Another night, another set of dreams haunted Roxas's sleep. As he drifted in the strange liminal space between consciousness and slumber, memories that weren't his continued to play like a film reel in his mind—except they weren't just memories. They were experiences. The experiences of Sora, the boy he had never met but felt connected to.


Sora floated through a grand library, reaching desperately toward a familiar face—Kairi. She was within his grasp, her delicate form suspended in a bubble of light. His fingers brushed against the surface, but before he could pull her to safety—

The serene glow of the library shifted abruptly into jagged cliffs near some rising water falls.

Sora stood face-to-face with Riku.

"But it all ends here. There can't be two chosen ones," Riku declared.

With a slight twist of his wrist, Riku summoned the Keyblade from Sora's hand into his own. The blade left Sora's grip as if it had never belonged to him at all.

The memories shifted again.

A fierce tension filled a grand entrance hallway. Goofy stepped away from Donald and Riku, making his way over to Sora and the silver creature, who Roxas has been seeing around town.

"Sora ain't gonna fail or go anywhere!" Goofy proclaimed, standing firm.

Riku glared at Goofy, his eyes blazing with disbelief.

"You'd betray your king?" he spat.

Goofy's voice was resolute as he looked back at Sora.

"Not on your life! But I'm not gonna betray Sora, either. He's become one of my best buddies, after all."

Without hesitation, Donald sprinted across the hall, joining Sora, Goofy, and the silver stranger. He gave a determined nod toward his friend.

"Well, you know... all for one and one for all!" Donald remarked

The silver being, standing strong beside them, couldn't resist tossing a taunt back at Riku.

"Seems like friendship and the power of the heart triumph over everything," they remarked coolly.

Sora's confidence surged.

"My friends are my power!" Sora shouted.

With that, the Keyblade flew from Riku's hand and back into Sora's grasp.

The memories swirled into a new scene.

The clash echoed in a grand hall. Sonic collided with Riku, sending him flying through the air, twisting and contorting as if caught in a temporal storm. The impact shattered the eerie stillness, and with a crash, Riku slammed into a nearby console.

Sonic turned, flashing a thumbs-up toward Sora.

"Hey, Sora! You okay, pal?" Sonic asked, his voice brimming with confidence.

Sora nodded with a grateful smile.

"I'm okay. Thanks, Sonic."

The memories shifted once more.

The tension thickened. Riku, now fully possessed by a being called 'Ansem', lunged toward Sora, his voice booming with dark power.

"It is I, Ansem! Lead me into everlasting darkness!"

With a mighty swing, Riku-Ansem aimed for Sora, but the brown haired boy reacted quickly, blocking the blow with the Keyblade.

"Forget it! There's no way you're taking Kairi's heart!" Sora declared fiercely.

The visions shifted again.

Sora stood in front of Kairi's slumbering form, holding a dark Keyblade. Sonic, the silver being and a red creature with huge white gloves stood with him, each filled with apprehension.

"Sora, let's talk this through first!" the silver being urged, concern lacing his voice.

"Sora, don't do what I think you're about to do..." the red creature gasped.

But Sora, with a determined smile, ignored their pleas. Without hesitation, he plunged the dark Keyblade into his own chest. His body began to glow, and he slowly fell backward.

As Sora's heart left his body, drifting into the air, it traveled toward Kairi, restoring her life. Her eyes fluttered open, but as she awoke, Sora burst into a million points of light, leaving nothing behind.

"Sora!" she called out.

The dream shifted to a much quieter moment.

Kairi handed Sora a small keychain in the Waterways of Traverse Town.

"Take this. It's my lucky charm. Be sure to bring it back to me."

Sora took the keychain, his eyes filled with determination.

"I promise."

Another memory emerged.

Sora, wielding a white Keyblade, sealed the Keyhole of the unknown world. The heart-shattering roar of a beast echoed, but the light of the Keyblade won out, sealing the darkness away.

Suddenly, everything went dark.

Kairi's voice echoed through the darkness.

"Don't ever forget. Wherever you go, I'm always with you."

And then, silence.


Roxas awoke, his eyes snapping open as the fading echoes of the dream still clung to his mind. He lay there for a moment, trying to steady his breathing, the vivid images of Sora's adventures still swirling inside his head. Everything felt so real—Kairi, the battles, even the silver creature.

