Kind of wild that it was Samael of all beings that taught War and Strife how to tap into their 'demon' forms. I did a LOT of research into the forms. Kind of curious that War and Fury are, like, pure energy/flames while Death and Strife somewhat had more...physical forms. Hm.

He could feel it.

That familiar flame. The fire that danced within his veins. The fire that burns within his heart.

The rage he feels that allows him to go into his other form. His Phantom Form, his Chaos Form. He felt like himself again. The moment it was stripped away from him, back in the premature End-War, he felt…empty. But now…

"You are reborn!" Samael declared behind him.

Yes…that sounds about right. Honestly…it feels good. He inhaled deeply, feeling the 'fire' in his body before slowly exhaling, relishing the feeling. Reminding him of when he first attained the form. Just as exhilarating as it was the first time.

He ignored Samael as he cackled behind him, lifting his artificial arm from the Watcher, who's in a crater he made. War felt slightly disappointed that it didn't kill the creature, watching as its body twitched before it sat up. "What…was that?!" It let out, holding its head.

A shame he didn't completely kill it…but he brought out his rage and anger enough to just reawaken his Chaos Form. However, he could still feel the hold on the rest of his powers. So, he could only use the form in a limited time. Just as well. He only uses it when he needs to.

He put on his indifferent façade, turning his head slightly to the Demon. "So where is the Griever located at?"

"About this time of year, she will be to the west," Samael answered. "It's also where the Black Hammer is at himself."

…Considering the distance, it may take several days to get to the destination. This world, the Earth, is a lot bigger than it looks. And this city is connected to a few others as well. May as well get started.

War walks off. "Be grateful that you aren't dead," he said to the Watcher. 'Not yet at least,' he added mentally to himself. It IS true that he could have easily killed the Watcher…but not yet. As soon as he has his revenge, he will end that miserable creature's life.

As far as he knows, the Watcher isn't as protected as it claims. As the boy had pointed out yesterday, War could very well kill it. But not now.

(He ignored what Samael was musing to himself about how he could be the 'one' to defeat the Destroyer.

Yet he never noticed nor heard Samael musing about…the 'visitor', pulling out the red fruit the boy had tossed to him. Samael had an amused grin before he devoured the fruit.)

He knows where to go now. He remembers seeing the red crystals a while back when he was getting ready with Vulgrim. He didn't have the means to open the way previously, but with the Crossblade…

With that in mind, he headed to where the red crystals were. But when he got there, he noticed the boy. He was just…standing there. His arm was slightly lowered, and his weapon on the ground.

What is the boy doing now? He's lucky that there aren't any demons around, but it doesn't mean that there isn't any danger. The Watcher floated next to him, before noticing the boy. "What is that human doing now?" It grumbled.

It floated over to the boy, getting to his side. "Just what do you think you're doing, human?" The Watcher asked.

Oddly enough, the boy didn't answer.

The Watcher gave a look before poking him. Then tug one of the 'spikes' that is his hair. "Are you broken?" It asked him, waving its hand in front of his face.

Yet still no response.

The Watcher narrowed its eyes a bit before shaking its head. "This isn't even our concern," it said. "Let's just move on."

The Nephilim merely gave a grunt before he walked forward a few paces…though as he passes the boy, he took note of his face. His eyes are clouded, his mouth slightly open…yet he's staring at nothing. The man looked over at him before lightly waving his hand in front of his face. "Boy." No response. He grabbed his shoulder and shook him sharply just once. "Boy!"

The boy blinked, his eyes going back to normal. "H-Huh?"

War raised an eyebrow at him. "What were you doing?"

The boy blinked rather slowly, as if he still wasn't there at the moment, before he looked around. "Uh…I was…" he mumbled. The fingers of his right hand curled a bit, and he looked down. "Oh." He picked up his weapon. "Right, I was…" The boy's face made a grimace as he held his head a bit.

…The boy is acting strange. What happened to him that had him this way?

