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Hello guys! So, I wrote this fan fiction in... 2014, after KH3D release. I've decided just now to translate it (I'm italian). The story is set after CoM - and during Days, the main character is one of my favourites and (in my opinion) one of the most underrated, Riku Replica. Hope you enjoy! Thanks to Afa Bill Aseh and his team for translation. The Hero of Darkness Chapter 1 Rebirth “What happens when a fake dies- one like me? Where will my heart go? Does it disappear?” Drop by drop, Riku Replica’s consciousness began to reform. A feeling, a memory, a thoughts... It took time for the puppet to realize that, but little by little he resumed being someone, or something. "Where… am I?" he asked weakly. There wasn't even a slight glow of light and he couldn't see anything. He was lying down, but beneath him, he did not feel the ground or any kind of floor. He was floating alone in the pitch black. "Is this the Realm of darkness?" sighed Riku. “Is here where ends those like me?” He wondered how much longer he would have to wait. He thought that some kind of entity would soon appear and would list what he had done well and what he had done badly, a short list and a very long one respectively. As long as that wasn't a lie too, he said to himself, and seeing no one arrive, he smiled almost incapable of regretting yet another disappointment. The only sensation he had left was that it was cold there, yet he didn't feel any kind of temperature. He sighed again, then tried to move his limbs. Strangely enough, he felt them distant. He had to make an effort just to bring his right hand in front of his face, trembling with exertion. “Wake up”. “Who’s there?” Riku snapped into an upright position, while floating. “You should wake up, that's your only opportunity to do it”. “Who are you?!” “I am your only opportunity”. Riku stared at the darkness in front of him, waiting for more explanation. “You have to go back, Riku, you have some unfinished businesses to close”. “I'm afraid I'm not," the boy replied, puffing. "I'm just a fake, I don't have any pending issues”. “Are you sure? Don’t you ever had anything that was real, to you?” The sound of the voice echoed into the everlasting darkness. Riku raised hesitating his face. "What are you talking about?” “A promise" answered the mysterious interlocutor. "A promise you have to keep. It's your only way”. The boy looked down. A name slipped from his lips: "Naminé...” “Of course, the little girl in your memories”, the voice said. “It wasn't my memory", replied Riku. “They weren't even real memories...” “But they were all you had, they were real to you. They had to be”. “Why are you telling me all this?" the puppet asked, raising his tone, as if he had found again all his arrogance. "Tell me who you are!” “I told you: I'm your only opportunity. This is your second chance”. “Who are you really?” The voice only answered after a brief pause: “You can call me the King”. For Riku Replica, those words had no meaning: he had never met King Mickey, nor had any memory of him. “Just don't want to tell me who you are, huh?” the boy asked. “At least explain me why you should help me”. “I need a favour, Riku, a mission that only you can accomplish”. “You don’t say! Everyone always expects something from others!” The soft laugh of the voice echoed again in darkness. “Listen to me to the end at least, after all your interests are at stake or you might never go back. You need me in order to do it”. “Why? What do you have so interesting to offer me?” “Well, I can offer you an all-new body”. “A... what?” The King's response was quick: without saying anything, the darkness surrounding Riku diminished and finally the boy could see himself. He brought his right hand back in front of his face and could glimpse through it. His skin was as transparent as glass, a little more opaque. With a mixed expression of disbelief and horror, he could not look away and could barely syllable words of accomplished meaning. “Your body has vanquished” continued the voice, “but something holds back your soul here, at the edge of oblivion. Unconsciously, your will has clung to some feelings and is struggling not to disappear completely. Maybe to obtain, one day, your own heart”. Riku was breathless. He continued to watch his limb with his mouth open, without saying anything. “Accepts my proposal, Riku. Complete the mission I want to assign to you and I will be able to give you a whole new body. It will be the first step to becoming a unique person like everyone else”. “...you said a heart of my own?" “Correct”. “Why should I trust you?" the Replica asked in a convinced tone, raising his head. “In fact, you would have no reason to do so. Unfortunately, however, I cannot offer you any alternative. Choose what you prefer; if you want I'll slip away in the dark and never bother you again”. Once again, Riku Replica looked down at the glassy hand. He knew he could not trust this King, but that could really be his second and only chance, the last of many wasted chances. Would it be a bigger mistake to attempt going for broke, or to waste this last opportunity without getting anything in return? “What do I have to lose?” “How much do you care about you have got lost so far, Riku? Your existence, your promise, everything fictitious that meant something to you... only you can know what you have got to lose”. A life of imitation which has come to an end, or perhaps something else. Everything was there. “Hey, King...” the puppet called out, closing his fist in front of him. He could only have hoped that the benefit of the doubt would be worth the risk. “I accept the mission”.

Summary: A sinister and manipulative sorcerer, Dariek Cahir, had become bored of his own world. He decided to use the dark magic that was considered forbidden there, and traveled to others. Along the way, he met some people he thought were interesting, including a young woman named Erica Roberts, who he has use for. Erica woke up in a world called Traverse Town. Many memories of hers include what happened to her, and the Kingdom Hearts games (including anything that hints about them) aren't able to surface. Her own world, Earth, is so far away and unknown to most she would meet. Will Sora and friends be able to help her remember? As Erica, Sora, Donald, Goofy, and others travel from world to world and fight the Heartless together, Riku discovers the darkness and becomes desperate to find a way to return Kairi's heart back to her. And a small group of Nobodies in Organization XIII discovers there's more to Dariek than he's allowed himself to speak about. Author's Note: As of now, this is partially alternate universe. The important parts to the original lore to the first Kingdom Hearts game will stay basically the same, but there will be slight to major changes that differ from it. Some minor characters will have bigger roles. Three out of my four own reoccurring characters throughout the first arc of this series will interact a lot with Sora, Donald, Goofy and Organization XIII. My fourth won't be featured until much later, during the second story arc. So much has been thought of, and planned. I think I have at least 3 pages of ideas saved in a separate word processor file. That list is only going to grow, and grow overtime. There's no denying how excited I get about this story at times, as it develops. I hope those who are reading this enjoy it as well. ^_^ Prologue: Final Game Board Placement A calm and content grin appeared on Dariek’s face, as he examined the painted figurine he held. Beautiful. Just beautiful... He already knew he would visualize her well enough, before putting forth the bit of concentrated effort in materializing the new game piece in his hands. It wasn’t hard to do the task. Minutes ago, he had used his power to send the young woman away. Now, she was where he precisely wanted her to be. He already knew and planned on what would happen, and where the interesting encounters and interactions would first take place, all thanks to what he had observed through her memories, and more. It was easy to remember Erica Roberts smiling; the tiny detail of her small pink lips, the corners upturned to match the friendliness in her brown eyes. He could still clearly remember her appearance, as well as her personality. Erica had much more of a social life than Dariek ever had. She would go out with some friends she had introduced to him once. In character, she was outgoing, but reserved at times. She was smart, kind, caring, helpful, and often put others before herself. Dariek knew she had the qualities he’d rather not have, along with having a social life. He took no interest in knowing many people. The more that knew about him, the less time he would have to himself, to accomplish his goals. It was to his benefit to have chosen her to be the next new addition to the game. In almost every way, she was the opposite of himself. In regards to Erica having the trait of easily being friends around those she had met, Dariek never had any reason to doubt about the chosen Keyblader getting along with her well. Erica was a very good asset he had encountered, from her world he had found three months ago. She knew a lot! She knew about Maleficent, and at least some of the members of the Organization. She knew of the mouse king and his trusted mage and knight, as well as the boy who would wield a tool and weapon known as the Keyblade. Erica already knew about some of the worlds he had been to, such as the jungle where gorillas and the man who walked like them called home, Agrabah, Neverland, Atlantica, and the Colosseum (in which he once sat in the audience, to watch a gladiator tournament). Her knowledge in combination with my own will be useful to me, later on... All of what he knew about Erica as a person, at least a gist of her firmly focused on in his mind, were needed to make the new figurine he was very fond of. One of the most interesting and ironic things about what Dariek had learned about her was the fact that she saw all of those worlds and individuals as fictional, from a complex “electronic game of moving pictures,” so she had first described to him. He never even heard of video games before meeting this young woman. Through watching her play some of this game series, he found out she knew of Maleficent, King Mickey, and the others came from, as just characters. She knew them from a series of those games, called Kingdom Hearts. Dariek grinned, rotating his new figurine once more, in both hands. This game piece accurately looked like Erica Roberts. That was what he wanted and intended for this game piece to be. He placed his new game piece next to Sora‘s, in the game board‘s area he set up to look like a flat map area of a small world, called Traverse Town. “Your abilities are certainly unique. Unlike anything else I’ve seen...” Dariek shrugged in nonchalance, as he looked to the young man in the black cloak, gloves, and shoes. Half of his face was concealed by those long blue bangs as usual, as the hint of awe in his tone was heard clearly. “So I’ve been told,” Dariek responded to Zexion. It was a bit flattering to know that the Organization was impressed by his power. Nice to know that I’m appreciated here... Your Superior doesn’t seem to care much, but it doesn’t matter! What does, is keeping to the deal I’ve made to the master of this castle, and making sure he’s happy and in anticipation of his potential puppet. As long as my chosen ones don’t get in the way, then both of us are content. Our alliance won’t be broken. Dancing around egg shells every now and then while here with Zexion and the other Organization members stationed inside Castle Oblivion wasn’t much of a challenge for him to do. As long as he remembered about each one correctly, he would be able to predict of where they go, and what they do. For human-like beings with no hearts, their personalities and appearances were clearly different. He knew most of the Nobodies were suspicious and curious about him. A few were more so than others, and he was certain that he could relax at that. He knowingly had his intricate plans in the grand scheme of things well thought out. Too much suspicion and curiosity among the entire Organization would have been a series of obstacles. They’d only want to use Erica and his own creation differently from the way he wanted them used, or have no use for them at all. Zexion looked at the game board set up, before looking back to him. “Is this supposed to be a representation of where the Keyblade Wielder and Erica are now?” “Sora,” Dariek corrected. “That’s his name.” A nod came from this Nobody, who had one of Dariek’s thick tomes under one of his arms. “After reading through some of your books of spells...” Dariek saw half of the small smirk on Zexion’s face. “I’m not surprised that you would only let a select few learn