Kingdom Hearts X; The Forgotten's Keeper

Chapter XII; Seeds of a Dandelion

The first thing Annora noticed about fighting Master Ira, was he fought very similarly to Master Ava. She supposed that made sense, they had the same master after all. The second thing she noticed was it was actually a little bit easier. She was still outclassed, but less so. Annora didn't know if that meant Master Ava was stronger than Master Ira or if she had just gotten better.

Annora rolled to the side to avoid a blow from Master Ira. She landed in a crouched position and launched herself at the master. She caught him off guard, allowing her to actually hit him, though it didn't seem to have any effect.

Master Ira swung his keyblade catching Annora's chest and sending her backward. She managed to land on her feet, struggling to catch her breath. Before Master Ira could advance any farther Skuld stepped in his way, her own keyblade raised. Master Ira sighed before quickly attacking Skuld.

Skuld blocked most of the hits from Master Ira, only being hit on the side a few times. She returned the string of attacks, trying to push Master Ira back. Master Ira used a gust of wind magic to push Skuld back, then slammed his keyblade into her stomach, forcing her to the ground.

Annora heard a buzzing in her ears as anger filled her. She pushed herself at Master Ira and attacked with everything she had. Master Ira staggered under the blows. Before Annora could finish, however, he wrapped a foot around her own and pulled her to the ground. Annora panted heavily as the masters keyblade pointed at her throat.

She glared up at the master, not speaking. Much to her surprise, the keyblade was removed from her throat.

"You avoided being swallowed by your anger and sadness-- you fought well." Master Ira said. There was suddenly a bright flash of light that made Annora cringe. As she blinked to clear the spots from her vision she saw they were no longer in the Foretellers chamber. It was the hallway underneath the tower once again. In front of her was Master Ava rather than Master Ira.

"Master Ava!" Chirithy cried out in shock. Annora glanced at Skuld who looked just as surprised.

"Annora, Skuld. You allowed me to determine the strength of your hearts. The master you were just fighting, as well as the location, was just an illusion I created." Master Ava said calmly.

"What's going on?" Annora asked as she stood. Skuld did the same where she was, watching the young master with suspicion.

"As Ephemer told you in your dreams, the end of the world seems to be upon us. If all of us are swallowed by the end of this world, that will be the end of keyblade wielders. That must be avoided." Master Ava answered. She sounded sad, which Annora suspected was due to her knowledge of the worlds eminent doom.

"How?" Annora asked.

"I've been carrying out my role, preparing exceptional keyblade wielders, despite union, to last in the next world." Master Ava explained, pacing back towards one of the gears. Skuld moved to stand beside Annora, looking between the master and her friend in confusion.

"The next world?" Annora asked, tilting her head to the side. Master Ava nodded with a small smile.

"This is all happening too fast," Skuld said, sounding very frustrated. "What happened to Ephemer than?" She asked. Master Ava sighed.

"The world is facing its end. Perhaps he started searching for the truth because he felt that. And he got close faster than anyone else. So I asked him a favor. I asked him to guide the Dandelions in my stead." Master Ava answered.

"Dandelions?" Chirithy asked, jumping to be sure Master Ava noticed it. Master Ava laughed softly at the Chirithy's gesture.

"The keyblade wielders that will go on in the next world. They who shall not witness the worlds end. My role is to establish those Dandelions. However, I have to witness the end of the world. So that he may guide those who are left after I'm gone, I decided to send Ephemer on ahead." Master Ava explained. Annora frowned. How could they know the world was ending? And since they knew, why weren't they trying to stop it?