The Means of An End: A Kingdom Hearts Story [DISCONTINUED]

[Riven]

A solid 3 months have passed since you all have arrived on that very first day to begin your training. From the looks of it, ever since the test, Master Queal has maybe softened a bit, instead of a strict grumpy old man, he starts to seem more like a mentor to you all, almost like he sincerely desires to get closer to you. The days that have gone passed seems like forever, but they blow through quickly overtime.

Various practices and training lessons have been established, from more of the similar Combat scenarios, to yes, even Akari's less favorite, book work. Battles are fought on two fields, the mind and the body. Training has been hard and tiring, but you all have been given the free time desired to do whatever you liked after the lessons, making friends, learning the full size of the academy, sometimes even being allowed to visit the town outside of the academy (if the Sentinel guards would allow it certain days).

After training to summon your keyblade gliders and armor, one simple rule was established by Queal to tell you. Unless told otherwise, armor is not to be activated at the academy.

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You now stand here at the very same place that started it all, the Mirage Arena. Queal had left to the observation deck awhile ago as you all made your way there. These last couple of days you began to notice the numbers of people began to dwindle. Truth is, they've all been earning their Travel privileges as 2nd Level Apprentices, going off to other worlds to become stronger and completing missions.

From below, you all can see 2 figures in the observation deck, Queal, and Seines. Kirin had been sent off to do other things so the two Masters could operate the exam. The doors to the arena on the outside are guarded by the Sentinels to prevent outside intrusion during the test.

With that, Queal's voice can be heard over the speakers. "You have all come a long way, just like the very first day, I will be giving you a test to earn another right, except this one, is to leave and see the world outside. Pass this exam, and you move another step closer to becoming Masters of the keyblade arts. I have faith in all of you, remember, teamwork, and fight hard, but most of all, enjoy yourselves. Good luck, let's get you all out of here so I can take a vacation. Move to the center."

 

[Venom Adhamm]

With the end of the simulation, Earthmover turned into grains of sand that trickled through Hiro's hand before disappearing as they fell to the ground. He looked at the hand that held the weapon for awhile before looking up, first at the new girl who seemed to be taking Melani's place. It seemed like an odd switch all of a sudden, but he didn't think too much on it. His eyes met Queal's only for a moment, no verbal response leaving the quiet boy's lips as it seemed he was sure that his performance spoke for itself. The Master's words were strange to him though... He was sure that simulation could load up just about anything. If he were really testing teamwork, why would he choose a group of enemies of all things? Surely it was better for them to split up like they did to clear them out? Though, was that the thinking of a strategic mind, or a loner one?

---

The three months were slow for Hiro. He just never got used to the routine. His whole life had been completely without regimentation, how could he possibly get acclimated to it? But finally, it seemed to be drawing to an end. He was eager to leave, that much was certain, but where would he go? Where would any of them go? Would they be stuck together and be sent off to a world chosen by the Academy? That might be the simplest thing, they wouldn't even have to think about where to go, just *go.* It wasn't worth it to think too much about it. They had to get this done first, and with that in mind, Hiro walked forward towards the center of the arena. It was then that something slipped his lips.

"...good luck everyone."

 

[Ilikepie]

The three mouths went by quickly expect when Akari had to read books. She now considers herself friends with Hiro, Dom, Desmond, and a bunch of other keyblade students. She isn't a big fan of wearing her keyblade armor since it hides her beautiful dress and prefers without the need of armor. The keyblade glider training was super fun and it was kind of like riding on her skateboard. Akari started to bounce up and down in excitement from Master Queal's announcement that they will finally be allowed to travel to other worlds after they pass this simple exam and it's not a written exam so she has no fear of them failing it.

"This is so exciting, we finally getting to be heroes that travel between the worlds and get to show how awesome we truly are. Let's do this!!!! It's our time to shine and there is no way we can possibly fail." Akari rushes to the center preparing herself to rush at a enemy while the others support her with their magic.

 

[Superwholock]

Dom couldn't help the small, fond smile that formed on her face at Akari's antics. Over the last three months, the redhead had grown fairly close with her teammates, but the bubbly girl named Akari somehow had dug her way closest to the admittedly stoic Dominique. The boys, she would readily admit, she wasn't always sure about. Hiro, for his part, seemed to resist friendship most days. Desmond seemed to have trouble staying on task, particularly when it came to any training outside of combat. Although, Dom could understand his boredom so she couldn't really judge him.
She followed her companions to the center, her hand flexing on the handle of Blitz. "Stay on your toes. And good luck."

