Guardians of the halls of Heart, when we from our home depart...

[wrfm-mods.livejournal.com]

Who: Everyone who wants to fight or help
What: The Denizens of Light have broken free and are now faced with the First Darkness itself. What will be the fate of the World?
Where: The Keyblade Graveyard

The Door opened, and Light rushed forth.

"NO!" the Keybearer screamed, the sound fading as he was engulfed. Light, True Light, washed over everyone in waves, coming and coming and never seeming to end until all of Alexandria was covered beneath the shroud locking it in. Chernabog, met with an enemy he could not easily stand against even without his current wounds, shielded his eyes and vanished. There came a cracking sound, elevating in volume until it became thunder.

Weakened by the Ten-Chi Ken, under the pressing weight of its true enemy at full strength, the cage of Darkness shattered.

True Light cradled its children, lovingly soothing and rejuvenating any who might need it. There came a gentle pulling sensation, and all were taken to where they belonged, where their Hearts wanted them to be. As one, the worlds were covered in Light, and Denizens deposited in exactly where they should be. One such world, a desolate land of lifeless keys, experienced much the same, but only those who were ready and willing to fight were left here, faced with an enemy decided by their very nature.

The First Darkness looked on in outraged revulsion, Light prickling at his skin.

They will decide their own fates. The words simply appeared in his head with no voice to speak them, not even Patrick. You cannot do that for them, no matter your power.

And so the Light faded, lingering only a moment longer to fortify those left to oppose the Darkness. The Keybearers stood at the forefront, each grasping their key in hand. Their allies were gathered behind them, some looking confused and scared, others excited and determined, with every emotion in between. The forces of Darkness looked meager in comparison, with only the debilitated First Darkness himself and his handful of Keybearers. Jagannatha's expression twisted into a grotesque sneer, gold eyes blazing with something like elation as he whispered quietly to himself. Mere moments later, hundreds, perhaps even thousands of Heartless and Nobodies were appearing at their sides, quickly outnumbering the Denizens of Light.

"You found it then," he growled, addressing all of them at once. "I find that I am hardly surprised. Your kind were always stubborn, weren't you? Small matter. Once the lot of you are crushed, the remaining Denizens of Light will have no one. It will be so much simpler to keep them caged when all that's left of their fighting spirit has been destroyed beyond hope. They'll be the perfect little pets for us. And it will be so much more enjoyable to watch them break."

In a moment, he was a mere step away from Sora, brandishing a blade of pure Darkness in his face. The boy rolled in a dodge, and Jagannatha agilely turned to follow. That was all the indication his Keybearers needed.

The final battle had begun.

OOC Notes:
- Everyone coming from within Alexandria has been fully healed by the Light.
- Those Denizens of Light outside of Alexandria may be touched by the Light if they so choose, meaning you will be healed and transported to where you need to be, as well.
- Light magic is fully restored. Reverse Cure is no longer an issue.
- Dark magic has been weakened by the Ten-Chi Ken, but is still fully accessible.
- Refugees will be fighting either one of the five Dark Keybearers, members of the Academy of Shadows if they join the fray, or Heartless and Nobodies. Keybearers have the distinct advantage here in one-on-one combat.
- If you have any questions, please take them over here.

Comments

*tries to breathe some life into this log* Where the hell is everyone?

[thirteenth_brat]

Being healed was a plus. Being out of Alexandria was also a plus. Roxas wasn't so sure being transported to the Keyblade Graveyard was such a plus, though, especially when the first opponent he ran into was another Keybearer.

Maybe it didn't matter. He was ready, Oblivion in one hand, Bond of Flame in the other. He would get through this bastard and go and help Sora with Jagannatha. There was no question on that.

Re: *tries to breathe some life into this log* Where the hell is everyone?

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

The other Keybearer was a lean slender figure of indeterminate gender. He or she held a very long, slender Keyblade that strongly resembled a fencing epee with a series of jagged teeth near the edge, though the wire-thin blade seemed to be edged in monofilament. The other hand held a small buckler, suitable for defense in rapid-paced fencing match.

The Keybearer made a brief salute with the tip of his or her blade, then darted in a quick stab towards Roxas' upper arm.

Re: *tries to breathe some life into this log* Where the hell is everyone?

[thirteenth_brat]

If Roxas didn't know Keyblades well enough, he'd swear that one would look flimsy. He knew better, though. Thin and flimsy as it looked, it was probably just as sturdy as his own...

...And coming in at him for a stab faster than he'd expected. His own quick reflexes meant he got no more than a scratch as he dodged back and to the side, but he cursed the small lapse in his guard that allowed even that. And he seriously doubted this other Keybearer was starting out this battle with the best of their ability.

Putting in some distance, he began casting a spell under his breath, but he wouldn't release it until his opponent made his/her/its next move.

Re: *tries to breathe some life into this log* Where the hell is everyone?

