Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

In the Pride Ring of Hell, deep within the bustling chaos of downtown Pentagram City, a black-skinned axolotl demon weaved his way through the crowded streets. His tattered hoodie hung loosely over his slender frame, and his scruffy jeans bore the marks of wear and neglect. As he moved, his sharp eyes caught glimpses of the other denizens of the city—an eclectic, grotesque mix of forms that churned his stomach. Dogs with too many eyes, fish with writhing limbs, and cats twisted into unnatural shapes prowled the sidewalks, their unnatural appearances sending waves of discomfort through him. He tried to avert his gaze, but the cacophony of Hell's abominations was inescapable, each distorted feature a reminder of the reality he so desperately wished to ignore.

The axolotl slipped into a shadowy alley, his movements were quick and deliberate. Glancing over his shoulder to ensure no one was watching, he lashed his tail upward, coiling it around the rungs of a black, rusted fire escape. With practiced ease, he hoisted himself up the side of a decrepit apartment building. Reaching the rooftop, the young creature moved purposefully toward a weathered water tower. He crouched beneath its looming structure and tugged open a hidden hatch at its base. Climbing inside, he entered a small, makeshift room. The interior was cramped and dimly lit, but it bore the unmistakable marks of a personal sanctuary. Two mattresses were stacked haphazardly in one corner, covered with an old red comforter that had seen better days.

The Axolotl paused to take in the familiar scene before turning toward a small wooden desk nestled against the wall. He approached and sat down, letting out a quiet breath. "Alright, Xander," he muttered under his breath, "what to draw today?"Pulling open the desk drawer, he retrieved a small stack of copy paper and a battered box of colored pencils. With care, he placed them on the desk, selecting a black pencil first. Pressing it to the page, he began his work. With precise, deliberate strokes, Xander drew a large circle at the center of the paper, darkening the background into a deep, consuming black. He hesitated for a moment, then leaned back in, sketching angular shapes within the circle's core. The intricate lines formed patterns resembling fractured glass, sharp and deliberate, like pieces of a puzzle yet to be solved. Satisfied with the outlines, he reached for other pencils, coloring the shapes in vivid, stained-glass hues—greens, reds, oranges, blues. The colors bled together like shards of light captured in a kaleidoscope. When the last pencil was set down, Xander stared at his creation. Confusion crept into his expression, quickly giving way to a flicker of frustration. He leaned back, rubbing his temple as if trying to banish the image

from his mind. "Why can't I stop seeing this?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Every night since I ended up in this monstrous place... All I see is this."He looked down at the page again, the vibrant shapes staring back at him like a mocking reflection of the thoughts he couldn't escape.

As Xander stared at the page, the blackness seemed to ripple unnaturally, its inky depths shifting like a living thing. Before his eyes, the dark smudge began to spread, seeping from the edges of the paper and pooling across the desk's surface. The sight was impossible—defying logic and reality—but there it was, growing and consuming the space around it. He staggered to his feet, his movements clumsy and hurried. His chair toppled backward, hitting the floor with a loud crash, but the sound did nothing to mask his own shocked gasp. The darkness continued to stretch outward, creeping along the desk and snaking up the walls. It was as if the room itself were being swallowed whole.

"No, no, no—this can't be real," Xander muttered, panic rising in his voice. He scrambled toward the hatch that led out of his small sanctuary, his hands fumbling desperately along the edges. But the latch wasn't there. His fingers found only smooth, featureless wood. The blackness surged, tendrils of shadow curling and twisting as they claimed every inch of the space. The dim light of the room flickered and died, leaving Xander encased in an oppressive void. He stumbled backward, his breaths coming in sharp, shallow gasps.

"Help! Somebody—anybody!" Xander shouted, his voice cracking with desperation. He pounded on the walls with his fists, hoping for any sign that the outside world could hear him. But his blows made no sound, as though the walls themselves had turned mute . The darkness pressed closer, encircling him like a predator closing in on its prey. Xander felt the floor beneath him tremble, then collapse entirely. A scream tore from his throat as he fell backward into the void, his arms flailing wildly in a futile attempt to grab hold of something solid. As he plummeted, the air seemed to grow colder, the silence heavier. Above him, faint streaks of grey clouds swirled in the distance, offering no comfort. Below, a blinding light pierced the darkness, its multicolored rays refracting like shards of a shattered rainbow. The light grew brighter as he approached, forcing Xander to shield his eyes.

His descent slowed as the radiant glow enveloped him, cradling him like unseen hands. His feet touched down gently on a solid surface—a platform that shimmered and sparkled like stained glass. The intricate patterns beneath him depicted angular shapes and vivid colors, blending together in mesmerizing harmony. Xander hesitated, his gaze sweeping across the platform. There was nothing else in sight—just the endless void of darkness surrounding the pillar. He crept toward the edge, peering down into the abyss. The platform appeared to rise from nowhere, its base disappearing into the black void below.

"Where am I?" he whispered, his voice barely audible in the suffocating silence. As he stepped back from the edge, his shadow moved unnaturally, writhing and twisting like a living creature. Xander froze, his stomach churning as he watched the shadow detach itself from his body. It slithered across the platform, splitting into several smaller shapes. The shapes rose from the ground, their forms shifting and molding until they became small, insect-like creatures. Their oversized, bobbing heads contrasted sharply with their diminutive bodies, and their glowing yellow eyes pierced the dim light.

Xander's breath caught in his throat as the creatures turned toward him, their movements jerky and unsettling. The first one lunged, and Xander stumbled backward, narrowly avoiding its swipe. He turned to flee, but the shadows flattened themselves, darting across the floor to block his path."No! Stay away!" he shouted, his voice trembling with fear. The creature advanced, clawed hands reaching for him. Xander tripped over his own feet, landing hard on the platform. The impact jarred him, but adrenaline forced him to scramble backward. Using his tail, he pushed himself upright and scanned his surroundings for an escape. As if in response to his desperation, a path of glowing platforms began to materialize in the distance, each one connecting to another in an endless chain. Without hesitation, Xander sprinted toward the newly formed path, his heart pounding with every step.

The creatures pursued him relentlessly, their beady eyes locked onto their prey. Xander glanced over his shoulder, the sight of the chasing shadows nearly freezing him in place. Their unnatural movements, the way they scuttled and flattened themselves, sent chills down his spine. When he reached the darker pillar at the end of the path, Xander skidded to a halt, panting heavily. He turned back to see the creatures still closing in. Fear clenched his chest, threatening to paralyze him. Just as despair threatened to overwhelm him, a strange warmth bloomed in his chest. It spread down his right arm, growing hotter until his hand glowed with an intense light. The sensation was unlike anything he'd ever felt—comforting and powerful. The light coalesced, taking shape in his grasp. When it faded, Xander found himself holding a massive key-shaped weapon. The handle was red and dark yellow, covering his hand like a protective guard. The blade itself was a deep scarlet, with black splotches swirling across its surface like liquid trapped in a lava lamp. "What... what is this?" Xander whispered, awe and confusion mixing in his voice.

