improvements, Riku. She'll be ready soon, I think."
"That's good. I know she'd hate it if she couldn't help rescue Sora."
"Can you two stop talking about me like I'm not standing right here?" Kairi interjected after watching the conversation between Riku and Aqua like a tennis match. She uncrossed her arms and let out a sigh. "Please?"
Riku chuckled before reaching over and ruffling her hair. "Sorry, Kairi. Just glad to hear you're improving, that's all."
Kairi pouted, her cheeks puffing out slightly. "You don't have to sound so patronizing about it, you know."
Truth be told, she was happy to hear that she was making progress. She'd been training under Master Aqua's tutelage for a couple of months at this point and while she had her initial reservations about being passed off to Aqua, she now understood Riku's reasoning. He'd been correct in his initial assessment; Kairi's affinity for light matched well with Aqua's. It didn't take long for the Princess of Heart to begin steady and rapid improvements in her combat ability.
As it turns out, one of the first things Aqua identified that hindered Kairi's growth initially - prior to coming under her tutelage, that is - was that her style of fighting too closely mirrored Sora's. Aqua was quick to point out that taking inspiration from Sora wasn't a bad thing, but attempting to mimic his style completely just wasn't going to work out. At the end of the day, their physical abilities differed too much; Sora was taller and heavier while Kairi was shorter and more lithe. She needed to be more fluid on her feet than her not-so-secret crush. She needed her own style.
With Ventus as a regular sparring partner and Aqua's corrections, Kairi could feel herself improving. Needless to say, it was heartening and validating to hear that her Master thought she'd be ready soon.
Somebody's gummi phone rang, interrupting Kairi's train of thought. The trio looked between each other to identify whose phone was ringing. Kairi's eyes went wide as she realized it was her gummi phone that was throwing a fit. She hurriedly fished out the device and answered the call, making sure to angle the phone such that everyone was within view.
"KAIRI!" Roxas cried out, a frantic look on her face.
Kairi instinctively recoiled back at the sudden and extreme volume coming from Sora's Nobody. She then leaned forward, curious but also concerned with what in the worlds had Roxas in such a panic.
"What's wrong, Roxas? Did something happen? Is everyone alright?" Aqua asked, leaning in and looking over Kairi's shoulder. Riku similarly walked up and looked over Kairi's shoulder.
The camera on the other end suddenly jostled as the phone was apparently changing hands. Xion's face came into view, but Roxas soon recovered and butted his way into frame once again.
"We're fine, Master Aqua." Xion said with a smile that directly contrasted with the crazed look Roxas was wearing behind her. "We're just a little excited, that's all."
"Excited?" Kairi asked, arching an eyebrow. "What for?"
Xion smiled and opened her mouth, only for Roxas to push her aside. His grin beamed from ear to ear as he practically shouted into the gummi phone.
"We found Sora!"
They were definitely getting some looks.
Sora sheepishly looked around the lobby of, what was it called? A PokeMart? Whatever this world's version of a convenience store was. The handful of people inside were giving Sora and his friends either looks of respect, apprehension, or outright disgust. Ash had made quite the scene yesterday with Metang's capture. In as little as 24 hours, Ash Ketchum was the name circulating around town.
"Is anyone else feeling… watched?" Bonnie whispered as they walked down the market aisle. A sign above the walkway was labeled Potions. "... Or is it just me?"
"No, we're definitely being watched." Brock said as he selected a number of bottles from the shelf. He flipped each one over and carefully read the backs, likely reading off the ingredient lists. "I imagine Pokemon snagging is pretty rare around here."
"Sorry guys." Ash mumbled, his expression uncharacteristically dour. Sora only knew the guy for all of a week but could already tell that the raven-haired man was usually quite chipper. "We definitely don't need this kind of attention."
"Pika-pi…" Pikachu said consolingly, patting his trainer on the head gently.
"It's alright, Ash." Serena said with a faint smile. She stood at his side and was idly surveying the goods on the shelf. "It was going to happen sooner or later, anyway."