 

[Kapowne]

The past three months had been a unique trial of fortitude for Desmond. Sure, he had convinced himself to become more than he’d ever been before, and push himself to become the hero he wanted to be, but when akari was so quick to push herself into the limelight? Well, all he could do was follow and hope some of whatever it was that made her go, rubbed off on him as well.
At first his new classmates hadn’t seemed like much to him, Hiro especially seemed broody, which honestly was something Desmond could certainly keep pace with. But before long he felt like he was getting the hang of things around the school. Training with he glider certainly didn’t come easy to him, but the armor was snug and helped him to feel a tad more safe in those melee encounters. Though at the end of the day, magic and spellbooks were what kept him dearest company, and he’d learned so much! They all had learned so much, and just enough I’m fact that t was time for them to face another test, one that would allow them to travel worlds and begin their own journeys in earnest!


With a smirk at akari’s usual outburst Desmond stepped into the ring, summoning his keyblade he felt more confident, more at ease about this whole thing. They’d impress the master today for sure, he knew they would.

 

[Riven]

"Do your best everyone. I have faith in all of you." With that final statement over the speakers, the Mirage Arena had closed and sealed them inside of the center with the magical barrier. Queal looked over to Seines, to which Seines nods as the both of them remain standing to watch closely as Queal initiated the final input commands. "Beginning Promotion Trial Exam." With that, the two cross their arms, but, as Queal made sure Seines didn't notice, he smiled and whispers to himself. "They'll pass."

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The room had transformed into another world unlike any other. It was absolutely beautiful, the floor turning into a surface of bricks of stone, a waterfall and bright buildings surrounding the group, the ceiling turning into a bright blue sky with clouds and birds flying and chirping, the entire scene, what looks to be a center of a town, perhaps the Town Square. Unlike the previous training simulations, this scenario, actually had PEOPLE walking around, various characters waving to the group "Hello" and Greetings as they went on their business.

Before long however, sounds of loud metallic clanking and crashing can be heard as a small explosion came from the rooftop of one of the background buildings. All of the people began to scream in horror as they broke into a fearful frenzy, running out of the sight of the group. Fire began to break out of the rooftop as what looks like a massive metal glove can be seen crawling out of the building.

The glove's palm looks to the group, an eye at where the palm is, observes and blinks before hopping down into the center. As it does, several more explosions and crashes and rumbles are heard around as what seems to be more parts of a body are crawling out and about surrounding the students, a helmet, another glove, a foot, etc. As they all reach the center and seemingly surround all of you, instead of preparing to attack, all of the unattached limbs jump in succession, flying into the center to form together.

The limbs reveal in combination a massive towering Knight, with purple mist where the limbs to attach to its body would be, and a big heartless symbol appearing on its chest as it falls to the ground in one piece.

As the Knight begins to move around to feel its fingers and legs, the giant helmet looks down at all of you, and gives what would seem to be a threatening roar through the loud clanks.



Battlefield Loaded: Radiant Garden

Scenario Music: KH2 Dance to the Death

 

[Venom Adhamm]

Earthmover appeared in Hiro's hand as soon as the large Heartless revealed itself. Finally, something that looked like a real challenge. While it was far larger than any of them, its size was even more pronounced in comparison to Hiro. But if he was fazed by it, it didn't show as he rushed ahead of the rest, dragging his Keyblade along the ground, sparks and embers flying out from it as it heated up with Fire energy.

He leaps forward between the creature's legs, slashing at the joint of its left foot as he passes it, rolling when he hits the ground and ending up behind the Heartless. A burning scar is left where the creature was hit, and for a moment, it falls to its knee, offering a short frame of opportunity for follow-up attack by the rest of the team.

 

[Ilikepie]

Seeing the huge target Akari gets excited about this fight. Following up after Hiro's attack she draws heart of thorns and runs at the heartless head on. She takes a small jump and then slashes at the torso of the heartless leaving a small dent before landing back on the ground in front of it. Knowing from training that she is the one best equipped at taking hits of her team she stays in front of it attempting to make it focus it's attacking on her while she casts block to defend herself when the those attacks come for her.

 

[Kapowne]

Desmond was feeling good, confident even, perhaps even a little too confident. He watched as the massive digital heartless crashed into formation before them. His fellow students already rushing in to attack. He didn’t want to be left behind so he chose to find an advantageous spot to fire off some magic at the heartless, though rather than charge up his spell once he got there, he decided he would charge while he ran, which ultimately proved to be a bad idea. As he ran he almost pumped into one of the fleeing digital people which broke his concentration on the spell, which he tried to recover by pouring more mana into it, causing an overload and subsequent discharge into his face. The thunder magic was painful, and left some of his hair staticky, but more than anything his ego was hurt. How embarrassing to be the first to totally fail an attack on their test...

