Interlude: The Girl who liked storms

Luxu made his way through the darkness, finally emerging in the keyblade graveyard, atop one of the pillars where members of the Organization had occasionally met. For a time he stood in silence, lost in his own thoughts.

"Anything new?" He heard.

Turning his head he saw Invi had emerged from another dark corridor, now standing atop the pillar next to his.

"I happened to spot Flamesylocks." He answered.

"Flamesylocks?" She repeated.

"One of the Guardians. Axel. Or is it Lea these days? Either way, a tall thin guy with really bright red hair. Really fond of fire. Likes to say *Got it memorized* as a catchphrase." He explained.

"Like you have a habit of saying *As if* all the time these days?" She asked.

Luxu laughed. "Exactly."

"Oh, by the way… I did see Lauriam and Elrena too." He added.

That certainly got Invi's attention. "Elrena? You saw her?"

"Sure did. Not exactly sure what the two of them were up to, but she seemed to be enjoying a storm that swept through. Or she did, until Lauriam ended up saying something that upset her. They left for somewhere else right after that. Not sure where exactly. But they seem to be searching for something. Could be us. Could be something else. Dunno." He said.

"But… if they are here, then… what is to become of them? Are they to have a part to play in… all this?" She asked.

"You'll see." Luxu replied.

Invi sighed. "You have said the same thing to every question I've asked you."

"Because that is exactly how it is. You'll get your answers when it's time. Plus half the time I don't know the answers myself, like in this particular case. I'm just doing what the Master instructed me to do when the time is right." He said.

Invi sighed again, a bit more loudly than before. "You've changed a lot Luxu. I remember a young lad, always so polite and shy. It was endearing really. But you… if I couldn't sense your heart I would swear you were a total stranger with nothing in common with Luxu."

"Well, that is something that tends to happen when you spend several lifetimes jumping from one body to another. Each of those leaves its own imprint on you. So I literally am different in every way, shape and form." He said. "But hey, it's not all bad. Turns out its great fun watching these idiots trying to puzzle it all out generation after generation."

"You find this amusing!?" Invi queried.

"Live as long as I and you kinda become jaded to the ways of the world." He said with a shrug. "I figured it was better to enjoy the absurdity of it all, since I was stuck watching the show anyway."

"So, how are matters with the others?" He asked next.

"Oh, something you don't know after all?" She asked dryly.

"I don't claim omniscience. Stop trying to confuse me with our Master." He retorted. "Are you going to tell me or not?"

Invi nodded and cleared her throat. "Well, we are ready for the first stage. Aced has already headed out to begin the harvesting. He plans to start with some of the outer worlds, where the light of the Seven Princesses won't be as strongly present, and the numbers of Heartless greater. With such high concentration of our enemies, he expects his efforts of culling to yield great rewards.

"Very good. The he ought to be able to fill his quota in short order." Luxu replied.

"Ira plans to join this effort as soon as you relieve him from watching over the box. Honestly I don't quite understand why it needs to be kept under such heavy guard. Perhaps I would if you were willing to tell me what it contains, but as it happens that is just another thing you refuse to tell me about." She continued.

"I get that. But in this case the Master specifically made me promise not to tell anyone what is in the box. And not to ever open it. Not that any of us even could, given the way it's locked, but still." He said.

"And what of Gula?" He asked next.

"I have not been able to find him. I… believe he may be looking for signs of Ava, despite your instructions to leave the matter be." She replied. Then she tilted her head, surprised at the minimal response her report caused in Luxu.

"…But something tells me you already knew as much." She guessed.

"Guessed more like. You know he and Ava were close. It's not surprising he might get an idea like this in his head. For my part I'm just hoping he doesn't get too distracted. We are going to need his contributions in our efforts. Can't have him wasting time on a search like that." He told her.

"You believe his efforts to be a waste of time?" Invi asked.

"I'm reasonably sure he is not going to find her. If she is going to return to us I'm sure it will happen on its own at some point. That he's looking for her could well be part of the Master's plan. But in that case so is me not agreeing with him doing so. As far as I'm concerned he is needed elsewhere. Searching for Ava is just a distraction none of us can afford."

At that point Invi decided to change topics. "As for my part, I'm preparing the equipment you brought. I think I'll have a functional setup in place soon for stage two."