"No worries!" Sora said, striding up between Ash and Serena. He wrapped an arm around each one and brought them closer together. He turned to each of them and gave a grin. "So long as we stick together, we'll be fine!"
It may have come off as false bravado, but Sora had confidence. He'd already seen Ash in action, and oh man was he impressed. No wonder he was called a Champion. Both Pikachu and Charizard had taken minimal damage in that battle and Ash had completely pulverized his opponent. No wonder those two were said to be his strongest, his aces. If that failed, Sora could always bring out his own ace.
The Keyblade.
Sora was by no means eager to bring out the weapon that had saved multiple worlds from the Heartless. He knew magic and keyblades didn't exist on this world, otherwise he would have heard about them by now. He also didn't know how his new friends would react to finding out that their newest travel companion was effectively a superhuman with strength that could rival a Pokemon. For Light's sake, during his second adventure he had to cleave skyscrapers in half just to get to Xemnas.
Probably not normal.
If push came to shove though, and his friends' lives were in danger, there'd be no hesitation. He'd protect them with everything he had. He might have to, given how strong Pokemon seemed to be. These were forces of nature, not mere pets. Pikachu's Thunder attack yesterday was probably stronger than his own Thundaga, though he did suspect Pikachu was an exceptionally strong Pokemon and probably not the standard.
He glanced over at Rufflet, who dutifully stood perched on his shoulder. Would he ever get to be that strong?
"We should probably call Professor Krane." Serena said, jarring Sora out of his train of thought. At some point, he'd let go of the duo and now they were sitting at checkout, ready to purchase the medley of medical supplies Brock had hand-picked. "He might know more about how best to help Metang."
"That's a good point." Ash said, pulling out his Pokedex. "He never told us how to get Pokemon to the point of purification, just that it was possible."
"Let's head back to the hotel before we call him." Brock advised as they purchased their supplies and left the mart. "No need to draw more attention to ourselves."
With a consensus reached, the quintet went back to their hotel room and sat around the dining table. Ash pulled out his Pokedex and dialed the number to reach Professor Krane's lab. It rang once. Then twice. Sora exchanged a few glances with the others. Maybe the Professor wasn't in? He did seem to be quite the busy man.
Finally, the ringing stopped and the face of one Professor Krane appeared on the screen.
"Oh, hello everyone!" Krane exclaimed, giving a friendly wave which was returned. "Forgive me, I wasn't expecting you to call me so soon after your departure! How can I help you?"
"We were wondering how we go about purifying Shadow Pokemon." Ash said as he pulled out the Pokeball containing Metang. "We caught our first one just yesterday but we're not really sure how to get started."
"Oh, did I not mention that before?" Krane asked as he softly facepalmed. Everyone around the table sweatdropped while the Professor regained his composure. "It's easy, actually. Bond with it! Battles, sharing meals, even just talking with it and befriending it will begin the slow process of opening its heart. If you're able to snap it out of what we call "Hyper Mode" - when it goes berserk - then that proves even more effective, based on what we know from Wes. In general, though, it's not too dissimilar from befriending regular Pokemon, just a little more difficult given their generally more hostile and unfriendly personalities."
"Wait, Metang's going to be hostile towards us?!" Bonnie almost shouted, looking startled at the possibility of facing a hostile steel-type.
"Not necessarily." Krane corrected her, adjusting his glasses on his face. "Shadow Pokemon aren't usually hostile to just anybody, they're just more… irritable and prone to violence than others. Some can be hostile, but those are usually Shadow Pokemon from species that are already prone to violence, like Gyarados or Salamence. Normally, Shadow Pokemon are just more susceptible to their emotions getting the better of them. Without proper control of their heart to govern their actions, they lose their inhibitions and sense of restraint. So long as they don't feel threatened, you're fine."
