A/N: I've created a new challenge. Something that I haven't seen yet. I call it the Keyblade Persona Challenge. Basically it's a challenge to write a story where Keyblades have their own personalities, a concept I don't know if I can pull off affectively. Check my profile for more details. PM me if you accept this challenge, so I can read it.

Now some writers might have done this before and I just haven't seen it. If you've read a story like this, please let me know.

The Recruits

KAI: The Castle Guard Recruits. Basically we're the underaged rookies of the Guard. Normally one is not allowed into the Official Guard until the age of 20. But but a handful of us as young as 15 and have proven to have fighting potential are brought into a group of trainees call the Recruits. Of course, I was recruited at age 12, effectively making me the youngest ever accepted. As the son of Suzaku, the best of the Guard, I have a lot to live up to.

It was the day the newest Recruits were to be presented. In the Central Square, the current members stood at the south side of the lower platform, while the four newest members stood the opposite side, all of them wearing their Recruit Uniforms. Five members of the Guard were spread out in between them. The guards included Aeleus, a blue lance wielder with black dreadlocks named Dilan, a Arrowgun wielder with a red scarf and slicked back hair named Braig. There was one with long silver hair and carried an impossibly long katana named Sephiroth, who was highly famous in town. And there was a brown hair and carried a laser machine gun named Laguna, who was the supervisor of the Recruits. Witnessing from the upper platform included Kairi, Grandma Elise, Yuffie, Rydia, Palom and Porom, Even, Ienzo, and the Radiant Ruler himself, Ansem.

"Attention Recruits!" shouted Dilan. "Today is a momentous day! We would like to welcome our newest additions to the Castle Guard Recruits!"

Aeleus continued, "These individuals have shown their metal to me personally and have proven their potential. Each of the new members will now step up and introduce themselves, starting from left.

A teenaged boy with short brown hair stepped up. He swung his gunblade twice before shouldering it. "My name is Squall," he said coldly. "Don't get in my way." He the returned to his previous position.

Up next came a long black-haired girl. On her fists were a pair of metal gloves. She threw a few punches and kicks. "I'm Tifa," she said sweetly. "Ready to help whenever you need it."

Next was a short blond who surprisingly had a monkey tail. He held two short swords connected together by the hilt. He split them apart and tossed them high in the air. "Curtains rise..." he said as he did a triple flip and catches the swords as he lands, "...for the swift Zidane!"

Lastly was the youngest of them all, the red-haired boy. He swung his katana twice then did a 360 degree turn for one more swing. "My name is Kai," he said. "I'm ready for anything."

"Hey!" shouted one of the older Recruits, one with violet hair, "What's a shrimp like him doing here?!"

"SILENCE!" shouted Aeleus. "You do not have permission to speak at this time, Ryu! Besides that's the son of Suzaku you're talking about. Show some respect!"

The boy named Ryu grumbled something under his breath.

Braig then spoke up. "Alright newbies, listen up! You are now part of the Recruits. Now, does this mean you are automatically big shots? As if! You'll be expected to attend training hours everyday, where you will be devoting much of you time to your training. Laguna will be your supervisor. Once in a while, you'll be given patrol duty. During your patrols, you'll be expected to report anything suspicious and help cease any serious chaos that occurs in town."

"We're going to warn you right now," added Sephiroth. "Any 'funny business' will result in punishment. Depending on the act, you either be doing extra drills, or, in more severe cases, will receive a very painful reward. Is that understood?"

"Yes sir!" declared the newbies.

Laguna stretched his legs a little and stepped up. "Okay," he said. "Now, I know you guys are new, but rest assured I treat everyone on this team with equal love and respect." He then turned to the older members. "So, I expect the same from each and every one of you. I don't wanna see anyone putting the them down just because their new. New or not, your all rookies on this team. No one is above or beneath another. Is that understood?"

"Yes sir!" declared the Recruits.

"Alright then," Laguna continue. "Let's let the kids get to know each other, shall we? And what better what to learn each other's strengths than by having a short spar? I'll choose one of the older members to go up against each of our newest additions. The match will go on until I say stop. Let's see, who's first?" He looked at the Recruits in thought. "Okay, Lightning how about you face off against Squall."

Squall walked up to the center as a pink-haired girl, Lightning, did the same. The girl pulled out a laser gun out of it's holster, but then the gun quickly morphed into a sword.

"Well," said Squall, "That's an interesting sword you have." He readied his gunblade.

"I would say the same thing about yours," Lightning said as she readied her own gunblade.

"Okay you two," said Laguna. "I want a good clean fight." He then raised his hand. "Ready..." after a brief pause he swung his hand down, "GO!"

