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[[Cue: Still Doll]]


Kyla shifted lightly, coming to once more. Her eyes opened slowly, wincing slightly, still getting used to the influx of light. When her vision finally came into focus, she couldn’t help but feel completely confused. All of her senses came about telling her one thing at a time. First, she was in a well decorated room, colorful and full of personality. Next, she noticed the chair she was sitting in with exquisitely carved arms and red silk cushions fit for royalty. She glanced down at her clothes which had changed drastically. She wasn’t sure what to think, to be absolutely amazed, or incredibly creeped out. Her outfit was replaced by a dress as elegant and extravagant as one that might be worn to one’s own wedding in a dream, or Cinderella’s ball. She raised her arms up to examine the intricate design, the flowery lace, each and every design emphasized by an extra stitch and sewn beads which if she didn’t know any better she might have sworn were actual pearls. She couldn’t believe her eyes. Had she just woken up from a nightmare into her wildest dream? Or was there something else afoot?

Kyla turned her head and glanced around the rest of the room, spotting Kefka, instantly bringing her back to reality. Kyla gasped in absolute horror, not that Kefka scared her, just the sudden thought of how she might have gotten into that amazing dress, “YOU!!!”

“ME!!!” Kefka squealed in return, giggling afterwards with a wave of his hand, “Surprised? So what do you think? Is everything to your liking?” Kyla was rather dumbfounded, a mix of surprise and disgust written plainly on her face, though her eyes drifted down just a fraction to look at the dress, “Ooo! She DOES like it! Well, I guess I should have trusted you… after all, you know her best.” Kefka spoke to another individual in the room, which Kyla became aware of instantly when she spoke.

“Shut up.” The voice replied simply, “Are we done with these games?”

Kyla flew from her seat and spun around, staring straight into the eyes of her greatest nightmare’s embodiment, “Kai.”

“Oh good… the guests already know each other. Now I don’t need to do introductions! Cuz you know… I hate hate hate hate hate HATE, introductions.”

“I said… are we done?” Kai stated coldly, ignoring the clowns annoying antics.

“Done with what?” Kyla asked harshly glaring at her replica. Kyla blinked once before she found herself on hr side laid out on the floor.

Kai stood over her with an arm out to her side after backhanding Kyla with enough strength to knock her down, “Speak only when spoken to worm!”

“Now now… careful… we don’t want to ruin the merchandise. And I don’t mean the dress… cuz I hate hate hate HA-“

“Alright, I get it shut up!” Kai stomped sending up a flurry of shadows.

Kefka stood there for a moment, staring at Kai, and her staring at him. There was an awkward silence, Kefka’s eyes were open wide, Kai’s eyes narrowed, so did Kefka’s. Kai clenched her fist,Kefka drew a smile. Kai’s face twitched, Kefka’s mouth opened, “HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE!!!”

“Damnit!!!” Kai spun around and faced the clown summoning her book from the darkness with pen in hand. Her attacks would have followed if another unexpected visitor didn’t steady her hand.

“Enough Kai. He’s only trying to bait you. We only get our part of the bargain if we cooperate.” Ajora bend forward and looked Kai directly in the eye, something she despised, but she quickly jerked back her hand and took a few steps back.

“That’s a good girl.” Ajora spoke before he opened a portal, “Finish things up here quickly Kai. In the meantime, I have some business to take care of top side. So we’ll meet up later.”

With that, Ajora vanished into his dark corridor. Kefka sighed with a laugh, “What a shame. He’s so serious… no fun at all.” Kefka’s attention fell once more on Kyla, who was attempting to crawl towards the door, “Ah ah ah! Hold it missy!”

Kyla froze and turned around reluctantly, “What is it you want Kefka?” just as she asked, a mirror appeared underneath her, and she fell through. She immediately returned however, right into the seat in the center of the room.

“Nothing you need to worry your TINY little brain about. All I want you to do… is draw.”

“Draw?” Kyla asked, thoroughly confused.

“DRAW?!” Kai seemed to explode in unison.

“Yes. Draw… I want you to draw me something.”

“Like hell. I’m not drawing you anything.” Kyla seemed completely baffled with the request, she wouldn’t do anything for the demented clown, unless perhaps that thing happened to be removing the head from his shoulders, but known him, it would probably screw back on.

“Oh but you see… you won’t even have to worry about that either. You’ll exactly as I say… whether you like it or not, princess.” Kyla wanted to feel a bit of her lunch come back for dinner when he called her princess, but she was now too concentrated on Kai, “Kai dear, if you’d please.”

Kai opened her book with a growl, darkness spilling off its pages and out onto the floor. Her pen touched the surface, darkness began taking Kyla’s sight, then once more, everything went black.

Holy Cow! That was complete and utter awesomeness! The way you...and John...and HIM and....

*passes out from the awesomeness*

... ... ...

*passes out as well*

Wow that was amazing o_O Love the battle. I love the fluidity you have with words. That was definitely a really good read. Good job Rhiko! biggrin DDD

And poor Alice D: .... RIO!!! D': *saves*

zomg jenova brothers!!!!! FTW!<3

Another EPIC fight scene!
Rio's: "Are we there yet?" made me rofl!

Noelle made her way to the center of the large circular room, glancing from wall to wall, noting no sign of enemy, but she was sure that was a barrier that put itself between her and the two exits. Noelle was unpleasantly dragged away from her assumption that she had gotten lucky as a dark portal opened up before her.

Out steps a strong, silent man, clothed in the black cloak of the organization. Noelle summoned her weapon and prepared for battle. Only, the enemy did not. Lexaeus, also known as the organization’s Silent Hero, spoke in his deep, calm voice, “I… would rather not have to fight you.”