"That silver being… he's been with Sora?" Roxas muttered to himself, trying to piece it together.

His hand instinctively reached up to rub his eyes, as if to clear the fog of sleep still hanging over him. Slowly, he sat up and turned his head toward the window, just beside his bed. The warm light of Twilight Town streamed in, casting a soft glow across his room.

Roxas stared out at the familiar town, but his thoughts were far away, lost in the remnants of the dream. His mind kept going back to Kairi, and that word she had whispered to him in the final moments of the vision.

"Right... 'Promise'..." he muttered quietly, the weight of the word hanging in the air.


The Fourth Day - Part 1

The Struggle Tournament had arrived, and Twilight Town was buzzing with excitement. Everywhere Roxas looked, the streets were filled with cheering citizens, eager for the action to begin. Stalls lined the streets, selling colorful merchandise—replica Struggle weapons, tournament memorabilia, and, most notably, shirts featuring the one and only Captain Qwark. Pennants waved in the air, and the energy was palpable, crackling through the town like lightning.

Children ran around, swinging foam Struggle bats, while adults debated their predictions for the tournament's victor.

As Roxas entered the Sandlot, the heart of all the excitement, he could feel the electricity in the air. The crowd was already gathering, eager for the day's matches. He spotted Hayner, Pence, and Olette standing by, immersed in the pre-tournament buzz.

"Roxas!" Hayner called out, waving enthusiastically.

Roxas jogged over, a grin on his face. The Sandlot was alive with the sound of cheering fans, and the energy was contagious. He joined his friends, the excitement coursing through him.

"Can you believe this?" Hayner asked, eyes wide with anticipation. "This is gonna be huge!"

Pence, grinning ear to ear in his obnoxiously bright Captain Qwark shirt, pumped his fist into the air.

"Yeah, the whole town's here! It's gonna be awesome!" he exclaimed.

Olette smiled, leaning in toward the group.

"So, who's going to win today?" she asked playfully, her eyes flicking between Hayner and Roxas. "Roxas? Or Hayner?"

Pence jumped in before either could answer.

"Either, hopefully! One of them is gonna make it to the finals!"

Roxas couldn't help but chuckle, glancing at Pence's shirt.

"Nice shirt, Pence. You wanna be Qwark's sidekick or what?" he teased.

Pence puffed out his chest proudly, flexing in an exaggerated pose that mimicked the captain's iconic stance.

"What can I say? Gotta support the reigning champ...until you or Hayner beat him," he teased.

Hayner rolled his eyes but laughed along.

"Well, he better watch out, 'cause this year, Roxas and I are taking over." He punched his fist into his palm, fired up.

Just as the group was soaking in the energy of the tournament, Seifer swaggered into the Sandlot with his usual air of arrogance. His crew—Rai, Fuu, and Vivi—trailed behind him, but noticeably absent were Jet, Wave, and Storm. Seifer's eyes immediately landed on Roxas and Hayner, and a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Well, well, if it isn't the chicken-wuss and his sidekick," Seifer taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. "You two actually think you're gonna win this thing? Don't make me laugh."

Hayner's face scrunched in irritation, but before he could fire back, Olette stepped in, her brow furrowed with curiosity.

"Hey, where are Jet, Wave, and Storm?" she asked, noticing their absence.

Seifer's smirk faltered for a moment, and he exchanged a quick glance with his crew. Fuu crossed her arms, while Vivi looked down, fidgeting with his hands. Rai scratched the back of his head, looking a little uncomfortable.

"They left," Seifer muttered. "Didn't say a word to us, just... gone."

Rai chimed in with a dramatic sigh.

"Disrespectful and hurtful, y'know."

The group exchanged puzzled looks. Olette and Pence looked surprised, and even Hayner seemed taken aback.

"That's weird," Pence commented. "Cream, Cheese, and their mom, Vanilla, left town without much of a heads-up either."

"And Big and Froggie too," Roxas added, his tone laced with confusion.

Seifer's eyes narrowed at the mention of it, clearly unsettled by the sudden departures.

"That's... strange," he mumbled, but he quickly shook off the momentary unease and returned to his usual cocky self.

"But enough about them," Seifer said, his swagger returning full force. "You losers think you're gonna beat me? Hah! This tournament's gonna come down to either me or Vivi taking down Captain Qwark! And when we do, we're gonna show this town what real champions look like."

