Land of Twilight

Hikari walked out of the training room and sat down on the steps leading up to it. He had been training for a about two hours now. Hikari really loved using the keyblade. It brought out a side of him he loved. Hikari put his keyblade in his lap and gazed at it smiling. Ever since Hikari could remember he had this thing. It had almost become apart of him in a small way. Like an extension of himself. Hikari smiled after that thought, that was something Xin always used to teach him.
Hikari looked toward the sky and closed his eyes. He pictured himself in armor fighting off herds of Heartless and nobodies. He had only seen pictures or dolls of them but...that was all. But he always felt a rush thinking of how much fun they'd be to fight. Hikari opened his eyes and took a deep breathe in then jumped up. He then breathed out. He then looked on the horizon and raised his keyblade to the sun. I'm ready!

Max watched Hakari, and he too sprung from his seating, smirking over at him. "I'm thinkin' we had the same idea, pal!" He said, his brooklyn accent filling the air. "Bet'cha excited to smash up the heartless, huh? I personally wanna knock some Nobodies around!" He said, smirking. He would pat Hakari on the back, smirking as he summoned his own red and gold keyblade to his hands.

"Hey, uh, Hakari...?" He said, looking at the other keyblade weilder. "You seen Aluciz ta'day?"

Hikari jumped from the pat on the back. It had cuaght him off guard not to mention how strong Max was, so it kinda stung. Hikari rubbed his head and cocked his head toward Max with a smile. "Well hey to you to Max." Hikari then thought about the question. Now that Hikari thought about it...no. he hadn't seen her all day. Hikari shook his head and looked back to the sun. It was now setting. He was thinking about where she might be... "I got it! Let's go check with Xin!"

"Sounds good ta me, buddy boy! Now lets a go-go!" He said, chuckling. He seemed far, far too happy today. Perhaps because today was the first time in long while that he was actually promised the ability to smash things up. His 5'10 stature only added to his physiqe, as he began to jog to Xin's abode.

Aluciz held her Keyblade tightly as she tried to remember the family she used to have. It wasn't really working, so she decided to let it go for now. She got up off the ground and began to walk where Xin was. Distracted, she slammed into somone who had been moving at a faster pace than she had. She fell on her bottom and yelped in surprise. She looked up and saw Max and Hikari. She waved and said, "Hi, Max. Hey, Hikari. Looking for me?"

Hikari jumped when Aluciz had bumped into him. He put away his keyblade and looked at Aluciz who was sitting on the ground now. Hikari stretched his arm out to help her up with a smile. "You okay?" He said luaghing a bit.
"And yes...we kinda were...but were about to go see Xin real quick..He told me this morning he had something to share with us."

Aluciz put her Keyblade, Fall of the Morning Star. She took Hikari's hand and she said, "Yeah, I'm okay." She got up and she said, "Oh, If you're going to go see Xin too... I'll follow you."

Aluciz smiled, tilting her head slightly, her white bangs falling into her deep blue eyes. "We should keep walking, though.."

Hikari smiled and started walking towards Xin's room. "SO! What do you think XIn wants?" Hikari said looking up.
He pretty much knew this place by heart so he really didn't have to look everywhere he went. "I mean...He usually only trains us...but he never really says much...him talking is...odd" Hikari said looking back down.
THey were kinda close so Hikari looked back to Aluciz and Max. "You guys ready?"

"You betta' believe it! Hoo yeah!" The red haired boy said, pumping his fist in the air. He would look to the other two in his company, before grinning. He got along well with them, even though they probably thought he was more obnoxious than a small child. "Trainin' ain't bad, ya' know. You two beat me sensless with those dang trainin' blades. Unless I can get a hit off on ya, that is; then ya go flyin'!" He said, smirking. "Besides. It better be either somethin' special, or he made lunch!" Max said sarcastically.

Hikari smiled and began walking slowely toward Xin's room. He looked forward with a smile and laughed a bit. Whatever it was Xin wanted it sounded important..Important enough for all three of them to be together at once. He usually did't promit such gatherings...Xin is a wierd man. Hikari opened the door and gestured toward the other two to let them in. "After you." Hikari said with a smile.

Aluciz walked through the door, her guard up and ready should she be attacked. She smiled back at Hikari, and said to Max, "You know that once you whack me good a few times, I'm down for sure. I'm not very strong, just fast, I guess." Aluciz punched Max playfully, but then she whimpered in pain- she'd forgotten just how much stronger than her he was. Now her fist hurt, but she shrugged the pain off- it was one of the best things she could do: shrug the pain off and feel it later, even after whatever it was had healed... Her theory was 'Pain is only a pulse- you can just stop feeling it'. She didn't know how she did it, but she somehow did. She stood off to the side, waiting for Max and Hikari to enter, and she fiddled with a piece of her hair.
To Hikari, she said in a soft voice filled with intense rage, "I'm as ready as I'll ever be- I just want to fight something." Aluciz was feeling angry, but she didn't even know why in the world that was. She'd never felt this way -in fact, she tended to avoid conflict- but now she was angry and itching for a fight. She knew, though, that she'd probably los any fight with an opponent faster or much stronger that her. She was weak and skinny, and her Keyblade was amazing and powerful- it was just plain ol' Fall of the Morning Star.
She had no idea what Xin wanted, but she hoped that they would finally do something useful, because sometimes she felt like going into the kitchen and leaving the fighting to the boys... But not today. She felt enraged, because she couldn't remember herself... That's why she was angry. If she was herself, then why couldn't she remember? She growled under her breath, and hoped that things would go fast in here- she wanted to try remembering again.