"But…?" He asked, sensing the unvoiced hesitation.

"Is there no other way? Something else that we could try before resorting to this?" She asked.

"We need to buy some time. And to get that time we are going to need light. Only one source of that in this age. There really are no other options." He replied.

"But what you would have us do is nothing sort of murder! Worse than murder, because the ones we take don't get to ever come back. Not in this life or the next one. They will be erased from existence permanently. All that, just to buy ourselves a bit more time?" Invi argued.

"Do you think I don't know that!? Do you imagine I want to do this!?" Luxu said, suddenly starting to grow angry.

"I… I don't know, Luxu! I don't know you any more, none of us do! The Luxu I know would never do this! He would never even consider it! And yet here you are, planning on it, working towards it. And we are meant to help you, without questioning anything? Every time we come to you for answers the only thing you have to offer us is more secrets and evasion! And all this after you tell us how you and the Master have been working behind the scenes to turn us into…into…"

Invi could not find the words to finish, overcome by a riot of emotions. Then she suddenly stumbled, almost losing her balance. Her hand went to her chest, breathing sharply in and out, a tremor passing through her.

"Yeah. There it is. You feel it, don't you? You feel the monster slowly growing in you, trying to get out. You already know what will happen in the end. But if it happens too soon then all the horrible things that brought us this far will have been for nothing. Now, if you have a better idea to get us the time we need, feel free to put it on the table. But until then do your job." He told her.

There was a long, uneasy silence. Then Invi sighed and bowed her head, about to leave.

"I argued with him you know." Luxu suddenly said quietly, the tone of his voice making Invi stop.

"When he first revealed what he intended for you, I argued against it. I felt like the sacrifice he was making was too great. I mean, not just you, but all your unions too. And the world we inhabited. It didn't feel right at the time." He continued.

"Then why? Why did you choose to help him do this? Why didn't you try to stop him?" She asked.

"Because we're at war. The war didn't start when the Unions turned on each other. And it never stopped in the time between then and now. This war has been going on since the first time there has been an existence. When even the master was just a boy. And the war has only ever been going in one direction: Towards light's defeat. We can delay, evade and run away, but we can never win in the end. I've spent lifetimes watching and nothing has made me think otherwise. This isn't a fairytale, where the good guys automatically win, and the bad guys keel over with minimal effort." He said.

"The Master said to me… that we shouldn't let sentiment cloud our judgement. That we need to be pragmatic. I've seen the power of this enemy, felt it crawling around in my heart. Same as you. If we want to put an end to this war and have it end in light's victory, it's going to come at a cost. As high a cost as is needed to defeat darkness. Anything less, then we've already lost." He continued.

"And you know for certain that what we do is the only way? That we aren't… paying more than we need to?" She asked.

"As if. I told you. I'm not our Master. I don't know everything from beforehand. I can only tell you how things appear to be from where I'm standing. But I do know the Master has a plan. And if I know anything about him at all then I believe he's chosen the route with the least amount of sacrifices." He replied.

"You think this is the least bad outcome? I… I find that very hard to believe, given what has happened to bring us here. And what apparently must still happen. I can't fathom how you can believe in him still." She said.

"What else is there for me to do? This is a story he wrote already through his actions in the past, long before this new version of reality was even a thing." He replied.

Luxu called his keyblade, staring into the eye in it. "Everything that has happened so far… everything I and this damned eye will ever see, he knew it was going to happen before he ever sent me out to see it for him. My whole life is a scripted event from start to finish, and I'm cursed to know that's the case. So I choose to believe the script will lead to a happy ending and enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts."

"But since I don't know what the script says, I'm left with the illusion of choice. So I act as I think is necessary, knowing only that, regardless of the consequences, I act as he intended me to." He said.

"But… in that case… can we be sure the *script* does not say we will find a better way to buy time than this?" She argued.

"We can't. I told you already. If you can think of a better solution, then it up for consideration. Maybe you are even meant to. But until then I don't think we can't afford to hesitate. Not given what could happen." He finished.

There was a pause, then behind her mask her expression grew hard. "Understood."

"Good. Then I should go relieve Ira. I can't imagine he thinks guarding that stupid box is worth his time." He said.

He opened a Dark Corridor, but stopped "Invi? Act, as you think is right. Naught else matters. That is the plan here."

"Let my heart be my guiding key?" She asked.

