Welcome to Gaia! ::

Chapter 2

Apprehension

Footsteps from behind him startled Marcus out of his line of thought, his stunned attempt at trying to determine what had happened.

When he turned, a young girl stood behind him. As old as him, albeit a bit shorter, she was a petite young girl in a blue shirt and shorts, and a blue jacket. She raised her hand, and a keyblade formed in her hand, a bright blue keyblade that was straight and uniform, with teeth like crashing waves, and a hilt as ornate as if it was meant for a queen.

She pointed it at him, her face filled with confusion or despair. “What is going on here?”She said, her voice harsh, accusing. “What have you done to my master!?”

Marcus frowned and turned to face her. “Listen. I haven’t done anything. I just got here as well, and my master was supposed to be here too.” He motioned. “But if you want a fight-“he said, and he raised his hand. In an eruption of black flames his keyblade appeared in his hand. “I’ll be more than willing to oblige.”

She stared at him for a long time before lowering her keyblade. “No…No, fighting here would be pointless. You’re right. You’re just a keyblade wielder in training like me, and your master is missing to.” She waved her hand, and her keyblade vanished. “Fighting wouldn’t change anything.”

“Shame.” Marcus shook his head. “I was looking forward to that fight. But no matter, how will we go about finding the Masters?”

Alynn shook her head. “I’m not sure. Look around for clues.”She said, stepping towards the chairs where their masters would’ve sat for the course of the exam. “I’m Alynn, By the way.”

“Marcus.” He replied checking behind one of the two curtains on the far side. “There’s Dark and light residual energy everywhere.” He shook his head. “If there was a fight, It was a big one.”

“Your master probably tried to kill mine.” Alynn frowned at him.

“What!?” Marcus frowned. “Master Zeratus wouldn’t do that!”

“Look around!” Alynn said, and waved her hand across the entrance hall. “Notice something?”

“Hmm?” Marcus glanced around. “It’s pretty beat up?” He shifted and ran a hand along a wall that had a huge mark from a burst of light energy.
“No.” Alynn frowned. “There’s more residual dark energy than light.” She reached down and ran herh and through a section of the floor that had been struck with light energy and glowed faintly. She held her hand out, affectionately placing it in the light. “He probably ambushed her and expelled a lot of his energy in one attack.”

“Oh?” Marcus frowned. He couldn’t refute that evidence. “Then why isn’t he still here, if he so obviously won?” He shook his head. “Look, standing around here speculating isn’t getting us anywhere.”

“What do you suggest?” She frowned, looking up at him.

“I suggest that if we want to know the truth…”He turned and motioned out the door, towards the sky. “We go out there, to other worlds, and find them ourselves.” He turned back to her. “The only way we’re going to know for sure is if we work together, and find them ourselves.”

Alynn stood, and nodded slowly. “You’re serious? We’re technically not masters… Do you think we can handle it out there?”

“If we want to know what really happened here…” He walked towards the door and out of the skyscraper. “I don’t think we have a choice.” He smirked and turned to look at her. “Heh. Do you know what to do?” He asked, tapping his armor. The black chestplate suddenly became a full suit of armor, with the helmet quickly closing over his head.

He smirked and summoned his keyblade, and tossed it into the sky, where it dropped back down. It came down in a motorcycle-esque shape, with the hilt guard forming a point at the front, and the teeth making reflective bumpers on either side. He hopped on and pointed it towards the sky. “Well? Let’s go!” He teased, and blasted off.

Alynn frowned and watched him go, stepping outside. She reached down, grasping a charm attached to her shorts. Immediately, she was encased in bright blue armor with Gold trim. She summoned her keyblade, and raised it slowly. “…I never thought…”She threw her keyblade and it came back down a floating platform, with the symbols and design still resembling her keyblade. She hopped aboard, and floated to the sky, before spotting the way that Marcus had gone.

“Master Lylien… I will find you!”