them. While Naminé simply draws, your own methods with altering and removing memories are much closer in contact. It’s further complicated.” The sorcerer, not much older than Zexion, took seat in a dark wooden chair, nearby where the game board and figurines were set up. “We wouldn’t want someone like Larxene getting involved with them. She’s not I would say is capable of preventing herself from going too far with such magic.” Zexion was one of the most curious in the Organization he had met, who took deep interest into what Dariek did. After some consideration, he wasn’t worried about him overseeing some of his work. A soft chuckle emitted from his associate. “That’s precisely who I was referring to.” Dariek commented no further, as he mentally noted to himself for the second time on how similarly they thought of each other. Larxene was... What he noticed in observing the blonde female’s mannerisms was the likely possibility of her abusing such power too much. Her motives were too up front. She seemed to care little for stealth, and subtleties. Teaching her anything would surely lead to his own downfall, since she’s had far too much enjoyment in putting almost everyone else down around her. He calmly proceeded to answer Zexion’s question. “I’ve already transferred Erica over to where he’ll be.” He hovered a hand over where he placed the Sora and Erica figurines. Not too far away was where he placed the rabbit, in which he had created himself. “This area here, Zexion, is Traverse Town. The drawn and colored illustrations on the board here represent a generalization of the homes and shops in the first district.” “She’s much older than Sora,” Zexion assessed. “I cannot imagine her becoming a love interest for him.” Dariek shook his head in amusement. He almost laughed at the stupid and ridiculous thing he said, of how terribly short lived the very idea would be. “That’s not at all what I had in mind... I thought Naminé was supposed to capture his heart. That is the plan in progress, isn’t it?” Zexion looked just as mildly amused. “That it is, yes... I didn’t want to assume you had that arrangement in mind, yet, it is good to be reassured of it.” He grinned, and brought his hand under his chin. “But I don’t understand what your intent is, for removing her memories and having her join alongside the hero of light.” Dariek chose his words carefully. He didn’t want to give too much away in explaining his strategy. “I did not remove her memories. I simply suppressed a number of them.” Which memories I’ve suppressed and why is only for me to know. I don’t think you’re going to be around long enough to figure this out for yourself. “There are two reasons why...” He held up his index finger. “After meeting and getting to know her a little in person, I found out that she’s a very good candidate in being a valuable companion to the kid.” Promptly, his middle finger rose to join his index. “Depending on the number of items I’ve enchanted and placed out there for her to find, in the different worlds, she will also be valuable to our cause...” He leaned forward in his chair, smiling at his intelligent and curious associate. “My power is capable of weakening and destroying Heartless. Remember?” Zexion’s eye that wasn’t obscured from view had widened. A soft gasp came from him. It took him a moment to realize how what Dariek had in mind, on this game he had started. “You’re giving her the power to destroy Heartless... You have the ability to harness light? Not just darkness?” The Nobody‘s reply caused Dariek to smirk in interest. He catches on quick. “Correct.” He predicted how Zexion would conclude on the information explained to him, and kept that to himself. “I think she’ll do well...” “Are you saying we could have two heroes of light?” Indeed, it was easy to picture the wheels in Zexion’s mind. He pointed to the small orange-tan and white colored rabbit figurine Dariek had crafted, with the same fashion he created the figurine of Erica. “And this is...?” “He’s one more companion, to support them. I created him, primarily for Erica.” Dariek’s smirk lingered. “Only, he no longer knows me, his creator. He doesn’t have a memory of ever being here.” “Does Marluxia know about all this?” Oh, I should be very careful about how much I’ll tell this guy. “Of course he does. We’ve discussed everything from the beginning.” Well, almost everything. There were some details he left out on purpose. Dariek wasn’t keen on sharing with any of the Organization on what Erica and himself both knew altogether. That would mean having no control over what he started. He also didn’t want to have too much interference into the fates of the heroes and villains in this fascinating universe. Zexion was reminding him of how curious he was, when he was younger. This Nobody paused to think a moment more, his gaze lowering towards his figurines again, on his custom game board on the table. “...You have a strangely interesting way of planning this out, Dariek.” Dariek’s brow rose a little, as he continued to observe him. “Your opinion is noted. What about this is strange to you?” Is it because I simply intended to only have the rabbit not remember me or Castle Oblivion? If I had been as inquisitive boy again, I’d be asking that. Of course I would! Again, to his amusement, Zexion had asked about what Dariek knew he had not been transparently clear on. He made eye contact with Dariek. “If you had decided for your creation, was to have its memories of you and Oblivion removed... then why do you only suppress Erica’s memories?” It took a moment for the clever sorcerer to tell him a tolerable enough answer. “As she’ll eventually help Sora up the point of returning home to us, I won’t have to do much to remind her of who I am, along with the few of us she was able to see.” That was the vague and most basic explanation he could give. Hiding or revealing too much would both lead to too many risks Dariek did not want to face. Why bother erasing all her memories of me and all she knows about this universe? I’ll want to see her reaction, when she returns here with Sora and friends, of her own will. After all, this would just make it more fun... “It appears you know what you’re doing,” replied Zexion. There was no doubt or suspicion coming from him, but there was still something else. Dariek could see in his expression that he had another thing to ask. “Will Naminé be required to change her heart? It has already been agreed and decided, to have her change Sora’s.” Dariek’s confidence was unwavering as he explained the following. “Marluxia’s witch won’t be over-worked. That won’t be necessary. I brought Erica here. I used my magic on her mind, in ways so our heroes of light won’t suspect anything. Not even Maleficent will be able to know of our plans. And it will be my responsibility to do the final revisions.” It wasn’t ever going to be that big of a deal, to do all the work on her himself. He had already thought about it, long before the final decisions had been made between Marluxia, Larxene, and himself. Maleficent was someone he saw as a rival; competition. She addressed herself as the Mistress of all Evil, didn’t she? To him, that was arrogant and stupid of her to ever want to say that out loud to anyone. He wanted to see her fail and be outplayed. He also preferred to being behind the scenes and not attracting her attention. To what he could remember, he did not see any objection from Axel on this decision to assist in the Oblivion mission. Marluxia had already decided to tell everyone else. Although, for some reason, he had forgotten to tell Zexion about this. “I wanted to hear about your plans, directly from you. I wanted to know what exactly you’ve offered us.” Zexion placed the tome he had been borrowing on the shelf, where the gap in the middle had been. “By now, the Superior probably has recieved word of this, from Lexaeus.” Ah. So that’s why you weren’t present at the last meeting. “I’ve come to understand how organized and orderly you are,” Dariek said. He knew of the pecking order. He knew Zexion had the number six rank. He knew who this Superior was. He knew who a lot of who was on the side of light, and of the many who were on the side of dark. Before he snatched his selected pawn of interest and brought her to the downstairs area of his quarters inside Castle Oblivion, he made sure to do all the research he could. “No fooling around here...” He moved from his chair to stand. “I wouldn’t have been able to get any work done if it Organization XIII wasn’t as Marluxia had said and shown.” Of course, Zexion would already have figured this out. Working all on my own wouldn’t have been as fun. And getting all of Erica’s memories about these worlds and me suppressed, without any assistance, would have been too difficult. “I used to be skeptical of you," Zexion admitted. “It was simply because you were an outsider. You weren’t a number, and you have a heart... Now, I’ve realized how you and I operate and think on similar terms. I probably wouldn’t have planned as thoroughly.” He picked up the figurines of Sora and Erica, showing them to Dariek. “You’ve proved your loyalty to the Organization, Dariek. You support our cause. And, your methodical means of doing things are impressive.” He smirked, as he put them back where Dariek had placed them. “I look forward to seeing the outcome of all the planning, and preparation.” As do I, Zexion. Very much so. Any moment now... “It’s already started. Our heroes will meet, or already have met.” Dariek stepped back, and waved down one of his arms to the side. Shimmering into view beside him was a floating mirror. Instead of Zexion’s reflection, he would see both Erica and Sora placed and propped up against the side of one of Traverse’s townhouses, unconscious. Oh, good. I haven’t missed anything. “You’re welcome to stay and watch.” As Dariek had guessed, the Nobody couldn’t resist as he stared straight at the floating mirror. “For a while.” He picked up the other chair in the other room. “I will eventually have to return to my own tasks, eventually. But, observation of how Erica and Sora meet shall prove something worthwhile to report. Anything that we see here will be reported to Lexaeus.” Dariek nodded, and turned his attention towards the two heroes of light; the Keyblade’s chosen one, and his own chosen one. As they looked to be sleeping at the moment, up against the townhouse wall outdoors, he had a hunch that they would wake up soon. As he looked at them through the round mirror-shaped, enchanted window levitating in mid-air, he privately assessed about Zexion. He’s not terrible company. If anyone wants to observe and know of my progress this much, then I’d rather allow for Zexion or Marluxia to do it. No one else. Larxene’s presence annoyed Dariek. He saw her as an irritating nuisance. He didn’t like her attitude, and how nosy she sometimes was. She tended to behave childishly at times. He remembered first reading about her enjoyment putting down others, in Erica’s world. Larxene was only going to continue to be annoy him further. She already had been such a pest to him once, before she did him that favor he asked her to do; to bring Dariek a rose from Marluxia’s garden. Vexen, and Lexaeus weren’t going to be much trouble for him. As Vexen was a self-proclaimed scientist, he seemed to be too involved in his own projects. Lexaeus was the messenger, who never spoke to Dariek. Not yet at least, he thought. Dariek had been very reserved and cautious around Axel, alone during the first night the red spiky haired Nobody was inside Castle Oblivion. He had been that way since he had found out on what Erica had thought of him, in her mind; what she knew about him. Axel was the Nobody who would eventually go a bit soft. The spiky redhead, ranked eighth in the Organization, may have currently been indifferent around what Dariek had done, not long after the castle grounds. However, Dariek wouldn’t have been pleased at all if Axel had been anywhere near her in his quarters, downstairs. Marluxia didn’t trust Axel either, for it wasn’t long ago when he had arrived to Castle Oblivion. They did not really encounter each other though. Sure, Erica saw him, but it’s not like she knew where we were at the time... Dariek’s plans had worked out so far. Erica wasn’t going to start remembering who Axel was, if he decided to locate and go see her for any reason at all. He was able to do what he wanted, and the game was about to start. He was looking forward to her discovery of his first of few gifts, spread out in Traverse Town. The first, he had already given her, not long after she had gone into a deep sleep. Two more to find. She’ll recognize them easily. With the acknowledgment that he was still very much in control of his agenda, he simply stopped thinking about Axel. Now was the time for King Mickey’s dog to come around, and wake up the heroes of light.