"Yup. Exactly." He said, then left.

Invi was left alone in her own thoughts.

"… I'm glad you like storms again little one. I was worried you might have lost that joy for good, given your story." She said, then departed through another Dark Corridor.


On a rocky shore of rough pebbles a girl sat alone, her knees on her chest, sobbing quietly. Behind her sheer cliffs shot a dozen meters towards the sky. Just at the base of the cliffs there was a tiny cave, with barely space enough for her to crawl into. It was poor cover, and come the high tide she would have to abandon it or drown. But it had been the best she had been able to find. Next to her there was a pile of blackened sticks, the remnants of a failed attempt at making a fire. Everything was grey. The rocks at the shore, the sea, the cliffs, the sky above. There was a storm coming in.

With a heavy sigh another wave hit the shore, spraying her with more water. Her roughspun clothes were already soaked through, cold slowly seeping into her bones. Yet she made no effort to avoid it. She didn't have the strength. For all the water spraying on her lips were dry, chapped. She was so thirsty. So hungry. So cold.

Thunder rumbled from the approaching storm. At some other time the sound might bring a little joy to her, a brief relief to her misery. But now it brought a surge of bitterness in her chest, which soon grew to an all-out fury.

With a strength she thought she did not possess she jumped to her feet, picking up a sizeable rock from close by with both hands and tossing it into the waves.

"Go away! You took everything from me! EVERYTHING!" She shouted as loud as she could. She kept that up for a while, screaming at the storm, throwing the largest stones she could lift into the sea. Her outburst sapped what strength she still had, and she dropped to her knees.

For a while there was silence. "I'm sorry." She then whispered. She knew it was not the storm's fault. Not really. The fault was hers. And that of her village.

Where she was born was a poor place, one where everything revolved around fish. Catching it. Preparing what was caught for food or for storage. Making the nets and ships and other things that were needed for fishing. Trading them further inland to buy all the things they could not make or gather for themselves, which was most of everything in this barren place. Even the timber for their homes and ships came from elsewhere.

This was the life she was born into. Even at her age there had been small chores for her to do, with an expectation to take on more duties as she grew older. At the time it was all she expected of life. Knowing nothing else, she might have been content with that. But fate, as it happened, had a very different story written for her.

For a people so dependent of the sea and its bounties, it was only natural that the villagers harbored a deep seated hatred for storms. They were destroyers of ships, which drowned fishermen and made it impossible to go to sea. A force of nature that deprived them of their livelihoods, leaving behind only sorrow and misery. So everyone in the village resented bad weather with a passion.

All… except one.

For as long as she could remember she was drawn to thunderstorms. Something about them just spoke to the deepest parts of her. But early on she had learned no one else liked them as she did. It was the first secret she chose to keep to herself. Of the kind that really mattered at any rate.

She found herself a secret place, amongst the cliffs some distance from the village. When storms were on their way she liked to go there, sit on the ground and listen. To the heavy slow rumble of waves hitting the shore. The howling of the winds. The loud roar of thunder that sent tremors through her entire being. Feeling the rain wash over her when it finally arrived. When she finally got back to the warmth and dryness of her home she always felt so energized.

Life in the village tended to quiet down whenever storms came, so she had plenty of free time to enjoy her secret place. But because of her youth she made mistakes, was not as careful as she perhaps should have been. And people did note how she was often nowhere to be found during storms. And so rumors started amongst other children in the village.

The people in the village had a story. Of the so called Storm Children. Supposedly they were monsters that adopted the guise of innocent children, then brought misery and misfortune to seaside communities foolish enough to fall for their deception. Most prominently they had power over storms, which they could call forth at will to torment their victims.

The most mean-spirited kids in the village, having noted her frequent absence during storms, began to tell others that she was in fact a Storm Child, working on a scheme to destroy their village. It was just meant as a means to bully her, like some people felt the need to do to others. But some of the more gullible children began to believe the rumors, and became frightened of her.

More than a few shunned her after that. But she had still had some friends left. Foremost among them had been Mira. Mira… such a lovely girl she had been, with chocolate skin, curly black hair and dark brown eyes. Many of the gossiping women in the village had predicted she would be an absolute favorite of the boys in the village and the neighboring ones once she grew up. But she had loved her for a very different reason. Mira was fearless, and had a just mind, always willing to do the right thing. And she had been a good friend, always defending her from the rumors. How those dark eyes had flashed with anger as Mira had stood up for her.

