Security had come to Traverse Town at last. At first the strange, excessively macho soldiers put most of the locals off. But once Cid outfitted their weapons to battle the Heartless they proved themselves useful very quickly. The patrols began within a few days after their arrival. A much larger force of Heartless than ever before emerged in the fountain plaza. Merlin supposed that area's inter-dimensional traffic made it an easy entry point. Normal Heartless seeped from the ground, the grotesque scare-crow monsters, even some of the larger balloon-like enemies appeared. The Mobile Infantry readied themselves immediately, having hardened their nerves back on Klendathu (the planet Riku had rescued them from) the bizarre, otherworldly monstrosities didn't scare them much. Not after seeing what the Arachnids could do.

The Mobile Infantry opened fire with coolness and precision. Most normal Heartless were chopped to pieces in seconds. The bigger ones surged forward into their lines, a few soldiers were knocked around like bowling pins by the balloon-like ones, the soldiers took to calling them 'bowlers'. The scare-crows, the men took to calling 'jesters,' managed to knock a few down but were ultimately perforated by automatic fire. The bowlers, shielded from the front, were dispatched either by shots to their backs or low-yield rocket launchers. Little damage was done to the surrounding buildings, but the fountain was pocked with bullets. Civilians who heard the commotion cheered and applauded their heroes. The troopers accepted their gratitude with their habitual bravado and gung-ho attitude.

Leon and Cloud folded their arms in unison at the display. To their shared dismay, the queen appeared at their side to join the applause. After noticing their sideways glances, Minnie softly rebuked them. "They may be proud and braggadocios, but at least they have the courage to back it up."

"And the firepower!" Cid huffed through his toothpick. "Oh but don't waste your time on applauding the R&D department here," he grumbled.

"Cheer up!" Minnie said. "We all appreciate you, Cid. And the both of you," she turned back to Leon and Cloud. "Besides, now you won't be run so ragged! You can finally relax a little." Cloud answered with his usual pouting. "Someone might appreciate it…" Minnie suggested. Cloud returned her gaze, only to direct him with her eyes across the street, where stood Aerith, Tifa, and Yuffie, all beaming at him. The spikey-haired youth managed a weak smile and an accepting sigh.

Leon's dour demeanor remained as he walked way. Minnie sighed, wished he wouldn't give up hope of finding the one he loved. But she knew how he felt. Every day she worried for Mickey. Would Maleficent hurt him? Or worse? She shook these thoughts from her head, steeled herself for her royal duty and returned to the throne room. Upon her arrival she traveled to the building's second floor to speak with the Mobile Infantry's commander, Major Dubois. His organizational skills and determination had already proven invaluable. Off the battlefield his demeanor was so calm and polite Minnie had correctly guessed he had been a school teacher before being recalled to the Infantry. He was already proposing she open a school to teach the local youths and adults a course he specialized in called "History and Moral Philosophy." It occurred to him that such a class would not only educate but instill the value of every-day citizens rallying to the defense of their society. He had already gotten Minnie's approval for recruiting locals for the Mobile Infantry. Training would be harsh and rough, but necessary.

"Good afternoon, Major!" Minnie said as she approached his desk.

"And a fine hello to you, my queen," he stood to take a bow. "And what can I do for you?"

Minnie blushed at his formality. "Actually, I was wondering what I could do for you! Your soldiers just performed brilliantly out in town!"

"So I had heard. The patrol radioed in shortly after it ended. I can assure you, personally, that my men and I shall continue to perform with excellence. Until we die or you find someone better."

Minnie gasped at the morbid thought, but continued smiling at his dedication. "Oh! Goodness! I certainly hope it doesn't come to either! And I'm certain the latter wouldn't be an issue!"

Now it was Dubois turn to blush. "My dear Queen, you do us apes too great an honor. We're just here to fight."

"Oh but you've already done far more than that!" Minnie insisted. Not only had the presence of trained soldiers improved moral, even to those suspicious of them, but the queen had granted them all a living allowance for their services. Naturally, this was good for the local vendors. Some of the soldiers had gotten a little rowdy, but nothing terrible.