Chapter 4

Identity Crisis

~~~World: Toybox~~~

“Awww great.” Marcus grunted, leaning up. He had crashed, rather hard, on his back. “I’m getting sick of this crash landing on other world’s thing.”

Once again, the world appeared to be made for giants. Though hopefully, he and Alynn would not be attempting to speak to animals this time around.

The room he was in was dreary, covered with posters, some of which glowed in the dark. A lava lamp contained a toy baby’s head. Numerous objects were strewn across the floor, and the carpet itself was a bizarre green color. “Uh..What do you think Alynn?” He looked around.

“Alynn?” He looked around and spotted Alynn across the room.

She raised a finger to tell him to be quiet, and pointed towards the door to the room. A cowboy stood, pressed against the door, and slowly began to stalk towards the middle of the room.

Marcus shook his head. “Hey!”

The cowboy practically leapt out of his skin. “Woah! I didn’t think there were any other toys here. Er… not any normal toys, that is.” The cowboy looked around nervously.

“Toys?” Alynn asked.

“Right!” Marcus nodded. “This uh... doesn’t look like a place for the average toy.”

“Definitely not.” The cowboy said, still scanning the room worriedly. “Look, I’m Woody, and me and my friend Buzz, We need to get back to our owner, Andy…”

“You’re lost toys?” Alynn said after a moment.

“Yes, and We’re currently in Sid’s house. Sid-“

Before Woody could finish, a noise disrupted their conversation. A yoyo rolled out from between a Milk crate and a cinderblock.

Woody and Alynn looked panicked, and Marcus felt himself beginning to feel a bit scared aswell. Something was definitely not right here. He summoned his keyblade, as did Alynn, as Woody picked up the nearest object; a pencil.

A loud screech made them all jump, and Woody dropped the pencil as everyone jumped, and grabbed the next nearest thing; a Flashlight.

Woody was shaking like silly. Once he realized what he’d grabbed he faced the direction of the noise, and struggled to hit the ‘on’ button.

He focused the beam into the darkness, and found a baby. It turned its wide, blue eyes to look at them.

“Oh. Hey… Hi there little fella…” Woody said, motioning to it. “Come out here, do you know a way out of here?”

Then the baby stepped out of the darkness, revealing it to only be a baby’s head attached to a metal, crablike apparatus, giving it six metal legs, and a pair of claws. It rose up to eye level, and focused on him, causing Woody to panic when he realized that it only had one eye.

A noise made the trio snap around, and a pair of legs affixed to a fishing rod strolled out from between the milk crate and the cinderblock.

Woody’s flashlight then focused on a Jack-in-the-box, which played its tune, and then burst open, a huge, green hand affixed to the end of the spring, which then lurched the box over onto its side, and began to make its way across the room.

“We have to keep these freaks away!” Marcus shouted to Alynn. “C’mon!” he lunged towards the baby, striking its body and causing it to do a flip closer to the wall.

Alynn felt a tug, and found that her keyblade had been hooked by the Fishing Rod with legs. “Gah!” she gasped as she struggled to keep it from pulling her keyblade from her grasp. The hand-in-the box groped it’s way towards her.

Marcus came from nowhere, striking the hand and knocking both it and the box back. “Tug it!” He shouted. “Don’t let it take your weapon!”

He dropped into a fighting stance in front of her, but the mutant toys all clambored right past him. The fishing rod even released Alynns keyblade to follow the others, over to a doll laying nearby.

“Cannibals!” They heard a voice shout. Marcus and Alynn looked around. Up on the bed, stood Woody and what appeared to be an astronaut toy.

“Buzz?” Marcus commented.

“I’d assume so.” Alynn nodded. The two clambored up onto the bed, just as a voice sounded.

“Yeah yeah, Whatever!”

Woody’s expression grew even more grim. “Quick, hide!”

Marcus leapt into the bag laying on the bed, and tugged Alynn in with him.

Woody and Buzz were too slow, and merely went still the minute that the door flew open, and a teenager stomped into the room. He wore a black t shirt with a skull and walked over to his bed frustrated.

“Ah yes.” He said. “My latest victims.” He picked up a toy and there was a firing noise, and then a thunk, and another.

Alynn cowered. “What do you think is happening to them?”

Suddenly, the noise stopped but there was a click and the sound of a blind opening, and they could hear the boy talking again. “I see your will is strong. But we have ways of making you talk.”

There was a long, tense silence before another voice sounded across the room. “Sid? You come here young man!”

“Augh.” There was a thunk as Sid threw an object across the room, and opened his door, slamming it as he left.

Marcus and Alynn peeked out. “Buzz…?” Marcus asked, looking for their comrades.

“Woody…?” Alynn asked worriedly.

“Auuuugh!” Woody yelled, hopping up from the spot where he had been left on the floor. His forehead was smoking! He quickly sprinted across the carpet, and plunged his head into a bowl of milk.

Buzz wandered over, a suction cup slightly resembling a plunger affixed to his helmet, and another attached to his rear. Buzz removed them swiftly. “Hmph.” He grunted.

“Are you alright?” Alynn called down to them.

“Yeah…”Woody said, leaning up and poking the circular burn on his forehead. “We’re alright…”

“I’m proud of you, Sheriff. A lesser man would’ve talked under such torture.” Buzz said honestly.

“Well, What’s the plan for getting back to Andy’s?” Marcus said, as he and Alynn dropped down from the bed.

“Well…” Woody mumbled, turning towards them. “We’d probably better focus on just getting out of here-“ He looked stunned and then pointed. “The door! The door is open! Look guys, lets go!” He laughed and ran out the door and into the hall.

“Wait!” Marcus called.

“Wait Woody!” Buzz agreed. “We don’t evne know what’s out there!”

Alynn Marcus and Buzz ran after woody, but quickly found him at the top of the stairs. On the landing, just below, lay another enormous dog.

Buzz pulled Woody over to the side.

“Yikes!” Marcus whispered.

“Scud.” Woody whispered. “Sid’s dog. Very vicious.”

Buzz shook his head. “Let’s look for a different way.”

“Yes sir, mister Space Ranger.” Woody said sarcastically.

“What?” Marcus asked.

“Yeah, What does that mean?”Alynn asked.

“Buzz doesn’t believe he’s a toy.” Woody said, watching as Buzz sprinted across towards a door down the hall. “He believes he’s a ‘Space Ranger from Star Command’, or something like that.”

Marcus looked at Alynn, and she shrugged. They both sprinted across, stopping when they reached Buzz. Buzz motioned for Woody to follow. Woody crawled across but once he was only a few feet away, stood and approached the group-

-when his pull string started moving.

“Yee-Haw! Giddy-up partner!”

They heard the dog awake almost instantly.

“Split up!” Buzz shouted. He and Alynn dove into the door at the end of the hall, as Marcus and Woody ducked into the door nearby.

Woody looked outside, terrified and then shut the door. He and Marcus could hear the dog sniffing just outside.

Alynnand Buzz were pressed against their door, and the saw the dogs nose poke just inside. Alynn shivered.

After a few moments, the dog trotted off, looking for something else to harass.

“Calling Buzz Lightyear! Come in, Buzz Lightyear! This is Star Command!”

Buzz’s face brightened immediately, and Alynn looked up at screen. A television was displaying a starry background with an emblem emblazoned across.

“Star Command!” Buzz cheered. He flipped open a compartment on his wrist.

“Buzz Lightyear, do you read me!?”

“This is Buzz Lightyear, reading you loud and clear!” Came a child’s voice.

Buzz looked up, confused. On the screen, a child brandished a ‘Buzz Lightyear’ Toy, that looked exactly like Buzz. Immediately, Buzz’s face was a mask of dismay.

“Buzz has it all! Wrist communicator!” The ad zoomed in on the sticker-display of the communicator, and Buzz stared down at his own, pained.

“Multi-phrase voice simulator!” The ad continued, and a child pressed a button on Buzz’s chest, prompting the toy to respond. ‘It’s an secret mission, in uncharted space.’

Buzz hesitantly raised a hand, and pressed the same button on his own chest. “It’s an secret mission, in uncharted space!’ A speaker somewhere inside him announced.

Buzz’s face fell.

“Hey…”Alynn said, stepping towards him, patting his helmet gently. “It’s alright. You’re not… you may not be a space ranger…but you’re a great toy…”

Buzz frowned and suddenly shook his head, and ran out into the hall.

“Hey!” Alynn said, surprised. Marcus looked surprised as he spotted him coming out of the other room aswell.

Buzz hopped up onto the railing, and looked out the window. He pressed a button on his chest, and wings sprang open fro mthe back of his suit.

“Oh no…” Marcus gasped. “He isn’t going to-“

And before he could respond, Buzz leapt from the railing.

Alynn couldn’t suppress the scream, as Buzz plummeted to the ground.

