In which Sora finds out just how out of touch some beings of creation are from humanity. And of course, the cracks of his mental health are showing.

(Again, he's a teenager. Just imagine how much shit he had to go through. Poor kiddo...)

Echos of water dripping in a cave could be heard. The water bobbling a bit near him. His clothes felt wet and sticking to him. For a moment, he thought he was back home at Destiny Islands, lying on the beach and soaking in the sun like he often does. Lulled by the rolling of waves. However, it soon set in that he isn't on the islands. There is no echo on the island, the ground under him is course and hard, not like the sand of his home world. He is also cold, REALLY cold.

Grunting as he felt his body twitch, his eyes fluttered open. The ceiling far above him with stalactites is what he saw when his vision cleared. He stared up at it for a while, confused, before he slowly pushed himself up. Now that he's sitting up, he looked around. He appears to be within a cave, with a river a bit away from the 'shore' he was nearby. He looked around, confused.

What…was he doing here? How did he get down here?

Sora patted himself to make sure nothing was broken. His upper back does ache a bit. And he just noticed his head was throbbing a bit. He reached back tentatively to feel his head, wincing a bit. He pulled his hand back, relieved that he didn't find any blood on it. Lowering his hand, he sat there for a few moments. What exactly happened? How did he end up down in the caves? What was he doing last…?

He looked around, more carefully, to find an indication of what happened. As he moved to look behind him…he jumped, seeing someone slumped onto the ground. Quickly pushing himself up, he staggered over to them. He didn't register the appearance of the person at all, not until he was beside them, shaking them gently as he muttered, "Hey, you okay?" and the person turned over, showing a dark skin complexion, shoulder length silver hair and a mark on their forehead. It was then he noticed the armor on the woman and the large yellow wings, that glowed before they turned into light, going into a 'pack' on her back.

The moment Sora saw the woman, he gasped softly and stepped back a bit.

Oh. OH! He remembers now. But hold on. He got onto his knees and leaned down to hear if she was breathing. Alarmed that he didn't hear nor feel her breath, the boy looked around a bit before he noticed that the ground evened out a little. Moving her onto her back, he grabs her under her arms and drags her with all of his might. He has to be quick.

On a flat surface, he checked if she was breathing again (same result) before he looked over at her before he dug his fingers into her armor. Finding purchase, he pulled them apart to gain access to her chest before tilting her head back. He proceeded to perform CPR on her. Every person on the islands at least knows how to do it in case of drowning. It's rare, but it DOES happen. He did at least 30 chest compressions on her before pinching her nose to blow two breaths into her mouth. Rinse and repeat a few more times.

'C'mon, c'mon…!' He thought, trying to keep himself calm. 'C'mon, breathe…!'

To his relief, she began to cough. With a bit of effort, he moved her both to lay on her side to let her cough out some water. Relief flooded his system, exhaling as he collapsed onto his backside as she started to breathe normally. It looks like angels are similar to humans in biology. He should just…leave her be for now.

Though…now that the danger is out of the way, he looked up to the ceiling, recalling the events that led up to this.

Earlier…

Sora had been going through the bugs, quickly slashing through them and using magic to deal effective damage onto them. The only warning he got that he was in trouble was when he heard the bellow of something…rather massive before the source soon landed in the room. It was a massive insect-like creature with the front 'arms' like claws, like a weird spider that stands on four 'legs', three holes at the shoulders and back that juts out. On its abdomen is a large, blue crystal. Upon landing, it roared at the boy.

"Oh, uh…" Sora began with a nervous smile. He backed away from it slightly, laughing nervously. "Are…are these your babies? It's nothing personal."

All it did was roar at him again. Sora quickly decided it didn't want to talk and bolted, having his weapon on his back as he would need both hands to get away from the massive thing. Scrambling around, he managed to notice a door before he smashed his way through, jumping down the stairs to get away. But of course he couldn't be lucky because he soon heard the wall burst down, followed by the roar of the giant bug. He didn't want to waste any energy shouting his complaints about it, running away as fast as he could. Yet of COURSE it couldn't be easy as the pathway was mostly blocked off. Frantically, just as it burst into the new room, Sora used the environment to dodge the claws, the large mouth, and even a LASER of all things.

WHY does it even fire lasers?!