Rikari smiled at the two behind him playing. Before he had a chance to say anything Xin entered before them. Xin was a fairly young guy...wasn't exactly an old sensei type person. Rikari bowed in front of his master and gestured to his friends to do the same. Xin, with a hand gesture told them to rise. Rikari looked his master over, His keyblade was already in his hands and it looked like Xin had a very serious face.

Xin-Today. You will start your journey. I haven't told you exactly what this journey will be, but I assure you it will be worth it.

Xun paused and closed his eyes. He then began to sit on the floor with his legs folded.

Xin-Today you will decide your leader of the trio. In order to do this you three will battle. One on One. The final victor shall be the leader of you three, to be noble. I shall also give the victor a special prize. Now which two will go up first? And don't worry about being weak. I will cure you.

Xin said putting down an Elixir down next to him. he then looked at the three aprentices waiting for two to step up. Rikari stepped into the background against the wall. He wasn't up for fighting his friends but he wasn't gonna chicken out either. If he had to he'd go up first.

Aluciz summoned Fall of the Morning Star and said, "I'll go first, Master Xin." She pushed her bangs out of her eyes, and she stepped into the light, ready to fight either one of the boys. She mouthed, I'm sorry, and took her fighting stance, her Keyblade gripped tightly in her hands. Aluciz flexed a little, strecthing tense muscles and loosening up. She prepared her mind as well for the beating that was coming, to push the pain away and fight with all her heart.

"Bring it on, boys." Aluciz said simply, dropping her stance and smiling sadly. She didn't want to do this, but if she had to, she would. Aluciz wasn't a fighter, but the time had come to become a fighter, wheteher she liked it or not.

Rikari stood behind Max for a seconnd. Finally he forced himself into enough courage to where he took out his keyblade. He walked forward and stood opposite of Aluciz. Rikari got into his battle position and looked Aluciz over. He had been training alot lately so his skills were pretty intuned but he didn't know if he had the emotional strength to attack a friend. Rikari pointed his keyblade at Aluciz. "Aluciz! Give me all you got!" Rikari said with a smile on his face that almost could have been a frown.

Aluciz answered, "You got it, pal." She fell back into her stance and looked him over. Aluciz pushed her feelings of friendship aside; they were a hindrance. She looked Hikari up and down and decided that she wouldn't go easy on him. Hikari could handle himself.
Her eyes flashed briefly, and she dashed forward, seeming to be aiming for Hikari's side. Aluciz felt tears come to her eyes and start to blur her vision, but that didn't stop her from putting her heart and soul into this battle. Fall of the Morning Star wouldn't let her down- she and the blade seemed as one at the moment.

Max folded his arms grinning as his friends would fight. "Great. Why don't you just set me up for a instant loss!" He said, rubbing the back of his head. "I have to fight the better o' you two? Why don't I just give up now." He said, smirking. They would both know that he was kidding, and would never ever turn down a fight. He flop down on his backside, and smirk as the fight would continue.

He would summon his own keyblade to his hand again. He examined the blade before sticking it into the ground, letting it sit beside him. He would look over to Xin, smirking. "I assume there isn't any interferance allowed, Master?" He said, smirking. "But...could I give help in my own way?" He said, grinning like a mad dog.

Hikari ran and jumped over Aluciz's head. He landed on his feet behind her and began to strike. A million thoughts ran threw his head while he tightened his grip. How hard should he swing? Should he hit her? SHpould he go easy with the strike? Hikari felt like the wait would take forever. Netherless he swung. None of these thoughts seemed to apply. Hikari swung as fast and as hard as he could. His eyes opened. He almost couldn't believe what he was doing.
Xin sat watching the fight from the other side of the room. He smirked at Max's comment.

Xin-I understand this may be rough to watch. But you must hold your blade.

Aluciz easily blocked Hikari's strike, her speed useful for once. She moved in an almost silky way, and she dropped to the ground, whispering in her mind, Rotation! Aluciz moved her leg, rotating on the opposite as a pivot and performing a leg sweep on Hikari.
Aluciz didn't like this, and she knew Hikari probably didn't either. And the winner having to fight Max? That was a problem- Max could easily beat her with a few good whacks. This was all too complicated- her head hurt!
She raised her Keyblade, ready to slash at Hikari. A single tear went down her cheek- this pained her horribly, and she hated fighting. Still, what had to be done had to be done. Aluciz had to get this done before she cried her eyes out over this.

Hikari rolled out of the way of the slash coming his way. Hikari stood opposite of Aluciz again. He looked her over when he noticed she had tears in her eyes. Hikari kinda got depressed after that. Hikari hated when people were sad. Hikari smiled at Aluciz. "Don't worry. I can take a hit..look." Hikari said bopping himself on the head pretty hard. "I can take it." Hikari said laughing while rubbing his head. Hikari went into battle position again. He began to run at Aluciz but in a swirving. THe only thought in his head was to confuse her to where she wouldn't be able to predict his next move.
Hikari went to slash at Aluciz when he was close enough. Instead he side swiped barely hitting more like pushing off of her putting himself behind her. He then went to do a downward slash but instead of hitting Aluciz he hit the ground behind her sending himself up into the sky. He then began a thrust into the ground right below him into Aluciz. He hoped she moved out the way. Not only so she didn't get hurt but so his plan progressed.

Max watched as the fight continued to progress, his own eyes ready for conflict. Xin told him that he would have to hold his blade...but he wanted to see what would happen when tension rose - Hikari and Aluciz were good fighters, but neither of them really ENJOYED fighting like he did. His arms ached to swing the blade, and his body was sore, not from being hit, but rather from the lack of bruises that would cover his body. His body was pumped up for this....