My Legacy lives on...

[Sai]

He could smell it before he could see it, the condensing of darkness nearby. Looking toward the general direction, he watched as that all-too-familiar rift opened and brought with it two figures from somewhere else. He stood there in silence a moment, watching as Ms. Go made it a point to practically knock them over in her giddy way. He let the little reunion play out for the time being...

Medusa would be struggling to get free when Ms. Go suddenly glomped her. She laughed a little nervously, pushing her lightly. "It'sss good to sssee you too, Misss Go..." she muttered, poking at the woman's non-existant nose in a vain attempt at freedom. "But there'sss work to be done now..."

Charming... Sai looked to Shego, who began to state her demands. She wanted the heartsteele... fair enough. He wanted something too. "Your heartless informs me that you have keyblade notes. In exchange, I want all the notes you posess..." He paused again, holding his half of the bargain up. "From what I have gathered, you need this to proceed with your experiment, and I require the missing writs in order to proceed with mine. This is the most equivilient exchange I can surmise..."

He waited now... expecting something rather unpleasant to come from the logical mind of a theif. There WERE three of them... and only one of him. He had already deduced the possibility of their turning on him... His insurance was the childish nature of the heart itself...

Now... to see...

[Shego]

[glow=green,2,800]Shego's emerald orbs fell upon the heartsteel and she watched it momentarily before looking back to Sai. Her eyes focused in order to read his intentions, but like her, she found nothing to give away such intentions. The thief reached into her pocket and produced two notes, looking to Sai still, to see if such reactions were met.

"I have no more use of them, but it seems my trash is your treasure." She looked over to Medusa and told her to stay there, where it was secure before walking forward toward the fellow Nobody. Eyes wide and neutral, " A final use, if in return of exchanging, I acquire that heartsteel you carry."

Shego now stood a few feet away from the Silver Mage, and she would hold the notes mid way...

... but this wouldn't mean her guard was down. She couldn't trust this transaction would go smoothly either.

"Deal?"[/glow]

[Sai]

Sai was cautious, but he could tell from Shego's actions that she wasn't 100% certain of his role in this either. That meant one thing was absolutely sure in Sai's mind... her offer was genuine. Walking up without fear, Sai looked at the heartsteele one more time. Would he be able to find another sample? Was it worth the risk? Did this exchange make him any closer to his final goal? He'd have to take a chance. This was a calculated gamble, after all.

"Deal," he said dully, holding the metal at halfway as well while his free hand reached for and grasped the edge of the two Keyblade Notes in Shego's hold. He made no attempt to hold onto the metal, making it all the more obvious by holding it in palm with fingers outstretched while he tugged on the notes gently...

[Abigail Crescentlight]

Abigail had busied herself with the vegetables while Beatrix told her story. She giggled a bit, smiling brightly. "That's men for you! They think because they can handle a sword, that they're masters of everything, but they're so clumsy in the kitchen and they know it! In fact, I bet that's why your Steiner was so keen to cook once you challenged his ability!" She nodded here knowingly, between peeling potatoes. "They just feel this odd desire to be good at everything! But we girls, we know better!"

She winked, smiling as the potatoes were finished being peeled. She started to cut them and some carrots up as she continued. "See, we know that there are some things out there that we just can't be great at, and because we accept it, we go through life a little less high-strung than they do. It makes it easier for us to make the right decision and to keep from being shaky when things have to get done! Speaking of-" she looked over to Ellin, smiling.

"Ready with the chicken, Miss El-" she stopped, then saw Culaki sitting there, he and the other Ronso acting utterly adorable about wanting some scraps before everything was ready. She squeaked lightly, the cuteness getting to her before she shook her head a bit. "Now, now! That wouldn't be fair to anyone else!!" she said, walking over to scritch Culaki behind the ear.

"Be a good boy!!" she demanded, and tried to lead him and the others to the door. "Everyone will get some when it's ready, and no one gets even a taste before anyone else!" she said, being firm but sweet in her words. "It just wouldn't be fair, would it Culaki?" she asked with the door between them, again trying to be sweet while alerting him to the fact that a good leader upholds equality.

She slowly closed the door and sighed, shaking her head. "Gosh darnit, that was so cute..." she muttered, wiggling in place in order to work off some of the urge to grab the smoked fish nearby and give them to the big kitties just behind the door. Wait... were a few of them missing? Oh well... She couldn't help burglary. All she could do was work on what she could work on.