He dove behind some rubble for cover and put up a barrier on reflex. He just needed a moment to breath. And to think up a plan. Like any other demons, he can't just brute force his way out of this. His Keyblade couldn't even cut through or even damage the thicker hides of most demons. Plus, he's pretty sure that he can't break through the tough carapace of this one. Once he got his breathing in order, he carefully looked around the room. He didn't think he would be quick enough to slip past it to get out the way he did. And he didn't think that he could even deal a dent onto its armor…

Taking a better look around, at the pillars, and the other parts of the room. He hummed. And then light a light bulb (that's been ill used), an idea came to him. A grin formed on his face, muttering 'Okay…' to himself as he got himself ready.

He has to be quick.

He may not be able to be strong enough to slice through buildings and such, but maybe he could trick it to shatter them. He just have to direct them to land on top of certain parts. With the plan in mind, he quickly moved. He moved quickly and yet carefully. Jumping and ducking under the attacks, he managed to get the demon to hit certain places in a certain way. Once he's certain it's enough, he jumped to those parts. He hits them at the points hard enough to have them fall and collapse onto the beast, moving on to the next to do the same. The large parts landed on it with it screeching. Sora held onto the top part of the pillars in the room to peer down at the demon. It was screeching, violently moving back and forth.

Sora laughed at it. "How'd you like that?" He taunted. His grin immediately dropped when he saw red energy charging up in its mouth. "Uh oh!" He quickly scrambled to the other side as the beam hit where it was. He began to sweat as he felt the heat off of it, his eyes shifting around a bit. He shifted his eyes back down to the demon before he narrowed his eyes.

'This thing needs to go DOWN,' he thought, adjusting himself on it…before at the very last moment, the laser ended, and he jumped out. Instinctively, he put his magic into his weapon, flipping to build up momentum. "Just…!"

(He didn't notice the familiar blue flame covering his weapon, but…denser.)

"Go DOWN!" He shouted, bringing his weapon down on its head. Sora didn't realize nor notice the 'flame' around his weapon, nor of a strong impact that came from his weapon all the way to the ground. His body tilted forward and with a yelp, he 'flipped' and landed on top of its head.

And as if in reaction, the ground under them gave a loud 'crack'. Comically, he and the demon shared a scared look- before the ground collapsed under them. The demon roared as it fell, Sora falling alongside it.

Sora screamed as he freefalls with the demon. At the corner of his eye, he saw the demon try to snap its jaws at him and he knocks it away with his weapon. It sent him to the wall to the side. He managed to use Aeroga to slow the impact, quickly grabbing the wall. He panted a little, staring down at the darkness below him. Hearing another impact, he looked up, seeing that the demon had caught itself on the wall with its legs. The legs tensed…

The boy did a take before he quickly released the wall before it sprang at him. He fell for a little bit before he quickly began to run down the wall. He used his Keyblade to slow his descent at times, yet when he noticed that the demon was chasing after him with its 'legs', he jumped around to avoid it as it tried to snap its maw at him, and it jumped after him.

Soon enough, he spotted a 'bridge' that was a part of the old subway. Using the Keyblade and a small bit of his magic, he slowed his descent enough to land on the bridge and ran like the devil himself was after him. He heard it roar behind him and land on the bridge behind him. He yelped, nearly losing his footing before he rolled forward to resume running after the roll. He felt a breeze behind him as he rolled. He felt the ground under him shake and sprinted as fast as he could. A shadow moved over him, and the demon landed on the other side, roaring at him. Yelping again but knowing that he couldn't slow down (and that he's in a precarious spot on the bridge), he glanced under it. Twirling his Keyblade, he launched a strong ice spell to make the surface sleek. Running at full speed, he jumped and slid on it, just managing to miss the claws as they swiped at him. His jacket and shirt slipped up a little, exposing his skin to ice. He whooped a couple of times before he came under it. He sat up and pulled both of them down.

The legs of the demon soon tried to get at him, making Sora stumble to dodge them. He looked around a bit frantically before he saw an opening. After dodging more of the strikes, he quickly put himself through the large crack, dragging himself in. Far enough away so that nothing gets caught by the claw or a leg as it tries to claw him out. He felt the wind further in, so with no other alternative, he sidled his way further in. To his left, he heard the demon roar in fury, but he kept moving.

He saw a new opening, sticking his hand out and wiggling his arm a bit to make some room. He blindly searched around before finding the wall, placing his hand onto it, and pulled himself out. Panting, he looked back, hearing the muffled sounds of the demon.

Exhaling roughly, he turned around to tiredly walk away. He didn't get far until he heard a distant clash of steel. Blinking, he looked around for the source, and looked up. He saw flashes of blue and red darting to and from the walls, slowly getting closer to the ground. A confused noise escaped his throat, tilting his head.

