Shine Keyblade! Shine!

[Talmon]

Sora ran out into the open space, small buildings around this open circle. It’s where the heartless are – or more correctly – were. Sora searched for the heartless or the cause of their disappearance and spotted two children, much like Duncan and Erin. The girl had black hair, pinned back and plaited. She wore a simple burgundy cloak, akin to organisation XIII’s own, over her clothes. The boy, who had spiked blonde hair and freckles across the bridge of his nose, also wore the same cloak. Sora looked at their hands. In them were “Keyblades…” Sora muttered, shocked. He looked up at them and saw another man, also in a burgundy cloak. He watched as the man pulled the hood up, turned and walked away until shadows wrapped around him and pulled him into the ground but before he disappeared entirely he turned back
“Kill him” he ordered to his apprentices.

Both of them advanced quickly, charging straight for him. Sora stared in disbelief “Wait!” he yelled but the sound fell on deaf ears as the boy’s blade flew at him from the right and the girl’s from the left. He raised his own keyblade and deflected both hits “Who are you?” he asked before a blow to the head knocked him back and then two more swipes at his ankles had him leaping away. “Looks like you don’t feel like talking” Sora grumbled as both of them ran at him again. This time the girl leapt into the air and brought her keyblade down with force. Sora ignored her and focussed on the boy who swiped wildly at him. He blocked each attack and then booted the boy in the chest, sending him staggering back. He lifted his keyblade just in time to catch the girl. A grimace spread across her face as she pushed against him and then bounded back as her companion threw his keyblade. “They’re just children…” Sora muttered, but before he could finish his thought train he had to dodge the attack to the head and then the rapier-like thrust from the girl.

‘They make a deadly team’ he thought inside his head, trying to focus on what was going on. The boy was suddenly behind him and stabbing. Sora ignored it; leaping forwards he parried the slash from the girl and then threw her into her friend. “I don’t want to hurt you, please. We don’t have to fight. Who are you?” Sora begged, panting slightly. He wasn’t as young as he pretended to be.
“Shut up, old man” the boy growled, charging forwards along with the girl. His voice wasn’t even broken
“You can’t even shave and yet you’re killing already?” Sora asked, parrying each slash from the two. A swipe at his side was narrowly avoided by ducking and smacking them both in the stomach with the side of his keyblade.
“Let’s stop playing, fight us, gramps” the girl seethed, anger flashing in her eyes
“A true Keyblade Wielder would always keep their emotions in check” Sora corrected her, watching them closely

The girl spat on the ground and then ran at him, brandishing her weapon, without her companion this time. ‘I have to take her out or this will go on too long’ Sora watched her movements closely and then made one of his own as she darted at him from the side. He blocked her attack, dropped his keyblade and fired two balls of fire. She dodged both but a slash into her unsuspecting left side knocked her to the ground where her head bounced and she lay, still. The boy roared; his voice crackling before he charged

* * *

Duncan narrowed his eyes as Dillan lifted the blade once more and slashed low this time. He blocked the attack and then moved to counter but he paused as he saw Auron carefully watching. “Dillan, just keep trying,” Erin cheered “If you do well I’ll take you both out for ice-cream!” she promised with a grin and a thumbs up. She realised Dillan’s new found confidence and leaned back against the wall, looking at Auron “Reckon he’ll get better?”
“With time, maybe…” Auron replied, smirking slightly

* * *

“I’m not here to hurt you two. Tell me who you are” Sora insisted but a series of violent, powerful slashes knocked him back a little. Sora parried one, knocking the boy’s keyblade up above his head and then thrust his hand around the kid’s throat. The boy struggled, kicking and screaming but Sora held him at arm’s length and up off the ground.

“Tell me who you are” Sora demanded, loosening his grip slightly
“I’ll never talk” he growled.
“This isn’t a videogame kid, I’ll kill you if I have to” Sora threatened, although it was an empty threat he knew it would have the desired effect
“No you won’t” the boy called his bluff with a straight face. Sora tightened his grip until the boy turned purple in the face and then loosened it again
“I won’t ask again, next time its lights out” Sora told him
“Fine!” he hissed. “I’m Russel” he looked away after speaking, ashamed that he had given in
“How did you get this?” Sora asked, grabbing the keyblade from the boy. He noticed that after he took the keyblade it appeared back in the boy’s hand, somewhat reluctantly
“I found it” Sora shook him “Fine. Our master gave them to us”
“Who is she, and just who is your master?”
“She’s Lexy and our master is” the boy growled but he stopped before he finished, Sora looked at him, confused until he felt a painful blow in between his shoulders. He released Russel and jumped back, looking to see the Lexy stood up, slightly disoriented but ready to fight.

The dull throb on his spine intensified as he stood back up “Did it hurt?” Lexy teased
“Let’s finish him off” Russel told her, rubbing his throat and catching his breath.
“Good idea” Lexy grinned and began to walk towards him slowly “Let’s make sure the old man goes out with a bang!” she laughed as she saw Sora’s eyes narrow. “What’s the matter, cat’s got your tongue?”
“Just tell me…” he gritted his teeth in pain “Why did you come here?” Sora groaned, watching them both as they advanced
“To train” Russel replied but a glare from Lexy stopped him from going any further
“It doesn’t matter, we’ve got our orders. And we won’t fail him” The sound of an explosion filled the air and suddenly Lexy was on the floor, clutching her chest as blood began to leak from it. Sora looked to see Leon, gunblade poised at the boy. Russel grimaced at them both before he grabbed Lexy and the darkness pulled them into the ground
“Wait!” Sora shouted, falling to his knees and grasping at them “Why are the heartless back again!?” he yelled, trying to claw them back but Russel simply glared angrily back at him.

Leon walked over and touched Sora on the shoulder “They’re gone buddy” he told him, kneeling down to his level “Are you okay?” he asked. Sora became steely and got to his feet
“I’m fine” he insisted, brushing himself off but a tinge of pain caused him to bend over and grasp at the spot that was hurting
“Are you sure about that?” Leon chuckled
“Yeah”
“Okay then, let’s sit down over here” Leon indicated a bench. Sora looked at him and then finally nodded, walking over and sitting with him on the dark brown wooden bench. “Who were they?” Leon asked after a while, breaking the eerie silence.
“I’m not sure yet, but I plan to find out, and find out about everything else that’s going on,” Sora turned to look at Leon “It’s time for the Mark of Mastery Exam” he announced.
“Are you sure they’re ready?” Leon asked, looking at Sora with a worried look
“It’s time” Sora finalised, getting up and grabbing the star shard. “I’ve got to find Allissa” Sora told him before he turned into three beams of blue and spiralled up and away. Leon turned and saw the darkness nearing in his dead eyes. He got up immediately and ran as fast as he could, he had to keep moving.

* * *

Duncan easily blocked a slice from his right and then another from his left. “This is boring” he sighed
“Give it time. Dillan needs to get used to using the keyblade. He needs to develop his own style” Auron insisted, urging Dillan on with a gesture of his hand. Dillan nodded and grabbed the handle with both hands and pulled it straight down on Duncan who blocked it tiredly but didn’t see the attack from the right that came after and was knocked onto the ground. “He’s already improving” Auron laughed as Duncan lay on the floor, face tensed with anger. He leapt up and swung violently at Dillan who just barely blocked the blow and then again, hitting him on the shoulder and cutting him. The third strike was stopped by Auron’s sword which was then pushed up, knocking the blade from Duncan’s hands. “Go to your room” Auron ordered. Duncan stormed out
“I’m going!” he shouted before slamming the door shut. Erin winced at the sound and then walked over to Dillan
“I’m sorry” Dillan whimpered “Did I do something wrong?”
“No, don’t be silly” Erin chirped “You did great, come on, I’ll help you” Erin told him with a smile. Dillan looked up and beamed
“‘Kay!”

* * *

Sora stroked one of the little squirrels in the small woodland “What do you want?” a voice asked as a keyblade touched Sora’s shoulder.
“I knew I’d find you here” Sora smiled as he stroked the little animal once more and then stood up to face her “Allissa, it’s been too long” Sora smiled, moving for a hug.
“I asked you a question” Alissa replied, pushing him back with the tip of her keyblade. It had a pale blue handle with a second, shorter handle also sticking out of the same spot but veering to the right with a little flick. The actual blade was made up of two intertwining fuchsia poles with ended in a point with three more fuchsia sticks close together – forming the teeth of the keyblade – sticking out perpendicular to the rest.
“I’m here to ask you to help me examine the Mark of Mastery Exams” Sora told her, ignoring the keyblade pressed into his chest
“Who are you?” she asked, looking closely at him as a stray yellow hair fluttered into her vision
“Don’t you remember your old master?” a nudge from the keyblade and narrowed eyes worried Sora a little “I’m Sora”
“Prove it” she insisted, jabbing him “Fight me”
“Why don’t you believe me?” Sora pondered
“Sora would be a whole lot younger than you old man” she growled.

Sora thought through in his head and then noticed how he looked to the outside world “You weren’t there, were you?” Sora talked aloud
“What are you on about?” Allissa panicked and slashed at him but Sora dodged with ease
“It doesn’t matter” Sora mumbled “Look into my eyes Allissa and tell me I’m not me” Sora insisted, bringing his face close to her.
“Anyone could have those eyes” she retorted, dismissively. She lowered her keyblade and walked towards him and placed her hand on his chest, where his heart was. Suddenly her eyes burst wide and her keyblade slipped from her grasp; the heart keychain clinked as it hit the ground and then vanished.

* * *

Erin stood Dillan up and held out his arm, she opened his palm and grabbed the keyblade from the floor. She looked him in the eyes and placed it in his hand. Before his arm could fall under the weight she held it up with her left hand and reached to Dillan’s left hand “Put both hands on” she told him, moving his left hand onto the handle and then releasing. Dillan just barely managed to hold it up, his face contorted in strain “Keep holding it, you’ll get used to the weight if you use it more in battle” she told him as she held out her hand and summoned her own keyblade.