~~~

It wasn’t long before they were all in Sid’s room once again.

Though in buzz’s case, with a detatched arm.

“Buzz…?” Alynn said quietly, peering into his face. Buzz had a fixed, blank stare, as if he was looking right through her.

“He seems kind’ve out of it…” Marcus admitted, rubbing his head.

“Buzz?” Woody asked, patting the Space ranger on the back. “You alright, buddy?”

“Gone!” buzz suddenly shrieked. “All gone! One minute you’re a space ranger, saving the galaxy! Next thing you’re a one arm –freak-!” He shrieked.

“Now Buzz don’t talk like that. You just need some fixing up…” Woody said.

“I couldn’t even fly out the window!” Buzz shrieked dismally.

“Hey.” Alynn said. “You are a wonderful toy. We just need to get you back to Andy…”

“Yeah.” Marcus nodded encouragingly. “Then you’ll be right as rain.”

Woody motioned them over. “Hey guys.” He said after Marcus and Alynn had reached him. “I’ve got a plan to get us out of here-“

However, before Woody could elaborate, a noise startled them out of their conversation. The mutant toys were back, and crowded around Buzz!

“No!” Woody shouted, and Marcus and Alynn summoned their keyblades and charged towards the mutants.

However, as quickly as they had appeared, they backed away. Buzzs arm was once again in its socket.

“They…They fixed him?” Woody said confused.

“They don’t eat the toys…They…fix them?” Marcus said quietly.

“Then… maybe you all would like to help Woody and Buzz get out of here?” Alynn asked sweetly.

~~~

Woody explained the plan, and then, everything was in motion.

Marcus, Alynn, Buzz and Woody waited on the skateboard-man for the doorbell that would signal that Scud should be lead away from the door.

“Wind the frog!” Woody announced, and a toy wound a toy frog. The frog shook wildly, ready to roll out past the enormous dog.

When the doorbell rang, the frog rocketed out into the hall and down the stairs, with Scud close behind.

The skateboard-man wheeled himself out, and by the time they had reached the bottom of the stiars, Scud had been shut outside. He wheeled them out the back door through a doggie door, and into the back yard.

“Great work!” Woody cheered.

However, Marcus and Alynn sat up immediately. “Do you sense that?” Marcus asked. “It’s an extremely dark presense. C’mon.”

“What?” Woody asked, confused. “I…Well… ?Well, you guys handle that, and me and Buzz will handle Sid!”

Marcus led alynn to the spot, a large open area, as if someone had tread here many times.

“I sense it… but there’s nothing here…” Alynn whispered.

Then it happened. A hand poked out of the dirt, and pulled itself from the ground. It was what appeared to be the Frankenstein of toys, with a baby head and oversized torso, with brutish arms and tiny legs. It coursed with dark energy.

“Poor thing… It’s been corrupted by the darkness in that boys heart…” Alynn whispered.

“Well we’ll just have to take care of that, won’t we?” Marcus smirked and lunged. He struck one of the creatures legs, and it made a noise, a sick combination of a baby’s wail and a grown mans scream.

“Look at it’s legs! If we can take them out, it won’t be able to catch us!” Marcus shouted.

Alynn sighed and shook her head and raised her keyblade, chucking it at the creatures other leg.

It hit, but the giant toy merely rounded on her and reached down, grabbing her up into its hand.

It made a noise like a small child laughing, and began to squeeze. Alynn felt her arms begin to hurt from being pinned to her sides. It wouldn’t be long now, and she’d be crushed!

“Alynn!” Marcus shouted, and pointed his keyblade. A burst of black fire leapt from the tip, striking the toys hand and causing it to drop her.

“Take this!” Marcus growled and leapt, sailing into the air, and plunging his keyblade directly into the toy’s head.

There was a long moment, where the only noise was the toys baby-like wail.

Then suddenly, in a roar of Darkness, the individual pieces of the toy dropped to the ground, useless once again.

Marcus ran over to Alynn. “Are you alright? Alynn!” he lifted her up in his arms and shook her gently, panicked. “Alynn!? Alynn!”

She opened her eyes gently. “You…saved me?” She smiled. “I’m glad… is everyone alright?”

Marcus looked around. Nearby, he heard Woody and Buzzs voice, in unison: ‘So play nice.’ Then a shriek, and Sid ran past Marcus and Alynn, and into the house positively terrified.

Moments later, Woody and Buzz were running by. “Thanks for all your help!” Woody shouted to them, waving before he crawled under the fence.

Marcus looked down at Alynn. “Are you alright? Where are you hurt?” He whispered urgently.

“My… my ribs hurt.” Alynn whimpered. Her chest felt like it was on fire. It hurt to breathe.

“I can… I can fix that.” Marcus nodded, and stepped back. “Curaga!” he shouted, and pointed his keyblade at her.

Alynn immediately felt the relief. “Ahh…” She smiled, as breathing became easier. She sat up and smiled at Marcus. “Thank you.”

“N-no problem…” Marcus said sheepishly. “We both have to find our masters, you know?”

Alynn nodded in agreement. “Yeah. Shall we go?”

Marcus looked at her worriedly. “If you’re well enough to travel…”He said, shifting nervously.

“I am.” Alynn smiled.

“Well…” Said Marcus, turning and reaching to activate his armor. “Then let’s go.”

“Together.”

Chapter 6

Overwhelming Darkness

~~~World: Endless Enigma~~~

When Marcus landed on this world, he was fairly certain he knew where their masters were going to be.

That is, the world itself consisted of a tall, magnificent castle floating in empty space.

“What an eerie place…” Alynn whispered.

“It’ll be fine.” Marcus nodded. “Our masters are in there. Don’t you sense them?”

