The Chasers: The Key to Memories Past

[Reno]

Tensai hummed as he ran a brush through Moxley's fur, slowly combing out all the loose hairs, coating the bristles in red and green strands. He glanced up hearing his friend's words and shook his head. "Come on Xel, I don't think Sammy is trying to take us down or anything. He just happens to like Luci since she's nice to him."

There was a pause, his friend rising another point but the other slowly shook his head. "Roxel... first of all, Samual's name isn't one he chose - maybe it isn't even his REAL name. It's just what I read on that piece of paper. And even if it is his name, it doesn't matter because you know what? Our parents give us our names for whatever reason."

There was a pause then, "Secondly, I mean it's not that unnatural to talk to the dead is it? I mean we do it when we talk to people's graves - that's a little odd. And Samual isn't human... maybe that's a power his race has... to keep in touch with people who have passed on. It doesn't necessarily mean he's a bad person." he smiled. "And thirdly, I trust my heart. And it tells me that Sammy is a good guy. So I believe it."


Luci sighed as she started taking off her clothes, the colder temperature of the bathroom bothering her more than it would outside in her own room. "Damn don't be a coward." She mumbled to herself.

But how could she not? After that day when she heard Sammy's 'voice' she had started to notice things... things she hadn't before when she had been blinded by the idea that Sammy was just a kid to her.

Like how handsome his face had become. How strong his shoulders seemed. How his smile, though rare, made his teeth gleam and his eyes shine. And how his eyes never seemed to be OFF her. Every time she looked over her shoulder there he was... looking at her.

That was why she started dressing in the bathroom. It made her nervous and self-conscious and shy. It made her start cursing things about herself that before never bothered her when she was certain no one was looking. The color and greasiness of her hair, the scars on her body, the size of her breasts and hips... she worried about how she smelled and was started to try and was herself more regularly - no longer did she want to hold off showering for a few days because a mission was in the way or she didn't feel up to it.

God it had only been a few days - but already she was trying to change everything about herself! She needed, so badly, to talk to her mom...and for once in her life she realized just a little the frustration Namine and Bonnie must feel on a daily basis, so far from their homes and parents. She sighed slowly, checking herself in the mirror than shaking her head. She was just in ehr night clothes! Nothing sexy about that.

She stepped out of the bathroom, her eyes straying to the carpet as she walked for her bed.


Kadaj blinked as the other talked back to him - finally. But it was not words of reason just more of emotion. He looked away, understanding that Gunnar wanted him to leave him alone. "Fine." He said simply. "Do as you will. Since it pleases you, it will be no interest of mine any longer."

[Rikugurl]

Roxel tilted his head and sighed but slowly smiled. Tensai was always good when it came to his heart and it hadn't failed them once. Though... he didn't know that Tensai was actually lying as well. Tensai trusted his heart maybe but that didn't mean that he always followed it. Like...being a part of Roxel's dream.

He laid down on his bed, getting under the covers. "I hope you're right, Ten-chan." He stared out at nothing before grinning, throwing a pillow at his friend. "I wonder what Vanille will say about your detour though~~~"


Purple eyes slowly glanced through blonde hair as the woman stepped out and quickly walked to her bed, getting in and turning off her own lamp, bringing them both into darkness.
Sammy swallowed, wishing he could speak. He would give anything to speak to her right now. To ask her what was wrong... to ask her if it was his fault... to ask her...anything.

But if she didn't look at him... he could ask her nothing.

He closed his eyes before slowly turning away from the blonde woman, curling up under his blanket.


Gunnar just stared at the silverette after his reply before frowning and looking away, quickly getting undressed and dressed in sleeping wear before getting under the covers.

He felt the other do the same and the lights dimmed, making mako eyes look out at nothing.
This couldn't keep up. Unfortunately Terra and Ven never showed a good way to vent out anger in a healthy way...though he had no idea what they did behind closed doors. Even if they yelled and hollered and screamed, threw punches and made blood splatters... there was always a....sense of love between them. A love that was stronger than any punch or word could be.

He was going to have to talk to Kadaj... and he knew the other knew better than to ask if Gunnar was pregnant when he announced that they needed to talk.

[Reno]

Tensai blinked then yelped as a pillow was thrown at him. "Hey!" He laughed grabbing the fluffy feather filled thing and throwing it right back. "She'll understand!"

He was going to have to come up with one hell of an elaborate lie.

Sometimes... it really sucked being a Chaser.


Lucina sighed as the darkness fell around them, turning in her bed to stare at the wall - not like it would have mattered much. She could still see the glow faintly washing over the room - lightening the dark until it slowly blinked out. Made her wonder what Kadaj and Gunnar's room looked like in the dark. Why did his eyes glow?

She really needed to talk to her mother and soon.

Sometimes... it really sucked being on this ship.


Kadaj, like Gunnar, childishly did not meet the other's eyes and did not speak any longer. If this was how the brunette wished to act, he could so as well - even if his truly was only a cheap imitation. He was truly sick of this 'mad' emotion. But when they were so close, it helped little.