Hello everyone. I as a big fan of Kingdom Hearts, have always asked, what would have happened if Kingdom Hearts ever became a TV series. Well sadly we would have that answered back in the day. But the past is the past but i have decided to try and answer that question myself by making my own Kingdom Hearts Series and posting the screenplays on Deviant Art. So i am here to show you guys, and hopefully get some comments, constructive criticism and lots of input. Hope you enjoy LINK http://jid1234.deviantart.com/gallery/?catpath=/

Hey guys remember the work in progress story that I said I was working on last year. Well if not here is a link to it http://kh13.com/forum/topic/88501-kingdom-hearts-the-dragon-war-work-in-progress-story/ I suggest that you take a look that before before going on further. If you do remember this then can you guys please read. Just to let you guys know this is my first fan fiction and I'm not good in English for its the subject that I hate the most but I did that best that I could so bare with me. As you guys already know this a story that combines Kingdom Hearts, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Eragon and it simultaneously goes along with the Kingdom Hearts series. You guys are going to be reading the first three chapters for right now. I'm currently working on chapter four right now but will also put a table of contents for you guys can know what the next chapters are. If you want me to add dialogue on some of the chapters just let me know and I'll update it. So without further ado here is the first three chapters of Kingdom Hearts The Dragon War. Disclaimer As you read this fan fiction some of the characters do not know the names of the dragons. The names of the dragons in chapter two is for your information. Also the first two chapters are both before the Keyblade War. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Where it Started Kingdom Hearts Unchained X Chapter 2: The Dragon Warriors Kingdom Hearts Unchained X Chapter 3: The Study Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Chapter 4: The Chosen Ones Kingdom Hearts Chapter 5: The Nobodies of the Warriors Kingdom Hearts CoM & 358/2 Days Chapter 6; The War of the Heart Kingdom Hearts II Chapter 7: The Dragon Arts Exam Coded & Dream Drop Distance The other Chapters are TBA Kingdom Hearts: The Dragon War Chapter 1: Where it Started A thousand years before the great Keyblade War there was kingdom that protected both Kingdom Hearts and its counterpart the X-blade. With protecting the great Kingdom Hearts came many wars against the kingdom that protected it. Even after the kingdom’s army fell there was always five warriors remaining against an army, but no matter the odds against the five warriors they always came victorious. These five warriors with their armor covered in gold were known as the Millennium Warriors. As many wars were won against their enemies, the king found out that his daughter the princess of the kingdom was one of the Millennium Warriors and had her locked up in her chamber guarded by two guards. The king told the other four warriors that if they break the princess out they would have committed treason. Although, there was bigger threat to the kingdom than just committing treason. There was a giant beast that was heading towards the kingdom the warriors knew that they had to react to the threat, so they requested to the king to let the princess out. However the king denied their request to let the princess out and told them to destroy the beast themselves. Knowing that they cannot defeat the beast with just the four of them they had no choice to break the princess out in order to defeat the beast. For you see, this beast did not have one head this beast had five heads and all five of the Millennium Warriors are the only ones that can defeat the five headed beast. After breaking the princess out they used the kingdom’s underground tunnels (the Catacombs) to escape from the kingdom. When the king found out that they broke the princess out and used the catacombs to escape the king sent his royal guards after them, but it was too late for the Millennium Warriors have already escaped the kingdom. Arriving at the destined place in another world to fight the five headed beast the Millennium Warriors knew that they will win the battle but at a great cost. Then without hearing the five headed beast coming it came from above with blades of the earth coming out the ground as the five headed beast landed, and now the great Dragon War has begun. Now that the great Dragon War has begun the five Millennium Warriors will pay the ultimate price for trying to stop the five headed beast. The five headed beast and the Millennium Warriors are now both exhausted from this great battle that one more attack from either one of them will cause an end to the Dragon War. Although, instead of using that one attack to end the war the five Millennium Warriors chose to give up their lives in order to imprison each head of the five headed beast in human forms. In a great attempt to do just that their armor was glowing so bright that it blinded the five headed beast. In that moment the five Millennium Warriors struck each head of the five headed beast causing a giant explosion of golden light. Once the explosion stopped the newly formed warriors from each head of the five headed beast told the Millennium Warriors that they will return to their true form and when that happens darkness will swallow the world and not even the smallest light in the world can save the world. As the Millennium Warriors were disappearing they vowed that when the five headed beast returns they will return as well in order to defeat their curse of darkness and destroy the five headed beast once and for all. After that the Millennium Warriors were no more, all that was left of them was just shards of their armor and the newly formed warriors picked up the shards and disappeared into the sandstorm never to be seen again. Chapter 2: The Dragon Warriors A thousand years has now passed and the great Keyblade War is about to start but there is another war that’s about to take place before the great Keyblade War. Many worlds lived in peace and prosperity since the first part of the great Dragon War however, since then another kingdom was formed in another world where powerful dragons lived. Although that world was in a conflict of its own for one great battle was waging while another great war was starting. The world where the great battle was waging is known as Alagaësia (al-uh-ga-EE-zee-uh) and the new kingdom was formed beyond some mountains called the Spine Mountains. This kingdom had five warriors that were like the Millennium Warriors but not as powerful as them. Although to compensate for that they had ten dragons and one mighty beast with a power just like the Millennium Warriors; these warriors were known as the Dragon Warriors. The great battle about to start with the other group of dragons and warriors known as Dragon Riders but one of the Dragon Riders known as Galbatorix knew of the other kingdom and the dragons and he wanted to become king of at least Alagaësia but wanted any threat that could oppose him gone so he sent five warriors with one dragon that was strong enough to take on the eleven they had. To make sure that this kingdom would not be a threat to Galbatorix, he gave the five warriors twelve cards to imprison the dragons and kill them within the cards. With that said the five warriors left without a word. After hearing that Alagaësia was in its own battle the five Dragon Warriors heard that five warriors were heading their way with a dragon that looked strong enough to destroy kingdom, so they had no choice but to fight and protect the kingdom with the mighty beast and ten dragons for a total of eleven. After that the Dragon Warriors took off into the vast desert to clash with the five warriors. At the fated battle grounds in another world called the World of Demise. The five warriors told the five Dragon Warriors that this was where the first Dragon War took place, although the five Dragon Warriors did not believe them because they believe that the first Dragon War is nothing but a legend now. Before the second part of the Dragon War could begin the five warriors held up five gold objects in the air to take away the dragons and mighty beast true power in order to make this war a fair fight, and now the second part of the great Dragon War has begun. Now that the second part of the great Dragon War has begun the five warriors with the one dragon known as Tyrant Dragon has captured all of the other dragons in the cards except for four of them, which were Blue Eyes Shining Dragon, Slifer the Sky Dragon, Obelisk the Tormentor, and The Winged Dragon of Ra. The other dragons that were captured were Blue Eyes White and Ultimate Dragons, Red Eyes Black and Darkness Dragons, Black Skull Dragon, Luster Dragon and Masked Dragon. While the other dragons were defeated and captured the five Dragon Warriors were defeated and killed but they did it to protect their dragons. Now in order to defeat Tyrant Dragon Slifer the Sky Dragon, Obelisk the Tormentor and The Winged Dragon of Ra had to weaken Tyrant Dragon first in order for Blue Eyes Shining Dragon to defeat Tyrant Dragon because Blue Eyes Shining Dragon and Tyrant Dragon are both at equal strength. But it was no use Slifer, Obelisk and Ra were defeated but they did manage to weaken Tyrant Dragon however not entirely. So now Blue Eyes Shining Dragon, Tyrant Dragon and the five warriors with Tyrant Dragon are in the final battle of the second part of the great Dragon War. The final battle was fought immensely that it tired both of the dragons and the five warriors with Tyrant Dragon. However, Tyrant Dragon was more tired than Blue Eyes Shining Dragon that the five warriors with Tyrant Dragon had to imprison Tyrant Dragon as well. Tyrant Dragon was furious that the five warriors betrayed him but little did Tyrant Dragon know is that Galbatorix wanted the five warriors to imprison Tyrant Dragon as well because Galbatorix cannot become King until all dragons except for his are gone. Once Tyrant Dragon was imprisoned the five warriors with Tyrant Dragon went to weaken Blue Eyes Shining Dragon to imprison him, although it took longer than expected because Blue Eyes Shining Dragon is strongest dragon there ever was. It was even stronger than Slifer, Obelisk, and Ra combined. However the five warriors managed to capture Blue Eyes Shining Dragon and now the five warriors have to kill them within their imprisonment but a strange wind blew the cards out of their hands and the cards flew along the wind in the vast desert of the World of Demise. The five warriors wanted to go after the cards but could not go after them because the great Keyblade War is about to begin. So the five warriors left the World of Demise so they would come back and get the cards after the great Keyblade War. However, it would be useless to look for the cards after the Keyblade War because of all the Keyblades in the ground. So the world will no longer be called the World of Demise now the world is to be called