"I'm sure the local businesses are glad for the new customers," Dubois smiled. "All that said, I do have one suggestion to do something constructive." Minnie nodded for him to continue. "I understand this entire town is a kind of refuge for many different people in exile. Though we all seem to speak a common tongue. I also understand there has been a consistent stream of petty theft going on for quite some time in your community. Naturally, my patrols will do what they can to put a stop to that. And of course your local youths who took up the mantel of justice, this 'Traverse Town Disciplinary Committee,' is greatly appreciated. And I hope they will not only continue their work and keep my men informed. But it may be to the benefit of all the locals, young and old, to establish a kind of educational program."

"Education?" Minnie blinked.

"Not a primary education program," Dubois explained. "Not to blow my own trumpet, but I had previously retired from my military service and become a school teacher. I was tasked with a class that is mandatory to take, but not to pass, called History and Moral Philosophy. I have already typed up a summary of the class and it's lessons, for your approval," he paused to hand Minnie the documents, which she accepted with interest. "I am confident that it would not only improve moral, but instill the locals with a sense of moral purpose, and perhaps even inspire recruitment into our force."

"Recruitment?"

"I understand you being hesitant," Dubois sighed. But the fact is we are all in this mess together. And even if Riku is able to bring back more reinforcements, soldiers tend to face a lot of danger, and sometimes they don't come back. To put it frankly, we will need new recruits eventually. And, if possible, I'd like to start with your body-guards, Mr. Strife and Mr. Leonhart. I understand they are both combat veterans and were raised with military training."

"Oh, yes! But I'm not sure they'd like to go back to that," Minnie frowned.

"Understandable, but it may become necessary. Furthermore, I also understand they have certain...augmentations that might at least make them an asset for training my own men."

Minnie thought a moment, then nodded firmly. "I will suggest they speak to you on the matter. And I will approve your...History and Moral Philosophy class, Major Dubois. As soon as I have looked over it myself."

Prince Philip accepted the tea cup and thanked Mrs. Potts. At least Aerith and the queen weren't fussing over him again. But the living teapot was a constant presence in his room. She reminded him of his childhood nurse. Thankfully little chip didn't try to do any more of his tricks. It never ceased to unnerve him to have conversations with utensils! But the tea really was good.

"Thanks again, ma'am," he said with a smile.

"Think nothing of it, your highness, " the teapot replied with a nodding bow. "Life is so unnerving to a servant who's not serving!"

"I should think you'd be even more busy nowadays. What with the new soldiers and all."
Mrs. Potts sighed. "Oh, that lot. They're mostly good lads. Some of them are young ladies, if you can believe that! But they are a bit rough and loud."

Philip laughed, the first he'd done in months. "It's just a soldier's way. I grew up around their kind. They don't mean any harm. Most of them."

"I'm afraid I shall have to get used to it. And after so many years servicing royalty. Even after our last master!"

Philip paused to blink at what he'd just heard. "Royalty? Who was your old master?"
Chip, clutched in Philip's hand, could no longer contain himself. "He was a prince in a magic castle!" he cheered.

"CHIP!" his mother hissed. The living cup lowered his head in shame.

"A prince?" Philip gasped.

"That is to say, he WAS a prince. Once," Mrs. Potts clarified with sorrow.

"He wasn't the same after Belle went away," Chip sighed.

"And when the last petal fell...he went wild. Ran from the castle, and we never saw him again. Merlin and Donald arrived just before the Heartless took the world. He saved us all, but he couldn't break the spell."

Philip was visibly confused by her story. She told him everything, from the beginning. By the time she was finished he had nearly dropped Chip three times! Finally he put the transformed child down on the tray-cart beside his mother. His appetite gone. With a sharp inhale he summoned all his strength and forced himself to his feet. Mrs. Potts objected, but to no avail.

The prince dressed himself, descended the stairs and exited the house. He made his way through the streets, passed a patrol of troopers as well as occasional pairs of them walking a police beat. A street-side vendor complained to one-such pair about having been robbed. They took down his statement and continued their march. Soon Philip was back in the Queen's throne room. He found her in the midst of a discussion Maj. Dubois. His manners forgotten, he strode right up to them and cleared his throat. Dubois and Minnie turned to him in surprise.

