Radiant Garden- Keyblade Academy

 

Ordinarily, the Radiant Garden Keyblade Academy was rather quiet, at least by the standards of a school. Not much happened, and it was rare for any sort of exciting events to happen in the years of peace that the world had experienced. However, on this particular day, that was about to change. The Masters of the Keyblade Academy were about to send a group of students off on what would be the most important journey since the one taken by Master Sora and his friends in the past. The previous day, almost 20 students had received letters from Master Sora. Each letter shared the same message, though with slight alterations to include the name of its recipient:

 

Dear (Student),

 

Hello, this is Master Sora. I would like to let you know that you have been selected to participate in a very important mission. This journey could take a short time, or many months. I apologize if this interferes with your busy schedule, but you will be excused from all missed lessons during this time period. I would like you to convene just outside the Academy tomorrow at noon, by the fountain. You will receive further instructions at that time. I wish you and your fellow companions the best of luck on this journey!

 

Sincerely, Master Sora

 

This particular letter and mission were unknown to those who were not participating, unless a participant had informed them ahead of time. It was just the small group leaving on this quest who had any sort of knowledge as to what they were about to face...

 

 

Indy arrived at the fountain early. He hated arriving late, and as such, arriving at a meeting very early tended to become something he'd been known for. Noticing that no one else had arrived, he decided to sit down on a nearby bench, waiting for his fellow students to file in. He knew that his best friend, Raidyn, would be going along with him. Aside from that, he had no clue who all would be joining. He just hoped that they would all be ready for whatever they'd need to face. As he sat, he became lost in his thoughts. This mission could potentially mark his first time ever leaving his home world of Radiant Garden. He could finally go out and see more worlds. He could meet new people. Most importantly, he might finally have a chance to track down the person he'd been trying to find for years... He managed to look calm for the most part, though he could feel his hands shaking with excitement. This could very well be the moment he'd waited years for.

-Rei-

 

She frowned.

"...okay."

 

-Zion-

 

She looked down. "Medammit." She said, then marched over and began swinging at air. "GIT. GO. STOP." She walked back, then leaned against Nephilim's back. "I'm too old for this."

 

-Orias-

 

The orb led Somrene to a console and booted it. "We are connected to Zion's earpiece."

Edited October 10, 201510 yr by Sabre Lily

(I'll be waiting on a few more posts from the Andes group to move them along)

 

 

Mt. Olympus

 

After David and Diego's... rather flashy attacks, the last of the Rabid Dogs had been defeated. One of the civilians who was being attacked earlier approached the students. "Thank you so much..." The man was clearly grateful. "These things have been appearing everywhere... Some people are suggesting that they might be from the Underworld!" He turned back. "I need to help the others get somewhere safe. Still, thank you for saving our lives." He ran off towards the other civilians.

 

While everything seemed safe momentarily, this peace didn't last very long. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, a few pieces of metal fell from the sky. Two looked oddly like hands, two looked like feet, while the last was a large coned cylinder... They all suddenly began to move on their own, the limbs all floating  near the cylinder as though it was the body that owned the hands and feet. Finally, a round piece fell at the top... This final piece, the head, allowed the creature to move. The group was now being faced by the large Heartless known as a Guard Armor. It faced the group, and although it didn't have a visible face, it was clear that it was prepared to battle the students. It began lumbering over to them and spun its hands around like a propeller, hoping to damage the Keyblade Wielders with this devastating attack...

 

 

 

Stalwart Dawn

 

Indy turned back around after hearing that Rei seemed upset. He walked closer to her. "Why are you so intent on protecting me, anyway...? We've known each other for a long time, and you know that I can fight well..." He asked Rei, looking a little confused.

Aello smiled slightly as she tilted her head. One second she was looking around at strange plants and the next Master Zion was there and they were over the bridge, but hey, both Lisa and Allitt were still alive, so that was a win... Even if she hadn't known either of them longer than an hour... Ah well! They had time to get acquainted now. With that in mind, she bounced over to Saki and Lisa. "So Lisa, what do you like to do on your free time?" The greenette knew the heartless couldn't speak English, but she figured she could guess at whatever Lisa decided to pantomime. And what did heartless do when they weren't being evil?

Aello smiled slightly as she tilted her head. One second she was looking around at strange plants and the next Master Zion was there and they were over the bridge, but hey, both Lisa and Allitt were still alive, so that was a win... Even if she hadn't known either of them longer than an hour... Ah well! They had time to get acquainted now. With that in mind, she bounced over to Saki and Lisa. "So Lisa, what do you like to do on your free time?" The greenette knew the heartless couldn't speak English, but she figured she could guess at whatever Lisa decided to pantomime. And what did heartless do when they weren't being evil?