Their friendship got to the point where she decided to let Mira in on a secret she had not revealed to anyone else, not even her parents. Thinking Mira would be the type not to pay heed to superstitions she had brought her to her secret place. She had been so sure she could make Mira see storms the same way she did. If anyone could understand and accept, then surely she could.

She could still remember the day so vividly. It had been late in the evening, starting to darken into night, the storm adding to the overall gloom. She had been standing on the cliff, Mira a short distance behind her. She had been taking in the sights and sounds as always, enjoying them to the fullest, gushing on and on about how storms made her feel. And just by happenstance she had glanced at Mira. Seen her friend's fear, her disgust. And her own smile had disappeared instantly.

She realized then she had made a mistake. A serious mistake. Her was not as different from the others as she had thought. Mira had defended her because she had thought there was no truth in the things being said about her. But now with what she had been shown she was beginning to wonder if the rumors were true after all. Wondering if she had been harboring a viper in her midst.

She had tried to set things right immediately of course, to explain herself. But just as the first syllable had escaped her mouth Mira had turned around and left in a hurry. And she had realized she was too late. Mira had been lost to her after that day. She had never taunted like the others. It was not her way. But after that whenever she saw Mira, her eyes condemned her in a way that hurt worse than any words. With Mira the remainder of her friends had also been gone. When someone as steady as her began to believe in the rumors, even the most skeptical listened.

It had been the last day she had gone out to watch the storms.

And then… something else had started to go wrong. The storm she had brought Mira to watch had proven to be the worst in living memory. Several of their ships had been damaged so badly it took forever to repair them. Several more followed, at frequencies none in the village could remember, each as bad as the worst. Worse, the storms had churned the waters throughout, unleashing something foul in the depths. The waves now carried a disgusting film that clung to every surface in the docks. Fish had started dying, piling onto stinking mounds at the shore. Those they had caught had been few and had tasted awful, like eating soap. No one in the other villages would buy them, which meant trade dried up. Hunger became a constant companion to everyone in the village, the people barely able to survive. Not long after those problems started people began disappearing without a trace. Around the same time rumors began flying about strange creatures roaming the night, hunting those wandering in the dark. Visitors from neighboring villages had brought stories of similar happenings all over the region.

No one had been able to figure out a cause to what had befallen them, why their lives had suddenly turned into a nightmare. And lacking clear answers people began to lash out at anything that they thought might be responsible.

It had been bad enough when kids had been doing the taunting. But as misfortune after misfortune had been heaped on the villagers, suspicion had started to spread into the adults as well. With things getting this serious no doubt Mira and the others were sharing their concerns. And the grownups lapped up those accusations quickly enough if it meant they had something to blame.

Things came to a head when their largest fishing ship was capsized by yet another unexpected storm. No sooner had she heard it had happened than she had been dragged into an ad hoc trial in one of the log halls they used to dry their fish for storage (when they still had fish that is). She tried to defend herself as best she could, telling that she only went to see storms because she liked them, that she didn't make them appear, that she had already stopped going to see them. But honestly at her age what chance did she have when her whole village seemed to be against her? Her parents tried to speak on her behalf, but no one was listening to them either.

At some point she realized this wasn't a trial in the real sense. No one was interested in finding the truth here. The gathered people were here just to vent, then to mete out a punishment they thought suitable, in the hopes that it would somehow fix this. The realization made her… angry. And that anger… unlocked something within her. Some hidden aspect of herself she had not even known she possessed. An aspect that, unfortunately, made her anger manifest as lighting. It startled everyone, even herself, when she was suddenly wreathed in a halo of electricity, singeing some of the wooden pillars that supported the roof. And that was it. All that was needed to condemn her.

She was given half an hour to gather her things. Her parents had helped her pick items that might help her make it. But they would not come with her, even when she pleaded them to. Would not do the one thing that would give her a fighting chance of surviving. After her display even they were afraid of her now, of what they had created. Once she had been what could be in the time available she had fled the village. The angry faces she witnessed as she left made it abundantly clear she would have no business coming back. So she had run away, knowing she would never return.

Her eyes welled up again, and then she coughed. She was still so cold she was shivering, but bringing a hand to her forehead it felt like her skin was on fire.