 

[Superwholock]

Dom held back for the moment, watching her companions make their moves as she analyzed their opponent to determine the best angle for her attack. She cringed as she watched Desmond fumble, but quickly turned back to the enemy at hand. It wasn't as if she could actually do anything for him anyway. Seeing the dent that Akari was able to make in the Heartless's torso, Dom settled on her attack. She took up a driving stance, her dominant leg forward and Blitz held at her side with her free hand forward. She charged forward, pushing off of the ground when she was close enough and thrusting her keyblade into its chest with the full force of her body behind it. It stopped halfway up the blade, at which point Dom raised her legs to push off of the Heartless's battered torso and leap away to a safe distance.

 

[Riven]

The guard armor dropped to a knee after taking the surprise impact to its left knee from Hiro, the burn of the attack still showing scorch marks upon its metal. Before it could react, the students began the assault of attacks. Akali and Dom both making major hits against it's chest, heavily denting and causing what would seem to be tears in its metal.

As the armor reached to the ground with it's right arm to brace itself back up, it suddenly swung the left upwards, hoping to catch some unlucky targets in its desperate swing. Akali had prepared for a counter after the perfect block, but instead had to retract before anything could be done due to her attack being slightly mistimed. As for Hiro, his senses have proved true, barely skimming one of the large fingers of the left gauntlet as it missed by a bare hair.

Though the attack was a miss, the armor was able to take the time to return to both of its legs standing, preparing for the next chance.

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Queal and Seines continued to observe the situation, Queal seeming pretty pleased with himself with how his students were performing, despite Desmond's "blow out", the boy rarely made mistakes, this could slide. "They seem to be doing well", spoke Seines. "Indeed, I can say they have definitely improved since that first day, well, for the most part."

They both continued to keep their eyes on the battle exam, avoiding the need of managing the arena from the computer since it was a program from their own younger training years as students. The coding of the battle and exam scenario continued to run the same across their screens without the need of observation.

 

[Venom Adhamm]

Hiro deftly avoided the Knight's attack, it looked as though he only made a very slight movement to get out of the way, not putting much more distance between himself and his opponent. He looked up at the hulking figure before him, something his short stature had him do countless times before. His eyes seemed to focus in on something though.

He darts right past the Knight, running up the wall of one of the arena's virtual buildings and pulling himself up onto the roof. Turning quickly, he leaps off of it towards the Knight, striking straight down at its head with Earthmover. The sheer force of the strike slammed the entire mass of armor into the ground, that armor splitting into a few pieces. Hiro landed soon after, but seemed a bit concerned. He looked around at the arena, only to see that it was the same as it'd been since the start of the test. Strange... He was certain it went back to its original state when he struck the Heartless down. A glitch?

 

[Riven]

As the guard armor fell into pieces alike to a puppet suddenly getting its strings cut and falling to pieces, the armor remained lifeless.

Suddenly however, one small lone creature appeared in a quick dash in front of the crew, standing between the students and the armor, almost as if it was trying to stop the group from finishing it off. The creature was about the same size as a small shadow Heartless. Similar to it, this thing didn't have a Heartless sigil either.

The creature is a dark blue with red eyes. It was certainly different and not a program the students have trained against before, not as round and more focused on a sharp sort of shape. It almost seems to angrily look at the group in a darting sort of movement, but remains in a sort of defensive position.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Queal couldn't help the smile on his face as Hiro took down the armor, no worry of doubt remained on his mind, nevertheless did it at all. As he looked over to his compatriot, Seines had a puzzled look on his face as he went to the controls.

"Something wrong?", asked Queal as he went over to his partner's side. "The exam isn't over", Seines said with a confused look on his face as he watched new code appear alongside the exam coding. "Did someone upgrade the promotion exam?"

"No", Queal replied with a similar confused look, "No one's touched the exam programming in years."

 

[Ilikepie]

Akari notices a strange new figure appear after Hiro seemed to have defeated the heartless. Thinking that this new figure is just another part of the test Akari takes a two handed slice through the enemy disintegrating it into a black mist, but without the normal numbers that normally appear when they defeated the simulated enemies. After the attack she sees strange holes and static in the simulation and through one of the holes she sees what appears to be Masters Queal and Seines swinging their keyblades. Unsure on what's happening she decides to tell everyone what she thinks is happening in the hole. "Guys I think Master Queal and Master Seines are under attack we need to help them".