* * *

“It- It’s you…” Allissa stammered, staggering back until she fell over a fallen branch and had to look up at the old man who was holding a hand out for her “I don’t- I don’t believe it” she stuttered on the words, unable to speak.
“Yeah, it’s been too long Allissa” Sora held out his hand and smiled “Take my hand”
“Okay” she whispered, in disbelief as she grabbed the no-longer-young hand and was helped to her feet “What happened?” Allissa mouthed. Sora shook his head and they both turned and began to walk.

Sora waited a while before he spoke next “So… what of my proposal?” he asked as they walked towards the edge of the woodland
“It’s interesting, I’ll admit” Allissa bit her lip “Why now, Master Sora?” she asked, sure of his identity now
“I just think that there has never been a better time, Allissa. Will you come back with me?” he asked her, taking in the new appearance of his old apprentice. Her hair was a lot paler than it used to be, and curlier too. Her skin was slightly more tanned, but it never rained on Windswept Hollow, so that explained that. She was wearing a purple tank top underneath her white jacket which was unzipped just past her chest. One sleeve of the jacket, the arm she didn’t fight with, covered her hand and the other arm had no sleeve at all. A red silk sash was tied around her waist with the two ends fluttering behind her, matching the outlines around the pockets on her jacket. She had four: One on each side of her, larger than life, chest and one either side below those two. She wore matching white pants with two pockets on her right leg and one on her left. Just below the second pocket on her left leg was another red silk sash, this time tied in a tight bow. Her hi-tops were white, with a red sole and outline and black laces. Around her neck was a red, silk scarf which she had placed back over her mouth, now she was no longer facing what she assumed was a foe.

“Sora, you’re hiding something” Allissa replied as they walked
“Allissa, it’s best if I do. Given the circumstances…”
“What are the circumstances?”
“It’s not of your concern” Sora snapped, regretting it as Allissa scowled
“Do you want me to come back or not?” Allissa retorted, her face quickly becoming blank again
“I’ve never seen someone control their emotions as well as you”
“I wasn’t always like this, I became what was required of me” Allissa replied, stepping over a log after Sora and turning to him “Whatever it is, you don’t have to face it alone” she told him, assuring him of her support with a light touch on his shoulder
“I’m aware, but back to the matter at hand,” Sora stopped as they walked into the meadow that surrounded the woodland “Will you help me now?” he asked, smiling broadly
“Fine” Allissa stated. She turned and held on to him as the star shard sucked them both away.

* * *

Erin’s keyblade was simple in design. It had a silver handle, with a small silver square jutting out on one side of the handle which covered her knuckles. Erin lifted it and held it so that her fist was facing forwards and the blade – in her right hand – jutted out to the left. The actual blade was three red poles, packed close together with the teeth of the keyblade being three red spirals with the uppermost tooth having a thin gold cuboid covering it. It was about medium length as keyblades went. She blinked once and then flipped through the air, landing behind Dillan, keyblade poised to strike “Parry my attack!” she shouted, swinging it towards his right side from behind him. Dillan turned to his right and held the blade, shakily in the way. Erin stopped mid- attack and swung higher “Stop this too” she shouted, keeping his attention focussed on her while they fought. Erin pulled the blade back from his shakily held keyblade “Try harder” she shouted, sweeping his feet. Dillan fell into a heap on the floor and sniffed “You need to look at my weapon, and me, at all times” Erin told him, kindly bending down to his level. “Okay?” she moved his hands away from his eyes and wiped the tears
“‘Kay” Dillan sniffled.

“That’ll be enough” a familiar voice announced as the door swung open. Auron raised open one eye to look at the person who had just barged in.

[Talmon]

“Knock knock” a familiar voice chimed from the other side of Duncan’s door following with a slight tap on the door
“Who’s there?” Duncan sighed; he threw the small plastic ball against the wall again, catching it as it bounced across the floor and back into his hands.
“The big bad wolf,” the female sarcastically replied “Who the Fairy Dust do you think it is” she laughed
“Allissa?” Duncan quizzed, sitting up on his eagerly on his bed and catching the ball
“The one and only” she chirped, twisting the doorknob and walking in. “What’s troubling you?” she asked, walking over to his bed and sitting on the edge of it.
“The new kid” Duncan replied, frowning
“New kid?”
“Yeah, Sora found some kid and now they’re getting all the attention. Erin and uncle Auron keep siding with them and everything” Duncan moped
“I see…” Allissa muttered, “You’re all sore cause no one obsesses over you, am I right?” she asked, turning to look at him
“That’s not it!” Duncan protested, jumping up off the bed and stamping his foot fervently
“Sit down” Allissa sighed “Look, all I’m saying is you’re not a kid anymore, Duncan” Duncan had always loved that she never teased him like Erin did. “So you have to start acting maturely, men don’t throw tantrums” Allissa explained, turning to face him and tapping the bed. Duncan looked back at her fiercely but eventually he broke under her gaze and sat back down on the bed.

“But why are Erin and Auron siding with them?” Duncan whined,
“Duncan, do you remember when you first got here and you and Erin used to argue all the time?” Allissa asked, pushing a stray lock behind her ear
“Yeah…”
“Well, do you also remember how no matter what I looked after you over Erin?” Duncan didn’t respond so Allissa turned to face him “Well?” she asked him as he quickly got redder and redder
“I do” he mumbled
“You needed someone to look after you, and now the new boy needs someone looking after him” Allissa explained “You need to grow up Duncan, the Mark of Mastery Exam is happening very soon” Allissa chided him. Duncan collapsed into the pillows and groaned
“You’re doing it too!” he moaned
“Doing what?” she chirped, ruffling his hair
“Siding with the new boy, hey wait…” Duncan sat up and looked at her “how did you know it was a boy?”
“If it was a girl you’d be head over heels for them, at least I hope so” Allissa laughed
“Shut up” Duncan sulked, hitting her with the pillow
“That’s how you want to play it, huh?” Allissa asked, tickling him on his sides until he was rolling all over the bed, crying with laughter “I thought I said men don’t cry” she teased, tickling him all over
“It’s- cause- your- tickling- me,” Duncan took a deep breath in “So much!” he shouted, laughing throughout.

Allissa eventually stopped and sat back up on the bed “Promise me that you’ll look after everyone, Duncan?” Allissa asked him, kissing him on the head
“Yeah- Yeah, sure” Duncan stammered, feeling the change in atmosphere
“Good boy” she smiled, ruffling his hair. “Come on, we best go catch up to Sora” Allissa told him with a smile.

* * *

“You’re back already?” Auron asked, looking at a rather tired Sora
“Auron, go call Yen Sid please” Sora asked his old friend, stepping aside to allow Auron to pass. Auron nodded, leaning away from the wall and then walking out slowly. He paused and leaned close to Sora
“That kid, Dillan, he’s not normal, Sora”
“I know” Sora whispered, not turning to look back “I need you to call up an old friend to find out why after you fetch Yen Sid” Sora added, before slipping into the room. Erin bowed slightly
“Welcome back, master Sora” she chimed
“Erin, get into your Wielder Clothing” Sora ordered, not taking part in pleasantries. Erin stammered a little
“Su- Sure” she stood back up and rushed from the room hastily leaving Dillan alone with Sora.
“Dillan I’d like you to come with me” Sora told him, holding out his hand
“O- Okay” Dillan muttered, walking towards Sora and grabbing his hand. Sora walked out, Dillan in tow, and headed to the staircase, descending quickly. From behind them came Allissa and Duncan.
“Be nice” Allissa hissed. Dillan turned and smiled at Duncan who, after receiving an elbow jab from Allissa, smiled back.

* * *

Auron stood at the window of one of the castle’s turrets and looked out across the land. “Don’t take too long” Auron grumbled as he picked up the falcon with a letter tied around its ankle and held out of the window. “Fly” he nudged the bird with his other hand until it eventually took off “Stupid bird” he growled, turning around he took in the sight of the small, circular room. Bird cages lined the walls on stone shelves and a simple wooden door with a brass knocker lay ahead. Auron pulled on the knocker and the stiff door swung open, allowing him to leave.

* * *

Sora walked over to the front door, allowing Allissa to usher Dillan past. They stopped for a second, facing towards the kitchen as Allissa remembered the layout before they went left and into the upper door of the two. Sora watched them go, smiling slightly at Allissa forgetfulness before he turned back to Dillan. He knelt down to Dillan’s height and brought him a little closer “I need you to wait just outside of this door for me Dillan, can you do that?” Sora asked, motioning to the door with his head
“Sure” Dillan chirped
“Good boy, I won’t be long” Sora promised as he stood up and ruffled the boy’s hair. Sora started walking towards the door Allissa had just walked into but stopped halfway and turned back to Dillan “Just outside, don’t go wandering” Sora warned him with a wag of his finger
“Yup!” Dillan chimed, opening the heavy door with a strained face and then closing it behind him again. Sora looked at the door briefly before turning back to enter the room
“Sora” Auron called, rushing down the stairs
“What?” Sora asked, still walking
“Wait a second” Auron insisted, walking up next to him as Sora stopped
“What is it?” Sora asked, curiously
“Do you remember that beast from all that time ago?”
“Of course”
“Well, there have been sightings of it again, this time in Traverse Town. Apparently it’s sleeping, dormant, but I’m not sure for how long” Auron explained, holding out a small letter. Sora read it briefly before crumpling it up and handing it back
“Allow it to sleep for now, this exam is important” Sora insisted, turning back and walking into the room.

