Summer Vacation at Radiant Garden
Chapter 1
It was a busy evening at Twilight Town. With the town filled with lots of sounds of happy people walking and shopping around. The smells of the very popular bistro cooking great food for hungry customers. To the cries of the town's trains whistling away as it dropped off groups of excited school kids off to their freedom for summer vacation. All was quite normal for the average first day of summer for the people of Twilight Town. All except for perhaps three of the town's residents.
Hayner, Pence and Olette were hanging out at their usual place that was tucked away in the alley.
"Ok so I got everything packed from clothes, toiletries, my game console, now what else do I need?" Pence says out loud to himself while searching the contents of his large oversized backpack while his two friends watched from their two-person couch.
"I don't know bro you sure you got enough head bands to last you while your off away from your two best friends for the summer." Hayner replied.
"Pft, yeah Hayner of course I packed enough head bands. Pence said oblivious to his friend's sarcastic moody suggestion. "I was talking about more important things to pack like, games, comics, or. Oh my gosh I almost forgot, snacks! Pence cries out, leaving the chair he was sitting on to raid what was left of the trio's stash of edible treats.
"Oh ya, sure go ahead raid the food. It's not like I was also planning on eating those or anything. Hayner said with a role of his eyes.
"Ouch what the hell Olette! What you do that for?" Hayner cried out rubbing his now pained shoulder from where the girl had struck him with her fist.
"Shut it Hayner this is a very big deal for Pence you should be more understanding of him." Olette said while still holding up a fist ready to strike Hayner again if he dared fight her back on it.
"Haypher fould phe morph underphanding of wrhath?" Pence muffled voiced asks with a potato chip bag dangling from his mouth and arms full carrying a pile of snacks.
"For leaving Twilight Town for your Apprentice ship over at Radiant Garden this summer. We are both happy for you that you got such a great opportunity. Isn't that right Hayner." Olette said while glaring daggers towards her friend.
"Ya sure we are all very happy happy for ya dude. Honestly though come on. You could of at least made some time to spend the first day of summer with us. I mean it's not like they need some computer nerd right away or anything."
"Sorry Hayner but Ienzo already made the arrangements to have Leon pick me up by gummie ship months ago. I couldn't just change their plans at the last minute. Oh, that reminds me I can't forget to give you guys this. Pence said, handing his two friends each a slip of paper with a number written on it. "It's my new phone number. We can use this to stay in contact long world distances." Thanks to Ienzo's new phone chip I can now stay in contact with Twilight Town without you guys needing to connect to the old mansion master computer. Pretty cool right?
"It's totally cool I can't wait to hear about what sort of things you'll be learning over there." Olette said happily.
"Yeah, I suppose it is kinda cool." Hayner said in a slightly calmer tone as he punched in the new number to his phones contacts.
"Oh come on Hayner as if I'd forget about the big summer struggle tournament this year. I may not be able to compete this year, but I'd never miss out on all the struggle gossip and action. I want to hear all about it, and how you two take down all the contestants and win that trophy!"
This news made Hayner smile a bit towards his friend's encouraging words but in a way it also sadden him knowing his friend would not be there in person to cheer him on. "It's not going to be the same without having you around." Hayner managed to whisper out.
"I can agree with Hayner on this one too. Especially regarding the summer struggle tournament. You've probably been distracted lately while getting ready for your apprenticeship pence, but Seifer has really stepped up his game this year. Everyone at the sandlot has been talking about it and by the sound of it, stealing the trophy from him will not come easily."
"Olette's right, Seifers really taking on new ground in strategy and strength. If I'm going to take him down, I'm going to need all the training I can get to be ready.
"I see, well then I guess there no other choice then to give you my brand-new struggle bat." Pence said with a gleam in his eye. He walked over to the shelf where the trio kept their struggle equipment perched on a rack. "Here take this, it's my own personal struggle bat. I even used some of the technology over at the old mansion to customize its features, so it's got perfect light weighted balance for excellent swing power."
"What, no Pence I can't take this. Especially one that you used science on to customize it."
"So, you used camo duck tape on yours to make the handle more manageable therefore I don't see how that's any different than me using technology for mine."
"Your really serious about this, aren't you?"
"Dead serious, can't leave my bro behind without proper fighting struggle equipment."
"Thanks man, I.. I'll promise to use it well."
"Hayner, are you crying?" Olette couldn't help but ask when she noticed the tears begin to swell in his eyes.
"No, I'm not I just have something in my eyes!" Hayner cried out rubbing the water away from his guilty eyes. "Anyways enough of this mooshy stuff. If you're going to leave me responsible for your bat Pence, then you're going to take my struggle bat with you to Radiant Garden. You may be getting away from this year's tournament but that doesn't mean you get to get out of struggle training. Besides after I win the tournament, I hope to verse a worthy opponent." Hayner said with a wink and a smile now plastered on his face.