…Yet while he was enraptured by the lights over him, he didn't notice what was happening behind him before his ears picked up on crashing sounds behind him. He suddenly felt a gush of wind and saw several stones shot out from behind him. Swiftly turning around, his brain just registered the demon as it emerged from the wall. A barrier instinctively formed around him- before he was smacked away. He thinks he's screaming as he was sent flying. Something heavy impacted the barrier and they blasted through the wall. The barrier bounced on the floor, bounced again before the barrier fell and he felt himself land on something big. There was something on top of him as well.

After a couple of moments, Sora dizzily pushed himself up from something big, hard, and lumpy. "Anyone got the license off of the Gummi Ship…?" he asked dizzily, willing the room to stop spinning. Was there a coo-coo clock somewhere? He could have sworn he heard it.

Something under him moved up, having him (and something on top of him to slip off) slip to something metallic. Sora blinked a couple of times, with his vision slowly clearing. Once it did, he noticed something familiar under him. Someone cleared their throat. His head moved to the side…and saw black and red. He raised his head. Staring down at him is a familiar Horseman. The man's face having a bored expression and everything.

An awkward silence fell between them before Sora quickly bolted up and bounced a little. "Sorry!" He cried out as War pushed himself up. He gestured wildly with his hands. "What exactly are you doing here anyway?"

"I should be asking you that," War responded in a dry tone.

"Uh…kind of a long story," Sora began with a sheepish smile (completely oblivious to another set of eyes staring at him). He looked back at the hole they had burst out from. "Though…I think we should probably bail. I was chased by a massive demon for a good while. Been trying to get away from it, but it's just…persistent!"

War shook his head at him. "That appears to be your luck thus far."

"I know, right?" Sora spreads his arms out.

A shing of metal is heard and Sora nearly jumped as War quicky points his sword at something. Slowly, Sora moved his head. Pointing her sword at them is a tall female in ornate white armor, dark skin, amber eyes and shoulder length white hair…and on her back are large, yellow wings. An angel.

"Why is it…" the woman began slowly, eyes shifting between the two, "that you knew a human, Horseman?"

Sora looked between the two, sensing an odd tension in the air (and, strangely enough, animosity). Slowly, without making it too obvious, he backed up a bit, his eyes shifting between the two. His eyes soon landed on the Keyblade laying just a couple of feet away from the two. Unnoticed by each other.

"I don't see on how it's of your business, angel," War hissed the last word.

The boy's eyes lifted up from the Keyblade to the two. He looked to War first, seeing the eyes glow an ominous orange. His eye soon shifted to the angel. Her expression shifted to annoyance before it changed to determination. With her free hand, she held it out to Sora. "Human, this way," she said to the boy. "You'll be safer with me than with the creature who destroyed your world."

Sora blinked. "What? But…" He held up his hands. "He didn't…"

What else he was going to say died in his throat when there was pounding at the wall. As if as one, the three of them looked to the wall in question to see it bulge. It got bigger and bigger. One of the claws from the beast tried to claw its way through the hole they made as they heard a roar.

Sora, calm as he could be, turned to the two. "I think we should get out of this room," he suggested to the two. "This room is too small."

The two warriors glanced at each other.

It was out of sheer luck that there's a set of doors in the room, so none of them had to make their own exit. As silently as he could, Sora approached the doors and slowly pushed it open. He looked this way and that. Sora slowly opened it fully, stepping out. He didn't miss the way the angel and Nephilim gave each other looks when he turned to them. And seeing the room proper, there are tiles on the floor and thick bricks. It really is a rather small room.

"Um…I know you guys want to kill each other," Sora began as he regarded the two, "but would you want to fight in a small room?"

The Keyblade user didn't know if they heard him…but War grunted before he lowered his weapon a little. The angel took a little longer to ease herself before she eased her arm. Keeping her eye on the Horseman, she stepped backwards towards the doors. Sora looked up to the wall as the demon removed more bits of the wall as the wall bulged more. A few more bricks fell to the ground. It won't be long until the demon breaks through.

Suddenly, Sora felt something grab him by the hood of his jacket and pulled him away. A yelp escaped his mouth as he was in the air. "Wait! Where are you taking me?" Sora exclaimed in surprise.

"Getting YOU to safety, human," the angel told him. "You'll be much safer elsewhere than within this demon infested hole."

Sora looked back at the distant opening to the room. "But-!" He left his weapon back there!

The Keyblade user soon yelped as they suddenly stopped. He looked around quickly and looked down, dangling over the ground by a few feet. His body moved a little as the angel looked around. As if trying to find an exit. He felt his jacket chaffing his armpits as he had to keep his arms down to avoid slipping out of it.

Though, Sora noticed something quickly approaching. "Uh…ma'am?" he began.

