Kross imput the last letter, the moment he did, he covered his eyes with his arm and narrowed them against the bright light. It took a moment but the light faded, revealing a metallic shard. It floated towards him and he reached out his hand, taking it. An unfamiliar buzz of power emenated from the shard the moment he took hold of it. He looked at it, in shock, then his face softened to a tiny grin. He did it. He saw another flash from the corner of his eye and he looked to see a set of stairs leading up. Slowly, he followed the steps until he came to a mold, an empty mold shaped into the all familiar x-blade. He looked at the metal shard for a moment, then slowly held it out over the mold, placing it in. The mold flashed white for a second and died down, it looked like he finished first, now to wait and pray for the others's success. He stood by the mold and stared at the steps, soon..soon others would come and place their pieces in the mold, and then this could all be over with.
Kross felt her take his hand but he didn't go with her, instead, he stood there, standing his ground and stared at her."I'm sorry."He said and slid his hand from hers. He turned and shot down the hall, running away was something he wasn't fond of doing, but he had fought Aux first hand, and he knew how powerful the man was. He couldn't go back and face three of them when he had lost once, not after what had happened. He ran down the hall, if there was one thing about Kross, he was nimble, skitting along the floor with little tripping. He reached the mirror and went up to it. He put his hand on the glass, There was something off though, the mirror felt solid, it wasn't drawing him in, but he could still sense some sort of magic around it."This isn't good."He deadpanned, looking back behind him. Just great..He was stuck between a mirror and a heartless, literally. He turned, it looked like he would have to fight then, that was fine with him. The cornered animal mentality took over and he called upon his Divine Rose keyblade, running to join his allies."We got to get that mirror working.."He said to himself, but how? He took his stance, standing straight, his palm out and his keyblade pointing down behind him. He was prepared.
Kross stroked his chin, Ananta had a good point, if Vanitas was acting this bold..wait no, Vanitas was exceedingly loyal to Master Xehanort..right?"What made Vanitas so evil was the darkness in his heart."He said in a monotone voice, monologuing what Yen Sid had taught him."Give the darkness no quarter in your heart.."He said, then looked at Ananta. He picked up the book and went over to the table."Mark of Mastery, Master Yen Sid talked a lot about it, and I saw the book in his archives too, apparently it's some test to determine a Keyblade Master. The exam varies but it all comes down to one thing."He laid the book on the table for Ananta to see."Determining the Keyblade Master."He finished before looking up. He heard someone come in, exclaiming about a problem. He froze, a chill going up his spine."Oh no..how did they find us so early?"He said, already knowing with dread of what the panicked duckling was so shaken about. "Ananta!" He turned to her and held out a hand."We gotta get out of here! I know the way, just trust me!"
Kross joined in, closing his eyes as he held hands with Ananta and another person of the group. He breathed in, feeling the same entrancing sensation. He could feell himself flying, it was a strange feeling, a cross between flying and falling. Slowly, he opened his eyes, and dared to look. There was a stain glass pillar, not unlike the first time he ever got his keyblade, it had his picture on it, a picture of himself sleeping, curled up. He re-oriented himself and landed slowly on his feet, looking around. He could see the others on their own individual pillars, but he didn't make any effort to call out to them. He heard a flash and he looked over, first came the sword ebroided door the path of power is this way, enter if you dare. Next came the shield ebroided door. The path of the guardian is through here, enter as you wish. Then finally, the door with the staff embroided in it appeared. The path of the Mystic..your path, your destiny, enter and test your wisdom. He looked at the three and then slowly took his steps. He walked towards the mystic door and gripped the handle. He slowly twisted it and opened the door. His eyes widened and his lips parted as he entered, he was in the Mysterious Tower, the base of his master, Yen Sid. on Yen Sid's empty desk was an open book, a huge open book reminiscent to his Master's spell book. He approached and reached out, once he touched a finger to it, a spark emenated, making him jump a bit as clear letters began to appear before him, shifting around until they were forming a series of words. I open up, not visibly I break, but not literally I play the drum I can feel numb I am the one great mystery A riddle..he opened the wisdom door and got a riddle. He quietly watched the letters float, thinking about it for a second. He then took the H from the in the third line, E from the open in the first line, A from the play in the third line, R from the literally in the second line...and T from the mystery in the last line. The answer...is the Heart.