"Is everything ready?" she asked, getting the soup done as she added the vegetables to it. She picked up the bowl of dumplings made by Beatrix and poured them in as well. All that was left was the chicken bits from Ellin, then she'd let it start cooking. However, there was one MINOR thing that was bothering her, and it just now hit her.

"WAIT!" she squeaked, her eyes going wide. "Oh no! I only accounted for us! I didn't think about Culaki's tribe at all, or if anyone would want seconds or thirds! Does anyone have some kind of enlarging spell???" she asked, hoping to multiply the porportions in order to better feed a bigger quantity of people!

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Meanwhile, Wall-E was receiving a major upgrade! He blinked, feeling his insides getting all re-arranged, and all the previously installed cogs and ratchets disappearing. In fact, he was beginning to almost feel like his old self, except he didn't feel that desire to "fuel up" on sunlight any longer! He was, for the most part, his own energy core! He whistled impressedly, moving his arms and legs a bit to enjoy the extra mobility of no longer needed the clockwork.

Then, he looked at his new features. Nothing fancy, really, as he wasn't exactly designed for major combat, but he now had a toolkit on his back which would be very useful, and his arms seemed outfitted so he could lift heavier things. Also, the laser on his face was upgraded to a newer model, meaning he had more options in terms of slicing and dicing and he could cut through thicker, denser materials!

"Wooooooo...." Wall-E chirped, then bounced happily, shaking Brass' hand excitedly as he drove around the room in a giddy "look at me, I'm all new!" sort of way!

[Culaki]

Culaki had been sitting in the kitchen for a few moments when his nose picked up the odor of the smoked fish hanging behind the door. He licked Feynya affectionately, purring in the direction of them while he kept Abigail's attention as she shooed him out. Holding the door open, he kept Feynya hidden by his massive bulk as they slunk out of the door, and he nodded to Abigail, licking her hand.

"Culaki understands. He will wait until the meal is ready..." He left the kitchen, and as the door closed, gratefully accepted one of the large fish. He tore into it gratefully, his stomach rumbling as he abated his hunger cravings...for now. He licked his paws, then began to clean his partner again, tempted to rumble about a bit with her.

Then an idea began to form in his head, and he signaled to Feynya to follow him. Leaving the hallway, he nosed open the front door, passing by Sai Blue-Hair and a few other strange people that he didn't know. He ignored them promptly, continuing on his way to a small outcropping of trees.

He watched the herd of gazelle tromping across the plains, and he waited for the group to make its rounds several times before he selected a target. A nice, plump male, about a hundred and thirty pounds of pure, fresh, red meat, ripe for the plundering. His tail swished back and forth excitedly as he began to secrete pheremones of the hunt.

His partner picked up on his emotional and physical signals, and she darted out into the plains, scattering the pack and driving the prey towards Culaki. He began to pant roughly, his muscles tightening up as he coiled his legs. Unleashing all of his tightened muscles, he sprang forward, catching the animal by surprise.

But he didn't end it there. Oh, no. He was an alpha, the leader of the pack. He wanted a challenge. So he relaxed a bit, and let the animal get itself worked up into a frenzy. It began to kick at him, to run even faster, and to make balking, panic-y noises. He closed in on it, slowly but surely.

Then he pounced. A powerful swat with his left paw was enough to break the animal's shoulder, and it cried out, falling to the ground as he sank his teeth into its neck. He felt the jugular pop and give way, and he simply stood back and let the creature bleed out. Once it was limp, he moved in again.

He picked it up in his jaws, careful to not let any dirt or anything get on him. After all, he just bathed himself twenty minutes ago! He set off on a rough jog, the animal bouncing lightly in between his teeth. As he neared the house, he stopped, looking at Sai Blue-Hair and his mysterious cohorts once more, then shrugging as he passed the large chunk of metal and papers, etc, etc.

He nosed open the door, padding his way to the kitchen. Anyone inside of it would hear his soft feet making little tap tap tap noises on the floor. He opened up the door with his nose, and the occupants would be shocked to see him walk in with a hundred and thirty pounds of gazelle in his teeth! He simply strode over to the side, out of everyone's way, and dropped it into his paws, setting it on the corner of a counter.

"Culaki estimates that should be enough to feed his band of hungry Ronso. Is there any way that you could season it with some of the good smelling leaves that you put in the soup? He would appreciate that. He can use his claws and teeth to skin the beast if need be, but he can only do that and build the fire to cook it."