"Hush, I'm trying to find the exit," the angel told him.

"Ma'am! Behind us!" Sora cried out, pointing at the massive demon rushing after them. He heard her turn with a surprised noise and his body jerked as she flew to dodge the jump by the demon. He yelped as he flew up as a bit when she suddenly skid to a stop. He peered up to see it attached to the wall, clinging with its legs and claw. It's open mouth began to glow with the crystal turning red (something he didn't notice before). "It's going to fire it's laser!" He warned the woman.

Before the demon reached the apex of its attack, Sora was suddenly thrown up into the air. He flailed a bit in the air with panicked noises before he heard the beast roar in pain. Before he could even right himself to look, he grunted as he was grabbed by the angel again who had him under her arm this time. He can't even see where he was as he's apparently facing backwards. "Hey!" He complained.

"Quiet," she told the boy with a terse voice.

"I can't even see anything!" Sora continued to complain. "What happened to the demon?"

"It's stunned but only for a few moments," the angel told him. "You're the first human it hadn't seen in a while. To it, you're like a delicacy."

Sora had a flat expression upon hearing that. 'Oh…so…like Tiamat,' he thought as bits of sweat appeared on his skin. That is…oh boy. And him killing off its babies REALLY made it mad…

The demon roared again before he heard crashing sounds. "Hey, what's going on now?" Sora tried to look over his shoulder to see what's going on behind him, but he was mostly impeded by his position. Wiggling around didn't warrant much. Then he heard what sounded like a gun being used. It doesn't sound like an average gun though; something bigger.

"The Horseman is fighting it off but…" A pause before the woman sounded indigent, shouting at him in an unknown language.

Sora hung there, flabbergasted. "What?" The…what kind of language is that? He soon heard War respond in a similar language himself in a sardonic way. "H-hey! What are you guys even saying?" Sora tried to look at what's happening with little success.

She just jerked her body to get him to stop. "Stop moving," the angel ordered him. Sora groaned under his breath, irritated…before he noticed something. It seems to be an exposed circuitry was barely open from the ruptured metal wall. He had vague memories of Cid and Tron explaining the importance of it to him, but most of it flew over his head trying to keep up with it. But it DID seem important enough…isn't it? He vaguely recalled using a Thunder spell on some exposed wires in Traverse Town…

Sora's eyes shifted to behind him on the angel still holding him (most likely trying to find an exit while War shot at the demon, getting the demon's focus mainly on him). A part of him told him to make sure NOT to show her his magic. Nor the Keyblade. His eyes shifted back to the circuits. He held up his hand to stare down at it. When he temporarily lost the Keyblade in Hollow Bastian, he was still able to perform magic through the wooden sword Riku tossed to him. Merlin said that anything can work as a catalyst, even a wooden sword. But…using his hand to utilize healing magic is one thing, yet he never did any other spells with his hands before. If he were to get out of his situation, however, he has to try.

Squinting his eye closed, he held up his hand and took aim. He stuck his tongue out on impulse as he aligned his hand. 'Focus…focus…'

He thought he heard something as he concentrated as hard as he could. He tried not to be excited at seeing sparks over his hand since emotions can make it fly out of control. Maybe just add a bit more juice…

Soon enough the sparks got big enough, with him feeling its power in his arm. He took aim…

The angel suddenly moved to the side, and the surprise of it caused Sora to send it off.

BOOOM!

It sounded much like REAL lightning there. And it was sure to catch a LOT of attention due to the close proximity of the sound. He heard the angel mutter something under her breath as she turned slightly…and at the corner of his eye, the circuits lit up. An ugly groan made him wince at the sound, but the other parts of the room began to light up. And heard machines, that hadn't moved in about one hundred years, start moving for the first time in a long while. Even the parts on the outside, like one of those big gears he managed to notice, started to turn.

Sora could barely hear a thing, looking down to see a hatch opening up, releasing the water…but he felt droplets on his arm. He looked up, with another hatch slowly opening up. Some water slowly began to be expelled. 'I…did not think this through,' he thought as he stared up with wide eyes and his lips flat.

And the water that had been held at bay by the hatch over them came gushing out and they were swept away.

Sora was separated from the angel, fighting to have his head over the water, keeping himself afloat than to fight against the current. The last thing he remembered was being hit on the back of his head and blacking out…

Now…

The Keyblade user hummed, thinking. He glanced over at the angel beside him. He didn't drown but…she did? Well, nearly did. Did she risk her safety for him? But…how did they manage to get out from the river and away from the water…?