the Keyblade Graveyard. Chapter 3: The Study Centuries has now passed and both the Keyblade War and the second part of the Dragon War have now become legends. The worlds are now divided from each other but they all live in peace except for Alagaësia. For all the residents except for a few knew of the outside world and all travelers of the outside world were forbidden to explore Alagaësia. However, for as long as there is peace there will always be war. Master Xehanort wants to start another Keyblade War by having a heart of pure Light and a heart of pure Darkness clash in order to forge the X-blade. The events of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep occur. At the Keyblade Graveyard Master Aqua fights Braig and after the fight as Braig is running away he sees thirteen cards on the ground. Braig picks one up and the card instantly vanished from his hand back to the ground. So as fast as he could he picked up all thirteen cards and went back to Radiant Garden hoping that the cards won’t vanish from his pockets. After Terra’s Lingering Will defeats Terra-Xehanort the explosion from the X-blade made a card fly on top of Terra-Xehanort chest and transported him and the card to Radiant Garden. With Braig being back at Radiant Garden he presented the cards he found to Ansem the Wise but told Ansem that he found the cards beyond the gates of the Outer Garden. Ansem the Wise was intrigued by the cards and he wanted to study them. After Master Aqua created Castle Oblivion she went to Radiant Garden to help Terra get control of his body (instead of Terra-Xehanort summoning his Guardian he summons a dragon of darkness). During the fight Terra-Xehanort summons Pitch Dark Dragon, a dragon shadow of Terra-Xehanort. After the fight Master Aqua sacrificed herself to save Terra then Braig, Dilan and Ansem the Wise found the amnesiac Terra-Xehanort in the square. As ordered Braig takes Xehanort to the castle, while taking him to the castle a card falls out of Xehanort pocket. Braig picks the card up and just like the other cards it vanishes from his hand but instead of going back to the floor it appeared in Xehanort’s hand. Since Braig was the one who found the cards he asked Ansem if he could study the cards with him and Ansem told him no because they don’t know what kind of powers these cards possess and does not want Braig to get hurt. Some time has passed and Xehanort became a new apprentice to Ansem the Wise to studying the heart. Xehanort was also studying the card that he had for he does not know why he has it nor does he know why the card keeps going back to him when someone else picks it up. While studying the cards Ansem the Wise gave the cards names and attributes to each respective card. The cards with the names Blue Eyes White, Ultimate, and Shining Dragon in them will have the attribute of light. The cards with the names Red Eyes Black and Darkness Dragon and Black Skull Dragon will have the attribute of darkness but are willing to fight the darkness. The cards with the names Slifer the Sky Dragon, Obelisk the Tormentor and The Winged Dragon of Ra are special as if they were gods so he gave them the attribute of Divine with respective divinity. Slifer the Sky Dragon will be the God of Life, Death and Fertility, Obelisk the Tormentor will be the Warrior God and The Winged Dragon of Ra will be the God of the Sun. The card with the name Luster Dragon in it will have the attribute of the wind. The card with the name Masked Dragon in it will have the attribute of fire. The last two cards were different from the others because these cards did not have a creature on them. While Ansem was study those two cards Xehanort gave the card he had a name and a respective attribute. Xehanort named the card Tyrant Dragon with the attribute of fire. The two cards Ansem was studying were unique because the cards had special abilities. One card had the power to revive a creature’s strength while the other had the power to fuse more than one creature together to create a brand new creature. However that was not enough for Ansem so he gave the cards a name and a unique ability. He gave one card that what look liked to be the head stone of a tombstone the name Monster Reborn. The unique ability Ansem gave the card was that if more than one creature was in need to be revived than the letter “S” will be added to the name but a certain requirement must be done first. He gave the other card the name Polymerization because of the fusion between two or more creatures. The unique ability that Ansem gave the card was that it can duplicate a card with all of its abilities as long as the holder of Polymerization allows it. Ansem the Wise also gave unique abilities to all of the other cards as well. The cards with light will share the same light as Kingdom Hearts when together and when alone one will have the same light as Kingdom Hearts. Although the card will disappear but the creature will still feel imprisoned by it. One will have Light Teleportation but it will need Dark Destination and the last one will have both abilities and will not need Dark Destination. The cards with dark will have the same darkness as the Heartless but are willing to fight them. One will have Dark Destination with the help of Light Teleportation and the last one will have both abilities and will not need Light Teleportation. One of the God’s will have the power of Thunder. Another one of the God’s will have immense strength. The last of the God’s will have the power of the sun within its body and be able to transform itself into a bird of fire. The one with wind will have a blast of emerald green wind. The last one with fire will have its blast look like a mask of fire. Radiant Garden received a visitor from another world who was also a King in his world and the King will be the final piece to Ansem’s study of the cards. Ansem and the King would spend countless hours talking about the prosperity of the worlds and his studies of the heart and the Heartless. After walking around the castle corridors the King and Ansem are in his study room where they discuss more about Ansem’s studies. While in his study room the King says “Wise Ansem. I’m here to seek your advice.” Ansem says “I’m glad we have the opportunity to speak like this, my friend. I’m intrigued by your hypothesis… and I’m finding it difficult to stave off the urge to test it. Still, I’m concerned about the stability of the worlds.” Then the King says “Yep that’s what worries me too.” Then Ansem says “The doors that appeared. The place the Heartless seek. And whose has the same light and darkness to a couple of these cards. I fear my research may have brought this upon us…” Then Xehanort walks in and says “Master Ansem regarding the experiment and card I presented the other day… With your permission, I’d like to proceed-.” Then Ansem says while scolding Xehanort “I forbid it! Forget this talk of doors, and the hearts of all world and even that card of yours. That place and creature must not be defiled!” Xehanort then says “But, Master Ansem! I’ve been thinking…” Then Ansem says “Xehanort… Those thoughts are best forgotten.” Then Xehanort walks out without a word. Then the King asks Ansem about cards and he tells the King what he knows. Then Ansem says “There is still one question that needs be answered.” The King asks what the question is. Then Ansem says “Why do these cards keep disappearing from my hand and back to my desk” as he picks up a card. Then the King asks if he could pick up a card and Ansem nodded his head yes. So the King picks up the Masked Dragon card and the card did not disappear from the Kings hand. Instead the card and the King started to glow and Ansem’s final question was answered. Ansem says “My friend, you just answered one of my final questions to my research of the cards. It is clear that no ordinary person can chose the card but instead card choses its warrior.” Then the King says “What do you mean by one of your final questions answered and warrior?” Then Ansem and the King head outside the castle and Ansem says “I want you to say ‘Come forth Masked Dragon’ and if my theory is correct then there are living creatures in these cards.” The King trusting Ansem does what he said and says “Come forth Masked Dragon.” As the King said these words a red beam of light came out of the card and the red beam of light formed the body of a dragon. Ansem says “My theory was correct there are living creature inside these cards. Now time to figure out how to get these creatures out of the cards.” Then through its thoughts Masked Dragon tells the King “Your Majesty, please tell this kind hearted Sage King that my comrades and I are grateful for everything he has done, but I’m afraid that freeing us from our prisons is a job that he alone cannot do.” The King relates the message to Ansem, but now hearing this Ansem wants help and he asked Masked Dragon how he can do so. Masked Dragon says to the King “First you must find my comrades chosen warriors so that we can tell you what we know.” The King relates the message to Ansem then Ansem says “That is going to take some time to find your comrade’s warriors and I would not know what kind of warrior they’d prefer.” Masked Dragon tells the King what he knew on how a couple of his comrades chose their warrior and says “The Gods chooses someone of royalty however it has to be a princess.” The King relates the last message to Ansem and Masked Dragon returns to its card prison the King tries returns the card back to Ansem but Ansem insisted that the King keep the card as a gift for helping him finish part of his research. Ansem new research on the cards is to find the warriors of the other cards. With that said Ansem and the King say their goodbyes and Ansem starts his research on finding the other cards warriors. While Ansem is trying to find the other cards warriors, Xehanort and the other apprentices begin planning to take Ansem’s research and banish him since he told them to stop their experiments on the darkness in people’s hearts. Ansem the Wise is close to figuring out at least one of the cards warrior when the Heartless appeared in his room. Ansem grabbed the cards and left the castle to find the warrior that resided in Radiant Garden. When Ansem got out of the castle he saw a little girl running from the Heartless and he ran to the girl to protect her when someone appeared in green fire. Ansem asked her “Who are you and why are you on the grounds of my castle.” She replied, “Why I am Maleficent the mistress of all that is evil and I’m here to conquer this and all worlds.” Then Ansem replied back and said, “Well first I cannot let you do that and second why are you having the Heartless attack this poor girl.” Maleficent said, “This world will be mine either way; I also commanded the Heartless to destroy anyone who gets in their way. In other words you and her.” Ansem then said “Well you’re not going to destroy us.” Ansem turn to the little girl and gave her the Slifer the Sky Dragon and Monster Reborn cards. Maleficent ordered the Heartless to destroy them. Ansem told the little girl to repeat after him “Come forth Slifer the Sky