Return to Darkness

[Agrias Oaks]

"Let yourself live for the light, and your doubt will no longer plague you."

"I'd love to live within the light's embrace... yet to leave doubt sounds rather difficult in my position..."

"She likes you, you know... Beatrix. I think you two match quite well..."

Again, she would sigh a little, reaching up to rub at the back of her head, "... hm... " she didn't seem to want to think of it at the moment. She reached up to rest a hand on the hilt of the blade once more, trying to ponder at that idea, "Me thinks too much is happening now... what, with the wars and all... and the injuries of the sh--"

Agrias remained quiet, before she blinked a moment, reaching up to rest a hand upon her chest. It was a random thought, but she suddenly had it. She remembered laying on the floor at Beatrix's room, hunched over because of a horrible pain that paralyzed her. She then remembered the woman's voice, begging her to stay with her, and counting... Her vision was murky, but she just realized the outline she saw in that tranced, weak state was Abigail.

She stopped a moment, her eyes wide in realization, and she faced the woman, blinking, "It was you who saved me, was it not...?" she whispered, reaching up to rest a hand over her own lips, letting the leather of the fingertips to brush against them as she continued to think back, " A kiss of life which brought me back from the dead... that was you?" there was a long pause, and her brown eyes looked to the mage with much gratitude, "... how awful of me to never thank you for all that you have done for me, Lady Abigail... Seems all I do, is mention my worries, and my despair, but naught once have I heard what lies in your heart... I have been selfish, and must apologize for my behaviors..."

Now it was her turn to ask at point blank, " Is there anything that I could do? Anything at all to help you, for once, Lady Abigail?"

[nexus]

Nexus looked at Beatrix and Sai seeing that these two had a connection. He shook his head a bit and almost laughed, Beatrix sounds like his old teacher when they went dragon hunting, spouting off to the bests about how he was going to destroy them or something of that matter.

Nexus did however know that they were serous, and now they had him a little confused "I am not of the dark, my world was overwhelmed and destroyed by these dark creatures, lead by one of these Masters" with that Nexus pulled out a piece of parchment. "I found this on the last world i was on as it too was being over run." he held it open for them to see

on it read

- Legend of the Keyblade-


It is said that the Keyblade was created to combat a great threat throughout the worlds, when darkness spread through the hearts of those who would seek the light. Creatures began to spring up from the darkness in men's hearts. These creatures were so powerful that no modern weapon at the time could harm them. The Chasers developed a weapon, a combination of practical weaponry of the time and sorcery which enabled them to finally fight back. However, this came at a great price. Power of such magnitude always corrupts those with greed in their hearts, and this is no exception. The power of the Keyblade lead to greed for Kingdom Hearts and the search for the X-Blade. The result was a war between Keybladers, and a glorious downfall of their kind until only a handful remained who knew the practice, and who could train others in the art and responsibility of the weapon. All that remains of the Light and Dark Keybladers involved in that war now rusts in the Keyblade Graveyard...

~Xehanort

"This is what told me of their corrupted ways of war and destruction" he started (mind you he obviously miss read it)
"they are reason my world is gone, they are the reason my family is dead, they are the reason i am here, i will find them, and i will make them pay" Nexus's anger had got the better of him, he raised his free hand into a fist that on his his final word burst into flames and had caused his eyes to turn a slight shade of red.

[Sai]

Sai wouldn't even wait for an invitation. His hand lifted and he plucked the notes from the man's hand in order to bring it closer to read. Keyblade Notes #1! Fortune was smiling on him, now that he had some clue as to what to do and where to be. He took a few steps away to get better light, memorizing the words quickly in order to keep from losing the information should someone reclaim them.

"I see..." he said calmly, then looked back to Nexus with an eyebrow lifted. "And how long ago was this, exactly? Did you see with your own eyes the keyblade master that attacked your world? Forgive my forward nature, but according to these notes, all the dark ones were wiped out. Those that remain value responsibility, though these notes are over ten years old..."

He lifted the paper and waved it lightly. "Would you mind if I kept this? I have others in my possession and this could provide further information as to where the others remain." He waited, planning on getting these notes to the others one way or another... just hoping that the man agrees to let him keep them in order for things to go more... smoothly.

[Abigail Crescentlight]

Abigail blinked a bit, and blushed darkly when Agrias referred to it as a "kiss of life". She turned her head away, one hand on her cheek to try and hide her burning red color. "Oh! Yes... that... I did sorta help... but you don't have to thank me for that!" she stumbled, giggling a bit embarassedly. She turned to face the woman once she felt the heat in her face cool slighlty. "You... would have done the same for me, right? If I were in your situation?" she smiled sweetly, then added softly "I... don't know what I would do without you..."