Lisa shrugged, then giggled. She didn't understand the term "Free Time" when her main job was to stop Keybladers, but then suddenly became friends with them because of Saki. Guess she was different. "Let me guess....You never had any free time until you met me." Saki said, and as every response the Bouncywild has made, she nodded.

"Yeah. Thought so." He said.

After David and Diego's... rather flashy attacks, the last of the Rabid Dogs had been defeated. One of the civilians who was being attacked earlier approached the students. "Thank you so much..." The man was clearly grateful. "These things have been appearing everywhere... Some people are suggesting that they might be from the Underworld!" He turned back. "I need to help the others get somewhere safe. Still, thank you for saving our lives." He ran off towards the other civilians.

 

"No problem sir! We're just doing our duty. Get somewhere safe now," Raidyn said, seeing the man and the rest of the civilians off. "Okay gang, now that we have that out of the way, I say we move on ahead."

 

 

While everything seemed safe momentarily, this peace didn't last very long. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, a few pieces of metal fell from the sky. Two looked oddly like hands, two looked like feet, while the last was a large coned cylinder... They all suddenly began to move on their own, the limbs all floating  near the cylinder as though it was the body that owned the hands and feet. Finally, a round piece fell at the top... This final piece, the head, allowed the creature to move. The group was now being faced by the large Heartless known as a Guard Armor. It faced the group, and although it didn't have a visible face, it was clear that it was prepared to battle the students. It began lumbering over to them and spun its hands around like a propeller, hoping to damage the Keyblade Wielders with this devastating attack...

 

"... On second thought, maybe we're not done yet," Raidyn said, quickly ducking away from the Giant Armor's attack.

 

"Who do you think is summoning these Heartless anyway?" Toshi asked, regrouping with the others.

 

"I don't know, but if they're sending out whoppers like this guy, they must really want us out of the picture right about now. In any case, stand your ground everyone!" Raidyn commanded, Toshi giving a short nod in response.

Edited October 11, 201510 yr by Firaga Sensei

~Somrene~

"Thanks Orias." The Darkling said to the AI before moving next to the microphone. "Come in Master Zion, this is Somrene Valentine, I am aboard the Stalwart Dawn with Indy Caelum and Rei De Wynter. I have a brief report for you before we rejoin the others in the town of Thebes." He addressed the master professionally. Or at least, what he hoped was professionally. Yuffie and Vincent's home schooling was certainly good for combat and experience, but when it came to matters like dealing with superiors or governing bodies, he knew little.

 

~Ember~

The Ninja whistled softly. "That's a really big one." Ember commented as she watched the Guard Armor construct itself. It gave them no reprieve as it charged towards them with it's floating arms spinning. Ember flipped backwards twice in hopes that she could gain some kind of margin of error as she thought about a strategy that would maybe be effective. But she was drawing a blank on plans...

-Zion-

 

The Master paused, and tapped her comm.

"Go ahead Somrene, I'm listening."

 

That didn't bode well...that it was Somrene, not Rei, reporting.

 

 

-Rei-

 

"That's my difference."

Indy looked confused. "... What do you mean by that?" He asked. "... I-if you're saying that the difference between us is that you'd be willing to protect me..." He turned away. "... I'd do the same for you." He admitted.

Edited October 11, 201510 yr by Shulk

Annistha dismissed her Keyblade to give David and Diego a thumbs up for their entrance. She stiffened as Zather communicated what he was smelling to her, then threw herself backwards to get distance between herself and the assembling Guard Armor. As she went backwards, she pushed off the ground, going into a back flip, which landed her safely out of the Heartless Boss's current whirling reach.

"Come on!" She yelled as she resummoned her Keyblade. "Light fanatics can't have the resources to summon something this big, can they? I mean, that's a serious 'dark' act, right there."

She flourished her Keyblade and Gunblade, then opened up on the Guard Armor's chest piece with bullets and Ruin spells.

"Man, this isn't working!" Raidyn said, his speed and slashes feeling as though the Guard Armor is simply not feeling their impact. 

 

While the large Heartless continued to battle his classmates, Raidyn stayed back for a moment to think. Well... desperate times call for desperate measures. And I think this time is as good as any to use my trump card.

 

"Raidyn, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" Toshi said from nearby, wondering why Raidyn had stopped fighting.

 

"Oh, me? No, I'm good. I just came up with a plan is all," Raidyn said, already channeling the Thunder element into his legs. "This ought to sway the battle into our favor."

 

Upon building up his energy to the max, Raidyn began dashing towards the Guard Armor, zipping around in various directions and attacking it's main body parts, from the head to its torso to its arms to its legs and back over again.

 

Raidyn theorized that attacking its key sources of power and mobility would be the best way to make it vulnerable enough for the rest of the group to take it down. However, though he was doing well, Raidyn's stamina was dropping as quickly as he was moving.