He didn't have time to ponder. One of the creatures lunged at him, slamming into his chest and knocking him to the ground. The impact forced the air from his lungs, but Xander rolled backward, using his tail to regain his footing. Instinct took over. He swung the weapon, the blade slicing through the creature with surprising ease. The shadow exploded into a cloud of black smoke, the acrid scent of sulfur and oil filling the air. Xander coughed, his nose wrinkling at the smell, but he pressed forward. Another creature charged, and he struck it down with a clumsy swing. The black puff it left behind swirled and disappeared, but more creatures surrounded him, their glowing eyes unrelenting.

He fought wildly, the weapon in his hand moving with surprising weight. Each swing sent tendrils of light through the air, striking down his attackers one by one. Though his movements were unrefined, raw determination fueled every blow. Even as the shadows tore at him, their claws slicing through his jacket and raking his skin, Xander refused to give up. The pain burned, but a renewed surge of energy coursed through him, pushing him to fight harder. When the last creature dissolved, Xander collapsed to his knees, his chest heaving as he gripped the weapon tightly. The blade's dark splotches pulsed faintly, and Xander stared at it with a mix of dread and wonder.

"What is this place? And... what have I gotten myself into?" Xander thinks to himself. He looks around and notices a new path. Xander's eyes adjusted to the shifting glow of the path ahead, a stark contrast to the platform he'd just left. The lighter colors seemed almost inviting, glowing softly with hues of gold and pale blue that created a faint bridge stretching toward a taller, more radiant pillar. At its peak, a brilliant light shone—not the multicolored glow of stained glass but something purer and unyielding, piercing the abyss like a beacon.

He hesitated before taking his first step, the weight of exhaustion and confusion tugging at him. Yet, the light called to him, its pull undeniable. Each step felt heavier than the last as an inexplicable sense of dread washed over him, sinking into his bones. Xander clenched his fists, his thoughts swirling in chaotic disarray. What was this place? Why was he here? His mind drifted unbidden to memories of his old life, fragments of a world that felt increasingly distant. He thought of his brother's laughter, his mother's gentle smile, and the scent of his grandmother's cooking that always lingered in their home. He remembered the quiet Saturdays at temple, the comforting drone of prayers, and the shared meals that followed. Yet, now, all of it seemed like a cruel joke.

How had he ended up here, in Hell of all places? Xander's stomach churned as he thought about his death—a reality he still struggled to accept. What would his family think if they knew where he was? His mom's kind heart would break, his brother would never forgive himself, and his stepdad... would probably just pretend he didn't care. And what about God? The same God he'd worshipped his entire life. What kind of deity would create a world where eternal torment was even an option? The thoughts spiraled, growing darker and heavier, pulling him further into despair. What kind of monster had he become to deserve this? What was the purpose of his existence if it was only to suffer?

Before he could lose himself entirely, a sudden flash of light tore through the gloom, bathing his face in blinding radiance. Xander winced, shielding his eyes with one hand and stumbling to a stop. The brightness was overwhelming, cutting through the darkness like a blade. Then, as though from within the light itself, a voice boomed—deep and resonant, reverberating through his very being. "The Darkness and Light seem to be balanced," it proclaimed, the words carrying an unnatural weight. "You seem to be the perfect vessel, although your weakness will need to be expunged."

Xander's eyes widened in terror as a sharp pain erupted in his skull. He dropped his keyblade, clutching his head with both hands as the ache swelled into a piercing migraine. The voice grew louder, drowning out his thoughts with its ominous tone. "Like many, you want to bathe in the light," it intoned. "But the closer you get to the light, the darker your shadow becomes. Your darkness will grow in the face of opposition—either to protect or destroy you." The words echoed in his mind, each syllable a hammer strike that sent jolts of pain through his head. He fell to his knees, groaning as his vision blurred.

As the voice began to fade, his shadow—previously an unassuming shape beneath him—began to writhe. It expanded unnaturally, spreading across the platform's surface like a thick, oily stain. The tendrils of darkness twisted and coiled before rising into the air, morphing into a hulking, monstrous form. Xander's headache subsided just as the transformation was completed. He turned to face the creature and immediately wished he hadn't.

The being loomed over him, its body muscular and imposing. The gills on its head wrapped tightly around its face, concealing everything except two small, glowing yellow eyes that burned with malevolent intensity. Its chest was marred by a gaping, heart-shaped void, the edges of which pulsed with dark energy.

The voice returned, softer now, but no less menacing. "Use my gift to defend yourself, or lose it in your darkness." The words sent a chill down Xander's spine as the voice finally faded, leaving him alone with the monstrosity. He swallowed hard, his throat dry, and reached for his keyblade, gripping it tightly as if it were his lifeline. The shadow creature let out a guttural growl, raising one clawed hand and slamming it into the platform. The impact created a rippling pool of black liquid from which smaller shadows emerged, scuttling toward Xander with eerie determination.

He steadied himself, trying to time his swings as the creatures lunged at him. His first attempts were clumsy, and he narrowly avoided their sharp claws. With a burst of adrenaline, he swung his keyblade, managing to strike down three at once. A fleeting smile of triumph crossed his face—only for it to vanish as pain shot through his leg. One of the shadows had snuck behind him, its claws raking his calf before disappearing into the floor. Xander winced, spinning to retaliate, but his strike met empty air. The larger creature suddenly raised its arm, forming an orb of swirling, dark purple energy in its clawed hand. It hurled the orb into the air, where it split into smaller projectiles that rained down like meteors.

Xander sprinted across the platform, dodging as best he could, but the explosions knocked him off balance, sending him tumbling. Before he could recover, the creature arched its arms, and a beam of purple energy shot from the void in its chest, slamming into his side. The force hurled him toward the edge of the platform, leaving him sprawled and gasping in pain. The shadow beast advanced, its massive hand outstretched. Xander tried to crawl away, but his body refused to cooperate. Just as the creature loomed over him, he bolted upright with a sharp gasp. His hands slammed into his drawing desk, sending papers flying. He blinked rapidly, disoriented, as the familiar sight of his dimly lit room came into focus. His chair tipped backward, and he tumbled onto the floor, hitting his head on the wooden latch.

