Chapter 20: Secrets hidden
(Academy of magic)
After the battle that took place in the theater. Sora was with Siesta, as he kept his promise to her about learning how to become a keyblade wielder. Although he was not a keyblade master, yet, he could show her the ropes of how to use one like how to call it forth.
Siesta brought the Starlight keyblade from home and the two were going over a few lessons. Sora was teaching her first how to call the weapon to her. He gave her a demonstration of how he called upon his kingdom key to his hand. Materializing the keyblade to him and letting it disappear from his hand.
Siesta asked him how this was done. And he said that it was connected to him and that he was allowed to summon it at will. For a while, Sora had Siesta leave the Starlight keyblade on the ground and told her to call it forth. At first she didn't get the hang of it, it would just stay in and would barely glow.
Sora said to her to take a break from that then. He walked over to the keyblade picking it up from the ground and handed it to her. With the summoning on hold they decided to work on her sword skills a bit. Sora's reply to Siesta was to get into a battle pose that she would feel comfortable with. Her's was a simple sword stance with the keyblade being held outward with her right foot planted in front and the left one planted behind the
"Okay your form is good." Sora said. "Now I want to take a few swings."
Sora instructed but she was having difficulty dealing with how to swing the keyblade. Sora summoned his own and went into the same position as her. And demonstrate how to properly fight with a keyblade.
He took a step forward and did a downward slash. He then told Siesta to do the same thing.
Siesta repeated the process and for the next 20 to 30 minutes. Soon after, Siesta and Sora took a break.
Siesta sat on the grass, she's never wielded a sword in her life much less a keyblade or anything remotely weapon like, but is this what he had to go through too. She asked him what his teacher was like when they were teaching him but he responded to her saying he had no master that trained him. He had to learn by himself and with the help of his friends. Plus he had some knowledge of sword training when he was a kid, so he and Riku did practice all the time.
"So you already knew how to fight."
"Yeah but, I never thought about training someone, I mean I'm not even a keyblade master."
"Keyblade…master?" Siesta asked
Sora explained that it's a title for keyblade wielders who passed the mark of mastery which was a test to see if you're qualified in becoming a keyblade master. He also explained to her that he and his friend from back home took their mark of mastery a while ago.
"So does that mean one of these 'keyblade masters too', Sora?" Siesta asked
Sora's expression turned sour. "No…I'm not. I was close though." He did not want to be reminded of that…
"So this is where you were." They both turned around and saw Mr.Colbert.
"Mr.Colbert." They both greeted the instructor.
"Might I ask what you both are doing?" He said.
"Sora was training me on how to fight with a keyblade." Siesta replied to the teacher. Mr.Colbert soon asked why she was suddenly interested.
Because she doesn't want Sora doing all the fighting by himself, her great-grandfather was a man that helped the innocent and protected worlds like Sora does. After learning more about her family history, she decided she wanted to help aid Sora, after all this is her home as well, she has a right to fight and defend it.
Sora was hesitant at first but they made a promise. He would show her the ropes on how to use a keyblade but she promised that she wouldn't try and take on the organization with him. If and why they show up she would let him deal with them.
Of course the black haired girl didn't want to leave him to fight those people alone. However Mr.Colbert agreed with him, she is new to this, and he possesses more experience dealing with that group of black hooded figures.
"...But Sora."
The look of consideration appeared on the young keyblade wielder's face "Listen, I really do appreciate you wanting to help. But you don't know how dangerous those guys really are. If and when they show please, let me handle them. Focus on the little things then work your way to something big."
"Work my way to something big… Alright!"
"Cool. And don't get too down. When you get the hang of it, you could get to see more worlds beyond Halkeginia."
Siesta took a minute. "Yeah, you're right, maybe someday I could see other worlds."
"That's right."
Mr.Colbert listen to the two of them as he turned his gaze towards the sky, worlds beyond Halkeginia, that led him to wonder about how different civilizations were compared to Halkeginia. The teacher continued his train of thought as Sora got his attention.
"Hey Mr.Colbert!" Sora said.
"Hm, oh sorry I was sidetracked." He said.
Sora asked, "Is everything okay? Something on your mind."
"Actually yes. You see-."
"Sora!" Everyone heard his name being called Louise him "There you are. Come on."
"Oh yeah. We'll pick up where we left off later." Sora said, standing up from the grass.
"Where are you going?" Mr.Colbert asked as they two of them explained that they were just going into town to get some things. They won't be gone long. Sora waved bye for now and departed with Louise.
Siesta looked at them then turned her attention back to the keyblade, she raised her hand out trying to call it like how Sora does. Unfortunately it stayed in it's place only having a small flick of light coming off of it.
"Ugh!? Come on, come to my hand." She said impatiently.
Pretty soon she stopped trying to summon. She stood up from the grass and picked the keyblade up in her hands.
"If you don't mind me asking. Why is it that you are choosing to fight?" Mr.Colbert said to Siesta.
She looked at the keyblade in her hand and stared to conjure light in her other one. She told the teacher that she at first wanted to get closer to Sora. But after hearing about what happened to the queen and the battle at Tarbes, she soon came to realize forces in the shadows were working together and if left free the world she was born in along with her family could eventually be in danger.
She wasn't lying about wanting to help and protect him, he had saved her, and her family when he defended her village, so she should return the favor.
Mr.Colbert saw her attitude was in the right but he trailed off as he said to her that while she now has power, she should not use it to kill. Siesta was surprised to hear that.
His mind focuses on one thought, the image of women and children running from flames, a painful expression appearing on his face. This made the young dark haired maid curious.