Edited October 12, 201510 yr by Firaga Sensei

-Rei-

 

She giggled.

"You're silly." She tapped his nose. "Let's get going."

Mt. Olympus

 

While the initial attacks everyone made against the Guard Armor didn't seem to damage it too much, Raidyn's attacks began to weaken it. Its arms and legs seemed to be its weak points, as opposed to its main body. It seemed angered that Raidyn had managed to deal some damage, and began to target him. Its arms began to freely float away from the body, and swiped at Raidyn, trying to hit him while he was now exhausted... Meanwhile, the main body stomped over to the other students, preparing for another attack.

 

Stalwart Dawn

 

Indy looked... very confused. "Hold on, what?!" He asked, getting a little louder. "I go and say something serious, and you just say I'm silly...?" He sighed. "Remind me to not go and share any of my other thoughts with you... Where are we going, anyway? You're supposed to stay here while you're healing..." He said. "I don't need you going and getting hurt again, Rei. I know that you can get healed here, but you already worried me enough with that injury from before..."

 

Andes Mountains

 

(Moving things on since it's been a while and there still haven't been many posts here)

 

Pacha looked around the group, noticing that they all seemed to be ready to leave. "Alright, let's head out, then." He clapped his hands, and began to move on again. Kuzco followed closely behind him.

 

Allitt could tell that the others didn't trust her much. She figured that they wouldn't. She was just glad that they weren't quite going and attacking her yet. She got a little... confused when Zion seemed to suddenly start talking, though. Is there another group somewhere else...? She didn't ask the question out loud, but began to wonder about whether or not there were more students for her to worry about...

Mt. Olympus

 

While the initial attacks everyone made against the Guard Armor didn't seem to damage it too much, Raidyn's attacks began to weaken it. Its arms and legs seemed to be its weak points, as opposed to its main body. It seemed angered that Raidyn had managed to deal some damage, and began to target him. Its arms began to freely float away from the body, and swiped at Raidyn, trying to hit him while he was now exhausted... Meanwhile, the main body stomped over to the other students, preparing for another attack.

 

Upon realization of the Guard Armor's tactics, Raidyn skidded to a stop as its arms lumbered towards him and the rest went towards the others.

 

"Aw, no! Wasn't expectin' that!" He said, now focusing on dodging the Guard Armor's limbs. I'm running out of energy. Heck, the tank is almost empty! Raidyn thought, only now realizing how tired his body was becoming as his movements became slightly slower and slower.

 

Meanwhile, Toshi braced herself for the rest of the Guard Armor's body.

 

"Uh-uh, everyone! It's still weakened! We have a chance to take it down!" Toshi said, remember the purpose of Raidyn's plan. "Attack as much as you can! I'll keep everyone in top shape!" She said, priming her supply of energy so she could use as many Cure spells as necessary.

Edited October 13, 201510 yr by Firaga Sensei

-Rei-

 

The girl leaned in pretty close.

"So...are you saying you like me?"

Upon realization of the Guard Armor's tactics, Raidyn skidded to a stop as its arms lumbered towards him and the rest went towards the others.

 

"Aw, no! Wasn't expectin' that!" He said, now focusing on dodging the Guard Armor's limbs. I'm running out of energy. Heck, the tank is almost empty! Raidyn thought, only now realizing how tired his body was becoming as his movements became slightly slower and slower.

 

Meanwhile, Toshi braced herself for the rest of the Guard Armor's body.

 

"Uh-uh, everyone! It's still weakened! We have a chance to take it down!" Toshi said, remember the purpose of Raidyn's plan. "Attack as much as you can! I'll keep everyone in top shape!" She said, priming her supply of energy so she could use as many Cure spells as necessary.

Finally, a time where Sandrew could act. A rare occasion, but it was one. He slid over to Raidyn with utmost haste, he had been sitting in the background for most of it, normally he sort of gets in the way more than anything, but there always an exception to the rule. "Hey, you look about ready to knock out, so how about we work together on this one?"

Finally, a time where Sandrew could act. A rare occasion, but it was one. He slid over to Raidyn with utmost haste, he had been sitting in the background for most of it, normally he sort of gets in the way more than anything, but there always an exception to the rule. "Hey, you look about ready to knock out, so how about we work together on this one?"

 

"Huh?" Raidyn lowered his guard for a moment upon seeing Sandrew run up to him. "You can help me?"

 

Considering the arms were still attacking, Raidyn then remembered he was in the middle of a fight. Seeing the arms continue to attack him, and now Sandrew, he quickly grabbed Sandrew and blitzed away from its oncoming rampage, although quickly dropping to his knees upon stopping and setting Sandrew down.

 

"... Ha... ha... you said somethin' about me gettin' knocked out... you weren't kiddin'..." Raidyn said through pants, the drawbacks of his speed setting in at their worst. "Tell me then, what can you do? Whatever it is, you gotta hurry. Those things are relentless... ha..."