"Haha I'll keep that in mind Hayner. If a struggle match is what it takes to keep our friendship in tacked then it's a struggle match you'll get." Pence said with a grin. "And who knows those squiggly things and heartless shadows could still be out there. Maybe having a struggle bat on me may be good to have on hand."
"Yeah, you be careful out there man." Hayner said lifting his fist in the air.
"Ya, can't have our lead super sleuth fall to the hands of darkness. Olette chimed him joining Hayner's raised fist.
"Haha, you know it guys. I promise to come back with heart in tacked. Hayner, Oelett, you guys are going to have a great summer. Remember I'm only a phone call away and I promise to stay in touch the whole time I'm gone." Pence said uniting his fist with his two friends in a group fist bump.
Once Pence finishes packing his things in his bag along with Hayner's struggle bat to his cup holder pouch to his backpack he was ready to go. The three friends walked together to the back of Twilight Town's city to the forest area where they met with Pence's ride who was waiting.
"Greeting kids, Pence, I see your ready to go." A quiet yet stern man wearing a black leather coat greets standing outside the front of the gummy ship that was parked in the front of the old mansion.
"I sure am Leon this is going to be great!"
"Good, then climb aboard the others at Radiant Garden are eager to meet with you." Leon says walking up the ramp of the ship.
"Aye Aye captain Leon! Pence calls after climbing aboard the ship. Pence then turns for one final moment before the door of the ship closed behind him to glance over at his friends. "Bye guys, be sure you beat Seifer's butt for me at the tournament ok.!"
"Trust us, we will!" His friend shouted back after Pence before the ship finally lifted off.
"Beat who up?" Leon couldn't help but ask from the pilot's seat.
"Oh no one you would know Leon. Seifers just this big bully at the sandlot who thinks he's tougher than anyone. You know anyone like that at Radiant Garden?"
"No, but I did know a guy named Seifer once. In fact, he was the one that gave me this scare on my face."
"Whoa seriously, that must have really hurt. Did you guys have a fight or something"?
"You could say that yes, we fought and in the end we both landed ourselves in the hospital for it.
"Whoa, so then what happened after that. Did you guys become like mortal enemies?"
"To be honest I'm not sure what happened to him. After that he just kind of disappeared. In fact come to think of it, that was around the time the heartless started to attack the gardens."
"Oh I'm so sorry, Ienzo told me about how that all went down. I can only imagine what that must have been like. losing your home world to darkness like that."
"I admit it was very hard and traumatizing but it's what made me the man I am now. I'm the leader of the restoration committee of the Gardens now. Helping those who need help and doing everything I can to help restore the gardens back to how it all originally was has helped me copped from all the bad that's happened."
"I just hope that I can be as helpful to you guys. I only know a little fighting, but I hope my computer skills can help Ienzo and the others out."
"Trust me your assistants will be welcomed. I may be doing my part as a skilled swords man but if there's one thing, I know I'm not, it's being a computer export."
Meanwhile at Radiant Garden
It was a lovely day at Radiant Garden, the sun was shining bright, and the birds were singing peacefully, and all the summer flowers were in full bloom. All seemed in order, and all was organized as Ienzo the youngest of the castle research team scientist was sitting in the underground lab jotting down some tasks in his daily planner when suddenly the lab door swings open.
"Ienzo Ienzo!" Even cries out walking with quick speed into the lab.
"I'm right here what is it?" Ienzo answers, peaking his head up above the counter as he retrieves his dropped writing utensil curtesy of Even's rude and very loud entrance.
"Have you seen my green binder I can't leave without it." The older scientist says urgently as he looks frantically around for his missing item.
"I'm afraid you'll need to be a little more specific Even."
"Oh gosh darn it boy it's the one with the copies and handouts for the conference. I had them all out on the counter and when I went to collect them it simply wasn't there."
"Hhmm perhaps maybe its…" suddenly a dark corridor reveals itself and a cloaked figure enters through to the center of the lab.
"Hey there, you are Vexen I um mean Even, been looking all over for ya. I found this binder with your name on it, and it looked kind of important. Do you need it for your vacation trip?"
"Demyx you infernal monkey, that's exactly what I've been looking for this whole time. Also, it's not for a vacation, it's for a conference or to put it more simply for you a business trip! Also, why on earth did you even take this? I clearly left it on my desk and now thanks to you I've wasted time looking all over for it." Even said angrily, taking back his binder from the young man's hands.
"Jeeze a simple thank you would have been enough. I'm just a messenger and gopher guy around here. I don't know how you scientist organize your space."