The boy looked up, lowering his hand. "Hold on, lemme…" he pointed, with the tip glowing red before a fire ball is launched. War looked over to see that the flame had struck the inert bomb growth. Fire covered it before it exploded, destroying the red crystals. Pieces of it landed on the ground, some small, some large; one of the larger ones piercing a car.

The boy lowers his weapon. "Okay. That's cleared out." War looked over at him. He can't put his finger on it but…something seems a little…off about him. The boy looked at the entryway he just made. "I'll, uh…go on now…" His blue eyes looked at him. "By the way, what are you doing here?"

"This is where I'm heading," the Nephilim answered.

"Oh, really?" Asked the boy, tilting his head. He glanced at the path, and back at him. "Huh…I guess…you wouldn't want to go together."

So, he's not going to ask why he's heading this way? "You have someplace to be?"

"Well, I can't exactly go the other way," the boy said. "That ice is sturdier than it looks." True – he had checked it out earlier, and the ice seems impenetrable. A powerful strike would do it. It seems not even the boy's fire magic is strong enough to melt it. "Besides, even if I ask, you won't tell me on why you're heading this way."

At least he's smart enough to not ask too many questions.

"True enough," the Nephilim said. He walked by the boy. "Just remember to be careful out there."

He could have stayed around. Really. But the boy proved he could at least handle himself, if what he had demonstrated back at the Cathedral was any indication.

The boy doesn't need him to babysit him forever after all.

~o~

Sora watched the Horseman go with a bored look. "Sure, easy for you to say," he muttered.

Still… He looked back at the platform. What WAS that? That…feeling.

He looked at where War went before looking at his hand. 'This…feeling. What was that?' He asked himself. It was…it was…

It felt…unnatural. It was dark. It was…it was…

(…it was oddly familiar.

He felt…that feeling. A fire within that he has no idea of its origins. Yet it's familiar. WHY is it familiar? He doesn't know.)

The Keyblade user held his head again. He felt his head pounding for a while. It had not eased one bit. But standing around and waiting for his headache to ebb away wouldn't do him any good, especially with the demons around.

The boy gave a sigh. "I better not overthink it," he muttered as he let his arm go slack. He looked up. There are several ways to go about some areas, right? War can go his way, and he can go his own way. Only fair, right?

He places his weapon onto his back again. "Welp, time to get going." And that's what he does. He climbs up over the path and heads down it.

Several hours had passed in his trek. With it being early morning by the time he had left he made good time. At least, he thinks he does. It's only been a few days since he had first left Ulthane's place to reach here.

The boy gave a bit of a sigh. "I wonder how he's doing right now?" he asked himself. The sun is beginning to set, so…he should still have a bit of time to keep going until he can find a place to rest for the night. So far, he hadn't seen any demons attack him…but he couldn't let his guard down.

(Besides, some sleep could make the headache go away. It was like a small annoyance as the day went by but still.)

With that in mind, he continued.

It was much later until it was almost completely dark. The boy managed to find a place to sleep for the night, a building. He made his way to a floor, checked the rooms before finding the appropriate one. He covered the door and window with furniture before finding an area to sleep. He looked at the wardrobe covering the window for a few moments before he closed his eyes.

…

When he opened his eyes, he was startled to have found himself in an empty, dark place. He looked around. How did he get here? What is this place? The only thing giving the place light is himself.

He heard moment and looked…seeing familiar forms of the Shadow Heartless appearing. Sora gave a look before he got out his Keyblade.

He went through them with ease, having taken them on for so long. Once they were gone, he looked around for more. You can't be too careful.

…However, this time, it was demons that arrived. Covered in a dark aura. Sora looked over at them, to see on who would make the first move… he did a take before looking behind him, seeing one of them had leapt at him. He quickly rolled under it, dodging the attack. He got up as quick as he could, and slashed at it, making it disburse into wisps of shadow.

As soon as it was dead, the others soon attacked him. The boy got into a stance, engaging them. He fought them off like he had been with the Heartless – it was easy in a way. To finish off the stragglers, he charged up a spell…before he sent it off, obliterating them in a Mega Flare spell.

