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[ Mickey ; Kairi : Disney Town : Festivities ]

Mickey and Kairi didn't seem to notice, or at least mind, her initial distraction. There were in the middle of a large crowd, after all. The entire populations of multiple worlds were here, passing them even now.

"Yep!" Kairi replied, grinning slightly, though the 'slightly' was noticeable. "After everything that's happened, we really needed a breather."

"You guys have been through a bunch, too, so I bet you're enjoying the time off," Mickey said, smiling up at the artist.

[ Dr. Cidolfus ; Dr. Hojo : Radiant Garden : ShinRa Labs ]

"--process of manufacturing is fairly delicate, but by no means impossible," Cidolfus finished, holding the translucent jade-like crystal up into the fluorescent lighting, allowing the cold light to gleam off the stone for them both to see. "And entirely worthwhile, I assure you. Take it, I insist! A gift of good will, a toast to our grasping the reins of fate."

"Thank you for your contribution," Hojo said with a genuine smile, holding out his hand as Cid dropped the gem into his palm. He turned it over a few times with his fingers, admiring every polished facet. "If this stone does what you say, then my research is about to take off quite nicely."

"All the better! Your research is inspiring, I must say," Cid replied, watching his fellow doctor place the gem near the main terminal.

"The same could be said about your work in the field of magicite," Hojo countered, though he didn't turn to face him yet; he was typing into the terminal, which shortly thereafter opened a small hatch. Within, a small capsule was connected to a variety of wires and tubes, and it held what appeared to be an equally-small, amorphous blob of some thick, oily substance. He replaced the capsule with the crystal itself, and the hatch closed. "You've told me about the process of manufacturing, but not what options that opens up. Obviously there's this, but what about, say, normal magicite?"

"Hmm. I suppose manufacted auracite is within the realm of reason, though we haven't the need," he replied, stroking the scruff on his chin. "We've been able to optimize our magitech generators to work on even the smallest of equipment, so the additional step was never considered."

"Oh, yes, even we have some fairly efficient generation technology, but I'm not asking for mechanical power," he said, looking toward Cid with a gleam in his eye. "I'm asking about individual use. Say, as a source of actual magic."

"Ahhh! Yes, that would certainly solve the issue of your more deficient footsoldiers, wouldn't it?" Cid said as Hojo's intent became clear to him. "What an enthralling idea. I'll have to send over the schematics for our--"

He stopped mid-sentence, his expression suddenly scrunched, as if confused. Hojo was the same.

"... where is--"

Suddenly, a pen from a desk behind them fell to the ground, catching both their attention as they twisted, tensing, searching for what caused it--

--and that's when both simultaneously gasped, their eyes rolling into the backs of their heads, their jaws dropping loosely, their bodies locking up as if suddenly paralyzed.

This went on for a few moments before both, simultaneously, exhaled a large breath, shaking their head. They looked to one another, confused, blinking.

"What were we...? Oh, right, the crystallization schematics," Cid said, Hojo nodding, though both looked sidetracked. Moments later, they both felt a small chill, and their heads snapped to look in the same direction, though this time there had been no signal.

"What?!" Hojo called in response to thin air, startled. "But, that's... that's not possible, this lab is fully secure--"

"Not as much as we'd thought," Cid said, sighing rather dramatically, though he seemed unfazed. "Is anything missing, doctor?"

"I don't..." he said, looking around. He opened the compartment again, finding the nethicite still there. He began typing into the terminal rapidly. "No, and the computer still seems functional. No data has been messed with. Still, I'll need to tell Rufus--"

"I shan't think it worth the bother. If rogues were able to get past Venat, they are skilled; if they left us alive, however, they are no threat." The Archadian was entirely nonchalant about whatever it was that had occurred; the biologist still seemed on edge. "I had hoped to speak to Rufus before I departed, actually. Mayhaps I'll go to him now, hmm?"

"Of course. I'll escort you, lest the boy get too antsy."

[Daniel, Lucil : Malevolent Thicket : Basalisk Clearing]

At least, that's what WOULD have happened had Tseng not spoken up. The Turk leader commanded obedience swiftly and directly, something Daniel was hoping to emulate, and frankly fell short.

To the Spellblade, any hope of establishing trust in his leadership and decision-making was squashed when Tseng put him into rank order. The lowest rank. As he listened intently to the observations of the battlefield, Daniel glanced at both Shen and Lucil, the last of which avoided all eye contact. Pity maybe? The Turk briefly felt a pang of shame before it was smote. There was nothing he could do, and he made a mental note not to try practicing anymore of Lupin's teachings...