The room was tastefully decorated in red, gold and black. At the back of the long room was a small table with three chairs of equal height. Each chair was adorned in gold and had a black and red geometric pattern printed on the fabric. The table had been painted with various geometric patterns in the room’s colour scheme and had three sheets of paper and three pens – one set for each chair – on top of it. The walls were painted red with a black border and skirting board and the floor was simple red wooden panels. Duncan stood in the middle of the room, facing Allissa who sat on the rightmost chair from the door. Sora walked over and took a seat in the middle chair looking at Duncan briefly before making a note and circling it on the sheet of paper in front of him. Allissa briefly glanced at it but didn’t understand the cryptic handwriting of her master and so turned her attention to Duncan. “Erin is taking ages, as per usual…” Allissa groaned, placing her elbows onto the table and leaning forwards slightly.

As soon as Allissa finished speaking Erin entered and she looked entirely different to how she usually did. Her auburn fringe had been swept to the left side and the rest of her hair hung down onto her chest on both sides. She wore an asymmetric shirt which revealed the left side of her chest, her left shoulder and left arm while her right arm was covered down to the fingertips with the sleeve. Her necklace was just barely visible in the tightfitting shirt which left just enough to the imagination. A pink shoulder pad with turquoise lining covered her right shoulder and she wore a red wristband on her left wrist. Around her midriff she wore two green belts around her waist, one horizontally and the other diagonally from her right side to her left thigh. Her trousers legs were different lengths with the left stopping halfway down her thigh and the right stopping before her ankle, she had 5 ‘X’s’ made from a red and a black ribbon on both her right arm and right leg. Her left hi-top was green with white details and a red tongue while the right was red with white details and a green tongue. “You’re looking older” Allissa mused, looking over her older sparring partner.
“Thanks, I guess” Erin replied, walking in front of the desk and standing to attention.

Sora looked up after noticing Erin and smiled, then turned his head to Duncan “Duncan, stand to the side please” he asked
“Aren’t I taking the exam?” Duncan asked, Allissa turned to Sora
“Master Sora?” she raised an eyebrow. He ignored Allissa entirely and put his hands together, clenching them and resting his chin on top
“I’m afraid not, this time, Duncan”
“Bu- Why!? Erin is!” he protested, stamping his foot angrily
“You aren’t ready Duncan, Erin will take her exam alone” Sora stated simply, ignoring the whining
“Allissa!” Duncan shouted, shocked
“Sorry Duncan, I’m not able to decide if you’re ready or not, that’s down to Master Sora…” Allissa replied, keeping her cool “Now I think we should allow Erin to take her exam,” she stood up and walked over to Duncan “Please stand over there?” she asked, kindly, indicating a spot near the door. Duncan scrunched his face up angrily and stormed over, mumbling under his breath. Allissa walked back over to her seat and sat down.

* * *

Dillan sat staring out down the pathway, bored already. “How long do I have to sit here” he moaned, looking around for Sora. Suddenly he noticed some sweets on the corner of the path which curved to the right. Only a small bag but they looked so good! “I’m sure he won’t mind if I just get them and come back” Dillan told himself before wandering over to the sweets and picking them up, as he picked them up he spotted a larger back further along the path which turned to the right so he dropped the first and looked back at the front door “It’s not far” he assured himself.

* * *

Auron paced back and forth, deep in thought. He walked to the front door and peered out, but nothing was there. “What is this feeling?” he whispered, grabbing his head with his sword hand and clenching his hand in his greying black hair and pulling. “I can’t put my finger on it” he growled

* * *

“You must defeat these orbs of light in order to go on to the next stage of becoming a keyblade master” Sora announced, waving his hand out in front of him. Seven small orbs of light appeared behind Erin, humming ominously. “If you do not think you can complete the task it’s better to say now” Sora assured her. Erin looked at the orbs and then back at Sora
“Piece of cake” she grinned and swung her right arm out. Her keyblade appeared and she grabbed it like she had before
“You may begin”
“Good luck” Allissa added before Erin charged forwards. As soon as she neared the orbs they began to move quickly, spreading out from their line formation and immediately trying to flank Erin. Erin stopped and spun round in a circle. The tip of her keyblade clipped one of the orbs, knocking it to the ground so Erin stopped and leapt into the air. She turned mid-air so that her back was pointing towards the roof and then spun rapidly until she reached the ground and finished off the orb. The other six immediately bashed her backwards and began charging as soon as they had. Erin grunted and caught her balance, brandishing her keyblade in front of her.

* * *

Dillan picked up the sweets and opened the bag, taking one out and taking a bite. As he bit into the cherry flavoured sweet he immediately wanted another. “There must be another in here” he assured himself, thrusting his hand in and pulling out: a lime then a lemon and finally a strawberry. He threw the bag onto the ground and looked through them all but to no avail. As he knelt on the ground he spotted a small cherry sweet in the corner of his eye. He turned his head to the left and spotted one further along the path. He ran over to it immediately but as he reached it the sweet moved away. “You’re a tricky one…” Dillan whined, running after it as it continually darted away from him.

* * *

Erin finished off her second, third and fourth orbs with a spectacular combo of fire magic and wide slashes. She turned to the final three and panted a little, it wouldn’t be easy. “Fire” she shouted, firing a ball of fire from her keyblade, it was far bigger than something she could conjure on her own and it began to follow one of the orbs, chasing it away from the other two. She charged at the remaining two, flipping her blade so that the hand guard was now facing the other way. She clasped her other hand on top of her right and swung the blade down, obliterating one of the orbs while taking a heavy body blow from the other. As she took the hit she switched the keyblade to her left hand and slashed, finishing off the sixth orb. She skidded to a halt and put the keyblade back into her right hand as the orb ran straight towards her to evade the fire. Turning to the side so that her keyblade’s tip was facing it she waited until it was close enough and stabbed, finishing it off and catching the fire with the keyblade. Her keyblade vanished and she panted, resting her hands on her knees “That- was hard work” she leaned back and breathed deeply
“Good job” Sora commented “Your second trial will be much more difficult though,”

* * *

Dillan dived onto the sweet as it stopped and eventually got hold of the little cherry flavoured sweet. He wiped the mud from his face and ate the sweet “It tastes of string” he moaned, before realising he was chewing on a string that had been inside the cherry sweet. He spat the sweet out and looked up “You’re finally here” a figure dressed in a burgundy cloak mused, smiling slightly from under the cover of the hood
“Who are you?” Dillan asked, looking around and climbing backwards without taking his eyes off the malevolent figure
“My name is not of importance, however you, and your name… you shine ever so brightly”
“Dillan is a normal name…” Dillan muttered
“I mean your real name,” The man walked forwards, his cloak traipsing across the ground “and now you are away from that crackpot we can really bring out your name and all the power you hold”
“Master Sora?” Dillan queried, shuffling further back until he felt his back hit a tree.
“Is that what he likes to go by now? It’s not like he earned any such title” the mysterious figure moved right in front of Dillan “How’d you like to show me your heart, eh?”
“I- I wouldn’t” Dillan quavered, placing his quivering hands over his chest
“Now, now, don’t be silly” the man chided playfully “I wasn’t asking” he growled, reaching down and grabbing Dillan by the scruff of his shirt and lifting him into the air

* * *

“You’ll be facing me in combat” Allissa announced, standing up and walking out in front of the desk, much to a stunned Sora, Duncan and Erin
“Allissa” Sora protested, weakly
“Sora, go check on the new kid, I’ll handle the exam, after all I know Erin well enough to know what kind of strength she possesses” Allissa insisted, summoning her keyblade.
“Okay…” Sora mumbled, leaving slowly, patting Duncan on the shoulder as he left

“Sora” Auron intruded, stopping him
“Auron, I need you to leave. You’re bringing up too many memories” Sora told him as he walked straight past his old friend
“But-”
“Auron, I thank you for your assistance but it’s no longer required, I need you to leave” Sora insisted, opening the door and stepping out. He immediately noticed a lack of Dillan “Where is he?” Sora panicked slightly “Auron, where is he?” he asked, testily
“I’ve got no idea. I’ll help you look” Auron replied, raising an eyebrow and walking out hastily. He closed the door behind him and walked down the path “I’ll go straight down, and you go left” Auron told him, running off down the path with one hand on his sword.
“Got it” Sora shouted, running left

* * *

“I won’t be going easy on you, Erin. I want you to be prepared” Allissa announced
“I know” Erin replied, steadying herself
“Good, then you’re ready” Allissa held out her right hand and summoned another keyblade. The handle was made up of a smiling face turned clockwise, with the mouth hollowed out so it could be held. The blade was two midnight blue blades with a gap in the middle and for the teeth of the key it had a frowning face turned anti-clockwise. The keychain was a face that was neither happy nor sad.
“Don’t hold back, Erin” Allissa repeated before charging, both blades trailing behind her as she ran. Erin lifted her blade defensively just in time for Allissa to start unleashing a barrage of blows. She slashed with her Emotion keyblade and then with Path to the Heart keyblade, and then repeated, knocking Erin to the floor. Allissa immediately slashed with the Emotion keyblade but Erin blocked it and pushed back. Allissa staggered backwards as Erin bounded to her feet and spun, holding out her blade. “Nearly perfect defence you’ve got going, Erin” Allissa commented, looking at the teenager continue to spin on the spot “But you can’t attack, and I see my opening” Allissa announced, leaping into the air. She threw her Emotion keyblade at Erin, hoping to end it quickly but Erin stopped spinning and blocked the attack, sending the keyblade spinning through the air. She held her blade as Allissa fell down, swinging her other keyblade into Erin’s, hard. Erin grunted as the metal clashed, sending sparks outwards. Allissa pushed her foot out and kicked Erin in the chest, knocking her back and giving herself the leverage to flip back and away to her other keyblade.