"Ah, fuck!" he groaned, clutching his head. Slowly, he rolled onto his stomach and pushed himself upright. "What the fuck kinda nightmare was that?" Xander staggered to his feet, dusting himself off and righting his chair. He glanced down at the drawing on his desk, the details now making his skin crawl. That same sense of dread from the dream clawed at him, and he quickly turned away, shaking his head. He flopped onto his makeshift bed, staring at the cracked ceiling above. "When will this living nightmare end?" he murmured. "What did I do to deserve this?"

The morning started with the faint sound of static crackling through an old, outdated phone on the nightstand. The sudden burst of a loud pop song shattered the quiet, echoing off the peeling wallpaper of the small, dimly lit apartment.

A groggy groan came from the bed. One figure, curled under the threadbare blanket, muttered, "Mmmh... baby, please get that."

The other stirred, reaching out with a sleepy hand to fumble for the phone. After a few missed grabs, they finally picked it up and brought it to their ear. Their voice was raspy with sleep as they answered, "Hello... who is this?"

The reply was loud and unrelenting, jarring them awake. "GET YOUR SWEET ASS DOWNSTAIRS! WE'RE CELEBRATING!"

The one holding the phone winced, pulling it slightly away from their ear before responding with a sigh. "Don't you think we deserve some time to relax after everything we've been through?"

"Relax?!" the voice on the other end bellowed. "That's what this is, you buzzkill! After we pulled off the greatest crime Hell's ever seen, we're raking in the cash, and I plan to blow half of it before we even think about working again!"

The person on the bed sighed again, rubbing their temple. "Fine. We'll be down in a bit."

Hanging up, they turned to the figure next to them. "Hey, Millie, wake up. Blitzø has some kind of 'fun day' planned for us."

Millie stretched with a yawn, her hand landing on her partner's shoulder as she opened one eye. "After the bullshit we've been through, we could use it."

With that, the two began getting dressed. As they moved around the cramped apartment, their casual banter brought a sense of lightness to the otherwise dingy space. The taller one, Moxxie, straightened his navy-black coat and adjusted his red bow tie, while Millie slipped into her signature all-black outfit with a touch of yellow.

They both paused by the cracked mirror near the door, exchanging a quick smile. "You look great, hon," Millie said, giving Moxxie's tie a gentle tug.

"And you... as stunning as ever," Moxxie replied, planting a kiss on her cheek.

Together, they stepped outside, ready to face whatever "fun" their boss had cooked up.

Moxxie and Millie stepped out of their building, the door creaking on its rusted hinges as they shut it behind them. The faint scent of sulfur lingered in the air, mixing with the distant sound of the bustling underbelly of Hell's most chaotic district.

Parked haphazardly at the curb was the unmistakable company van. Its once-white paint was now stained with grime, and the custom lettering on the side reading "I.M.P." was scratched and faded, yet still legible. The engine rumbled idly, puffing out thin streams of smoke from its exhaust, which mingled with the general haze of the city.

As they approached, the passenger window rolled down with a faint squeak, revealing Loona, who leaned lazily against the seat. Her sharp eyes glanced over at the two imps, her expression as apathetic as ever. The Hellhound absentmindedly tapped her claws on the edge of the door, her spiked choker gleaming faintly under the sickly glow of the streetlamp above.

"About time," she muttered, flicking her silver hair out of her eyes. Her inverted pentagram straps shifted slightly as she adjusted her position, her tattered crop top hanging loosely over her shoulders. "Blitzø's been hyped about this all morning. Try not to ruin it with your usual whining, Moxxie."

Moxxie opened his mouth to retort, but before he could, the driver's side door swung open with theatrical flair. Blitzø stepped out, his grin wide and manic as usual.

"There they are!" he exclaimed, spreading his arms dramatically. His tattered slate-gray coat flared slightly as he moved, the red buttons gleaming like fresh blood. His boots clacked against the pavement as he stepped closer, his energy practically radiating off him.

Blitzø jabbed a gloved finger at Moxxie. "You two slowpokes ready for the most hellacious day off you've ever had? Because I've got plans. Big plans." He leaned in closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially. "And by plans, I mean blowing so much cash that even Satan himself would blush."

Millie laughed, her warm, infectious chuckle cutting through the otherwise dreary atmosphere. "Sounds like just what we need after all the shit we've been through lately," she said, nudging Moxxie with her elbow. Moxxie adjusted his bow tie, his expression a mixture of skepticism and resignation. "As long as this doesn't involve illegal gambling or breaking into some high-profile demon's estate again, I suppose a little fun won't hurt." Blitzø clapped his hands together. "Perfect! Now get in, losers. We're going shopping!"

Millie grabbed Moxxie's hand, giving it a playful squeeze as they approached the van. Blitzø swung open the sliding door with a flourish, revealing the surprisingly clean interior—though it still carried the faint scent of fast food and gunpowder.

"Shotgun," Millie declared, hopping into the passenger seat beside Loona, who rolled her eyes but didn't protest. Moxxie climbed into the back, grumbling to himself as he secured his seatbelt. Blitzø hopped into the driver's seat, slamming the door and revving the engine like a maniac.

"Hold onto your butts, people!" Blitzø shouted, slamming his foot on the gas. The van screeched as it sped off down the cracked street, kicking up a cloud of ash and debris in its wake. As the van barreled through the Pride Ring's chaotic streets, Blitzø began outlining his plans for the day, his excitement palpable. "First stop, the Infernal Mall! They've got a new weapons kiosk that's supposedly carrying flamethrowers small enough to fit in your pocket. Then, we're hitting up the Dead Sea Spa for some mud baths—you know, to relax after all the carnage. And last but not least..." Blitzø paused dramatically, glancing at them in the rearview mirror."...karaoke night at Lucifer's Lounge!"

Moxxie groaned, already dreading the inevitable chaos, while Millie clapped her hands eagerly. Loona simply slouched further into her seat, muttering something about needing stronger drinks to survive the day. The van roared on, weaving through the streets as the team prepared for their version of a "day off"—a chaotic blend of mayhem, questionable decisions, and maybe just a bit of well-deserved fun.

The van roared down the chaotic streets of the Pride Ring, weaving recklessly through traffic as Blitzø hummed an upbeat tune to himself. Loona sat slouched in the passenger seat, her legs propped up on the dashboard, scrolling aimlessly through her phone. Her sharp claws tapped rhythmically on the screen as she scrolled past post after post on Voxtagram.

Most of the trending topics revolved around the recent exploits of a certain imp team that had made waves in Hell. The posts painted them as renegades, celebrated by some and reviled by others, for having beaten the monarchy and obliterated parts of its corrupt system.