(Tristain)
Louise was carrying a small bag as she and Sora were walking down the street. All she needed was some hand and skin cream since she was a bit low and a new hair brush, she also a little some for herself, just something to snack on later.
She asked Sora how his training with Siesta was going. It was pretty much alright, but then again, they did just start today so he wouldn't know. This is still the first time he ever taught someone else, which felt weird for him, since he has no master.
But he could tell she was slowly getting the hang of it. He soon felt someone bumping into his shoulder as he saw a man speed right pass him. Louise was prepared to reprimand him for bumping into her familiar but stopped, she noticed a whole crowd against the wall.
"What's going on?" Sora asked.
"I'm not sure? Let's check it out." Louise raced to where everyone else was. She looked at the wall, there seemed to be a piece of paper on the wall. She quickly read it and was pleased reading the content.
"Sora, come check this out!" Louise said excitedly.
Sora approached the paper and started to read out loud "'Within only a week since the queen of Tristain declaration of war, the allied fleet of both Tristain and Germania forces made contact with an Albion fleet before arriving. Tristain suffered no damage however the combine might of the two delivered a damaging blow to Albion."
"I can not believe it!"
"It looks like we might win this after all!"
People were cheering praises for the success of the military. Even Louise joined in
"Sora, can you believe it! It looks like Tristain will be victorious!"
"Yeah I guess." He began to walk away. Louise chased after him.
"Hey, what's wrong, this is a good thing you know. This means Tristain is winning." Louise said to him.
"Well I guess that's good, but wasn't Henrietta against the war in the first place?" The keyblade wielder though. She talked about how she wanted to keep the fighting at bay for as long as possible. Why change?
"I can understand what you are saying, but Albion has been making moves on Tristain repeatedly, not to mention that incident with Lishman the queen felt like she had no choice." Said Louise. "Try to understand what her highness must be feeling…"
Sora stopped and looked at the Castle where Henrietta resided. Louise did have a valid point, he himself also went to war with little choice as well so he didn't really feel like he should judge her. Plus he was also the one that told her to follow her own will…He could feel that she still didn't want any conflict, but if they were going to stop Albion she had to do it.
She had to declare war, even if it was against her own principles. "You're probably right." Sora agreed.
"Exactly, I know that war isn't always a good thing but sometimes it is needed if you want to obtain peace. You fought in a war of your own didn't you?" Asked Louise
"Yeah but that one was on a grander scale. It wasn't just a war, but a war that would decide the fate of all worlds and the universe. But, yeah I understand what you mean." Said Sora.
He understood what Louise was getting at, but he still had some bitter memories of the keyblade war, that battle between the guardians of light and the seekers of darkness. Especially one where he couldn't save Kairi in time and she was cut down right in front of him, and the two keyblade masters.
The mood changed when they heard a street vendor shouting in a loud voice. The two of them look over to see a man selling clothes, upon looking Sora looked at something on the hook. The clothes weren't native here…
Sora asked the man where he got that. The owner said that this was a one of a kind uniform that he found in a different region of Halkeginia. This intrigued Louise, but Sora said that he's seen that sorta outfit before. The man called him a liar, telling him that there was no way he had seen this one of a kind uniform before.
Sora retorted saying that he has. Where he came from, he actually wore a boy's version of that outfit. He asked what he meant. Sora explained that they are uniforms that are worn in school.
He thought about his last days of school as he expected that what he has is a uniform that girls wore at school.
The man thought with his index finger on his chin, so this is a school type of uniform. Sora confirmed by nodding and calling it a sailor uniform.
He asked if he wanted to buy it. Sora said no, he didn't see a reason to purchase it, plus it was for girls too so that would also be weird.
Sora walked away from the street vendor as Louise followed him. But stopped as she called out to him as she said to go back without her, Sora asked why. Louise said that there was something she forgot to purchase and told him again to go without her.
"Oh okay. But what did you forget?" Sora asked.
Louise said that he should not ask and her reply to him was that it was feminine secrets.
Sora slowly realized what she was saying. "Oh, uh…Okay, take your time." Sora backed away before turning around. And leaving Louise behind.
(Academy of magic)
Sora arrived back at the school. Upon arrival he noticed Cattleya and Elèanor looking in the bushes.
"What's going on…?" He asked as he slowly started to approach the two Vallière sisters.
"Come on out." Cattleya said in a gentle voice, as the pink haired woman heard the sound of a meowing cat.
"Meow." A small black and white cat came out of the bushes. Cattleya picked up the feline in her arms. Giving it a good pet behind the ears.
"Hey, Cattleya! Elèanor!" The sisters turned around to see the young keyblade wielder come to greet them.
"Sora, go to see you!" Cattleya said.
"Where is Louise?" Elèanor asked, though she still wasn't taking a liking to Sora.
"She told me to go on ahead. So what are you two doing?" Asked the young blue eyed teen.
"This one ran out of my arms earlier and we've been trying to catch him. Right, Alexander." The cat named Alexander meowed before purring. Sora approved of Alexander and gently rubbed his head; he liked being petted.
"You know it's good to see you are here. There's something I wish to discuss with you." Elèanor said as she was glaring daggers at Sora, who was sweating.
Inside the school, Elèanor looked at Sora and asked him if he still remembered the potion he gave to her younger sister. Sora nodded, confirming that he still remembers. Well after he and Louise left for that mission, and some time after this war started, Elèanor brought over one of Cattleya's usual physicians to do an examination on her.
Ever since he gave her that potion, she hasn't had one of her episodes in the past week. Her breathing sounds a whole lot better than what it was before and she also had more energy.
Anyway the doctor came to the academy and gave Cattleya a thorough examination. And he couldn't believe that her illness was gone completely. But it was a miracle nonetheless.