"I'm done healing. I need to train and join the fight," he said plainly, but firmly. The Major and the Queen exchange glances and nods then turned back to him. The smirk on the officer's face made Philip nervous.

"So, you want training, young man?" Dubois asked rhetorically. "I do believe that can be arranged. I've heard a lot about you, your highness. Your manners leave a little something to be desired. Oh but don't worry, I have just the sergeant to take care of that. As for your health, we always train with a team of medics handy," he said with a dark smile. Philip swallowed hard. Knew he was going to regret this.

Another leap into a lightning-like rift in void and Riku found himself lying face-up in another desert. Somehow this one felt different. A sat painfully up to take in his surroundings. Not only broad daylight but an orange sky, dirt a few shades darker, and high, jagged mountains looming over a plain of rolling dunes. It couldn't be the same world as before. Found the vortex traveling to edges of the known void, and in the opposite direction.

The mountains were only a few miles off, a flock of birds emerged from them and headed in Riku's direction. With a shrug of indifference he turned to the sea of dunes in the opposite direction. Mostly just orange sand. Further along it seemed to smooth out into a crusty flat field. Riku squinted at distant movement. It could have been a heatwave or a trick of the sun, but he was sure he could make out a cluster of structures and figures in white.

His concentration broke as a distant humming sound grew louder and louder behind him. Blinking in confusion, he turned around to gasp in surprise. What he mistook for a flock of birds was in fact a swarm of man-sized two-legged beetle-like creatures. They hovered as they came within several yards. Looked down on him with curious bug-eyes.

"Great! More bugs!" Riku sighed. The swarm abruptly dropped to the sand, quickly surrounded him on long, skinny legs. Riku held up his hands in a universal sign of submission. Their faces, naturally menacing to a non-insect, did not seem to soften. "Take it easy, I'm not here to fight," Riku began. A bizarre wind-like whistle burst from what looked like a gun in the hands of a bug, cut him off.

Riku faded in and out of consciousness. The sting of the particle weapon simultaneously throbbed and numbed. Disjointed images of flying over desert and mountain flashed. The dull sense of arms on his shoulders ever present. Next he knew he was being carried on foot to a line of tan stick-like figures. Slender robots with beak-like faces, and armed with what looked like assault rifles.

"Halt!" One of the robots stepped forward with his rifle leveled as Riku's captors closed in. It's voice was nasal and dully digital. "State your business." The bug-men chittered something in their native language. "Roger-roger," the robot said with a nodding before it's comrades and it side stepped for them.

Again Riku faded in and out of a deep black tunnel. Seeing flashes of a fortified robot mountain fortress. Some rolling figures, Riku first thought we rocks, stopped abruptly and uncoiled into menacing-looking robots. They regarded Riku's captors a brief moment with what looked like machine-gun-arms, then resumed their rolling trek. It was all so bizarre and alien to Riku, but he lapsed back into shadows before he could think on it.

When the light returned he was no longer being carried by the bug-men. Two robots had slung their rifles and were carrying him by either arm. Their metallic legs clanking on the rocky ground. Ahead of him stood an elderly man dressed all in black. Riku's eyes bulged momentarily, Ansem the wise? No. His hair and beard all milky-white. And Riku could see a darkness in the old man's eyes that gave him chills.

"And what is this you bring me, battle-droids?" the old man asked. Again Riku almost mistook him for Ansem the wise.

"Lord Dooku, sir," one of his captors chimed. "The Genotian patrol captured him out in the desert and subdued him. They say he must be a Republic spy." Count Dooku eyed Riku thoughtfully. With a gesture of his hand, the droids released Riku's shoulders and he dropped painfully to his knees. His mind still dull and his reactions slow.

"What do you say, boy?" Dooku challenged. "Are you a spy? Or perhaps a Jedi pad padwan? I do sense power in you." Riku blinked and shook the drowsiness off as best he could. Enough to glare in defiance. Dooku smirked darkly before reaching down towards him and flexing his fingers, as if to grasp some invisible object. Riku's eyes widened as he realized that invisible object was his throat. He felt the fingers pinch off his windpipe, but there were no fingers. Dooku's hand went up and Riku went with it. His face came to a stop within a foot of Dooku's. The old man gazed deep into Riku's eyes, wonder-struck by something.