Loona smirked faintly at the headlines and memes featuring their escapades. But her amusement faded when she came across a post about Ozmodius, a comment section speculating on why the powerful demon hadn't done more to intervene. Her grip on the phone tightened as an unwelcome memory crept in—a vision of her own past, bound and muzzled, helpless as her life had teetered on the brink.

The image of Beelzebub flashed in her mind, her radiant presence burned into Loona's memory. Even in that moment of terror, when Loona had thought it was all over, Bee had barely raised a hand to help. Loona shook her head violently, pushing the thoughts away as she aggressively swiped past the post, her tail twitching irritably.

Blitzø, always attuned to his daughter's moods, glanced over with a sly smile. "What's the matter, Loony? You look a little down. Lemme guess—you're mad we didn't stop at Loo Loo Land again?" From the backseat, Moxxie perked up, his expression puzzled. "Wait, she wants to go back to that shithole of an amusement park?" Loona shot Moxxie a death glare. "No, you fucking moron! I never—ugh! Look, I'm not feeling 'down,' okay? I'm just bored sitting in this stupid van."

Blitzø laughed, keeping his eyes on the road—or at least pretending to. "Well, you won't have to worry about being bored much longer, because we're at our first stop!" The van screeched into a sudden halt, sliding into a parking spot and cutting off a white car that had been attempting to pull in. A screech of tires and the blaring of a horn erupted behind them. "What the fuck?!" a sharp female voice shouted from the other vehicle.

Blitzø popped his head out of the driver's side window, ready to fire back. "Sorry, bitch, ya snooze ya..." His voice trailed off when he saw who had emerged from the car. His usual smug grin faltered, replaced by an awkward smirk. The woman, tall and striking, stepped out with a confident stride. Her devilish pink eyes locked onto Blitzø, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "Well, well. If it isn't the man who broke my heart and somehow convinced all of Hell to fall in love with him."

Blitzø straightened up, regaining some of his bravado. "And if it isn't the overly pompous popstar ready for an overnight pounding," he shot back, flashing a toothy grin. Loona groaned, covering her face with one hand. "Dad, please." Millie, hopping beside Moxxie in the back, snickered behind her hand at the interaction, her shoulders shaking with laughter.

Moxxie, on the other hand, scowled in disbelief. "I still don't believe Blitzø dated the famous popstar Verosika Mayday. Seriously, she must've been drinking something very strong to stand him." Millie patted her husband's knee, grinning. "You don't drink anything, sweetie, and you can handle him just fine. Calm down."Verosika crossed her arms, rolling her eyes at the banter. "Take the damn spot. A better one just opened up anyway," she said, her tone exasperated but playful. Her expression softened as she glanced at Blitzø one last time. "Oh, and Blitzø? If you ever almost get yourself killed again, don't give me a heart attack while you're at it."

With that, she got back into her car, revving the engine as she pulled away with a wave. Blitzø stared after her, a flicker of genuine happiness crossing his face—a rare moment of validation that maybe, just maybe, not everyone he'd hurt despised him. Millie leaned over to Moxxie, whispering teasingly, "Think we just witnessed Blitzø having an actual human moment." "Demon moment," Moxxie corrected flatly, his arms crossed. Blitzø shook his head, his grin returning full force as he hopped out of the van. "Alright, team! Enough chit-chat. Let's go burn some cash!"

Team I.M.P. burst into the mall. The mall was a sprawling monstrosity of consumerism and chaos, towering several stories high with countless neon signs advertising everything from cursed antiques to demon-approved desserts. The air was thick with the scent of sulfur mingled with fried food, and the distant hum of chaotic laughter and shouting echoed through its cavernous halls.

Blitzø, as always, was at the center of the madness. He darted from store to store, his enthusiasm boundless. "Look at this, Loony!" he shouted, holding up a cursed music box that emitted eerie wails. "Perfect for creeping out nosy neighbors! I mean, if we had neighbors."

Loona, trailing behind, barely glanced up from her phone. "Pass."

Moxxie and Millie, however, seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves. Millie squealed with excitement as she tried on a set of spiked boots from a gothic boutique. "What do you think, babe?" she asked, doing a little spin. "They're... intimidating," Moxxie admitted, tugging nervously at his bow tie. "But they suit you." Millie beamed and kissed his cheek. "Good answer!"

Blitzø continued his spree, dragging Loona into a weapons kiosk where an eager demon salesclerk greeted them. "Looking for something special? We just got a shipment of flamethrowers!" Blitzø's eyes lit up. "Oh, now we're talking!" He grabbed one of the flamethrowers and aimed it at an empty spot on the wall. "How much for this bad boy?" The clerk hesitated. "Uh, that's just a display—"

Blitzø squeezed the trigger, sending a burst of fire shooting across the booth. The clerk ducked, screaming, as the flames narrowly missed him. "Blitzø!" Moxxie shouted, running over with Millie. "Could you not cause a scene for five minutes?" Blitzø shrugged, handing the flamethrower back to the terrified clerk. "Fine, fine. But you gotta admit, it works like a charm!"

After several more chaotic stops—including a gourmet candy shop where Millie convinced Moxxie to try a suspiciously glowing candy and a pet store where Blitzø loudly proclaimed they didn't need another "freeloader"—the group found themselves at the food court.

They sat around a small, rickety table piled high with snacks and drinks. Millie and Moxxie shared a basket of deep-fried souls-on-a-stick, while Blitzø tore into a greasy, oversized burger. Loona, however, picked at her fries, her usual apathy masking the storm of emotions brewing inside her.

Blitzø noticed, his mouth full of food. "What's with the face, Loony? Fries too salty? Want me to talk to the manager and make a scene? You know I'm good at that." Loona rolled her eyes but didn't respond, instead looking down at her phone. Blitzø leaned closer, his voice softening. "C'mon, kid. What's really going on?" She hesitated before finally setting her phone down. "It's just... something I saw earlier. About Asmodeus. People were wondering why he didn't do more when we... you know, took on the system."

Blitzø's usual grin faded slightly. "Yeah, well, Ozzy's not exactly the hero type. He's more about putting on a show." Loona's ears drooped, her voice quieter now. "It just reminded me of Bee. How even when I thought I was done for, all she did was... stand there. Like I wasn't worth helping."

Blitzø's expression softened, and for once, he wasn't quick with a sarcastic remark. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "Loony, Bee's a party girl. She's not built for the heavy stuff. Doesn't mean she doesn't care in her own way—it's just... some people can't step up when it matters."