Elèanor asked how it was possible but the doc wasn't sure himself. The eldest sister began to wonder if that elixir for that night actually did something? But that led her to asking the brown haired boy where he purchased such a powerful potion. Sora but the inside of his lip, he kept the story believable without divulging too much about the world order.
"So before you become Louise familiar, you used to travel?" Elèanor said.
Sora replied to her "Yeah that's right. I got that elixir from one of the places I've visited in the past. The creatures called Moogles are really good at making potions. When I first went on my journey, I got all kinds of potions from them."
"I don't understand though, we've brought specialists who've crafted potions for years and none of them could cure Cattleya's condition, let alone slow it down."
"Like I said, they're good." Sora placed his hands on the back of his head being reminded of how the Moogles are quite talented in the art of synthesizing potion and the likes whenever he and his friends were injured and didn't have the time to use any cure magic.
Actually, Montmorency is a bit of a potion makers herself. Surely she could learn from Moogie.
"Elèanor." Cattleya got her attention "I know you must have questions, but aren't you also forgetting to show this one his thanks." The middle sister said to her older sister.
Elèanor glared once again before sighing at Sora "You, Plebeian!" She said "On behalf of my father, Duke de la Vallière, my mother duchess Karin, and myself. We wish to say thank you for what you have done." Elèanor gave her thanks on the name of la Vallière, even bowing her head slightly to show her sincerity.
Sora raised his left hand up in the air. "Oh no, it's fine. You don't have to thank me. I'm just glad to see Cattleya is doing well." He said with a grin on his face.
"No, that won't do." Cattleya stood up. "I too, want to extend my thanks. I honestly had no hope of getting better, but your elixir helped me greatly. We owe you a debt Sora, and I will see that you are repaid for this someday."
The three heard the sound of knocking at the door. Julio and Agnès came in. "Julio? Agnès?" Sora replied to the young priest and captain.
"We've been looking for you. Sora, I need you to come with us." Agnès ordered as the keyblade wielder.
"Alright." He said as he politely left before telling the two Vallière sisters that he will see them later.
Cattleya and Elèanor started to talk with each other. "I wonder what they are doing this time."
"If you have concerns over Louise, you can say so." Cattleya said. Elèanor huffed. Cattleya laughed "So what is this reward that you want him to have." The blonde haired woman said she figured something of monetary value would be important. Cattleya could see he wouldn't take riches but there was something else she had in mind.
Gently leaning to her sister, she began to whisper in her ear. As she finished Elèanor gasped
"Wha…!?"
"You know, I've always wanted to have a young brother." She said, giggling at her big sister's expression.
"So what is it you guys need?" Sora asked Agnès.
"It's a personal matter that I wish to discuss with Louise and you. Can you go and get her?" Agnès asked.
Sora replied "Sure thing. I'll go see if she's back.
(Louise's room)
Louise was examining herself in the mirror, but she was no longer wearing her usual academy outfit. But wearing the clothes she purchased from that street vendor.
Sigh* "Why did I decide to buy this? It doesn't look anything special, but the ribbon does make it cute. I wonder what Sora would think?" She asked her. But wait, why would she care about his opinion.
'Why am I thinking about him? I don't care what he thinks, not at all!' She said to herself but slightly did wonder what his opinion about this was.
And right on que Sora came through the door. "Hey, you here?"
Louise yelped "Ah! Do you ever knock!?"
"Um sorry. I…" Sora began to trail off as he gazed at her clothes. She wasn't wearing her normal uniform. But that sailor uniform from earlier, did she go back and buy it?
"Um, what are you…did you go back and buy that?" Sora asked.
Louise confirmed "Yes I did."
"Why…" Sora asked again. Not understanding the purpose.
"I guess I bought it out of curiosity….I mean you and that dragon we ride on come from different worlds."
"Not what I was getting at."
Louise huffed her flushed face and regained it's usually dignified fashion "Well shut up! I was curious about it so I bought it…So, be honest, does it look weird on me?"
She placed her arms behind her back. Sora looked at her as he was thinking that it doesn't really look weird at all, she honestly looks like she could pull it off if she was born on his island instead. His mind focuses elsewhere as his eyes diverted from her face to her skirt, as Sora was looking at her leg or more specifically he was looking at her thighs.
He had an image of himself resting his head on her lap. With her gently stroking his head.
Louise held the front part of her skirt, sending a small embarrassed look. She could feel how long he was looking at her and it felt like he was burning a hole into her.
"Hey, where are you staring!" She said, This caused Sora to break his gaze but he was slightly blushing.
"I was not." He quickly said.
"Yes you were."
[I agree, you got a thing for a woman's legs?] Delf randomly got into the conversation.
Sora turned around "Can we do this later, Agnès needs us."
"Alright, alright. Just let me get out of this." Said Louise.
He turned around saying that he will go ahead. And see what she wants. "Oh, and about those clothes. I think they look nice." He complimented her as he headed out the door.
Louise looked at herself in the mirror before as she started to smile, "So he thinks they look nice on me." She said to herself. Although that stare he was giving his master, it made her feel sorta uncomfortable but she…liked how he stared.
[And what are you smiling at?] The sword asked. Louise shook her head.
"No reason. And why are you talking?" She shoved the sword back in the sheath and began taking off her clothes.
She however wondered if she could get some sorta reaction from him if she wore more costume. After hearing how she looked in the bustier from before Louise couldn't pass up a chance to charm her familiar and maybe he'll see that she is the only person that will have his eyes on her.