Stalwart Dawn

 

Indy's face turned bright red. "If I... what?!" He spoke loudly. "Wh-why are you acting so weird all of a sudden?! First that thing about me being silly, now this... You're acting pretty energetic for someone who just nearly... died..." He calmed down a bit at the end of that sentence. "I-I... It depends on what you mean by that." He sighed, and turned away.

"Huh?" Raidyn lowered his guard for a moment upon seeing Sandrew run up to him. "You can help me?"

 

Considering the arms were still attacking, Raidyn then remembered he was in the middle of a fight. Seeing the arms continue to attack him, and now Sandrew, he quickly grabbed Sandrew and blitzed away from its oncoming rampage, although quickly dropping to his knees upon stopping and setting Sandrew down.

 

"... Ha... ha... you said somethin' about me gettin' knocked out... you weren't kiddin'..." Raidyn said through pants, the drawbacks of his speed setting in at their worst. "Tell me then, what can you do? Whatever it is, you gotta hurry. Those things are relentless... ha..."

"I can't hit hard, and I'm slow, but the one thing I am good at is Earth magic, I can use Stone to rocket you at the enemy and all the energy you have to exert is setting yourself up to preform an attack, that way you can catch your breath a moment. Don't worry about me, one of few good things about being nearly invisible is the enemy doesn't quiet notice you either, just focus on hitting him!"

"I can't hit hard, and I'm slow, but the one thing I am good at is Earth magic, I can use Stone to rocket you at the enemy and all the energy you have to exert is setting yourself up to preform an attack, that way you can catch your breath a moment. Don't worry about me, one of few good things about being nearly invisible is the enemy doesn't quiet notice you either, just focus on hitting him!"

 

"Wow. That's sounds pretty smart. Good idea, Sandrew!" Raidyn said, getting himself onto his feet. "In that case, send me up now. If I work in enough blows, I can probably eliminate the arms and get to helpin' the others with the rest of this hunk-a-junk." With that, Raidyn turned towards the arms a few feet away and waited for Sandrew to do his thing.

"Wow. That's sounds pretty smart. Good idea, Sandrew!" Raidyn said, getting himself onto his feet. "In that case, send me up now. If I work in enough blows, I can probably eliminate the arms and get to helpin' the others with the rest of this hunk-a-junk." With that, Raidyn turned towards the arms a few feet away and waited for Sandrew to do his thing.

"Let's do this then! Stone!" The pillar shot Raidyn forward, not quite too quick, but it wasn't too slow either, however...

 

"Boost it!" Sandrew let off another as Raidyn seemed to be slowing down, sending him flying as fast as Sandrew could get him to at the moment.

-Rei-

 

"...I'm Rei. Death can't keep me from being energetic and all." She shrug. "So...what I mean is...you're really protective of me...and...and I'm wondering if it's because you like me."

Stalwart Dawn

 

"... I... uh... I-I'm just trying to look out for my friends, Rei. I wouldn't let any of the others get hurt, either." He spoke quickly, his face now entirely red. "Why would you ask that, anyway...?"

-Rei-

 

"...."

 

Options. That was what laid before Rei de Wynter. Her entire school career had been working around an incessant need, a need every de Wynter felt...the need to internally monologue something, in the hopes some cosmic deity would waste their time reading her thoughts and her heart, as she strung them and her friend along while she attempted to gather courage...courage she knew she had...did she misplace it...no, not there...nor there...

 

Then, Rei decided to hell with it. She was tired of waiting.

 

"Because I want to be your girlfriend, so either take my hand and say yes or have a heart attack, up to you."

"You..." Normally, Indy probably would have panicked and shouted at Rei for another one of her dumb overblown pranks. However, he could tell this wasn't one of her usual tricks to get him flustered as usual. "You actually mean that, don't you...?" He paused again for a moment. Now's not the time to back down... He took a deep breath, and looked straight at Rei, now much calmer. "With those two options... I think I'll personally settle for the first one." A small smile spread across his face. "Not like I would have taken any other options, of course."

"Let's do this then! Stone!" The pillar shot Raidyn forward, not quite too quick, but it wasn't too slow either, however...

 

"Boost it!" Sandrew let off another as Raidyn seemed to be slowing down, sending him flying as fast as Sandrew could get him to at the moment.

 

"Here we go!" Raidyn yelled as he rode the momentum of the pillar then jumped off at the right time to get high enough to land right on one of the disembodied arms's forearms. Regaining his balance, he re-summoned Shockwave and began slashing away at both arms, moving around to avoid its slashes and making sure to keep himself glued to its skin so that he could continue his onslaught. He was now using up even more energy than he was before thanks to his period of rest, but even so, his stamina drained faster as well.