Wisps floated upwards, with Sora making a smirk and held up his Keyblade in victory…however, his victory was short lived, with him noticing with a start that several more had emerged from the darkness.

He gave a sigh before he again got into a stance. The boy soon slashed through one, guarding an attack before shoving it away and slashed at it a few times, before making an ice geyser to quickly freeze another. The boy soon fought against the others as they attacked him, slashing at them, slinging magic, taking them all out with ease. As a final attack, he slammed the Keyblade onto the ground, making more ice erupt from the ground, the spires piercing through them, making them fade away into wisps.

Sora panted, feeling exhaustion came up on him. That must be it, right? There's only so many he can take on without a break. He looked around more. Where…where are his friends? Aren't they here with him?

He noticed that several fire balls were sent at him. He dodged most of them, but one of them nicked him on the side- and the last one made a lucky hit on him. Knocked onto the ground, the Keyblade slipped out of his grasp, clattering away from him. Groaning, he pushed himself up, looking around for the source. Where did they come from?

Suddenly, he heard a growl, with Sora looking up in surprise- before he was tackled to the ground by one of the crawler demons. He held the head away from him, but it kept trying to snap its teeth at him, forcing him to try to shove it away, but it held him down with not only its weight but grabbed a hold of his other arm.

He heard the others coming in, before looking at them. He noticed his Keyblade at a distance. The boy's eyes went back to the demon on him, his heart pounding and his eyes wide in fear. He's all alone. No one is coming to help him.

The demons growled before they all pounced at once to pile on him…

"War!" Sora cried out, turning his head instinctively-

Sora jumped with a gasp. He nearly hyperventilated as he slowly came into reality. The headache he had earlier came back at full force. He cradled his head, biting back a moan as his head throbbed. It took several moments until his breathing was calm (and the pounding in his head ebbing away), before looking around. He's still in the room he fell asleep in earlier. What time is it…? He slowly got up and peered out. It was nearly dawn when he was woken up by the nightmare.

He gave a sigh. "…May as well get started." He soon got himself ready to go and left.

~o~

Several days went by as Sora went on his way. As he goes, the path he's heading becomes greener and more alive in a forest.

The boy looked around a bit. "…This is oddly familiar," he remarked. The headache he had days ago had more or less faded away but not entirely.

He looked around a bit more before he looked back on the path as he continued to walk. Though as he walked…he suddenly had a feeling that he was being watched. The boy's eyes shifted a bit, looking around a bit before he looked forward. As he got to a clearing, he looked around for any sign of something strange- until he heard the bushes rustle. He quickly got out his weapon and got into a stance, looking around.

The bushes rustled some more, the boy keeping an eye out. Something told him that it isn't an animal…

…And soon enough, something large came out of the bushes.

Sora looked to it…and his eyes went wide.

It's a large, bulky creature on four legs, with the tail having small spikes on it, and balled up. It has a pair of horns on either side of its head, blue in color with azure veins on the arms and spikes on its back. It let out a growl before roaring at the boy.

'Okay…this is new!' The boy thought with a nervous look.

But it's big, so its strong. And most likely not fast- suddenly, it charged at him fast.

"OH, CRAP, IT'S FAST!" He yelped out as he quickly rolled to the side.

It quickly stopped and turned its body to him. It smashed the ground he was at, but Sora rolled to the side. And again when it smashed where he was at. It gave a growl before a blue aura covers its head before it butts its head at him.

He gave a groan at the attack, and skidded back, staggering. He coughed up a bit of blood but wiped it away. It charged at him again- but he quickly erected a barrier around him. He grimaced as it snarled at him, taking the time to heal himself. It smashed the barrier with great force, but it held up. It smashed its massive fist against the barrier again; this time Sora gave a grunt. It narrowed its eyes before taking both of its hands and slammed into it with all its might- and the barrier cracked. Sora quickly backed away, as he had to pause on fully healing himself before he activated the counter blast- the shards of it going into it, blood squirting out.

