Visitors

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KAI: It had been a month, since I joined the Recruits. I’ve been at hard work training to improve myself. But I still have a long way to go. Just as I’ve grown accustom to my group, Radiant Garden receives visitors from the outside world. Both welcome....and unwelcome.

===

Kai’s time in the Recruits was going smoothly. He was on good terms with most of the team. The supervisor, Laguna, was a decent man, although he sometime he overdid it with is talk about love, friendship, brothers-in-arms, which annoyed most of the gang, especially Squall. Kai wondered how he became the supervisor, but didn’t disagree with his beliefs. Cloud was someone Kai could relate to, both lacking in social skills. Squall was difficult to get along with, always being blunt and skeptical with others. Bartz, Tifa and Zidane have been pushing the quiet ones, Kai included, to join the friendly banter. Kai’s social skills have improved, if only a tiny bit.

The member Kai seemed to be on the best terms with was Lightning. While she’s just as blunt as Squall most of the time, she seemed to have a lot of respect for Kai ever since his first match with Ryu. She was Kai’s sparring partner the most often, and she would give him tips on how to improve from time to time.

The only member Kai didn’t like was Ryu. The two of them have had a bitter rivalry going on. Kai didn’t like the way the jerk always looked at him as if he stole something from him. Ryu would always look for an excuse to badmouth the kid, trying to bring him down. But Kai always stayed quiet, suppressing his urge to beat him into a bloody pulp. Thankfully, Ryu’s attempts at breaking Kai didn’t go unnoticed by the others, who spoke up for the little guy.

A month had passed since the new members joined. The group was in the East Outer Gardens, taking a short break from their exercises. But, Squall spots a suspicious  person. “Hey, who’s that?” he asked pointing to the figure.

Everybody turns to look at the figure, who wore a red and black jumpsuit and a helmet made of dark glass, hiding its face. Judging from the size, the person looked no older than most of the Recruit. The figure look up at the at the walls of the city.

“I have no idea,” said Laguna. “Gloomy looking fellow, isn’t he?” Then he decided to approach the figure. “Excuse me sir. Would you mind stating your business?”

Their was a brief moment of silence. “A pure light resides in this city,” he said, his voice confirming him to be a sinister sounding male teen. “I think I’ll go check it out.” He starts to walk towards the gate, but then was grabbed by the arm by Laguna.

“Hey, wait just a second...” Laguna started to say but was cut off by a sudden invisible force blasting him away.

Seeing this, Ryu charge toward with both of his scimitars. “Hey! outsider! You have no business attacking us! Get lost!” He leapt toward the masked boy, raising his swords to attack.

Suddenly, in a shaft of dark flames, an odd-looking red and black weapon that looked somewhat like a key, though some of its design looked like it was made up of gears. The masked boy blocked Ryu attack with little effort. “You’re out of your league,” he said as he flung Ryu far away onto the ground.

Kai immediately dashed toward the dark figure with his katana. But then a fiery energy began to channel through the opponent’s weapon until it reached the tip. The figure then pointed his weapon at the Kai and a large fireball burst out of its tip. Kai skid to a halt as the burning sphere split into multiple smaller fireballs and scattered. One hit the ground in front of Kai, knocking him back, while others zipped past him to the rest of the Recruits, who either blocked or dodged the flames.

“You’re not worth my time,” the masked boy said. Then a dark aura surrounded him and dark blue creatures with blood red eye began to appearing all around them. Some were small and looked shadowy, some looked more humanoid with claws, and some were big and fat. The masked boy then dove into the ground, turning into a dark shadow and zipped into the town.

Laguna got out his machine gun and began firing a flurry of lasers. “Everyone! Battle stations!” he shouted. Everyone was fight the strange creatures. Squall, Cloud, and Ryu were slicing away at the clawed ones. Zidane, Bartz, and Tifa were taking out the shadowy ones. Lightning joined Laguna on the laser shooting, primarily aiming for the big ones.

Kai on the other hand was more focused on dashing through the enemies rather than actually fighting them. Sure, he slice through every one that got in front of him, but he was more concerned about get inside the town where the dark figure entered.

Laguna noticed what was doing and shouted, “Hey! Where are you going?! Come back!” But it fell on deaf ears.

