Kingdom Hearts: Lights In Darkness

Chapter 1: Training

She swung her keyblade at the dummies planted around them. All of them burst open, cotton flying out. It had been a couple days since those three, Kanan, Zeb, and Hera, had gone to Yen Sid asking for another keyblade wielder. She had failed to get her keyblade to appear before them, and now she was back to training. She was able to summon it much easier now, but Merlin had insisted on helping the new wielder who she was certain would replace her. A puff of smoke several feet away revealed Merlin and Ezra. She stared rather blankly at Ezra.

"Ah," Merlin said, "good. You're here. Sabine, I'd like to introduce you to the newest one chosen by the keyblade: Ezra."

Ezra extended his hand to Sabine. She looked from his hand to him. She nodded and turned away from him. As she walked to one of the dummies, Ezra turned to Merlin.

"Is she okay?" Ezra asked.

"Oh, well," Merlin said, "it's rather bizarre, but she believes that you are replacing her for a group wanting more keyblade wielders."

"But I don't want to replace anyone. Actually, I don't know if I want the keyblade."

"Well," Merlin chuckled, "the chosen can't be choosers."

Ezra summoned his keyblade and smacked a dummy with his keyblade. It's head rocked a little. Ezra smacked it a little harder. It's head shook. Ezra swung his keyblade at the head and tore a hole in it. He went to another and swung his keyblade into it. Again a hole tore through it.

"Well, that's decent," Merlin said, "but do you know any magic?"

"Wait," Ezra said, "I can use magic?"

"Oh, yes. Here."

Merlin tossed Ezra six blue transparent orbs. As soon as they were within one foot of him, they vanished. Ezra could feel some form of power inside him.

"Now," Merlin said, "point your keyblade at one of the dummies, and cast one of the spells."

Ezra pointed his keyblade at the headless dummy.

"Abra cadabra?" He said.

Nothing happened. He lowered his keyblade and looked at Merlin.

Merlin sighed, "No, these are elemental spells. Cast an elemental spell at it."

Ezra pointed his keyblade back at the dummy.

"Fire?" Ezra said.

A ball of flame shot out of the end of the keyblade. He stumbled back a couple steps. The dummy was consumed in the ball before it dissipated. Sabine walked back to them stone faced.

"Merlin," she said, "I have an idea for our new wielder, here."

"Oh?"

"How about we duel each other? That should give him a real test on his abilities. And mine."

"Oh, well," Merlin said, "I don't think that's advisable. He hasn't had the keyblade as long as you, and his major experience is, if I may be so frank, lucking his way through a group of Hearless and a Darkside."

"Then it's an opportunity for him to get more experience."

"I understand. However--"

"I'm down for it," Ezra interrupted, "if it means getting more experience, then I'll do it."

"Oh," Merlin said, "very well."

Merlin waved his wand and the dummies disappeared. A circle was etched into the ground. Sabine began walking to the other side.

"Hey," Ezra said. She turned around, "No hard feelings, no matter who wins."

Sabine nodded. They both took a ready position.

"Ready?" Merlin said.

They both locked a steely gaze. Merlin waved his wand and fireworks erupted into the word "begin." Sabine dashed at Ezra, keyblade drawn back. Once she was close enough she began striking at Ezra furiously. Ezra managed to block all of her attacks, but it was wearing him down. At her next strike, Ezra swung his keyblade to meet hers. What resulted was a small explosion of light that sent them both flying. The force of it knocked them both out.

When Ezra came to, Sabine was standing arms crossed and looking at the ground while Merlin was berating her for something. Ezra shook the drowsiness from him and focused in.

"... together! And next time you want to duel," Merlin was finishing, "actually hold back that fiery temper of yours!"

Merlin walked over to Ezra and helped him to his feet. He handed him a bottle of something.

"What's this?" Ezra asked.

"A potion," Merlin answered, "it should heal whatever injuries you received at her hands."

Ezra drank it and felt better immediately. He walked over to Sabine, who was still staring at the ground.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Why do you care?" Sabine responded.

"Because we were both hit by that explosion. And you look like you could use a friend."

"We don't even know each other. How does that constitute us as being friends?"

"Well you could make it easier by opening up."

She turned around so she was no longer facing him.

"We're only here as long as we need to get a handle on the keyblade. After that, we're going our separate ways."

She walked away. Ezra was confused and a little saddened by what had just happened.

Several days later, the training was over.

Next part coming soon.