Giving a curious look around, Sora soon noticed some indents into the ground. Rather large footprints leading away. But akin to boots. Regular boots, not like the ones he has seen Ulthane and War wear. Casting a glance at the angel, Sora slowly stood up and followed the prints. But as he turned a corner, the rest just disappeared. As if…whoever made these just vanished into thin air.

Come to think of it, Sora thought he had heard someone walking away a bit ago…

However, as Sora looked around, he noticed to his dismay that the Keyblade wasn't around them. So he'll be without a weapon for a while, and this world is as dangerous as they can be. More dangerous than what he fought on average. It's true he has his magic, but…he felt safer with a weapon.

(His mind automatically flashed to the many close calls he had when he first visited Radiant Garden when it was known as Hollow Bastian. The Beast had managed to get him out of danger several times, having been nearly mauled to death by the Defender's living shield and Darkballs, the sharp claws of the Wyvern, Shadow, and a variety of other Heartless…)

He wrung his hands, inhaling to try to settle his nerves.

(Don't think about it, don't think about it, don't think about it…)

Suddenly remembering the angel, he shifted his body to look back at her. As he stepped towards her, his legs wobbled for some reason and his breath hitched, yet he forced his way through it to return to the angel. Regarding her for a moment, he knelt down and checked her for wounds. Gently poking and prodding her, he found that she didn't exactly have any cuts on her. Other than a welt she had on the back of her head and what seemed like a bruise on her upper back. Sora glanced around a little before he looked down at her. Well, it's just them. So long as she doesn't wake up, he'll be fine, right?

Raising his hands to those spots, he naturally let the healing magic Aerith taught him flow through him. Curaga is useful and all, but it takes up a LOT of his magic, forcing him to recharge. But this type of healing is simpler, cost effective and a bit more potent than the Cure spells in general. They can heal physical wounds but…broken bones, bringing someone on the verge of death back to life? There's a limit to what they could do. Not unless you go 'beyond' and put your all into it. Donald had made certain to drill that into his head, and to drill into his head that he cannot be reckless. Kerchak had nearly died when they confronted Clayton back then. That was where he knew that he could not be reckless. It reminded him of a cat that he had gotten attached to that passed away when he was little. His parents comforted him the best they could, but the death had hit him pretty hard. It took him weeks to come to terms with it. Burying it and saying his final goodbyes to the feline felt like the right thing to do…

The owners of the cat had also felt grief. And feeling that grief is proof that the cat was well loved.

There were other deaths he had seen, but for the most part, they had to be stopped. For the 'greater good' as War had put it. Still though…

Sora shook his head and resumed concentrating on healing those spots. He can't lose focus.

After a good while, the angel began to stir, letting out a soft groan. Sora noticed it before he ceased his magic. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked her gently. He lightly touched her. "hey-"

The boy pinwheeled his arms when the woman sprung up suddenly, landing on his rump as the angel got into combative state, looking around frantically. Sora watched her for a moment before he slowly stood up, keeping his eyes on her as he held up his hands to placate her.

"H-Hey, take it easy," he says, gesturing his hands to ease her down. She seems to notice they aren't in danger, before her amber colored eyes landed on him. Sora didn't dare move, not knowing what she would do. She surged forward and he had instinctively flinched only to blink as she fell to one knee and cups his face with her hands.

"Are you hurt, human?" She asked him, moving his head lightly as if to check for injuries.

Sora blinked again, nonplussed. "Uh…no?" he answered after a moment before she patted him down, as if checking for broken bones or bruises.

"Hm…" she hummed before she drew back to look at him. Her expression softened. "Good," she muttered. "At least I did manage to protect one…"

Sora tilted his head. "Huh?"

The woman shook her head. "It is nothing, young one," she assured him, drawing away from him. As she stood up, she soon took notice of her lack of a chest plate, looking over at it. "Where…?"

Sora watched her for a moment before he perked. "Oh! Uh…" he looked around before he found the armor piece. He picked it up and held it up to her. "Here. Um…I had to take it off to help you out a little earlier." His eyes shifted a little. "You…weren't breathing. So I got worried."

"You…helped me?" the woman sounded…confused? That he helped her?

Sora looked at her in confusion, which grew a little upon seeing her own bafflement. "Uh…yeah?" he responded as if it was obvious. "I mean…you made sure I didn't drown. It didn't feel right."

The Keyblade user watched as the angel's face shifted through different expressions. Bafflement, contemplation, a small hint of remorse before she nodded. "I see," she said slowly. She takes the chest plate from him, lifting it up from his hands. "Thank you."

The boy could only look over at her for a moment, uncertain on what to make of the expressions. So he simply nodded. "Sure."