WIth all the monsters and that dark figure, Kai had only one thing in mind. Kairi, I gotta make sure she’s safe. Please be alright!

===

Little Kairi was skipping around one of the gardens inside the town. Sudden a giant thing came out of nowhere and flew passed her, starling her and causing her to fall into the grass.

“Stop!” she heard someone shout. She turned to look and saw a teenaged boy with blond spiky hair, wore black and white and a left shoulder guard. Noticing Kairi, the boy skid to a halt and helped her up. “You okay, kid?” he asked. Kairi just stared and gave him a nod. “Good. Sorry, cant talk! I gotta catch that thing!” he said quickly as he bolted after that strange creature.

Kairi just tilted her head in confusion. But then she shrugged it off as just continued skipping around the garden. She spotted some lovely flowers and decided to pick them. After getting a few in a bundle, she suddenly felt an erie presence behind her. Hesitant, she turned to look and saw a dark blue creature with blood-red eyes. Kairi screamed in fright and ran away with the creature in pursuit.

The scared girl ran and ran until she found herself at the castle’s Front Doors. She bumped into something that seemed to have come out of nowhere and fell on her bum. She looked up and saw a figure in a red and black jumpsuit and a dark glass helmet. Kairi felt an ominous air about him. She couldn’t fathom what it was, but she felt cold and like she was suffocating. This person; just his mere presence terrified the poor girl.

“So,” the masked boy said, “You’re one of the seven pure lights, huh? I never thought I find one in such a small fragile child.” Kairi had no idea what he was talking about, but she was too frightened to care. Then more of those blue monsters appeared behind him. Kairi quickly got up and ran away while the creatures gave chase. The masked boy then sensed something approaching and disappeared into darkness.

As Kairi ran, she could of sworn she her someone shout, “Run!” She then found herself up against a wall. She looked back and as one of the creatures leapt up toward her, she ducked her head causing the monster to hit the wall. The girl then spotted someone approaching, someone she for some reason felt a lot safer than the masked boy. Drawn to the person she quickly ran through an opening in the hoard of creatures until she was behind the person.

Kairi got a good look at the person, who turned out to be a young woman with blue hair, blue eyes, wore a black skintight outfit with large white sleeves and long white sashes around her waist. She carried an odd-looking blue weapon that look kinda like a key. Still scared for her life, she grabbed onto the handle of the woman’s weapon for a brief moment, feeling a slight jolt in her hand and a tingle going through her arm before letting go.

Then one of the monsters leapt up to attack, only to be intercepted and destroyed by mouse. A mouse almost as tall as Kairi had big round ears, wore black, and carried a similar looking weapon as the woman. “Hurry!” shouted the mouse. “You gotta get that girl to someplace that is safe!”

“Who are you?” asked the woman. “Why do you have a Keyblade?”

“I’ll tell you later! Right now we gotta stop these things!”

Kairi was startled when she suddenly felt an arm wrap around her waist and picked her up. The woman carried the girl down the stairs away from the monster. When they reach the bottom the woman gently set her down on her feet. She then place her hand on Kairi’s shoulder and asked, “Are you okay?”

Kairi looked at her savior in the eyes. The woman was so beautiful and her eyes were so gentle. The girl felt a very warm comforting, relieving her from the cold terror she felt earlier.  “Uh, I think so,” she finally said.

The woman smiled and said, “Good.” She then turned back to the stairs. “Stay here. I’ll be right back.” She rushed back up the stairs.

Kairi couldn’t get that warmth out of her mind. She felt drawn to that blue-haired woman. Curiosity getting the better of her, she ran back up the stair. She got high enough to see but low enough to stay hidden. She watched as the woman and the mouse took down the monsters one by one. She was in awe at the battle. The way they struck them with their ‘Keyblades’(as the woman called them), casting magic to burn, freeze and zap them, even when they did a teamed up by blasting them with sparkles while spinning around. It was the most wondrous sight she had ever seen.

Soon, all the monster were defeated. Feeling safe, Kairi ran up the two of them. The mouse looked at her. “You alright?” The girl nodded. The mouse smiled at her turned toward the woman.

The woman kneeled down and said, “Thank you. My name is Aqua. I train under Master Eraqus.”