Noelle blinked a few times, then brushed the hair from her face, then blinked a few more times, “Wait… what?”

“I said, I would rather not have to fight you. It would be unpleasant.” Lexaeus stated, unmoving, like a stone wall between Noelle and her exit.

“Well, in that case… why not join me? You know, help me break out of here?” Noelle asked, feeling hopeful.

“I can’t do that.” The nobody answered sternly.

Noelle sighed, “Aw man… should have known it wouldn’t be that easy.”

“Kefka promised us our hearts back… if in return we guard these passageways.”

“Oh come on! You know he’s just going to betray you right?” Noelle blurted out in exasperated tones, “That guy will tell you anything to do what he wants.”

“I don’t mean to be rude… but I hope you’re wrong.” Lexaeus stated once more, still holding his monotone.

“You’re being played. Please? Just let me pass. Say that I beat you, then they can’t blame you.” Noelle pleaded calmly.

“I can’t do that either.”

“Why not?”

“Well, first of all, this room has a one way entry. The exit only opens when one of the parties are defeated.”

“Then can you just let me win?” Noelle asked, knowing what the answer would be.

“I may have no heart… but I still have my pride. I would never simply let you win. Disgraceful.”

“It was worth a shot.” Noelle shrugged, “Well, it seems we’re left with no choice then. I never did get my chance to fight in the tournament… not that I wanted to in the first place.”

“Then you insist that we fight?”

“What other choice do we have? Or do you plan to just stand there till one of us starves to death?”

“One of us would pass out from exhaustion long before then.” Lexaeus said before sighing and summoning his weapon, “Prepare yourself little girl. This will not be easy.”

“Dang… could he be anymore stiff? Loosen up a little. Geez.” Noelle whispered under her breath, before shouting, “Alright! You got yourself a challenge!”


[[Cue: Murasaki no Yukari]]


Noelle rolled up her sleeves and gripped her spear with both hands. ((Here he comes human… )) the slow voice of titan reached her mind just as the nobody started out on his charge. Noelle didn’t wait for him, she stabbed her spear into the floor and held on as the floor rippled and rolled forward like a growing wave, crumbling the tiles turning them to pebbles in mere seconds.

The two collided, Lexaeus’ massive sword, and Noelles earth wave. The wave burst out, but instead of water, roots sprang forth, wrapping outward with curved sharp spines. Lexaeus wiped his ax-like blade from one side to the other, cutting the roots like trimming a bush. When he cleared the path, he found no trace of Noelle anywhere.

Please don’t find me… please don’t find me… Noelle thought as she heard his footsteps grow closer and she closed her eyes.

“Hiding in a battle is not an honorable style.”

And dyeing in close combat is? I’ll stick with this thanks!

“So be it.” Lexaeus spoke, then went silent. Noelle began to think he was gone when suddenly Lexaeus stomped his foot to the ground, sending chunks of rock out of the floor everywhere till finally Noelle blasted out, flipping wildly like a fish out of water. Noelle regained her composure just as the man’s large weapon flew in and nearly cleaved her in half if it were not for a well placed block with her spear. Still, despite this she was hit with such force that she rocketed back to the floor, saved only by the helping hand of her giant companion.

“Were you hurt human?” Titan asked, kneeling next to her, his hard features put off only by his gentle eyes.

“I’m fine thanks.” Noelle said, looking back to Lexaeus who stood politely waiting till she was ready.

“Still want to fight?” The nobody asked, pausing a little longer, giving her the chance to give up.

“Of course!”

Lexaeous didn’t waste any time, closing in once more, met midway by Titan’s heavy fist. The nobody put up surprising strength, holding back even Titan’s strike despite their immense size difference. Titan showed obvious surprise as he relinquished his weapon and grabbed onto Titan’s fist with both hands, still holding Titan back at full strength.

“Come on Titan! You can do it!” Noelle cheered out words of encouragement but they made little difference.

“He’s… strong… human.” Titan struggled to say in the midst of his test of strength. Then, to both he and Noelle’s surprise, Titan gave ground, taking a step back to keep his balance. Then, just as it seemed as though Lexaeus might win, Titan swung around his other arm and crushed Lexaeus in one fell swoop.

Titan took a deep breath, groaning a bit, “He… was very strong.”

“You know… you could have done that sooner.” Noelle tilted her head to the side with a quizzical look.

“I was… how do you humans say… curious.”

Then, something happened neither Noelle nor Titan would have ever expected in their lifetimes… or for all time. Titan’s arms shifted. The earth underneath shattered and turned the entire tile floor into practically dust instantaneously. Titan’s arms rose back up as Titan bared down on them with all his weight. Lexaeus rose up, his powers of earth driving his form up from the floor. Then, with one final, heavy push, he thrust Titan back, making him stumble and fall on his back.

“No way!” Noelle yelled and shot her eyes from Titan to Lexeaus, who lunged into the air and came down with his sword. Noelle screamed, reaching out with her heart and turning Titan back into stone before he was hit. Lexaeus struck his sword against the rock, and shattered it, sending rubble everywhere. Noelle narrowly dodged a huge chunk that could have crushed her underneath its size leaving no trace.

The nobody came at her sword posed to cleave her in half, but she was ready. Her hands spread out before her as she leaped backwards avoiding the strike. Seeds scattered onto the floor by his feet, immediately taking root and shooting up bamboo spears narrowly missing the heavy-armed man.