Dragon” they said together. After that a dark red beam of light appeared from the card and formed the Egyptian God of Osiris. When Maleficent saw the dragon defeat the Heartless she knew she had to have one of these dragons on her side. Once the Heartless were defeated Slifer the Sky Dragon ask the little girl “If you want to be safe from the darkness I will take you to a world where you will be safe.” The little girl went behind Ansem being scared of the dragon, however Ansem convinced her that she will be safe. So she climbed on the dragon’s back and with a shine of the jewel on Slifer the Sky Dragon head he was able to communicate with Ansem. Slifer the Sky Dragon said, “I thank you for finding my warrior and having me save her before anything could to her but your task is not done yet. You need send the other cards to other worlds so that my comrades can find their warriors on their own.” Ansem asked, “How can I do that?” Slifer the Sky Dragon responded with this, “In order to protect you from those that seek to destroy you I shall send you away from evil in order for you to find the warriors that you seek.” Slifer the Sky Dragon and the little girl flew off but Maleficent sent a meteor shower after them. However Slifer the Sky Dragon opened a portal to escape the meteor shower. While the meteor shower was happening Maleficent said to Ansem “Why don’t you give me a card so that the destruction of your world can go much faster.” Ansem replied to the witch “I shall never give you a card for you see these cards are picking about who they choose especially who is holding the card.” Maleficent said “Very well. Then perhaps this will change your mind” as she attacked him. A barrier from the cards was created to protect Ansem but it was no use Maleficent powers were too strong and broke through the barrier with a card flying out of Ansem’s pocket. Maleficent saw the card and with her powers picked up the Red Eyes Black Dragon card from the ground. Maleficent said to Ansem, “Thank you for the card now I will take the other cards from you.” Ansem then said “Not on your life you witch.” Then Ansem said the words Slifer the Sky Dragon told him “In order to protect you from those that seek to destroy you I shall send you away from evil in order for you to find the warriors that you seek” as he threw the cards up in air. A corridor of light appeared behind the cards and were sucked in transporting them to other worlds. Maleficent now furious said to Ansem, “You poor simple fool. You will regret the day you ever crossed paths with me!” Ansem now exhausted sees six people coming from the castle and Ansem realizes that it’s his six apprentices or so he thinks. For what Ansem the Wise does not realize is that his apprentices already stole his research, gave their hearts over to the darkness and Xehanort took his name. Ansem ask “Xehanort why are you doing this?” Xehanort said to Ansem, “My name is no longer Xehanort. My name is Xemnas and we are tired of following your research. It’s time we take your research into our own hands now.” Ansem shocked at what he heard and told Xemnas “If you go into research that is better left forgotten then you’re not only going to jeopardizing this world you’re going to be jeopardizing all the other worlds as well. Xehanort for once listen to what I am telling you.” Xemnas did not listen and said to Ansem “I heard enough out of you. It is time to get rid of you once and for all.” Xemnas opened a corridor of darkness and pushed Ansem the Wise in it banishing him to the Realm of Nothingness. After that Maleficent and her army of Heartless took control of the world with its residences either being devoured by the Heartless or being forced to leave on a Gummi Ship. Meanwhile Slifer the Sky Dragon is trying to get the little princess someplace that is safe and another portal opens to a world of an island and he knew that it would be safe for her there. As soon as Slifer the Sky Dragon got out of the portal the meteor shower that Maleficent sent after them was behind him. So he knew that he had get the little princess to the island before the meteors could hit them. Almost to the island Slifer the Sky Dragon got hit by a meteor knocking the little princess off his back. Both falling to the ocean but Slifer the Sky Dragon gathered whatever strength he had left to save the little princess. He saved her and managed to get to the shore line of the main island and as he put the little princess down; however Slifer the Sky Dragon now exhausted went back to his card. A young boy was walking to the shore line to see the meteor shower. The young boy seen the little princess and as she was waking up the young boy asked her if she was ok. The young boy went for help and the mayor of the island took the little princess to his house to help her get her strength back and with some time he eventually took her in as his daughter. After she recovered the little princess became friends with three young boys and one of the young boys happens to be the young boy that found her. To Be Continued... If you guys read this all the way through thank you for taking the time to read this it means a lot to me. Please let me know what you guys think if there is anything you need clarifying, confused on, or leave your feedback on what you guys think.

I made this and I'm not really sure what else to do with it, so I guess I'll just post it here. It's a KH story about an original character I made up called Ziemia (Polish for earth, trying to keep up that trend) and her apprenticeship. Set pre-BBS. I originally meant for it to be longer but I decided I'd leave it hanging here. The context of the story should imply their fates. Hope you like it. ----- Ziemia sat quietly reading in her chair while her Master studied at the desk opposite her. While Ziemia filled her head with loosely fictional stories passed down through generations, her Master worked hard at unravelling the truth from the long-forgotten past. Ziemia highly admired that about her Master. He was so knowledgeable already, but he’d stop at nothing to learn even more. Meanwhile, all she ever did was drink in tales and fables even though there was still so much to learn. She didn’t mind that too much. She was still learning a lot from her Master every day and as long as she enjoyed her novels, did it matter that they weren’t real? Anyway, Ziemia found that she could learn a lot about herself by absorbing the views and thoughts of her authors and their characters and assessing them. Sometimes she did this with her Master, although that was hard to do since he didn’t see much point in them. Still, Ziemia was learning about herself through books and about the worlds around her through her Master. She was content. Yet as much as she tried to convince herself of that, she envied her Master too much to avoid comparing herself to him. His criticisms of her cut deep and her flaws were so apparent in their training against his perfections. She didn’t wholly like her Master and she certainly didn’t agree with him all the time, yet still she longed to have his power, his wisdom and above all his confidence. Whatever her differences with him were, there was nobody she respected more. Ziemia turned the page, almost at the end of her chapter. Most of the books she read were based on accounts of the heroes and villains of the Keyblade War, sometimes by surviving participants and other times by observant witnesses. They often weren’t accurate accounts (and when they were, her Master would take more interest), but Ziemia was only interested in the characterisations and stories. She loved it when one story portrayed light as the ultimate force against darkness, while another displayed darkness as the greatest power a warrior could ever wield and both would have convincing ideals behind it. Between both sides, Ziemia felt like she was learning more about light, darkness and the war than she ever did in her lessons. Her Master was quick to remind her that experience was the most valuable way to learn, but encouraged her to keep an open mind about light and darkness. Master and pupil had spent many sessions discussing the advantages and disadvantages of both light and darkness. To her Master’s disappointment, Ziemia was unwilling to utilise the darkness in her heart more than she was comfortable with. She’d never push it to be more than a dark corner of power she could weaponise in controlled bursts, afraid to try and unleash it any further. “Light and darkness are a balance,” her Master would say. “Unless you learn to balance the darkness in your heart with your light, how do you expect to reach your full potential?” “Forgive me Master,” she had replied once. “But if I’m not careful, the darkness will consume me. Many past warriors fell to their own power because they thought they were above it. Who’s to say I won’t corrupt myself? Someone could even use my own darkness against me!” “You think so?” Her Master stroked his chin, which was lately growing a small beard. “Darkness is difficult to master, yes. But once you accomplish that task, you need not ever fear it again. And you’ll never master it as long as you fear it.” “Of course, Master. But I need time. Under your tutelage, I know I’ll get there one day… It’s just not today.” “Ziemia…” He turned his head in thought for a moment. “There are times when people must take risks in order to proceed. Safety will not help you learn anything.” Yes, but it might help me live longer, Ziemia thought to herself but didn’t retort. She knew her Master was referring to her armour, which she still wore when they travelled through the lanes. Her Master was familiar enough with darkness to travel without it but she didn’t have faith that she’d cope that well. She hesitated before she next responded. “So have you mastered your darkness already, Master?” She felt nervous about the question but the old man smiled and answered easily. “Yes. But it’s not something I accomplished by cowering from it, Ziemia. You’ll understand one day.” “Of course,” she replied as she bowed. “Thank you, Master Xehanort.” *** Ziemia finished her chapter and put the book down. Her favourite character had just been killed. She always needed time to think when that happened. He’d trusted the wrong person and lost everything right when it counted. It was a dramatic, sudden and unfair end to such a worthy person. Sometimes life and death were equally cruel, but at the end of the day it was always their decisions that brought them to their close. Nobody was more at fault than their own selves. Ziemia wondered what legacy she’d leave behind; what lessons would her life set an example for teaching? She had no doubt her Master would leave greater ones, but she still hoped to match him in some way. He encouraged her to follow him in everything, but she wanted to be known for her own accomplishments and her own dreams. Characters that lived and died as somebody else’s number two were never respected and hardly loved. Besides, she knew from books that following too strictly in the footsteps of another was dangerous. If you follow the wrong person, their failures become yours. Indeed, Ziemia