* * *

“Please,” Dillan begged “Don’t hurt me”
“It’ll only hurt a bit” the man promised, laughing slightly
“Please” Dillan sobbed, terrified “I won’t tell anyone you’re here. Just let me go. Please!”
“I can’t do that, little boy. See I need to see your little heart and no amount of pleading will stop me” he held out his free hand and summoned a strange black and red keyblade that Dillan couldn’t really make out through his tears.
“Please… let me go” Dillan begged, trying to calm himself down
“Don’t struggle or you’ll only make this harder for yourself”
“No!” Dillan wailed as the mysterious person lifted the keyblade towards his chest
“Don’t you want your sweet? You can have it if you shut up” the man promised, nodding towards the sweet which sat nearby
“No,” Dillan sobbed “Please, just leave me alone!” he cried, writhing about.
“I’m sure Russel would like to eat it instead, how about instead I just take a look at your heart and you get nothing?” he asked rhetorically, lifting the keyblade to Dillan’s chest and pressing the tip against him
“P- please” Dillan quivered, feeling meek after failing to escape or negotiate.

* * *

A loud explosion rocked the room pausing the fight “Let’s go” Allissa told them, picking up her keyblade and running
“What about the exam?” Erin shouted after her
“Forget it for now, come on!” she shouted, pulling Duncan with her as she ran out of the room “Hey Duncan, has Sora given you your keyblade yet?” Allissa asked, running up to the front door and swinging it open
“Ye- Yeah” Duncan stammered as Erin caught up and followed them out of the house, slamming the door behind her.
“You might need it, I want you and Erin to stay close” Allissa told him, running right and towards the explosion.

* * *

“What was that?” Sora asked, looking around as he stood near a small pond. He searched for the location but couldn’t determine it as it bounced off the surrounding mountains and hills. “I think it came from there” he assured himself, running towards it.

* * *

“That came from over there” Auron noted, ignoring the echoes of the forest and running towards the sound. “It must be Dillan, I just wonder what’s exploding” he grumbled.

* * *

Allissa left her two younger companions behind and stopped as she saw a mysterious figure in a small opening within the forest. She ran into the opening as soon as she spotted Dillan on the floor, his body limp and lifeless. She skidded in front of the mysterious man and glared at him “What’ve you done?” she growled as he rubbed his wrist
“Nothing that concerns you, reject” he snapped
“Who are you calling a reject?” she seethed, holding back the greater extent of her emotions and readying her weapons
“You were the one that got away, weren’t you?” he laughed
“You won’t get away” Allissa reassured him, stepping forwards slightly
“You expect to stop me?” he asked, summoning his keyblade
“I can’t believe that you think I couldn’t. I’m Master Allissa of Windswept Hollow and the only trio wielder around. You have everything to fear” she stated, her eyes flashing with anger for a second. Duncan and Erin ran up behind her and got into a battle stance. The man seemed a little taken aback and his keyblade vanished
“My work here is done anyway, goodbye, I’ll keep my eye on you two” he told them as he turned to walk away
“You’re not getting away that easily!” Allissa shouted, charging and swinging her keyblade but shadows burst from the ground and pulled him down until he vanished. Auron came running into the clearing, and looked around
“What happened?” he asked, rushing over to Dillan and checking his pulse “It’s weak” he whispered
“Some dude was going to fight Allissa” Duncan explained
“Erin, I’m afraid your Mark of Mastery will have to be delayed” Auron announced as he checked over Dillan
“It’s fine, we’ll let the kid rest” Allissa interrupted
“It’s not fine” Auron replied, presenting a letter to her.

* * *

Sora came running into the clearing to see Duncan and Erin sat near a passed out Dillan and Auron and Allissa deep in conversation “What’s going on?” he asked, panting heavily
“Master Sora, you better come read this” Allissa insisted. Sora walked over and stood near the other two, reading the letter that Allissa was holding
“It’s a mother?” Sora asked
“Well someone spotted eggs near it recently and it has begun to stir” Allissa replied, reading the letter again
“We need to take action” Auron insisted, glancing at Erin and Duncan
“There is… another problem too” Auron whispered
“What?” Sora hissed, beginning to let the stress aggravate him
“There have also been heartless sighting all over Twilight Town and tonight is The Festival of Jubilee”
“That’s a double complication” Allissa sighed
“We’ll work around it, but what do we do with Erin, Duncan and Dillan?” Auron assured them
“We can’t leave them here!” Allissa insisted, looking at the two she considered siblings
“But we can’t take them into what could be a warzone” Sora muttered
“It’s better now than never” Auron looked at Sora and waited for his reply
“Well, Sora?” Allissa quizzed
“We will take them, but they will stay back and look after Dillan at all times” Sora finalised

[Talmon]

“Lexy, I’m bored” Russel whined as he sat on top of one of the taller buildings surrounding the mother monster. Lexy turned her head to face him
“Just be patient, they’ll arrive soon and then we can finish off that old man”
“What if that stabby guy arrives again?”
“Then we kill him too. Get your head together, Russ”
“Oh- Okay”

* * *

Sora turned back around to the group “You two both want to progress, right?” he asked; after the two nodded eagerly he smiled. “Well then, we’re going to go to Traverse Town, I want you two to come with us but you have to look after Dillan, that is your job” Sora explained, walking towards them and retrieving the Star Shard. It looked like a little blue star with a green circle in the centre and a smaller green star inside of that. One of the points of the blue star was replaced by a stationary bolt of green energy. Allissa and Auron walked over to Sora and touched him lightly on his shoulders. Erin and Duncan touched Dillan and then Sora and they all closed their eyes as the star shard whisked them away.

* * *

“They’re still not here” Russel moaned, leaning back against the rooftop
“Russel!” a voice chided. Russel and Lexy spun to see their master appearing from behind them “You two need to focus. They are about to arrive” he explained as five dark portals appeared around him and small heartless began to burst from them in large numbers, spilling over the edge of the building. “Do not screw this up again” he demanded before the darkness wrapped around his body and he was pulled back in, making the portals vanish
“Russ, summon your keyblade, it’s time” Lexy ordered
“Got it” both of them held out their hands and their keyblades appeared in a flash.

* * *

They appeared in a swirl of matter just outside of Cid’s shop. “Stay close” Sora ordered as he, Allissa and Auron ran off at speed towards the centre of District 2. Erin and Duncan grunted as they lifted Dillan and started running, trying to keep up but the weight of the younger child while running made it hard for them to keep up.

* * *

“Auron, open the gate” Sora ordered, ignoring the fact his apprentices were so far behind
“What about-”
“Open the gate.” Sora demanded, staring at him as he withdrew his keyblade from its holster. Allissa nodded and summoned her Path to the Heart keyblade. Auron held up his blade and spun it around forming a red cloud of smoke but before he could release the chains the doors swung open. They all looked at each other but dismissed it quickly and ran through, they didn’t have long.

* * *

“Wait up!” Duncan yelled but before he took another step a heartless burst out of the ground
“Look after Dillan” Erin ordered, summoning her keyblade and turning to face the Darkside heartless. The huge monstrosity that easily towered over all of the surrounding buildings had piercing yellow eyes and a large heart-shaped hole in its chest. It swiped with one of its huge arms forcing Erin to lift up her keyblade to defend Duncan and Dillan and subsequently be sent flying into a building. “Duncan, run!” Erin yelled, climbing out of the small crater and brushing herself down. “Fira!” She screamed, unleashing a large ball of fire which knocked the beast backwards slightly. Duncan took his chance and retreated with Dillan until they were next to Erin.
“Are you sure you can fight it alone?” Duncan asked, looking up at the overbearing creature that was now craning its neck back
“I’ll have to” Erin replied, running forwards “Thundara!” she screamed, firing bolts of thunder into its opening mouth. It shook its head and swiped with both hands, grasping around Erin. She screamed in pain but it quickly threw her onto the ground and lifted its right arm, forming a ball of dark energy. “Duncan, get ready!” Erin yelled, pushing herself back up.

* * *
The three ran out into the town square to see the mother sleeping with four smaller creatures at her belly, drinking milk. The strange elephant seemed to be strangely different to last time “You sense it too?” Auron asked walking around the edge of the square with Allissa next to him
“It’s them!” Allissa shouted, pointing up to the tower to see two children and hundreds of heartless spilling down the sides of the building
“You know them too?” Sora asked as Allissa started running towards the tower
“I spotted them a while ago, yeah” Allissa called back “For now, let’s kill these shadows” Allissa threw her keyblade and summoned her other blade as it struck two of the heartless, turning them into hearts. Auron spun his blade, creating the red vapour once more and unleashing the chains which flew out and stabbed several of the creatures before disappearing agan.
“Firaga!” Sora yelled, unleashed ball after ball of fire into the creatures but they seemed to keep coming.

* * *

“When can we attack?” Russel asked, anxiously
“Wait, if we attack now then we will lose. We have to awaken the beast” Lexy explained. She grabbed a stone and threw it at the beast, “Well?” she growled at Russel. He nodded and they both continued to throw stones at the elephant like creature that was sleeping.

* * *

“They’re trying to wake it up!” Allissa yelled
“I’ll stop the beast, Sora, you fight the heartless, Allissa, take out the kids once and for all” Auron shouted, running towards the beast which suddenly, and without warning reared its head and roared. Allissa nodded and slashed at the heartless in her way. She looked back at her two companions and then ran at the wall of the building until she reached it and ran up it vertically. She stretched out both of her keyblades and then looked back at Sora
“Stay safe” she muttered before turning her attention to the two young keyblade wielders.

* * *

“Now?” Russel asked, looking at the advancing female
“Now.” Lexy stated, running down the building to face the woman. Allissa pointed her Emotion keyblade and unleashed an icicle. Russel ran down after Lexy and slashed it away as Lexy reached Allissa
“It’s over now, old woman” Lexy growled slashing at Allissa
“Who are you calling old?” Allissa growled back, blocking the attack and slashing with her other keyblade but the boy came and blocked her attack. Allissa ran straight up past them and threw both of her keyblades down. Russel and Lexy spun to block the attack but as they did they lost their footing and began to plummet downwards. Allissa leapt into the air as she reached the top of the building and then ran straight back down, chasing them as they fell. “It’s over” Allissa shouted, steadying both her blades as she reached them. She slashed with both but the sound of a clang let her know that they had blocked the attacks. Allissa tensed her face as she watched them fall into the ground and be caught by a dark pool. Heartless burst up in a circle around Allissa and leapt at her “Graviga” she yelled, sucking them all up into one spot and then slashing them in one fell swoop. She finished running down onto the ground and looked around.