After Louise finished changing her clothes she found Sora sitting on the ground playing around with his phone. "So what is it that Agnès needs us for?" Asked Louise
"I'm not sure, but it might be related to the war?" Sora assumed.
Sora and Louise proceed down the hallway and down the flight of stairs. They ran into Julio, he then asked them, Agnès secured a private room for them all to talk with each other.
"...Underground documents?" Sora and Louise said.
Agnès explained "That's right. Underneath the school, there are all kinds of old records and documents that have been recorded for years. I've received permission to access those documents from the queen."
"Then… What is the problem?" asked Louise, if Agnès has permission from the queen, why hasn't she done it.
Agnès answered "Headmaster Osmond…Apparently, he said that he didn't receive any orders and declined to open the doors."
"But you received authorization from the queen, why would he decline to let you go?" Louise question.
"Well it was built around a thousand years ago, it's one of the most mysterious places in the academy. Not to mention that it's dangerous, from what I heard it's also protected by an old form of magic. Entering without proper safety could mean the end of you." Julio answered.
Sora listened to this, and wondered. If that place is as old as they say, and they have records from years past…maybe it could have clues on how to travel to other worlds… and maybe it could lead him back to everyone.
Agnès soon slammed her hands on the table. "I am a knight! I do not fear danger!"
"But Agnès. What's in that place you want to see so badly?" Louise asked.
Agnès remembers the words that Xemnas told her, the name of the man who burned D'Angleterre to the ground. His name in in those archives.
"It's for…my revenge."
"Revenge…?" Sora repeated. "Alright then. Let's go together then." Sora said. "If all of us go, then I think it wouldn't be as dangerous as letting one person in."
"Okay then." Said Agnès.
The platinum blonde stepped forward "I wanted to help a friend and that's why I brought the two of you here. But I think I should say that you and I feel like brothers in arms."
"Brothers in arm, huh?" Sora repeated as a smile appeared on his face. "Well, I can't argue with that." He and Sora did work well together. And he did well fighting alongside Sora against Vanitas and how they've been training together also.
"Louise, I heard that the magic you possess is powerful. So I'm sure you can open the door?" Said Julio.
"Hm, I suppose I could open it with dispel, but it would require a lot of concentration and spiritual power."
Agnès sighs "So you can't do it."
Louise was annoyed "I didn't say I couldn't!"
Sora did a fake cough, getting the attention of everyone in the room "Um hello. If you need to unlock a door, I can help with that." He summoned his keyblade to his hand.
"Your keyblade?" Agnès asked.
"The key design of this also functions as a master key, locking and unlocking pretty much anything. So I can open the door." Sora said to everyone in the room.
'Well that explains why that thing has a key-shaped design.' Agnès thought
"Multi-purpose I see. That being said, there is something I've been meaning to ask you Sora." Julio said.
"Hm?" Sora raised his brow
"It's about your keyblade, do you remember how it glowed the last time?" Julio recalled how he touched his keyblade from before. Sora remembered that as well as that was the first time it ever happened before.
"Yeah, I remember." Said Sora.
"I was just curious, but does it glow like that whenever two people are holding it?" asked Julio.
Sora replied and shook his head. Saying no, that was the first time it's ever done that before. "Not really, well I doubt it was anything important, probably."
"Probably?" Louise was uncertain. How could he dismiss it so cavalierly?
"I mean, likey."
"I wasn't asking you to correct yourself." Louise sweatdropped
"Alright then, let's set forth at once!" Agnès said.
"Wait a second." Julio stopped her. "Before we go I think we should bring one more person to help."
"None of those spineless mages would go down there!" Agnès replied harshly.
Julio shook his head "I wasn't referring to any of the teachers…" He turned his attention to Louise.
"...What…"
"Louise, how knowledgeable is your sister Elèanor?"
(Siesta's room)
Meanwhile the black haired girl was sitting on her bed with the starlight keyblade laying on the table. She had her hand stretched outward with the keyblade having a faint light; however, her concentration broke as she once again failed to summon it. Sora made this look so easy what was different about how he called upon the keyblade compared to how she was trying.
She decided to take a break for a moment and turn her head to her dresser, she walked over and picked up the navy outfit that was neatly folded on the table in Louise's room. She questioned what something like this was doing in her room.
Curious, she began to take her clothes off and wear the sailor uniform. She looked at herself in the mirror, doing a pose.
Maybe Sora bought that for Louise to try on, she frowned as she felt like she was being left behind. However she wasn't going to Lose. She went back to the academy. There she saw Sora but he wasn't alone. He was with everyone else 'Why are they going into the girls bathroom?'
Sora felt a little uncomfortable going into the girls bathroom, 'Who's bright idea was it to make the secret entrance in the girls bathroom!?' He screamed.
"What's wrong with you?" Asked Elèanor.
"It's nothing… just why the girls bathroom?"
Julio asked Louise to bring her eldest sister along to help look through the archives underneath the school. Louise wasn't quite sure how her sister would react especially with how Louise talked to her the last time.
Though she heard the explanation, the blonde haired Vallière sister was intrigued to see documents hidden, she may learn something valuable. She stared at Louise for the longest time, thinking about how different she was now Louise, who had never once stood her ground before was actually defending herself. It just caught her off guard.
"That's just how the academy was built." Agnès said as she opened the broom closet in the girls toilet.
Sora asked her where the entrance was. She put her hands on the wall only to reveal a hidden passage beginning it.
Everyone started to process down the long flight of stairs. On the way down Sora asked how she came to learn about his place. She felt awkward, knowing that she learned about this from Xemnas but lied saying that while she was confronting Lishman, he told about this place as he was trying to beg for his life.
"Okay. If these documents are so important, wouldn't it be safer for Lishman to have burned them instead of hiding them?" Louise asked.