The two began to clash blade with each other again and again. Lightning shoved Squall away and her gunblade morphed into gun mode. She set it for stun and began shooting lasers at him. Squall deflected the shots and charge toward her. He pulled the trigger on his gunblade, adding a slight jolt to his blade. Lightning quickly morphed her weapon back to sword mode and blocked the attack. Due to the jolt on Squall's blade, there was a minor flare burst upon collision, which shoved Lightning away a little. Lighting then casted a few thunder spells. Squall dodged and clashed swords a few more times until they reach a deadlock.

Then Laguna clapped his hands and said, "Alright, I think that's enough. Well done, Squall, and you too, Lightning."

The two relaxed themselves. Lightning held out her hand. "You're definitely no slouch, that's for sure," she said.

Squall then took her hand and they shook. "You're not bad yourself," he said. The two of them returned to their places.

"Okay, who's next." Laguna looked around. He noticed both Tifa and a spiky blond boy eying each other and he smirked, "How about Cloud against Tifa."

The spiky blond, Cloud, walked up hesitantly with a with a longsword in hand, approached by Tifa.

"I never thought you'd join the recruits," said Cloud.

Tifa shrugged, "Well, someone has to keep an eye on a low-spirited guy like you, Cloud," she replied sweetly. Then she readied you metal-covered fists. "Just don't hold back on me, okay?"

"Um...okay," Cloud said hesitantly.

"Give it your all," said Laguna "Ready...GO!"

Tifa instantly charged at Cloud. She threw several punches at him. Cloud dodged and blocked the punches and then swung his sword at her a few times. She dodged the slashes and then delivered a hard kick to his gut. Cloud staggered back a little bit holding his stomach. He then charged again, only for Tifa to grab his sword arm by the wrist, pull it behind his behind firmly and painfully, causing him to drop his sword, and force him to his knees, holding him in that position.

Tifa sighed. "If you're not gonna take me seriously, then you seriously need someone to whip you into shape."

"I'll...keep that...in mind," Cloud grunted in defeat.

Laguna clapped. "Not bad! Not bad at all, young lady! I think a CQC specialist is a fine addition." he said as Tifa let go of Cloud and they returned to their places. "Alright let's see. Bartz, Zidane, you're up."

Zidane and a light brown-haired boy wearing a red cape, Bartz, approached each other.

"Think you can keep up with me?" asked Zidane as he read his short swords. "Don't be mad if I steal your spotlight."

Bartz's hands began to glow, and in a flash of light, a short sword just like Zidane's appeared in each hand. "Don't be mad if I steal your spotlight," he quoted.

"Hey! Don't copy me!"

Bartz laughed. "Here, I'm known as the Mimicker. Better get used to it."

"Oh yeah! We'll just see who steals the victory."

"Well," said Laguna. "Can't wait to see this one. Ready...GO!"

Zidane leap toward Bartz with a spinning attack. Bartz defended and shoved him away, then mimicked the same move. Zidane dodged it, reconnected his swords and charged at Bartz as he spun his double blade. Bartz did the same thing and they collided over and over with each other. Soon it pretty much turned into a mirror match, with neither side giving an edge.

Laguna clapped once again. "Okay, I think we should end it here before this drags out too long. Well done, both of you."

Bartz's short sword then disappeared. "Well, that sure was fun," he said.

"I gotta admit," said Zidane, "you not bad...for a copycat." The two then return to their places.

"Okay, last one," said Laguna. "Ryu, you against Kai."

Ryu stepped up with two cutlasses sheathed on his back. Kai approached with his katana in hand.

Ryu glared in disgust. "Since when did the Guard start letting in pipsqueaks like you?" This earned him a glare from most everyone in the area, especially Kai. "You don't belong here. You should leave the real warriors to their work and just take a hike."

"Hey, Ryu!" said Laguna. "What did I say about picking on the little guys?"

"Little is right!" Ryu exclaimed. "I mean look at him! He's too young for this! He's not fit to be a soldier! I bet he just got a free pass just because of his father!"

He has a point, thought Squall. Why did they pick a kid like him?

I hope this kid knows what he's doing, thought Cloud.

Kai then pointed his katana at Ryu. He spoke not a word but gave him a glare that told him 'Don't underestimate me!'.

Ryu smirked and said, "Fine then. You asked for it." He unsheathed one of his cutlasses. "After I'm done with you, you'll be crying for your mommy."

Meanwhile in the audience, Kairi was not happy with how Ryu was talk to her brother. She then shout, "Come on Big Bro! Show that jerk who's boss!"

Hearing his sister's cheer, Kai smirked. With pleasure, he thought as he steeled himself. Lightning noticed Kai's reaction to his sister's support and saw a certain fire his eyes that none of the other Recruits saw. This made her curious to how this boy will fight.

