Org. XIV (story)

Daniel looked over his shoulder, where Rexial had disappeared. "I don't know him that well, but...dammit, he just saved the entire multiverse!" He climbed out of the crater. "Hell if I'm gonna try and stop him, I'm going WITH him!" He turned to Thalia. "Tell 'em whatever you want, but that one guy just went after him to bring him back. I'm going too. I'll find a way to get him back for you, a'right? Wish me luck!" And with that, he ran after Rexial.

Rexial's voice resounded within Daniel's head.

Don't follow me. Even if you succeeded, you would either die, or be corrupted before long. And escape from this place, when you're not well-versed in darkness, is all but impossible.

I appreciate your will to help, but please, don't try to follow me.



Aleri turned back to Thalia. "...Right. Give Dante my regards, when you see him, and Hartz, too." He opened a Light Corridor in front of Thalia, connecting it to her home world, Synthisle.

Daniel shook his head. "Listen!" he called. "I don't care what happens to me! I'm a werewolf, I practially breathe Darkness!" he said, and shifted into wolf form, continuing on despite the warning. And even if I do die, the way I go is worth it. Besides, it's not like the help will hurt him.

Rexial was careful to direct his transmitted thoughts to Daniel, leaving everybody else out of the loop.

The thing is, I doubt your help would do anything. Sorry. But if I found him, would you be able to help bring him out again? He wouldn't want another person to die needlessly for his sake. Besides, I'm probably the best man for this job...

He sounded more apologetic with each word.

Help bring him out? Sure. And besides, you said it would overwhelm any one of us, right? So, why not have two, then? Either way, I kinda owe him for a few things...like just now, for example. Daniel's thoughts were not at all apologetic, sounding incredibly determined. If you're gonna persuade me, you're gonna need better ammo than that.

His voice took on a colder edge.

How about this, then? If I run into him, there's a good chance that his chaotic nature would affect me, causing me to go homicidal, and pretty much guaranteeing your death if you come with me. And you would never canvas the Deep Dark in your lifetime, so if you go in, and I leave, you'll never get things done. This way, I won't cause any damage if things go south. Besides... I could force you out if you try following me in. If I go crazy, I won't be able to force you out of the way of the carnage.

The light faded from Siks. His friends walked up behind him.

"I don't believe this," he muttered.

Susan looked over to Thalia. "I'm going to go make sure she's okay."

Susan walked over to Thalia and put a hand on her shoulder. "This may not mean a lot from me, seeing as how we don't know each other that well, but I am sorry."

Thalia shook her head silently, "..." She exited through the corridor.

Phoenix caught up with Thalia as she left, she put a hand on Susan's shoulder, "Thank you... But, I think she's far too hurt to care at the moment." She hung her head somberly, "I'll go make sure she's alright." She left shortly following Thalia into the corridor.

Daniel stayed silent for a moment. Y'know, it would've been perfectly fine for you to just be straight with me about it. If you need some time to sort yourself out, I'll back off for ya. Good luck to you. Daniel turned, left, and switched back to normal. He could get back any time, after all.

"Now...where do I go next?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0FkyYxOxQE

Haar_Wyvern wrote:"Don't think so!" called Dispatch with another jumping down-slash.

"Predictable, aren't you?" said X-Sigma, turning sideways to avoid the stroke.

"Hmmm...no." And with that, a gold aura appeared around Dispatch, forcing X-Sigma back. His hair spiked up, and also turned gold. "Predict this," he said, and warped behind X-Sigma. He grabbed him around the waist...and suplexed him, leaving a noticeable crack. In the emptiness. "Told you I was holding back."

<Perfect timing for this song imo>

<Oh wow, that was amazing.

I was supposed to have a character appear, and I should have fought, but who cares! That was amazing.>

Trexksyl jumped on Daniel's back.

"Can't we go now? We don't have to be here" The young blonde hair Nobody said.

XxxX

Zane on the other side still withering in pain, his four blades circling around him.

"I'm so useless!" He yelled out to himself.

