Kingdom Hearts X; The Forgotten's Keeper

Chapter XI; Two Steps Back

Annora sat down on the fountain that she hung around so often she had memorized every detail about it. She let out a heavy breath looking at Chirithy. Chirithy looked up at her with an expectant look, which Annora suspected meant she still had more missions to complete that day.

She had already gone to Beasts Castle and Dwarves Woodlands that day. She had to have taken out at least fifty Heartless and gathered more materials for the Moogles in town than they could possibly need. She didn't have a clue as to how much lux she had collected, but she knew it had to have been a lot.

"I'm tired," Annora stated simply. Chirithy chuckled a little at her statement. Annora guessed being tired wasn't enough to get her out of any more missions. Maybe she'd have to break her arm on the next one.

"I know, I know. But if you give up now the other unions will get ahead." Chirithy said. Annora frowned in thought. Before she could object herself a sound of a portal of some kind opening caught her attention.

"But why does that matter?" A girl asked as she came through the portal. She had long dark hair and bangs across her forehead. Her eyes were an amber brown that Annora hadn't seen on many. She wore a white shirt that zipped up with a black short-sleeved jacket and black gloves. She had a black skirt with two belts and a chain of stars on her left side. "It's not a competition. Or at least it shouldn't be. Our goal of protecting the light is the same. There's no need for us to fight." The girl continued. Annora had no clue who she was, but she was liking her already.

"Who are you?" Chirithy asked, tipping its head to the side.

"The name's Skuld. You're Annora, right?" The girl said, sitting on the fountain beside Annora. Annora nodded in shock, she didn't know this girl, how did she know her. "Nice to meet you," Skuld said cheerfully.

"How did you know my name?" Annora asked. Skuld smiled leaning back, using her arms to keep her from falling into the fountain.

"Ephemer told me all about you." Skuld explained calmly. Her amber eyes focused on Annora in interest. Annora guessed that meant she was exaggerating and Ephemer had just mentioned her, but she didn't say as much.

"What?" Annora asked. Skuld laughed at Annora's shocked question. She leaned forward looking at Annora closely.

"Don't look so surprised! He used to be in my party, you know." Skuld said. Annora blinked a few times in surprise. She didn't really think Ephemer would ever join a party. He seemed too carefree for that.

"No, I did not know." Annora replied. Her Chirithy jumped up onto the fountain beside her, listening to Skuld in interest. Annora guessed her Chirithy wanted to know more about the friend that drove Annora to break any and all rules.

"We met not long after I became a keyblade wielder. There was never a dull moment with him around! But then one day he just quit. I was really upset about it for a while. But then he showed up in my dream the other night and told me to find you." Skuld explained. Annora continued to look at Skuld in shock.

"Why?" Annora asked. Skuld shrugged.

"Good question. I was actually hoping you could tell me. See I don't really understand why he was in my dream, to begin with. But he asked me to go with you. So here I am." Skuld said motioning to her surroundings. Annora crossed her arms, frowning in thought.

"Ephemer seems to have a habit of showing up in peoples dreams," Annora said, mostly to herself. Skuld looked at her curiously.

"He was in your dream too? What'd he say?" She asked. Annora looked at Skuld, still thinking. She wasn't sure if she could trust Skuld with this information. Normally she wouldn't say anything. But if Ephemer trusted Skuld, Annora could too.