Sora sized it up. He doesn't think he could take on something like this…but as it shows, it's clearly fast. So, he wouldn't be able to get away fast enough. Especially since he could have bruised ribs. The headache he thought faded away came roaring back, to the point it was nearly painful.

The way that he sees it…he's screwed no matter what. He needs the mana to even heal himself, and he can't waste it defending himself. He needs something stronger. Something to help him escape, but what?

Sora gave a grimace. 'I can't…I can't die here! Not yet…!' he thought. He's gotta get back to his friends. He's gotta find Riku and Kairi. He's gotta stop Organization XIII! He can't die here!

The monster gave a roar before coming at him again. Sora braced himself, holding his Keyblade up in a futile attempt to protect himself.

'I can't die here!'

(If only he had something to stab it and kill it with!)

He thought he heard flesh being rend and the demon roaring and thought it was the end.

…

Yet he felt nothing. He thought he would be feeling pain at the moment, but he felt nothing. Was he being mercifully numb? However, his ears soon picked up on movement and the demon making…pained sounds?

Unwilling to see what happened, and yet unable to contain his morbid curiosity, Sora cracked an eye open, slowly raising his head- a gasp escaped his lips as he stared up in shock.

Something…blue impaled the monster from under it. It looks to be a sword…yet it went through it like it was nothing. It was grunting, groaning as it tried to escape…but its body turned to red embers and turned to ash as the wind blew by before it's body even went limp. It was dead the moment the 'sword' impaled it.

Sora could only stare at it in complete and utter shock. How did this…? What's going on? What is this? He raised his hand a bit- before he noticed something.

His hand was glowing…the same shade of blue as the sword.

"…Huh…?" he murmured in surprise. He looked at the 'sword', then at his hand. "How…what…?"

The 'flame' on his hand soon dissipated- and with it, the sword disintegrated into particles of blue light.

…And suddenly he fell to his knees, suddenly feeling VERY exhausted. He gave a groan, being reminded of his ribs as his collapse jarred them. He took a deep breath and proceeded to continue healing himself. It isn't as strong, though, and he just felt tired suddenly. He slowly breathed as he healed himself, not wanting to rush the job. After a few moments, he canceled the magic.

He gave a sigh, lightly feeling his chest. It's not healed all the way…but it'll do. Once he gets a proper rest, he can heal the rest of him. He'd rather not move…but he's not exactly safe as well. He took a deep breath before he stood up.

"Just…take it slow…" Sora muttered before he walked to a direction, holding his chest.

Soon enough, he found some cover, under a bush. It…wouldn't be easily noticeable, right? Its' only for a short time, so it'll do. So, he carefully sat down on the ground, and just rested.

As minutes went by, he felt his mana levels return to normal. And it was only then he noticed that the headache he had was just…gone. Like it wasn't there to begin with. He let out a small, intrigued grunt at this. Though he shouldn't look at the gift horse in the mouth about this. He better take advantage of this. So, he used it to heal his chest again.

…And soon enough, he felt that it's fully healed.

He gave a relieved sigh. "There we go," he said, lightly rubbing his chest. "Well, time for me to go-" He suddenly heard something, like a branch snapping, and quickly silenced himself. Crouching low, he looked out. He didn't see anything at first…but he kept himself crouched low and silent.

After a few moments, he raised his head, peering out. '…I guess it's gone,' he thought- before he felt something grab his head from the back.

A high-pitched squeal left his mouth in his shock, feeling something HUGE grabbing the back of his head.

Ohcrapsomethinggotthebackofmyheadohmygodohmygod-! A million thoughts ran through Sora's head in his panic before he closed his eyes instinctively, hoping that it'll be quick…

…But nothing happened. He cracked one of his eyes open a bit, before he blinked as he was lifted from the bushes. His body was turned to face something…seeing the bored face of War.

"…We need to stop meeting like this," the Nephilim deadpanned.