<You know what? Retcon White out of this fight. Pretend he just didn't appear here>

Daniel sighed. He'd almost forgotten about this kid...Almost. "Alright, then," he replied. "Where to?"

Trexksyl slid up and grabbed Daniel around the neck, just enough for discomfort but not enough for any harm, then pointed straight.

"Disney Town! I want Double Crunch ice cream!"

Daniel opened up a Dark Corridor. "Disney Town..." he said. "Never actually been there." He stepped through, Trekxsyl still on his shoulders.

Siks walked over to Susan, draping an arm around her.

"She'll pull through," he assured her.

Kotank then walked up. "We should probably go."

Siks nodded, opening a Dark Corridor for the three of them to walk through.

Zane stood up, blood trickling down his arms, he walked over, looking around, he needed a way back.

<One thing, Sally not being in the fight is fine, because they made a promise she won't fight anymore. Anyone remember that?>

<I sure don't.>

Aleri sighed. "Zane, I always wondered why you can't make corridors... if I open one for you, would you please carry Dispatch back to the castle? I just want a little bit of time to clear my head before going home."

"That's because I'm merely human. Only thing I got going are these blades, lightning and water" Zane walked over and picked Dispatch up. "If I could help in this situation then I'm not completely useless".

Aleri cast Cure with some of his remaining magic before opening a Light Corridor. "You're pretty far from being useless, Zane."

Zane jerked his head up. Kinda shocked to hear it. Oh, come on. It's Aleri. It's not shocking at all.

"Sorry- I..." Zane looked happier and at a loss for words. Zane entered the corridor, it still covering his body. "Good luck, Aleri. Come back safe".

Aleri stood, alone, looking around the battlefield, as if he could find the answers that he seeked there. Deciding that there was nothing to find, he stopped. It was an empty place, devoid of life or hope. At least, in a twisted way, it was peaceful. His thoughts settled as he slowly came to terms with what had just happened.

He turned to the corridor, his back to the place where X-Sigma had died. "...I won't let you go back on your promise, Lance. I just can't..."

And with that, he left the Gate to the Dark. Left it a cold, dark, barren waste. But not a forgotten place. Nobody would forget.






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yc7uG2qaTVU

[Skip to 0:52]

When you walk away, you don't hear me say

Please, oh baby, don't go

Simple and Clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight

It's hard to let it go.

...

You're giving me

too many things lately

You're all I need

You smiled at me and said

"Don't get me wrong I love you,"

"But does that mean I have to meet your father?"

"When we are older you'll understand"

"What I meant when I said no,"

"I don't think life is quite that simple."

When you walk away, You don't hear me say

Please, oh baby, don't go

Simple and Clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight

It's hard to let it go

...

The daily things (Like this and that and what is what)

That keep us all busy

Are confusing me...

That's when you came to me and said

"Wish I could prove I love you,"

"But does that mean I have to walk on water?"

"When we are older you'll understand,"

"It's enough when I say so,"

"And maybe some things are that simple."

When you walk away, you don't hear me say

Please, oh baby, don't go

Simple and Clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight

It's hard to let it go.

Hold me!

Whatever lies beyond this morning is a little later on

Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all

Nothing's like before

When you walk away, you don't hear me say

Please, oh baby, don't go

Simple and Clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight

It's hard to let it go

Hold me!

Whatever lies beyond this morning is a little later on

Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all

Nothing's like before

...

...

Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all

Nothing's like before...

...

...




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umOcmuFh3o8





---GameFAQs Original Posters:---

NebulaGregarZX

What's_Up4444

AngelsRequiem

00gamer7

CmdrXann

superninja312

XGeass

creamofjustice

Haar_Dragon

ArosAntiSora

What'sUp4444 as X_Blade_HAXor

What's_Up4444 as Duh_Chosen_One

talesseriesfan

KaitoKid777

Laharlsan

AKeybladeYouSay

whoopswrongkey

Masterofflys

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starbokz

Lightning_XII

Lightning_XII as Eclair_de_XII

_The_Bob_

13_Master_X

bobjtjohn

TwilightAeon13


---Special Thanks:---

Bobjtjohn/HalcyonWandering

For allowing the Organiation XIV to continue on your board, and bringing in major characters such as Xancel.