They really needed some space.

Sometimes... it was really unfortunate sharing a room.


"There it is." Lucina said, as the ship slowed near the orbit of a very small, almost minuscule sized planet. Nearby, but far enough away the two ships did not endanger one another in the vacuum of space, was another larger ship. Despite it's large size it was always, ALWAYS ahead of the smaller. "Dad must drive like a fucking madman." She mumbled.

"I heard that!"
"AH!" Lucina jumped falling back into her seat as a scarred face popped up in the corner of the screen, smirking. He laughed finding this amusing. "Don't do that!!"
"But princess I'm a fucking madman I can do whatever I want."
She blushed, ashamed. "I uh... sorry dad."
He chuckled again. "I actually come with orders. Aqua says the world is too small for us all to go down."
Lucina frowned. She had been afraid of that. She remembered the world well - it HAD been rather tiny. They had barely all fit on it, and she and Gunnar had been kids then! "Alright... so, how many?"
"Half." Seifer said. "And make sure Sammy is one of them."

She nodded again, disregarding the groans of disappointment behind her (Tensai, Namine and Roxel). So four. "Got it."
"See you down there princess." He chuckled before the screen went black. She sighed and stood, collecting three communicators before standing and turning around. She placed one in her own ear, glancing over her team who had, for some reason, all collected into the pilot lounge. Well, except for Kadaj, she was unsure where he had gone. But everyone else looked rather excited about seeing this world that she and Gunnar were unable to explain but said over and over was more beautiful than anything they had ever seen before.

"Alright well, you heard him." Lucina said, nodding to Sammy before averting her eyes blushing. There was no point giving him a communicator of course, since he was able to talk into it. She glanced over the rest of the team, before wordlessly handing one to Gunnar. He had been in a bad mood lately - hopefully seeing this world again would perk him up son.

Namine groaned again seeming to pout and huff despite being the eldest.

Because of course the last one had to be a keyblader. They had to have someone help them down there. She glanced at Roxel and Tensai, seeing the multicolored eyed boy shaking his butt and practically bouncing on his toes in excitement, hoping to be picked. She rolled her eyes - she wanted Gunnar to be happy. Taking the over-excitable kid known as Roxel would counter-productive. "Ten." She threw the last one, the black-haired boy catching it. Roxel started to whine and she waved him off. "Live with it." She snapped. "Let's go."

Tensai hesitated, looking at his friend sadly. Roxel had wanted to go down more than him... He shrugged, "Sorry," before walking over to the other three. He placed the communicator into his ear and then a keyblade appeared in his hand. The golden handle of the blade was like the circle face of a clock, roman numerals etched in from one to twelve. The long side of the blade was silver, with the prongs looking like that of mechanical wheels in clock towers. The keychain of the blade tinkled at the end, a little hourglass with moving sand within.
Faber Horologia.

With ease he slashed open a portal a dark rip yawning open and in moments the four stepped through and were swallowed up, the rip closing behind them.


It was so... quiet. Not the sort of quietness that was disturbing or worrisome. No this was the quietness of solitude and tranquility. Of knowing you are alone and not in danger. Tensai blinked as the coolness of the darkness faded, and his eyes widened. "Oh... oh wow!"
Roxel was missing THIS?!

It was stunning. Lights like fireflies or fairies was dancing by, shiny crystals and glistening rocks spread around, gnarly trees twisting up almost grotesquely but showing a beauty of nature that was stunning. The sky was the most beautiful of all, catching Tensai's eyes and making his mouth drop open. It was like looking up at a galaxy...

[Rikugurl]

"OH MAN! OH MAN! COME ON, LUCI! PICK ME!" Roxel bounced up and down, his hair following with as a huge smile ran over his face. "I could so take pictures and..and use it in our photoshoot! It'll be so cool! Come oooooooooooooon!"

"Ten."

"WHAT!? YOU DID THAT ON PURPOSE!" The teen stomp his foot and glared at his leader before she waved her hand. He growled, crossing his arms and looking away. They never let him do anything... Gunnar looked rather happy though. Maybe this was why siblings shouldn't work together! She didn't pick him because he and her brother didn't see eye to eye.

He watched the group leave, frowning even more. "This is fucked up..."
"Oi, stop your yappin. You don't even wanna be a Chaser anyway, nancy boy." Bonnie frowned at the teen before walking off down the hallway. She wondered where Kadaj might be...

"It doesn't have to be Chaser related to enjoy a planet!" He barked back before hitting Luci's chair, making it spin across the room.


Down below, purple eyes glowed in the forever nighttime of the world. It reminded him of a planet near their vacation world; Costa del Sol. It was a forest that glowed in the dark. However, he could feel that Aqua was right. This place really did have a connection to the after life... somehow.

He looked over, seeing Gunnar look around. He had been on this planet before and seemed to be headed in a direction that the rest followed. It was through a small path that led down a small hill, winding around a large rock full of crystals until they saw a clearing that was more breath taking than the forest itself.