"No. Not a Jedi," he gasped. "But the force is strong with this one!" Riku wretched and groaned for breath against the mystical grip on his throat. All in vain.

"Lord Dooku," another droid clanked up. "All units are in position. We have the Republic Clone battalion entirely surrounded. Standing by." Riku was nearing black-out when Dooku released him. He fell to the dirt with a desperate gasp of air.

"Good," Dooku said cooly. "Give the order to attack within the hour. As for this one," he turned back to Riku. "Give him to that beast in the pit. We shall see how he handles himself," Dooku said with a menacing grin.

"Roger-roger," the leading droid chimed. Again Riku was lifted by his shoulders and dragged away. Beast? Pit? Riku didn't like the sound of either as his mind came back into focus. Soon his feet were scraping metal grating and he realized they were on some kind of platform. One of the droids let go of him to lift a metal hatch in the center of the grating. "Throw him in," it ordered. The other obeyed. Before Riku could object he was tumbling into darkness.

Another rough impact, and Riku was gazing up at the sky through the grating. The droid slammed the hatch shut before they both clanked away. With a painful groan Riku righted himself. His eyes slowly adjusted to the shadows. In a burst of motion a large figure burred to the opposite side of the pit. Riku's unfocused gaze followed it. He shook the nervousness from his mind and took a combat stance as his vision cleared. He finally saw the crouching predator. Was instants away from summoning the keyblade and pistol when he froze. He recognized the brute! Not from his own memory but that of his namesake!

It stepped towards him into a grated beam of sunlight. Shiny horns stabbed skyward over the flaring nostrils of a bison. A bears fangs salivate as matching claws flexed. The tail and hind-legs of a wolf anchored a figure that resembled that of a gorilla. But very human eyes blazed blue in the fractured sunbeam. Yet Riku saw no recognition in those eyes, only animal blood-lust. Even as he gasped it's name. "Beast?"

A flicker of what might have been humanity shone momentarily in it's eyes before the beast roared and sprang upon it's yet-unarmed prey. Riku sprang aside and rolled into the shadows in the nick of time. The beast lashed, clawed, and gnawed at the empty space for several seconds. Furious at the loss of his meal. He turned to sniff the dank air and scan the shadows with piercing eyes. Soon his gaze looked with Riku's.

"No! Wait!" Riku cried in vain as the one-time-prince lunged for him. Again Riku escape by the skin of his teeth. "You're NOT like this! You're not an animal! You're human!" A horizontal swipe of the beasts paw cut Riku off. He sailed into a metal support beam holding up the grating above. He shook off his daze too late. The beast was upon him. Mighty paws grasped his throat and squeezed. Riku clawed desperately at the big, furry, fingers to no avail. He was nearing blackout when he remembered more details of his namesake's earlier encounter. With bulging eyes and a squeaking gasp he uttered. "I can help you find Belle!"

In an instant the grip on his throat loosened. The beasts eyes softened, the animal blood-lust vanished. It was the pleading gaze of a lost puppy that met Riku's as his lungs heaved. "Belle?" Beast said, begging for her. Riku nodded eagerly. Beast released his neck and backed away several paces. Began to scan the pit, looking from himself to the walls to Riku and back. His human side trying to grapple control. The confusion of an animal thrust into an unfamiliar environment, trying to make sense of it. Riku was on his feet again when Beast's gaze finally settled on him. An anchor for his humanity. "Belle?" he said, more firmly.

Riku turned to the bent support beam. Then looked back at Beast and nodded towards the beam. He barely had time to dodge before the hulking brute rammed into it with full force. The beam snapped and fell. Overhead the grating creaked and quivered. Beast didn't need to be told what to do with the other beam. Once he had snapped it in two with a mighty tackle the grating above gave way.

Riku gasped as he realized his own helplessness and brought up his arms in vain. All around him metal changed and shook the rocks, but he felt no impact. He opened his eyes to see a mass of fur and muscle. Beast had rushed to shield him. In one massive burst of momentum, the transformed prince heaved upwards with a mighty roar. Metal flew in all directions as Beast stood triumphant amid his shattered cage.