"Yeah, y'know!" Rai added, nodding with enthusiasm. "Seifer's got this in the bag!"

Fuu, always curt, added in her signature monotone, "Victory."

Hayner scoffed, folding his arms and squaring up to Seifer.

"You wish!" he scoffed. "Roxas and I are taking this thing all the way to the top. Qwark won't know what hit him!"

Roxas grinned, feeling the competitive spark light up inside him.

"Yeah, and when we beat Qwark, maybe you'll actually stop running your mouth, Seifer," he remarked.

Seifer stepped forward, his smirk widening.

"Big talk, chicken-wuss. But we'll see if you're still smiling when you're flat on your back!."

"I guess we'll see, won't we?" Roxas countered, his voice sharp with determination.

Suddenly, the sound of fireworks exploded overhead, grabbing everyone's attention. All eyes shifted toward a nearby stage, where a man with a microphone stood, his voice booming through the speakers.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Struggle-fiends of Twilight Town!" the announcer called out, his excitement contagious. "It's time for summer's most sizzling clash! That's right, today is the day for the Struggle and title match!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, and the air buzzed with excitement.

"Who will be the one to break through the ranks and take on our champion!?" the announcer shouted, raising the crowd's energy to fever pitch.

"Seifer, y'know!" Rai shouted, pumping his fist in the air, confident in his leader.

Olette and Pence, standing by Roxas, weren't having any of it.

"Hayner! Roxas!" they shouted, throwing their support behind their friends.

The fans, however, had a different favorite in mind.

"Qwark!" they screamed, and soon, the chant spread throughout the crowd like wildfire.

"Captain Qwark! Captain Qwark! Captain Qwark!"

The producer smiled, letting the excitement build for a moment before raising his hand to calm the audience down.

"Yes, the crowd is fired up, so you know what comes next: Let's..."

"STRUGGLE!" the entire crowd shouted in unison, their voices shaking the ground with anticipation.

As the cheers simmered down, the producer spoke again, his tone grand and theatrical.

"And now, please welcome our reigning champion! A hero to the galaxy, a friend to Twilight Town, the one, the only... CAPTAIN QWARK!"

From behind the curtains, the hulking figure of Captain Qwark emerged, his championship belt gleaming around his waist. The crowd went absolutely bonkers. Qwark, dressed in his signature green tights with his atom logo boldly displayed on his chest, waved dramatically to his fans. His bright, confident smile practically sparkled as he flexed his massive muscles and soaked in the adoration.

The cheers were deafening.

"CAPTAIN QWARK! CAPTAIN QWARK!"

He strutted to the center of the stage, moving like a true showman, eating up the attention. His wide grin only seemed to get bigger with every cheer. Finally, he reached the producer and snatched the microphone from him with flair.

"Thanks, Jim!" Qwark boomed into the mic.

The producer blinked, a little confused.

"Uh… it's Bill, actually..."

"Meh, close enough!" Qwark said with a dismissive wave, already turning his focus back to the crowd.

He raised the mic high, rallying the crowd even more.

"Twilight Town! Are you ready for the greatest Struggle of your lives?!"

The crowd erupted again, their cheers echoing throughout the town. Qwark puffed out his chest, taking a moment to flex his muscles for the fans, who responded with even louder applause.

"Today, one of you will have the honour of facing me—Captain Qwark—galactic hero, Struggle champion, and all-around fantastic guy!" he declared with exaggerated bravado. "But I gotta say, it's going to be tough for you all to keep up with this level of awesome!" He struck another heroic pose, his grin unwavering.

"But hey!" Qwark added, his voice booming through the speakers. "I always love a good challenge. So let's see what you got, Twilight Town!"

The crowd roared in response, the energy of the event reaching its peak. Qwark handed the microphone back to the producer—Bill—without a second glance and continued waving and flexing for his adoring fans as he walked offstage, ready for the Struggle to begin.


An unexpected duo...

The air in the Sandlot was buzzing with excitement as the final preparations for the Struggle tournament were made. The crowd gathered around the arena, filling the seats and standing areas, eagerly awaiting the big event. The announcers' voices echoed through the speakers, adding to the hype. But today's announcers were not your typical locals. No, this was a special surprise orchestrated by none other than Captain Qwark himself.