MaverickEntity

For being the primary source of badassery, by way of the Observers.

What's_Up4444

For introducing such critical elements as the Division and Dark Bloodline, and being there from almost the very start.

00gamer7/khfreak358

For keeping the story alive from the very beginning. Without you, the story may not have survived.

Haar_Dragon/Haar_Wyvern

For being there about as long as KH, and being a major asset to the story.

NebulaGregarZX

For starting the Organization XIV RP.

Tetsuya Nomura

For creating the Kingdom Hearts series, of course.

Yoko Shimomura

For composing the amazing music heard in Kingdom Hearts.

Walt Disney

For founding Disney Animation, and providing the "Disney" part of Kingdom Hearts. Rest in peace.

Hironobu Sakaguchi

For beginning the Final Fantasy series, a critical part of Kingdom Hearts.

Nobuo Uematsu

For composing the wonderous soundtrack to the Final Fantasy series.


And finally...

To everybody. Thank you for writing, reading, and weaving together the story of the ones who opposed Organization XIII, and saved the worlds from darkness.






https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zatVB3AAZc


...-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Xeromus

...-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rexial Matsuda

...-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Aleri Kinsetsu

...-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Siks

Black was the night when I did surrender -------------------------------Exdeath
I did give in to my weakening side
Now that I'm empty, my dreams once were many ---------------------Kotank
Souls bid a cry to unleash the divine

When you think there's no way out ---------------------------------------Dispatch
And all you see collides
Hope will in the end chase all your fears away -------------------------Norio

...-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sally

Fighting the source was not recommended -----------------------------Tony
Trails of a wish were the hope to survive
Skins full ablazing, release crystal gazing -------------------------------Alex
All of it led to a deeper demise

When you think there's no way out ---------------------------------------Zane
And no one comprehends
Hope will show your smile again ------------------------------------------Josephine

What I left behind, ----------------------------------------------------------R
Another night of weary dreams
What's been left behind, ---------------------------------------------------MiM
Another time where days of late are far away

Far away ----------------------------------------------------------------------Aaron

... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nathan Firago

Losing my reasons, no lies to believe in ---------------------------------Nori
Left the obscure to the means of escape
Core has been shaking, there's no more pain to break me ------------Susan
Time has commenced and I long to awake

When you think there's no way out ---------------------------------------Daniel
Leave everything behind
You can live your life anew ------------------------------------------------Texers

What I left behind, ----------------------------------------------------------Rexers
Another night of weary dreams
What's been left behind, ---------------------------------------------------Gentex
Another time where days of late are far away
Far away ----------------------------------------------------------------------White

Dark days behind me --------------------------------------------------------Xelo
Won't ever break me now

...-------------------------------------------------------------------------------Caxom

All that left behind ----------------------------------------------------------Lexaxa
Another night of weary dreams -------------------------------------------Joe
What's been left behind ----------------------------------------------------Ichiro
Another time where days of late are far away -------------------------Kizukanai
Far away ----------------------------------------------------------------------Maxgen
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Eira
Just another night
In another time




------------------...Lance Willright--------------------------



---------------------------------------------------------"Don't close your eyes now."-----------------------------
----------------"The tale is not over yet."----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------"So much to do, so little time..."-------------
------"Now, step forward. Can you do it?"----------------------------------------------------------------------



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"How do I put this...?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=gOmeL-TxyVw&feature=endscreen

"Where do I start?"

"I haven't really written in this thing for a long time... probably not since the battle with X-Sigma. That was two years ago."

"It's hard to believe it's been so long... or, maybe it's felt like an eternity. So much has happened in two years, but those first six months were even more... concentrated? A lot more happened in that time than you'd think. Fighting off monsters called Ravain, taking down Organization XIII, saving the worlds so many times, meeting new friends, saying goodbye... and the battle with X-Sigma. That was the only time I truly felt as if I were truly powerless. When facing Master Roland, I was outclassed in every way. But the gulf in power between X-Sigma and I... it was something that none of my skill or experience helped me cross."