Although... the more she thought about it, the more she wished she could have given her a real kiss, not some forced CPR. She sighed a little dreamily, thinking on this with her eyes lifted somewhat to the ceiling. When she mentioned only speaking of her worries and despair, Abigail shook her head with a soft giggle.

"Silly thing... I like helping you... It makes me so happy to think that I provided even an ounce of strength when you needed it..." She skipped a little, but stopped dead in her tracks when Agrias added something new. "naught once have I heard what lies in your heart..."

Abigail looked down, now lifting a hand to her heart as she stared at the floor. "What lies..." she whispered, sighing. She knew Agrias didn't... feel for her the way she felt. Even if she weren't confused for whatever reason that she was, she very much doubted she even... deserved Agrias' esteem. She sighed, shaking her head. She didn't know if she should tell her what was really there. After all... how could some priestess from the slums of an run-down industrial meteor-hole hope to compete with a decorated general of an all-female army?

She merely sighed, and when Agrias asked, "Is there anything that I could do? Anything at all to help you, for once, Lady Abigail?", her heart desperate cried out love me, though she knew better than to say this. Instead, she smiled warmly.

"I've...never ridden a Chocobo before... not properly, anyway. Could you teach me?" Maybe a little time spent with her knight was what she really wanted...?

[Agrias Oaks]

The knight listened to the woman, having arrive to their destination at a grand lobby, they now waited for this 'Adam' to appear. Surely, he was keeping watch over Beatrix as she sorted everything with Sai and the newcomer. She now faced the girl, a hand rested on the handle of her sword as she stood there at ease, somewhat military-like. She blinked twice when she heard that there was indeed something she could do...


"I've...never ridden a Chocobo before... not properly, anyway. Could you teach me?"

Agrias' eyes brightened at this question, and she gave her a fond smile, "I would be more than happy to oblige to such request, Lady Abigail!" she chuckled, and bowed her head to her, "Mayhaps, when all the greetings and conversations are done, we can go to the stables, and I can give you proper lessons on how to ride Boco. If anything, it would also give us a chance to walk about the town and get some supplies. Even scout the area. How does that sound, Sister of Light?"

[Abigail Crescentlight]

Abigail didn't know what made her happier, the fact that she was going to learn how to ride on Boco, for whom she had a particular fondness, or the way Agrias seemed to light up at the idea. Seeing the knight like this... it made her smile. She giggled happily and nodded, hopping slightly from happiness.

"And Boco can get some excercise!" she added, happy to see they were making plans now! After all, how often did Agrias and Abigail have time to just spend together, without something trying to kill them or having to be worried about a mounting rescue mission? A little relaxing spell could do them both good! She turned to the lobby at large, taking it all in.

"So, where do you figure this Prince Adam is?" she asked happily.

[Agrias Oaks]

"And Boco can get some exercise!"

The knight laughed, resting her hands on her own hips, "Yeh, that glutton needs it!" she sighed, reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose, " How embarrassing that we couldn't fit him in the telepods... He's let himself go, and I cannot have him in a bad shape." she grinned, "He'll rue the day he stuffed more that 15 greens a day within his beak~ Rue it!" she joked.

"So, where do you figure this Prince Adam is?"

"I nay know, possibly looking about at the entrance, but I'm sure he will be here shortly..." -- Why were they suddenly alone? Did the two knights from earlier leave to retrieve Beatrix and the others? She glanced over to see a full woman with white hair, pouring several cups of tea in a distance, "Hm... quite a big place, yet still it compares not to Ivalice...." she sighed, closing her eyes and seeming relaxed, "T'has an aura of home, though... the air is rather pure here, is it not...?"

[nexus]

Nexus blicked a couple times letting the red color fade from his eyes., and after doing a double take at his own hand, he preceded to wave is hand to put out the fire.

"Uhhhh sure you can keep it if you want." he started, after running his hand threw his hair "i dunno...... when the world was collapsing i did happen to see someone with what looked like a black sword directing those shadow things" he paused "If there are no dark ones left ....then...then, who controls these things"

He looked to Sai who deemed to be full of knowledge, he watched him with questioning eyes looking for the answers he sought for.

[General Beatrix]

[glow=red,2,300]Though she had one eye, she was able to catch at least some of what the notes the man produced had said before her Nobody comrade plucked the paper from his hand. She gritted her teeth, having not been able to look it over properly; she followed Sai and read over his shoulder, her sword held down slightly, yet ready to take stance once more should it have to.

After she read the notes, she moved back over and listened to the man's story. A dark sword? Though the general couldn't remember all of the worlds she claimed in the name of darkness under Maleficent's control, she knew there had been a lot of them. Could she have possibly been the one to wrack his?

"Sai, newcomer...you're going to have to excuse me; I must speak to the master of this castle now, as Red Rose falls to pieces up there even as we speak. I can not allow the quest to continue from this location until we've had repairs."