On the raised announcer's platform, standing behind two mics, were none other than Ratchet and Clank, both looking slightly baffled at how they got themselves into this mess.

"Uh, hold up... how did we get roped into this again?" Ratchet asked, scratching his head, clearly confused by the situation.

"It seems this was part of Captain Qwark's arrangements," Clank remarked. "Something about 'adding star power' to the event."

Ratchet groaned, "Of course it was. Should've known this had Qwark written all over it."

Clank nodded, his robotic voice calm.

"Perhaps it is for the best. If we perform well, it could lead to future commentary gigs. I've heard Space Channel 5 may be looking for fresh voices."

"Yeah, right," Ratchet said with a smirk. "And if that happens, pigs will fly."

Despite his reluctance, Ratchet leaned into the microphone with a smile, his natural charm kicking in as he addressed the crowd.

"Alright, folks! It's time to introduce today's combatants!"

The crowd cheered in anticipation as the competitors lined up in the arena.

Clank took over, his voice smooth and professional.

"First, we have the four who battled their way through the preliminaries."

"Leading the charge," Ratchet continued with a grin, "is regular finalist and the head of the Twilight Disciplinary Committee: Seifer!"

The crowd roared as Seifer stepped forward, smirking confidently as always, flashing a look toward Roxas and Hayner.

Clank quickly chimed in, "Next, completely out of nowhere—who could have predicted this year's rising star? It's Vivi!"

Vivi waddled forward, his tiny stature contrasted by the huge cheers of the crowd. Despite his small size, he had clearly made an impact.

"Then we've got the local attitude problem and underground favorite: Hayner!" Ratchet announced.

Hayner grinned confidently, giving Roxas a quick glance before turning back to the crowd.

"And finally," Clank announced, "we have Struggler number four, who also happens to be the accessory shop's favorite customer... give it up for Roxas!"

Roxas waved a little awkwardly as the crowd cheered, though his attention was elsewhere. Hayner caught his eye, but Roxas, still distracted by everything that had been happening lately, looked away solemnly.

Ratchet leaned back into the mic.

"So, who's gonna win this sweltering summer Struggle, huh? Who's taking home the grand prize—the summa cum laude of Struggle—the Four Crystal Trophy!"

Clank added with flair, "And of course, the ultimate honour… a chance to face off against our defending champion, the one and only... Captain Qwark!"

As if on cue, the crowd erupted into even louder cheers, and from behind a thick curtain, Captain Qwark made his grand entrance... again. He was flanked by lights, confetti, and enough fanfare to make even the most humble of champions blush. But this was Qwark, after all, and humility was not in his vocabulary.

With his signature heroic pose, Qwark strutted into the arena, the Struggle championship belt still gleaming around his waist. He flexed his muscles dramatically, basking in the glory as the crowd went wild. Fireworks popped overhead as he raised both arms in the air.

"CAPTAIN QWARK! CAPTAIN QWARK!" the crowd chanted.

Taking the microphone from a producer—who looked mildly annoyed—Qwark cleared his throat loudly.

"Citizens of Twilight Town!" Qwark boomed into the microphone. "Once again, your hero, your champion, your galactic protector stands before you! And today, one of these fine challengers will face the ultimate test… ME! Captain Qwark! But don't worry, I'll go easy on you—sort of."

The crowd ate it up, and Qwark soaked in their adoration, his grin growing even wider. He held the championship belt high, showing it off to the audience.

"But first! Let's see which of these fine competitors is worthy of that honor! And remember… it's not the size of the muscle that counts—unless you're me!"

Ratchet shook his head, muttering into the microphone, "Oh brother..."

Clank, ever the professional, kept his composure.

"And there you have it, folks. The reigning champion has spoken!"

Ratchet leaned back into the mic, his playful smirk returning.

"Yep, and if you're listening, Qwark, you might want to start practicing humility," Ratchet remarked. "It might come in handy after someone kicks your butt today."

Clank chuckled softly, "Let's hope our commentary remains unbiased, Ratchet. After all, this could lead to future opportunities."

"Right," Ratchet replied with a grin. "Like I said—flying pigs."

With that, the competitors got ready, the tournament about to kick off in full force, with the whole of Twilight Town waiting on the edge of their seats to see who would come out on top. The Struggle was officially underway.


The Struggle Begins...

Ratchet leaned into the mic, his usual enthusiasm on full display.

