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

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

At the sight of the fetus in Medrau's hand, Mabry's previously cool gaze became a glare. "Congratulations, you've accomplished what you sought to accomplish. You hurt me." She drew in a slow breath. "But you should know . . . ." Now she did move in closer, and her voice was just a whisper. "You've also failed, because I'm out to save my sister, not the possibility of her child. Showing it to me changes nothing."

[malumsomnium.livejournal.com]

Medrau made a show of coddling the odd little proto-Heartless before letting it climb back onto her shoulder. As it clung there, the faintest ribbons of some dark energy could be made out, flowing from the creature to coil around Medrau and no doubt into her, joining mother and child.

"You can hardly say I've failed when you don't yet know my intentions. Hurting you is just my way of keeping it fun. You know how it goes with us entities of Darkness..." she waved a hand in a broad gesture as she drawled on, "evil is a joy, pain and suffering a treat. Horribly cliche, I know, but who am I to argue with what works for me?"

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

"I hope you haven't been forcing her to watch this," Mabry said softly.

[malumsomnium.livejournal.com]

Medrau gave her a wide-eyed look. "You think I'd let her miss out? You know how she loves to be a part of absolutely everything. Fingers in all the pies, you could say. I can assure you, she's got a front-row seat."

She looked to her left and right, checking the battle field once again, seemingly unconcerned this time about taking her eyes off her opponent. "You know, this is really not the best place for a good long chat."

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

That was just what Mabry wanted to hear. Songbird could hear her. She was reaching more than just Medrau.

Medrau was right, Mabry realized. It wasn't the time or the place. "Well, you could always surrender, go home, and we can discuss this in-depth over a cup of tea later."

[malumsomnium.livejournal.com]

"Ala Demetria, daughter of Shabaranigdo?" It was Medrau's turn to be nostalgic. "I am not her, though she might have been an early source of inspirational development..."

She closed in, but made no move to retrieve her weapon.

"No, I was thinking instead we might try walking through walls."

She made a familiar gesture, arm outstretched with palm forward and fingers splayed. The Dark Portal opened so close behind Mabry that tendrils of its purple-hued darkness licked the back of her neck.

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

Mabry edged away from the portal, bringing her closer to Medrau. "No thank you. I think this is right where I need to be for the moment."

[malumsomnium.livejournal.com]

"I could make a deal with you," Medrau offered. "You and I step through the portal, away from this battle, into a perfectly safe place where you can talk at me to your heart's content... or I leave now, stay far away from Radiant Garden, and Darkness knows when next you'll get a chance to rescue your sister."

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

Mabry laughed. "And thus you fall into the persistent trap of the villain: offering the deal that cannot be accepted, the unthinkable choice." A gentle smile touched Mabry's lips. "And my answer must be the same that we all make."

[malumsomnium.livejournal.com]

The portal snapped shut and Medrau reached out to retrieve her weapon, sneering. "Now, I know all you Refugee have keyblade envy, but do you really think you're up to fighting me with that stick?" Violet-tinged electricity crackled from her hands to coil around her glaive and fan out in an arc over the two of them before fading away. It was energy wasted on a display, but she was confident.

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

"I didn't tell you my answer," Mabry said. Her hands tightened on her stick. "And you're right. It's only a stick. No magic, nothing special at all. And I'm not much of a fighter." The moment was coming, she knew, the time when she would have to give up this fight for the moment, end the battle, and leave this conversation for a better time.

After all, she had all the time in the world.

[malumsomnium.livejournal.com]

A little voice in Medrau's head suggested she might want to back off a bit. Mabry's words were those of someone with a trick up their sleeve.

She did take a step back, making it look as if she were only adjusting her footing. She had to remind herself that her intention here was to stall the healer as long as possible. It was a battle with her own impatience, but if any of the Refugees got badly hurt or killed, it would be well worth the inconvenience.

"Go on then, if you must, and explain exactly what your answer is. If it doesn't result in an exchange of blows, I'll be impressed."

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

Now it was Mabry who set aside her weapon, reaching her hand into the first aid kit that hung by her side. "My answer is . . . Stop."

It was her only combat relevant spell, but if she moved quickly, it might be enough.

[malumsomnium.livejournal.com]

And Medrau froze, stiller than death, her expression caught somewhere between quizzical and contemptuous. The half-Heartless of her unborn child, also caught in the spell, was still clinging to her shirt like a disgustingly large insect.