Elèanor answered "Not when bureaucracy comes into play. It doesn't matter whether it's a hundred or a thousand years. You can't simply get rid of official documents, but if you have something you don't want someone to see, your best chance is to hide it."
"Well he should have destroyed the evidence when he had the chance." Said Agnès "Now, I'll finally be able to put the souls of my village to rest."
"You're really focused on your revenge, aren't you." Said Sora.
"It's the only thing that's kept me going. As long as that bastard is alive I can't let this anger go."
"Agnès, You shouldn't be letting that get to you. I mean I know how you feel but-."
"You don't!" Agnès yelled, causing everyone to stop."You couldn't possibly understand how it feels to lose everything and everyone in a split second. Leaving only yourself, a single soul all alone." She stormed off proceeding down the stairs. Everyone was taken back by her sudden outburst as they all continued downward.
Soon darkness started to flow from her thought Sora was the only one that could see it and everyone else could not. This shocked Sora as he definitely wasn't expecting that.
When did that happen…was it from when they stormed the opera house. Plus there was Vanitas, who did appear during the fight. He said that he didn't want him meddling like usual, was she closer to the darkness then Sora thought originally.
They soon reached the end of the stairs as they were stopped by a large door. "Here this is the door."
"Let's have a look." She rubbed her hand on the door. "Okay. I understand. This is a simple combination lock but they've had a spell casted on them. In order for it to be undone, you need to learn the combination in the right order."
"Sounds like that's my que." Sora stepped forward and and called forth his keyblade he aimed the tip at the door and a beam of light fired from the top of the sword. The three locks began to glow and one by one they unfastened themselves.
"Alright, that should do it."
Julio smiled "That keyblade of yours really comes in handy. Good for any situation."
Sora rubbed his nose as she smirks "Just how is it that a plebeian like you came to possess such strange powers?" Elèanor asked.
"Hafta keep that one a secret…" Sora replied back.
The older sister narrowed her eyes with suspicion. After what happened with Michelle she went to the academy library to see what she could learn about this 'keyblade'. But unfortunately she couldn't find so much as a single reference to his weapon, how did a boy like him get something like this in the first place. And what does he mean he has to keep it a secret.
Just…who is he?
"Sora I own you." said Agnès. "Okay I'll go alone. You all should go back."
"And leave you alone. That's way too dangerous." Said Louise
"I came along for my own purpose. With an entire archive of documents, I might be able to find some old research notes." Elèanor explained.
"I appreciate that you all want to help but this is something personal." Agnès told everyone present.
"All the more reason why we can't let you go alone. Plus it could be dangerous going off by yourself, that's all the more reason why we can't leave you." Said Julio with a smile.
"Yeah, we're your friends Agnès. After everything we've all been through you think we'll bow out after all this." Sora said.
Agnès looked at everybody as she started to have a smile appear on her face, 'Friends, huh…' How long has it been since she last had a companion, sure she's got the rest of the musketeers knights and the queen but this felt different.
"Alright then, we proceed." Agnès told everyone.
"Proceed to where?" Another voice came from the stairs. They all looked up at the stairs. It was Mr.Colbert standing in front of them.
"Mr.Colbert!" Both Louise and Sora said surprised to
"Agnès, I thought the headmaster denied your request?" The teacher asked.
"I don't take orders from you!" Agnès snapped.
She opened the door and proceeded to walk forward ahead of everyone else. Sora and the others quickly followed her as Mr.Colbert's words all fell on deaf ears, he told them to stop but ended up following them.
As they began walking the bald teacher asked why she was so adamant to come down here. She replied to him saying that this was a part of her revenge.
"Revenge." Mr.Colbert said.
"That's right. I'm so close to it too. Once this is done I will go and accompany her majesty once we take Albion's port."
"Wait, the queen is going to Albion?" Said Louise.
"But why?" Asked Sora
"She said that she can't sit on the sidelines while the people were dying. She decided to command over the thousands of soldiers on our side." The two of them were surprised to hear that she was going to lead the charge.
"By the way. Agnès. Who is it you seek vengeance for."
"Wait. We're not alone." She said getting the feeling that someone has their eyes on them.
"You'll make yourself known if you know what's good for you." She threatened.
"...I'm friendly." The voice sounded female and it came from one of the columns. She slowly peeked her head out as everyone couldn't believe who it was.
"Siesta?" Everyone called out her name.
"Hi." She replied.
"What are you doing down here?" Louise asked the dark haired girl.
"I saw you all going into the girls bathroom so I followed you." Siesta explained.
Agnès let out a single groan, she thought that it was something else. "Well it's too late, you've come this far might as well join us."
"You don't mind?" Siesta Said.
"The more the merrier I say." Sora jumped on board as she came from behind the column and hugged Sora tight. But what was a surprise to the brown and pink haired teens was what she was wearing right now.
"That outfit!?" Louise pointed at Siesta.
"I was wondering about that myself?" Agnès said.
"Oh yeah. I saw this on the table. How does it look?" She said, giving herself a small twirl.
"You look great, you wear it well." Sora said.
Siesta beamed with happiness as she latched onto his arm. She then stared at Louise and stuck her tongue out.
The explosion mage was furious.
Louise yelled at the top of her lungs but no explosion happened, she looked at her hand and realized that her wand was gone. "Where's my wand?" She said. She looked at everyone as all eyes turned to Sora, who was spinning the petite girl's wand with his index and middle finger.
"Give that back!" Louise demanded. She couldn't believe he took her wand from her
Elèanor stepped forward and harshly tugged on Louise's face "You stupid little midget! Think! You cause an explosion down here, you'll cave us in!"