He simply sat back on his haunches, waiting for the jars of leaves to appear so he could skin his kill, then stick it in the pit he would make outside...

[Abigail Crescentlight]

Abigail was about to go on with her plan, when suddenly she heard the tell-tale sounds of padding just outside the door. She sighed and turned to it, her hands on her hips as she spoke. "Culaki! I thought I told you-" that was when she was made to be very... very silent.

The big kitty came in with a huge gazelle in its mouth! The blood was still fresh and dripping, and the sight was rather grizzly. Abigail's eyes widened and she grew very pale, not accustomed to seeing such... well... graphic imagery! Quickly she covered her mouth to keep from vomitting, shivering all over in utter shock of seeing such a mess! It was... overwhelming... even the scent was strong enough to make her gag a little.

She barely heard what Culaki was requesting. She was so far gone at that point that when the wave of nausea hit her, she would be completely knocked out. The instant Cualki sat on the ground to await spices for cooking his tribe's meal... was the second Abigail Crescentlight would faint and fall onto the floor...

[Ellin Destroix]

Ellin had been hard at work, cooking the chicken and seasoning it just right. She had remembered that there where many to be fed, including herself, and she was already cooking 4 giant pots worth of food for everyone (Enough for about 18 people.) She waved a little to Culaki when he tried that cute thing of his to get what he wanted, fearing the most was Abigail's disapproving look.

She looked back to Beatrix, who kept making signs to Ellin to DO something...to woo the white mage, but the girl would blush and shake her head disapprovingly. The dark knight remained quiet, but her attention was taken to the door when Culaki came in with a Gazelle bleeding everywhere out of the Ronso's mouth.

"Great Alexander!" Ellin gasped, as the next sight she caught was of Abigail falling... She rushed forward, dropping one of the pots and dashing as fast as she good. Unable to get there to catch her standing, she slid on the floor, and caught Abigail in a sitting position, panting, "Miss Abigail!!" she tried to call to her, "Miss Abigail??" she began to whimper, not sure what to do whenever people of the light where feeling ill.

The dark knight would pick the girl up in her arms, and stand up, looking to Beatrix for any answers or advice she could share with her.

"WH-what happened to her??"

[General Beatrix]

For a while as they spoke Beatrix was happy for this little bit of peace; cooking in the kitchens of Alexandria had been a rather soothing pastime for the general, and each day she would go in an either cook up something homemade or just aid the tiny chefs with whatever they worked on.

And then she spotted Culaki and his mate come in; chuckling as she continued slicing the apples and mixing her own pie batter, she watched as Abigail--whom the general wanted to call "mother" now--scold them and giggle at their mischief.

She soon became very engrossed in what she was doing, losing all sight of the world around her, and instead concentrating on the meal that would present itself very soon. A glance over to the table, she counted six chairs; would that be enough? There was Abigail, Ellin, Sai, Octavian, herself and the Brass Duke. Six. What of Culaki? And perhaps the 'Go Twins' would be staying?

Shaking her head she returned to reality, seeing Ellin moving over to the fainting White Mage; she dropped what she was doing, the batter bowl only spilling slightly on the counter as she raced to the Sister's aid.

"Miss Abigail?" she called, just noticing that rancid scent of blood emanating off the carcass of one of the Ronso's prey. She winced, plugging her nose while she returned her attention back to Abby.

"What happened?"

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Brass was rather satisfied with his work on the tiny construct that stood before him on the table top. He grinned, giving the machine a thumbs-up as it whirred around showing off to the empty room. That was when Oeilvert skulked in and settled himself on one of the other couches nearby and looked Wall-E over.

"Impressed?" asked the Brass Duke as the sorcerer's wide eyes followed every new detail, every shine...he was awestruck.

"Yes I thought it would be best to pronounce the arms a bit here and there, give him that..."

As he droned on about Wall-E's new advanced technology, the Sorcerer smiled knowingly, and even collected the robot to settle on his lap. He seemed heavier now, and yet lighter, which made him raise an eyebrow. When he asked the Duke leaned in to elaborate, running his fingers over Wall-E's treads.

"I have adapted Cooler technology into these, so that he may hover for periods of time and, if need be, fly at great speeds. With this advance he is more light-weight, yet the Cooler is heavier. This will have no effect on his movements, fortunately."

[Ellin Destroix]

"M-Miss Abigail!" Ellin began to stutter, unsure of what she could do to assist the white mage. Her eyes would gloss from worry as she continued to explain, "Sh-she saw the food that the Ronso brought in, a-and...and... and she fell backward! I think she fainted!"