Noelle threw more seeds out to her sides, more bamboo springing up just as fast. She reached out and grabbed hold of one, pulling it from the ground. She held it like a javelin, waiting as the plants all aligned with the angle of her improvised weapon. She took a step back then tossed it forward with all her strength. The bamboo spears in front and around her all fired off in the same direction, raining down on Lexaeus with the intensity and precision of a firing squad. The silent hero brought his blade up, and brought it down splintering her thrown weapon to pieces and impacting the floor.

The floor shot up forming a rock wall between him and the rest of her projectiles, “Fighting at range is dishonorable.”

“You think allot of things are dishonorable that I think are GREAT… so let’s agree to disagree.”

“But I’ll make an exception this time.”

“Huh?” Noelle stuttered, as Lexaeus bashed his own rock wall and sent the whole thing flying forward at her in countless pieces. Noelle reached into another pocket and threw out a single seed. The plant spread out in a line, shooting up spines all along its length, the longest at the center, then more spines from those spines all interconnected throughout the. Within the matrix of branches, bark covered membranes filled in. The web like plant took the shrapnel blow for blow. Some pieces of the plant towards its edges were blown away, but they immediately grew back to replace the lost appendage.

Just as the impacts drew to a close, Noelle breathed a sigh of relief just a moment too soon before her shield was obliterated by a single strike from Lexaeus’ sword. Noelle flew back, rolling a good bit before stopping dead on the floor. Noelle struggled to get up, Lexaeus still standing patiently for her to either give up, or return to her feet and fight.


[[Cue: Turii - Panta Rhei]]


Noelle dug her fingers into the crumbled floor, running in through her fingers like dirt till she made a fist, anger flowing through her then suddenly, a realization, Dirt! That’s it! The floor is like dirt! I can use those now!

Noelle stood to her feet finally, a huge grin on her face as she yelled, “Fine, you want close up and personal? You got it! I’ll give a really taste of what mother nature is really capable of!” Noelle tossed a seed into the air and summoned her spear. She stabbed upward, the tip of the spear striking the airborne seed. The seed sprang to life, vines wrapping down over the spear, clinging like a child to its mother. The tip grew a bud that swiftly bloomed into an exotic flower shaped much like a pinecone and just as hard too.

Noelle charged forward into the ready guard of Lexaeus, but rather than stabbing like a spear, she spun her weapon around like a mace, smacking it against his weapon, an immediate spray of sparkling pollen spear out with the jolt.

The nobody pulled back with his weapon and spun around, swinging low as Noelle jumped over his blade. The sword struck the ground at an angle, releasing a jagged protrusion of rocks that shot up to meet the agromancer. Noelle brought the spear down underneath her, smacking it against the rock face, releasing more pollen spores, then up into Lexaeus’ jaw.

Jarred, the man stepped back, surprised at the girl’s sudden change in strategy and confidence. He pulled back, then brought his blade down on the floor releasing a jagged, vertical “V” along the ground towards Noelle. The girl leapt into the attack, landing in the very center of the V, running down its length, the tip of her spear rattling rapidly against the serrated edge. Lexaeus pulled his sword from the ground, consequently filling in the V with spikes that ran from him all the way down to meet her.

Noelle threw down another seed, this time a large trunk of a winding tree shot out growing as Noelle ran up and along it straight to her opponent where it slammed into the ground where he stood only a moment before. Noelle leapt into the air, holding the spear over her shoulder as she flew, the other hand reaching into another seed pocket. Lexaeus brought his blade down and around to his side, holding it with both hands. The two brought their weapons together, Noelle smashing the end of her spear into his sword, the tip bursting into nothing but powder as she flew back and her spear flew in a different direction knocked from her grip.

Lexaeus went to give chase, but found he couldn’t. Vines sprang up from all around him, gripping him and holding every limb to the floor. He looked around from limb to limb trying to free himself until finally glaring at Noelle with a stern look as she stood to her feet, “Was this your plan? All of that for this? This will only hold me for so long.”

He was right, even then she could hear the sound of vines giving want and tendons stopping under pressure, but she showed no sign of worry, “No… mother earth… is no so predictable… and neither am I.”

Lexaeus then noticed, the pink tint in the air all around them, permeating every square inch of the room. Noelle started with her hands at her sides and slowly rose them up above her head. With her motions flowers grew from the floor, every spot covered, not a single space spared. The white and purple flowers released more yellow pollen into the air as well, mixing in but not combining with the pink making the air a swirling whirlpool of color. Then, she threw her arms out to her sides, palms wide open.

At first nothing happened, the colors seemed to fade, and Lexaeus might have thought that something had gone wrong and she failed, but the confident look in her eye told him otherwise. Something caught his eye off to the side. Right next to his face, in perfect view, so close up he could almost feel the brushes of its tiny breeze against his cheek, a flower, grew right out of thin air, it floated, its petals’ edges shimmering revealing their true nature.

Noelle spoke, and the entire arena bloomed in unison, “Metamorphic Silex Silicis Sarcochilus Flower Burial.” With that, the razor sharp swarm of flowers closed in, avoiding Noelle and formed a whirlwind so thick with the flora that Lexaeus was nowhere to be seen within.

As the petals fell and scattered throughout the room, Noelle stood in the center of flower field, panting with her now very apparent exhaustion.

“Looks like you dealt with him pretty harshly don’t you think, girly?” the sarcastic voice of the former, Fury of Dancing Flames reached Noelle’s ears.

Noelle spun around and locked eyes with another newcomer, “Axel!”

“That’s right! You got it memorized.” Axel grinned, giving off a dangerous, but friendly aura.