 

[Superwholock]

Dom frowned as she glanced around at the glitching simulation.
"Are you sure?" she asked Akari, moving to stand beside the other girl and trying to catch a glimpse of what the girl had seen. "Hiro, Desmond, come over here."

 

[Kapowne]

Desmond wiped the static from his face as he watched his classmates lay some heavy blows on the digital heartless. He couldn’t help but feel frustrated and angry that he’d made such a stupid mistake, and while master Queal was watching none the less!


Dom has called him over, and as she did He noticed the black mist form into a small black ball with a little wink of light emanating from it.


That doesn’t seem like something from the hologram... Desmond thought to himself. Was it something master Queal had put into the test? It didn’t seem hostile, and it didn’t look bad.... he’d spent a lot of time researching the different kinds of heartless, and couldn’t recall seeing anything like this. Perhaps it was part of the test? Something they were supposed to collect? Master Queal could be mysterious from time to time...

As Desmond approached the black orb he kept his keyblade in hand, ready to strike if it formed into a heartless, but it didn’t. In fact everything happened so quickly... all in the span of a few seconds he’d noticed it, then found himself walking towards it, hand outstretched until he finally he felt his fingers touch the edge of the strange object...

 

[Riven]

~A couple of seconds earlier~
​

As the pair began to start to notice the code had begun to change, variables and bits began to frantically change in front of their eyes faster and more often, something was definitely up that has never happened before. Before long however, Queal was glancing between the screens and the arena until he noticed the little blue enemy appear. "Huh, that's new", Queal said softly before realizing the connection of what was going on. "Seines!", he exclaimed pointing to the small enemy that had appeared in front of the students, "Please tell me that's part of the programming! Right now!"

Seines barely had time to look up as the screens all changed to red with all of the same alarming quote. "WARNING! FOREIGN BREACH DETECTED! ADVISE EXAM SHUTDOWN SEQUENCE!" Master Seines began to more frantically start to key the buttons to try to see what was going on, until the sounds of pattering and quick dashing began to appear. Behind them.

Seines turned around as Queal was still astonished by what had appeared in the program. "What the.. Queal, I think we have worse things to worry about." "What do you mean!", Queal responds as he holds an arm out, before slowly turning around, "THAT thing shouldn't be there! It's a- ."

It only took a few seconds to realize that more of those little monstrosities had appeared in the deck, TOO many. The two masters without hesitation drew their blades, with Queal muttering one lone statement.

"Oh shi-"

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They were completely outnumbered, no matter how many of the enemies were destroyed, they kept coming, almost trying to continuously pin them into a corner. It only took a split second however for Queal to notice their efforts were pointless, as the essence of every one of the creatures began to form into a black ball of energy, with light in the center that began to pulse heavily.

The split second it took for Queal to hit his chest for his armor, was too slow for Seines, as an explosion bursted out of the observation deck's window with glass thrown everywhere. The two were thrown outside of the center of the arena as the explosion's matter turned back into gas and began swarming into the ball Desmond got close to touch.

Seines and Queal were both on the ground, smoking and on their stomachs. Queal however, had luckily had his armor activated as he slowly pushed himself up, his compatriot, completely knocked out from the explosion, still lied there unmoving, but breathing.

Through the cracked visor of his helmet, Queal looked over to the students, now seeing the magical separation barrier dissipated and the background vanished, but the Guard Armor and the Energy Orb remained. With Desmond beginning to touch it, it was getting bigger and bigger, the light, starting to pulse brighter and brighter.

"STUDENTS GET AWAY! NOW!"​

 

[Superwholock]

Dom had her back turned to the orb and Desmond as she tried to figure out what was going on with the simulation and why it was glitching so much. She was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't hear the Master's warning. She didn't see the orb begin to glow or when it exploded, but she felt the force of it as it knocked into her from behind. She fell forward, her arms thrown out to catch her. She hissed as her palms were scratched, although it probably wasn't the worst that could have happened. Her back hurt like a bitch though; it was probably bruised. She slowly stood, examining her bloody palms before wiping them off on her t-shirt. She needed to do some laundry anyway.
Preparing herself for the worst, Dom turned to see what had become of her companions.

(Current HP: 18)

 

[Kapowne]

Desmond had been nothing if not lucky that master Queal had shouted when he did, and lucky that he’d kept his keyblade at the ready as well. The orb had been growing in size and as such he’d been a little more on guard. Once the master shouted at them, it was all he could do to throw his keyblade in front of his body defensively. He’d barely managed to stop any real damage from the burst, though the force of the blast did send him flying ten feet backward, his feet barely managing to stick to the ground. Desmond didn’t know what was going on, but now wasn’t the time to ask questions, or inaccurately discharge spells. Now was the time for precision and magic. Two things he was usual very good at.