Loona glanced at him, her gaze searching. "And what about you? You always step up. Even when it's stupid or reckless, you don't hesitate." Blitzø chuckled, though there was a trace of sadness in it. "That's just 'cause I don't know any better. Look, I'm not saying Bee or Ozzy were right to do nothing. But it doesn't mean they didn't care. They just... suck at showing it." Loona huffed, resting her chin in her hand. "It's still shitty."

"Yeah, it is," Blitzø agreed, surprising her. He reached out and ruffled her hair gently, earning a small scowl. "But you've got us now, kid. And I might screw up—a lot—but I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me." Loona rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the faint smile tugging at her lips. "Lucky me."

The moment lingered, unspoken emotions passing between them. For all the chaos and dysfunction, there was still a bond that held them together—one Blitzø would fight to protect, no matter what. "Alright, enough of this sentimental crap," Blitzø declared, clapping his hands. "We've got karaoke night to get to!" Loona groaned, but her smile didn't fade as they gathered their things and headed off to the next chaotic stop on their "day off."

Once the team reaches the parking lot, they carry multiple bags of randomly bought items. As they make it to their van, Moxxie notices a random uptick in the wind and the sky getting slightly darker than usual. "Huh anyone else notice the weird weather today?" Moxxie asks "I don't remember seeing rain in the forecast for another week." Loona and Blitzø ignore Moxxie, but Millie pats Moxxie on the shoulder reassuringly.

Behind the mall, Xander rummaged through the overflowing dumpsters, his slender hands sifting through layers of discarded packaging and rotting scraps. The rancid smell was overwhelming, but desperation outweighed discomfort. He pulled out an old box of cereal, shaking it to ensure it wasn't completely empty before shoving it into his worn backpack. A few pieces of nearly expired fruit caught his eye next, and he stuffed them into his jacket pockets, grimacing as the sticky residue clung to his fingers.

As he climbed out of the dumpster, brushing grime off his jeans, a voice cut through the silence. "Pfft, damn, man. I've heard of rock bottom, but this is just sad... and a little funny."

Xander looked up to see a female Hellhound standing a few feet away, her arms loaded with a hefty garbage bag. Her sharp-toothed grin was as mocking as her tone.

"Leave me alone, Vivian," Xander snapped, his voice low and tired. "I don't need this today."

Vivian's piercing eyes roved over him, her smirk deepening. "Look, Xander, if you're that desperate, I could offer you a hot meal and maybe even a shower. You'd be doing yourself a favor."

Xander hesitated, his stomach growling in betrayal. "Well... maybe I can do that," he muttered.

Vivian's grin turned sly. "And maybe after you eat, I can get something in return?"

Xander's expression twisted in disgust. "No. I'm not into that... especially not with wolves."

Vivian let out an exasperated groan. "Goddamn it, kid! Look, you need to get with the program. Everyone in Hell's basically an animal. And trust me, this offer won't last forever. So, is it a yes or no?"

Xander considered her words, feeling the squish of mushy fruit in his pocket. The realization that he had few, if any, options left settled heavily on him. With a resigned sigh, he nodded.

"Looks like you just made the cut," Vivian said with a wink. "See you at my place later. I gotta finish this shift. Don't keep me waiting." She turned and strutted off toward the mall's back door, leaving Xander standing there, shoulders slumped under the weight of dread and guilt.

He glanced back at the dumpster, a fleeting urge to crawl back into its filth washing over him. Anything seemed better than what he'd just agreed to. Shaking his head, he began the long trek back to his water tower.

As he walked, Xander's mind drifted, pulling him into the rare comfort of memory. He thought of his life before Hell—a time that felt more like a distant dream than reality.

He remembered the weekends after temple, when his dad and grandmother would take him to the park. His older half-sister, Sarah, would always join them. Together, they'd invent new games, blending hide-and-seek with cops and robbers or whatever else their imaginations could concoct. But Sarah always had one condition: they had to draw afterward.

"Okay, Xander, this is how you do shading," Sarah would say, her voice patient and encouraging.

"But what's the point of making a bunch of black bloops all over the picture?" Xander would ask, his tone skeptical.

"Shading adds three dimensions to your art. It makes it more realistic," Sarah explained.

"I don't know, Sarah. It seems too complicated," Xander replied, his small hands gripping the pencil tightly.

"Just follow my lead, little bro. You'll get it," she reassured him.

He could still see her graceful strokes on the paper, her confidence making every movement look effortless. Xander had done his best to mimic her, though his own attempts felt clumsy by comparison.

The memory brought a fleeting smile to his face, momentarily dulling the bleakness of his current reality. But as he snapped out of his thoughts, the grim cityscape of Hell pulled him back. He trudged forward, his head low, avoiding eye contact with the demons around him.

Then, without warning, he bumped into someone.

"Oh, my bad, I didn't—" Xander began, but his words died in his throat as a massive fist swung toward him.

Xander reacted instinctively, blocking the punch and redirecting the attacker's arm downward. He jumped back, putting space between them, and finally got a clear look at who he'd run into—a towering, red-scaled lizard demon with green feathers framing her head. She wore a ripped black crop top and equally torn pants, her sharp teeth bared in a menacing snarl.

"Well, if it isn't a little snack," the lizard woman sneered. "I could use a bite on my way home." "Look, I don't want any trouble," Xander stammered. "It was an accident." The lizard woman, however, wasn't interested in apologies. Her tail lashed out, aiming for Xander's legs. He jumped back, barely avoiding a moving car as he landed in the street.

The lizard woman lunged, her claws wrapping around Xander's throat and slamming him onto the asphalt. Pain exploded through his body as the air was forced from his lungs. Her jaws opened wide, her teeth glinting dangerously close to his face. Summoning what strength he had left, Xander kicked upward with both legs, striking her hard in the chest and sending her sprawling backward. He scrambled to his feet, gasping for air as the woman growled, her eyes blazing with fury.

"You little shithead!" she snarled. "How dare you strike the Kaiju Queen Zeezi? I'LL TEAR YOUR HEAD OFF!" Fear surged through Xander as Zeezi charged again. He turned and ran, weaving through the streets as her claws swiped at him, tearing his jacket and drawing blood.

Desperate, Xander darted into an alley and leapt onto a dumpster, trying to climb a fire escape. But Zeezi's claws caught his tail, yanking him down and slamming his head against the dumpster lid. Stars danced in his vision as he collapsed to the ground. Zeezi cackled, her laughter echoing through the narrow alley. "Run all you want, miserable little creature. But know this—you'll only die tired."

Xander gritted his teeth, his vision swimming. Summoning his tail, he coiled it around Zeezi's wrist and snapped one of her fingers. Zeezi screeched in pain, and Xander used the opportunity to punch her square in the face. With her momentarily staggered, Xander scrambled back up the dumpster and onto the fire escape, climbing as fast as his battered body would allow. He could hear Zeezi's enraged screams below but didn't stop until he reached the rooftop.