* * *

The Darkside pushed the darkness into the ground, summoning heartless at a rapid rate. “Duncan, be careful!” she shouted as she ran into the puddle of darkness and slashed her way through the creatures until she reached the beast’s wrist. Erin held out her keyblade and moved her hand along the blade, covering it in fire. She spun back to the beast and slashed. The fire covering the blade spread out as she slashed, making the slash bigger, and stronger. The wrist severed and the hand fell into the ground, making the puddle dissipate but before she had chance to strike again she heard a yelp. She spun to see the heartless swarming around Duncan who was too afraid to summon his own keyblade. “Duncan!” she screamed, running through the heartless in her way and slashing violently but before she could reach him the beast’s other arm flew downwards and barred her path. She spun to look at it and grimaced “Duncan, summon your keyblade!” she screamed, panicking. Duncan looked back at her and scrunched up his face in concentration.

* * *

Sora watched Allissa run up the wall and charged at the heartless, ignoring Auron’s actions. He leapt down through the air and slammed his keyblade into a heartless and then swept his blade widely to take out two more but there were still at least a hundred to go. “This is the worst case of Déjà vu” Sora groaned as he unleashed a variety of stabs and slashes as battles waged either side of him. It didn’t take long for him to work his way through the heartless through his sheer experience fighting them he knew how to kill them fast. He spun and slashed three that had come behind him and blocked the attack of two that had jumped up, following up with a quick Fira which finished them both off so he could face the wave that charged from the front of him.

“Auron, I’m sorry if I let a few slip” Sora shouted as he swept his blade from side to side, trying to mow down the wave
“You’re getting old, it’s to be expected” Auron laughed
“I’m not in my sick bed yet though!” Sora yelled back as he blocked two heartless from the front, staggering back a little. He ducked under two more and rolled across the floor, bursting out and into a wide slash which finished off four more. He looked forwards and saw Russel and Lexy be absorbed into the ground.
“I’ll help” Allissa shouted as she ran over to Sora and slashed with both keyblades, crushing all of the Shadow in her way.
“Thanks” Sora panted, slashing two behind him
“Just watch your own back, this isn’t a care home” she joked as she slashed at the final three in the wave and looked around for any stragglers
“You try watching yours!” Sora shouted as he slashed at a heartless that burst from the ground behind Allissa.

* * *
Auron held out his blade and spun it around; summoning the chains he had used to subdue the beast before. They flew all around it and then pierced the ground, holding it down as it struggled to get up. He watched Sora run past and charged at the beast as it broke its head free of the chains and spat out a ball of red energy. Auron cut straight through it and slashed again, unleashing a beam of red straight at its head. It struck the heavy hide and further angered the beast, allowing it to gain the strength to break the chains. A heartless ran at Auron from his right so he slashed it “Auron, I’m sorry if I let a few slip” Sora shouted. Auron nodded and slashed at another heartless before he charged at the beast. It burst to its feet and roared, stamping its hooves
“You’re getting old, it’s to be expected” Auron laughed, unleashing a variety of stabs which knocked the beast backwards
“I’m not in my sick bed yet though!” Sora yelled. Auron grimaced as the beast’s children leapt up onto their mothers back and then it charged. Horns grew from the area on its head covered with thorns and its eyes turned a deep yellow.
“They poisoned it” Auron grimaced, running at the beast as it dipped its head down towards Auron. He turned his blade so that the side was facing the horns and blocked the attack but the beast simply lifted its head and used its tusks to lift Auron into the air by his blade. “Dammit” Auron growled bouncing into the air and landing on the beasts head but he was barely on a second before it shook its head violently and he was thrown to the ground.

* * *

Duncan thrust out his hand and concentrated as hard as he could but nothing formed “Duncan!” Erin screamed, leaping backwards as the arm flew down into the ground again and then the stub that was left of its other arm flew down behind her “Duncan, quick!” Erin screamed as the heartless leapt at him and Dillan. She spun around to block the hand that fell again, just barely stopping the attack. The force pushed her into the ground, forcing her to bend her knees and then fall onto them and then bend backwards. She turned her head slightly and saw a flash of movement as the shadow’s attacked. She turned her head back and pushed, screaming in anger and exhaustion as she did, lifting the arm in a primeval roar. She moved her blade away and allowed the arm to fall next to her and then burst into a run up it. She slashed its head and turned to see Duncan next to her with his keyblade drawn. She smiled back at him and then leapt through the air and stabbed straight through the Darkside’s head. Duncan stabbed through on the other side and it toppled backwards, hearts pouring from the wound. Erin tugged her blade out and bounced off the creature, flipping backwards and running back to Dillan. She watched as Duncan tugged at his blade until the creature hit the floor.
“It won’t come free!” Duncan yelled, pulling as hard as he could
“Try harder!” Erin called back but then she realised, it hadn’t disappeared. “Duncan, get out of there!” she screamed, running for him as the creature’s arm lifted up and it lunged at Duncan. Duncan looked back at her and then saw the arm as it hit him. He yelped as the punch hit him and the creature stood back up, summoning dark energy in its working arm.

Erin held out her keyblade and tensed her face. “You’re more trouble than you’re worth, Dil” Erin sighed. She lifted her keyblade and pointed it at the beast “Come get me! Fira, Blizzara, Fira!” she yelled, unleashing the stream of attacks and catching its attention. It tensed its arm and threw the dark ball at Erin. She looked back at Dillan and then leapt into the darkness.
“Erin!” Duncan screamed. He felt panic overcoming him as the ball of darkness vanished in a flash. Spinning his head back to the Darkside he bounded to his feet and charged at it. It turned its head and swiped absentmindedly with its hand. Duncan held out his hands and summoned his keyblade before he swung it down with both hands and tore through the hand. He looked at the creature briefly before unleashing a barrage of slashes up its arm and then running up the arm and slashing, turning it all into nothing. He reached the shoulder and slashed the arm off before turning to the head and slashing into its neck. He leaned back and then stabbed through the head. The Darkside turned its head and then vanished in a flurry of hearts, dropping Duncan onto the floor with a thump.

Duncan lay on the ground, limp and unable to think. Erin had been swallowed by the darkness because of him. He was weak and useless.

* * *

Allissa turned her head quickly as a pool of darkness opened up and Lexy burst out, leaping straight towards her. “Die!” Lexy screamed, pointing her keyblade forwards. Allissa threw her Emotion keyblade at Lexy and slashed away at the heartless around her. The keyblade was easily deflected but as Lexy finally neared Allissa the heartless around her were cleared so she spun to face the attack, pushing both of her hands against her keyblade she pushed against the downwards slash until Lexy flipped backwards, grimacing.
“Do you need some help?” Sora yelled, slashing at the heartless around him
“No, I’ll deal with her” Allissa called back, locking eyes with her female opponent. Lexy leapt forwards abruptly and lunged with her keyblade. Allissa parried and riposted, wasting no time in following up with a sweeping slash at Lexy’s feet, forcing her to jump backwards. Allissa held out her hand and summoned her other keyblade so that she held one in each hand again “Why are you doing this?” Allissa quizzed, controlling her breathing. Lexy’s face contorted in thought for a second
“Shut up!” she yelled, pointing her keyblade “A battle is not the place for talking, granny”
“Maybe it isn’t but I’m not going to kill an innocent child” Allissa retorted, calmly.

The battle paused for a while, and the only sounds were of Sora’s keyblade until a roar from the monster broke the silence and set both girls off onto a leaping collision course. Allissa pointed one keyblade towards Lexy as she jumped forwards and held the other to the side for the second attack. Lexy’s face was taught with determination and as her keyblade connected with Allissa’s she blocked the follow up attack but missed the third swipe into her side and was knocked to the ground where Allissa quickly moved over her, standing on her wrists and pointing one of her keyblades at Lexy’s throat while holding the other at her side. “Well?” Lexy growled “Finish it!”
“Not yet” Allissa paused and moved the keyblade slightly away “Just tell me why?” she asked, concern betraying her
“No” Lexy growled, kicking and struggling
“Look, you’re just a little girl. Why have you been sent to kill two keyblade masters?”
“You weren’t supposed to be here” Lexy hissed
“So your target is just Sora?”
“I didn’t say that!” Lexy protested.
“Who told you to go after Sora?” Allissa asked, but silence greeted her “Who told you?” she growled, pushing her keyblade into Lexy’s throat until Lexy began to struggle for air “Want to talk now or never? I don’t play by Sora’s rules so I won’t stop myself” Allissa warned. Lexy waved her hands and shook her head from side to side so Allissa lifted her keyblade slightly “Well?” she asked, impatiently
“Fine, it was our master” Lexy spat
“Who is your master?” Allissa asked, before suddenly noticing their actual attire. She dropped to the ground, kneeling on Lexy’s arms “What the Fairy Dust does he want with Dillan?” she asked
“Who’s Dillan?” Lexy asked, genuinely confused
“A little kid with blonde hair” Allissa quickly replied. Lexy began to laugh suddenly and slowly got louder as the battle raged on behind them “Tell me!” Allissa yelled

* * *

Sora finished off the heartless and heard Lexy and Allissa fighting, he moved to help but he saw the beast charging Auron who was doing everything he could to minimize destruction. “Firaga!” Sora yelled, unleashing a huge ball of fire – with three smaller balls orbiting it – from the tip of his keyblade. It struck the beast mid-run and knocked it into a skidding spin around the square. Auron took his chance and summoned chains again, tying the beast down so that he could finish it off. “Sora, look out!” Auron yelled, pausing mid-attack.