sometimes wondered if she was following the right person. Her Master’s knowledge was unrivalled, but his methods and ideals were highly unorthodox. She was unlikely to find a better Master anywhere else, but perhaps she should be more concerned about finding a good Master than a great one. For all his criticisms of her cowardice, she’d already taken a big risk in her life by siding with him and following in his footsteps. The pupils and teachers of her old school had been unnerved by him, but she decided to give him a chance and asked to become his apprentice. In some ways, she was glad that she did. She’d learned so much more since leaving her home and she’d never really fit in with the others anyway. There were times that she missed someone that she’d been close to, but still she’d always felt like an outcast. A friend that was never needed and rarely missed. Not that she’d come to Xehanort seeking companionship, but perhaps that was for the best. She didn’t know how to work well with people and so she was probably better off alone. All the same, Ziemia couldn’t figure her Master out. She’d lately been reading books that took time to write about character motivations: what these people were after, why they were after it, how far they’d go to get it and why they failed to achieve it. Sometimes she tried to apply this to her Master. What was he hoping to get out of all this learning? And why did he never feel the need to teach all of this history, even to her? If she didn’t understand where her Master was going, how could she claim to understand why she was following him? Master Xehanort stood up from the scrolls he was reading, a slight air of frustration around him. For some time now, they’d been spending their days travelling to whatever storehouses of records or banks of knowledge they could find. All to learn about the Keyblade War, which Xehanort appeared to already know inside-out. The more Ziemia thought about it, the more she wondered what the point was. Each time, Xehanort would absorb another vault of words, only to leave in disappointment or annoyance and repeat the process. Only now did Ziemia realise that he must be looking for something but whatever it was, he wasn’t finding it. “Ziemia, we’re leaving.” It was all he needed to say. Ziemia rose obediently, packing her book into her bag as she did so. Together, they headed out the door and into the open air, where Master Xehanort summoned his keyblade to open a gateway. Ziemia couldn’t resist a glance back at the little hut they’d just left. It seemed to have some kind of historical significance to Xehanort but even so, he had no real need of it. It was a cosy place though; the closest thing the two of them had to a home. They moved around so much, Ziemia didn’t consider anywhere a home anymore, but they stopped at this little place more frequently than others, usually just as a rest stop where the two of them would catch up on some reading. Ziemia was growing fond of it. It made her miss having a real home. Part of her even longed for a real friend, despite how much she tried to dismiss that gap in her heart. She turned back to her Master, who was waiting by the gateway. He looked at her with the anticipation of disappointment that he typically did while he waited for her to equip her armour. Ziemia was already reaching for her shoulder guard, about to summon it, when she hesitated. Maybe it was her latest reflections, maybe she was still sore from the loss in her book or maybe she was just sick and tired of never knowing what to do. Ziemia didn’t know for sure, nor did she really care. All that concerned her in that moment was stepping up and making a difference in her life. She wanted to grow beyond her Master’s shadow, to evolve as a keyblade warrior and as a person. It was a sudden spontaneous urge, a flash of desire, an impulse that meant the difference between order and chaos, light and darkness or life and death. It didn’t last, but neither did it refuse to leave a mark. Ziemia felt caught in a gravitational pull while she held on for dear life. She was struggling with the logic and sense of knowing her limits while respecting the dangers and the imbalance and ego within her that was pushing to defy her limits and make a difference in her life. She found herself at war with herself and no amount of inspirational words from the people she’d read about could put it right. There were too many factors and too many opposing sides to bring her to peace. She looked at the only real factor present, raising her eyes to meet those of Xehanort, looking to see what his reaction was. Her hand was frozen, hovering inches away from her shoulder guard; her hesitation was extremely obvious. Xehanort could see it and from the look he was giving her, Ziemia thought he looked intrigued yet doubtful. He raised an eyebrow at her, giving her the barest of smirks, as though daring her to make a move, not once saying a word, simply watching to see what she would decide. Ziemia was torn, but looking at Xehanort’s face made her lose focus. She could already see his face falling when she hit her pad; she could picture him shaking his head in shame as she passed through the portal wearing the protective gear that he loathed so much. She’d put up with his gripes at her reluctance for so long that in that moment, her annoyance took hold. She made her decision and lowered her hand. Master Xehanort’s slight smirk became a wide grin as Ziemia spurned her armour and stepped forward to travel without it. Even so, he never raised his brow, as though he were taunting her even now. As Ziemia came to a stop in front of him, staring at him with resolve, he still said nothing. He merely nodded his approval and stepped into the lanes between. Ziemia held back for a couple of seconds; one last hesitation of nerves forcing her to ask herself what she was doing. But there was no going back now. Even if she wasn’t ready, she had to make this choice. Ziemia summoned her keyblade and stepped into the darkness.

Hi everyone! Welcome to the first installment of a new story. This is a collaboration between me and Amber Cole, Soul Reapers in training. This is our first time working together on a story, so be patient with us. A special thanks to Amber for originally starting this as an RP with me, and then making it grow. Cheers, and have fun reading! BANKAI! A note from the authors: Every you see a new edit to the post, such as edit 1, 2, 3, ect......that means a new episode has been added. So please scroll down, and enjoy episode 3! Bleach: A Tale Of Ice Cream And Hollows BY Alicia Maddox and Amber Cole Episode 1 The breeze streamed through the trees and lifted the petals of the flowers in a spritely dance. Cherry blossoms filled the area with a sweet scent and fell to the ground like pink snow. Alicia and Amber were out for a shopping trip in Karakura Town with the Soul Reaper, Ichigo, in tow. Alicia and Amber were both exchange students from the USA, but they had another secret. The only other people who knew about it were the Soul Society and Ichigo-and his two younger sisters. They were both Soul Reapers and the high spiritual activity happening in Karakura Town forced them to come here. Old Man Yama (head captain of the Soul Society) said they needed to gain strength. Alicia had known what her Bankai was for a while, but Amber had just learned hers and was still struggling with the pronunciation and remembering it’s name. “We should totally play a prank, or do something to Ichi!” Amber smirked at Alicia. Ichigo glared over at the two scheming girls with boredom. The Soul Society told him to keep an eye on the two girls that were going to be staying in an apartment down the street. Needless to say, he was still a little frustrated about it; especially when Alicia and Amber spoke English to each other. “Like what? We totally should!” Alicia laughed at the idea of it. “He’s forced to watch us anyways, so it will make it all the more fun!” Alicia and Amber giggled. “Okay……….we should challenge him to a dual. Him against the two of us, and we can provoke him and that ego of his. It will be easy! Anndd,” Amber waved her finger in the air, “ if we win he has to take both of us out somewhere!” “Let’s do it! He’s going to freak when he sees my Bankai…….if he even sees it that is.” Alicia grinned and turned around towards Ichi. Ichigo stopped and looked up. “Now what do you want?” He sighed. The two schemers smiled at each other. “We want to make a bet with you Kurosaki-sempai.” Said Alicia. Ichi raised an eyebrow. “Oh really? And just what kind of a bet would that be?” “A dual. Me and Amber against you. And only you.” Ichigo started. “What?! What kind of a bet is that! That’s not even fair. Two against one? Do you even know what your strategy will be?” Ichigo shook his head and crossed his arms, marveling at the stupidity of these two Americans. “And besides, There’s no way I’m fighting two inexperienced young ladies. What kind of a guy do you think I am?” He closed his eyes and turned away, preparing to continue walking. The two schemers snickered at him. “We expected you to say that Sempai.” Said Amber. “Or should I say……….chicken?” Ichigo spun around. “What!? Chicken? Why are you calling me that for?” Alicia walked up beside Amber. “Aw come on Amber. Let’s face it. Kurosaki-chicken is just afraid he’ll get his ass kicked by a couple of “inexperienced” foreign girls. It’s not worth it.” Alicia winked. Ichigo, by this time, was getting indigent. “Now hold on! I’m not afraid of you two. You think you can kick my ass? Well I’ll kick yours so hard you won’t be able to sit for a week!” At this, the two Americans laughed. “I wonder what your Bankai looks like.” Alicia rubbed her chin. Amber smirked. “Probably not much. I wouldn’t expect a lot from a substitute.” Now Ichigo was getting mad. He stormed up to them and bent down to eye level, right in their faces. “Hey! I’ll have you know, my Bankai is huge! It could wipe out half this town if I wanted to.” Unfazed, Amber went on. “Are you sure you want to stand by that statement. After all, you know what they about Soul Reapers and big Bankais.” That did it. Ichigo turned bright red and stepped back from the two. He raised a quivering finger in front of them. “Alright you two brats!” He said through clenched teeth. “If you really want a dual, then you’re gonna get one. Now name your terms.” “The terms are-“ said Alicia stepping up to them, “If you win, then you can brag to all your friends that you took on two highly skilled foreigners and beat them all over Karakura Town with one arm tied behind your back. But if we win, then you have to take the both of us out on a date. And we decide where to go. Deal?” Ichigo looked shocked. “A……a d-date? With you two?” “CHICKEN!” Alicia and Amber shouted together. Ichigo raised his hands to quite them. “Alright, ok! It’s a deal.” The two girls high fived each other. “YES!” Alicia and Amber pulled out two small objects that looked like Pez dispensers. “Over the teeth, and through the gums, look out Chappy, here it comes.” Said Alicia and popped a small green pill into her mouth. Amber did the