For the time being. If there was one thing Daniel would keep in mind it was that failure should never strike down ones ambitions.

"Daniel, draw back your magic and keep it on reserve until absolutely necessary."

The ink around the area quickly dried out as it was dispelled, followed by the unsummoning of the Spellblade's weapons. "Yes Sir."



"Are there any questions?"

Lucil glanced at Daniel, as if expecting more young gun bravado, but the Turk simply shook his head before responding, "No sir, and I will refrain from making such hasty decisions for the squad."

[ Ajora ; ??? : Radiant Garden : Hollow Bastion Labs ]

Appearing in a glimmer of golden dust, Ajora strolled into Ansem's Study, cracking his knuckles and grinning--before practically tripping over a small Shadow Heartless that was crawling its way through the area. It, along with the other Heartless in the area, seemed to ignore him entirely.

"The hell...?"

"Stay back! BACK!"

Ajora's attention quickly turned toward the direction of the voice--finding the doorway into the actual lab itself open. Incidentally, that was where the Shadow was headed, along with at least a dozen more, though others were Neoshadows and Red Nocturnes. The voice sounded... familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.

A second or so later, he didn't have to.

The doorway erupted with massive, gouging spires of ice, piercing and destroying the heartless as they tried to get through. And that's when he recognized the voice.

"Vexen?" he called out from around the corner.

"Who's there?!" he shouted back, fear barely masked by the defensive instinct driving him. "Why won't you all just leave me alone?!"

"Whoa, calm down, I'm not here with these things," he said, and as another Shadow tried to walk past him into the room, he squashed it with a stomp. He didn't yet walk out; he had a feeling the man would recognize him, anyway. "It's okay, Vex. Why are these things after you?"

"That's not my name!" he shouted, impulsively, as if the sound of it had been enough to trigger his defensive attitude all over again. Then there was pause. "It... It was," he stammered out, clearly hesitant. "But not anymore. And I'll have you call me Even, thank you very much. Now who are you, and how do you know any of that?!"

"Whoa whoa whoa, Even?" Ajora said, taken aback. He shifted his form into something the man wouldn't recognize and stepped out, a look of surprise still plastered on his face. There, standing along the path toward Ansem's Computer Room, was the Chilly Academic himself, though looking far more nervous than his usual cold arrogance permitted. "As in, the original? Heart and everything?"

"Yes," he insisted, green eyes narrowing from behind his ice shield. "But that is not an answer to my question. Who--" his other hand came out from behind the shield, and it was made blatantly clear that he was charging up another very damning ice spell. "--are you?!"

"A friend, a friend!" he said, raising his hands up in innocence. "I mean no harm. Why are the Heartless after you?"

"Because Xehanort wants me dead, obviously," he sneered, leaving the spell charged--and, as time passed, glowing brighter. "I know too much. All those wretched experiments on the heart... on darkness. And I refuse to let him cloud my mind any longer."

"So then why don't you go to Disney Castle? They could use your knowledge."

The mere mention of it seemed to make his dedication falter. "I... I've done too much. They would kill me. Rightfully so. Besides, if I remember properly, they've got Zexion with them. What use do they have for me."

"Actually, Zexion's been brainwashed," he said, cringing slightly. "And they're more forgiving than you'd think. Side of Light and all. Kind of their whole schtick."

He muttered something under his breath, looking conflicted. Possibly even guilty. "Well, not that it matters. I can't leave the castle. The hordes block me off, and every time I try to open a corridor, it..."

"... threatens to pull you somewhere else entirely," he said, clenching his jaw. "Well, I can get you there."

"And why should I trust you?!" The suspicion was back full-force, the spell still gleaming, threatening.

"Honestly?" he said, shrugging before going invisible.

Even panicked, releasing the charged spell, covering the entire metallic pathway with giant, shredding icicles. His eyes wildly glanced around as he backed against the corner.

"You probably shouldn't."

Even's entire body went, jaw hanging, as his eyes rolled upward, Ajora reappearing beside him with a hand on the back of his head. After a few moments, the man's shield disappeared, and he collapsed, unconscious, though Ajora managed to catch him.

"Guess I'll make a Disney pit-stop before getting the computers," he grumbled, both of them disappearing in a glimmer of gold dust.

[ Noelle .:. Prote ~ Disney Castle ~ Fairgrounds]

The small earthling and her ghostly counterpart were making their way around the fairgrounds, chatting idly as they moved from vendor to vendor. Most people who recognized her from the parade were really friendly and eager to say hello, but regarded prote with curious and cautious stares. It probably didn't help that one would notice a five degree temperature drop if they stood within five feet of him. But he was in the presence of one of the earthlings, so most of them were friendly to him as well. Noelle was looking through the dresses one of the vendors had hanging in their stall when Prote asked her a very pointed question.