“And I’m Mickey,” said the mouse. “I used to be Yen Sid’s apprentice. I came back to him for some more training.”

Aqua nodded and looked at Kairi. “I sense light within this girl. You think that’s why they attacked her?”

“Yup,” Mickey answered. “I think you might be absolutely right. If you ask me, she must be something pretty extraordinary.”

Kairi wasn’t sure what they were talking about, but she was flattered.

“Yes,” said Aqua. “I’m quite certain she’s someone we’re supposed to protect.”

“Let’s join forces,” said Mickey. But then something on him started glowing brightly. “Oh! Not Now!” The mouse then became engulfed in the light, startling both Aqua and Kairi. “Don’t worry about me! I’ll be okay!” The light shot up, zigzagging into the sky. “See you real soon!”

Both females were stunned at the sight as Mickey left. Kairi then looked at Aqua, she wanted to show her appreciation, and tried to think of how. She looked at the flowers that were still in her hand. She smiled and held them toward her savior and said, “Here!”

Aqua snapped out of her stupor and looked at the girl and her flowers. She smiled sweetly and asked, “Are these for me?”

Kairi nodded. “I picked you some flowers. Thank you for saving me!”

Aqua took the flowers from her hand. “Aw! There lovely! You’re so sweet!”

“My name’s Kairi. Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too. I’m Aqua.”

“That was so awesome!.” The little girl said jumping up and down. “The way you two beat all those monsters. You’re really amazing, Aqua!”

Aqua blushed at the compliment. “Th-thank you.”

“I wonder if my big brother will become as awesome as you.” Kairi then blushed. “I wonder if......I could be that amazing.”

Aqua giggled as she patted the little girl’s head, making her smile sweetly. “Kairi, about that light-” but she as cut off by an elderly voice calling.

“Kairi!” They look to find it was Grandma Elise.

“Oh, Grandma!” shouted Kairi.

“Wait, Kairi.” said Aqua, turning the girls attention back to her. “Just a minute.” Aqua then place two fingers on the necklace around Kairi’s neck and a glowed a little. Kairi was a bit confused. Then Aqua said, “I just casted a magic spell on you. One day when you’re in trouble, the light within you will lead you to the light of another. Someone to keep you safe.”

Kairi smiled and said, “Thanks!” She then ran over her grandmother.

“There you are,” said Grandma Elise. “It’s time to go.”

“Kay!” the girl said. “Oh!” She turned around and waved at Aqua. “Bye!” Aqua waved back and Kairi grabbed her grandma’s hand as they walked away.

“Who is that my dear?” asked Grandma.

“That’s Aqua.” Kairi answered. “She just saved me from a bunch of monsters. You should’ve seen her. She was amazing!”

“Really?” Elise looked back at the woman. Something tells they didn’t run into each other by accident, she thought.

“Hey, Grandma?”

“Hm? What is it?”

“Can you tell me that story?”

Elise chuckled. “Again dear?” Indeed, that story was one Kairi loved so much that she never got tired of hearing it.

“Please?” Kairi made such a cute begging face that Elise couldn’t refuse.

Grandma chuckled. “Very well then.”

Kairi giggled as she listened intently.

Grandma Elise began the story. “Long ago, people lived in peace, bathed in the warmth of light. Everyone loved the light. Then, people began to fight over it. That wanted to keep it for themselves, and darkness was born in there hearts. The darkness spread, swallowing the light and many people's hearts. It cover everything and the world disappeared. But, small fragments of light survived in the hearts of children.” Kairi was flattered at that part. “With these fragments of light, children rebuilt the lost world. It's the world we live in now. But the true light sleeps deep within the darkness. That's why the worlds are still scattered; divided from each other. But someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open, and the true light will return. So listen, child. Even in the deepest darkness, there will always be a light to guide you. Believe in the light, and the darkness will never defeat you. Your heart will shine with its power and push the darkness away.”

Behind them, Aqua had listen in on the story as she watched them leave. “Kairi,” she said to herself as she looked at the flowers. “Something tells me I didn’t run into her by accident.”

===

KAIRI: That was the day I met the most wonderful person ever. Aqua. I’ll never be able to thank her enough for saving my life. I hope I’ll be able to meet her again someday. Someday,....I want to be just like her.