As she began to place it back on, Sora looked up and around the area. REALLY look. Staring up, he raised an eyebrow. "Are we…deep below the surface?"

"I do not know," the woman answered. "The flow of water took us deep into the caves connected to the remains of human transportation under the ground."

Sora tried not to flinch at that, feeling a stab of guilt. His eyes shifted. "I…guess that made sense," he says. He's a bit more used to the ones ABOVE the ground; then again he was thinking of Twilight Town. The world doesn't really have an underground railroad like this world does apparently. A thought came to him, as he then asked, "Do you think the demons had been making passageways underground, leading to here?"

"I would assume so," a click is heard, before he heard her huff. "My pack is running out. I need to save what I can until then."

Sora turned to her, blinking in curiosity. "Wait, so…those aren't…real wings?"

"No, I'm not at the 'age' where my wings become real," the angel explained. "After a certain point, do our wings grow in length and have actual feathers."

He blinked at the new information he was given. "Huh," he said softly. That was…something. "…So is it just you or…?"

"Not really," she responded honestly. "But I must make sure you are safe as we find a way out of these caverns and the tunnel originally made by mankind. I also need to regroup with the surviving members of the Hellguard."

"I think you mean 'subway'," Sora corrected. She tilted her head, with Sora nearly faltering before he added: "That's what they're called anyway." She gave a curious hum at that. 'Do…any of these guys EVER interacted with humans?' Sora then find himself asking. Then again, Ulthane DID mention that not everyone ever really interacted with humans. Like ACTUALLY talked with them.

Come to think of it, did War ever interacted with humans before? Did any of the other Four Horsemen? He never…really thought to ask him. Then again, he barely got to know the Horseman well. He only knew what the 'Nephilim' was and what the Four had to do. Not much else.

And there was the case of Ulthane. Thinking back on when they first met, it was as if Ulthane had prior experience dealing with humans. And he DID seem awfully protective of him…

Though, the next thing she said sunk in within his mind, with Sora perking. "Also, the Hellguard?" Isn't that the faction that deals with Hell on the front lines War told him about?

"Yes. But…" the angel shifted her eyes before shaking her head. "I must get back to them. I…cannot leave them without a leader again."

That's…a lot to unpack. There's still a lot he doesn't know about this woman. Considering what he had heard from Ulthane prior, he shouldn't just trust an angel. Even though he sensed sincere vibes from her…he should be wary to not just trust anyone. (Something that…festered in him for reasons he doesn't know yet…)

After a moment, Sora had his hands on his hips. "Well…I need to get out of here anyway," he began, "So…I guess we're going together? I mean to leave that is," he hastily added to not confuse her.

"I intend to ensure your safely get out of here," the angel placed a hand on her chest, having a serious expression. "I can at least promise you that, child."

Sora had an uncomfortable look, making a small noise at that. "You…don't have to," he stammered. "Just…" he inhaled a little, gesturing with his hands. "Okay. I'm not gonna say no to you doing that. But…don't be too formal. Please?"

"I'm…sorry?" The angel blinked.

'Okay, wow, this is a bit too much,' Sora thought before he resumed, a bit calmer, "I, uh… can't you angels just be…casual? I don't mean offense but…you're making me a bit uncomfortable honestly."

The woman tilted her head at him. "How am I making you uncomfortable?" Her question sounded genuine.

"Uh…" Sora tried to find the words to say it but just shrugged helplessly. "It kind of does."

Silence fell between the two. It stretched for so long that Sora was worried that he may have made the angel angry or upset with how he took her words. He watched as her eyes shifted a little, her facial expressions shifting slightly. Finally, after about a while, she sighed softly.

"I see. Forgive me," she nodded. "I am…not used to interacting with humans. For the most part, we were strictly forbidden to do so prior to the End War."

Right, there is that Sora mused as he nodded. "Makes sense." He looked to her. "Well, if we're gonna get out of here, we better be on our first name basis." He held out his hand to her. "I'm Sora. What's your name?"

The angel regarded his hand for a moment. "…Is this a part of human culture?" She inquired.

"Well…uh…when you're first meeting someone for the first time," Sora says. "or for other uses, I guess."

She made grunt, comprehending it. She regarded the hand before she reached out. "I am Uriel." Their hands touched.

(For a moment, he thought he had saw mirrors manifest. The mirrors soon began to show images within them.)

Demons were all over the city, all of them doing their best to defeat them. A snarl of pain and a demon's growl caught her attention, seeing their leader trying to pry a demon from his forearm. "My lord!" She flew in to rescue him. She caught sight of a familiar man in red but focused more on defending their leader.