“You here to start trouble too?” Noelle said, calling forth her spear once more, but the trembling in her arms gave her no hopes of threatening the nobody.

“Relax flower girl. I’m here to help. Sora and the others are off helping the others down the other paths.” Axel said raising his arms up, surrendering to her right from the get go, “Besides, would it reall be smart picking a fight with me before you’re done with him?”

Noelle went to ask, but froze, listening to the deep voice of Lexaeus yell out, “You!”

“It’s Axel. I swore YOU had it memorized.” Before anything else could be said, Axel tossed his chakram forward, a blazing tornado tearing its way across the flower field and impacting the tied down nobody. The tornado grew with intensity as it added fuel by sucking in the surrounding plants. In seconds, half of the flowers were scorched, and Lexaeus was no more.

“Well, that takes care of that. What do you say we get moving now then. Looks like the way is clear.”

“If you don’t mind…”

“Hmm?” Axel asked, turning back to her, only to look down at the girl lying on her back in the midst of the flowers.

“Just rest here for awhile…” Before Axel could object, all that he would get as replies were the soft rise and falls of her breath.

[[Authors Note: Silex Silicis Sarcochilus- roughly means in Latin, Bladed Orchid.]]





[[Cue : Beyond the Bounds]]


As Mathy stepped through the doorway into the rotunda, he locked eyes with an individual he didn’t recognize. He wore tattered black robes and held an odd combination of a book and chain. Mac shifted slightly, but said nothing. Mathy continued strolling forward, his steps gaining pace and tempo. Mac clenched his book and lifted his chain, the steel links clattering together as he prepared for his opponent. There were no words to mark the start of battle, no buzzer to give them the go ahead. They both knew what they had to do and neither was going to give ground for the other. And just like that, the music of battle would once more fill the rotunda as these two clashed in mortal combat.

Mathy went from a steady, fast walk, to a violent dash that tore the floor asunder, lighting streaming in his wake, flowing outward making the tile more as water as the waves his pulsating movements sent out rippled the entire room. He didn’t go straight for the mage, as he was already waving around the floating book before him, turning pages into deadly spells firing off in his direction. Fire, Ice, Water, even lighting came in like continuous artillery fire, every shot exploding around Mathy but not deterring him from his intended path.

Mathy zigzagged inward towards Mac, bypassing his attacks and speeding in for the kill. As his claws struck, Mac raised his chain, its twisted form wrapping around Mathy’s leg as though it had a mind of its own. Mac ducked slightly, only an inch, allowing his opponents claw to pass right by the side of his face. The clawed fighter struck from another angle with his other claw, but was foiled again by the versatile mage who spun back, rolling the chain up and over Mathy, entangling his arm. He jerked back trying free him arm, but moved his attention elsewhere as his other arm was entangled as well. Mac rolled around Mathy to his back, twisting the chain to wrap around his remaining leg as Mathy attempted to step back and keep Mac in his line of sight.

Now having his opponent entangled, Mac looped the chain around Mathy’s neck, completely pinning him down. He pressed the book into Mathy’s back, the pages glowing a deep red, brightening until releasing a powerful firaja spell. As Mathy flew forward, the chain extended further out of Mac’s sleeve providing its seemingly never ending length. Another chain extended from his right sleeve, attaching itself to the spine of his book.

Mathy flew, trying to gain freedom from the chain, finally able to free his neck only moments before Mac jerked back, stopping him in place. Mathy now face his opponent, but had his vision of him blotted out by the book. It floated there with its pages wide open, fluttering through its supply of spells, then pulled back suddenly, scattering its pages in the air around the Electric Blitzkrieg. The book returned to its master’s hand, drawn by the chain in his sleeve, then with another pull, the chain attached to Mathy snapped at the link closest to Mathy’s chest, sending a signal to all the pages around to detonate in a colorful collage of elemental spells.

Mac moved back to the defensive as the freed fighter flew in almost completely unhindered by the eruption of spells. Pages from the book went up in a flurry, and within a second, Mathy was upon Mac slashing him back and forth with his claws, leaving no room in between for a counter attack.

Mac’s chain extended to strike Mathy’s mask, ricocheting ever so slightly to spare shattering it to pieces. Mathy lifted his claw and caught the chain by the links. Mac instinctively pulled back, only to have Mathy move in with it and deck him with all the momentum built up in his body. Lighting blasted from his claws as he tore away at Mac with the whip like arcs of lightning. Mac jumped back only to watch Mathy do the same, drawing his hands to his sides. Mac blocked not knowing what attack would hit him. Mathy thrust his palms forward releasing an aurablast followed by sequential bolts of lightning from the ceiling in its path.

Mac flew back, struck repeatedly mid flight, until he slid to a stop on the floor. Mathy moved in, pouncing on his prey and digging the claws in rapidly and tearing away at the mage.What Mathy failed to notice however were the scattered pages that floated all around, gathering darkness and forming several dozen Neo-Shadows. As his maddened claws tore into Mac, a heartless pounced over him and struck him on the side.

Mathy turned away from Mac, and in a flash dispersed the heartless. Mathy blinked from behind his now cracked mask, as the Neoshadow vanished, leaving behind a cut sheet of paper. The paper lit up and exploded outward with a bolt of lightning.

Mathy skid back, blocking the thundaga spell with his claws and absorbing the energy as best he could. As the spell dwindled, he turned to go back after his target but was once against assaulted by heartless. This time, they in their greater numbers swarmed Mathy, pouncing on him and clinging to his legs arms and torso. He cut down what he could, but they were simply too numerous, and it seemed that more and more were spawning around him as numerous pages fell from the roof. His gaze shot up where he spotted the book floating face down spinning, scattering its pages all over. In that moment of realization, as the last heartless tackled him and covered his face, the heartless glowed in unison, then exploded with their spells from the inside out.