"Alright, folks! Our first match of today's Struggle tournament is between none other than Roxas and his best buddy, Hayner!"

Clank chimed in, "An interesting dynamic, wouldn't you say, Ratchet? A battle between friends—surely their bond will make for a unique and challenging match."

Ratchet chuckled in reply, "You got that right, Clank! Nothing says friendship like whacking each other with foam weapons! Still, they've both got something to prove, and I can't wait to see who's taking home the bragging rights today."

As Roxas and Hayner stepped into the center of the Sandlot arena, they both readied their Struggle bats. Their faces were determined, but there was a glint of friendly rivalry between them. Both boys nodded at each other, gripping their weapons tightly, ready for the match to begin.

Just then, an unexpected voice boomed over the PA system.

"Ah-ha! The mighty Captain Qwark has arrived!"

The crowd erupted into cheers, and from out of nowhere, Captain Qwark himself swaggered onto the announcer's platform, squeezing himself between Ratchet and Clank. He adjusted his headset, flashing his signature grin to the audience.

"That's right, Twilight Town! I, Captain Qwark, am here to provide expert commentary for this thrilling match!" Qwark declared, his ego filling the booth.

Ratchet groaned, leaning away from the hero as Qwark made himself comfortable.

"Oh boy, this is gonna be something…"

Clank, ever polite, offered a calm greeting.

"Welcome, Captain Qwark. We look forward to hearing your… insights."

Qwark puffed out his chest and grinned, "Of course you do! After all, who knows more about Struggling than yours truly? I am, after all, the reigning champion—and I didn't get here by slacking off! I trained for minutes to reach this level!"

Ratchet couldn't resist a jab back.

"Yeah, Qwark, real inspiring… Anyway, back to the match. Looks like Roxas and Hayner are just about ready to start!"

Qwark, missing the sarcasm completely, nodded.

"Exactly!" he exclaimed. "And what a match this will be! Two young heroes, friends turned rivals for the day, all for a shot at challenging me—the galactic champion!"

Clank added, "It will certainly be a battle of both skill and determination. It seems the two are ready to begin."

The crowd quieted down as the referee stepped forward, raising his hand to signal the start of the match. Roxas and Hayner exchanged one last glance, both with a mix of excitement and nervous energy.

"Let's get ready to Struggle!" the referee shouted, and with that, the match began.


Roxas v Hayner

Battle Music: Sinister Sundown - Kingdom Hearts II.5 HD ReMIX

Roxas tightened his grip on his Struggle bat, his eyes locked on Hayner, who was grinning confidently from across the arena. The air between them was tense, but there was an undercurrent of excitement, the thrill of competition coursing through both of them.

"Let's see what you've got, Roxas!" Hayner taunted, twirling his bat in his hand. "I'm not going easy on you just because we're friends!"

Roxas smirked, stepping forward.

"Wouldn't have it any other way, Hayner!"

From their booth above the Sandlot, Ratchet's voice boomed over the microphone.

"Alright, folks, here we go! The best friends turned rivals are going head-to-head in what promises to be an epic Struggle match!"

Clank, ever the analyst, chimed in.

"Indeed, Ratchet. Both Roxas and Hayner are well-matched in terms of skill, though Hayner seems to have a slight strength advantage."

"Bah!" Qwark scoffed, leaning into the mic, his larger-than-life persona oozing through every word. "Strength is important, but nothing beats the raw heroic spirit! And who better to judge that than me, Captain Qwark! Our reigning champion!"

Back in the arena, Roxas made the first move, charging forward with surprising speed. Hayner, prepared for this, braced himself and swung his bat up to block. The two weapons clashed with a loud thud, and the crowd cheered as the boys exchanged a quick series of blows.

"Nice try, but I'm not going down that easy!" Hayner shouted, managing to push Roxas back slightly.

Roxas stumbled for a moment but quickly regained his footing, spinning on his heel and delivering a wide horizontal swing aimed at Hayner's side. Hayner barely managed to block in time, gritting his teeth as he absorbed the impact.

"Roxas comes in with a surprise attack, but Hayner's got the defense locked down!" Ratchet called, leaning forward in his chair. "It's all about timing here, folks!"

Clank nodded as he announced, "A wise observation, Ratchet. Timing and endurance will be crucial if either of them hopes to take the upper hand."