[Talmon]

-Flashback-
[2 years and 346 days ago]

“Erin you need to behave and stop breaking things!” Allissa yelled as Erin stood to the left of the staircase
“But I’m practising my jumping” Erin protested
“You broke that vase and now Sora will shout at me” Allissa growled, pointing at the broken blue vase next to the knocked over pedestal
“If I don’t practise I won’t get any better!” Erin yelled, stamping her foot and glaring at the other girl. Allissa locked eyes with Erin and then sighed,
“I’m only here to babysit, Erin, I have my own world to take care of” Allissa told her, sighing
“You never care about us” Erin shouted, as Duncan walked to the edge of the stairs, making his presence known. “If Sora has a problem, he can take it up with me. I’m not afraid of the old codger!” Erin yelled, storming off past Duncan. Allissa watched her go and then fell to the ground, sobbing quietly, having not noticed Duncan.
“Allissa…” Duncan mumbled, stepping down the stairs towards her
“Oh,” Allissa wiped her face and turned to face Duncan “I didn’t realise you were here Duncan” she smiled “Come down here and we’ll chat” she chirped, sniffling
“What’s wrong?” Duncan asked, slowly walking down the stairs
“Nothing” Allissa insisted kindly. “I just needed to have a sit down is all” she explained, patting the ground next to her.

Duncan stepped carefully and then sat next to her, avoiding the broken porcelain “Why are you up so late?” Allissa asked, ruffling his hair
“I couldn’t sleep again” Duncan explained, looking down at the ground. Allissa smiled and lifted his chin up with the tip of her index finger
“And why has that got you in such a tizzy?” she queried
“Because I can’t even wield a keyblade yet” Duncan complained
“Oh, I see…” Allissa let his head drop and pulled her knees into her chest “Sora still hasn’t done the inheritance ceremony with you?”
“No.”
“Well how about I do one with you? I’ll even use my Kingdom Key” she chimed, turning to face him with a smile
“But then I won’t be Sora’s pupil”
“Nonsense, we won’t tell him a thing” Allissa chirped, standing up. “Come on then” she insisted, lifting her hand up. Duncan stood up and faced her, half-heartedly. “You face a keyblade like that and you’ll have no chance” Allissa told him, lifting his head up to face her properly “Smile” she whispered, smiling. Duncan beamed, jokingly at first and then he just smiled as Allissa summoned the Kingdom Key R. It was the kingdom key but instead of silver the blade was blue, the outer handle silver and the inner handle gold.

Duncan thought of Sora as he looked at the blade, it was strange that Allissa had randomly acquired this weapon, being that it was assumed there was only a dark and light Kingdom Key. Allissa held out the keyblade and placed Duncan’s handle on the handle, along with hers. “Open your heart” she told him, smiling. She nodded as he closed his eyes and recited the familiar mantra, “In your hand, take this Key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking, its wielder you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend—no ocean will contain you then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love.” She slowly removed her hand from the keyblade and stepped back. “Duncan,” she called “Open your eyes”. He slowly opened his eyes but as he did the keyblade vanished and appeared in Allissa’s hand.
“Did it work?” Duncan asked, hopefully
“I’m sorry Duncan…” Allissa muttered, her heart melting for her young friend
“Nothing ever works!” Duncan yelled, running off.

-End Flashback-

Erin woke up in a realm that was swamped in darkness. She groaned and rubbed her head, looking around slowly as she sat up. “Hello!” she called. She knew it wasn’t wise to jump into the ball of darkness but she still had no idea where she was and then she spotted two people. “Hello, can you help me?” she called, running over to them. The ground seemed to be solid rock but as she tripped and knocked a pebble she saw it fly off the edge and then into nothingness but never heard a clatter. “I better be careful” she told herself as she made her way towards the two figures in cloaks. One of them suddenly disappeared and the other one turned to face her as she leapt through the air onto the lit up circle that they were stood on. Four streetlights were around the circle which was plain rock but hovered above the surrounding area.
“Who are you and how did you get here?” the young, male voice asked, his burgundy cloak clear in the light
“I am Erin, and I’m not totally sure” she told him, walking closer to him. “Do you know the way out?” she asked, smiling. The boy suddenly summoned a keyblade and ran at her without warning. Erin summoned her own keyblade and just barely blocked the attack before three more were unleashed, knocking her backwards. She looked at the cut on her uncovered arm and frowned, this guy was business. “Please just help me get out of here” Erin begged as he made his way towards her
“The only way you are getting out of here is in a body bag” he replied, charging and thrusting rapidly into her body. He finished by spinning around in a circle with his keyblade grasped tightly and then as he finished spinning he released the keyblade towards Erin. Erin blocked the attack with her keyblade and then grimaced
“If you won’t help me leave, then we’ll die here together” She announced, pointing her keyblade she seamlessly produced Fira’s in rapid succession, blanketing the entire area and sending the boy in the cloak flying backwards.

As he flew off the edge she stopped firing and panted “I hope someone else rescues me” she sighed but before she could sit down the boy flipped back onto the ground and ran at her with his keyblade dragging behind. Erin blinked and then took action “Thundara!” she yelled, unleashing thin beams of thunder all around her. The boy avoided them but didn’t see the stream of water – which she produced from her keyblade – coming. He flew back again but eventually moved his keyblade in the way, just barely clinging on to the edge of the circle of stone.
“That’s enough!” he yelled, leaping to the side he held up his keyblade and hands made of darkness flew down, grabbing him. Erin shook her head
“Not without me, you don’t!” she yelled, leaping through the air and just barely grabbing his ankles as the darkness pulled him back into reality. Erin panted as she was thrown out of the ground and landed face first on the stone. She looked around and took in her surroundings. She was near Sora, who that boy was about to attack. She raised her keyblade as bile rose up her throat and pointed it at him “Blizz- Blizzara!” she whispered, blacking out as the icicle flew at the boy and knocked him to the floor.

“My brother!” Lexy yelled, as Allissa spun to see what was going on. Lexy allowed herself to be sucked in by the darkness abruptly, causing Allissa to leap back.
“Quick, grab the boy!” she yelled to Sora who had already grabbed hold of the kid by the scruff of his shirt.
“Got him!” Sora yelled
“Allissa, look after Erin, I’ll finish off this!” Auron yelled, turning back to notice something was missing but he couldn’t put his finger on it. The beast was still here, and about to break his chains, so what was it?

Allissa grabbed hold of Erin and searched for Lexy, now only holding her Path to the Heart keyblade so that she could hold onto Erin. She spun to see Auron unleashed a gigantic red ‘X’ from two slashes of his blade followed up by throwing dice into the air and puncturing them both with a prick from his blade which unleashed a multitude of lasers, tearing the beast apart until it was nothing more than those strange orbs from before. They were so spiritual that Auron was entranced for a second, and in that second Lexy burst out of the ground and knocked him over, threw her keyblade at Sora – knocking him over, and ran to her male friend, grabbing him and her keyblade before she leapt into the air and jumped from rooftop to rooftop, and towards the Jubilee parade. “Come on, we can’t waste any time!” Allissa yelled, leaping after them.
“Got it!” Sora yelled, charging after her and leaving Auron behind
“Dillan and Duncan” he exclaimed, turning and running back to find the other two kids.

* * *

The streets were flooded with activity. Barriers lined the roads, blockading the masses of people onto the pavements where they cheered, ate, danced and generally enjoyed the night as the parades went down the street. Girls in fabulous multi-coloured dresses twirled past a small fire hydrant, followed closely by a band in matching blue uniform. They were followed by huge floats of varying designs and colours. Lexy leapt onto the roof overlooking it and looked around. Three Samurai nobodies were creeping out of a nearby ally and three more opposite them. Their grey bodies were vastly contrasting to the display of colour and of the nine Neoshadows which were phasing out of the buildings as Lexy breathed heavily. She stood up straight and let Russel down onto his feet. The Neoshadows which were just overgrown, more humanoid shadows were here to wreak havoc. They didn’t need to do anything but avoid capture from those wretched Keyblade Masters. “Come on Lex, let’s go down and knock over that float!” Russel shouted, moving to leap but Lexy touched his shoulder “We need to hide inside a float, follow me” she hissed, dropping down an alley and blending into the crowd seamlessly. Russel followed closely, keeping his wits about him.

* * *

Allissa leapt onto the roof and set Erin down before she looked around, searching for the two troublesome kids. “Where are you?” she growled, allowing her keyblade to fade as she leapt down into the crowd. There wasn’t even a stir as she immersed herself in the crowd, looking for those burgundy cloaks.

* * *

Sora leapt onto the roof and looked around the crowd. Allissa had already left Erin in pursuit so he knew that this was going to be difficult. He looked down at Erin and then at the parade before deciding to leave Erin. He spotted the Neoshadows emerging from the walls and the Nobodies and tensed his grip on his keyblade. This wasn’t going to be an easy situation. “Stay here” Sora whispered, despite the fact Erin couldn’t move he thought he’d make sure she knew his wishes before he ran down the wall of one of the buildings and stabbed an emerging Neoshadow before slipping into the crowd. He waited until a float passed and then slipped through the barrier as the band marching behind them arrived. He mimed the actions they performed until he had chance to leap under the curtain at the bottom of the float to the area that was for the driver underneath.