“Of course I do!” Alynn said. “It’s just… so strange…”

Marcus laughed. “It’ll be fine. I’m telling you. We’ll just go in, get the answers, and everything will be normal again.”

He stepped forward and opened the door of the castle and motioned to her. “Shall we?”

The main hall of the castle appeared quite similar to the skyscraper in the Land of Awakening, strangely enough. It was a long, stone hall with a red carpet that leads to a series of chairs. The difference being that on either side of these chairs were spiral staircases that lead up.

Marcus and Alynn walked quietly down the hall to the stairs, being careful to check and see if anyone was waiting to ambush them.

Not a soul. No one was on this floor.

“Upstairs maybe?” Marcus said quietly, and grabbed the railing of the spiral staircase on the left.

“I suppose it’s the only option.” Alynn agreed. Marcus nodded, and lead the way up the stairs.

The room above the hall was open and empty, simply a large stone rectangle, with two openings in the floor for people to come up from the hall.

On the far end, sat Master Lylien amid a sea of heavy cloth and robes. That entire end of the room was surrounded by a powerful barrier.

“Master Lylien!” Alynn shouted, running across the room, and pounding her fists against the barrier. “I’m so glad you’re alright!”

“Alynn!” Lylien smiled, standing and looking at them. “You found- How did you?”

Alynn laughed. “We’ve been looking for you! We went to two worlds, before we caught your trail, and then went to another before we made it here!”

“I’m so proud of you…”Lylien said quietly. “You’ve done so well, getting here…but-“

“Who did this?” Marcus frowned, stepping up to the barrier. “Was it my master, Master Zeratus? Where is he?”

Lylien looked confusedly, and suddenly, one of the robes piled up behind her shifted, and stood, turning slowly to look at them.

“How could it have been me?” Master Zeratus said sourly. “When I’m in here?” He looked tired and worn, and as if he had not been fed for many days.

“Master!?” Marcus said, stunned. “You’re trapped too!?”

“Marcus…” Master Zeratus said slowly. “Alynn. You both have done well. Well enough to show us that you both definitely show the Mark of Mastery.” He hesitated. “But things are far worse here than they seem.”

“Master Lylien!?” Alynn said weakly, confused and scared. “What do you?”

Master Lylien looked down at the ground, and then back up at them sadly. “There’s nothing the two of you can do. We are truly glad to see that the two of you have…”she looked from one to the other and smiled. “Become so close. But you must leave. Now.”

“I don’t understand.” Marcus shouted. “We came all this way….to save you!” She said, shaking his head. “And then…and then you just tell us to leave!?”

“It’s not that simple.” Master Zeratus sighed. “You must leave… before… He-“

“I’m afraid no one will be leaving here.” A new voice said.

Marcus turned slowly. The new man was dressed in black jeans, a black button-up shirt and a long black coat. His messy brown hair hung just above his bright gold eyes.

It was the man who had given Marcus his keyblade.



“You… That’s…Why would you do this!?” Marcus screamed at him.

The man gave him a look of mock confusion. “Who are you- Wait a minute.. .you’re… you’re that whelp that performed the inheritance ceremony for, aren’t you?” his face broke into a psychotic grin. “I see. So you think that since I gave you a keyblade, that it entitles you to an explanation, do you?”

He smirked and raised his hand. “I’ve only got one thing to tell you.” He closed his fist. “You’re full of it! You think that because I gave you your keyblade that it makes you special!? To me, or in any other way!?” He laughed maniacally. “You’re a fool! That weapon was so weak I abandoned it long ago!” He pointed at Marcus. “And now, I’d say you’re weak for using it.”

“Stop it!” Alynn screamed. “Stop it! What’s wrong with you? Why would you do this!? Capture our masters…It doesn’t make sense!”

“You shut your mouth.” The man said coldly. “You’re just a pawn. Less than a pawn even. You both are; being horribly, miserably beneath my notice. I’d suggest you get out of my way.”

“Like we’d let you do anything to our Masters!” Marcus frowned, and he and Alynn summoned their keyblades.

“Hmph. You still think those toys will help you?” He smirked. “Your masters are fools to cling to the keyblades as they do, when keyblades only use the natural energy around us.”He smirked. “But I. I manifested darkness, from the places where its purest and bent it to my will.” He laughed and dark energy coursed all around him. “And I found, that even with all that natural energy… My keyblade was just a hunk of metal. It could try and draw on my natural power… but it couldn’t handle it.”

He smirked and raised his hands, and both burst in to dark flames, which grew bigger as he spoke. “And my dark power continued to grow. I could drain the powers of others, and use them to feed my own… and over time… my powers grew so great…”He smiled at the memory. “I had no further use for my keyblade. So, I broke it, like a child’s toy.” He smirked and reached behind him, and drew, seemingly from thin air, a dark katana. “As I will yours. Then I will drain your masters powers, and achieve the ultimate darkness!”

Alynn frowned. “Marcus?”

Marcus looked at her, keyblade at the ready. “What?”
“We can’t let that happen.” She whispered.

“I know. But we can’t break that barrier.” He said, and raised his keyblade. “So we’ll just have to keep this guy at bay!”

Marcus lunged, swinging his keyblade in a swift horizontal slash, attempting to knock the katana from the mans hand.

However, he was no longer there. He was standing behind Marcus. Upside-down, standing on the ceiling. He smirked and raised his Katana. “I am Seth, the true Harbinger of Darkness.” He stated flatly. “And this is your end.”

He dropped from the ceiling, twisting in the air and landing on his feet, and lashed out with his Katana, attempting to score a hit that could strike Marcus in half. Marcus barely had time to twist and block with his keyblade. The force of the blow threw him back, and into the wall.

Alynn ran forward, prepared to drive her keyblade into Seth’s back. “Marcus!” she shouted.

Seth smirked and shifted enough that he could see her, and vanished once again, appearing just ahead of her, far enough to the left to avoid her keyblade, and with his Katana blade hurtling for her throat.

Alynn leaned back, turning her thrust into a slide, and flopped onto her back, watching his blade sail over her as she slid past him. She slid a short ways, then hopped back to her feet, just as Marcus was regaining his strength aswell.