"Yes, but let's not forget the most important factor—heroic valor!" Qwark interrupted, flexing for the nonexistent cameras. "They'll need every ounce of it if they want to face me in the final showdown!"

On the ground, Hayner took a deep breath, using his weight to push Roxas back.

"Alright, Roxas, time to get serious!" he called out, swinging his bat with full force. Roxas dodged, feeling the wind rush past him as Hayner's bat narrowly missed.

"Whoa!" Roxas yelped, darting backward. "That was close!"

Hayner grinned, "You're gonna have to be quicker than that!" he called out.

Roxas took a moment to size up his friend, his mind racing. Hayner was stronger, sure, but Roxas had the advantage of speed. He just needed to wait for the right opening. The crowd cheered as the two continued to circle each other, the intensity of the match growing by the second.

"Roxas is playing it smart, biding his time," Ratchet narrated, clearly impressed. "He knows Hayner's got the power, but if he waits for the perfect moment, he could turn this around."

Clank added, "Patience is a virtue in a match like this. It's not just about landing hits, but knowing when to strike."

Hayner, eager to press his advantage, rushed forward again with a series of powerful swings. Roxas dodged the first, blocked the second, and on the third swing, he saw his chance. With a quick sidestep, Roxas avoided Hayner's attack and countered with a quick, upward strike.

Hayner, caught off guard, took the hit square in the side. The impact sent him staggering back, losing a few of his orbs in the process. The crowd erupted into cheers as Roxas moved in to follow up.

"And there it is!" Ratchet exclaimed. "Roxas takes the lead with a well-timed counterattack! He's got the momentum now!"

Clank chimed in, "Indeed, that was a textbook example of waiting for the right moment to strike. Roxas may have just shifted the tide of this match."

Qwark, of course, wasn't about to be left out.

"Ah, yes! A champion in the making! But will it be enough to face me, the galactic hero, in the final showdown? Only time will tell!"

Back in the arena, Hayner gritted his teeth, pushing through the sting of the hit.

"Nice one, Roxas," he muttered. "But I'm not done yet!"

With renewed determination, Hayner charged at Roxas again, this time swinging low. Roxas, quick on his feet, jumped back, but Hayner anticipated the move and followed up with an overhead swing. Roxas barely blocked, but the force of the attack sent him skidding backward.

"Not bad, Hayner," Roxas grunted, wiping the sweat from his brow. "But I'm not gonna let you win that easily!"

"Bring it on!" Hayner shouted, and the two clashed once again, their Struggle bats colliding with a resounding thud.

The crowd was on the edge of their seats, watching as the two friends gave it everything they had. The air was thick with excitement, and neither Roxas nor Hayner was willing to back down.

Ratchet's voice boomed over the mic, "This is it, folks! The final moments of the match! Who's gonna come out on top?"

As the timer ticked down, Roxas saw his chance. With one last burst of speed, he feinted to the left, drawing Hayner's bat out of position, before spinning to the right and landing a clean hit to his friend's side.

Hayner, out of orbs and breath, stumbled back with a laugh.

"You got me, Roxas," he admitted, grinning despite his defeat.

The referee blew the whistle, and the crowd erupted into cheers.

"And there you have it!" Ratchet announced. "Roxas wins the first match of the tournament! What a fight!"

Clank added, "Both competitors showed tremendous skill and sportsmanship. A true display of friendship and rivalry."

Qwark, ever the showman, leaned into the mic, "Yes, but now the real challenge begins! Will Roxas have what it takes to face the galactic hero, Captain Qwark? Only time will tell!"

"Nice job, Roxas," Hayner said, clapping him on the back. "You earned it."

"Thanks, Hayner," Roxas replied with a grin. "But the tournament's not over yet!"


As Roxas and Hayner left the stage, still buzzing from their match, they almost walked right into Seifer, who was striding toward them with a determined glare.

"Out of the way," Seifer grumbled, brushing past them with his usual arrogance.

Hayner, never one to back down from a challenge, shot back, "You in a rush to lose?"

Roxas was about to chuckle at Hayner's remark when he suddenly noticed Vivi standing quietly next to him. Startled by the sudden appearance, Roxas blinked in surprise as Vivi looked up at him and gave a soft giggle before walking toward the center of the stage. There was something... off about Vivi, but Roxas couldn't quite put his finger on it.