* * *

Auron ran over to a troubled Duncan and bent down to look at him “Hey Dun, where’s Dillan?” he asked, touching him lightly on the shoulder
“Over there!” Duncan yelled, pointing at Dillan’s sleeping frame
“Hey, hey, what’s up?” Auron quizzed, trying to catch Duncan’s eyes
“Erin’s gone because of me” Duncan burst out, looking at Auron with a tear-stained face.
“What are you on about, she’s with Sora right now” Auron raised an eyebrow and then realised “The darkness swallowed her?”
“Yeah…”
“Well she found her way back out, now come on. I’ll grab Dillan, you run through there and wait for me” Auron told him, running over to the other sleeping boy and picking him up. Duncan got up and ran through but as he looked back for Auron the doors swung shut and locked. In a flurry of sound and colour six people stepped out of a sudden array of bubbles, each wore a different coloured cloak with the hood covering all of their face but their mouth. One of them in red spoke first
“Go home, kiddo” he spoke with a gravelly voice which contrasted to the next – donning a dark green cloak – to speak who was much more feminine
“Hey, darl, this is no place for kids. Listen to me, I’ve been through a lot, and let me tell you, darl, little boys fall like dominos”
“Who are you lot?” Duncan asked, looking around for Auron who he could hear banging on the door
“Your friend won’t get through one of my locks” a violet cloaked man with an irritatingly chirpy voice explained
“We are not of your concern, Duncan. Just know that we will be watching you and your friends more closely from now” the one in red spoke. He placed his hand on the light blue cloaked person, who was nearly half of his height, next to him and nodded. The person in blue, along with two others in orange and yellow left in a flurry of bubbles as the violet cloaked man flew backwards, clenching his stomach.

Auron walked through a sudden wave of smoke that came from the now tattered doors with Dillan on his shoulder. He looked at the three in coloured cloaks and set Dillan down next to Duncan “Look after the kid, I’ll deal with these outcasts from a jelly bean packet” Auron ordered, readying his sword.
“Look, gramps, this is between us and the kiddo” the man, now seeming younger from his vocabulary, or lack of, explained
“I’m the kiddo’s guardian, so don’t expect me to go easy”
“That’s just as well that I don’t play fair then, darl” the dark green cloaked woman laughed from behind Auron. Auron’s eyes burst wide as he spun to block an attack from the weapon that the woman had suddenly summoned. It looked like a gigantic lolly pop except the end was spiked in three directions and the lolly, although colourful, looked deadly. “Mmm, you’re fast” she laughed, swiping his ankles with a backwards swing of her weapon. Before Auron had the chance to catch his balance she spun her staff so the three pronged end face him and he watched as the right and left prong detached, held on by a metal wire and flew at him, sending him flying backwards into a wall by his shoulders. “Now, where were we, darl?” she asked, turning to face Duncan with a grin spreading across her pursed lips
“We were here!” Auron yelled, reeling in the thread and pulling the cloaked woman off the floor and spinning her round like a lasso. However the other two quickly stopped him from doing anything more by charging at him and punching him in the stomach. He crumpled to the floor, spitting out blood and the two turned back to see their friend drop onto the ground with a thud.
“You’re too rash” the man in red complained
“You took too long, darl, I had it covered anyway” the one in dark green laughed, standing back up and walking towards Duncan
“Leave him, we can get him later. This swordsman isn’t finished yet” the man in red ordered, leaving in a flash of bubbles as Auron slowly got to his knees. The man in violet left, so the woman in dark green laughed and then vanished.

* * *

“Who were they?” Auron panted as he slowly pushed himself up, wiping away the blood from his lips.
“I- I-” Duncan stammered, unable to speak.
“It doesn’t matter, grab Dillan, we have got to get to the parade” Auron told him, standing up slowly and moving to walk but he was still recovering. Duncan eyed up a skateboard and grinned
“Let’s go”

[Talmon]

Russel and Lexy spotted a float with an obnoxious beaver on top and burst out of the crowd. They took no time in slipping under the curtain and knocking out the driver. Lexy grabbed the wheel and looked around, “We’ll follow the crowd, the heartless aren’t attacking yet” she whispered, following the float in front.

* * *

Allissa spotted the two burgundy cloaked figures burst under a float but the crowd blocked her way “Move, excuse me, just move, please!” Allissa shouted, stress overcoming her cool head as she pushed her way through the crowd. The crowd seemed unperturbed as she knocked them back, focussing on the mass celebration as fireworks burst out of alleys and floats, lighting up the night sky in a blanket of reds, yellows, greens, blues and pinks. Allissa saw the float going round the corner and sighed and then she noticed the Nobody Samurais quickly advancing on the crowd from behind. It was only three but they could decimate the crowd in minutes. They were strange angular creatures with black, spiked feet, and angular limbs. They had five black claws on each hand and a cylindrical head with several slots cut into the front. All of them had both of their dark grey basic katana, one in each hand, which matched the colour of their belt. They were all light grey apart from their feet and the Nobody insignia on their hands, which were white. Allissa slipped out, blocking their path to the crowd and summoned Path to the Heart. She looked at the group and then charged. Her pink keyblade collided with all of their six blades; the force of their six swings knocked Allissa back but if she had two keyblades she wouldn’t be able to defend as well. “Sorry Sora” she whispered before summoning Path to the Heart and Emotion. She opened her mouth and a third keyblade materialised in it. It was the Kingdom Key R.

* * *

Sora crept up on the driver and then tapped him on the shoulder. The driver turned and Sora grinned before punching him in the face and then once more to knock him out. Sora placed him in the back of the van which was underneath the float and then quickly took the wheel before the float crashed into the barriers. “It’s been awhile since I drove” Sora complained as the car shuddered around a corner. “I gotta wait for those heartless to come out, no point leaping into this parade headfirst and ruining it” Sora sighed, trying to keep pace with the parade.

* * *

“You sure you’ve done this before?” Auron asked as the skateboard dodged in between bins and cardboard boxes.
“Of course!” Duncan chirped as they flew into the crowd “Now, jump!” he laughed, stamping down the front of the skateboard and leaping after Auron and Dillan as they flew on top of a parade boat along with two princesses who were waving to their subjects. Auron caught Duncan and laid him down “Wave” Duncan hissed from the bottom of the tower. He had grabbed a prop crown and cape and was now waving. Auron sighed and waved along with the princesses who didn’t acknowledge his presence
“You’re not allowed out of the castle again” Auron hissed without stopping his smile
“Why not?” Duncan whined as he blew a kiss to the crowd
“This is clearly what you get up to when you’re allowed out, so never again” Auron growled
“Hey, buddy, it’s hard enough to smile without having you down the mood. Let the kid do what he wants” one of the princesses in a pink ball gown hissed, keeping up her perfect smile. Duncan stifled a laugh and kept smiling.

* * *

Allissa charged. She lifted her head back and swung it forwards, releasing the first keyblade which flew at the samurai and forced them to parry. She leapt over the wall and slashed, pushing her keyblade straight through all three and then again in rapid succession with the other keyblade. The Samurai crumpled and all three keyblades vanished. Allissa panted, falling to her knees and panting. Why did she always feel so tired after using more than one keyblade? She barely had time to ponder before she remembered that she had to go fight Russel and Lexy. She ran down the alley, staggering as she turned the corner and falling into a slump against the dark green bin. “I- have to- keep going…” she panted. She pushed herself up to her feet and walked out of the alley, just barely able to keep in a straight line. Allissa summoned her keyblade as she spotted the float they had climbed into. She dived through the air and rolled under the float, hearing gasps from the crowd. Charging along the float she stopped as Russel leapt out and stood there as the curtains slowly trailed over Allissa, and then him. They were both out in the open as the band for this float was slightly behind. “I was hoping for the girl” Allissa growled, holding out the Emotion keyblade readily.
“Well you got me” Russel retorted, summoning his own keyblade
“How did you two get those?” Allissa asked. She was stalling as the band slowly passed around them both.
“I’m not allowed to talk anymore, I give away too much” Russel stated, mechanically.
“Well, let’s see what I can do about that!” she yelled, leaping at him as the band finally passed. Russel leapt up to meet her and the two keyblades clashed, sending sparks outwards.

Allissa leapt backwards and searched around for environment but there was nothing. “Fira” she yelled, unleashing two blasts. Russel blocked both and they deflected into the sky, granting sounds of amazement from the crowd. “Thundara!” Allissa growled, becoming impatient that he seemed to avoid her attacks so easily. The thunder struck all around Russel but he blocked the one bolt that came near. The crowd was going wild and then he charging at her, throwing his keyblade. Allissa reached up and blocked it, just barely able to keep herself going as her heart ached. Russel summoned his keyblade back as he reached her and swung it rapidly and violently, knocking her backwards. Allissa looked back and saw the long train-like float. She leapt up and avoided the actors. Russel followed and they battled along the float, captivating the audience.
“You’ll die tonight, and then we can deal with Sora” Russel told her with a grin but in a flash of bubbles another character appeared on the train. He was donned in a violet cloak and in a flash he was holding a stopwatch. He tapped it and it swayed from side to side. Russel tried to ignore it but the longer the man pointed it at him the more engrossed Russel became until the man stopped it spinning and spun in a circle with it. As he spun it grew until the chain was a metre long and the clock’s diameter was just as long. It struck Russel and he flew towards a building but before he hit Lexy appeared and grabbed him.
“This isn’t over!” she yelled as she jumped onto the ground and the darkness swallowed them both
“Who are you?” Allissa quizzed, keeping a battle stance
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend” the man snidely replied before vanishing in another flurry of bubbles.
“What?” Allissa asked but suddenly a woman in a miners outfit turned around to her
“Either wave or get off the float, you’re ruining the vibe” she whispered. Allissa sighed and leapt off the float and onto a rooftop.

She sat down on the edge of the building and watched as the parade went by. They even had a replacement driver for the float Lexy stole. Soon enough she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to see Sora. He’d brought Erin, who was now waking up, and six sea-salt ice-creams. “It’s been a while since you bought me one of these” Allissa commented, taking one and sticking it in her mouth.
“I figured we’d earned it,” he looked at her “you’ve really grown into a wonderful Keyblade Master, Allissa” Sora whispered as he sat next to her.