A swipe of Beast's paw and Riku was on his back. The young man clutched his ally's shoulder with one hand and summoned his pistol with the other as Beast crouched up and sprang from the pit. The duo was back in the mountain pass in one bound.

"Uh-oh!" a chorus of dull, robotic gasps eched from the platoon of battle-droids. No doubt come to investigate the commotion.

"Blast em!" one droid ordered. Riku obliged him with a shot from his pistol. It's head flew from a stick-like neck. The other battle-droids stumbled in confusion at the interrupted command.

"Roger-roger!" Riku smirked in mockery down his gun barrel. He wasted no time in downing several more with rapid fire. In seconds the droids were returning fire. Beast sprang into action. Plowed into the robotic platoon. His massive paws punched through tin-plating, clawed beaked-heads from metal shoulders, tore off clanking limbs!

Riku gripped Beast's back with his heels and summoned the keyblade to join the melee from his companions back. He didn't have to swing much. Just held it out to chop droids as Beast twirled around in their midst. Downed multiple foes with enough hard-drive-space to back away from the melee and blast from distance with concentrated pistol shots. Soon the beast and the champion stood alone amid a pile of broken robots.

After a quick scan of the surrounds, Riku made his best estimate of the way they had dragged him. Snapped his hand in the direction and barked for Beast to run for it. With a growl of compliance, Beast sprang in obedience. Bound through the mountain fortress like a great panther! Riku took shots at roving droids as they passed. Some managed potshots in their direction, none hit. Riku desperately hoped he hadn't gotten turned around. All the metallic structures and terrain looked the same. Beast seemed to be getting confused too. They came to a Halt atop an embankment and Riku smiled down on an opening between two ridges, which lead out into the desert plain he had landed in.

"There!" Riku stretched his arm over Beast's head to point. "Go!" Beast grunted in agreement and darted down the slope in leaps and bounds. As they descended two large rolling figures, like overgrown tumble weeds, rumbled to a stop at the foot of the slope. They uncoiled into snake-like robots, with arms Riku already knew were heavy laser weapons. As Beast strode on unfazed, Riku opened fire on the droids. Their defensive deflector shields activated and blocked his shots in the nick of time. Immediately they opened fire on the oncoming duo.

Beast didn't need to be told to speed up. The barrage of blaster rays closed in. Grazed them, singed hair and skin. Beast sprang on in desperate animal fury. Avoiding the rays by mere millimeters. Whether by luck or destiny, they closed in on the Droidikas. In instants the blasters would be impossible to dodge! Within a few meters of point-blank range, Beast leaped with all his might. Cleared the droids and sailed through the air. The duo very quickly realized their mistake. The opening in the mountains, was a very large cliff!

An animal howl harmonized with the scream of a teenaged boy as two figures tumbled through the air for several seconds. They hit a sand dune with force of a meteor. Sand went up and scattered like an explosion! Once again Riku awoke dazed in the desert. He thanked whatever force commanded fate for Beast's thick fur hide and strong muscles which softened the impact enough to bounce him to the sand. His eyes shot open and he scrambled to his feet and ran to his saviors side.

Beast wasn't looking good at all. He was breathing laboriously when he wasn't coughing blood. Grunted and howled as he tried to move his limbs. All four were broken. For a moment Riku panicked, was shocked to find himself on the verge of tears! Then relaxed as he remembered his cure spell. He drew the keyblade, held it high over his fallen comrade and cried out the command. A flash of green light and Beast stopped coughing. His breath became normal and he cautiously pushed himself to his wolf-like feet. Riku smiled with satisfaction. Had used that spell so much to heal wounded infantrymen back at Traverse Town he had advanced it a few levels. Now he could heal most injuries instantly.

Fluttering figures emerged from the mountains. The Genotians were on them. Riku remembered the soldiers in white and stabbed his finger into the desert with a commanding look at Beast. "Belle?" Beast blinked. Riku nodded sharply. Without another word Beast snatched up the young man, tossed him on his back and charged into the orange-tinged desert. The faint humming of pursuing insect wings echoed behind them.