Breathing heavily, he glanced over the edge. She was gone. Relief washed over him, but it was short-lived. "Nice try, snack," Zeezi's voice snarled. Xander turned, his blood running cold as he saw her standing at the far end of the rooftop, one hand on her hip and her eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

Xander realized, with a sinking feeling, that he might not make it out alive. His pulse pounded in his ears as he locked eyes with Zeezi, the towering lizard demon closing in with a predatory grin. Fear and desperation welled up inside him, and for a brief moment, the world around him faded.

Memories began to flash before his eyes—scattered moments from a life that felt impossibly far away. One memory surfaced more vividly than the others, playing over and over in his mind.

He saw his younger self sitting beside his sister Sarah. Tears streamed down her face as she knelt on the ground, broken colored pencils and crayons scattered around her. Xander remembered the fury that had surged through him as he watched the bullies responsible laughing nearby. Without hesitation, he'd grabbed a metal pole lying in the dirt and charged at them, swinging wildly.

The memory shifted. Xander was now sitting on the kitchen table, bruised and battered, as his father carefully patched up his wounds with bandages. "You know, son," his father had said, his voice calm yet firm, "fighting a group of people with just one weapon only works if you've got the right training."

"But I don't have any training," young Xander had replied, his voice trembling. "I just wanted to save Sarah, like a superhero." His father had smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Well, many people need heroes. Our people needed many. Just remember this—no matter how big the threat, as long as you've got a strong heart, you'll figure it out." He paused, then added with a playful nudge, "So, let's get you some training, huh, kid?" The memory faded, and Xander snapped back to the present. Zeezi's snarling form filled his vision, her sharp teeth bared and her claws ready to strike. He had no choice—this fight wasn't going to end unless he made it.

His eyes darted around the rooftop until they landed on a rusted metal pipe lying near the edge. He darted toward it, snatching it up and gripping it tightly in both hands. Taking a deep breath, he dropped into a defensive stance, his body coiled with tension.

Zeezi stopped, her laughter erupting like a hyena's cackle. "Oh, this is rich," she said, baring her teeth in a wide grin. "You sinners really are a funny bunch. You think that's gonna save you?" She shook her head, her tail swishing behind her. "I'll give you credit for guts, though. Not that it'll matter. I've got a reputation to keep, and you're about to help me do it."

Before Xander could respond, Zeezi lunged, her massive jaws snapping open as she aimed to clamp down on him. Instinctively, Xander swung the pipe with all his strength, slamming it into the side of her face. The impact sent a resounding clang through the air, and Zeezi's body twisted from the force of the blow.

Xander didn't hesitate. As she spun, he leapt over her lashing tail and sprinted toward the far side of the roof, hoping to put some distance between them. But Zeezi recovered quickly, her snarl deepening into a feral roar.

"How dare you?!" she bellowed, the sound reverberating through the air.

Her roar sent a shockwave rippling across the rooftop, hitting Xander like a physical blow. He stumbled and fell, clutching his ears as the sound threatened to rupture his eardrums.

Through the ringing in his head, he saw Zeezi approaching, her massive frame looming over him. She sneered, her claws flexing as she prepared to strike.

With no time to think, Xander grabbed the pipe and swung it upward with all his might, striking Zeezi directly in the crotch.

Zeezi's roar turned into a guttural howl of pain, her voice shaking the very air around them. The sound was so deafening it shattered nearby windows, shards of glass raining onto the streets below.

Xander seized the moment. Rolling onto his side, he scrambled to the edge of the roof and threw himself over, crashing through one of the broken windows of a neighboring building. He landed hard on the wooden floor inside, pain shooting through his knees and palms as he struggled to catch his breath.

He didn't wait to see if Zeezi was following. Crawling deeper into the dimly lit room, he pressed himself against the wall, his heart hammering in his chest.

Outside, Zeezi staggered to her feet, clutching her injured groin with one clawed hand while the other gripped the rooftop for balance. Her snarls filled the air as she scanned the streets below, her sharp eyes searching for any trace of her prey.

"Run all you want, you little rat!" she shouted, her voice dripping with venom. "You can't hide forever!"

Xander stayed perfectly still, barely daring to breathe. His ears perked at the sound of Zeezi's footsteps receding as she moved to another rooftop, her growls echoing into the distance. When he was certain she was gone, Xander forced himself to his feet. His legs felt like jelly, and his body ached from head to toe, but he had no choice. He climbed out of the building's back entrance and slipped into the shadows, moving as quickly and quietly as he could.

Several blocks away, Xander finally stopped to catch his breath. He leaned against a crumbling brick wall, looking back toward the rooftops he'd fled. In the distance, he could still see Zeezi prowling, her tail flicking irritably as she continued her hunt. Xander exhaled shakily, gripping the metal pipe in his hand. "I made it," he muttered to himself, though the relief was short-lived. His hands trembled, not just from the exertion, but from the knowledge that Zeezi wouldn't stop. Adjusting his grip on the pipe, Xander turned and disappeared into the alleys, his mind already racing with plans for how he'd survive the next encounter.

The doors of the spa swung open as Team IMP emerged, their bodies loose and relaxed from the therapeutic treatments they'd just indulged in. Moxxie tilted his head back, letting his gaze drift upward. His expression shifted as he noticed the peculiar movement of the clouds overhead—not just a few, but all of them swirling unnaturally toward a central point in the sky.

"Uh, guys, does the sky look... weird to anyone else?" Moxxie asked, a flicker of unease in his voice.

Blitzø, still basking in post-massage bliss, waved a dismissive hand. "Mox, that masseuse probably twisted you into a pretzel so hard you're seeing spirals everywhere. I know I am."

Cracking her neck with an audible pop, Loona glanced upward. Her expression darkened. "I hate to agree with the cuck, but it does look like something's brewing up there. We should head home before we get caught in... whatever that is."

"Fine by me," Blitzø said, smirking. "After the best happy ending I've had all day, falling asleep to the sound of rain sounds perfect."

The group collectively cringed at his remark but decided not to dignify it with a response. They climbed into the van, the once-calming atmosphere replaced by a strange tension.

As Blitzø started the engine, the wind outside began to howl. The swirling clouds darkened, merging into a pulsating orb of electric energy that hovered ominously above the city. Gusts tore through the streets, pulling debris from rooftops and sending it hurtling through the air.

The van sped through the chaos, Blitzø weaving between honking cars and panicked demons who darted in every direction. "What the hell's with all the commotion today?!" Blitzø snapped. "Does no one realize we've got places to be?!"