same. And just like that, they left their bodies and were to be found in the spirit realm in their Soul Reaper form. Ichi took from his pocket the substitute badge that was given him and held it up to his chest. His soul left his body and he joined Amber and Alicia in the spirit realm. “Ok, so who want’s to go first.” Said Ichi. “I will” Alicia stepped forward. “alright then. Prepare to get your ass kicked.” Ichi took to the sky. Alicia followed after him. Amber stayed safely on the ground, knowing what was about to happen. Alicia gathered speed and overtook Ichi. They came to a stop high over the town. The sky was clear and blue. The sun was low in the sky, but it hadn’t begun to set yet. Alicia turned in the air to face him. “Now prepare Ichigo! You’ve seen nothing like this before.” Ichi smirked. “Yeah right. Show me what you got.” Alicia reached to her right and slowly pulled out her Zanpakuto. It was a standard weapon, but the sheath was a deep green and the hilt’s wrappings were green also. The pommel of the sword was in the likeness of a golden dragon. She held the Zanpakuto sideways, with the blade facing her opponent. Alicia then slowly moved her sword evenly across her from right to left, keeping a steady speed. “Raise your head over the horizon. Now Roar, RYU CHIKARA!!” At once, the edges of the sword burst into bright green flames. “Ugh…….” Ichigo shielded his eyes from the brightness. The flames grew bigger and longer. They quickly began to take shape in front of him. Down below, Amber observed the light show, grinning to herself. Up above, the flames began to solidify into a recognizable form. Ichigo gasped at what he saw. A huge, bright green dragon was floating before him. It had no wings, as was typical for a Japanese dragon. It’s main body was a bright, acid green and the under belly was of a lighter shade, with a tinge of yellow. It had spikes starting from the back of it’s head, down it’s back, and to the tip of it’s tail, ending it a sharp, lethal barb. It's head was covered in a thick, dark green mane of feathers, and it’s large round eyes were golden. Ichigo watched in awe as the dragon coiled it’s long snake-like body around Alicia. It raised it’s head high over hers. Ichi snapped out of it. “BANK-“ he began to shout, but the dragon had already opened it’s mouth as if it were roaring. But no sound came from it. Instead, what Ichigo saw was what looked like heat waves coming from it’s mouth and heading straight for him. Ichigo didn’t have time to react. He was hit with the first wave. “Ugh! What is this…….?” He clutched his head. Another wave hit him. “I…..I can’t see……..” Then Ichigo lost all consciousness upon the third wave and plummeted to the earth below. “Well that didn’t take long.” Amber said to herself. The dragon disappeared and Alicia sheathed her sword. She then followed Ichi back down. Ichigo hit the asphalt with a tremendous crash, leaving a shallow crater in the road. Alicia landed beside him. Amber walked over to Ichi and poked him in the head. “What did you do to him?” Alicia looked at the knocked out teen. “My Bankai has the ability to produce subsonic waves that momentarily disrupt the electrical brain waves in it’s target. Thus, causing my opponent to blackout for a few minutes. He’ll wake up soon enough. At that moment, the slumbering substitute began to stir. He groaned, and opened one eye. “What……..what the hell was that?” He grunted, as he sat up, rubbing his head. Alicia and Amber explained it to him. Ichi stood up and brushed himself off. He then turned to Alicia, a sheepish grin on his face. “Well, I must admit. I’m impressed. I’ve never heard of a Bankai that could do that sort of thing. Very well, you guys win.” Alicia and Amber both cheered. “So were would you like to go?” He said. Alicia and Amber looked at each other. They smiled. Amber grabbed Ichi’s left arm, and Alicia grabbed his right. They began to walk down the street. “Uh, guys?” Said Ichigo. “Guys……where are we going?..........Guys? Hey! Episode 2 The girls hurriedly pulled him over to a park where a small ice cream stand had been set up. “We want one of those.” Amber said, pointing, “And pronto!” Ichigo glared. “All you want is ice cream? Why didn’t you say so in the first place.” He started to walk over to the cart. “That’s not all, we want the big sundaes!” Alicia shouted after him. Ichi hunched his shoulders even more. He couldn’t wait for these two to go home. Why did they have to be such a pain in the ass? Weren’t they supposed to be helping the Hollow problem? All they were doing, was being a nuisance and causing trouble. Ichigo waited in line behind a mother and her screaming child. This was going to be a long school year. Ichigo glanced back at the two giggling girls, who kept looking up at him every so often, phones in hand. What were they up to now? “Excuse sir, what would you like?” A smiling woman in the ice cream cart asked. Ichi looked at the flavor board. What would be cheap, but big enough to be considered a sundae? He knew Amber liked anything with chocolate, or strawberry. She wouldn’t shut up about his name for a week after she arrived here. He also knew that Alicia liked mint-chocolate chip and coffee flavors. He didn’t see any prices on the ice cream, so it couldn’t be too bad. “I’ll take two sundaes. One with strawberry and chocolate, and the other with coffee and mint-chocolate chip.” He began to get out his wallet. His sister, Yuzu, was going to be all over him about how he didn’t get her any ice cream, he thought to himself. Ichi smirked. “Great! I’ll go make that for you.” Said the woman. “It will be 2,500 yen.” She gave a smile, and a small giggle. “WHAT!” Ichigo stared at the lady. “2,500 yen! That’s insane! What is it? Magic or something?!” Ichigo dug around in his wallet looking for some more yen. Amber and Alicia walked up with an amused expression their faces. “Here, I’ll buy my treat.” Alicia smacked down some money on the counter and winked at Amber. Ichi stared at them both, then clenched his teeth. “You can pay us back later Ichi.” Alicia said, licking her ice cream. Ichigo glared at the ground. “Yeah, what kind of a guy makes the girl pay for the date.” Amber sighed. “You really are a hopeless case Ichi.” “Hey! I don’t have to pay you back for anything. And we’re not on a date!” Ichigo shouted after them as they walked back down the street. Ichi noticed that people were starting to snigger. He ran off after them. “You have your damn ice cream now, so why can’t we just be over with this and go back home? I’m tired of having to babysit you guys. And besides, you two are old enough to take care of yourselves!” Ichigo ranted. Amber stopped and spun around. “Well like it or not, you lost a bet because you were too weak so now you have to go where we want to until the debt has been repaid!” Amber retorted. Ichigo and Amber stared each other down for a moment before Ichi sighed and turned away. “Fine. What are you two wanting to do now?” He said, with annoyance and boredom in his voice. He ran a hand through his messy orange-red hair. Alicia and Amber chatted quietly for a while. Then Amber turned to Ichigo. “The sun is about to set. We should all go to the park and watch it! RACE YA!” Amber gave a thumbs up before flash stepping toward the playground. Alicia turned back toward Ichigo with a smile. “C’me on! We can’t let her win can we?” Alicia grabbed Ichi’s hand and pulled him after her. “Finally! Something I’m good at.” Ichi laughed as he ran alongside her. By this time, Amber had already gotten way ahead of them. She was no longer in their sights. “I think she might beat us!” Alicia huffed, as she and Ichi sped toward the local park. But just then, they stopped dead in their tracks. A sudden, powerful wave of spirit pressure hit the two like a brick wall. It oppressive, and full of malice. Almost at the same time, a loud piercing scream shattered the twilight. Alicia stared at Ichigo with a horrified look on her face. “Do you think?” Ichigo nodded in response to Alicia’s question. “Then let’s go!” Ichigo and Alicia took off once more, now going faster than before, as more screams echoed through the streets. After what seemed like an eternity, they came at last to Karakura’s playground. It was a wide area, with a small field at one end and trees bordering the playground. On the other end was the play area, with monkey bars, a swing set, a jungle gym, and tires. When Ichi, and Alicia arrived there, their eyes quickly turned to the field not far off. What they saw shocked them. A Hollow nearly as big as the field it was in stood before them. It had a body like a gorilla’s and a tale like a possum. It’s thick, stumpy legs ended in camel-like hooves, and it’s skeletal head looked like an ape’s with thick ram horns curling on either side of it’s head. From the deeps of it’s empty sockets stared two sinister points of light. It’s muscular arms reached to the grond, and it’s hands were nothing more than three thick, sharp claws. It was covered from neck to tale in grayish-green scales. There was a huge gaping hole in the middle of it’s belly, and in one of it’s clawed hands, was Amber. It was squeezing her tightly. “AMBER!” Alicia screamed, dropping her ice cream. “Oh no!” Ichigo shouted in horror. Amber looked beaten. Blood was pooling underneath where the Hollow held her, mixing with the sundae she dropped trying to defend herself. “Amber, use your Bankai!” Alicia shouted to her, as she herself pulled out her Zanpakuto. Amber struggled as more blood trickled to the ground. “I……..I can’t remember how to pronounce it! And I feel so weak……..I don’t know why…..” Amber grunted. “NOOOOO!” Alicia screamed again, and charged toward the Hollow. Ichigo drew his sword and flash stepped in front of Alicia. “Wait! This Hollow is too big for you to take on alone. And it seems like it can drain a person’s spirit energy. Can you feel it?” He looked at the Hollow. Alicia checked herself. “Yeah, you’re right. I can feel a decrease in my strength. But what about Amber? We can’t leave her!” Alicia looked helplessly at Amber. Amber clenched her fist and weakly swung at the Hollow’s face. It hit with a weak thump. The Hollow laughed. “Come at me fools! Let me show you my true power!” It roared in a deep gravelly voice. Alicia gritted her teeth. “Ichigo, how do we beat this thing? I’ve never fought one this big, or powerful before.” Alicia glanced between Ichi and the Hollow. Ichigo smirked, with a confident look on his face. “Who needs a plan. All we gotta do is win right?” Ichigo turned to look at Alicia. “Back me up with some Kido, and since I have more experience, I’ll do the close combat.” Alicia nodded and readied herself. All these long hours of learning Kido would finally pay off. “Hang on! I’m coming to get you!” He swung his sword. “BANKAI!” he roared. Amber, still struggling, but just as determined as ever, glared down at him, trying to get an arm free from the Hollow’s grip. “I don’t need your help, bastard. I can do it. I know I can! Just let me try………Stars rain like the falling snow……ummmm…..ack!” The Hollow laughed at her attempt. “Pathetic Shinigami can’t even remember