"How will we know when a Pokemon is ready to be purified, Professor?" Brock asked. "You mentioned the final step involves a shrine at Agate Village, but how do we know when the Pokemon is ready?"
"Excellent question!" Krane said, a look of pride adorning his face. "Bring out your Metang and I'll explain how. Make sure you've got the Snag Machine equipped."
Ash tossed Metang's Pokeball out, revealing the Iron Claw Pokemon in a brilliant flash of light. It hovered in the air, glancing around to analyze its surroundings before ultimately deciding there was no immediate danger. Ash pulled out a blue fruit - Sora remembered it being called an Oran Berry - and offered it to the Steel-type, which it accepted.
"Quite the specimen you have there, Ash." Krane complimented. "Now, with Metang's permission mind you, place the hand with the Snag Machine on it on Metang. Anywhere will do, just so long as it's in a place that it's okay with."
Ash turned to Metang, who paused while eating the berry and eyed him suspiciously.
"Tang?"
"Would it be alright if I pet you?" Ash asked carefully. "I promise I won't do anything to hurt you."
Metang gave an appraising look at Ash, then glanced down at the berry in its hand before giving its trainer a nod of reluctant approval. "Met."
Serena nudged Ash's shoulder with her own and smiled, clearly proud of his treatment of the Shadow Pokemon. Ash gave a gentle smile of his own in return. Sora smiled fondly, reminded of his own relationship with Kairi. It was plain to see that those two held a deep respect and admiration for each other.
It was also painfully obvious how enamored Serena was with Ash.
Carefully, Ash placed his gauntleted hand on Metang's side. At first, nothing happened, but then suddenly the blue orb on the back of the hand turned a dark purple. Nearly everyone, save Ash, leaned back in surprise.
"I outfitted the Snag Machine with a detector and monitor of sorts." Krane began to explain. "Now look closely at the outer rim of the orb there. If I'm right, there should be a ring of blue that's starting to appear along the rim."
Sora leaned over to get a closer look and, sure enough, there was a thin blue ring along the outer rim of the purple orb. It wavered back and forth ever so slightly as Metang continued to eat the Oran Berry, paying little mind to its trainer's hand resting on its side.
"That ring will become wider and wider as Metang gets closer and closer to being purified." Krane continued. "In other words, the purple orb will shrink in size the more and more you bond with your Shadow Pokemon. Once the orb becomes a small dot the size of a pea, then you'll know that the Pokemon is ready to be purified. After your first time 'reading' a Shadow Pokemon, it'll calibrate to your PDA and display its current status, so feel free to check your PDA app on your Pokedex for regular updates on the status of your Shadow Pokemon."
"That's so cool!" Serena exclaimed. "Now you'll know when Metang's ready, Ash!"
"I thought you didn't have a way to detect Shadow Pokemon, Professor?" Brock asked.
"I suppose this is a way of detecting Shadow Pokemon, now that you mention it." Krane admitted. "It's just a little difficult to go around laying hands on every Pokemon you see to tell if they're a Shadow Pokemon or not. Not every Pokemon or trainer is going to be so willing to get so… familiar with them like that. Sora's ability is far more reliable and safe."
"Point taken." Brock said with a smirk and a nod of the head.
"And the only way to finish purifying a Shadow Pokemon is to bring it to Agate Village, Professor?" Ash asked, giving Metang a few side rubs before withdrawing his hand. The orb on the back of his hand quickly returned to its original blue color.
"Unless you can find another way to unlock the door to its heart, yes." Krane admitted with a tinge of disappointment. "We're still not close to finishing our purifying machine, so that's all we have available to us at the moment."
Unlock the door to its heart.
Sora's eyes went wide and he looked down at his right hand. The Keyblade was said to have the ability to unlock any lock, and its natural connection to the workings of the heart was no secret either. After all, in a particularly bold and arguably stupid move on his part - and one he would do again without a second thought - he'd used Riku's Keyblade and unlocked his own heart to set Kairi's free during his first adventure. He'd gotten better at manipulating the power of his Keyblade since then, and could probably pull off something similar without that nasty side effect of turning into a Heartless.