A pond with a tree in the middle with a large crescent moon and galaxy reflecting in it's waters.

Little did any of them know about the first time Chasers had come here, a panic leader running down this hill thinking that he had lost his love of his life. Slowly the Chasers made their way down to the pond. Like Ventus, some where wary about going in.... even if they had watched their late leaders go in hip deep for their ritual.

Mako eyes looked back, looking right into purple. "This is the healing pond." Gunnar informed the younger, seeing Sammy slowly walk up to it.

The blonde looked down at the water before slowly kneeling down. This water would be perfect. He slowly placed his hands together before a purple flame encased them. Everyone noted and stopped looking around as they saw the glow of the purple flames, watching Sammy pull his hands apart before gently placing them on top of the water.

Like fire to oil, the whole pond started to catch on fire, the purple blaze making the world darker than it truly was and ceased the glowing light from rising around them. Ancient symbols started to flash and disappear as everything became hauntingly illuminated. Suddenly, a spark shot up and formed the outline of what looked to be a....keyhole.

[Reno]

Tensai didn't move until he felt a push on his back. He blinked, stumbling forward some, noticing Lucina walking past him. He shook his head, stumbling after the other three, but his eyes continued to stray to his surroundings.

That was why he didn't notice a root in his path, and yelped aloud as his foot caught in it and he tripped. His hands whirled around like he was pretending to be an airplane - but he didn't go flying away instead he fell flat on his face. "Ow!"

He groaned, rubbing his nose. It was true, you should never let your eyes stray off your path. He looked up, noticing that Gunnar and Sammy had disregarded his fall, but Lucina was looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

Tensai laughed nervously, getting to her feet and running after, ducking his head low. He rubbed at his face, trying to take out the sting. How did Roxel survive, being that clumsy ALL the time? He wished he was here... at least Xel would either just laugh at him and help him back up or actually be dumb enough to trip himself and both try and make it look MORE ridiculous and more showy.

He looked up though when he heard Lucina catch her breath... and his own eyes widened when he caught sight of the silent pond. Well, actually it was more of a lake - it was much too big to be a pond. It glittered and reflecting the sky above, appearing like the galaxy itself was held within. To swim it it would be like being swallowed by stars and moon, to be one with the universe.

He was so struck by the appearance of the pond he didn't even notice his mother and Seifer already standing beside the water, waiting patiently for them. Lucina did however, and hurriedly went to her dad's side for a quick hello.

His eyes fell to Sammy though when he noticed the purple flame and his eyes widened some. What was he-?
Even though he knew the flame was harmless, he still tried to reach out and stop the blond from putting the fire onto the lake. Like he had been at the cemetery he wasn't quick enough and already the flame took over the entire area... including the beautiful old tree in the middle.

The spark made him jump though and a golden illumination of a keyhole came into sight, before the flames jumped and caught fire and like a circus ring the keyhole was outlined in a purple blaze. At the sight of it though, two keyblades appeared in a shimmer of light. One in Tensai's hand, the other in Aqua's.

Aqua looked down at her blade curiously, before looking at her son who was also very mesmerized. Neither of them had expected the appearance of the keyhole... The blue-haired woman raised her blade not entirely of her own will, the tip simmering before a light shot out and hit the keyhole. The flames dispersed as if doused by water and the golden outline glowed brilliantly.

[Rikugurl]

Gunnar stepped back, his arm wrapping around his sister in protection as the stream from Aqua's keyblade hit the keyhole, seeing it shine brightly.
It didn't seem like it was going to open so easily.
That was when another stream shot out, this time from Tensai's blade.

There was a loud click and the light from the keyhole grew and grew, engulfing them until they all had to hide their eyes not to be blinded.

When he brightness faded, the group slowly looked and opened their eyes, seeing that the world had gone back to the way it was before Sammy called upon his power. The only difference was....

"W-whoa..." Gunnar's eyes widened as he looked at a large... bird of some sort. It seemed like it was made up of water and crystals... though, maybe it was, and it kept itself in the air by flapping it's large wings slowly. Crystals fell into the water as the faceless bird seemed to look down at them.

"Aqua Umi of Dragoon, Seifer Almasy of Twilight Town, Lucina Almasy; first born of The Chasers, Gunnar Almasy; second born of The Chasers, Prince Samael of Thymosia and Tensai Tellus; keyblader of Time.... you have summoned me. I know all truths and all answers of questions. Please, ask me what you wish but I cannot answer all your questions. Some questions are never meant to be asked."

The blonde boy's eyes widened when he heard the voice in his head... but widened even more when he heard....prince....?

[Reno]

Tensai yelped somewhat in surprise as his own keyblade yanked up beyond his will, the tip glowing as well. What? Wait! Aqua already took care of it, why was his responding? He started to panic as the light shimmered and shot out. What was going on? He didn't want to hurt the world!

