Every Rose Has Its Thorns

[Nothingness]

Their flight from Deep Jungle hadn't been a long one mostly because Raen felt that the sooner they visited another world, the sooner they could compete in the Games. He had already rationalized that it was a little selfish, but as far as he was concerned competing in the games would be a great way to just relax and have some fun. And fun was definitely something that they had been lacking as of late.

Landing the ship gently on the world he eagerly stepped out and took a look around: this world certainly didn't appear to be nearly as hostile as the others, though it did look a little gloomier than most. A large castle was surrounded by high walls and what he assumed to be a moat. He made sure to have landed near the castle gates, which were a large pair of wrought-iron gates that lead to a bridge connecting the castle to the outside. He walked over to the gates and gently pushed them--they swung open with ease, squeaking slightly. Looking down the length of the bridge, he couldn't see any guards or people. There were only tall statues of soldiers lining the bridge and two large wooden doors at the end. "Well, shall we?"

[Aerith]

Castles? This is Different.

This new world they had landed on was much darker but also much cooler and drier than the previous world. It was also nearly as empty. The architecture here was very different from what Lanying was used to, but it was strangely beautiful in its haunting way. She wondered what sort of events awaited them here.

Raen was already pushing open the nearby gates, and she nodded at him as she walked through. She took a moment to take in the long bridge, the statues sporadically lining the sides. The only obvious way to take was through the large wooden doors at the end. Glancing over her shoulder at Raen and Zack, she commented, "Let us hope nothing hostile is here."

[Zack]

Zack was, of course, excited at the prospect of exploring a new world. Even though he really wanted to see if the Games were open to compete in, exploring another new world was still a bit more exciting. He followed after Raen and Lanying when the ship landed. They had landed on world with a huge castle. It looked a bit creepy, but that just made Zack more excited, wondering what could possibly be inside.

Raen pushed open the gates and asked if they should continue and Zack nodded, moving forward eagerly. Lanying expressed her concern and hoping nothing hostile would be here. "No worries! We'll take care of anyone who would threaten us," he stated enthusiastically. He looked up at the castle that was looming over them. "Who do you think lives in a castle like this anyway?" he asked.

[Nothingness]

Foreboding

Raen followed closely behind them. The sheer size of the castle made him feel so diminutive--so utterly insignificant. He heard Lanying voice his own hopes that nothing dangerous was here, and then Zack asked who probably lived here. "Someone either very powerful, very rich, or very much both." Raen replied. As he looked around, he felt like the soldier statues were looming over them, ready to strike at any second. He was starting to have second thoughts about coming here. But that was kind of late now; they were in front of the wooden doors.

Something just seemed amazingly daunting about all of this. He couldn't help but feel some trace of trepidation in his heart. But it wasn't just that--it was like he could sense something in the air, almost like a stagnant cloud that hung all around them. There was no other word that could describe what he felt in his heart but "fear". Something about this scared him, and the closer they got to the castle the more he felt it. "Why am I feeling this? I don't have any reason too, and none of the others seem to notice." Trying his best to shake it off, he asked, "So, who's going first?"

[Angelus]

Every Rose...

A portal of darkness had opened within the depths of this dark and foreboding castle. A figure clad in black cothing stepped out, and looked around. It was alone, which was both good and bad. It was good because it meant that none of its kind had followed it here, and would not pester it. But the lack of anyone there meant that this figure could not get any information.

"How unfortunate. The lack of life denotes something sinister is at play. Or perhaps it is because of the natural darkness of this world that nothing is stirring." The figure walked down the hallway, it's footsteps echoing loudly as it did. If stealth had been its motive, it would have done more to stay silent, but since it was hoping to draw something out into the open so that he could proceed to question it, the echoes only helped. A simple shrug of the shoulders signaled that there was indeed nothing in this area warranted opening a set of doors. They creaked loudly as they opened, and the figure stepped through them. It began to walk once more, and the footsteps echoed yet again, and this time they seemed to echo even louder than before.

This figure was not alone. There were others inside the castle. But they much like the figure, were not human. The figure spun, a pink and green scythe appearing as rose petals fell to the ground. It flourished its weapon, and the creatures of pure darkness lept into action. Heartless, this figure knew, were very predictable things. And it would show them the error of their ways.

[Aerith]

Perhaps It Would Not Hurt to be Polite

Lanying was slightly puzzled at the hesitation present in Raen's voice. There wasn't anything here that she could see, only threatening statues of grotesque warriors. But they were mere statues. Was he sensing something that she and Zack could not because of the darkness in his heart? She was not sure whether or not to ask him about it. It was, after all, a sensitive subject right now.

Regardless, they needed to do something other than stand around and look at each other. After shifting her eyes between Raen and Zack a few times, she resisted the urge to throw her hands in the air and instead settled for a slight roll of her eyes and a sigh. "I will go first. There is nothing here to worry about." She said this confidently, but Raen's worry was now producing worry of her own in the back of her mind.