…Maybe.
He then looked at Metang, who finished eating its berry and met Sora's gaze with its own.
Could I…?
"Sora? Are you okay?" Bonnie asked, whipping him out of his inner thoughts abruptly. Suddenly, her look of concern shifted to that toothy grin he'd grown to fear over the past few days. "Are you thinking about Kairi again…?"
Sora tried to play off his nervousness by placing his hands behind his head casually. "W-what? N-no! Just thinking about what other kinds of Shadow Pokemon we'll meet and purify, that's all!"
"That's the spirit!" Ash cried out with determination.
"Once you completely purify a Shadow Pokemon, any growth and experience it would have gained during its time as a Shadow Pokemon will return to it in that instant." Krane interjected. "Right now, its heart is locked so it's not going to experience much growth in that particular fashion, so don't be caught off guard if it doesn't seem like Metang is progressing like your other Pokemon."
"Got it." Ash said. "Metang and I will just have to get stronger together, then. Whaddya say, Metang?"
Having finished eating its berry, Metang looked at Ash and narrowed its eyes. Ultimately, its harsh gaze relented and it gave a smirk and a nod.
"Met-tang."
"Is there anything else we should know, Professor?" Serena asked, leaning forward to get a better view of Krane's image.
"Mmm… nothing that comes to mind." Krane answered, shrugging. "I'll call you if I think of anything else. Good luck!"
"Since we have some privacy now and a little time, do you all mind if I make a call real quick?" Brock asked, getting up from his seat. "I should probably submit a report to the PMA about what we've encountered so far here in Orre."
"We should do the same, actually." Serena said, getting to her feet and tapping Bonnie on the shoulder. "The PCC will want to hear our report too."
"Yeah, go for it!" Ash said, a little more exuberance in his voice than usual. Apparently something had Ash excited.
As Brock, Bonnie, and Serena shuffled away to make their reports, Sora scooted closer to Ash and Metang. Metang looked a little suspicious at the brunette getting closer, but made no effort to create more distance or dissuade him from getting closer.
"What's got you so excited, Ash?" Sora asked, idly fingering at Rufflet's Pokeball. There was something oddly soothing about the action. Even though his Pokemon was outside its ball, there was something oddly therapeutic about fiddling with it. Almost like a stress ball.
"Just excited to get to know Metang, that's all." Ash said, looking over at Metang with a smile. "I can already tell he's a strong fighter and I know we'll only get stronger together."
Sora thought for a moment, thinking back to something Serena had mentioned in passing while Ash was passed out yesterday. "Serena mentioned this town has a colosseum, which I guess is like a battling tournament. Were you planning on entering? The Professor said battling would be a good way to bond with Metang."
"That's a great idea." Ash said, beaming from ear to ear. He turned to his two Pokemon nearby, one of which was sitting on the bed comfortably while the other hovered idly nearby. "Whaddya say, Pikachu? Metang? You guys wanna enter the colosseum?"
"Pika!"
"Tang!"
"Right!" Ash declared, fixing his hat and standing up. "Let's go register then!"
"What do you mean I can't register yet?" Ash asked, mouth agape at this unexpected turn of events.
Sora had to stifle a laugh at the irony of the situation. Sure, he felt bad for the raven-haired Champion, but there was something amusing about the contrast between his excitement and being denied at the front gate. That being said, he was looking forward to watching Ash destroy the competition when the tournament did roll around.
"Sorry, man." The ticket clerk said, casually chewing on a piece of gum as he leaned back in his seat. "Last tourney ended two days ago, so registration for the next one won't start for another week, man. They gotta clean the place up, make it good for battling again, y'know?"
Sora looked over to the side where he could see a service entrance to the large, domed colosseum. Sure enough, there was a semi-steady procession of workers and Pokemon going in and out, hauling supplies, tools, and resources. With how potentially destructive Pokemon battles seemed to be, it only made sense that arenas like this would need very regular maintenance.