Louise cried as she apologized "I'm sorry!" She said to her sister as she let go.
Elèanor huffed "And here you are saying that you've grown, when really you haven't really changed all that much. Think about when and where you use magic. As for you Plebeian, you hold onto her wand until we get out of here."
Elèanor said to Sora "Got it." He replied.
"Now that's enough, we should get moving." Said Agnès as she led the ground onward down the path.
"So Louise, why was that in your room?" Elèanor asked.
"Um that's…" She tried to make up an excuse not wanting to say she bought that herself "It's my familiar's hobby. He bought that and begged me to try it on for him. He had puppy eyes saying 'Oh Louise, please wear this I am certain this will make you look amazing."
She lied through her teeth, throwing Sora under the bus. Elèanor glared with her eyes turning red with a fiery aura.
"Wait, I didn't buy that…it's not what you think!"
"You little…you're just a lowly familiar and a commoner, and you would dare force my sister to wear that."
Sora shook his head "N-No I swear it's not what you think!"
But his plea was ignored by Elèanor as she stormed off ahead of them, taking Agnès's side 'I don't care what Cattleya says, I am not trusting my sister's future to that little pervert.'
Sora dropped his shoulder and head looking down at the ground. "Why!?" He cried to Louise. He was just getting her to like him too, now she probably thinks he's a creep.
Louise clapped her hands together and said she'll make it up later.
"Still thought, is that a combat uniform?" Julio decided to join in.
"No, not really. It's just a school uniform. On my Islands we used to wear stuff like that when we're going to school." Sora explained.
"You're an Islander." Asked Elèanor.
Sora nodded "Yeah. It's a peaceful place, no one goes to war."
"Oh, I'd love to visit those islands of yours someday, Sora." Mr.Colbert said
"You want to see my Island?" Asked Sora.
"I kinda envy that you live in a place with no war, surrounded by peace everyday with citizens who don't value a personal base on social status." Replied the teacher. Sora smiled when he said that, back then, he did start to take the peace he had for granted a bit, but now no longer. "It hurts to see so many people become victims of war. It would be nice to see people all coming together."
"In case you forget, but we are in the midst of a war. As a teacher you should be teaching your students how to defend themselves and their country!" Agnès replied
Mr.Colbert snapped "Pure nonsense! If you saw the reality of war you wouldn't be saying things like that! You haven't seen the aftermath of the destruction that wars bring."
Everyone listens to the argument between the teacher and the knight
"Oh yeah, have you seen those types of conflicts before?" Agnès said.
Mr.Colbert stumbled on his words just proving Agnès point "I…"
"I thought so, you haven't really seen a war, as for me I did."
"What?" He asked as the blonde haired knight began telling her story.
"Twenty years ago, I was born in a remote village, until one day it was burned to the ground by the government… they claim we were in the midst of starting a rebellion. However it was all a lie by Lishman. Really they were hunting us down like animals. They soon went into power by accomplishing something that never really existed. As a result, everyone I loved, everyone I ever cared about, my family, my friends, innocent people I knew were being burned alive. The only reason I survived was thanks to a man who came to my rescue."
Everyone listened to her and was heartbroken, Julio and Elèanor felt sympathetic with her, as for the three who already knew her secret, but it was still sad to hear it no matter how many times she's told it.
"So when you were talking about revenge…"
"Lishman had alright died by these hands… however. The one who carried out the order is still alive. That's why I need to find him. Once he is dead, the souls of my village will finally know peace."
"...What was the name of your village?" Asked the teacher
"...D'Angleterre…" Agnès gave the name of her village. She pressed on ahead.
'D'Angleterre…Is she…' Mr.Colbert followed her as everyone else did as well. While he walked, he was also hiding his expression keeping a straight face.
Sora's memories draw back to the keyblade graveyard, the final resting place for the keyblade of centuries past. He did agree with what Mr.Colbert was saying.
Keyblade wielders clashed against one another for the ownership of light. The end result was the great depopulation of keyblade wielders and now leaving only so few. But there was something else that got to him, what was the trigger… He only knows what he learned from Master Yen Sid and Mickey. But was it really just for kingdom hearts or was there something else going on back then…
Sora then turned back to Agnès as he thought about the words she said to him.
"You couldn't possibly understand how it feels to lose everything and everyone in a split second. Leaving only yourself, a single soul all alone."
He actually did know that feeling. He lost his Island, his friends and parents, all in one night and to make it worse he was also separated from the two friends he grew up with.
So yeah he does know how it feels to lose so much unexpectedly.
Everyone continued walking until Siesta noticed a bright light at the end. They all ran towards the end of the tunnel as they group soon saw a large building that was built into the rocks.
"Is this it?" Juilo asked as Agnès confirmed by nodding. Sora noticed a bridge that leads to the building.
"Come on." Agnès ordered as they walked across the bridge. Agnès, Mr.Colbert, Elèanor and Julio took the front as Louise, Siesta and Sora all stayed behind.
"Hey Sora, you've been quiet for a long time. Is everything ok?" The girls looked at Sora with a worried expression.
"I just worried about Agnès. She isn't wrong for feeling the way she does but to live your life consuming with revenge. I know how it feels, everything being calm one day and the next your whole life is turned upside down."
"Does this have something to do with you?" Asked Louise.
"About a year ago, when the worlds were falling into darkness, my world was one of those worlds that was consumed." Sora explained. The two didn't know that "All my friends and my parents were gone in an instant, and two of the people I grew up with, Riku and Kairi, vanished. The three of us were the only ones that made it off our Island. But we got separated."