She was going to die here. Alone. And no one was going to miss her once she was gone. No one would care. And if she really was what they said she was… then maybe that was right. She had not wanted to think of that possibility, but what did she know? She had already done something she did not know she could. If she really was a Storm Child, maybe this was what she deserved.

As she was still wallowing she suddenly realized a black and purple something was spreading from beneath her. Like the ground was opening up. She gasped, her eyes going wide, but she was otherwise too surprised to do anything else. From that disturbance the strangest creatures emerged. There were half dozen of them, surrounding her. Each black as ink save for their eyes, which were bright yellow. Their heads were too large for their bodies, their antennae twitching as they looked at her.

She stared right back at them, mesmerized. What were they? Where had they come from? Were they… here for her? Head twitching, one of the creatures stepped closer to her. It raised a thin arm, hand unclenching as it reached at her.

"Don't you dare! Get away from her!" Someone shouted, and the creatures were blasted with a colored light. Half of them were gone immediately, disintegrating into rapidly evaporating clouds of shadows. Then a figure dove through the air, landing right in front of her. The figure cut down the remaining creatures with a few swipes of the strangest looking weapon she had ever seen.

It was all over in and instant. If she had been mesmerized before, she was left utterly stunned now, staring at this new arrival with her mouth wide open. The character standing before her was the most incredible sight she had ever seen. A woman in robes of blue and white, decorated with gold. That alone was more color than she had ever seen in her life. The upper half of her face was covered by a mask, the lower half likewise behind a scarf. She was beautiful, majestic. Almost like some Goddess. And she had moved with such grace, every motion smooth and maximally effective.

But the violence she had just unleashed frightened Elrena. The ease with which this stranger had wiped those creatures out. What did she want with her?

"The Master was right. They've spread here as well. So many places already. Why? We need to find out what is causing this and how to get ahead of it." The woman said to herself. Then she turned her attention to Elrena.

"Are you hurt little one? Why are you out here alone?" She asked. She knelt down and reached for her, but Elrena flinched and shied away from her touch.

"Don't be afraid. I'm not going to hurt you." The woman said. She lowered her scarf, and smiled gently at Elrena.

"My name is Invi. What's yours?" She asked.

"E-Elrena." Elrena replied. "You shouldn't bother with me. You'll dirty your clothes."

"I think I give greater priority to you than my clothes." Invi replied. "We should get you home. It's not safe out here. Especially with the Heartless around."

"The Heartless?" Elrena asked.

"The creatures you just saw. They're very dangerous. You're lucky I came along when I did. But now we need to find you a better place. Somewhere safe. So do where do you live? I can help you find your way if you're lost." Invi said.

Elrena bowed her head, biting her lip, eyes glossy. "I… can't go there."

Invi tilted her head. "What? Why not?"

"They sent me away. Told me not to come back." Elrena explained.

"They? They who?" Invi asked.

"The people in my village. If I did return… I don't know what they would do." Elrena explained.

Invi looked shocked. "Th-they just cast you out!? A child!? What is wrong with those people!?"

Elrena saw her clench her fist. "Oh, would I like to have a word with them…"

"Don't hurt them, please! It won't help…" Elrena said quickly.

"It's right that they sent me here. It's better this way." She added.

"Better? How could this be better?" Invi asked in disbelief.

"I'm… I'm cursed. I'm a Storm Child. I… ended up bringing them harm. You should leave. I don't want you to be affected by the curse too." Elrena explained. "This… this is where I belong now. Where I deserve to be."

She closed her eyes, expecting her rescuer to abandon her here. Instead she was surprised to feel arms around her. Invi was embracing her, holding her tightly but gently. It felt like… a soothing balm that eased her misery. Overcome by emotion, Elrena returned the hug almost desperately, letting her feelings pour out of her in broken sobs. And little by little the squeezing feeling in her chest started to lessen.

"Listen to me little one. I don't know the story that brought you here. And I can't rightly say what a Storm Child is supposed to be. But this I know for certain: there is no curse on you. Any harm and misery here… they are the workings of darkness." Invi said, still holding her.

"The darkness?" Elrena asked.

"A dreadful evil I'm sworn to resist. I and others like me. This place reeks of it. That your people cast you out in this way is only further proof of it." Invi explained.