"We'll just come back in a week then, Ash." Serena assured him. "I'm sure there are other places we could go in the meantime."
"Yeah, you're right." Ash replied with a sigh. "We'll come back in a week."
"Hey, you're the guy, aren't ya?" The clerk drawled out, garnering looks of confusion and suspicion from the group of five. "You're that new snagger, aren't ya?"
"Yeah, I am…" Ash hesitantly answered. "...why?"
"Nah, you're good man!" The clerk said with a smile. "I think what you're doin' is pretty righteous, man. Cleaning things up, roundin' up the Shadows. Keep fighting the good fight, my dude."
"This guy's weird…" Bonnie whispered behind Sora. He heard Brock stifle a snort.
"Hush, Bonnie." Serena whispered, but Sora could see the Performer was holding back a laugh of her own.
"Heh, thanks!" Ash said, clearly uncomfortable with the oddly phrased praise coming from this ticket clerk. "Just trying to do what's right, you know?"
"Hey, if you're lookin' for more Shadows to snag, there's a rumor goin' around that there's a guy hangin' around Outskirt Stand with a Shadow." The clerk whispered as he leaned forward. "Rumor has it he's Team Snagem, so you'd be in the clear takin' his Shadow, y'know?"
Everyone's eyebrows rose at that little tidbit of information.
"Isn't that the place Willie mentioned?" Bonnie asked.
Brock nodded. "It is. All the more reason to head over then, I guess."
Ash turned back to the ticket clerk. "Well thanks anyway, uhh…?"
"Fabian, though everyone just calls me Fabe." The clerk said, nodding his head. "Good to meet ya, snagger."
"We'll see you in a week then, Fabe!" Ash said as he turned around to depart. The others followed, each waving goodbye to their strange new acquaintance.
The original plan was to go back to the hotel, pack up their things, and begin the journey to Outskirt Stand, but that all came to a screeching halt once Bonnie caught sight of one odd-looking building in particular.
"Fateen's Fortune Telling?" Bonnie read aloud, looking straight at the slapdash, piecemeal hut. Much like the rest of Pyrite, the building looked more like a hodgepodge of metal sheets and concrete slabs, but there was significantly more colored tapestry adorning the outside, which naturally drew the eye towards the vibrant sign denoting the building's name. "Ooh! Let's go get our fortunes told!"
"I'm game!" Serena said just a little too eagerly. She seemed to notice the awkward stares thrown her way, as she gave pointed looks in return. "...What? I think it'll be fun. We don't have to take it seriously, necessarily…"
"I think it'll be fun." Brock said, giving a casual thumbs up. "I'd sure like to know what, or who, is waiting for me in the future."
Ash facepalmed while Brock confidently led the way into the fortune teller's building, the entrance of which was less of a door and more of a flamboyantly bedazzled sheet of metal with the words 'Fateen's Fortune Telling' scrawled across it. It was certainly decorative, but Sora had his doubts about how much security it provided in a town like Pyrite.
"Find what you seek, be it an object, person, or luck." A cryptic female voice echoed out once the group entered the dimly lit chamber. Behind an ornate glass table sat an elderly woman with curled pink hair resembling buns on the side of her head. She wore a pair of spectacles that seemed to glimmer like stars, despite the apparent lack of bright light inside. She hunched over a crystal ball and eerily eyed them as they approached. "Welcome to Fateen's Fortune-telling Chamber."
"Are you available for a reading?" Serena asked, the faintest bit of excitement creeping into her voice.
"Of course, my dear." Fateen replied with a gentle smile. "Come, sit. For a modest fee, I will read each of your fortunes."
Fateen gestured to some extra chairs sitting off to the side and motioned for them to be moved over to the table so that all could be seated. Once all five chairs were in place and everyone was seated, the lighting almost seemed to dim just a little more as Fateen scanned over each and every person sitting before her.