The wooden doors led into a large courtyard area, dotted with more statues in the center. The castle itself now loomed large in their field of vision, and Lanying could not help but admire the stained glass windows adorning the various towers. Even in the dim lighting, they were gorgeous. Whoever lived here must enjoy surrounding himself with art. Or at least, Lanying thought this must be the case.

"I think we should go inside, but...should we just go in, or should we knock first?"

[Zack]

Zack nodded as Raen answered his question. Someone powerful or someone rich, huh? They must also have a taste for gloomy things since this castle just looked creepy and foreboding. They were soon at the large wooden doors and Raen asked who would go first. He would've gone first, but Lanying beat him to the punch and walked up to the doors.

The next area they entered was a huge courtyard, the castle now much closer than it had been when they had first arrived. IT was pretty huge, much more so up close. Lanying asked if they should head in or knock, but who knew if anyone lived here still or not? "I say we just head in!" he replied and headed for the door. He wasn't getting any worrying vibes like Lanying and Raen were. He was too excited about the new world and wanted to explore the castle.

When he reached the doors he did knock, but the door seemed partially open already. "I think we can just head in," he said to the other two with him. He pushed the doors open and entered the castle.

[Maleficent]

Maleficent looked over the courtyard from high up on the balcony. This world had two presences she had encountered before. One belonged to the princess of heart Belle. The other belonged to that foolish creature known as the Beast. However, that was not what had drawn her to this world. No...it was a new presence that had intrigued her.

She had been searching for that mysterious dark power, the one that had attacked the restoration committee. However, she had found a different presence, one just starting on the road to darkness. Yet, it still had some light as well. She was curious as to who it was that was giving off this curious power. She looked over the courtyard and saw three people just arriving. She could immediately pick out which one of them that was embracing the darkness. She smirked, maybe she would have a new pawn to use as she saw fit.

She then began to wave her hand in circular motions above the orb in her staff. It began to glow green. Surely since this one, who wanted to embrace the darkness, wouldn't mind a little help? She'd need to get the other two away from him eventually, but for now she would see what would happen with this small....gift.

[Nothingness]

A Somewhat Appreciated Gift

He was finally starting to understand a little better what he was feeling. Emotions. The deep-seeded emotions that still remained on these grounds. So much rage and loneliness permeated the air that it was intoxicating, and not in a good way. Such dark emotions, but he could also just barely feel the undertones of love. They were fresher and more powerful, but it would take a while for them to overtake these blacker feelings that haunted the world. "Has the darkness even affected my senses, now?" A part of it excited him--what else would it do? But that also scared him. What would it change him into?

Raen was so distracted by those thoughts that he really wasn't paying attention where his feet were taking him, and soon found himself standing before another tall pair of doors. Zack, for better or for worse, knocked on the doors but found them unlocked and headed into the castle. Just as Raen was about to follow, he felt a massive spasm throughout his body. It was the darkness, but he had never felt it like this. A single thought immediately entered his head. "Not around them. I have to get away from them."

He gripped his head with one hand, practically stumbling forward into the castle. Letting his hand fall, he saw yet another set of doors at the end of the foyer. He made a break for it, running towards them as fast as possible before bursting them open and shutting them behind him. Leaning against the doors he started to breath deeply and looked up. It was a massive ballroom, empty, but still well lit. And for some reason, the "air" was different. Rage and loneliness weren't here--just love. Something about that relaxed him, but the darkness was still pouring into his body and he couldn't control it. Forcing every step towards the very center of the ballroom, he knew that it was now or never.

He closed his eyes, tried to slow his breathing. He remembered the sound of the ocean on Neverland, the gentle sound of the waves, and the all-encompassing water. The darkness was the ocean inside of him, and he tried to slowly let it out. He didn't try to grab it, but instead let it slowly flow out of his heart with his own force of will controlling it. Raen slowly opened his eyes and held his hand out in front of him, and he immediately let out a short, surprised laugh. Almost like liquid nitrogen, a fog of darkness was rolling off his hand and dissipating as it approached the ground. He did it. It wasn't perfect, nor was there much control, but he did it.

[Maleficent]

Maleficent smirked to herself. Soon after she had unlocked the darkness in the young one's heart, he immediately ran inside. The other two had not chased after him yet, which meant she did not have to do much to keep him separated from the others. She summoned up two Neoshadows to keep the other two busy for just enough time to make her way to where the tainted one now had stopped.

She disappeared within green flames and reappeared where the man had ran, the ballroom. She watched from the second floor, as he managed to control just a bit of the darkness that had just entered him. "How interesting..." she said aloud as she watched. Not many could manage to keep control and not succumb to the darkness. How intriguing...she could find a use for this one.

She then made her presence known by appearing in front of the man now. She had made sure that they would not be disturbed, the doors locked for now. "Not many are able to control the darkness like that," she said to him. "Most succumb to it immediately," Now that she could see this person's face she somewhat recognized him. However, she could not quite place, she must not have deemed him important when they first met. "I wonder how much longer untill the darkness overtakes you,"

[Aerith]

Desperation
Above the Rising Falls remixed by sephfire; original tracks by Yoko Shimomura from Kingdom Hearts

Lanying was about to follow Zack through the doors and into the castle proper, but Raen suddenly sprinted past both her and Zack. He left them standing more than a little confused right on the threshold of the main entrance. She saw him go through another set of doors straight ahead, but he shut them behind him. Concerned, she took a step forward into the castle, but that was as far as she got before two Neoshadows rose from the floor to greet her and Zack.