"Sora…"
"I do know how she feels. How lonely it is. How you feel like you're the only person you can rely on is yourself, I'm probably lucky that I met Donald and Goofy that day. If I didn't, I don't know what I'd do."
"But weren't you angry though? I mean, you lost so much in the past, doesn't a part of you want revenge?" Louise asked, she thought about how much he suffered like Agnès did.
"Not really…" Sora replied "I didn't know what was happening or who was responsible at the time, how could I feel angry for someone I never met. I was so focused on trying to find Kairi and Riku. And even after learning who was responsible, I still didn't think about revenge, I wanted to save the worlds, and my friends. I didn't let thoughts of revenge cloud my judgment, that's why I want to try and help Agnès see that there's more to life than revenge."
Siesta and Louise looked up at the front as they saw the blonde haired knight talking with their teacher.
"But will she even listen to you?" Asked Siesta.
"I can only plant the seeds, what it becomes is all up to her. What will take form in your heart, Agnès, that's all up to you." He said looking directly at Agnès
The two girls listen to his words. While they were happy that he wanted to try and save her, they were also a little worried, he doesn't have a track record for making girls fall for him, not just them, Kirche and Jessica. But most of the girls in the academy also have a crush on Sora.
"What will we do if we have another woman to deal with?" Louise whispered.
"Well…I heard that the captain is only into females…but that's just rumors. Would you know if it's true?" Siesta whispered to Louise.
Just then she remembered how she kissed her back at those apartments when they were chasing down that spy from Albion. Her face started to heat up and she covered her mouth.
'She said that she's not, but I really wonder.'
They all approached the building Agnès was first to approach the door. "Wait a sec! Up there, there's something written." Everyone looked up and saw runes up top the building.
"'Any tempering or removal of documents, as well as any use of magic is prohibited. Any who breaks these rules shall be punished.'" Elèanor read out loud to everyone.
"Wait. We're not allowed to use magic?" Said Louise.
"I don't see what you're complaining about, you can't even use magic to begin with." Elèanor bluntly said as Louise puffed her cheeks. Did she really have to be so rude?
"I wonder what the punishment is if we break a rule?" Sora asked.
"I think it's just to scare anyone who comes down here." Elèanor replied.
Julio and Sora each took one hand and pushed the large doors open, inside they could see hundreds or many thousands of books inside.
"Holy moly!" Sora said. He didn't know there were so many books.
"Impressive. I say this is equal to the library in Romania." Said Julio.
Louise was the first to walk inside "How are going to find what you're looking for."
"The document is from twenty years ago, so it should be filed in the most recent archives."
They soon started looking through the bookshelves trying to find another relative to the incident with her village, minute's felt like hours of searching.
"Feels like we've been looking for hours." Sora was tired of searching for books.
"Keep looking, it has to be here." Agnès said.
Just then Sora noticed Mr.Colbert giving Agnès sideways glances. Sora slowly approached the teacher. "Hey, Mr.Colbert. Are you okay."
"I-Im fine." He stuttered.
"You don't sound fine. If this is about what she said to you…"
The bald headed teacher turned away. "It's not that…" He said, giving her one more look. Sora couldn't make sense of what was going through his head. It was like he was focused on something, did it have to do Agnès and her village.
Sora soon dismissed it, it's not like Mr.Colber was ever there anyway.
"Hey Agnès!" Agnès looked at Louise who called out her name. "I think I found something." She said Louise then handed her a book.
It reads 'The D'Angleterre incident.'
Agnès couldn't believe it, this was it. This is something she had been searching for her whole life. Now it's within her grasp. She immediately sat down and opened the book and quietly began reading.
She stayed silent, completely engrossed with the documents. One passage struck her, it said that the incident involved an epidemic that had broken out. This confused her as to why they would say an epidemic… that had to have been the cover that they used.
While she was busy. Everyone else decided to try and kill some time and check out some of the books. Elèanor wants to see what sorta formulas and research notes she could dig up.
Sora on the other hand decided to see if he could find out if there were methods to travel to different worlds. Without his power of waking it was almost impossible for him to leave, and since there hasn't been any news about another eclipse happening, Sora felt stranded. He told the ones who knew his story asked what he was doing and he explained to them and they decided to help him.
'...A special task unit shall be form to counteract the epidemic, hand selected members led by their captain…' She turned the page and was shocked to see a part of the page was ripped out.
"His name, why is his name ripped out!?" She screamed. Placing the book on the side she soon pulled books off the shelves practically searching for the name of the captain.
Meanwhile Sora and the others were searching all kinds of books for any kinda hint about other worlds but so far they haven't found anything.
They were mostly stuff related to magic but not about what Sora was looking for. They keyblade wielder pinch his nose as he was trying to figure out what to do.
Siesta decided to climb up the bookcases to see if she could find something. Unfortunately she lost her footing and fell on top of Sora with books falling on them. The four were coughing up dust.
"What's going on?" Elèanor turned the corner to see what that noise was.
Siesta got off of Sora and helped him back on his feet. "Just looking around."
"And making a mess too. Geez." She picked up her wand and casted a levitating spell on the books that fell on the floor and placed them back on the shelf…
"Wait…you used magic." Siesta said.
Suddenly there was a shaking inside the whole building.
"What happened!?" Julio said turning the corner
"The security spell was activated!" The teacher blurted.
"Elèanor! Weren't you just telling when and where to use magic!" Louise sassed her sister.
"Whatever, run for it!" Elèanor said as the girls and Julio made a break for the entrance. But Sora and Mr.Colbert soon noticed that Agnès was still searching the books for the captain's name.
"His name, his name!" She was so focused she didn't realize what was happening. They ran to her and pulled on her arms.