"Before we begin, do any of you have a Psychic type Pokemon with you?" The fortune teller asked. "Their psychic ability will improve the accuracy of the reading if they assist me."
"I can bring out Delphox." Serena offered. "Could she help?"
"Oh certainly, child." Fateen replied, lacing her fingers in front of her. "A powerful Psychic type like her will be an immense help."
Serena nodded before she unclipped a Pokeball and tossed it in the air. "Give us a hand, Delphox!"
"Del!" The Fox Pokemon said before calmly standing behind Serena. She gave Fateen a courteous nod in greeting.
"Excellent." Fateen said before she looked upon the group expectantly. Silence reigned over the room, everyone awkwardly glancing at one another. Fateen then cleared her throat and brought a hand up, rubbing her index finger and thumb together in the universal gesture for money.
"Oh, right!" Ash exclaimed, bringing out his Pokedex and holding it forward. He tapped a few buttons next to a device on Fateen's tabletop before putting it back in his pocket. "There you go."
"My thanks, child." Fateen said, smiling again. "Now, who shall be first?"
"I can go first, if you don't mind." Brock volunteered, garnering looks of surprise and confusion from Serena, Bonnie, and Sora. Ash, surprisingly, wasn't fazed. "Look, let's just say I'm very interested in finding out what the future holds for me."
"Place your hands on the crystal ball, dear." Fateen instructed. Brock complied, and the fortune teller exchanged a knowing glance with Delphox before placing her own hands on the ball. She closed her eyes and the ball began to swirl with purple energy. "Ah, you seek love but find that it eludes you no matter where you turn and how you chase it. For you, love will come from an unexpected place and from one who is confused and lost. Rescue her from her inner turmoil and she will in turn rescue your heart."
Sora looked at the Pokemon Doctor and felt a wave of sympathy as Brock's expression looked hopeful. He'd no idea that the older man struggled with finding love, but Sora sincerely hoped he'd find it one day soon. If Fateen's fortune was to be believed, at least there was somebody out there for him, but it sounded like Brock would have to work for it.
"Thank you." Brock whispered out before releasing his hold on the crystal ball. Sora offered a consoling pat on the back while Bonnie scooched forward, placing her hands on the ball.
Like before, Fateen gave a nod to Delphox before closing her eyes. After a few moments, she spoke slowly and carefully. "You, my child, are plagued by worry. Not for yourself, but for others; you seek their happiness but feel helpless when they spurn your assistance. Know that your efforts will pay off soon, my dear. Stay strong, but be careful. Haste will only hinder your goals."
Bonnie merely chuckled, almost mischievously as she glanced back and forth between Ash, Serena, and… oh, no. She was also looking at Sora. He'd already experienced entirely too much teasing on the subject of Kairi and now this fortune teller was only encouraging her.
Oh, Light, was he in for more trouble.
As Bonnie stepped away, Serena scooted forward and placed her hands on the crystal ball. Fateen looked particularly entranced as she spoke this time. "You are troubled by fear, Princess of Kalos. Fear that your dreams and ambitions will not come to pass. For too long have you listened to your inner doubts. You will achieve all of your dreams, child, but only if you take action. One of these dreams is closer than you may think. Act swiftly."
Serena looked extremely hopeful after that fortune, beaming from ear to ear as she sat back in her chair. Bonnie elbowed her playfully and gave her a wink, which went mostly unnoticed for everyone, save for Sora. He was hoping to learn more about his friends through these readings, so as a result he was paying a little more attention than he would normally.
Sora and Ash exchanged a glance, neither sure of who would go next. The stalemate broke when Fateen sighed and motioned for Ash to approach. With that, the raven-haired trainer came closer to the crystal ball and placed his hands on it.