His heart started to hammer in his chest, fearing somehow he had succumbed to darkness as well. It was a fate every keyblade one day faced and feared - but how had it happened to him when he had not even realized it? Was it because he didn't Roxel how he felt? Was it because of what happened at Christmas? Was it because of Vanille?! Women really were bad news!

Before his mind could get too carried away... light suddenly blinded him.

Aqua was surprised as well, but not because of uncertainty of fear. She was just confused on why this keyhole was so stubborn to open and close... it must of been a very vital world to be able to resist the light of one blader and actually need the aid of a second...

The only other lock that had that sort of strength that she was aware of... was Kingdom Hearts.

At the light she shut her eyes and ducked her head, and it was not until she heard a faint whisper in the trees and a slight breeze on her cheeks did she open her eyes, befuddled. There was no wind-

Her breath caught.

Seifer blinked away the spots in his eyes, hearing the soft rippling of water, the feeling of wind stirring his hair and clothes, and he looked up. His eyes widened some, seeing the brilliant bird. the phoenix that Ven had spoke of. It's body flowed like a stream, it's inner skeletal structure held together by ice and crystal. It's face was not very detailed, but enough that one could not mistake the beak of a bird.

He tensed as he heard the voice rolling in his head and beside him he heard his daughter squeak in surprise. the only ones who seemed slightly at ease were Aqua and Tensai. His eyes narrowed though, listening to the bird speak, being struck by it's request. Questions that shouldn't have answers...? But didn't all questions deserve an answer? What kind of questions couldn't they ask then?

The voice was soft, and confused but it broke into Seifer's thoughts. "Prince?" He glanced towards his daughter.

Her eyes were wide, looking towards Sammy in confusion and askance. But the other seemed just as surprised and befuddled as her and he could only shake his head, unable to really answer her.

[Rikugurl]

Purple eyes moved to a voice he knew so well. Lucina's. Her looked was shocked and a little confused but his own look mimicked hers. He was too young to remember many things of his childhood...and being a prince never crossed his mind.

He was never.... treated like a prince... but ti did explain something in which he had questioned when he thought back of him.

Not much else could be said before the large bird flapped its wings again and the voice returned loud and clear in their heads.

"I know which you ask and I shall give you the answer of this. Terra Tellus, the last of the Atterians, sacrificed himself to save those he loved. The Heartless known as Rant with his 'sister' known as Rave had helped put down his system in which Rant dominated. By doing this, Rant needed to erase all of Terra's memories. Without memories, you cannot remember who you are... and dying without memories will leave your soul no where to go."

It flapped it's wings once more before continuing.
"There is a domain in which these souls are contained and guarded but a keyhole had to be made to guard our world from its guardian. The keyhole received it's own guardian in which you have already helped dearly."

The wings flapped once more and the crystals that fell made a picture of a palace.
"On the oldest world in the universe, one guarded by many dragons, is a palace in the center of the world. This is where the largest dragon slumbers, guarding the keyhole to the domain which you seek. Once you are allowed to unlock it, you must go through trials of your own memories and find the single light of your past to give you the power to go on. Everyone who was ever connected to Terra personally must go through these trials to help his damned soul remember by the power of your memories."

Another flap made the picture crumbled back into crystals that sprinkled down onto the water. "But heed my warning. Some memories are meant to be forgotten and answers to ones past meant to be left a secret. If you venture too far through your memories, the Guardian of Secrets will be released... and the ancient world along with the whole universe might be in danger."

[Reno]

Everyone was so stunned - by revelations, by the world, by the water phoenix whispering words in their heads - that no one could really speak coherently or even remember why they had come here.

Luckily, the bird already knew. The question did not have to be asked, and soon it was speaking to them again, drawing eyes to the faceless creature.

Possession. Sacrifice. Loss. Memories... they had always been vital. Sora and Riku had proven these facts when they walked through Oblivion. How the mind could lie to the heart when memories were false, and slowly start collapsing under the weight of the ones that were lost. No wonder... Terra was lost.

Before they could ask what needed to be done, the bird told them once more. And Aqua's eyes widened, instantly recognizing the crystal structure in which the phoenix was portraying to them. She knew exactly which large beast resided within, her body large and powerful, her ability to bring the apocalypse formidable, and her wisdom far beyond the age of humans.

"Dragoon." She whispered. She had only ever been in that area once, to rechain the Divine Dragon to her shackles in which appeared to be for nothing but show. And she, too, had spoke to her of seeing the past.... but ominously that truth... came with a price. She shut her eyes, realizing what all this was beginning to mean. It was nothing they hadn't ever heard before - be careful not to tip the balance of the world. Don't meddle. Being stellar travelers, they knew just how fragile the heart of a world could be, or the condition of the society could turn, at just one act from a wayward keyblader.

They needed to be careful. "We will. Thank you." She told the bird.

[Rikugurl]

Gunnar swallowed as he watched the large bird started to form something with the crystals. Unlike Aqua or Seifer who had once been in the world of dragons and had saved all their lives. He did, however, know of one world that had dragons on it...and that weren't enemies either.
Aqua's homeland of Dragoon.