Millie, resting her head on Moxxie's shoulder in the backseat, lifted her gaze out the window. Her eyes widened. "Blitzø, I think we should, uh... find somewhere safer. That thing doesn't look like it's just passing through."

Blitzø glanced at her, then back at the road. "What thing?"

Millie pointed upward, and Blitzø followed her gesture. His eyes locked on the swirling vortex of energy tearing through the city like a black hole, swallowing entire rooftops.

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Blitzø muttered, punching the gas pedal.

"WHAT IN ALL OF SATAN'S NAME IS THAT?!" Moxxie yelled, his voice trembling with panic.

"I don't know, Moxx, but we're not sticking around to find out!" Blitzø snapped, swerving around a crashed sedan.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the city, Xander sprinted through winding alleys, his lungs burning as his heart pounded like a war drum. He risked a glance upward, spotting the same ominous vortex looming in the sky.

Just another day in Hell, he thought, forcing himself to ignore it. Monsters, disasters, chaos—it was all par for the course in this damned city.

But as he emerged into a crowded plaza, the noise of panicked demons reached a fever pitch. Creatures of all shapes and sizes pushed and shoved their way through the streets, fighting to get into cars, buildings, or anywhere that might offer shelter.

Among the chaos, a piercing scream rang out.

"My baby! Someone help me, please!"

Xander froze, his eyes darting through the stampede. His gaze locked onto a small, finned creature sprawled on the ground, wailing as it was kicked and trampled.

Without hesitation, Xander dove into the fray. He scooped the baby up with one arm, cradling it against his chest while brandishing a rusted pipe in the other, trying to fend off the crushing tide of bodies.

"Hey! Stop! Please, STOP!" he shouted, but his voice was drowned out by the chaos. Elbows, knees, and claws struck him as the crowd surged around him.

Then, a surge of warmth flooded his chest, radiating through his arm. Xander let out a final, desperate shout.

"I SAID STOP!"

A burst of radiant light exploded from his arm, washing over the crowd like a tidal wave. Demons froze in their tracks, their eyes wide with a mix of awe and fear. As the light faded, the plaza fell eerily silent.

Breathing heavily, Xander looked down at the baby in his arms. It had stopped crying, its four wide, watery eyes staring up at him with a mix of curiosity and trust. The creature had strange, endearing features—a mix of aquatic fins and canine fur. Xander managed a small smile.

"You're safe now, little guy," he whispered.

Before he could react, a fish-like woman shoved through the stunned crowd, collapsing at Xander's feet. "Please!" she sobbed. "Please give me my baby back! I know I lost him, but I can't lose him to someone else! Take my soul if you must, but I can't—"

"Whoa, whoa, hold on!" Xander interrupted, kneeling to meet her. "I don't want your soul. I just wanted to help. Here—take him."

The woman snatched the baby, clutching it tightly as tears streamed down her face. "Thank you... thank you..."

Xander stood, exhaling in relief. But as he glanced down at his hand, his breath caught. The rusted pipe he'd been holding was gone, replaced by an ornate, key-shaped weapon.

The Keyblade.

It gleamed in his hand, just as it had in his dreams. For a moment, Xander could only stare, mesmerized by its impossible presence.

A deafening crash jolted him back to reality. The top of a nearby building had been ripped free, spiraling toward the plaza. Xander ducked, bracing for impact—only for the winds to lift the debris at the last second, hurling it into the vortex above.

The ground beneath Xander's feet began to crack, chunks breaking away and rising into the storm. Around him, demons screamed as they were pulled into the swirling darkness, their bodies dissolving into shadowy smoke.

Panic clawed at Xander's mind. He searched desperately for the woman and her child, but they were gone, swallowed by the chaos.

And then, from the cracks in the ground, they appeared—the monsters from his dreams. Small, bug-like creatures with glowing yellow eyes began crawling toward him, their movements unnervingly deliberate.

Back on the highway, Blitzø slammed the van's brakes, narrowly avoiding a massive pileup of abandoned cars.The moment the van skidded to a halt, Blitzø's grip tightened on the wheel, his knuckles pale against the dark leather. His eyes darted frantically to the rearview mirror and back to the swirling storm in the sky. The tension in his shoulders betrayed a fear he couldn't mask. "Why the fuck are we stopping?" Loona snapped, her claws tearing into the upholstery as she braced herself in the passenger seat.

Blitzø barely turned to look at her, his voice high and trembling. "L-Loona, we can't go any further! Look at that mess!" He gestured wildly to the wall of crushed and abandoned cars ahead of them. "We need to hoof it before... before that thing starts sucking us up too!"

The team exchanged uneasy glances as they climbed out of the van. Millie clutched her two small daggers tightly, their polished edges catching the faint light. She scanned the area, her usual cheer subdued by the chaos unfolding around them. Moxxie stayed close to her side, his hands trembling as he checked his gun.

Blitzø hesitated as he stepped away from the van, his eyes locked on the city skyline. Entire buildings were being torn apart and pulled into the vortex. The sight left him frozen for a moment, his usual bravado replaced with a visible shudder. "S-Satan's sake... what the hell is this?" he muttered under his breath, his tail flicking nervously.

Loona sniffed the air, her nose wrinkling. "Something's wrong. I smell sulfur... and oil." Her ears flattened as she turned to Blitzø. "We shouldn't stick around."

Before they could respond, a distant scream echoed through the city, followed by the unmistakable sound of crumbling concrete. Blitzø flinched, his tail curling protectively around one leg. "O-Okay, okay, let's keep moving!" He waved his arms to urge the group forward. "No standing around, or we're gonna end up like those poor bastards!"

As Team I.M.P. began their cautious trek away from the highway, Xander found himself in the heart of the chaos, far from their path. He darted between crumbling alleys, his heart pounding as the vortex above roared like a living beast. He didn't dare look back at the destruction swallowing the city, focusing only on finding a safe place to hide.

Through the panicked crowd, Xander's eyes landed on a small, crying creature being kicked around. Its fins flared in distress, and its tiny, canine-like body trembled as the chaos unfolded around it. Without thinking, Xander dived into the crowd, shielding the infant with his body. He shouted hoarsely, "Stop! Please, stop!" But the crowd's panic drowned his voice.

Elbows and knees collided with him as he tried to shield the child. Just as he was about to collapse under the pressure, a warmth surged through his arm. The sensation spread through his body, and Xander shouted again, "I said STOP!"

A brilliant light burst from his arm, forcing the crowd to halt in stunned silence. The demons around him stepped back in awe and fear as the light faded. Xander staggered to his feet, clutching the infant tightly to his chest. He inspected the infant for injuries, and relief washed over him as he confirmed that it was unharmed. The child blinked up at him with wide, four-eyed innocence, its fear replaced by a soft whimper.