"Do you dislike Kyla?"

The agromancer took pause, almost seeming a little startled, before resuming her browsing, "No, I don't dislike Kyla. I just . . . think she's mislead. It's hard to trust someone who won't trust you first. Though I guess if she doesn't trust me I can't really blame her, I've made my own mistakes, my scars will tell you that much."

Prote nodded silently, "The ones on your back? You told me you would explain them."

Noelle sighed wearily, "I did, didn't I? I guess I can let my memories tell the story."

The blonde reached out and touched Prote's hand, flinching slightly at the frost that spread on her fingers. She brought up the memories of her first day in Agrabah and could almost feel Prote perusing them. His review took about a second, but it felt a little longer as the guilt Noelle still felt was renewed. When the phantom was finished, Noelle returned to looking at dresses, casually wiping the ice from her hand. Prote was still quiet, reviewing the memories as Noelle traced her finger along some embroidery.

"I suppose the important part is that I listened to my conscience in the end, and everything . . . kinda ended up alright. Still doesn't change what I did though. So I understand if the others don't trust me. And I understand more about Kyla's position than she thinks I do, especially now that I'm trying to save a wayward earthling as well. But I can't change her mind if she thinks she's alone. That's up to her." Noelle finished quietly before thanking the vendor and stepping out of the stall to look at other items.

"Perhaps time will do the mending." Prote mused.

Noelle offered a small smile "It will. It always does."

((Gonna go back and add in the text colors later, gotta leave the office for now *poofs*))

[ Mickey ; Kairi : Disney Town : Festivities ]

The two Keyblade wielders seemed only to chuckle at the antics of the artist and her manifest aeon as they continued through the crowd, headed toward the central plaza.

"I'm sure they've got some vendors around," Mickey replied. "Though Halloween Town is one of the few that didn't have a mandatory evacuation. The Heartless don't seem to bother them quite as much as others, so those that came were mostly just the curious ones, like Jack."

"Of course, Santa and the other holiday-people decided it better to come in," Kairi added, smiling to herself as she remembered Sora's energetic revelation--he'd met the real life Santa and he was like a child all over again.

"Anywho, I'm sure the food is fine for ya, if a little weird," he said, giving a small, reassuring laugh. "At the very least, they wouldn't intentionally poison ya."

High overhead, there was a brief, thin stream of multi-colored dust--red, green, and blue--following tiny lights of the same respective colors, which seemed to speed from the direction of one of the large gates, toward the castle itself. Of course, the stream was only really noticeable if you were looking up at the right moment, and even then only barely, considering the many streamers and colored flags connecting various buildings for the festival.

[ Stephanii ; Cidolfus ; Hojo : Radiant Garden : ShinRa HQ ]

"Weapons do not just disappear, sir. Are you taking current operations into acc--yes, well what about the trainees--"

The receptionist's eyes were closed shut, her fingers massaging the bridge of her nose in some futile attempt to ease the headache that grew as she dealt with whichever incompetent idiot had pulled the straw to call her this time.

"Excuse me, sir, but if you are one-hundred percent certain on your counting, and you're truly sure the President should be informed of this," she began, interrupting him and not even giving him a chance to speak. The venom in her voice might have carried a poison spell all its own. ""Then I can forward you directly to his phone this instant and you can report your findings to him yourself... no? Oh, maybe it's a clerical error? Best get counting."

The phone was not-quite slammed back into its machine. She took a moment, inhaling, exhaling...

... and then the door opened, two familiar men strolling in.

"We're here to see Rufus," Hojo said before he was even through the doorway, leading Cidolfus behind him. He didn't stop.

"D-Doctor, of course, if you'd wait just a--sir, I--" she began, only to realize there would be no waiting. For the briefest of seconds, her eyes widened, but she recomposed just as quickly, phoning into the President's office as fast as she could.

Today was not her day.


The red light on Rufus' machine had barely lit up for a moment before the door to his office opened.

"Mr. ShinRa," Hojo said as he walked in, Cidolfus behind him. He came to a stop directly in front of the man's desk, smiling amicably... enough. "I understand you're busy with something, but I'd like to introduce you to Doctor Cidolfus of the Archadian Empire."

"A pleasure to finally meet the leader of this radiant world," Cidolfus said, standing beside Hojo and bowing his head respectfully, though not entirely low by any means.