"Master Xehanort DIDN'T do this, that's what makes this whole situation even more suspicious."Kross clarified, dragging his fingers over a few physical books, his eyes laid on one sitting at a table, labled 'Mark of Master'. Master Yen Sid had explained to him what the test was about, he'd take it if he felt ready to do so, and even then..would he even be worthy? He sighed and looked back at Ananta, hearing her question and her protest."You guys ending up hurt is the last thing I want"He answered, pulling himself up onto a table and sat, the table not budging an inch under his nimble weight."Can you say for certain that even if we figure thing out together, that we'll win?"He asked her, looking at her with a tiny frown."Can you really say that?"He asked her."This is bigger than all of us, Karina was struck down in one hit by Aux, and she's our strongest. We can't go rushing into this. Even with our magic, I don't think we stand a chance."
Kross absently rubbed his neck as he felt Ananta relinquish her grip. He felt a warmth go through his neck and in that instant, the small pulses of pain were gone. He also heard a string of apologies from Ananta and he looked at her, shaking his head slowly."Don't worry about it, Ananta."He said and looked forward, then started his pace. They were getting close now, so kross would explain the three he was talking about. The Hall of Records, it was a huge collection of information both physical and digital. He saw even more machines, from terminals that displayed the time and date to towering electrical boxes."I visited Master Yen Sid, it was sort of an unexpected visit since I was sucked into a mirror..anyway, he told me of an apprentice who betrayed Master Xahenort, his name was Vanitas. He joined two others just like him, Aux and Nequa. I encountered Aux more than once, but I haven't quite faced Nequa or Vanitas yet..but I know one thing, gathering from what happened, I know Master Xehanort, seedy as he is, isn't responsible for this."Kross said. He walked further into the hall."I wanted to come here initially to maybe find out more about those three. Master Yen Sid trusted me with that information, it's my duty to look further into this."He said, his naiive aura now gone. This was the true Kross, a calculating, serious intellect, a side he rarely showed towards others.
Kross smiled a little, sheepish at her compliment of both his name and tattoo. He rubbed the back of his head and gave a soft, nervous laugh. Her comments about the keyblade drew his arm down and his expression changed to a more serious look."Master Yen Sid is an enigma, I was one of his pupils and he still manages to escape my comprehension."He said."But he is the wisest man I know."He said. As she punched his arm, he frowned and absently rubbed his arm, then blinked at her words."Who?"He asked, following her previous gaze to Hikaru and Kaida."..Those two?"He murmured. He then looked over to her. She wished she had someone she could depend on. He scratched his head in blatant confusion, but as she changed the subject, he went along with it and nodded."Hall of Records, cool! I can finally learn about those three jerks."He said."Ack.."He grunted as she slung an arm around him and forced him to walk along, well more like stumble, but still the same thing. He noticed something out of the corner of his eye though, something that was secured quite well into the wall, a mirror..he could see his reflection in it and he remembered the time he visited master Yen Sid, it was through a mirror, how very mysterious. Anora seemed fine by herself, since she was with friends and teammates so he wouldn't worry that much about her. Despite her fragile appearance, she was strong, very strong.
Kross tilted his head as she spoke, her question drew a nod from him."English wasn't my first language..sometimes my context gets thrown out of proportion, sometimes when I get angry, I'll accidentally let my first language slip out."He said with a sheepish smile."The common language is..difficult, putting it lightly. So many expressions and tones."He said. He heard her say what he said before but in her language. She even wrote it down to show him, he looked over it, it seemed somewhat similar to what he said, a couple of words he could pin point to be in his own language. He smiled a little and looked up at Ananta as she said her name in her language."Wow, my name on my island is Ik' ni Tikkt', it's 'heaven and earth'."He said and sat down."Even the tattoo on my arm means heaven, everyone on my island gets a specific marking to represent their mettle. Mine is heaven, my dad's was love and my mother's was bear."He said. her answer drew silence from Kross. She didn't ask to be a wielder, it was forced upon her He stroked his chin and looked at her."Well, my people believed in the Keyblade's lore, how it was the manmade weapon that saved them from the darkness and created my island. We believed there would come a time where the strongest of my people would be chosen to be a wielder of the keyblade."He said, looking at her."I was the weakest..you're not the only minority."He said and stood, dusting himself off and turned to Ananta, his hands on his hips."Well, it looks like the others are clearing the room so we should too."He said."What do ya say?"