"Come on, we got to go!" Sora ordered.
"Let go of me!" She forcefully took back her arms "I'm not leaving until I find his name!" Agnès said as Mr.Colbert gave a warning to Agnès.
"Watch out!" He said as she turned around and saw the bookshelves falling. She failed to avoid them in time and one of them landed on her leg, she hollered in pain.
"Agnès!" Sora and Mr.Colbert raced to her. Sora lifted the book shelf off her leg as Mr.Colbert dragged her out from under it.
Meanwhile everyone else that made it out of the archives made it to the other side of the bridge. They then saw cracks forming on the bridge. "It's trying to keep us from escaping."
"But what about-" Louise stopped as Julio pointed to the other side. The four of them saw the others being crutches for Agnès.
"The bridge!?" Sora said out loud
Mr.Colbert picked up Agnès and carried her on his back. "Agnès hang on!"
"You should just leave me behind!" She said to the keyblade wielder and the fire mage.
"Never, you're one of us, and we don't leave friends behind!" Sora said as Agnès was taken by surprise. "You ready."
Mr.Colbert nodded. The two raced towards the other side of the bridge as it was falling apart behind them. "This isn't good! Agnès hold on tight!" The bald teacher said as Agnès clinged onto his clothes. She had a sudden flashback to when she was still a child and was being carried out of her burning village.
'This feeling…' She thought. This was so familiar.
The crumbling was getting closer as they almost made it to Julio and the girls. Sora quickly noticed a large crack ahead of them. He place his hands on Agnès' back. "Winds!" He used an aero spell to propel them forward, having them reach everybody else. The part of the bridge broke off and caused Sora to start falling.
"Sora!" Louise and Siesta called out his name as he immediately jumped off the falling debris and hopped off another, doing a front flip landing right in front of them safe and sound.
"Ok, now that was amazing." He said giving Sora a thumbs up.
Sora smirked "Thanks. Was a little freaked out for a minute."
"You almost died and you were a little freaked out!?" Said Elèanor. "There is something wrong with you…"
Louise and Siesta began hugging Sora "I'm so glad you made it!"
"I swear, you really like to make people worry!" Louise scowled him.
"My bad." He said as the girls let go of him he then placed one hand on their shoulders. He gave the two of them his warm smile and told them he'll try to do less crazy stunts.
Elèanor looked with a displeased look on his face, he's not only charming her sister but that plebeian girl as well, 'Womanizer…'
They turned their attention back towards the building on the over side of the chasm. "There is no way we'll be able to go there again." Said Louise
"You never know, it'll probably restore itself later." Elèanor guess
"I apologize. I put you all in danger." Agnès hung her head.
"It's fine." Said the fire mage "We should get a move on, we need to get your leg looked at." He said as he continued giving Agnès support as they all walked back to the surface.
(Academy of magic)
As the ground returned to the surface, they immediately brought Agnès to the dining hall. There they placed her on a chair as Mr.Colbert was examining her leg. After a quick look he determined that it was broken. He turned to Sora and Siesta and asked them if they could do something about that.
They nodded together as they both raised their hands. They cast a curative spell on Agnès. Once the green glowing light ended she stood up no longer feeling the pain.
Elèanor watched, so that plebeian girl is also a magic user too. But how could she cast a spell without a wand? Obviously she isn't an elf and her family isn't nobles so what…how can two ordinary commoners be able to use magic.
"How is that?"
Agnès moved her leg around. "A lot better. Thanks." She thanked the two before turning to Mr.Colbert
"And thank you Mr.Colbert. It seems that I owe you." The blonde haired knight stretched her arm out offering the teacher a handshake.
The teacher returned the gesture and shook her hand. "Please, it wasn't anything important."
"But you looked cool." Sora jumped in the conversation. Which embarrassed the teacher more.
"So Agnès, were you able to find the truth?" Louise asked.
Agnès had a look of frustration she began to explain.
"...So they used an epidemic as their cover, huh." Said Julio to Agnès.
"He said that it was a rebellion taking place but apparently not. They used an epidemic as their excuse for that massacre."
"Then that means that their captain along with the unit didn't know all this time." Replied Mr.Colbert.
"So what!? You're saying I should just forgive and forget!?" Agnès yelled
"No I…" The fire mage couldn't think about what to say.
"Agnès." Sora spoke to her "I think what he's trying to say is that you don't have to forgive him. But maybe if you ever find him, you should hear what he has to say at least. I mean he was tricked too."
Agnès clicked her tongue.
"It's rather peculiar that the name of the captain was ripped out. That place is to hold all sorts of records no matter how small." Said Elèanor to the ground.
"Then maybe someone had already beat us to the punch."
"Who!?"
Julio shrugged his shoulders "The captain maybe?"
"Still it's a shame we can't go back there. All because of a certain someone who decided to use-."
Louise was cut off by her sister as she once more pulled on her face, Elèanor didn't want to hear any of her sister's sassiness.
"Don't try to pin this in me!"
"Anyway we're done for today, let's get some rest." Agnès said as they all parted ways.
(Night)
Agnès was sitting on her bed, staring blankly at her hand; she mimicked the way Sora summoned his keyblade. And as she copied his movement the sword from when she was at the theater appeared. After summoning it the second time a voice rang in her head as she spoke out loud.
"... Valkyrie's Rage…" That was the name of the weapon in her hand.
She unsummoned her sword and fell onto her bed and pulled the covers over her body.
She thought back to what Sora said "Even if I hear him out, that still won't erase what he did." She said staring at the ceiling she decided long ago that she would be an avenger. He could beg, he could repent, but she will never forgive him.
End.