The darkest knight held Abigail close and walked to one of the tables there, and rested her on a nearby chair, "H-how do we aid her? What can I do, Miss Beatrix??" she would ask the General, her eyes showing much dread.

[General Beatrix]

Thinking quickly she leaned in close to the White Mage and, giving a silent apology to Cosmos, she began fumbling through her robes, seeking out the bag of holding.

"If I can find...it must be in here somewhere. I think she grew nauseous...if I can find smelling salts, we may yet awaken her...ah, here it is!"

Taking a small vial from Abby's robes she uncorked the cap and drew it beneath the White Mage's robes, allowing the visible smoke to rise, entering her nostrils. Even from the distance Beatrix was, the fumes were enough to make her gag.

"Ugh..."

For just a moment the general thought she, too, may become ill and fall unconscious in the center of the kitchen, simply from the close proximity to the salts, but she had to maintain the air of stability, not simply for the others, but even for herself. If she let her body succumb to weakness, Agrias would never be found.

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***From A Whole New Show, in Hyperspace***

After some time the Red Rose--at least the lights beaming outward from its many open spaces and windows--would appear in the sky, piercing through the thin black clouds that blocked vision to the new black sun. The distress signal was coming from down below, and as it made its way--rather clumsily, mind you--down into the atmosphere, pin-pointing Colossus on the horizon, it attempted a land close to there.

When the ship did finally make its rough landing a loud thud would pulsate across the lands closest to both Colossus and Merlin's Mansion. Inside they would feel nothing, but surely hear it.

The Alexandrian Soldiers were frantic; some sped to the telepods, others ran the hallways with swords in hand and shields in the other, and many more were devising plans for capture. Over the loudspeakers Ellis barked out orders the deranged, feral Lilith surely wouldn't be able to comprehend in a blood rage.

"We have to calm her down! Death total: five, and counting! Find the general!!!"

[Abigail Crescentlight]

As the smelling salts passed under the white mage's nose, she'd jerk awake and cough violently. If you've ever experienced smelling salts, you know that coughing is probably the least you wish to do, the most being vomitting. Luckily, Abigail had caught her breath and senses before that could happen. "Oh Cosmos, that's foul..." she whispered, then looked up.

A light, embarassed blush crept across her cheeks as she saw the two women. She looked away, laughing a bit nervously. "Well... that's twice in one day I've woken up to someone hovering over me..." she said, then cleared her throat and shakily stood up. "I think I just need some air..." she said, covering her mouth a little. She had caught the scent of the blood in the room still, and her memory was forcing what little was in her stomach up to her throat.

"Girls, if you could hand out bowls while I get myself composed, that'd be... amazing..." she said, then turned to leave the kitchen. She had to go down the hall and out the doors before she could breathe properly and catch herself to avoid a mess. It's a good thing their enemies poofed away when they were defeated, otherwise she very much doubted she'd be any use as a warrior.

Leaning against the door frame, she sighed and slid down. A little rest was all she needed, really. She was about to close her eyes and take a little nap here when she heard a loud boom! She gasped and looked up, her eyes going wide and her smile creeping across her face.

The Red Rose had arrived! She stood up quickly, giggling as she waved at it fruitlessly. She had no idea what was going on inside, so when she saw it, she was happy. Running back inside, she found her way back to the kitchen to report the good news, too giddy to care about the mess Culaki made.

"Everyone! The Rose is waiting outside next to the Colossus!" she said happily.

[General Beatrix]

By the time Miss Abigail had returned Beatrix had gathered Ellin begun setting the table. As she'd set down bowl number three, however, she nearly dropped the fourth as the White Mage raced back inside shouting the most joyous of news: the Red Rose had come!

She didn't think twice, not for the people around her or the food, and again she almost dropped the fourth bowl when she ran out the kitchen door and down the hall, flying out the front door with a determined speed.

The Rose had come! Could Agrias be aboard?

It was a bit far off but her legs wouldn't wait; she ran, ran across the plains towards the Red Rose, or what little she could see of it through all this darkness, until she crashed into an entire platoon of soldiers all making their way over in her direction.

CRASH-THUD!

Everyone was on the ground by now...

Shaking her head the general stood up and helped up some of her subordinated, brushed herself off and called for an update of status, after rightfully thanking them all for their hasty rescue.