“At the same time.” He whispered. Alynn nodded.

Seth turned slowly to look at them. “Hmph.”

Marcus charged forward, and Alynn followed suit. When he was within range, Marcus leapt, preparing to swing diagonally down at Seth. Alynn mirrored his movement. They would both hit in the same spot, on opposite sides.

But Seth merely raised his blade, and blocked both of their blows. “Hmph.” He grunted, and pushed them back with one hand. “This is pathetic. They dared claim you have what it takes to be Masters?” He snickered. “Not even close.”

Marcus backed off. “Just shut up and hold still!” He yelled and charged again, swinging for Seth’s side. Seth blocked his keyblade easily, and deftly kicked him in the stomach. Marcus crumpled.

A most powerful technique. Master Zeratus said, walking quietly to the edge of the cliff and gazing at the moon.

Alynn charged just as Marcus fell, her keyblade raged to deliver an overhead slash to Seth. He caught her by the neck, and lifted her into the air. “Look at you! You’re like annoying little gnats!” He laughed at her, squeezing the air from her lungs.

She felt her arms fall, her keyblade dropped from her hand…

Few can give themselves fully to darkness…

Alynn didn’t think she was going to make it. The whole room was growing dark. She couldn’t even hear Seth anymore, all she knew was the pain of her lungs begging for air.

But for that brief time…it will grant unimaginable power.

“Hey!”

Seth dropped Alynn like a ragdoll, and turned to look at Marcus. He was sitting up, with dark energy coursing all around him.

“Oh? And just what do you think you’re going to do, little whelp?”

and yours is a most peculiar case Marcus. For you are far more attuned than most.

Marcus allowed the darkness to gather, more and more, until the air itself was thick with the dark energy, between Seth and himself.

“I realized…I’ve been going about this the wrong way.”He gasped, and reached deep into himself, into his heart…

And let the darkness pour out.

I pray you need never fully utilize the darkness…

~~~

The atmosphere changed immediately. All the air in the room rushed towards Marcus, and then shot outwards, nearly even pushing Seth back. “What the-?”

The Marcus that stood on the far side of the room radiated pure darkness. His armor seeped darkness through every crack, his eyes hard turned the brightest gold, with even the whites of his eyes turning black. Every step he took scorched the floor with dark energy.

“That’s a neat little trick.” Seth smirked. “But what makes you think it’s going to do much good against me?”

It was only the slightest warning. A small inkling, in the back of his head, and Seth leaned back.

When the keyblade materialized directly where his head had been, as did Marcus. He had closed the distance and swung for Seth’s head before Seth could even blink.

Marcus landed, smoothly sliding on the darkness the soles of his feet generated, and turned to face Seth once again.

Seth backpedalled away from Marcus. How had that kid done it? Everything about him… suddenly ramped up to a level Seth couldn’t even comprehend.

“Heh. Nice try, kid. But you missed.” Seth smirked. “I’m not even sure what you were aiming for.”

But Marcus didn’t respond. Instead, he raised his free hand, and jabbed his thumb behind him.

The barrier was falling apart.

He hadn’t been aiming for Seth at all… he had been aiming for the barrier.

“Why you…” Seth growled. “Don’t get cocky! What are your worthless masters going to do!?” He shook his Katana wildly at him. “I already captured them once, easily! They’ll do no good, even with you-“

But Marcus was not standing in front of the crumbling barrier anymore.

Seth tried to react, but it was far too late. Marcus appeared in front of him, his keyblade already in full motion. It collided with Seth’s stomach, and the force of the swing sent him flying into the wall.

This just…wasn’t…possible.

Seth felt the pain radiating from every part of him. He struggled to make his body react after such a sudden thrashing. He opened his eyes-

-Marcus had his keyblade pointed at him, dark energy gathering around the tip, growing larger and stronger by the second.

“My master…” Marcuses voice came out dark and laced with passion. “Alynn…and her master…Those I care about…” Marcuses frown deepened, and his eyes narrowed. “You won’t hurt them anymore!”

Seth felt himself fill with surprise and terror. This couldn’t be happening!

Then the keyblade unleashed its accumulated energy; a wave of dark energy that pummeled him, first against the wall, then through it, and out into the open air.

This… just couldn’t… happen.

Seth hit the ground hard. Every inch of him hurt. He wasn’t sure if he could even move. He forced himself to sit up, and pain shot through his body. “That… insolent little…”He growled.

He mustered his remaining power and used the darkness to carry himself up into the air. “There’s no need for me to let this end so soon.”He called through the hole that Marcus had made. “There are many more worlds, and many more places for me to manifest my darkness. I’ll finish you all, like it or not!” He said, and then shot off into the sky.

~~~

I pray you need never fully utilize the darkness…Master Zeritas had said.

Marcus felt the darkness leaving his body as Seth flew away.

It was done. He had protected His master, and Master Lylien, and more importantly, Alynn.

Everything was growing so dark. He didn’t want to let the dark cover him. He wanted to see Alynn… he wanted to tell her…

I pray you need never fully utilize the darkness…


But…

As long as she was safe that was all he needed. He felt his body growing lighter, as his vision dimmed fully.

At least…at least Alynn was safe.

For it would surely kill you.