She gave Nexus a terrible, warning glance before sheathing her sword and turned. "I shall leave this man in your hands; he poses no threat, I suppose, without a blade." Tilting her head back, she smirked. "Remove your weapons and hand them to this man. Sai, bring them to the gate house when you've finished. I will take him before Prince Adam later this evening, and we'll see if he can accommodate him, as well."

She she left.[/glow]
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Elsewhere in the castle, the full tea woman brought over the two women a tray with a steaming pot and two cups; trailing behind her was a small blond boy and an overly shaggy dog. They looked very playful, and eager to meet the visitors.

The woman smiled, and handed each woman a cup, and showed them to some seats.

"Hello there, cherubs. If you're waiting for the master, he should be here soon. My name is Mrs. Pots, and--"

Suddenly a click sounded from across the room, and a woman whose hair matched the beauty of the general's came striding out. She had beautiful blue eyes, and wore a long, blue dress, with a white rose tucked behind her ear. She smiled, and advanced quietly on both mage and knight.

"Are these General Beatrix' friends, Mrs. Pots?" said the woman, and the larger servant nodded, giving the women one more matronly smile before toddling off.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Belle. You two look awfully tired and hungry; I do hope Adam gets back soon so we might set out supper; I hadn't expected so many guests, but after seeing Beatrix' ship coming towards us I knew we'd be serving extra. May I ask your names, please?"

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[glow=red,2,300]Beatrix met the castle prince at the large double doors leading into the palace; he'd missed Agrias and Abigail when they came in due to being off in the West Wing speaking with some servants; he greeted the general kindly with a warm hug.

"Ah, Adam," she spoke, giving him a matching smile. "It is a pleasure to see you again; I see the Heartless have kept their grubby paws away from here since last time. That is good news. Now listen, Your Highness, I have a problem..."

She spoke of her plight, and of how things weren't going too well with the ship; she told him that she would need a place if it weren't an inconvenience, and prayed they would here find sanctuary. She walked with him until they reached the foyer, where they ran into Belle, Agrias and Lady Abigail. A child and his dog played quietly near a large fireplace across the room, a white-haired servant stirring something in the cauldron.

"What say you, Your Highness?"[/glow]

[Sai]

Sai looked to Beatrix before she walked off, nodding a bit. He tucked the new notes into a pocket, so it would join the others he kept on his person. He couldn't show it, but he was quite pleased to have them. When General Beatrix walked off, he turned slightly with his eye on the man.

"This way..." he said simply, assuming the man heard Bea's order to disarm. He would lead the man over to the Gate House. It was rude, after all, to just take a man's weapons and Sai believed following rules of ettiquite tends to put people on his side. As he walked, he would speak with Nexus a bit.

"The Keyblade is a rather unique weapon. It would be difficult to confuse it for a standard sword, as the overall shape is quite recognizable. This person you saw was likely either a Blackheart or a high-level Heartless. How much do you know of the Heartless, sir...." he trailed off, implying that a name was required, as they had not been properly introduced as of yet.

[Agrias Oaks]

When the one known as Mrs. Pots strolled over with two tea cups, the knight gave her a bright smile, 'tea!' she thought, 'how long has it been since she hasn't had a decent cup of tea?' she would sigh, and bow gratefully at the old woman, before standing straight and taking one of the two cups, "Thank you oh-so-very-much, Mrs...?" Agrias glanced momentarily at the boy and dog before turning her attention to the woman again.

"Hello there, cherubs. If you're waiting for the master, he should be here soon. My name is Mrs. Pots, and--"

"Mrs. Pots! Thank you--" she smiled, and suddenly she heard a soft click. She glanced up to meet eyes with a woman, that, for some reason or another- made her believe it was Beatrix that had changed into a dress??

"Are these General Beatrix' friends, Mrs. Pots?" Spoke her, in a sweet voice.

She shook her head a little, convinced her mind was playing tricks on her to see someone that was not the General, but could be the Princess of this world. She, being the knight that she was, placed the cup aside and gave the yellow-dressed woman a knightly bow, "Your Majesty." she spoke politely.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. I am Belle. You two look awfully tired and hungry; I do hope Adam gets back soon so we might set out supper; I hadn't expected so many guests, but after seeing Beatrix' ship coming toward us I knew we'd be serving extra. May I ask your names, please?"

"I am Lady Agrias, Leader of the Lionsguard Brigade, and --" The knight paused, shaking her head a little-- that was in the past, wasn't it? It would be odd to say she was the Royal Guard of a city long lost to time, "--and now, Sister of Light, and acting soldier under the command of General Beatrix on the Red Rose." she updated her resume. She gave another knightly bow, though this time, it seemed the salute the Alexandrian Knights gave to someone superior. She then glanced to Abigail, giving her a soft smile, wanting her to have a voice...