"Oh. Uh…long time no see?" Sora gave a sheepish smile. The Nephilim's expression didn't move (with Sora growing certain that it's his default expression, other than a scowl or a frown). War moved his arm to have the boy hover over the ground a bit and merely releases his hold on Sora's head. With a yelp, the boy landed on his rear. "Ow."

"It hasn't been that long," War points out.

"Well…I know, but time can fly you know?" Sora shrugged. He stood up, dusting himself off. "Um…" He trailed off as the Horseman walked by him.

This time, Sora just watched him go. "…Well, figures he wouldn't want to make small talk," he muttered. The man already knew that he was on his own journey, and either didn't ask that because he knew…or he didn't ask because he doesn't exactly care.

Sora went for both in this case.

He gave a shrug before he patted his chest. 'I feel good to go now. Back to the journey,' he thought before he went off.

It's best to have…what happened filed away in his mind for now.

~o~

Several hours went by before Sora soon came upon a clearing.

…Though, what made him stare was the fact that there's a hammer plowed into the ground. It has vines, grass around it and flowers round it. Who knows how long it's been there.

The boy approached it, looking over at it. "This is a big hammer," He muttered, looking at it up and down. It has an orange shaft with parts of it in metal, the head being square shaped with markings on it, and the front and end parts having pointed studs on each side. He had his hands on his hips, tilting his head at it. "How long as this been here?" It didn't look hold, with no rust on it. It looked very well maintained.

…And considering his height, it easily towers over him. Something massive is probably able to wield this beast of a hammer.

Sora gave a hum before he set his backpack down somewhere before he went over to it, looking it over again. Can…can he lift it? It's big but he picked up things bigger than it.

"…Let's give it a shot," he decided before grabbing the pole with his hands. He gave it a tug, but it didn't budge. The boy blinked before he pulled a few times. Narrowing his eyes, pulling with all his strength. But it still wouldn't come lose. With a huff, he tried different methods.

He pushed against it to no avail.

He took a running start and kicked it- but all it does was stop him in his track with his kick…and he fell to the ground.

He then kicked against it to try to dislodge it.

He also tried to use his weight to pull the hammer down, but no go.

The boy stood on the ground, panting. "…It doesn't move easily, does it?" He asked himself, looking up at it. He was mostly curious if he could lift it or not. Apparently, he couldn't. Go figure. In some cases, he would, but most of the worlds were…strange at best. He huffed, rubbing the back of his head.

Before he then felt something on top of his head. "You know, lad. You shouldn't have touched things that don't belong to ya," a familiar Scottish (reminding him again of Scrooge McDuck but not at the same time) voice spoke up with Sora noticing.

He looked up and did a take in pleasant surprise. "Ulthane!" He exclaimed, seeing the larger man. If he could, he would have hugged the massive man that he was so happy to see him.

And Ulthane seemed happy to see him too, pleasantly surprised that the boy is still alive.

"Well, after about several days, didn't expect to see you back so soon," Ulthane said, before lightly slapping Sora on the back. He was nearly knocked over from the force but kept himself up.

"Heh," Sora rubbed the back of his head, sheepish. "Well…I honestly didn't expect to come back around here. I had no idea that this is where you live."

"Well, I'm surprised that you're – more or less – in one piece, boy," Ulthane admitted, having his massive hand on his shoulder.

"Well, I had a few close calls," Sora admits – this world had humbled him a bit. "I don't fight everything that attacks me though; I've been playing it smart for a while."

"That right?" Ulthane asked, raising an eyebrow. "Well, then let's go and have a chat. It's been a while, so we could stand to catch up, eh?"

Sora looked up at him before smiling. It had been a while since he had seen a friendly face. It would be nice to talk with him. "Sure."

Nice to run into a friendly face again, eh? Especially after the amount of crap you went through. And being alone, without emotional support, can take a toll on you. The kiddo really believes he's powerless without his friends, yet we know that he has SO much potential. He took on very dangerous and very experienced enemies and Keyblade users after all.

Oh and...you gotta use your mind to give 'shape' to certain things, amirite?