Chapter 8

Purge
~~~World: Notre Dame~~~

It was some kind of Festival. Ballons wafted past Alynn, as she made her way amid a crowd of people singing. Many, were drunk, and the smell made her move all the faster. Why had she been brought to this world?

“Come one, Come all!” A brightly dressed Jester cheered.

“Hurry hurry, Here’s your chance! “ He sang, popping up next to a very strict looking man in a black frock and hat.”See the mystery and romance!” He appeared on his other side, nudging him. The man did not look bemused.

“Come one! Come all!” He was then next to a man in a cloak, and shoved him towards a stage in the square. “See the finest girl in France, make an entrance to entrance! Dancer Esmeralda, Dance!”

He threw something on the ground, and disappeared in a burst of pink smoke. Out from it sprang a woman with dark skin and black hair, as well as a red and purple dress.

And dance she did. The dance itself had a tad bit to much of an inappropriate air to it, for Alynn’s taste, and apparently, the man in black agreed. He scowled and muttered to the guard next to him. “ Look at that disgusting display.”

“Yes sir!” The guard said, raising his helmet a bit to get a better look.

The girl danced close to the man in black ,wrapping the sash around his neck and then leaving, which only seemed to infuriate him more. Given his expression before, if it had been Alynn, She would’ve stayed as far away as she could.

Alynn turned away before the dance rounded off. “Hmm…I don’t get it. Why was I brought here.”

Alynn walked around and watched some of the festivities before she heard the commotion. She’d made no prgores, but she had to stop someone before she could find out what had happened. “The Gypsy, The dancer? She helped someone who had been attacked by the guards.” He chuckled. “And when Frollo ordered her caught, she made a fool of them all!” He laughed as he walked by.

“That doesn’t sound like a winning scenario…” ALynn whispered, rubbing her head. “Excuse me? Do you know where She’s hiding?”

“She ran into the church claiming sanctuary. Frollo can’t get her there. Granted, she can’t go out, either.” The man admitted.

“I see…” Alynn frowned. “Somehow, I think things are going to go wrong. Fast. You should return to your homes.”

And within the hour, they had. News that the Gypsy had escaped was spreading through the ranks of the guard, and moments afterwards, the order was received: Do anything to find the Gypsy woman.

They came in droves, breaking into houses, looking for any nook, trapdoor or cranny she could be hiding in, Rolled wagons into rivers, set fire to homes, and bribed every Gypsy they found to give up information on her.

Eventually wound up in the belltower. She stepped up carefully. All of paris was on fire. None of this was right at all…

“I will free you, from her spell. She will torment you no longer.” Frollo’s voice came down the staircase.

“What do you mean?” Quasimodo whispered.

“I know where her hiding place is. Tomorrow at dawn, I attack, with a thousand men!”

Alynn had to duck and hide on nearby rafter to hide.

The minute the door slammed, she heard the voice of Phoebus; Funny he was still here, as he was no longer a soldier, and was suspected dead.

“That didn’t sound good.” Alynn said, walking up the stairs. “Don’t worry. I’m here to help.” She looked between the two of them. “What is the plan?”

“We have to find the Court of Miracles.” Phoebus groaned. “By daybreak.”

“Do you know where to start looking?” Quasimodo asked, confused. “Because she gave me this.” He held up a necklace, carefully woven, to the both of them.

“What is it?” Phoebus asked, confused.

“I think… It’s a map of the city.” Quasimodo muttered.

Alynn stepped towards them, and eyed the necklace. “I agree. There’s the cathedral. And this is the river.”

“Very well.” Phoebus said, heading down the stairs. “Then we have a fair start.” He had a noticeable arrow wound in his shoulder.

~~~

After a matter of time, they came to their destination.

A graveyard.

“Creepy…” Alynn muttered, as they made their way around, looking for a symbol that matched the one on the necklace.

“This looks like it.” Phoebus said, pointing to a large tomb in front of them. “There’s some kind’ve inscription. I could translate it, if you’d give me a second.”

Instead, Quasimodo pulled the cover off, revealing a staircase hidden inside.

“Or we could just go in.” Alynn teased.

“The court of miracles?” Quasimodo asked as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

“The Court of Ankle-deep sewage, maybe.” Phoebus remarked.

“Or the Court of piled skulls in every corner. Yeesh.” Alynn remarked, eyeing the bones littering the place.

“Anyone getting a bad feeling?” she asked, as the progressed a few steps into the catacombs.

“I thought we might run into some trouble down here by now...” Phoebus admitted.

“Like what?” Quasimodo asked.

“Well..”Phoebus said, looking around. “A guard, a booby-trap…” His torch promptly went out. “Or an ambush.”

A bunch of men leapt up from an upper level, each bearing a torch and dressed as skeletons.

The same Jester from before stepped out infront of them. “Well well well…What have we here?”He scowled, distaste written across his face.

“Spies!” One of the men shouted, pulling off his mask. “Trespassers!”

“We’re not-“ Phoebus and Quasimodo began, however, the Jester cut them off, leaping up onto the top level.

“You’re very clever to have found our hide-away, Unfortunately, you won’t live to tell the tale!”

Alynn summoned her keyblade as the men approached. “I have to help Phoebus and Quasimodo!”

Neither Phoebus nor Quasimodo had any weapons, so She’d have to be careful. She spotted the man moving the closest, and attacked, knocking him back. They were completely swarming around them! There’s no way she’d be able to hold them off forever!

She struggled to keep some more of the men back as they got ever closer to them, closing in to grab them.

All the while, the jester danced along the upper level, chanting about the ‘Court of Miracles’ as a terrible, mythical place.

Soon, The men had forced Them all into line, and were guiding them into another, much better lit chamber, all joining in on the Jesters chant: ‘We have a method for spies and intruders, rather like hornets protecting their hive! Here in the Court of Miracles where it’s a miracle if you get out alive!”

Soon the three of them had been placed in line on the scaffolding, their arms bound to their side.

“W-wait!” Alynn and Quasimodo Cried.

“We’re not-“

“Gather ‘round everybody!” The Jester ignored them, holding up a bit of rope, and fashioning it into a noose. “There’s good ‘noose’ tonight!”

He danced past them mockingly. “Justice is swift in the court of miracles, I am the Lawyer and judge, all-in-one!” He stopped with the noose just over Phoebuses Head. “Any last words?”
“Yes we’re no-“
“That’s what they all say!” The Jester retorted, and appeared on his other side. “Now that we’ve seen all the evidence-“

“Clopin, Wait!” Esmerelda said, appearing in the crowd. “They aren’t spies, they’re our friends!”

“We came to warn you!” Phoebus shouted.

“Frollo is coming, with a thousand men!” Alynn growled.

“Well why didn’t they say so?” Clopin asked confused, dropping the noose.

“We did say so!” Quasimodo and Phoebus retorted.

“Thank you for coming to warn us.” Esmerelda said, nodding to Quasimodo and hugging Phoebus.

“Well its actually thanks to these two.” Phoebus said, motioning to Quasimodo and Alynn. “They figured out your necklace. Without them, I’d have never found this place.”