Invi placed a hand on Elrena's forehead. "Poor thing, you're burning up! I can't have you stay here…. come with me, I'll bring you to safety." She stood up, holding Elrena by the hand.

"W-where will you take me?" Elrena asked, for the moment refusing to stand back up.

"To where I live. I'll be able to care for you there." Invi explained.

"But… why would you help me?" Elrena asked.

Invi tilted her head, like the question was strange. She knelt back down, looking directly into Elrena's eyes. "Because it's the right thing to do. It's what one is meant to do when you find a child hurting. Because I don't believe you are really cursed, and because I don't believe your story is meant to end here on this forsaken shore."

"I couldn't bear the idea of leaving you here. So let me help you. Please." She pleaded.

After a moment Elrena nodded slowly. "If… you're sure."

Invi smiled. "I am."

She had helped her to her feet, opened a portal with her weapon and led her to daybreak town. She had not been in a condition to really admire the town on arrival, only properly recalling the tower she had been brought to. But a warm, dry room to stay in, a real bed, food and medicine? It had felt like heaven after what she had been through. She had barely been able to believe it was real. As she was recovering she began to learn of others living in the tower. Four others besides Invi, plus *Master of Masters* and someone called Luxu who she heard about but never saw.

When she was well enough Invi started showing her the town. And Elrena was in awe of everything she saw. It was all so pretty and grand compared to her drab little village.

"I take it were not many shops in your home town? Did they use money where you live?" Invi asked as they were walking.

"No. We usually just traded fish for other things. Bartering." Elrena replied.

"Hmm… I guess I should show you how to buy things, so you'll know how to do it on your own. And I think I know where to begin." Invi said.

"… I think something that matches your eyes." She then pondered aloud.

"Huh?" Elrena asked.

"I was just thinking we need to get you new clothes. You deserve something better than those old rags." Invi explained.

Her first experience with shopping proved to be quite an adventure. They eventually settled on a turquoise jacket over a white shirt, boots of the same color as the jacket, and a short black skirt as well as a tie (Invi had to show her how to put it on, since she had never come across a piece of cloth like it).

Visiting a barber had also been fascinating. It had never occurred to Elrena that there might be a place for the sole purpose of styling one's hair. The owner had considered the hair antennae she had asked for to be an inspired, creative if a bit odd request. But she had had her reasons for requesting them. In some version of the story she had been told Storm Children had horns growing from their heads, which showed when their deception was revealed and they reverted to their true form. So if that was what her people thought she was she would embrace that persona, but on her own terms. It would be what she made it be, not what others told her it was.

Now she just had to decide what she wanted that to mean…

One morning with her seated on one end and Invi on the other, Elrena paused eating the cereals she had been having for breakfast. Invi had sensed the incoming question and had stopped her eating as well.

"…So… now I'm well again. You saved me, just like you wanted. So what's to become of me now?" Elrena had asked.

"Hmm… well obviously you are welcome to stay if you want. And at your age that is enough. But it sounds like you have something different in mind." Invi said.

"I… I remember you mentioning something of the Darkness, when we met. It's what ruined it all for me?" Elrena asked.

"Yes. And it brought the Heartless I protected you from." Invi confirmed.

"I remember how easily you beat them. Could you…?" Elrena said, then stopped and took a deep breath. Was she really going to ask this? She must be insane to think this might be granted. "Would you teach me how to do that? I want to fight the darkness too."

"You would wish to learn my ways? To fight like I do?" Invi said. She seemed… surprisingly intrigued by the notion.

"It's interesting that you should ask this. The Master and Ira have been in talks about having us Foretellers form Unions of warriors to battle the darkness. And I was planning to start looking for those who could join mine." She told her.

"I wonder… could this be the reason the Master sent me to that world? To find her? And her heart is indeed strong, to survive what she did." Elrena heard her ponder aloud.

Then Invi smiled. "Yes, very well. I will teach you what you need."

"You will!? Thank you! Thank you!" Elrena said, elated that her wish had indeed been granted.

And so she had become a full-fledged keyblade wielder. One of the old guard for Union Anguis, who had been there from its inception. She put no small amount of effort in her training, becoming a competent fighter. She had learned to control lightning magic especially well, turning it into the foundation of her combat prowess. She had kept on good terms with Invi, though as time passed they spoke less and less. As Union Anguis had grown in size her Master had become more and more busy leading it and interacting with the other Foretellers. And she, believing she had debts to repay and wanting to prove herself, had thrown herself to her new role with enthusiasm.