Auron, Duncan and Dillan arrived towards the end of the parade, having stayed on the float for Duncan’s own vanity reasons. “I can’t believe you need that much attention” Erin laughed
“Shut up” Duncan whined, eating his ice-cream
“I’m sorry Auron” Sora whispered as he sat next to his old friend
“What for?” Auron turned his head to look at Sora
“My outburst.”
“It was nothing.” Auron brushed it off with a smile
“Really?” Sora asked, shocked
“Of course,” Auron touched him on the shoulder “I understand it’s my time to go. Those memories aren’t easy to live with for someone as young as you” Auron told him with a smile
“I didn’t mean go!” Sora insisted, looking at his friend who finished his sea-salt ice-cream and dropped the stick into the crowd.
“Sora, I’ll still watch over your apprentices but we both know it’s time now. We have to cut our ties” Auron smiled and pushed himself into the crowd. He was out of sight before Sora could even speak
“I don’t blame him, you’re quite the trouble maker” Allissa laughed, having returned from cleaning up the last few heartless.
“Is Dillan up yet?” Sora quizzed
“Nearly, he’s getting a bad habit of sleeping now” Allissa laughed, sucking on her ice-cream
“I suppose…” Sora muttered, deep in thought
“A burden shared is a burden halved” Allissa spoke with a mouthful of the ice-cream but they were wise words
“I think I’ve shared enough burdens. Get Erin, Duncan and Dillan to meet me in the centre of Twilight Town” Sora ordered, leaving in a flash of his star shard
“I’m not a babysitter!” Allissa yelled. She turned her head and looked at the two angry kids sheepishly “Not that you two are babies… of course not…” she laughed, nervously.

* * *

“That swordsman could be trouble, darl” the dark green cloaked woman announced as the ground sat around the table. The boy in light blue sat up; head sullen, next to the red cloaked man who had his head resting on his clenched fists on the table.
“He’s scary” the little girl in yellow commented, frightened
“We’ll be fine” the older girl in orange assured her. Bubbles burst around a seat and suddenly the violet cloaked person occupied the seat
“He does seem troublesome, but so do those burgundy cloaked warriors” he announced. His stopwatch was now small, and then gone in a flash
“Well, it is nah worries. Both of them are out of the way now. All we have to do away with is that failure of a heart, Allissa” the man in red announced to the group, looking up and slipping his arms off the table. “But, I think we should give things more time to play out”
“Let’s act now, darl!” the dark green cloaked woman shouted, thumping the table
“That’s where old Red went wrong. He allowed you to have free reign. You need restrictions” the man in violet hissed
“Shut up Violet, darl!”
“Quit it! Light Blue, go tail ‘em, you’re best for scouting” Red turned to his companion “Go, kiddo” the one in light blue nodded and vanished in bubbles. “Meeting adjourned, everyone can go to their quarters” Red announced, leaving with a billow of his cloak through one of the exits of the plain white room. Apart from the white table and chairs, and the north, east, south and western exits there was nothing.

* * *

Sora stepped into the old workshop and coughed, loudly. “Sora, is that you?” a voice called back. Sora grinned as a slightly aged Cid walked out with a beaming smile and then paused “Who are you, and why are you in my shop?” he asked, alarmed
“I’m Sora,” Sora protested “Look, I’ll prove it” he summoned the keyblade “See” he showed the keyblade to Cid who looked him up and down
“What happened?” he queried
“It’s a long story”
“I’ve got time” Cid interjected
“I don’t” Sora stated, dryly
“I see. What is it you need, Gummi ship parts?” Cid asked, leaning back against a wall and placing a cigarette into his mouth. He bent down and lit it, taking it back before he looked at Sora again “Well?”
“I need a star shard” Sora announced
“I don’t have that kind of-”
“I know, I know” Sora felt flattened

“What do you need it for?”
“It’s not important, however…” Sora lifted his index finger to notate patience from Cid who was quickly working his way through his cigarette due to the secrets he was being kept out of “I do have a list of things that I know you can help with” Sora told him, unfurling a scrap of paper with writing on. Cid put out his cigarette in one of many ash trays around the grey walled workshop. This one was on the only piece of furniture in the room: a workbench. The two windows to the right had large sills, both with ashtrays and there were several more ashtrays on the floor. All were stuffed with cigarettes. “It’s not a healthy habit” Sora commented.
“Shut up, let me see the list” Cid growled, taking the list and grabbing another cigarette. His eyes scanned the paper briefly “Yeah, I can take care of this stuff for you, if you’ve got the munny for all of this?” Cid asked, lighting the cigarette and breathing in deeply, nearly depleting the whole thing at once
“I always have the munny,” Sora told him, motioning to his pocket with a tap, I’ll pay you when you’ve got it all”
“When do you need it for?” Cid asked, withdrawing the cigarette from his mouth and looking at Sora with a stern gaze
“Now” Sora replied, realising his demand was irrational he smiled nervously as Cid opened and closed his mouth, searching for words. Eventually he settled on finishing his cigarette. He put it out on the workbench’s ashtray and then nodded
“I’ll do it”
“Thanks” Sora grinned.

Cid disappeared to the back of his shop and banging could be heard as he rapidly assembled the list “I’ll need to leave the workshop for this. Can I meet you somewhere?” Cid asked
“The centre of town, twenty minutes” Sora told him, sweeping out before Cid even poked his head around to say goodbye
“That kid has changed” Cid laughed, coughing loudly as the smoke in the air irritated his lungs.

* * *

Allissa and the group sat on a bench in the centre of town, bored. “How’s Dillan?” Allissa asked, tiredly
“He’s stirring!” Erin exclaimed, watching the young boy finally breaking out of whatever was holding him. Duncan groaned So Erin smacked him
“Stop fighting” Allissa growled before she looked down at Dillan “Sora won’t be long. Erin, how’re you feeling?” Allissa asked, looking the girl up and down
“Good, I guess, why?”
“I just wanted to make sure” Allissa replied, turning back to look at the bench opposite them
“How long will he be, I’m cold?” Duncan complained
“Not long now, Duncan” Allissa promised, breathing in the night air. “You should wear more clothes then, you knew where we were going” she chided him
“Yeah but I had no time to prepare” Duncan protested, meekly
“I’d give you a blanket if I had one, but I don’t” Allissa said, spitefully
“What’s wrong?” Duncan asked, taken aback
“Nothing, Duncan, I’m just tired is all” Allissa returned to her usual, happier tone
“Oh, okay…” Duncan muttered.

* * *

Sora walked out into the train station and immediately leapt backwards as something flew at him. He looked up to see a thread that led to a strange multi-coloured lollypop held by someone who wore a dark green cloak “End of the line, darl” she laughed, disappearing in a fit of bubbles and appearing in front of Sora, swinging the lollypop. Sora just barely summoned his keyblade in time to block the attack before the three-pronged end of the weapon split off and tied him up.
“Dammit” Sora growled as the threads crushed him
“I thought you’d be more of a challenge, darl. How sad.” She teased, laughing until a semi-quaver burst out of the sky and struck her “Who the Fairy Dust just did that, darl?” she screamed, looking around but before she finished looking four Minim’s hit the ground, forcing her to retreat as an orange-headed assailant dropped down in front of Sora
“You aged badly” Neku teased, a grin spreading across his face. He looked back slightly at Sora who smiled a little
“How’d you recognise me?” Sora asked, panting until he fell to the ground, landing on his knee
“We’ll leave that for after, shall we?” Neku joked, turning back to face the dark green cloaked woman.

“How dare you touch me, darl?” she screamed, furious. “I won’t go easy on you” she warned, poiting her lollypop at him
“Good, I wasn’t planning on going easy on you either” Neku replied, charging he held out his hand, gripping thin air and then opening his hand again a Breve formed. He launched it at her and kept running. She blocked it effortlessly, laughing maniacally
“That’s all you’ve got, darl. This’ll be quick” she moved to run forwards but as she did the Breve exploded, knocking her backwards. The smoke cleared when four more Breves tore through. Neku grinned but the dark green cloaked woman launched the three prongs of her staff with the right grabbing two Breve’s and held them away from herself as she climbed out of the hole in the wall that she had created. The Breve’s exploded and Neku leapt through the smoke
“You’re persistent, feisty. I like that!” Neku grinned. He lifted up both his hands, grabbing the air until a gigantic quaver appeared. He swung it downwards and it sent shockwaves into the dark green cloaked woman, not allowing her to even move. He ran at her, swinging the quaver, but before he reached her a hand stopped him and grabbed hold of his wrist. A red cloaked version of the woman had appeared. He looked at Neku with a fierce glare, even if it was covered by his hood. He spun around with Neku’s wrist still in his hand and then unleashed Neku into the roof of the train station. Sora tried to get up and fight, as did Neku but both were breathless
“What are you doing?” Red asked, slightly angrily
“I was going to kill him, while I can. It was going to plan, until that pesky kid showed up. Honest, darl” Dark Green replied, climbing out of the hole and allowing her weapon to vanish.
“You are too useless, Dark Green. Let’s go” he ordered
“Fine, darl” she groaned and both of them vanished in a flurry of bubbles.

“Now, just who were they?” Neku asked, breathing in the soot and coughing. He got up and wiped his black and purple, baggy vest down. He adjusted the high collar so that it covered his mouth and checked the grazes on his arms. The shirt matched his shoes, on which the straps had come loose. Neku strapped them back down after getting to his feet.
“I’m not sure” Sora replied, holding up Neku’s yellow wristband. “Lose something?” he asked, walking over, slowly, and handing it to Neku
“Thanks” Neku chirped, slipping it onto his left wrist.
“So, how did you know it was me?” Sora queried, sitting on the edge of the platform
“I’d recognise your eyes anywhere, still as fierce as ever” Neku laughed, climbing up and sitting next to Sora. He brushed his white shorts down and checked the loose black belt was still tied
“Your flies are down” Sora commented, not even turning his head. Neku looked down and turned bright red as he realised Sora was right
“Thanks” he muttered, zipping his shorts up
“No worries” Sora chirped, looking out across the platform.
“You’re here for something, aren’t you?” Neku asked, knowing that he was involved because Sora was thinking
“How’d you know?” Sora asked, smiling at Neku
“You always get that scrunched up face when you’re thinking of a plan” Neku laughed
“Well, I need to ask a favour, Neku” Sora began
“Go on…”