“Nor would I.”Frollo stood on the steps nearby. Soldiers flooded into the court of miracles, and soon, the four of them were all at spearpoint, and everyone else, tied up.

“The court of miracles is mine at last.” Frollo sneered. “How fortunate for me.”

Alynn shoved away the solider nearest her, and summoned her keyblade. “Light!” she called, and light energy surrounded her, pushing outwards, and until there was a clear path between her and Frollo.

“What witchcraft is this?” Frollo growled. “A girl who wields a key? And oyu’d side with the gypsies!?” He frowned, and the darkness puled around him. “Very well. Then you will share their fate!”

Alynn frowned and Frollo began to float towards her, and waved his hand. “The gypsy will be mine!” He shrieked. The darkness was corrupting him fully now, and when he lashed out at her, the darkness pulsed with his hand, sending a burst right at Alynn.

Alynn rolled away, landing and lunging for Frollo. She swung hard, and the darkness sprung up infront of him, in the shape of a red-robed man to take the blow. “Mine, or she will burn!” He shrieked. “Hellfire!”

Fire Billowed from his hands, shooting right at her.

Alynn had to dive away again, but this time lunged and swung, striking Frollo in the stomach.

Frollo grunted, then grasped her keyblade. Darkness coursed from his hand down to her and she felt her hands starting to burn.

“Ignorant girl. You’ve no idea the divine powers you’re up against here.” Frollo growled.

Alynn scowled up at her. “No. You’re just too…” she focused and light energy flashed up her keyblade, and caused Frollo to gasp and release her keyblade.

She then turned and swung at him. "Too blind to see the truth!"

She turned to look at Esmerelda, Phoebus and Quasimodo. “I’m sorry. I hope everything works out for you... I need to go, I’m afraid…” Alynn said. “There’s someone I need to find.”

“I see.” Esmerelda nodded. “Well thank you. Hopefully, this will work out for the good of Paris.”

Alynn nodded in a agreement. “I hope so too.” She turned away. “Goodbye.”

Chapter 10

Darkness of the Approaching End

Back in the lanes between, it was a long moment, before Alynn realized that she could sense Seth. He was not only nearby, but he was practically right next to her.

The problem was, he appeared to be on a world, completely assumed by darkness. The surface rolled and cracked in enormous black-purple waves. Lightning streaked across its sky. The darkness was so powerful here, that even the burst of light she intended to use as a signal had been swallowed by its darkness before it could get too far.

Alynn sighed. This was it. She’d have to do it herself. There was no other choice. If she left him alone, He would destroy everything.

So she turned her keyblade rider, and followed where her senses said he was.

~~~World: Tainted Facsimile~~

Where she landed was almost a cruel joke; A copy of the castle where she’d last fought Seth carved and constructed from the darkness of the world. It all almost blended together the castles walls with the ground, and its top with the sky, if not for the torches that lit it.

Alynn scowled and stepped forward, and into the castle.

The inside was almost as hard to discern as the rest. But it didn’t matter, he sat in a throne on the far end, the same as he always had been. Messy black hair, a long black coat and black silk shirt.

Seth looked up and smirked. “So you made it. I’ll give you credit, you’re very brave to have come alone.” He stood. “Especially given what I did to your boyfriend.”

Alynn growled and summoned her keyblade. “You didn’t do anything.” She scowled. “He gave everything to defeat you, and you ran, like a coward.”

Seth frowned and raised his hand, summoning his darkness katana. “I’ll merit that he did deal quite a number on me.” He sneered. “But part of being brilliant is knowing when to fall back.”

Alynn frowned and raised her keyblade into a ready stance. “Well this time, I’m not going to give you the chance!” She lunged, swinging in a large arc infront of her.

And he wasn’t there. He appeared behind her. “Hmph.” He snickered. “you haven’t learned at all.” He sneered, Katana raised to cut her in half.

Alynn continued her spin, bringing her keyblade around to block his blade.

“Oh.” He smiled, leaning close as their weapons sparked. “Perhaps you have learned, just a bit.”

He smirked and vanished, appearing behind her once again, though this time merely shoving her hard with his shoulder, knocking her to the ground. “But I’ve been a master long before you even began your training. No amount of experience from the world’s you’ve visited is going to help you against me!”

Alynn sighed. “I don’t need to know any special techniques.” She got up shakily, and raised her keyblade. “ If the world’s are in danger of being swallowed by the darkness, light will win!” She swung her keyblade and it glowed bright white, releasing three large, pearlescent spheres that rocketed towards Seth.

Seth started to vanish when the first approached, and his eyes widened in fear. The light was keeping him front shadow-stepping. He leapt into a roll to get away from the first. It impacted the ground, releasing a very bright explosion that left a crater in the dark ground.

He ducked under the second, and it exploded behind him, but he had to roll again to avoid the third.

“A neat trick.” He scowled. “But the darkness is mine to command.” He scowled, and raised his hand, curling it into a fist.

Tendrils of darkness rose from the ground, wrapping around Alynn’s legs, and longer ones wrapping around her arms, and began to slowly drag her into the ground.

“No!” Alynn shouted, struggling to tear away. But the whole world was darkness. How had she hoped to win.

Seth smirked and approached as the tendrils dragged her down to her waist. “You tried hard. You even showed me a neat trick. I can’t ignore that the light can have a powerful affect on the darkness.” He smiled down at her and brought his Katana to her neck. “But I’m afraid this is as far as you go.”

“This can’t be the end… I can’t have lost.” ALynn shook her head. “What would Master Lylien do?” she thought hard. But all that came to mind were images of her master; no words. None of encouragement. None that could help her.

Perhaps, she had lost.

Remember Alynn. The brighter the light, the greater the shadow. But…It only takes one light, to stave off the darkness.

Alynn reached into the light in her heart, and grasped her keyblade. She let the light bathe over her, and felt the tendrils release.

“Impossible!” Seth blanched.

Alynn wasn’t going to give him the opportunity to regain his composure. She lunged, driving her keyblade directly into his chest, and then causing a burst of light energy.

The explosion knocked him back with a weakened cry. “You… I can’t believe this!” Seth screamed. “How did you escape!?” He raised his Katana, only to find it broken. “Worthless.” He shrieked, throwing it away.

Alynn frowned. “The light helped me. The darkness may be powerful here.. .but it only takes one little bit of light… to hold you back!”

Seth frowned. “You ignorant… ‘one little bit of light’?” He laughed quietly, and shook his head. “I see. So what you’re saying is…”

He threw back his head, and suddenly the darkness pulsed around him, as if he were drawing the very darkness of the world into himself.

“That I…” The figure that stood before her wasn’t even Seth anymore. It was large and heavy set, with bandages loosely draped over its body. Deep red eyes glared at her, and its skin was of the deepest darkness. “Need to extinguish that tiny light, once and for all!”

Alynn braced herself, summoning the same light she had before. “You can try.”

“Try?” The creature sneered. It raised its hand and without effort, summoned a ball of dark energy. “There’s no need to try!” and it tossed the ball at her.

Alynn scowled and raised her keyblade, pointing it at the dark energy and summoned the same blast as before. The dark energy exploded, but the light energy was swallowed by it- Even the lingering dark energy crept towards her, stealing some of her power away.

“You see?” Seth’s new self proclaimed. “It’s hopeless!” It stalked towards her, then vanished, and appeared behind her, grabbing a hold of her arms.

The darkness swirled around them, and the dark consumed world they had been on was replaced by a nexus of dark side energy, swirling, drawing everything around it into it, and eradicating them.

“This darkness has eaten many worlds.” Seth sneered. “From Islands full of the promise of grand destinies, to world’s much like you’re homeworld.” He began to float towards it, pushing her closer and closer to its dark surface. “And now, you will open your heart to its darkness.”

Her remaining light created a barrier in front of her, but it was growing steadily weaker as he pushed her closer to the sphere of dark power.

“No!” Alynn gasped, struggling against his grip. But he was too strong here. Too powerful.

Finally he gave that last push, and her barrier shattered. He pressed her against the dark energy. The mere contact made her flesh burn. “Accept the darkness!” Seth shrieked madly.

Alynn couldn’t hold on much longer. Soon, the darkness would tear her apart-