Mac stood to his feet, recalling his book, and stood over Mathy, “I don’t know who you are… but it would seem you lost your heart for battle. What is it that drove you this far? What kept you going that you lost? I wonder… but I guess… it doesn’t matter now.”

Mac lifted his book and held it open to him. He placed a hand on the open pages, his other lifted to the roof. Power gathered on his palm, and reacted with a black portal that opened above, “Dark Scathe.” Four black spheres sank down out of the portal, forming a triangle of sorts with the outer 3 with the fouth at the center.

Three black beams shot out of the outer spheres and intersected on the center. Mac’s eyes glowed a bright yellow as he stepped back into a dark portal, creating a disturbing contrast with the rest of him that vanished into the darkness. The power overhead grew, collecting to a single point, then in a smooth motion they spiraled out, cutting a swirling design into the floor. The central ball of darkness formed a glyph on its surface, ancient symbols flashed all over and sank in. Then, with no other warning, the black sphere released a beam like no other, engulfing Mathy within and blotting him from all sight.

Numerous hearts rose out of the shadows that now completely inhabited the floor in Dark Scathe’s wake belonging to the many heartless that had gathered to Dark Scathe’s power. Mac stepped out into the living surface, wading through the foot deep darkness with tangible form. Mac looked around and sighed, “Well, I guess that’s it. I should be moving… Kefka is probably initiating the last steps of plan… shouldn’t be late.”

Mac opened a dark portal and went to step through, only to find it close up an inch before removing his hand in the process, “What the hell?”


[[Cue: Xepher]]


He looked around, spotting no one present to fight, no reason he wouldn’t be able to leave. He heart as shift behind him. He spun around and saw a black form drag itself from the darkness. Mac felt a nervous laugh growing in his throat as he said, “You… you didn’t… you idiot. You really did it didn’t you?”

Mac took a few steps back away from the black mass that took Mathy’s form, only the mask gave itself color followed by several white glimmers of his claws that protruded from the shadow, “I can’t believe it. You abandoned your own heart… in order to survive the attack. Brilliant. You would have just been carried off to safety like the rest… but you would rather lose your heart and win. Well too bad! Because I still have what I’m fighting for!”

Mathy moved with fluidity like water. Mac whipped out both chains, crisscrossing them over Mathy. The clawed heartless rolled underneath, and ran near parallel to the floor. The darkness built up in front of Mathy as he plowed through it, unhindered at all by its presence. Mac trudged backwards through it like muck, trying to put some space between him and the bloodthirsty opponent. Mathy was upon him in seconds, his impact blasting darkness up like a wave over Mac, blinding him for the moment, though he still swung the chains out before him madly, trying to strike something.

Mac received a cut straight up from his hip to shoulder, lifting him off the floor. A spark shot out from that point to the roof, drawing him up giving him a strange sense of weightlessness. The mage felt magnetized to the roof, held upside down, through gravity still pulled him down. Matthew flipped up, arcs of lighting drawing him to the roof. He walked forward towards Mac though he moved as though there was no difference.

Mac shad a hard time getting used to fighting upside down, even more of a hard time as Mathy ran in and drew lightning bolt up from the floor. Each bolt coated itself in the darkness, drawing up from the floor leaving a strangely shaped pillar in its place. Mac fought awkwardly, spinning his chains around, and firing off spells. Mathy avoided, moving and contorting his body in way no human could, no longer bound by physical form. Mac stuck his chains into the roof tiles, then tore several away, sending them down to the floor. He repeated this several times attempting to dislodge Mathy and knock him down. Mathy instead sent Mac to the floor pulling a similar move, only simply flying past with a trail of lighting behind that ripped everything to shreds.

Mac fell and landed in the shallow darkness, standing slowly, “I can’t lose here… he hasn’t gotten the best of me. I just need to… wait… where’d he go?” Mac spun around several times, nervously looking left and right and taking steps back, expecting a stab at his back.

“Where are you?!” He yelled, and as if to answer, Mathy rose up from the shadows, directly in front of Mac. The mage stumbled backwards, and fell.

Mathy stood over him, and leaned in, claw pressed to Mac’s chest and a voice escaping the mask, distorted and demonic, “But it would seem… you lost your heart for battle.”

“NO!!!” Mac screamed, a pulse of darkness knocking Mathy’s heartless back. All the darkness on the floor flowed into Mac, as he held his chest, “I won’t! I won’t lose! I have something to protect! I have someone I want to save! You have nothing! Nothing! I’ll defeat you! I’ll destroy you! I’ll do anything! Even if it means sinking to your level…”

As all the darkness in the room seemed to have drained down to the last drop, Mac spouted one last line, “Rae, I’m sorry.”

Mac’s form then warped as featherless wings sprout out behind him, growing and forming an inky apparition of his summon, Quetzacoatl. A bird’s skull formed over the top half of Mac’s face, the eye sockets filled in with glowing yellow orbs. His robed shredded and lost all semblance of once being clothing, now only flowed off of him, engulfing him in a sea of black cloth sheets.

Mathy moved in, rolling out of the was of the distorted summon’s lighting breath. Bolt after bolt passed between the two x-earthlings, Mathy’s heartless slowly closing the distance. When he was finally in range, he lunged in, his claws aimed for the very center of Mac’s heartless seal. Mac didn’t move, in fact, he seemed anchored to the spot. Mathy slammed his weapon against Mac’s seal, sending a ripple out through the room.