"An'tic ne unberall, jish no'lwa unda to op'el."Kross said in response to her assumption. He smiled a little."It's my people's language for 'magic is everywhere, just know where to look'."He said."We do believe in magic, how can the trees sprout leaves and the ground bloom flowers? How can the sun shine and set? How can the moon light the darkness of night? While we don't believe in magic as you see it, we believe in magic in nature."He said."Though it looks like I don't have to tell you that I'm a believer now."He said and listened to her as she spoke."I'm hoping for something a little more temperate myself..though I won't complain."He said. Her mention of Nequa sparked a startled look from Kross, looking at her."You've met one of them..I've only met Aux and he isn't a pushover..he's wicked strong."He said. When she asked about his age, he tilted his head a little, was she forgetfful?" Well I thought I told you..but in any case, I'm 17."He said and looked at her."Ananta, I wanted to ask you something, why did you want to be a wielder?"
Kross faced Anta with a look of initial curiosity, then his words about Ananta missing him slowly sunk in and he felt his heart sink. He looked at the other adults along with Anta."She.."He trailed off."She was a powerful mystic herself..and a very dutiful wielder."He said, dispelling his keyblade and looked down."I plan to help her be happy, no matter what..she's seen enough sadness."He said, watching as he summoned his keyblade. A small smirk was on his lips in an instant before he looked at Anta."You'll soon have your own unique keychain, just for you.."He said, blinking at his words. He blushed and glanced to the side."Ashush.."He murmured in his language. "How about that girl YOU'RE in love with?"He asked in a soft, teasing tone. He heard the conversation and went over, putting a hand on Ananta's shoulder before looking at R and then Gelxn." Our children are involved in a war that WE should have finished long ago. I shall take the dive too, at least to make up for my past screwup."
Kross only stared at her for a moment, something was wrong, Kross was naiive, not completely stupid. The years taught him to be more in-tune with other people's feelings. His brown eyes met hers, listening to her as she spoke. He smiled a little, at least she was opening up a little more."You're lucky to have big houses."He said, sitting crossed legged infront of her."My people lived in huts, and the only person who lived in a legit house was our medicine man."He said, his eyes glazed over, remembering."He was a great old man..always looked out for us."He said. She said something about taking him to see her world, and in return he could show her his world. His expression faded thoughtfully, he thought about this long and hard..then he nodded and looked at her."I don't see why not."He said with a small light smile. Then looking over to where the others were, he spoke again."I wonder what world we'll be going to next."
Kross regarded Hikaru, but seeing as the man was talking to the other three, he frowned again. He hated feeling alone in a place like this, it made him so tense. He loved life, he cherished life, and these machines..were not alive. They might have been flashing in different colors, some he hadn't even heard of, but they weren't alive, they weren't warm.. He felt his arm being grabbed and quickly went after Ananta, wondering just where she was leading until he saw the main hall. He most notably saw the few plants and his eyes widened a bit. These plants weren't mechanized.. He looked at her and heard her words, tilting his head. He let a small smile move the corners of his mouth."Thank you.."He said, going over to the plants and kneeled, reaching out and touched one of the plant's leaf. He smiled at the feeling of the cool plant, relishing in it. It reminded him of just how much of home he missed. He looked over to Ananta to see her shying away from him. He blinked and slowly, he crawled over, reaching her soon and reached out one hand, touching the tip of her knee in an effort to get her attention."Ananta..what's wrong..?"He asked her softly, concerned very much for her.
Kross watched Anta's reaction. The way he tensed up, the way he backed away, the way he questioned the older man. He frowned a little and shot Ananta a neutral look, but inside he was hurt, it figured that she or Beuce wouldn't talk about him. He was forgotten, as always. He sighed out the small pang of frustration and turned his head, standing up straight and took a step back."You can call me Kross."He said in return."I'm an old friend of Ananta and your father, Beuce."He held out his hand and summoned his Odin keyblade."I have this to prove it."He said."Your mother was a very great mage back then. She threw me for a loop."