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

His opponent moved forward in short hops, legs remaining approximately the same distance apart, balance carefully centers over the two limbs. The tip of the keyblade moved delicately with only slight changes in its angle, appearing perhaps to waver, before plunging forward towards Roxas' other arm.

[thirteenth_brat]

First a stab aimed at his right, now at his left. Why was this bastard (bitch?) aiming to wound rather than kill?

Not that it mattered much. In a better position to guard this time, Roxas caught the blade on the teeth of Oblivion, deflecting it up as he pointed Bond of Flame under the raised weapons and at the opponent's middle to cast Firaga.

He hadn't forgotten about the buckler, but he seriously doubted it would block a boosted Firaga cast from a full mana pool all that well.

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

With a deft slip of the wrist, the other Keybearer parried and withdrew his blade from Roxas' control. Then he or she rolled under the Firaga. His or her clothing was singed, and skin was slightly reddened as from a sunburn, but no serious damage had been done.

The roll carried the stranger past Roxas, and with a quick leap the other regained a good footing and was standing with blade at the ready, partially inside Roxas' guard.

[thirteenth_brat]

Roxas really wished he could teleport the way he'd been able to as a Nobody. This battle would probably have been over already if he could.

'Shit.'

The opponent's dodge roll had put him/her in a good position to land at jab at his arm like he/she had been trying since this fight had started, as he really hadn't been expecting the dodge roll under the Firaga. That was a risky and dangerous move and it took either a hell of a lot of agility, a hell of a lot of luck or some combination of the two.

His answer to the situation was to start casting Aeroga in the defensive form. His opponent would still be within its radius when he unleashed the spell.

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

The unexpected wind of the spell pushed the other Keybearer off his/her feet and tossed him/her some ten feet away. But with the same speed and agility that had led to the previous defensive move, he/she was back on his/her feet in instants.

"Touche." It was the first word the other had spoken, and the voice was just as androgynous as the face and figure.

[thirteenth_brat]

"You know, I would have thought even dark Keybearers would want to keep things in balance," Roxas said, keeping his defenses up, "So why are you doing this?"

He wasn't sure what he was expecting in answer, but either way, he could use the lull to figure out how best to handle the nimble opponent.

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

The other Keybearer circled as he or she responded, still with perfect footwork. "Conflict gives us the chance to grow in strength. I have been eager for the chance to cross blades with one whose skill might match my own." The sentence was punctuated with a feint.

[thirteenth_brat]

Roxas jumped back at the feint, his offhand weapon up to defend should it turn out to be more than just a feint.

"So you're in this for a challenge?"

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

Two more feints followed this one in quick succession, as the other Keybearer continued to circle Roxas. "Always the challenge. Constant conflict, constant growth."

[thirteenth_brat]

Roxas gave a little ground on these feints, still considering his options with this foe. He was pretty sure he knew what he'd need to do. It wouldn't prove any points about strength, but it would give him the chance to go and help Sora.

"There can be growth without conflict," he replied, watching the opponent, "You could easily find strong opponents who are also looking for a challenge, but not a conflict."

The opponent's next move was going to be met with a spell, regardless of his/her/its response to Roxas's statement.

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

"Even that is conflict, if lesser conflict. But the greatest strength is gained when one is taking true risks for one's life." The other Keybearer lashed out now with a flurry of attacks, each aimed squarely for Roxas's flesh.

[thirteenth_brat]

"Frankly, I've done far more fighting than I care," Roxas replied, his response punctuated by the clash of weapons as he blocked as many of his opponents attacks as possible. Some still got through, though, each bringing a hiss of pain, "A whole life spent in some sort of conflict or other. I'm kind of getting sick of it. Now... Stop."

That last was not a command or plea, but the casting of a spell. The Stop spell wasn't one of his stronger spells, but it had its used. Whether the spell took or not hardly mattered as either way he would be launching his own counter attack in a similar flurry of swipes and jabs. Just similar though, with his preference for dual wielding. If the Stop spell didn't take, that buckler might be getting a bit of a workout...

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

The other Keybearer froze, still and vulnerable to Roxas' attacks.

[thirteenth_brat]

Roxas really didn't want to kill the... person... if he could help it, but he couldn't have him/her/it following him as soon as the spell wore off either. In any case, he was already attacking, having begun before seeing that the spell took hold. But he let up before the spell wore off and and took off toward Sora and Jagannatha, hoping he wasn't too late to help Sora.

Focused though he was on reaching the two, he was alert to the possibility of being followed. On top of that, he was slowed by the presence of a number of Heartless...

[wr-npc.livejournal.com]

When the spell wore off, the dark Keybearer collapsed, bleeding from many wounds. "Magic . . . is a coward's weapon." Then the eyes closed and the figure lost consciousness, leaving Roxas to rush onward to Sora's side.