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

Mabry drew the item from her first aid kit, a syringe filled with a relatively powerful sedative. When she had packed the kit, she had intended it for the possibility of having to stitch a wound together. Then when she had anticipated trouble, she had prepared it as a possible last defense of her safety.

She had not wanted to use it on her sister. While in the second trimester, the risk would have been minimal, any unnecessary medication could cause complications. But Medrau had removed that concern, turning Song's unborn into a Heartless.

So she plunged the needle into Medrau's harm and injected the sedative into her system, before replacing the syringe in her kit. It would take a few moments before the effects would be felt and more before the Shadow lost consciousness, but once she was asleep, she should sleep for several hours, long enough for the battle to end.

With this done, she retrieved her staff and made a deft sweep at Medrau's legs before the spell could wear off.

[malumsomnium.livejournal.com]

Medrau regained awareness on the ground, the throb in her shins making it fairly clear how she'd ended up there. The apparent black-out was another mystery - she had no memory of the brief time spent in the Stop spell. There was a chance, she thought, that Song had regained control for just long enough to give Mabry an opening.

She scrambled to her feet and expressed her irritation through mockery. "Tch. Just as I thought, and I am not impressed. You might come to regret turning down my offer..." She acted lazy about bringing her guard back up, hoping that Mabry would try for another hit and she could catch her once she was committed to the attack.

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

Mabry hung back, cautiously maintaining her own defensive stance. It was time for the waiting game, and she couldn't afford to take any risks. "Whenever I'm offered a bad choice, I refuse the choice. My sister knows that."

[malumsomnium.livejournal.com]

Medrau tossed her head to shake long bangs away from her eyes. It was a very Song-like gesture.
"I was being generous. You'd have had a decent chance of succeeding, I think. After all, it's worked in the past." She blinked a few times to clear her vision and focus.

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

"It might still," Mabry insisted. "After all, what good is magic if it cannot save my sister?" If any reference would bring Robin out, surely that one would have a chance.

[malumsomnium.livejournal.com]

Medrau didn't bother with an answer. Instead she made her first real attack, bringing the glaive in a swift upward swing and stepping forward with the motion. It was not a carefully aimed attack, intended mostly to shut Mabry up.

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

Mabry did not move much, deflecting the blow at the last minute with a careful parry of her staff against the haft of the glaive. "How much of her memories do you have, I wonder?" Mabry asked thoughtfully.

[malumsomnium.livejournal.com]

Medrau smirked at that, eyes narrow. "I remember everything." She struck again. "It makes me stronger." And again. "Like breaking a finger to toughen the bone."
The next strike was a feint and slash, using all the speed granted by the glaive's enchantment. Into it she called Thunder again, projecting the spell through the blade.

And she staggered, going to her knees.

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

Mabry jumped backward, though the proximity of the lightning was enough to make her hair stand on end. "You seem very strong just now." The sarcasm dripped from her voice. "And breaking a finger doesn't toughen the bone--it makes it more prone to breaks in the future, and the scar tissue sometimes aches in bad weather. Teach your grandmother to suck eggs!" She tsktsked, looking down at the younger woman.

[malumsomnium.livejournal.com]

Medrau wasn't paying attention. She was looking inward, confused and bewildered by this weakness and suspecting Song. All she got from her other half was a worrisome spark of hope and the echo of dull, cynical laughter. The arrogant imp was annoyingly innocent.

Struggling to her feet, she glared daggers at Mabry. "Is this some magic of yours?" She timed her next move for the moment before her opponent could answer, darting in and out again in what her sister had once called the 'falcon technique'. It ended with her well out of reach, bracing herself with the glaive to hide the waver in her stance.

[belegwen.livejournal.com]

This time her attack found Mabry unprepared, and the glaive met skin.

Yet no blood flowed, and Mabry did not seem hurt. Mabry touched her side where the glaive had touched her, and silent prayed her thanks that the enchantment on her necklace had held. It was a three year old spell that had never been put to use, because the one time before now that she would have needed it, she had foolishly not been wearing the triple moon pendant--Ashlyn had taken to pulling it, and she'd stopped wearing it for a number of months until her recent weakness had left her needing every defense available to her.

Mabry shook her head at Medrau and smiled mysteriously. "No magic of mine, impling. My magic is to heal . . . and occasionally to buy myself time."