Beuce, get the f*** out of here D< *Kicks*
Kross patted down his hair when Ananta patted it and frowned. He hated when people did that.. He looked to the side at the machines."It's not that I don't like these machines, they're amazing, it's just..um."He trailed off."They make me feel claustrophobic."He murmured. He preferred the wide open, not anything with metal towers left and right. He didn't like something so confined. He sighed, calming down, complaining about it would do him little to no good. Energy bar forgotten, he only wrapped his arms around himself and rubbed his arms. Ananta's proposal for him to sit beside her. He would be more than happy to, were it not for her telling him what happened to his world. The memories still stung, he could only look to the side, refusing to sit at all."I don't wanna talk about it."He said in a monotone voice and asked no one in particular."When can we leave?"He asked again, this world was something he couldn't see himself being comfortable with, it was much too metallic, no sand or soil between his toes, just metal and electricity.
Spending 3 points on Heart (MAG+6) 16 crowns on MAG(+2) and 15 on DEF(+1) Unequipping Twitterpated and equipping Divine Rose Purchasing Mystic Chain for 500 munny Unequipping Brave Warrior and equipping Mystic Chain Okay, I'm done now XD
Kross could only stare at Glen as he insulted Ananta, insulted her..and even worse, he was pinning the blame on Beuce for starting everything like an immature little kid. He only shook his head and looked up as Ananta began to walk over to him. When she took his hand and kissed his cheek, his cheeks went pink. Her words sparked a questioning look."I see"He said and walked alongside her. He couldn't even look at Beuce and Gexln at that point. First Beuce's future self hurt Ananta and now his past self was interferring with the time line, and then Glen was calling her a name he didn't care to repeat. He kept beside her. When they entered, his eyes caught the sight of a green haired boy laying on the floor. When Anta walked over, he stepped forward and put a hand on the boy's shoulder gently."Are you okay, Anta?"He asked him.
Well if Steel took one, Kross might as well too. He carefully took the wrapped energy bar and watched Steel eat it. It looked like it didn't effect him much, or at all so it was safe to eat. He looked at the bar and carefully unwrapped it. He murmured "Ek'tak minan.." (Gods bless) and broke a piece of the bar. He took a ginger nibble at it. It was..oaty with some indistinguishable fruit flavor. It was good, unlike anything he ever had before. He was way too poor to afford these. He looked at Ananta."Thank..you Ananta."He said shyly. As he heard the explanation of where he was and how they got here, Ananta mentioned something strange, she was polling if anyone was a com-pewter genius. He could only shake his head."These machines are too cold..they don't have any warmth to them."He said, barely a corner was bitten off at the bar that he now held to his sword."It's very much unlike the Land of Departure and Master Yen Sid's tower."He lowered his head."I hate this place."
Kross, unlike Ananta, did not take a battle stance, instead he stood still, like stone with his arms crossed. When Beuce made his move, Kross's eyebrows moved into a sharp glare. The umbrella hit him, but he made no move to defend himself, even as the umbrella went off and caused massive damage, making him fly back, only to get caught by R. As R lectured Beuce, Kross only laid there, his eyes open. When R finished, Kross's body flickered and disappeared. The real Kross did nothing to participate in the battle, he only stood against the wall, his arms crossed as his doppleganger had facing Beuce. At least the battle was over, however brief. Kross's quick wit helped him avoid damage."I was going to talk him out of it."He said with a sigh."Predictable reaction, he hasn't learned a thing." He said, getting up from the wall."Welp, better wait for Ananta to finish up.."
Kross was at a loss for words, literally, he had no idea what these people were talking about, even the aloof Steel had joined in on making fun of Kross. His cheeks reddened along with Anora, sure, he had a crush on Anora but it was just that, a crush and nothing more. he looked and caught her apologetic look before quickly looking down, when Ananta spoke, his expression faded to a blank expression. Spell? What spell? Foreign?" But...."He trailed off."But..I didn't cast any spell on you.."He said, not knowing what she meant. He looked at Anora and even Aden for back up but they were talking."Urk.."He grunted, being pulled into the group hug. His navy hair shifted until his honey brown eyes were up, widened and focused on Ananta."You really want to be on my team?"He asked her, not knowing quite what to think, to be flattered or creeped out. This Ananta was a friendly person, albeit a little tomboyish. He slowly slid out of the hug and patted down his ruffled hair. He then turned his head and looked at Anora."I'm wondering the same thing, what is this place, and how did we get here? What happened to the Land of Departure?"