"Well then Demyx I thank you, but next time don't touch anything that has my name on it again unless I ask you too, please."
"That I can do old timer oh and FYI Ansem is waiting for you in his office and Ienzo, I received a message from that Leon guy. He said that he successfully picked up Pence and wanted me to let you know he's taking the worm hole route so they should be expected to arrive at the garden gates soon.
"Thank you Demyx that is very informative of you." Ienzo thanked.
"I'm sorry but did you call me old timer!" Even cried out with realization to Demyx earlier comment.
"Welp, See ya have a nice vacation Even" Demyx calls out before slipping through a corridor of darkness.
"That's conference oh never mind. Honestly the nerve of that man taking my things without asking and not even taking a moment to listen to the things I tell him."
"Yes, Demyx can be a bit of a handful, but at least he's still reliable for other things. After all he was a great lab assistant when you needed him to help us complete the replica project to aid Sora and the others take down the true organization 13. Truly that had earned him some respect?"
"A good lab assistant Demyx? Why, the last time that baboon assisted me with an experiment he nearly exploded the lab and singed my eyebrows off."
"Mmm true but he was also there to use his water power's to put out the flames in time before any damage was done. So, I'd say he was at least useful in some way."
"I suppose you're right on both of those accords. Even said in defeat rubbing the side of his temples with his free hand. "If only I could get through one day without receiving a headache from his antics then maybe I'd give him a bit more respect. I'll even admit I'm a bit nervous leaving you to deal with him on your own. As you mention, he can be a bit of a handful."
"Don't worry Even it will all be fine. Besides, I won't be alone, I'll still have my apprentice Pence, the guards and even Kairi. I'm sure all four of us and a keyblade wielder should be able to keep Demyx under complete control. Plus, I may not be as powerful as my former nobody Zexion was, but I've manage to pick up a few magical tricks or two that I think will come of great use to managing things around here."
"Just, make sure he doesn't break anything in the lab. There are too many expensive pieces of tech to risk breaking. Plus, I don't like the idea of you using Kairi as a way of managing that nobody's antics. After all Kairi came here to seek our assistance in helping search her heart for her lost friend Sora. She's a brave girl I'll give her that for everything that she's been put through, however her heart is still very damaged from the events of the keyblade war. I'd dread to think what would happen if she were to be used as a weapon against even something as feeble as Demyx. I suppose what I'm trying to say is, don't make the same mistake of abusing the power of the keyblade like we did back in the organization." This reminder made Ienzo's heart tugged at the memory of how his nobody Zexion had tried to take advantage of Sora's keyblade wielding and how he had pushed Kairi's other friend Riku into hurting Sora just to manipulate them into doing his own dirty tricks. Ienzo had to admit it was a painful memory but a good reminder to never underestimate what a keyblade wielder could do. He made a silent promise to himself that he would not let Kairi use her keyblade against anyone, not even someone who could cause trouble like Demyx. This he promised himself, after all he was Zexion no longer therefore he was determined to atone for his past mistakes and manage his role as a leader as peacefully possible.
"Even, I have been raised to work my way in the lab safely ever since I was a boy. I understand the rules of the castle and the responsibility of running the garden grounds. I've dedicated myself to continue our research in studying the mystery of the heart while also discovering my own path in computer science and the art of magic. Truthfully, I'll admit I probably will never be quite as good with illusion magic as my nobody Zexion was, but I promise to never abuse my powers to harm anyone ever again. Rest assure I'm ready to take on this leadership role, you can trust me." Ienzo said in a much more serious tone of voice.
"I'm Sorry Ienzo you are right, I'm letting my own doubts tamper with your capabilities. You are ready for this. After all you were trained by the very best. I trust that you will be able to handle things here. Just promise that you will take care of everyone here while we are away, alright?"
"Ha does that include Demyx?" Ienzo half-jokingly asked. After all he was fully ready on taking on the task of Demyx watch duty, but he wanted to hear it from Even himself.
"Yes, even that melodious nocturn bouncing monkey of a man Demyx." Even manage to grumble.
"Haha Then you have my word Even. Now let's go meet up with Ansem" Ienzo says as the two scientists take their leave.
Author's Note: This story takes place at least 2 months after the events of KH 3 and leads up to the events of MOM. I really wanted to write a story to fill in the blank events that happen between these games. I especially wanted to see more of the background characters shine a little bit more. And really wanted Kairi's character to be more developed. I can't say how much I hate the idea of her just asleep for an entire year like the DLC suggests. So here I like to think she's still undergoing her heart search journey with Ansem and his apprentices but also has some time to hang out around the castle and stay in good company with the rest of its residents.