"We only won because our friend sacrificed himself to Chaos for the power to win. I didn't know at first whether to be thankful, or to never forgive him for it."

"Since then, life has still gone on. Rexial went into the Deep Dark to search for Lance, but a month later, I found a note in his room."

" 'I'm sorry, but I don't think I can look any of you in the face again. I failed to find a trace of Lance or Chaos in that place. The only thing that I could really do for you all, and I failed... so I'm resigning, and leaving it up to you all to keep the peace. I won't ask you to forgive me. Just don't let anything threaten the worlds, ever again. Goodbye, everyone.

-Rexial' "

"We thought he had disappeared. I was crushed... But, as I said, life went on. I decided to continue my training, so that I can someday become a Keyblade Master. I did something a little insane, actually... I chose the Edge of Existance as my training grounds. The place with vicious monsters all over that make Sephiroth wimper with fear."

"That's when I ran into Rex. He had been there, looking for Lance, just in case he had somehow found his way there. It was practically a suicide mission, which was why he left the note. I convinced him to come back, but we decided to train together first."

"After a month, we came back. We knew we couldn't surivive there any longer than that. While we were away, Organization XIV finally managed to straighten out the tournament. We returned as the final match was ending."

"It really was incredible. Siks and Dispatch were facing off, and it was a close battle. They blew out several walls and most of the ceiling before Dispatch managed to win. Rexial was disappointed that he couldn't take part; it had been his idea, before X-Sigma happened, to just re-organize the tourney and start it over."

"And that's just two months... a twelfth of what's happened since then."

"For the sake of completion, I'll probably go back and fill in some of those entries, writing as I would have back then. It shouldn't look any different than if I had been writing in the journal then, and while nobody's checking this, I don't want to let any of my memories slip away again."

"Dispatch was severely injured and worn out from the fight with X-Sigma, so he had to take a whole month to recover before he could really fight again. After he got better, he entered the tourney. Once he won, he left for training, I think. I'm honestly a little scared of how powerful he'll be when he's done! As if his Super Saiyan form wasn't already absurdly strong enough..."

"Daniel just sort of... disappeared. We don't know where he's gone off to. He may have been a double agent for the Division once, but he's one of us. I wonder why he left, and where he is now...?"

"Siks and Susan finally got married. Kotank was best man at their wedding, go figure. That was hilarious, seeing a giant wookie standing at attention while they exchanged vows. And they somehow managed to get him into a suit. How they did that, I'll never know, but it looked really uncomfortable. ...In fact, I'm no doctor, but I think Susan's showing signs of pregnancy. That, or she's just really hungry lately. I think it's a bit of both. Good thing she can't see my journal..."

"Speaking of those two, they've been going to Twilight Town an awful lot. I think they're visiting that family of that man... the one Siks was decieved into killing. I think they're doing alright, but I don't want to intrude."

"I don't know what Nathan has been up to... maybe he's been in the library a lot? Nobody goes in there, so we never know. Maybe he's off training, too."

"Xeromus, our leader, made a full recovery from his wounds from fighting Nexas. They had opened up again from the strain while he fought X-Sigma, but no permanent damage was done. He's back to his normal, bossy self."

"The Kokoro family has been doing just fine. Adachi caught up, and I think he's gotten past the roadblocks that were stopping him from really applying himself. I met Kuroyuki... I asked her what it meant to be a Master. I promised myself that I wouldn't write down what she said. I can't have any crazy wannabe-Masters snooping in my journal for shortcuts!"

"Aaron's been testing out new kinds of ammunition for his guns. You know, I've never liked guns. I'll never understand why they're his weapon of choice. Aside from the occasional ammo-test, we haven't seen much of him."