A thousand chains sprang up the moment this occurred all around the clawed fighter. As his claws sank, in, the chains collected on his mask and heartless symbol appeared in its surface. As both forces pushed into one another and lighting shot out destroying most of the arena, both side also gave ground. Cracks appear in both Mathy’s mask and Mac’s seal. Then, as one giant lightning bolt struck down absorbing them both in its light, both broke. And without another sound, they faded, their hearts floating to the sky.





“Really?” Amy spoke shocked, looking to Kirstin with a look of disgust, “Of all the people we end up fighting… we get the flamer.”

“I assure you, I would never use flames.” Marluxia corrected, holding his sythe on his shoulder, “Flames are Axel’s specialty… which brings me to wonder… where is that traitor? I’ve been meaning to pay him back for his treachery.”

Amy groaned, holding her guns at the ready, “Well, might as well get this over with. Not happy my big moment to shine is fighting the flower guy.”

“You’ll regret it if you underestimate me.” Marluxia said swinging his scythe once and sending a gust of wind in their direction.

“Same goes for you Pinky!” Amy said, firing off the first two shots simultaneously, “So bring it on! This girl loves a challenge!”


[[Cue: Red Fraction]]


“Fine, prepare yourselves.” The Graceful Assassin announced as he swung his scythe before him once more, kicking up a swirl of rose petals that blocked the bullets. Another swing sent the petals out like a wall, blocking him from their view. Amy blinks as a petal passed close to her face, and a second later found him close up, swinging his scythe around at her side.

Amy ducked and fired off two shots into his face, the bullets exploding with light as they impacted his scythe blade. He spun around and cleaved the floor forcing Amy to jump back into Kirstin as she switched places and moved into close range combat. Her swirling combat style kept Kirstin moving, waving her glaive around with ease despite its size. Marluxia made quick work over her, sliding down to his knee and pressing off. He picked up a whirlwind of petals as he launched himself and Kirstin into the air. Several sequential slashes removed the glaive from her grip and another strike sent her flying into the floor.

Amy side stepped out of the way rather than trying to catch Kirstin, firing off several bullets at Marluxia as he spun the scythe before him deflecting her bullets easily. One bullet seemed to piece through his guard once, only for his form to revert into petals and more petals to gather next to her. She spun around and couldn’t even pull the trigger before his weapon picked her up in a flurry and threw her across the room covered in roses.

Kirstin couldn’t even advance mid attack to strike at an opening. The wind was enough to lift her from the ground if she took a step. She lifted her gaze in time to turn and roll out of the way of his blade which nearly cleaved her in half. She jumped back and had to continue back stepping as his relentless assault continued without delay. As one swing came in, leaving Kirstin helpless with her back to the wall a bullet flew in and struck Marluxia in the side.

The nobody spun around and threw his weapon clear across the rotunda and stuck it in the wall over Amy’s shoulder, detonating it a second later.

Amy sprawled on the ground, as Kirstin struck at her awaited opening. She moved swiftly, but carefully, moving her body and weapon as one to hit their opponent with the upmost power. She spun the blade up and over her shoulder, rolling the whole weapon behind her back. She let go, rolling her body along the length of the weapon’s shaft. She grabbed hold once more as she reached its end, thrusting forward, stopping an inch from his chest, then, let out a pulse of water from the edge. He stumbled back as she spun, her feet gliding across the floor while water gushed out right below her. She spun with such speed ,the water that spread across the floor formed tiny waves spreading out and away from her. She sliced him across the chest, then pulled back, spinning the weapon behind her neck, drawing it around under her opposite shoulder, driving the blunt end up into his jaw, then the blade up to cut him diagonally on the arm.

The blade spun in the air using the built up momentum, repeatedly cutting the same place like a saw as she let go and ducked under her own weapon, letting it travel along the length of her body where she grabbed it as it reached the tip of her right hand. She drew it down for a final blow, but clashed with his weapon.

The graceful assassin rolled his weapon round skillfully, then spun around unexpectedly close, leaving her open. She quickly stabbed her weapon to the floor and lifted herself up to kick him in the chest. He didn’t even flinch, drawing back the scythe blade that had been positioned behind her back. Amy’s shots came in again just in time, leaving Kirstin just enough time to roll under and out of the way. She leapt into the air, spinning upside-down with her weapon pointed to the floor, a whirlpool of water coming off her collecting all the man’s petals that threatened to cast their spell of teleportation.

Amy fired off several shots, knocking the man out of the whirlpool as Kirstin landed a bit away with a smirk. The smirk vanished a second later when the assassin returned spinning his blade and throwing it out before him. The tornado threw Kirstin into the air, then his weapon after returning to his hand, went forth once more to snatch her from the air, carry her over, and slam her to the wall.

“Kirstin!” Amy yelled over concerned, but was relieved to see her friend stand up unharmed.

She coughed a bit, but smiled, “Don’t worry! We must be getting him off his game. He missed me, just got the air knocked out is all.”

Amy grinned, and fired off more shots at Marluxia, who spun around and hit all of the bullets back at her with twice the velocity. She dived out of the way as they imbedded themselves in the wall behind her. She looked up and rolled immediately as his scythe stuck into the ground then tore out sending tile and rock all over, as well as some stray drops of water. Amy shot close range, bouncing the shot off the wall behind him and into his back.