He remembered spending some Christmases at Aqua's brother's temple, listening to sitar Christmas music and watching Regole jump in the water, singing her own song.

What he didn't understand was...why was Terra's soul....there?
Why didn't anyone tell them about this place where lost souls went to? They didn't become Nobodies?
Did King Mickey even know about this place?
He was sure Yen Sid did....

He shook his head when he heard a whisper next to him and glanced at Aqua. She seemed to know the place... but the look on her face made it seem like this wasn't going to be easy.
FUCK! What was easy anymore? He couldn't even relax by having sex.
..............Did that bird just hear that thought?
Shit.
Great, now I look like a pervert to the all knowing bird.

His thoughts were blocked when he heard the voice in his head once more.

"If that is all the questions you seek to ask, then you are welcome. But remember, the light of your memory's past brought together is the key. Don't look too hard for it or you will overlook it. You will know where the light is and when you see it, reach out and take it. Once you have found your light, don't go any further into your memories. There will always be an evil eye watching you and they are called memory trials for a reason."

Everyone swallowed before the bird flapped again before the ground started to shake.

"Quickly..."
"ROXEL!? WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" A girl cried as she tried to reach out and grab the fire head by the collar but it was too late. He was already through the portal.
"A foolish dusk with the heart of two loved ones has stepped on this world and it cannot support the power of his keyblade. Find him and leave quickly before this world is no more.

"Whoa..." Green and blue eyes widened as he looked around the enchanted forest but he couldn't gaze for long as everything started to shake around him and crystals started to crumble.

[Reno]

Seifer crossed his arms, quirking an eyebrow. He did not like the idea of spreading out his memories for anyone to dissect and devour - especially not those of his childhood. Even if it was for a friend, he did not believe in rehashing the past. It was over and done with - why remember it?

However he didn't have time to dwell on these facts before the voice was speaking again, ghosting into their minds like a spirit went through walls, barely a whisper of noise alerting to her intrudence. The bird again gave warned them from invading too far into their own memories.

Moments later... an earthquake began.
"Whoa!" Tensai wheeled his arms before grabbing onto his mom to steady himself. What was going on?!
Aqua's eyes narrowed, her arm curling around her son protectively. Did they... do something wrong?
"What the hell?" Seifer snapped looking around his a narrowed gaze.
Lucina yelped in surprise, stumbling away from the rippling water some so she didn't fall in.

And then the phoenix said something that should have surprised no one.
A dusk made of two hearts.
And...
A keyblade.

It all pointed to one person.

"ROXEL!!!"


Orders were shouted loudly, to one another as the six Chasers suddenly split in a hectic chaos. Aqua barked for Luci to get her damn team under control before she opened a portal and left with Seifer, hoping to relieve the world of feeling the strength of three Keyblades.

Lucina was in panic, calling for Gunnar who, seeing red, suddenly turned and raced into the forest. Tensai was only two steps behind him, having more trouble than the Mako-enhanced male in navigating himself on the trembling world. Having no choice, she grabbed onto Samual's hand and tugged him behind her, dashing after the others.

The world was small and it did not take long for them to find the colorful teen. It was a little hard to miss all that red - in fact Gunnar seemed to use it as a homing device, closing in on the teenage singer and grabbing him roughly, yelling some obscenities and growling and glaring so fiercely it seemed he was promising death. Tensai rushed next to him, demanding Gunnar to calm down bu the brunette only turned on him and told him to FUCKING get them off this world.

The younger flinched but his keyblade shimmered into existence quickly and he sliced open the portal. Roxel was thrown inside roughly by powerful arms before Gunnar stomped in after, the other three quickly running in behind.

And the world was absent once more of humans.


On the ship however, it seemed a new kind of earthquake was about to begin.

"Roxel, WHAT the hell?!" Lucina snapped before Gunnar could, infuriated as she let go of Sammy to instead turn on the red-blonde haired kid. She stomped over to him, and despite being shorter and slighter her presence seemed formidable and overbearing. She gripped him by his collar and shoved him into a wall. "How dare you fucking defy my orders! Do you REALIZE what you nearly did?!" The green-blue eyes were wide and flabbergasted. "Let me spell it out for you, you pathetic, selfish excuse for a keyblader! You nearly KILLED that world. Oh but that's right, you wanted to just go down there and having a FUCKING vacation! Doesn't matter what happens to the planet as long as YOU get what you want!"

She snarled and slapped him across the face. "If you ever... EVER endanger a world like that again Roxel I fucking swear it'll be YOUR funeral we're attending next. Do you UNDERSTAND ME?!"

[Rikugurl]

In an instant, Gunnar realized who the bird was talking about the same time everyone else did. Much like the man they wanted to save the soul for, he felt like he suddenly turned into a wolf. No...a tiger.
His mako eyes flashed before he whipped around and shot for the forest.