Being a veteran wielder she was always welcome whenever she decided to join a group, a sign that things would go smoothly. But much of the time she chose to go on missions on her own. And always she kept others at arm's length. When their tasks were complete and they were back in town she would just walk off. Those she worked with frequently learned to just leave it at that. She was an ally to many, but a friend to just about no one. The handful few she might consider something approximating friends just got her loyalty and support more frequently than others, in little things provided in secret. Quite possibly they never even knew their fortune.

She enjoyed storms when they came by, but she never went specifically to see them. And only her Chirithy and Invi knew she had ever particularly cared for rain and storms.

And then, as fate would have it, things began to go wrong again. The heartless grew in strength and numbers. Wielders began to go missing on a regular basis. And the competition for Lux between the Unions had become fiercer as time went by, turning into outright rivalry.

When she had been offered a spot in the Dandelions she had been quick to accept. They had been made out to be an elite group, and being considered a viable candidate had admittedly stoked her sense of pride. And their supposed purpose had seemed important. She could not deny the signs around her, or what it could mean. She had reasoned that Master Invi would surely wish there to be people to rebuild the world later in the worst case scenario. And if the threat never materialized or if they tried to ask her to do something she didn't wish to then she could always leave the Dandelions behind later.

Even so immediately after accepting she had gone to Invi, to inform her of this group's existence and what she knew of its purpose. Her Master had heard of the group before, but had not been aware of why it had been established. She had seemed relieved to know the reason. More importantly she had given her blessing for Elrena to stay with the Dandelions for the time being.

And of course very soon a chain of events had begun which had brought it all to an end. She had tried to build her life anew, only for it to crumble all over again. So many alongside her who fought the Darkness, only to fail. Was it any wonder than she had become so bitter after arriving in this age that she had wanted to stop caring about anything and everyone?


Elrena's eyes opened slowly, and she sat up. She was in the room that had been given to her in the Land of Departure. Glancing out the window she could it was dark outside. That's right, now she remembered. They had come here to rest, so they could start the search again tomorrow, fresh.

She sighed heavily. The days in her home village… she had not thought of those days in a long, long time. Not before Lauriam had asked her of them really. Nor had she wanted to. Mira and the others… they had been the first loss she had ever decided she didn't care about. Her people had abandoned her, so she had returned the favor. The darkness had likely consumed the home she had been born into, perhaps for good. But what of it? As far as she was concerned they had betrayed her, and she had paid them no mind ever since. Elrena the Keyblade Warrior had replaced her old self completely, her second life beginning the day she had agreed to take on that charge.

Then why had these old memories come back to haunt her now? What were they doing out of the box in her head? No doubt in part at least because Lauriam had brought them up. She didn't blame him of course. But she wished Lauriam had not asked. The only thing she wanted to keep from that time was her liking for storms. The rest she would rather forget about. Forever.

And Invi… she had not really given it much thought. Maybe she had not wanted to, dreading the implications. But there was a good chance she was here as well along with the other Foretellers. And while they still didn't know their intentions, it was conceivable there would be conflict between them. She could live with going against the other Foretellers. Their idiocy had destroyed the world, upending her second life and bringing so many others to ruin. She had little except contempt for them. But Invi… she would not relish that confrontation if it came to that. But if it did, would she even have a choice? Certainly she could never choose her over Lauriam. And she didn't feel it would be right to betray the Guardians either. But still, she realized she was hoping the Foretellers were not here on nefarious purposes. Or that she would not have to face Invi directly. Better leave that to the others if possible.

But if fate did not decide to be that merciful… what then? She spent a considerable time awake, wrangling with that very question.

"If you are here we are going to find you. And on that day you will explain yourself. And if you're here to destroy this world too then we are enemies. The past be damned." She eventually decided.

Why did the Foretellers have to come here? They belonged in the past, where she could choose to leave them by the wayside to focus on the future instead. Axel had had it right in some ways. Some of them may have been fighting for longer than others, but by now they were all tired and done. They had had their fill of war.

They just wanted it to end. Wanted it all to hold together, so they could live. Truly live.