In the arena, Seifer and Vivi stood face-to-face, the tension between them thick in the air.

"Don't mess with your elders," Seifer sneered, eyeing Vivi like an annoyance he was about to squash.

From commentary, Ratchet's voice boomed across the arena.

"Whew! Just look at those sparks fly! I guess Seifer didn't expect to fight one of his own boys today!"

Clank, ever the observer, chimed in.

"Indeed. A curious matchup, especially considering Seifer's confidence."

Captain Qwark, still basking in the glow of his own ego, leaned forward to add his thoughts.

"Ah, it's no surprise Seifer's overconfident! But a true hero must be prepared for anything, even the unexpected! Just like me, Captain Qwark, galactic champion!"

"Right..." Ratchet remarked.

Back in the arena, the tension built as Seifer and Vivi faced off. Seifer's cocky grin didn't falter as Vivi stood there, calm and unassuming. But the moment the match began, Vivi flew at Seifer with surprising speed, forcing Seifer to leap back in shock, barely dodging the attack.

"What the—?!" Seifer blurted, clearly caught off guard.

Vivi, relentless, chased after him with a flurry of rapid strikes, forcing Seifer to stay on the defensive.

Hayner, watching from the sidelines, gaped in disbelief.

"When did Vivi get so tough?" he mused.

Roxas shrugged, equally surprised by Vivi's sudden ferocity.

After several exchanges, Seifer finally managed to block one of Vivi's rapid slashes and knocked Vivi back, causing him to drop an orb.

"Now you're mine!" Seifer shouted, lunging forward to claim the orb.

But before Seifer could reach it, Vivi darted back into action, catching Seifer off guard with a sharp strike that sent him sprawling onto the ground. The crowd gasped, and for a moment, it seemed like time froze.

Clank, stammering in confusion, spoke into the mic.

"I-I'm not sure what just happened... Um...but...the winner is Vivi!"

"Well, folks, we didn't see that coming! Vivi, the underdog, takes down Seifer! What a twist!" Ratchet remarked into his mic.

Qwark, ever the dramatist, shook his head.

"Ah, but such is the fate of those who underestimate their opponents! A lesson I've never had to learn, of course!"

"Of course you haven't..." Ratchet sighed.

Seifer, rubbing the side of his face, his eyes narrowed in suspicion as he stared down at Vivi standing in the center of the stage. There was something... off.

"That's... that's not Vivi," Seifer muttered, his voice barely audible, but filled with conviction.

Roxas, standing on the sidelines, blinked in confusion.

"What?" he muttered, his brows furrowing as he tried to make sense of Seifer's words.

Before Roxas could press for an explanation, Fuu and Rai rushed to Seifer's side, helping him to his feet.

Seifer straightened up, turning fully to Roxas.

"Thrash 'im," he commanded, his voice grim but resolute.

With that cryptic remark hanging in the air, Seifer, Fuu, and Rai took off, disappearing into the crowd as quickly as they had come, leaving Roxas standing there, perplexed.

From the commentary booth, Ratchet's upbeat voice cut through the tension over the PA system.

"Alright folks, the next match to determine who will face Qwark in the finals will be between Roxas and Vivi!"

"Such excitement!" Clank added, his voice carrying a cheerful tone.

"And I look forward to facing the winner," Qwark chimed in, his usual cocky grin evident even through his words. "But no hard feelings if I win, of course."

"Oh boy..." Ratchet sighed, clearly exasperated by Qwark's over-the-top attitude.

Clank quickly took charge again, his professional tone returning.

"The next match will begin in ten minutes. Please, combatants, prepare and return to the stage shortly."

Roxas, still standing in the Sandlot, took a deep breath. His mind was spinning from Seifer's strange words, the odd tension in the air, and the upcoming match against Vivi, who had just displayed some incredible power.

But there was no time to dwell on it. Roxas glanced around, trying to gather his thoughts. He had a feeling this match wouldn't be as straightforward as the one against Hayner. Something was different.

To Be Continued in Part 2!


I'm having to make The Fourth Day into two parts, due to the length of the chapter. I feel The Fifth Day will be over two chapters also.

I hope you enjoyed Part 1 and the cameos of Ratchet and Clank.

Thanks for all the support and reviews. The follows and favourites of this story have been much appreciated.

Onto Part 2 - this will be released in a few days.