His speed matched no ones as his powers sent him over crumbling crystals and opening gashes in the land, as if he already knew it was going to happen before it did. His boots dug into the ground. He turned to look in the path, seeing that fucking asshole looking around with a keyblade in his hand.

"YOU FUCKER!" He screamed as he should out and grabbed Roxel by his long hair before the boy even had time to react.
"AAAAAAAAAHH!"
"SHUT THE FUCK UP! YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE! I'M GOING TO PERSONALLY KILL YOU!"
He heard Tensai behind him and only whipped around, pulling out some of Roxel's hairs as his mako eyes beamed down at the orange, his teeth showing as he growled. "GET US THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!

A portal was ripped open and the thin teen was shoved through by his hair.

Roxel scampered up on his feet as he felt the cold floor of the ship. "W-What's going on!?" Namine cried before Tensai and a very angry Gunnar and Lucina came in last before the portal closed up.
Maybe...this wasn't the best time to ask...
The woman quickly got out of the way as Lucina and Gunnar went after the boy like non forgiving predators after a weak bait, seeing them corner him in a corner.

"G-g-g-g-g-g-g-g-guys! PLEASE IAAACK!" Roxel choked as he was grabbed by the caller, some tears in his eyes.
Samael stepped back as well to stand close to Namine and Tensai as they watched their leaders.
When Roxel was asked the question, he had not a clue but his mouth wanted to talk. Only problem was...nothing was coming out. His panicked eyes looked at Gunnar who still looked like he was going to absolutely slaughter him and then over to Tensai... but no one was coming to his aid.

When he heard Lucina put him down, an inner fire boiled in his gut...and it wasn't one of those nice ones that he experienced with his hand. His own eyes narrowed, about to snap back at her when he was suddenly slapped across the face. His eyes went wide as his body went into shock. No one....ever slapped him before. His face twisted as tears ran down his cheek.
"Y-yes ma'am..." He whimpered and was let go... only for Gunnar to punch him in the gut, pushing his breath from his lungs as he collapsed.


That night, the ships hovered close together and a bridge was placed between them so either generation to visit the others. It was like when the Gen 2 was starting out and the two ships would do this more often. Ever since Gunnar and Lucina said that they needed to stop being babied, the all stopped.
This was a special case though. Both Gens needed to work together to come up with a plan.

But first, it was Aqua, Seifer and Roxas who had a private meeting before the larger one.

"D-dad... I....I just can't take it anymore....I....don't even want to be a keyblader....it's not fair! They all hate me too!"
Roxel cried as he sat on his fathers bed and cried, Jax nuzzling him to cheer him up.
Axel sighed as he rubbed his son's back. "Look, Roxel.... I know it's hard...and being a dumbass myself...I have to even admit that what you did was a really bad move..."

Pale fingers reached around, looking all throughout the library trying to find anything on the world Thymosia. Purple eyes seemed to sadden as nothing came up. Was it in a Connection in which they hadn't visited before...? He thought Terra's library had info on everything... so much for boasting...

As for Gunnar, he was still on his ship... but in a small room that was at the bottom. It was called the Cooling Corner in which Luci had sent him a few times. It was a cool room...with a punching bag....

Some frosting was licked from a spoon as a brunette woman put away the frosting. The kitchen was empty and quiet, very peaceful as they waited for their leaders to finish their meeting. The woman turned and smiled as she looked at her daughter who was sitting at the large table where the Chasers use to have their big dinners when they were still one group.

"So princess, what did you need to talk about?" She asked sweetly as she sat across from her daughter.

[Reno]

Tensai's eyes were wide as he watched his friend get yelled at - but he himself was too scared to approach the furious leaders and save his best friend from being ripped to pieces. He knew why he wasn't moving though it was hard to admit to his heart. Roxel deserved being yelled at... for what he just did.

He winced at the slap though and grit his teeth when Gunnar punched him as well. What were they - abusive parents?! "ENOUGH." He snapped and didn't flinch as the two leaders turned on him. He merely frowned. "You don't need to hit him."



Hours later, the tension everyone was feeling still had not calmed. No one knew where Kadaj was still and - strangely - no one had gone searching for him. It might of even been safe to say he wasn't even on the ship any longer.

That wasn't true of course. No Kadaj was in the exact opposite place that Gunnar was. He was on the top level of the ship in the weapons seat green eyes idly staring out into space while buttons blinked in and out of light around him. He was almost completely motionless as if he had died there - but his eyes were ponderous.

What could he be thinking of?