 

[Venom Adhamm]

Hiro looked back after finishing off the Heartless, but he figured out what was happening just a bit too late. The explosion sent him blew him away and he skidded across the ground, his body going limp for a moment.

He pushed his Keyblade against the ground, using it for support as he stood and looked up. His face and its feminine features were all bloodied and scraped up from the explosion and subsequent trip along the ground. Blood had gotten into his left eye and stung enough for it to be closed shut. The boy breathed slowly now as he readied his Keyblade once more, taking up a battle stance as he prepared for the worst to come.

But... Another thought came to mind. They had no idea what was going on, and there was a good chance they were actually trapped in here.
"We'd better find a way out of here. Blow the doors open, maybe."

 

[Ilikepie]

Akari was shocked to see the masters appear from an explosion injured, and before she could try to help Master Queal said something to her before she was hit by another explosion that knocked her down and hurt her a little just a little blood and dirt nothing that she can't handle. (Hp 20/25) She looks over and sees Hiro seems badly injured, Dom is just a little ruffed up, and Desmond managed to somehow get through unharmed. Considering healing magic isn't something she knows how to do she decides it's best just to prepare to hit more enemies and takes her combat stance reading herself for whatever that comes next. "What do we do Master Queal? Hiro and Master Seines are hurt bad and we have no idea how many more enemies are coming?"

 

[Riven]

After the explosion from the shadow orb, the ashes and smoke didn't linger long. Instead of extinguishing itself, it soon begins to fly similar to a swarm of flies, forming a cloud that begins a straight B-Line to the armor. In response, it begins to glow a bright purple, absorbing more and more of the essence.

Queal slowly stood up with a grunt, taking off his damaged and cracked helmet, revealing a bruised, battered, and a small trail of blood against his forehead. He flinched slightly, wincing from his injuries as scorch and burn marks are shown on his armor around the chest and waist, a second glance reveals his left shoulder pauldron is missing. He kept his eyes to the swarm diverging to the armor, answering the students' questions. "The exam computer programming detected a Darkness outbreak, the moment the alarm sprung of a breach, the Sentinel guards outside have to follow protocol.."

He looked to Hiro with a serious face as he painfully pulls out a small health potion stored for emergencies, handing it to him, "In other words, We're sealed in to contain it. There's no risks allowed in the danger of an outbreak throughout the Academy, if one hasn't happened already." With Akari's question, he slowly turns to her, "With the current situation, all we can do now, is fight. Seines is out cold, but we can keep it to the center and away from him."

He points to the swarm, "These things.. are Unversed. The most pure form of Darkness. I thought these monsters were long gone and it was just Heartless Remnants left, but this.. This changes things.." He holds up his helmet, giving the crack along the visor a gentle rub with the thumb of his gauntleted right hand, "If it isn't clear enough, this isn't just an exam anymore kids, this is real. If you choose to accept it, I'm officially making it your first assignment."

With that said, he slips his helmet back on and looks back to the swarm, the next words, clearly stated from his lips without hesitation. "If you have your armor, put it on. The Unversed are about to possess the program and form it into a solid creature, a Nightmare." A flick of the wrist with a quick burst of light, and his keyblade has returned to its rightful place in his hand, a firm grip as he tightens his hold.

"This is it's ONLY moment of vulnerability, We can't let it spread past these doors. We're going to destroy this thing."​

 

[Kapowne]

Desmond took stock of everyone around him, Hiro and the masters looked banged up, but with a health potion Hiro would probably be okay. They needed to snuff this guy out and fast. That was certainly something he could help with. Pushing the armor button on his right thigh, which made his armor quickly form over his whole body, it’s tint a dark green color. He never did get used to seeing things through the visor, but the protection was paramount, especially right now!


He knew exactly what he could do, and what he would do. This time, not mess ups, not trips or falls. This unversed was going down, plain and simple.

 

[Ilikepie]

Akari didn't really pay much attention about these unversed things and just under they are evil and they need to smash them. Akari is a bit excited about having a real fight for once, but also a little nervous since her friends could die. She decides to just focus on smashing for now and dealing with everything else later. "Let's do this!!!!"

 

[Superwholock]

Dom gripped her keyblade in both hands, knocking her greaves against the back of the opposite calf a couple of times. She did this often before a tough fight, long before she received the armor. It was equivalent to a nervous tic, adrenaline beginning to build and needing an outlet to keep her from rushing in without a plan. She was actually a little excited to fight a real enemy.