She slew many of them that were attempting to attack him. (Not even questioning why he didn't move, nor rip his gaze away from the Red Rider.) However, she just turned when a much larger one emerged from the lava below and crushed him in its hand. "Abaddon!" She cried out in horror, seeing the wings going limp after blood had burst from the hand, before turning her gaze to the Horseman, apparently weakened. "What in Heaven's name have you done?!"

"I…answered the call," was his response before the demon rose fully, roaring. Straga, if she recalled.

Grimacing, she turned to the remaining members. "Fall back! Abaddon has fallen!"

With the battle apparently lost, they had no choice but to fly away. She casted one, vengeful look at the Horseman. 'Abaddon…we WILL avenge you!'

(The images soon faded as did the mirrors…)

Sora gasped and stumbled back, away from her. "What's wrong?" Uriel asked him, alarmed.

The boy panted a little, processing what he just saw. What…what WAS that? He looked at his hand, curling his fingers a little. That…never happened before. Were those…memories? Not to mention…

He shook his head to clear his thoughts before looking back at her. "Sorry. Uh…sorry," he said, lowering his head. "I think I just…overreacted over nothing."

Uriel regarded him in concern. "Are you sure?" Sora nodded, humming in affirmation. She grunted a little. "If you insist…" she regarded the area. "We best get a move on then."

"All right," Sora nodded easily. "We just go up, right? Then let's go."

Hopefully the climb up won't be too bad. (Knock on wood.)

~o~

Slowly, he walked out of the water, reaching the shore. He exhaled heavily as he leaned slightly against a boulder. The Watcher emerged from his left hand, groaning in annoyance. "That boy just draws trouble to him like a bad luck charm," it grumbled.

So far, everything had just been… unlucky. Yet War found himself agreeing due to these series of unfortunate events. It would explain a few things that have happened thus far.

The earthquake that had practically split the earth open that had him fall. The way the two had reunited after being made into a literal cannon ball that sent them through a wall. And the ensuring lightning bolt that came from the boy himself that had activated the room…and released the water that washed them – demon included – away. It was through luck that he had managed to latch onto a jutting rock and pulled himself out. The other three weren't so lucky, however.

That boy just gets himself into trouble very often, doesn't he?

The Horseman pushed himself away from the boulder, rolling his shoulder and stretching his neck with a grunt. He flicked the water off of his gauntlet as he regarded the area after he used the brief heat from his Chaos Form to quickly dry himself off. They seem to be in the caverns with an underground river that was under where they were originally. Though, if he were to find a way out, he still has to find the Griever and rip its heart out. However, considering the size of the demon that had chased the boy up until now…

He turned his gaze to the Watcher. "Are you able to find which way we should go?" He questioned the Watcher.

"If you mean being able to get out of these caves and back to the surface, I'll take a look," it responded before it floats off to do so.

War waited a few beats, keeping a vigil about himself in case of potential ambushes. He had practiced the art of being stiff as he looked carefully. One of the best ways to trick a foe into thinking you were unaware of them, cutting off their sneak attack when he's prepared for them. So he didn't attack the Watcher when it returned, sensing its approach.

"All right, I found a path that can lead out of here," the Watcher reported. "So let's get a move on."

War simply nodded. When he took a step, however, he felt something under his foot. Surprised, he looked down. Removing his foot, it was the Keyblade the boy has with him. He had noticed when they had crashed through the wall, the boy had dropped his weapon. When Uriel abducted the boy, the Horseman noticed the dropped weapon and yet left it behind. It isn't his weapon after all. He DID thought he heard something before they were swept away, but…how in nine realms did he not notice the weapon was near him?

"Huh. How'd that get here?" the Watcher questioned as the two gazed at it. But it soon waved the feeling off. "Bah, what does it matter. If the brat lost his weapon, that's on him."

An undeniable truth. Shaking his head lightly, the Horseman turned his gaze upward. He walked around the fallen weapon to go up the path. However, he heard a sound but before he could see what it was, the Keyblade they tried to leave behind practically 'bounced' around him to lay in his path, as if making sure it made itself seen to him. He did a double take at it, staring down at it.

There were a few things that rarely got him to feel shocked. He could count on a number of things that did that. But this? This was one of them.

He was not the only one in shock, as the Watcher pointed it's spiny finger at it. "Did that just bounce?"

The two stared down at it for a while. War again tried to walk around it, but it just moved in his path. He tried a different way, and yet it just did the same. Staring down at it suspiciously for a while, War decided to take a couple of steps back. It slides a little towards him.