"Alright," said Laguna. "Let's see what you've got. Ready... GO!"

Kai charged in and began a barrage of attacks. Ryu, however, stayed on defense as he yawned cockily. "Is this the best you can do? Puh-lease," he mocked him. Soon Ryu shoved Kai away and then casted a three fire spells from his palm. Kai dodged the fireballs swiftly and clashed swords with him one more. Ryu then whispered, "You're life isn't worth spit." He then shoved Kai sword aside and attempted to behead Kai. But Kai quickly ducked down avoiding the slash, then quickly jump up and attacked. Due to the surprise, Ryu's attempt to defend ended with him getting his cutlass knocked out of his hand, falling on his butt, and freezing stiff as Kai's katana was up close and pointing at his neck.

Laguna clapped his hands. "Sweet! Very impressive, Kai." Kai then lowered his weapon.

This boy sure has talent, no question about that, thought Aeleus.

Well, thought Sephiroth, he's an interesting one, that kid.

Ansem smirked, No doubt he is his father's son.

"Okay, I think we've seen enough for today," said Laguna, turning to the rest of the Guard, who all nodded in agreement. "Right, you all have the rest of the day off. Report tomorrow at ten o'clock at the east corner of the Outer Gardens, is that understood?"

"Yes sir!" said the Recruits.

"Okay then. You're all dismissed!"

"Except Ryu," said Dilan, "I'd like to have a talk with him."

As the recruits started to leave, Ryu stood up, grumbling at Dilan's statement and the fact that he was knocked down by a 12-year-old.

"You lost quicker that I expected, Ryu," said Lightning.

"What?!" Ryu snapped turning to the speaker.

"You were careless." Lightning said bluntly. "First rule in the Recruits is to never underestimate your opponent. Never judge a book by it's cover. Get overconfident and you're done for."

"I don't need a lecture from you!" Ryu snapped.

"Hmph. Just remember that you lost to the same person you called a 'pipsqueak'."

Ryu grunted as he walked up to Laguna and Dilan.

Lightning then looked at Kai meeting up with his younger sister, Kairi, who was excited at how awesome her big brother was in that fight. Lightning smirked as she walked away, meeting up with her own younger sister, Serah.

"Wow," Serah said, "For a little guy, that new boy sure did great, didn't he?"

"Indeed," Lightning said. She looked back at Kai and Kairi. And I think I can see why, she thought.

"Listen Ryu," Dilan said strictly, "I let you into the Recruits because you showed promise. Just like every one else in the Recruits, including Kai. Aeleus would not have let him in if he didn't show it."

"You had no right to belittle him and claim he got a free pass," added Laguna. "I'm sure Lord Ansem has a good reason for accepting him despite his age."

"I still think you guys are playing favorites with him," said Ryu. "What is so great about his father anyway? My father was a lot stronger than him!"

"Ryu!" shouted Dilan. "We will NOT be going there again! You're a strong Recruit, no question. But you lack discipline, and that attitude of yours is unbecoming of a soldier."

Laguna sighed and said, "If you really want to be a member of the Guard, you need to lose that superiority complex, take your training seriously, and don't do anything stupid, like your father did."

Ryu growled. "You don't understand anything!"

"This conversation is over!" said Dilan. "Dismissed."

Ryu glared at them and walked away.

Dilan than turned to Laguna. "And you are not disciplining him enough."

Laguna gave a nervous smile as he scratched the back of his head. "Hey, they're still kids, you know. If you're too strict to them, they could rebel against you. I personally don't want them to think we're trying to control their way of life."

"They're not children in our eyes, they are soldiers-in-training. If they want to join us, they need to know how we do things. They have to focus. We need them to do their job right. You can't pamper them, or else they'll think they can do whatever they want. We can't allow them cross any forbidden lines,...like Zabuza did."

"You were great, Kai!" Kairi said excitedly. "You sure showed that meanie!"

Kai smiled. "Like I'd lose to him," he said.

Kairi giggled, "I'm really glad you joined, Big Bro. I know you'll do great!"

"Thanks, Kairi."

"And who knows. Maybe you'll make some new friend here."

Kai gave a nervous laugh at that. The two then shared a touching hug.

KAI: I made a good first impression. I showed them that I am not to be taken lightly. But, I'm not stupid. I know that I must take my training seriously. I need to get stronger still. I'll do whatever it takes to fulfill my vow.

A/N: Ryu is another OC in this story. You will hate this guy later on. I don't if you'll love to hate him or just flat-out hate him. I guess we'll just see.

Also I know Laguna and Lightning shoot bullets not lasers. But I thought if Braig can shoot lasers, then why can't anyone else in the guard?