her own sword’s name!” “Hey bastard! Look at your attacker!” Ichigo spat and chaged toward the Hollow while Alicia bombarded it with Kido. “Hado 31. Shakkaho!” Alicia yelled, holding her left arm up and palm facing toward the Hollow’s face. A ball of red light shot from her hand. It hit it square in the eyes. The Hollow wailed and dropped Amber to the ground. It now turned all of it’s attention to the two attackers. “You punks!” The monster yelled. Ichigo launched himself from the ground with his sword held over his head. “YEEEAAAAHHHHH!!” He screamed and brought his sword swiftly down toward the Hollow’s face, but the brute blocked it, forcing Ichigo to retreat into the air just above it. Alicia ran closer to the monster. “Shakkaho!” She yelled again and fired a red ball of flame at it’s chest this time. It struck home, sending the Hollow backward and leaving it’s softer underside exposed. Ichigo did not hesitate; he zoomed back down, and, knowing the beast’s hide would still be tough, shouted, “GETSUGA TENSHO!” A bright blue-white wave of energy was flung from his blade and cut through the Hollow. Mortally wounded, it clutched it’s belly in pain. Ichigo came down hard on the monster with his blade. He sliced through it’s scull and down it’s full length. The Hollow gave a great roar, and disintegrated. I higo landed on the ground and sheathed his sword. Amber started to sit up as Alicia ran to her. “Are….are you ok? Are you hurt?” Alicia helped Amber up and dusted her off. Amber winced and clutched her ribs, her robes were stained with blood. “I…I think it broke a few of my ribs….” Amber managed to say. Alicia put Amber’s arm over her shoulders. “Let’s get you home and I’ll heal you.” She looked at Ichi. He was examining the place where the Hollow had been. His eyes were focused on the ground and his forehead was furrowed. “Ichigo, let’s go home.” Alicia called. Ichi looked up. “right.” He said. Walked back to the others and helped Alicia with Amber. “Are you ok, Amber?” He said quietly. “I’ll be ok once we get home.” She reassured him. Ichigo still looked troubled. Alicia glanced at him. “I know what you’re thinking. There was something not right about that Hollow. It was too big, and it’s spiritual pressure felt off somehow. “Ichigo looked back at the playground. “I just hope there aren’t any more of those in town….” They walked back to Alicia’s apartment, which was not far from Ichigo’s own home. When got in, Alicia took Amber to the couch and healed her. “Well, that was eventful.” Alicia smiled after she was done. Amber didn’t say anything. She just stared at her hands. “Ah, don’t beat yourself up about it, Amber. Learning the ins and outs of your Zanpakuto take time. You’ll get the hang of it eventually.” Ichigo smiled at her and winked. Amber smiled at him a little. Ichigo stretched and turned to look out a window. “In the meantime, we need to think about food. I’m hungry.” “Well, we could have sushi for a change.” Alicia stood up. “The only problem is, I don’t know how to fix it. But Amber here does. She’s a pro!” Amber blushed a little. “Oh I’m not THAT good. But we’ll have to go to my apartment, if we all want sushi.” “Then let’s go!” Ichigo opened the door and lead the two girls out. Just as they were walking across the street, Alicia piped up. “By the way, you still owe us Ichi” Ichigo stopped in the middle of the street. “What do you mean I still owe you? You got your ice cream didn’t you?” Amber smiled. “Well, not really. We never really got a chance to eat it because of that Hollow. So you still owe us a date.” She winked at him, Alicia giggled. Ichigo, on the other hand, was in histerics. “Now wait just a damn minute! I just saved your asses, doesn’t that count for SOMETHING! Hey! Come back here, I’m not done yet!” Ichigo chased the now laughing girls across the street and into the next apartment complex, while two dark figures watched from a window above. Episode 3 Ichigo stopped suddenly and looked around. He had sensed other spiritual presser close by, but then it had vanished as soon as Ichi took notice of it. He shook his head. It was probably another Soul Reaper passing close by. He resumed following the girls to the apartments. They, of course, had out run Ichigo by this time and were now inside. “Hey, wait up!” He called, but he knew it was pointless, though, he did hear faint giggling and a door slam shut somewhere above him. Ichi smiled to himself. Amber and Alicia were a pain, but a good one. Though he would never admit it out loud, the two Yankees were starting to grow on him a bit. Ichi climbed the steps of the apartment slowly, trying to remember which one was Amber’s. He finally came to what he thought was the right door and knocked. “Hello? It’s me…..” The door was unlocked, so Ichi let himself in. He stepped into a short hallway with a flight of steps directly to the right. To the left was a doorway leading into the living room. Alicia was seated on a low couch in front of a TV. An anime show was on. Ichi quickly caught a flash of roses and a lot of pink as a group of boys dressed in light blue danced across the screen. Amber poked her head out of the kitchen with a knife in her hand. It was then that the smell of cooking food hit Ichigo in the face. He breathed in slowly, then exhaled. Now he was hungry. “So now you decide to use your manners!” Amber laughed and pointed at him with her knife. Ichi tensed a little. “We knew it was you at the door. And if it wasn’t, Alicia could have totally kicked your butt!” Alicia laughed and looked around at him. “Just like how I handed your ass to you in that duel.” Alicia and Amber high-fived. Ichigo rolled his eyes and plopped down next to Alicia on the couch. “So what kind of sushi are we having?” He asked as Amber brought out a tea tray for him and Alicia. He took a sip from his cup. “I was thinking about a salmon roll, or maybe spicy tuna! Those are really good and I can make some edamame to go with it.” Amber started rambling off more choices to him and Alicia as she walked back into the kitchen. “Yeah, that sounds good!” Alicia called after her friend. Things turned quiet, as Alicia and Ichigo became absorbed in the anime show; the sounds of food being prepared provided background noise. Just then, a new noise made itself known. Outside the apartment door, the soft, but distinct sound of footsteps were heard. Ichigo paid in no mind as he thought it was just other apartment inhabitants walking down the stairs outside. But then, he felt that same spiritual pressure again. Stronger this time. Ichigo quickly stood up; Alicia looked around at the door and Amber walked out of the kitchen. Do you guys…feel that?” Alicia asked. Just then, the door burst open in a plume of purple smoke. Alicia and Amber rushed toward the smoke with a battle scream. “Guys, wait!” Ichigo tried to stop them, but couldn’t move quickly enough. Ready for action, the two girls started swinging, or throwing whatever they had in hand. A tight grip took hold of their arms, but it wasn’t a monster; the dying smoke revealed a tall man in a dark green tunic and a low brimmed, green and white stripped hat that shadowed most of the features of his face, standing before them. He had the girls by their wrists in each hand and a lazy, devilish smirk was on his face. “Well, nice to meet you two at last. I’ve heard some promising things from the Soul Society about you.” His voice came in a relaxed, laid back drawl. “And judging by your fears response to my presence, I’d say I won’t be disappointed.” He looked up at Ichigo. “I take it you haven’t told them about me yet, Ichigo. I’m disappointed in you.” He released them. Alicia and Amber rubbed their wrists. “You look a lot like those surfer guys from where I live. And what the hell are you doing in my house? Haven’t you heard of privacy?” Amber interjected. The strange man stared down at her and casually raised his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, I came here because I heard someone say there was going to be sushi and Yoruichi…..” He motioned down and Amber and Alicia saw at his heels, a cat as black as the night outside. It’s big golden eyes peered up at them. “..and I have some news I think concerns you all. From what I understand, you were attacked correct? He looked at Amber. Alicia cleared her throat and spoke up. “Exactly who are you anyway?” “Oh! My apologies. The name is Kisuke. Kisuke Urahara.” Kisuke gave a formal bow. “Now that the formalities are out of the way, shall we discuss the issue at hand over some sushi.” An unfamiliar voice spoke. Alicia and Amber looked around, but no one else was in the room with them. “Down here.” Came the voice again, this time a little annoyed. They looked down. The cat looked back at them. It blinked. Sudden realization dawned on the two girls. Alicia gasped, Amber shrieked and jumped back behind Ichigo, clutching his shoulders. “IT…….IT TALKED! THAT CAT TALKED!!” The cat sniffed. “You humans are all the same. I always get the same response.” Yoruichi’s tail twitched. Ichigo sighed and pried Amber’s hands off his shoulder. Alicia, who was momentarily stunned by this new revelation, finally regained her powers of speech. She squealed and ran over to the cat. “My dreams have finally come true!” She picked up the cat and spun around, holding it close to her face. The cat gave an angry yowl, unsheathed it’s claws, and pricked Alicia on the nose. “Owww!” she dropped the indignant beast. Yoruichi sniffed and glared at her. “I am not just some common house cat. I am a human being too.” The feline bounded over to the couch and in a bright flash of light, transformed. There, in the middle of the room, stood a beautiful woman. She was lithely built, but muscular, like her cat form. Her skin was dark, and her short hair was a deep purple. Her large eyes kept their golden hue, and………….she was stark naked. Alicia and Amber shrieked. Ichigo quickly turned away, his face turning a bright red. “Damn it, put some clothes on!” Kisuke smirked. He reached into his robes and pulled out a small white fan. With a quick turn of his wrist the fan opened. He hid his smile behind it. Out of everyone in the room, Kisuke seemed creepily nonchalant about the fact that a naked young woman just materialized out of thin air. Yoruichi turned to Ichigo. She smirked. “Aw, you know you like it.” She winked, and Alicia and Amber started to laugh. Ichi’s face got redder. “It’s not funny!” He said through gritted teeth. Amber snickered, and grabbed a robe from a hanger next to the door. She threw it to Yoruichi. “Thank you” She said and put it on. “It’s safe to look now.” Alicia laughed and sat back down on the couch. Yoruichi sat next to her. Amber went back in the kitchen to finish the food while Ichigo and Kisuke took their seats at some bean bag chairs on the floor. Anticipation written all over her face, Alicia leaned toward Kisuke. “So tell us, do you know anything about that strange Hollow we fought.” Amber appeared with more tea and the sushi. “Dig in!” Amber plopped down on the floor next to Alicia. Kisuke folded and ufolded his hands before that lazy smile of his appeared on his face.