"Thalia was absolutely crushed by the loss of Lance. I can't even imagine the kind of pain she's dealt with since the battle... especially now that she's been governing Synthisle without him. Maya's been really withdrawn from others, but she seems to like hanging around with me."

"While I'm on the subject of Synthisle, I think I've been told about a group of mercenaries there... Sylvia and Archer are part of the group, as well as that Nick person, and it's lead by a woman named Phoenix. I sure hope I never have to cross blades with them... I mean, Sylvia probably doesn't want to cut off my limbs, make a noose out of my hair, tie it to the plank of a ship and throw me off, not anymore. Probably."

"Oh, right! Hartz was taken in as Daidara's apprentice at the Metalworks. I'm glad he found a place to call home, but he hasn't spoken a word since that day. Also, he's always running off into the forest. Maybe he's trying to get stronger? That's what Dante has been up to. I think he's coping pretty well, considering he lost Soren..."

"...You know, we never did find out what happened to Kizukanai and Maxgen. Samuel and Naomi seem to have disappeared, too. I think they got lost in the castle somewhere. I bet they're alive, but they're probably more than a little batty from being stuck in the castle for two years. Thing is, the castle's so screwed up, I can't even locate them. Well, maybe they've found a way out. Who knows? Nothing to be done about it."

"I thought I should also mention, since this is my journal... I've been getting closer to Vita lately. She didn't want to join the Organization, but she still stops by a lot. She's also a lot stronger now... somehow, she's reached our level. Vita may be an ordinary human with no magic, but she's just as incredible."

"About Zane and Sally... You know how they got engaged, about two-and-a-quarter years ago? Well, they're finally getting married. In fact, the wedding is later today. I'm writing this before I go out to attend the ceremony. I hope their lives together are wonderful."

"...I've actually been to the Station Tower at sunset, and I've seen Thalia there each time. She's still waiting for Lance to fulfill his promise... One day, he'll come back. I'm sure of it. Or is it just wishful thinking...? Maybe I haven't put it behind me so much as I had thought..."

"Well, Rexial and Vita found my stash of Bomb Fragments, and they're going to set fire to Xeromus's closet if I don't stop them. I have to stop here for now."

" 'Honor the dead, fight like hell for the living'. "

"Keyblade Master-to-be..."

"-Aleri Kinsetsu."




The man set down his pen, closing the journal and putting it into a drawer. He stood up from the desk, crossing his arms and letting out a sigh of mild irritation. He was eighteen years old now, of a powerful, yet agile build. His hair was now cut mostly to a moderate length, except for a thin ponytail that reached down to his ankles. He was wearing a black tuxedo, as opposed to his normal clothing, and while the years had changed him, he was unmistakably Aleri.

"Cut it out, you two! We don't have time for this!"

Aleri briskly stepped out of his room, calmly pursuing his darker half, Rexial, and the girl who he had once lost in his memories, Vita.

Two years ago...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1UDy3_ZfGM

Lance didn't know how long he'd drifted... When he awoke, he was greeted by the voice of Chaos, the gravelly tone of the deity's voice was the only sound so deep into the Dark Depths.

"You're strong, Willright." Chaos applauded the young man.

Lance glared at the darkness, his golden eyes peircing the blackness with a fiery anger, "I want to see her again. Don't just compliment me, send me home." He glowered at the darkness.

"Ah, the path is arduous. But, I will guide you. Expect no shortcuts." Chaos chuckled as a red light appeared in the distance indicating a general direction.

Lance attempted to summon his keyblade but got Chaos' sword instead, "Tch, so I'm still a monster." He looked in the gleam of the sword examining his horns and fangs. He swung the sword on a practice swing and went on his way.

Behind the young man, a figure in the rags of a white cloak followed. It was his old friend, Soren. "Why are you here, Lance?" The man muttered to himself as he followed after the demon.

Two months passed, and the two had yet to cross paths. Lance had made his way far enough out of the Depths that the darkness had begun to take physical form as powerful heartless and each day had become an unending battle. Aided by the rage of Chaos, Lance fought on trying to claw his way out of the darkness that he'd flung himself into. However,  the creatures of the abyss proved to much for the hero king and eventually he collapsed from exhaustion.