He swung down on her despite this, and continued his restless attacks on the gunner who consistently foiled his plans. She continued dodging using handsprings and rolls to keep moving and firing shots, bouncing them off surfaces and into the scythe wielder. This indirect form of attack left her opponent unable to predict her weapon’s trajectory, giving her a newfound edge.

Just she thought she might be getting somewhere, Marluxia knocked her back and sent her flying into Kirstin, who caught her friend and set her down safely.

Kirstin charged forward with Amy supplying cover fire, her weapons changing in a flash of light into two machineguns that fired off an endless barrage of bullets. Kirstin closed the gap as he deflected Amy’s shots, the barrage halting just as she might be in danger of being hit by friendly fire.

Marluxia clashed with her weapon once more, pressing down on her with his greater strength, forcing her to take a knee, “Face is girl… you’re in no place to change me. Give in and maybe I can find a use for you.”

“N-“ Kirstin groaned, trying to speak but couldn’t under the circumstances.

“Hmm?” He leaned in further, “I can’t hear you.” He looked down by her feet and noticed a flow of water bubbling up from the cracks in the tile. He looked around, it was happening everywhere. He looked back to her and felt his footing giving way.

“I said…” Kirstin pressed up with all her strength, aided by a geyser that launched him back and into a pool that was swiftly growing, “I said, I’d never give in!”

With her words, the water burst from the floor, swiftly filling the room. In moments, the entire arena was flooded half way up the walls. Kirstin stood on the water as if it were flowing earth. Amy sat mounted on her summon Unicorn. Marluxia hung floating midair a few inchest from the water kicking up a small whirlwind to stay airborne.

Amy rode in on her steed as Kirstin skated on the water, every movement creating waves on the surface that grew larger as she grew closer. Marluxia cut a quick “X” in the air and send a blast forward taking the same shape. Just as Kirstin commanded the water rose up beneath her feet and lifted her out of the attack’s path. It rose up into a large hill overlooking the graceful assassin as she slid down. She clashed with him as the water moved beneath their feet, lifting up and sucking away.

Kirstin dug her feet, in swiftly carried away from his slash without having to actually move her legs. She was carried up into the water once more, the water arcing and bending, rising high over his head forming a tidal wave. Kirstin took her place at the very top of the wave and thrust her weapon forward, commanding the elemental charge. The wave moved oddly, not like normal water, but as though it was alive.

A dragon head took shape, the upper half of the jaw forming from the wave’s tip, the lower from the water on which Marluxia stood. He stood, drawing his weapon back to strike, but Amy ridding past on the walls above the water rained bullets down on him. He wanted to retaliate but lost sight of her as she retreated back behind Kirstin’s water wall with incredible speed. The dragon in front of him lifted its jaw one last time, pulling away all the water in the arena to itself. It’s head reared up, a thunderous roar escaping its depths, then it came down onto Marluxia, shaking the entire battlefield and sending cracks up the walls.


[[Cue: Lord of the Castle]]


The water quickly drained away through the floor, leaving once more solid ground for them to stand on. The two girls stood side by side, staring at Marluxia as he stood to his feet and two gargantuan scythes tore themselves from the floor. They stood motionless until a voice came from behind them to distract them from their opponent’s transformation.

“HEY!” the young keyblader yelled out as he trotted forward with his weapon ready, “So, is this they guy you’ve been fighting?”

“Sora… once more you come to meddle in my affairs. You won’t escape me a second time.”

“Second time? Who is this guy?” Sora asked, looking to the girls for answers, though they wouldn’t have enough time to answer.

“Your ignorance will not save you. I was easy on you once because you played a part in my plans. No more. You play no part here.”

“Shut up! I don’t care who you are… but no one threatens me or my friends!” Sora yelled as Marluxia rose off the floor, carrying with him a large monster underneath with two scythed arms capable of cutting a small building in two.

Sora ran in unfazed in the face of this enemy, jumping right over the scythe as Marluxia swung it across to kill him. His keyblade blasted right through the armor made of darkness, his years of experience since their last encounter showed through clearly as Marluxia even in this giant and monstrous form hand to pull back to avoid being smashed to pieces.

Kirstin and Amy quickly gave chase, running in lending aid in whatever way they could to Sora’s onslaught. Amy fired off several bullets into the broken portions of the monster, piecing the armor, and detonating them breaking away most of the armor on the forward shield.

Kirstin dashed in, lunged into the air, and stabbed her glaive into the front through the unarmored portion of Marluxia’s boss form. The scythes twisted around and slashed at her, but she was already on the move. After jumping off the handle of her glaive, she made her up on top of the monstrosity to face Marluxia himself. He stood there bound in place into the roof of his lower half. Behind him, a fallen angel floated holding an elongated version of his original scythe.

The angel swept across the area where Kirstin stood with the scythe, raising its empty black eyes to spot her high above with Sora. She spun around, allowing Sora to brace against the flat of her blade where finally at the height of their jump, Sora pressed off as she swung, launching Sora at Marluxia. Marluxia’s dark sentinel blocked his charge, moving over him like liquid, using its body as a shield.

Meanwhile, as they fought above, Amy ran along the floor firing off limitless rounds into the side of the mechanical monster. Its whole form casing after her and sending out hundreds of rose shaped missiles that exploded on impact. She blasted several incoming shots, detonating them cuasing a chain through the others, though out of their remains several more took their place.

Watching them close in quickly, Amy pulled out a tiny golden pocket watch that ticked away at a high speed. She tossed it out before her and shot, igniting its form, and causing it to explode in a shimmering light.