[nexus]

"Remove your weapons and hand them to this man. Sai" Nexus heard this and almost laughed, ....without his sword ?,......no threat, ......really?.....well... "That's right, they didn't know me" he thought to himself, becoming a little sad, "that's right nobody knows me anymore" remembering all those that did, are no longer here.

Nexus began to fallow Sai toward the gate house. Unhooking his scabbard he held it out to Sai, hilt first "Heartless?.....Is that what these damn things are called?" he said allowing Sai to take his sword away. "Not much really, they come in swarms, overwhelming everyone and everything. Also I noticed that they can't be hurt by blade alone, but i can call on the elements and that seemed to do a lot of damage to them."

Nexus suddenly stopped and turned "Oh yeah ...sorry " . He placed a hand a crossed his chest again like he did to the knight.

"My name is Nexus Maxus, i am a dragon hunter from the planet Alundra"

From above, a loud growl was heard "And that would be Airinose, a dragon .....and a friend.....sort of" nexus pointed to the silver dragon perching itself upon one of the castles towers.

[Abigail Crescentlight]

Abigail was a bit startled at first, but happy that tea was being served. They had been through a lot lately, and something relaxing and homey was most welcomed. She was about to take a cup when a brown-haired woman stepped up. She looked over to see that Agrias was saluting, and did her best to imitate. She wasn't used to saluting or bowing, seeing as she came from a time and place where anyone she met usually was badly injured.

She smiled, listening as Agrias introduced herself to Belle. When looked to, Abigail nodded to the Princess with a smile. "And I'm Abigail, fellow Sister of Light, Priestess of the way of Cosmos, and healer." She blinked, realizing she had earned so many titles lately and kind of giggled to herself, somewhat proud of them. Really, how many people could lay claim to even a third of what she just called herself? Not a lot, as The Way of Cosmos was... something of a blossoming religion, and the art of healing without the use of materia was really rare.

She looked up to see that Beatrix was appraoching with the Prince, and smiled. She gently tapped Agrias' arm and pointed. She wondered quietly how Bea got around them, but it didn't matter. "That must be the Prince Adam we've heard so much about from Beatrix!" she said, mostly to Belle, with a smile of course. She put two and two together that because they were Prince-and-Princess they were either unmarried, or the King and Queen were still around. Seeing as this was called "Prince Adam's Castle" she doubted very highly the latter.

She thought a moment of what to say, then smiled brightly. "We're very thankful to have gotten an audience with you both! I'm sure Bea's already explained to the Prince our situation..." she looked ot Belle quickly, wondering if she should fill her in, or let Adam be the one to do so. When one Royal was on one side of the room and another on the opposite, it got very confusing what manners to follow!

[General Beatrix]

"I think that is a lovely plan, General Beatrix!" said Adam, a gentle smile on his face as he turned to Belle and the others. His eyes widened, and he brightly marched over and wrapped one arm around his princess-consort's waist before making a slight bow to Agrias and Abigail.

"Hello there, ladies. You must be the other Sisters of Light the general spoke of. Welcome to my home, I am Adam, master of the castle. I do hope you find your stay here pleasant."

[glow=red,2,300]"Yes, I'm sure that they will..." she smiled and folded her arms, then took in her surroundings for the first time since she and the prince entered the castle. Oh how it felt so much like home, and yet she still missed the real thing more than anything. When the prince turned to his bride-to-be, she looked back over to him, her attention catching back up.[/glow]

"So Belle and I should go and dress for supper; it won't be for another hour, but she also has other work to do with her father in town, and I must go over some paperwork. You three are free to roam about the castle as you wish, but I'd ask that you please try and stay out of trouble?"

With the last statement he chuckled, and the two royals walked off, up their respective staircases and disappeared down their hallways, the faint clicks of their doors closing.

[glow=red,2,300]Beatrix clapped her hands together, her eye bright.

"Well, then! You heard His Highness! I am going to head back to the Red Rose and confirm our permission to land and set plans for repairs into motion." She saluted and turned, exiting the massive chamber and making her way back outside. In the distance where the open gates stood, both John and Jon had returned, and seemed to be bickering.

As the gates closed, she raised her arm and called out "recall", before suddenly being polymorphed into a sphere of light and hovered quickly up to her airship.[/glow]

[Agrias Oaks]

Agrias stood there, her once-amber-now-brown eyes surveying the now emptying lobby; when The Prince and Princess left to change, to Mrs. Pots and the child and dog leaving to do other things, and then when the General left to the ship. All that were left behind were her and the white mage. She clapped her gloved hands together before turning to Abigail, a bright smile on her face, "Seems we have some time now. Lady Abigail, what do you wish to do first?"

The knight reach down to losen the belt of her sword a little, trying to relax, and she stretched in place, a few pieces of her armor brushing slowly against other metals, letting out a sweet, smooth, metalic sound.