Fateen's expression changed from one of neutrality to one of intrigue, despite her eyes being closed. "Chosen One. Your mind is clouded with uncertainty. You feel as if your dreams and aspirations, now achieved, ring hollow. On this journey, you will find that which you seek, this I promise you. Strengthen your bonds; they will be tested when you meet the child of an old friend. Should you emerge victorious, you will earn the strength and loyalty of one whose power will aid you in the upcoming struggle."
When Fateen said the words 'Chosen One', everyone's eyebrows - sans Brock and Pikachu - shot up immediately and their mouths gaped open. Sora himself was taken aback by Ash's title. Chosen One? Was Ash some sort of prophesied hero or something? Was there more to the eternally-optimistic Champion than met the eye? Better yet, why was Brock not surprised by this revelation?
Oh, Sora had questions.
"Chosen One?" Bonnie asked as Ash removed his hands from the crystal ball. She tilted her head in confusion, as did Dedenne, who was nestled within the young blonde's hair. "What does she mean, Ash?"
Ash nervously chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Heh, it's a long story…"
"And we'll have the drive to Outskirt Stand to explain it." Brock concluded for him, giving Serena, Bonnie, and Sora an apologetic look.
"Oh, we're definitely talking about this." Serena said, staring curiously at Ash. She then turned to Sora. "Your turn, Sora."
He gulped. He had a feeling this woman was the real deal and not just some con artist. So far, everyone's predictions seemed to have some air of truth to them. Brock seemed to be pleased with his, obviously having taken it to heart. Bonnie's was vague but the young troublemaker seemed just as satisfied. Serena's was similarly optimistic and she clearly took some hidden message from it, not to mention the old woman referenced her being the 'Princess of Kalos', a title Sora had learned was in reference to her career as a performer. Ash's was more foreboding, but given Brock and Pikachu's knowing looks, obviously held deeper meaning.
What would she say about him, then?
Sora hesitantly placed his hands on the crystal ball, as did Fateen. The fortune teller seemed to recoil slightly, her eyes opening in alarm before an expression of curiosity crossed her face. She smirked and placed her hands on the crystal ball again before voicing her prediction.
"Guardian of Light, you are a long way from home." Fateen began, much to the surprise of literally everyone else in the room. "You sacrificed your very being for one you cherish above all else. Rest easy, and know that help is on the way. Be warned, though, that your presence here is no accident. No, it is needed. Darkness encroaches upon our world, and you will be instrumental in keeping it at bay."
Fateen opened her eyes and Sora could practically feel her gaze piercing his very soul. It was a little unnerving, but he dreaded more the looks he might have been getting from his friends behind him. He wasn't sure how much longer he'd be able to play the 'amnesia' card, especially with a prediction like that.
"... Sora?" Ash hesitantly asked, looking absolutely dumbfounded by the information presented by Fateen.
Before his friend could continue, a cacophony of screams and shouts rang out from outside. Immediately, Sora wheeled around in his seat, as did the others. These weren't the screams and shouts of a crowd enjoying a Pokemon battle. This was different, a sound that Sora did his best to prevent ever happening. A sound Sora was familiar with from his first time in Traverse Town.
These were the sounds of an attack.
Sora went to stand up from his seat when he felt a firm hand grip his wrist. He looked down to see Fateen looking up at him with a look of horror in her eyes.
"They come. You are needed, Guardian." The fortune teller said with grim certainty, letting go of his wrist.
Sora immediately ran towards the entrance, ignoring the looks of confusion and panic on his friends' faces. If he was right, he would have to deal with the inevitable questions that would come later. For now, he had other priorities. He could hear Ash and Pikachu hot on his heels as he burst out of the door, and he had no doubt that the others were not far behind.
Stepping out into the dry desert sun once more, Sora saw a town in panic. People were running to and fro in a frenzy, some trying to escape their attackers while others tried desperately to mount some sort of defense, using whatever Pokemon they had on hand. Sora's eyes narrowed as they focused on his oldest foe, who he never thought he'd ever see taint this world with its presence.
He locked eyes with one of them and immediately summoned his Keyblade.
The Heartless were here.