"It's terrible, General Beatrix! Terrible, terrible!" cried a soldier in panic, shaking violently, covered in dry blood. Another soldier--Alecia--wrapped her arms over the shivering woman before her and nodded her head to Beatrix.

"Indeed it is...the sun has gone black, we can not find some missing soldiers, Agrias has not returned and..."

A third soldier pushed by her to interrupt. "Lady Lilith is on a murdering spree aboard the ship! When she breached the bridge we were lucky to have made it here...General, the death toll is now eleven, and the number's rising, no doubt. We've got to do something!"

General Beatrix' nostril's flared at this news, her eyes widening and pupils growing tiny; horror reached even her and she turned around and ran back to the mystical mansion, only peeking her head inside to call out to the others.

"Everyone, I need you aboard the Red Rose this instant! We've no time for meals right now, Lady Lilith is attacking the Rose!"

And then, like a small gust of wind, she was gone, disappearing back onto the black plains and following her soldiers back to the ship.

[Abigail Crescentlight]

Abigail was happy to see Beatrix so pleased, and let her by when she went running. However, that delightedness would be put aside swiftly when the selfsame general came running back, declaring an emergancy! Abigail ran out to meet with the rose, seeing those covered in blood and gasping.

"What's going on??" she asked, running to the injured and immediately setting about healing them. "Lilith did this?? But how?" she asked, shaking her head. She didn't want to think of Lilith as being out of control of herself, but the fact was that she was a vampire... Looking to Beatrix, she nodded firmly. "I want to go in! As a priestess of Cosmos, I have certain protection on my side. It'll be safest with me."

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Meanwhile, Wall-E had just heard the commotion as well. He gasped, then jumped down off the table he was using as a display stage, and drove outside much faster than he was normally able to!

Joining the group, he looked around, then pointed at the ship. "WOo!" he whistled, looking to Beatrix. "Ax-eee-uhm?" he asked, wondering if it was the same kind of ship at the very least...

[Shego]

[glow=green,2,800]The deal was struck, and the items were exchanged just in time. Shego's gaze lifted momentarily to the skies, to see the welcoming and the happiness of a certain white mage and her nose scrunched, not in annoyance, but of curiosity of why the appearance of such a ship was important. It then dawned upon her: What do I care?

With a turn of her heel, she faced Ms. Go and Medusa and walked to them, her eyes fixed on the Heartless with similar curiosity before walking past her, "Lets go. All the ingredients have gathered." The thief placed the heart steel in her pocket, and rested her hands lazily on her sides, "Once the keyblade is done, we should be able to do our work much more efficiently."

A corridor opened, and she began to walk to it...

**To Neverland: The Making of... **[/glow]

[Ellin Destroix]

Ellin was placing the mats and preparing the table for the consumption of food with Beatrix. Hearing the General complain that the life they were experiencing was not a story book, and using profane language in order to get her point across. The dark knight didn't care, really, being too happy and this experience too new for her to comprehend just yet. She was about to continue her conversation, but that is when Abigail appeared and told them the good news.

"Finally!" she sounded off, watching Beatrix dash to the door and she ran past her. She held Abigail's hand along the way to run with her to the rose, " I was beginning to think they were lost!"

Arriving, she overheard the soldiers commenting on the happenings of the ship, and she grew worried when Abigail wanted to participate in the hunting of the vampire. She raised a hand before speaking, "If miss Abigail is going, then so am I. Miss Lilith is a creature of darkness yes? Maybe I can reach her somehow, too." she assured, looking to Beatrix, "that way I can also stay guard while Miss Abigail heals the soldiers."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, in the bowels of the ship was Maara, looking about for the missing soldiers, unaware that they have been killed off. She had her sword out, and pointed at the darkness around her with one hand, while the other held over her head an orb of light. Boco, the yellow chocobo was with her, since she didn't want to be alone, and he was guarding her back with his feathers ruffled on how spooked he was.

"D-Don't worry, Boco~ This is only but a hiccup along the journey!" she laughed with a quivering voice, "This surely must be a p-prank of some sort.... b-besides-- I-I'm not afraid, and therefore you shouldn't be afraid either! H-hah."

"K-k-kwhee.." Boco sounded just as nervous.

"E-exactly!" She grinned a little, turning a corner to find only darkness once more, " B-besides, we want to see Miss Agrias and Miss Beatrix too, right? S-so we have a reason to keep on living!"

"K-kwhee.." it whimpered, gulping down the last bit of bravery and looking about, "W-waark.." it continued, his head turning to the side... did he hear something?