As his vision faded in front of him, he saw a flash of white and a strong voice that reassured him with the words, "Don't worry, buddy. I'll handle this shift."

When Lance awoke, Soren was tending a small fire in a small rings of black stones, "Heh, looks who's finally up."

Lance smiled for the first time since he'd given away his light, "Soren?"

The young man laughed, "In the flesh. Did you know some Gummis burn just like fire wood?" 

Lance shook his head, he jumped to his feet embracing his friend then quickly letting him go, "I thought you were dead... And you left me Dante..." His smile was bright.

"How was he? Before you came here?" Soren asked concerned. 

"He's doing well. Alice looks after him in the Secret Place. He's training his powers. Getting to be quite the spitfire... And he befriended this little ghost girl. Maya's the only other one of us who can see her but I believe them."

Soren smiled tenderly, "So, how'd you end up here? And do you have a plan for getting out?"

Lance nodded, "Yeah." His face returning to the same grim determination that it had held for two months.

"I gave away my light to destroy X-Sigma... It was the only way... And I plan on following that." He pointed at Chaos' star in the distance until I reach the Dark Meridian. From there, I should be able to contact Rexial... If he's still alive and kicking which I'm sure he is. He should be able to open a door back... Or at least help me make my door wider." Lance explained.

"Seems pretty solid." Soren responded, "Let's head out." He put out the fire and stood up as Lance did the same.

Lance summoned Chaos' Blade and gestured in the direction of the red light, "Alright, that's our path."

And thus, the two friends fought side by side traveling further out of the Dark Depths.

The duo had finally reached the entrance to the Dark Depths, just beyond the glimmer of the moon of the Dark Meridian could be seen. The shoreline of the realm was still out of sight but the sight of the moon instilled the heroes with a new hope. It had been two years of arduous combat and survival but they were almost there.

"Well, looks like we made it." Soren smiled at the glimmer of the moon.

"I wouldn't count on it yet..." Lance summoned Nyx Eterna. As time passed, Chaos' grip on the young man had faded. His horns had disappeared entirely and his fangs were just slightly enlarged canines. And most importantly to him, his keyblades had returned to him. He was still however unable to use his light magic even though Asphodel and his twilight magic had returned.

Soren noticed the red eyes in the darkness just as Lance said something and summoned his blade as well. It was a Hunter of the Dark, they fought the creature before and hadn't succeeded in killing it. This time it seemed as if it was blocking the path between the pair and the Dark Meridian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUyHNwO56zE

"Looks like its us or him." Soren remarked.

"Well, we don't bow to any goddamned heartless." Lance smirked, Asphodel appearing in his opposite hand.

"Honor the dead!"
"And fight like hell for the living!" The pair shouted the battle cry they'd used countless times as they charged at the bestial heartless.

[Dual Power Surge!]
[Caution: Power levels critical!]
[Soren: Crusading Fate of the Crystals Lv. 5]
[Lance: The King Of Chaos Lv. 5]

"Let's end this! Together!" The two called in unison.

[Sync Rate: 300%!]
[Union Attack Activated!]
[Launching Union Attack: Unlimited Session!]

Lance and Soren glowed with a combined power that made the Hunter cringe in fear as they charged. Soren being the faster one of the pair got there first and struck the Hunter downwards generating a tower of hellfire that launched the beast upwards.

"Lance!"

The Hunter met Lance's punishing strikes as his blades unleashed a crystalline fury slicing at the beast multiple times, "Fall!"

Lance encased the beast in crystal and sent it rocketing back to earth with a powerful downward slash, "Soren!"

"My turn!" Soren's blade was coated in hellfire as he dashed forward catching the beast's neck with a diamond sharp edge as it fell.

"Crystal Rain!"
"Hellfire Storm!"

Lance, from his position in the air, rained thousands of jagged crystal shards from the air creating a spectacular glow with the massive bonfire that Soren had generated below.