"Okay, what in the nine hells is WITH this weapon?" the Watcher questioned after being a spectator, the shock evident in its voice. "Are all of them sentient?"

That is…a good question. There was only rumors of the Keyblade War, but no detail was ever provided. Just rumors. The most outlandish of all is that all of the Keyblades were crafted based on the one protecting the heart of all worlds by a single person by…pulling them out of the metaphysical hearts all living beings have. No angel or demon had ever been able to pull something like that off. Not even the Makers. That was why it sounded so outlandish, and the rumor was promptly dismissed.

And yet, there they are, looking down at a potentially sentient weapon.

The Horseman's lips curl into a frown, going down on one knee. Carefully, he lightly tapped it with his right hand. When it didn't do anything else, he grabs it by the shaft, standing back up. He regarded the odd weapon for a little while. He turned his head a little to glance at the hilt of Chaoseater. If it's anything LIKE his own weapon…

"It appears…it did not want to be left behind," War said slowly, but not hiding his…disgruntlement.

The Watcher gave him an incredulous look. "You can't be serious."

War gave it a rather flat expression. "It isn't like it's going to let us by without it."

"Well, we could have just left it somewhere, now could we?" The Watcher suggested. It let out a yelp as a shot of light came from the tip of it, narrowly dodging said shot.

War's eyes shifted back to the Keyblade when it's glow faded. "Apparently it disagrees."

The Watcher gave an annoyed grunt at it. "As troublesome as it's wielder…" it muttered under its breath.

The Red Rider could only grunt disdainfully, lowering his gaze to the Keyblade. Sentient or not, the oversized key is not going to be left behind apparently. He inhaled through his nose, held it for about ten seconds to calm his irritation before slowly exhaling. It'll just be…easier if they find the boy and give this back to him. And they'll be on their way.

…IF they find the boy that is.

While the boy proved himself to be adaptive and versatile at the Twilight Cathedral, this is a different matter entirely since the boy is now without his weapon. As for the angel, Uriel…

She's at least resourceful. If not…tenacious.

He shook his head slightly before he wandered into THAT territory. (Too dangerous.)

"We have no other choice," War said to the Watcher with resignation. "We need to get moving."

He raised his head to look up at the path- only to see a certain Maker emerge from the other side. The two stared at each other in bewilderment.

"…Well!" Ulthane began. "Didn't expect to meet ya here."

…

Why.

Only the Kingdom Key and it's dark counterpart are sentient. The others are made from the hearts of those who wield them. They are a 'reflection' of the person, who they are and what they represent.

The Keyblades of X/Chi, Unchained X and Union X and Dark Road have Keyblades that are not like that, but formations at best. The former case pre-Scala ad Caelum are the many copies of the keychains from Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 (and a side order of originality AND 358/2 Days) while the ones in Xehanort's childhood are ones crafted for apprenticeship before they could make their own Keyblades. Since then, 'crafting' your Keyblade has become rather common. As evident with Terra, Aqua and Ventus' Keyblades. The practice had nearly died off with how isolated Scala ad Caelum was to the rest of the worlds and with Eraqus' death and the Wayfinder Trio missing until it was picked back up after Organization XIII.

As for why the light and dark versions of the Kingdom Key are sentient, they are 'pieces' of the original X-Blade that are crafted to keep Kingdom Hearts safe from those who wish to misuse it. (Though considering their track record…)

The other Keyblades DO have the wills of their previous owners, however. They can and will do what they can to help those in need of it.

Oh and a bit of lore regarding the angels of the First Kingdom… depending on how long an angel has been alive, the younger ones have wings that are made of energy mostly. The packs they have are literally attached to them, so if they are severed, it's akin to an angel being stripped of their wings. As they grow older, their 'wings' eventually solidify into actual wings. Some have it long, others have the wings small or have more than a set. They are susceptible to outside corruption, or they could also become a 'fallen' angel. The Hellguard are often filled with 'younger' angels, with those older in higher positions. However, since they are the most humanoid, they...unfortunately are unable to breathe underwater.

Lastly…Uriel and War had an epic battle as they fell down the ravine Sora accidentally created. As much as I wish to put that down in a chapter, sometimes it's better to imagine such badassery between the two in their fight before they were comically interrupted by Sora. I imagined that even if he is weakened, War still has his physical strength and prowess to keep up with most baddies.

Also, don't worry about what Sora just 'saw'.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'll need to get started on making an outline for the next arc so that my Neurodivergent brain doesn't try to put in any OTHER ideas into this story. So, you won't see the next chapter to this for a while. Leave a review and have a good day.