~~~

But she wasn’t there anymore.

She was floating, in a vast, white place.

And Marcus was there, He floated not far away, smiling at her.

“M-Marcus?” she gasped quietly. “Is it really you?”

He nodded, slowly. “In a way. I had to find a way to send a message to you. Through your heart.” He said quietly.

“I can’t beat him.” Alynn said quietly. “There’s too much darkness. My light can’t push back so much at once.”

“Alynn.” Marcus sighed, looking down. “You’re looking at it all wrong.” He reached out and stroked her cheek gently. “There’s light within the darkness.” He smiled. “Do you think I would’ve been able to do what I did, without there being some light within my darkness? I f there weren’t, we’d cease to be. We’d just be monsters. Monsters, or tools.”

Alynn looked at him, confused. “But what should I do?” she aske,d reaching up and holding his hand to her cheek.

“I have to go, Alynn.” Marcus sighed, shaking his head. “But open yourself. Don’t accept the darkness. But accept the light within it.” He smiled. “Just remember. I’m always here to help you. You can do it.”

~~~
Seth laughed. She must have given up. He began to push just a bit harder. If he was lucky, maybe this darkness would absorb her, and he could utilize her power aswell.

However, he realized that it didn’t seem to be hurting her any longer. Moreover, large white cracks had appeared In the Dark Nexus.

“What?” He asked, stunned, releasing Alynn.

The cracks spread, stretching across the Dark Nexus’ surface. The glowed brighter, until it was almost blinding.

“This is impossible…the Nexus was…pure darkness!” Seth gasped, confused.

Then the Nexus burst, washing bright light over him. His dark form was fading away, the darkness fading away until he was left with just himself.

“H-how…?” Seth gasped, standing up uneasily.

“There’s light in all Darkness.” Alynn repeated, standing over him. She appeared unharmed, her body giving off a gentle white glow. “But you’ve tried to stifle the light.” She twirled her keyblade, and pointed it at him. “And you’ve harmed so many.” Light energy gathered around the tip of her keyblade. “You’re done.”

It fired, a long, straight beam of light, that pierced right through him.

“It can’t be…”He whispered. “you can’t have beat me…There’s…no way-“ His body began to glow, as he started to fade. “This can’t be… the end-“

And finally, Seth faded away.

Alynn looked around. The tainted world would fall apart soon, without Seth to hold it together. She summoned her keyblade rider, and leapt aboard. She had won. It was time to return home.

~~~

Master Zeratus and Lylien were waiting for her there. They smiled and hugged her.

“Good work.” Master Lylien smiled brightly at her. “You’ve done wonderfully. I’m so proud.”

“Congratulations.” Master Zeratus nodded.

“Thank you.” Alynn smiled. “But Marcus is the one that really did it…he helped me…” She sighed and looked down. “I wish he were here.”

“Actually.” Master Zeratus said quietly, looking down. “I had one last favor to ask of you.” He shifted a bit, and a small figure with messy brown hair peered around his black coat. “Do you recognize this boy?”

“Matt?” Alynn asked, cocking her head, surprised. “What are you doing here?”

Zeratus smiled at her slowly and nudged the small boy towards her. “This is Matthew Kunsel.” Zeratus peered at Alynn regarding her. “He is the younger brother to my apprentice, Marcus Kunsel. Though he didn’t know it at the time.” Zeratus nodded to Matt. “Show her.”

Matt looked up at Alynn nervously, and then raised his hand. In it, a keyblade, almost an exact replica of Marcus’s, scaled to his size, appeared.

“We thought you might want to… take him as your apprentice.” Lylein smiled at her. “Master Alynn.”

Alynn crouched down and looked at her quietly. “Matt? What do you think?”

The little boy looked at her seriously. “My brother… he died to save everyone.” He looked down, and then at Alynn. “I want… I want to be strong, like him!”

Alynn smiled. “I’d be honored, to take you as my apprentice, Matt.” She smiled and stood. “And I bet, somewhere out there… he approves too.”

*reserved*

*reserved*