The Hunter bellowed out in pain, collapsed and disintegrated as the two returned to their original states and dismissed their weapons.

The two young men smiled wordlessly at eachother and continued towards the shore of the Dark Meridian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nu3XFvzag0

Soren and Lance stood on the shoreline. After a moment, Soren spoke up, "So, what now?"

Lance took a balanced stance, "I'll try to open a portal. When I do..." He tossed Aleri's Charm to Soren, "Throw it through. We'll only have one shot like this."

Lance began to concentrate and slowly a portal began to open. With a swift toss, Soren launched the charm deep into the portal. As soon as it passed the portal's maw, the gate closed as Lance breathed a heavy sigh from the exertion.

"What did that do?" Soren looked confused.

Lance sat down on the shore line with a small smile, "That was our message to the other side... Now, we wait."

Soren sat down shaking his head, "We traveled all the way here so I could throw a charm through a dark corridor?"

Lance nodded calmly, "Yep."

----------------------

Aleri's Charm sat on the ledge of Station Tower as if calmly awaiting the arrival of a guest as the sun slowly started to set.

A young woman slowly approached it. She wiped away a tear as she picked it up and sat down to watch the sunset as had been her ritual every day for nearly two years. In fact, tomorrow would make it two years exactly. Smiling happily at the sunset, she watched the fiery orb sink below the horizon.

"You're finally coming home."

-------The Next Day/Present Day-----------------

Maya jumped out from Aleri's shadow smiling for once in what seemed a long time, "It's Sally's and Zane's big day, right, Al?" The young girl tilted her head curiously. Dressed in a beautiful purple satin dress and her hair held back in a long, royal braid, the young woman was dressed to impress.

"Yeah, today's the day." Thalia walked up to meet the group. For once in two years, the young woman had a genuine smile on her face and she wore a long, elegant red gown. Her hair lay long and straight as always and was still blond from its bleaching thanks to Lance. Her eyes glimmered electric blue with a happy light they hadn't held in years, "Aleri, after the ceremony, do you think you could help me find Rexial? It's important." She said bubbly as she straightened one of Maya's sleeves that had no doubt been messed up by the illsionist's tendency to shift and bounce.

Aleri smiled nervously. "Eh, aheheh, finding him NOW is a bit important. He's made off with some firestarting items, and I think VIta managed to coerce him into causing Xeromus some consternation."

"It's really strange, wearing a suit like this. I mean, normally, we all just wear our uniforms to formal events. It's a bit restricting..." The young man shrugged. "Ah, well. Don't worry, I'll help you locate Rexial afterwards. I doubt he was planning on going anywhere."

"AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!"

That sound... That was Rexial. Whatever he was laughing about, it probably wasn't good... "Crap, too late!" Aleri lamented. "Now we're both going to get some kind of punishment, like being sent on low-grade missions for a month... And you KNOW I'll get roped into it somehow. Ugh..."

Trying to banish his worries, he shook his head. "Ah, well. I can't think too negatively about... hm? Why are you...?" He seemed to have noticed her smile, and almost instinctively dove into her thoughts before stopping himself. "...Never mind. Hey, Maya, how do you feel about formal attire? I may be a bit uncomfortable, but you must be outright antsy about it."

The sound of laughter didn't stop, for some reason. It sounded less violent, and more crazy, to be honest, with each passing second.

Vita came into the room, wearing a dress of her own, this one a deeper red than Thalia's, but was more plain in terms of design. "Er, Al? Rex won't stop laughing. He just kinda... snapped. He still hasn't calmed down enough to tell me what's so funny! What do you think is wrong with him?"

Aleri blinked in surprise. "Hm? I thought he had started burning things, and was just being a crazy pyromaniac, to make up for the lack of Nathan being here. You mean he just stopped what he was doing to laugh?"

"Yeah. I'd be more freaked out, but I dunno... Oh, hey Thalia, Maya!" The girl from Twilight Town gave a small curtsie to the other two ladies. "Well, Rex's laughing fit aside, are we all set to go?"