Meanwhile...
Roxas frowned as he looked down at the table, trying to think of how to answer Aqua's question. "I'm not certain of anything."
"Well that's fucking helpful."
"Shut up Sei!" Roxas growled. "It's just the memories I have of Sora were the ones of him LOSING important memories... after that he was asleep. Kairi's nobody Namine and DiZ are the only two who would be able to tell you what happens when you reintroduce memories to the heart and both of them are gone."
"So... we aren't sure what the ramifications will be for the ones who go through the trail."
"Not... completely. But I CAN tell you... it is a very troubling process... for the soul." The blonde murmured.
Aqua frowned but nodded.
"It doesn't matter. We have to do it." Seifer spoke in. "The bird thing said it was a trial we just gotta pass the fucking test."
"Yes, but it's not like high school where if you get an F it's NOT the end of the world." Aqua snapped, before sighing. "I just want... a better guarantee that doing this isn't going to cause a fucking catastrophe."
"Well that's why we have chickenwuss. He is Mr. Fucking-Great Keyblade Master" The scarred one jabbed his thumb at the other blond.
It wasn't that simple though. She looked between the two and sighed. "Roxas, if you go through the trail with us, do you think you'll be able to prevent us from putting ourselves in danger."
Blue eyes looked up into hers, serious. "You know the answer to that as well as I do Aqua."
The blue-haired woman sighed. She did.
....Fuck.

Tensai sighed as he sipped the hot chocolate, finding it hard to look his mother in the face as he sat down on his mothers' shared bed. "Mom I'm a terrible friend!" He glanced at Fuujin from the corner of his eye, his own troubled. "In my mind I know I... I should of stepped in and stopped them... but my heart tells me... that I was right not to. That he needed to learn this lesson. So now I'm... I'm all confused." His shoulders slumped. How did Sora DEAL with this and still keep his peace of mind?

"He's going to hate me..."

Lucina nervously looked around the dining room, nails drumming on the soft padding of her chair so as to go unnoticed. She shifted her legs, crossing them and uncrossing them as she tried to make herself comfortable in what was soon to be a very uncomfortable situation.

When her mom sat across from her, the butterflies in her stomach seemed to explode, and her cheeks darkened in embarrassment. "Well I um..." she looked at the table. "You... You promise you won't laugh? Or be horrified? OR tell daddy? OR Gunnar?" She looked at her mom and - once she got the confirmation and her mother's trust - and a pinky swear - she was ready.

"Well I've been... feeling all these weird feelings lately and..." God she sounded like was twelve! "Mom... I think I... I think I really... like Sammy."

[Rikugurl]

"DAD!" Roxel cried in defeat as his dad blinked in surprise. "YIP!" The moomba cried out, growing at Axel some.
"Alright, alright..." Axel sighed as he ran his hand through his thinning red hair. "Look Roxel... maybe it's just time to...you know... do what you want to do and quit being a Chaser."

Roxel frowned as he looked down at the ground. "You know I can't..."
"Why not?"
"BECAUSE I....can't... and what about Ten-chan! I knew he hates touring with me... but I can't....even imagine what I'd do without him or Moxley. And what about you and....dad?"

Axel sighed slightly as he leaned back on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. "Well....as parents.... we both know that our little baby will grow wings and fly off one day... we'll always be here for you Roxel. And Tensai... that's why you have a cellphone, right?"
The boy pouted and crossed his arms. "But then everyone is going to call me selfish.... and I can't RACE my cellphone, or give it pillow fights.... and tell it my deepest darkest secrets.... or joke around with it."

The two went silent before Roxel slowly got up. "It's hard dad.... I'm miserable doing what Ten-chan wants to do...and Ten-chan is miserable with what I want to do. And...Ten-chan is a lot more smarter than me... he shouldn't have to dumb down to my level to make me happy..."
"Hey, don't say you're dumb. You did get half of Roxas's heart too!" Axel joked but frowned when he saw the sad look still in his son's eyes.

Damnit...why couldn't he of just stayed a toddler!?
"Roxel.... Roxas and I created you so you could be happy... we don't like seeing you like this. Just because you're a keyblader doesn't mean you have to be a Chaser... and you didn't become a keyblader because you father is one. Keyblades choose their masters wisely, especially since you had an Awakening and didn't just pick one up. If you are really that unhappy about being a Keyblader than...hand your keyblade to your father...and he'll put it in the chamber. That way, you can be just a normal singer like you wanted to be. You have an amazing voice and just remember, not everyone can be a Chaser... if you don't have a passion for it....don't force yourself Roxel."


The sounds of heels hitting the steel stairs could be heard in the small room before bunny ears emerged from the floor, coming up and up until unnatural eyes looked over, seeing the silverette leaning back in his chair.
"So, there you are." A British accent came across the room before the woman pulled herself all the way up to the floor level.

"You sure are full of beans, ey? All right?" Her head tilted as he walked a bit closer, her eyes moving upwards to see the star as well.


Fujin crossed her arms as she looked at her adopted son, listen to him before silence ran across them. "Tensai..." She started as her red eyes moved to look at him. "If Roxel didn't get scolded, I can't imagine how he would be today. Beating up on the poor kid was way out of hand but I'm sure he definitely learned his lesson and will NEVER do something so foolish ever again."

She reached out and slowly started to run the other's back gently. "When I was growing up in Twilight Town... I wasn't the most nicest kid." She laughed when she saw Tensai look up at her in disbelief. "I was actually a part of a gang... Seifer's gang to be exact. I had a lot of emotion problems... because I was a puny orphan."
She never told Tensai that she had been an orphan as well.