Amy dashed through the light, feeling a sudden burst of speed. She flew along the edge of the arena, picking up more speed as the missiles flew in for the kill. Her feet lifted off the ground, sending her into a front flip, she flipped and cart wheeled out of the way of several explosions, then took to the wall. She ran along sideways, parallel to the floor and began heading higher up.

The missiles aligned with the wall, chasing her down as she continued higher and higher, she turned around, and flipped backwards, firing off a barrage from her machine guns, her bullets took out most of the pursuers, but there was no end. She pressed off the wall and flew in, landing on top of the monster itself. The missiles continued to give chase as she made her high speed pass on Marluxia, unloading a clip into his back. The giant angel spun around and cleaved at the ground where Amy stood, but she had already leapt clear of the blasting zone. The angel’s scythe impacted the incoming missiles, detonating all of them.

Marluxia’s angel screeched in a noise that caused everyone to cover their ears, its weapon shattered to pieces, it was now obviously mad. The monster as a whole spun in place at a rate that sent both Kirstin and Sora sprawling, trying to get a grip on something to stay on.

Amy ran like the wind, not stopping to look back at Marluxia’s form charging in to crush her, she didn’t have to, she could see its shadow over hers just fine. She came to the wall and ran up, pressing off and bending to fire across the way to strike Marluxia head on. Her opponent flailed, the angel moved across the body and struck her right off the entire structure, though they all couldn’t help but get knock off balance when the entire monster crashed into the wall. Amy hit the wall a hit away and rolled on the floor, no longer moving.

Marluxia lower half pulled itself from the wall, and floated over to her, the two scythed arms lifted overhead and came down. At the moment of truth, Sora came through, stopping the blade cold by putting his own through Marluxia. The keyblade broke though his chest like glass, and left him holding the pieces in his hands, “No! This can’t be happening! Not again! Not after coming this far!”

The entire arena shook as Marluxia began to deteriorate. Sora ran over and grabbed hold of Kirstin, “Time to go!”

The two ran and jumped off the monster and over to Amy. Both Kirstin and Sora took Amy by the shoulder and lifted her up, running for the door. The monster continued shaking the foundation with its screams till finally just as they were through the door, it exploded, taking out the roof and floor in a giant mix of white, black, and rose petals that sank down into the dark pit below.

Kirstin was surprised to find Amy still conscious as she spoke, “Well that sucks… and here I wanted to go out the OTHER door.”

Kirstin and Sora couldn’t help but laugh at Amy’s ability to be light hearted despite her injuries, “Come on.” Kirstin said lifting Amy up again, “Let’s go meet up with the others. They’re just up ahead… I can feel it.”






[[Elsewhere]]

Kyle climbed the endless steps, holding himself up by his arm against the wall. Something still drove him to keep going, despite his exhaustion. It seemed though, even if he wasn’t resting, his energy was being replenished. He couldn’t identify the source or how it was energizing him, but it was. And after all, Kyle wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth. He just continued climbing until he reached a large room. It was immediately obvious something big had happened there. The darkness tainting the entire rotunda was overwhelming. He stepped with caution, wondering in his head, if Mathy had been through there, and if so, how he could have survived something that left such a scar. The rifts in the floor and craters on the walls gave Kyle only more worries.

Kye walked slowly across the rotunda, eying ever mark with care, making sure nothing remained that might spring out at him. Some shadows scampered about, but Kyle didn’t have the energy nor will to deal with them. He made it to the other door and headed down the hall, then up another flight of stairs.

Up the stairs, he could feel an overwhelming power, the same power he could sense was giving him the drive to go on. It gave off alluring warmth, but also cold darkness that sent a chill up his spine. In his head, pictures came to mind, hundreds, thousands, he wasn’t sure. The passed by like whispers in the wind. Glimpses, flashes, moments of sever and great emotion. He could feel them all pressing down on him, but he wouldn’t let it stop him, he continued onward, giving no heed to the otherworldly thoughts in his head.

One thing he could be sure of, up ahead, up those stairs at the end of that path, waited something of great power, and he was going to find out what.

Oh man, Rhiko... I know I said this on Skype. But It bears repeating. This is probably the best chapter yet, I loved every second of it. I also loved the explanation given by Leon in the beginning. I was itching to know what was happening in the real world and exactly how much time has passed. Great plot device on that!

Secondly, Noelle's portion was absolutely breathtaking. I loved your choice of music, it fit her battle perfectly. Especially Rin' (gragghhh, I love that band to death, very disappointed that they've disbanded :[ wink but that was amazing, and the vocals in Turii accompanied the section part amazingly. O_O<3 Her final attack is so awesome, I think you should choreograph all our battles. Seriously.

Mathy and Mac. I loved Mathy's parts, especially when he's making a combat and he's moving with such fluidity and grace. Awesome depiction of Quetzacoatl by the way. And I'm so glad that Mac got a part of his sanity back. I still would've loved to have Jenny smack some sense into him though. But I thought it was really endearing the way you wrote it out. Great job!

I love how you portrayed Aimmeh, to me it seemed like you got her personality dot on for the most part. Her light-heartedness despite everything and it was so fresh. I loved it. The battle between Marluxia and Amy/Kirsten was complete awesome. Especially when Kirsten fills the place with water. Loved "Red Fraction" accompanying as the battle theme. I thought it was really fitting. I also liked how you paid attention to little details such as Sora having absolutely no clue as to who Marluxia was. ^^ And I'm so glad Sora entered when he did, I would hate to see either Aimmeh or Kirsten go D:

Can't wait to see what happens to Kyle! Keep up the great work!

[Oh jeezeee, I feel like this could have been a whole essay =n= Sorry, got carried away *gets shot*]

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