Without hesitation, she drew her sword and leaped right for the nearest one. Perhaps it had not expected her to react so quickly, because she landed a solid slash across the creature's chest before it vanished back into the floor. Now, she needed to keep moving, her eyes warily watching the splotch of black sliding around beneath her feet. When it finally emerged, she was ready. First, she blocked the Neoshadow's attempted surprise attack, then countered with a stab straight through its head. Before it had disappeared completely, she was already sprinting toward those two doors at the far end of the entrance hall.

Unfortunately, she found them locked when she got there. Had Raen locked himself in? She was about to knock on the door and call out to him, but then she heard a voice inside that was not his. And this voice, she remembered. Her eyes widened, and the worry that had been gnawing at the back of her mind immediately mutated into a ravenous fear that started devouring her from the inside of her stomach.

This was no time to be cool and collected.

"Raen!" She shoved a shoulder against the doors, but her efforts were in vain, and she knew it. But if he was left alone in there with that witch... "Zack! Zack, help me, please!" She continued shoving vainly against the door, and even with Zack's help, she knew they wouldn't be able to get through. They would have to find another way in. She spun around, hoping Zack was right behind her and free from Heartless. "We need to find another way in there! Now!" Leaning her back against the doors, she closed her eyes and tried to calm herself. Focus was needed right now.

[Zack]

Zack would have kept moving forward, but all of a sudden Raen sprinted past him. "What's the rush?" he asked as Raen went by. He ran into some huge doors further down the hallway. Zack was a bout to go after him, but then two heartless appeared in front of them. He quickly took out his sword, as Lanying already took care of one of the heartless.

He rushed at it and attacked it three times across the chest, destroying it. It didn't take long, but it was long enough for Lanying to already reach the doors to see that they were locked. However, she soon yelled for him to help her bust in and he rushed over, wondering why she sounded so panicked.

As soon as he got there, Lanying was already telling him they needed to find another way in. He was confused, why was she so panicked now? "What's the matter, Lanying? Is something in there with Raen?" he asked. He wasn't sure about another way into that door, it didn't seem like there would be one. However, they still hadn't really explored the place yet, so maybe there was somewhere.

[Angelus]

Has Its Thorn.

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The figure had disposed of the Heartless attacking him in a matter of minutes. It was at this time that he was able to acknowledge the presence of others in the castle. He heard their attempts at knocking, their opening and shutting doors, and finally their yelling. It was at this time that the figure removed the hood concealing the face underneath, revealing a pretty male face. He shook his head, letting his pink hair flow free of the cloak. He disappeared in a corridor of darkness, and appeared behind Zack and Lanying.

"Is your comerade behind those doors?" the man asked of the duo, beginning to pace. "And by the way you're frantically searching, I'd venture the guess that they are locked." He stopped pacing, and faced the two.

"What's the matter, afraid the darkness in his heart might overtake him? Or is there someone in their that you're worried might convince him to give into it?" He smiled slightly. Nobody liked being suspicious of an ally.

[Nothingness]

Losing It

Raen froze as soon as he heard that voice. No, it couldn't be her: the woman from the Land of Dragons who appeared at Kadaj's call and summoned the Heartless. But when she appeared in front of him he knew without a doubt that it was her. Rage immediately overtook him; sheer, uncontrollable rage, amplified by the abundant darkness inside him. Raen's entire body convulsed as the darkness began to take over. Gripping his chest in pain, he glared at Maleficent with murderous intent. Trying his best to retain control, he forced out his words, "What did you do to me!?"

But that was all that he had left in him. Just like in Neverland the darkness took over, and he wasn't himself anymore. Drawing his sword he lunged at the witch, aiming to pierce her heart. In his mind he was screaming for release, but the darkness was unrelenting. All Raen could do now was relegate himself to simply watching, and praying that he would get control back soon before it was too late.

[Aerith]

Are You an Ally or an Obstacle?

Lanying partially heard Zack ask her what was wrong, but she could not answer him at the moment. There was no time for words. They needed to get in there and quickly. She had only seen the witch for a brief period of time, but that had been long enough for Lanying to know that Raen being alone with her would not turn out well.

Before she could explain her great anxiety to Zack, another presence joined them. The moment her eyes settled on the black cloak, she practically bristled. The much larger build and shock of pink hair framing a very effeminate male face, though, immediately told her this was not Zexion. At the moment, Zexion or not, she was ready to inflict some pain upon someone. Anyone. But especially anyone wearing that cloak. Or the witch on the other side of the doors.

She was still holding her sword, so she pointed it at the stranger. His words were both panic-worthy and anger-inducing. "Unless you are here to help us get inside, I suggest you leave." She cast a glance at Zack. "He's in there with a very powerful witch who appeared on my homeworld for a brief time when Raen and I first met. She can summon Heartless and...and I do not know what else, but I do not want to find out."