"I got myself in a lot of horrible situations because I wanted to back up my adopted brother and Seifer...because they were my friends and I though whatever they did was the right thing. I never told them that picking on Roxas and his friends were wrong...even if I knew it was true. If it wasn't for Olette dating Seifer...and pulling him away so I spent less time with him... I would of never joined the army and never got my shit together."

She smiled softly. "But I still wasn't happy until I met your mother... because I could be myself around her. Me and Seifer are still very good friends but... if you truly want to be happy...you need to stick up for yourself more and not for someone who goes out and looks for their own self first and it reckless. Roxel is a good kid...but he's also been very spoiled. He doesn't have the discipline you've received from Sora and Riku, Terra and Ven... myself and your mother. Maybe... you should just let it go, or talk to him."

Her red eye narrowed as she grinned. "I know you didn't talk to him the other night like you were suppose to~"


"You... You promise you won't laugh? Or be horrified? OR tell daddy? OR Gunnar?"

Olette's eyes widened as she heard how desperate her strong daughter seemed to act. Oh dear...I wonder if she's pregnant...
She shook her head but smiled and nodded. "Sure, sweetie! You know you can trust me." Her eyes widened even more as she got a hard look but giggled. "How....about a pinky swear!"
She remembered that Lucina would NEVER tell any of her secrets, personal or goofy, if she didn't get a pinky swear when she was a little girl.

She held out her hand and curled it around her daughters before they shook.

They broke away and she leaned in. "So, what's up, baby?" She asked in a motherly ton, both anxious and worried at the same time.
A large smile spread across her face as she heard her daughter act like she was just a preteen!
Then she realized... that this was her daughter's first crush.
HOW OLD WAS SHE AGAIN!?

Well....being cooped up in a ship all her life probably didn't help but... this was such great news...and cute too!
"Aaaaaaaawe~~~" She laughed when she saw her daughter blush more. Sammy was a very handsome young man... but that concerned her some.
"But Luci.... we don't even know how old he is. BUT, putting that asiiiiiiide, do you think he likes you back?"

[Reno]

His sharp hearing picked it up easily. Someone had found him. His glowing eyes narrowed, green eyes, once still, twitched to see the reflection of his finder. Even though he had know from the way her steps were - light but with a very unique tap - it still crushed his expectation to see it was not Gunnar.

Not that he could imagine the other's large feet fitting in a pair of Bonnie's high heels and managing to walk without the lumbering sort of step he had....

He sighed slowly at her inquiry, ignoring her strange speech as he tried to put into words what he had been thinking at for many hours. "I am... dissatisfied with Gunnar." He stated, obviously struggling. "And... with myself. This... 'feeling' is... similar to the one I feel when Yazoo asks me on an update of Mother and I have nothing to report."

His eyes narrowed. "He stated he is 'mad' at me but does not require my assistance in relieving him of this 'madness'. Even from afar I am... unable to discern what... Gunnar's malfunction is and I... do not know if I can keep him from staying... broken. It... frustrates me."


Tensai blinked glancing up at Fuujin, sighing some. She was right. Roxel would definitely never disobey orders again - within reason. But he was also fairly sensitive about getting in trouble.

However he got distracted when he heard his mother. He looked up, surprised. How could his mom not of been nice? She was so sweet to him and the other Chasers...

His eyes widened more when she mentioned being in a gang. Witb Seifer. Now he could imagine Seifer because he had that horrible scar but... Fuujin too?
His eyes went even wider when he discovered she... had been an orphan. Like him. But unlike him... she never got adopted.

How... had he not know all this?

He looked down though as she moved on, knowing she was teaching him a very valuable lesson. He had to be stronger. Not physically, but mentally. For himself. He had to gain more confidence that if he took a stand and believe in it... that things would turn out alright and if they didn't than that was not entirely his fault.

His lips twitched into a smile at his mom's tease though. "That obvious huh?" He looked down. "I meant to but Vanille called and well... she kind of got us off track."


She was 23 actually. And it wasn't her FIRST crush... well, okay so it was. She'd found other guys who were attractive before but never had she liked any enough to imagine... dating. Holding hands. Ugh... kissing.

Her cheeks suddenly brightened more, imagining trying to do those things with Samual. Then having dinner in a romantic restaurant. Walking down a pier, fingers intertwined. Sitting in a park under the moonlight leaning closer and closer...

ABORT. ABORT!! She shook off the thoughts, finding them a little scary. Not to mention impossible. There was no way...

And then her mother asked the question she feared. "I-I-I dunno!" She said, her voice a little high. "I mean I know he likes me but I dunno if he like-likes me! And I don't even know how to ask him that or if I even could what if he doesn't understand what I mean or-" She gasped, horrified, "Even worse doesn't like me back!?"

She looked at her mother, her eyes wide but innocent. She could take down armies of heartless without breaking a sweat... but a little crush was getting her all worked up. "Mom how did you get dad to like you?!"