"You're okay," Xander murmured, managing a faint smile. He barely had a moment to breathe before a fish-like woman shoved her way through the crowd, her eyes wide with desperation. She dropped to her knees in front of Xander, hands clasped in pleading. "Please! That's my baby! I know I lost him, but I can't lose him to someone else. Please, take my soul if you must, but give him back!"

Xander knelt quickly, shaking his head. "No, no, I don't want your soul. I just wanted to help." He gently handed the infant back to her, and she cradled it protectively, tears streaming down her face. "Thank you," she whispered between sobs.

Xander stood, exhaling shakily. His gaze drifted to his right hand, and his breath caught. Instead of the rusted metal pipe he'd been holding, he now gripped a weapon from his dreams—a Keyblade. Its gleaming surface reflected the chaos around him, and for a moment, everything else faded away.

The reprieve didn't last. The vortex above roared louder, and the top of a nearby building tore free, plummeting toward the ground. Xander ducked instinctively, but the wind caught the debris, lifting it just before it could crush him. The ground beneath his feet began to crack, and he stumbled as chunks of the city were pulled into the sky.

Around him, demons screamed in terror as their bodies were lifted into the storm, dissipating into black smoke. Xander looked for the mother and child but couldn't see them anywhere. He barely had time to process the loss before the ground gave way beneath him. He ran, his Keyblade in hand, dodging falling debris and crumbling streets.

The city was unrecognizable. Shadows emerged from the cracks in the earth, their yellow eyes glowing with malice. The bug-like creatures from his nightmares crawled toward him, their twisted forms illuminated by the flickering light of the storm. Xander tightened his grip on the Keyblade, his fear replaced by a mild determination. "Ok I can do this," he muttered, raising the weapon.

Team I.M.P pressed forward through the highway, weaving through abandoned cars and debris as the howling storm raged behind them. The dark energy vortex loomed in the distance, pulling in massive chunks of the city. Blitzø was panting, gripping his pistol tight as his paranoia spiked.

"Shit, shit, shit! We need to move faster! I am not about to die in some fucked-up supernatural weather event!" Blitzø shouted, frantically checking every direction.

"No one's dying, we just need to keep our heads!" Moxxie called back, raising his twin pistols and scanning the road ahead.

Just as they passed a pile-up of wrecked cars, the shadows on the ground shifted unnaturally. A split second later, the dark creatures sprung up, their glowing yellow eyes locking onto them. Before anyone could react, the creatures lunged, surrounding the team.

Moxxie wasted no time, unloading his pistols at the nearest shadow, but the bullets barely slowed it down. "Oh, you've gotta be fucking kidding me!" he yelled, stepping back as the creatures crept closer.

Millie, gripping her twin daggers, charged forward and slashed at one, slicing through its head. It dissipated into smoke, but two more took its place, forcing her to backpedal.

Blitzø fired wildly, his shots hitting nothing but air as the creatures dodged effortlessly. He snarled as his gun clicked empty. "Oh, fuck this!" He tossed the pistol aside and drew his sword, swinging wildly. The blade cut through a few of the shadows, but the moment he struck one down, another leaped at him from behind, knocking him into a wrecked car.

Loona, meanwhile, was fending off a shadow that had lunged at her. She bared her fangs and punched it square in the face, only for her fist to phase right through it. She growled in frustration. "Moxxie, throw me something I can actually use!"

Moxxie hastily dug through the bag of weapons and tossed her a pair of brass knuckles. Loona caught them, glanced down, and immediately bristled. "Brass knuckles?! Are you serious?!"

"It's all I have left!" Moxxie shot back, barely dodging a swipe from one of the creatures.

"What, did you run out of real weapons?!" she snarled but had no choice. She slipped them on and swung at another shadow, her punches actually making contact this time, though it wasn't enough to take them down quickly.

The fight quickly turned desperate. The creatures were relentless, attacking from every angle. Blitzø got slammed into the pavement, groaning as another shadow clawed at his jacket. Millie and Moxxie stood back to back, breathing heavily as more shadows formed around them. Loona growled in frustration, swiping at another attacker, only to barely dodge an incoming strike. "We're not winning this! We need to get the fuck outta here!" Blitzø yelled.

Spotting an abandoned corner store just off the highway, Moxxie pointed. "There! We can barricade ourselves inside!" The team broke into a sprint, dodging attacks as best as they could. Blitzø stumbled but Millie yanked him back to his feet. Loona delivered one last punch before following after them. They reached the store and Moxxie rammed his shoulder into the door, forcing it open. They scrambled inside, slamming the door shut just as the shadows swarmed outside.

Panting, they immediately grabbed anything they could—shelves, broken furniture, even a vending machine—to block the entrance. The creatures pounded against the glass, their glowing eyes peering inside. Blitzø collapsed against the wall, gripping his ribs. "This has officially been one of the worst fucking days of my life."

Loona huffed, shaking out her sore fists. "And next time, Moxxie, maybe pack some real weapons instead of these shitty little fists of fury." Moxxie, still catching his breath, threw up his hands. "Not my fault! I didn't expect us to get jumped by supernatural shadow freaks!"

Millie placed a hand on his shoulder, trying to calm him. "Well, we're alive for now, but we need a plan." The wind outside howled, rattling the store's weak walls. The shadows didn't seem to be leaving anytime soon. Trapped, exhausted, and out of options, Team I.M.P had no choice but to wait—and hope they could survive the storm.

Atop the crumbling landmass, Xander gritted his teeth, his heart pounding as the shadows scurried toward him. The Heartless moved with unnatural speed, darting across the cracked pavement, their glowing eyes locked onto their prey.

A sudden chill ran down his spine—something was behind him. Before he could react, three shadows burst from the ground, their razor-sharp claws raking across his back. Pain flared as fresh wounds opened, blood seeping through his torn hoodie. He barely had time to recover before another shadow lunged from the front, slamming its head into his gut. The impact knocked the wind out of him, sending him staggering backward.

Xander gasped, barely staying on his feet. Gritting his teeth, he swung his keyblade in a wide arc, catching three of the creatures just as they leaped for him. They let out shrill screeches before vanishing into a puff of sulfuric smoke. He turned sharply, aiming for the rest, but his blade sliced through empty air—he had miscalculated.

Pain shot through his face as another shadow slashed across his cheek, searing agony coursing through his skin. He let out a cry, clutching his wound, rage bubbling inside him. "Enough!" he snarled, his grip tightening on his keyblade.

Blinded by fury, he swung wildly, striking at anything that moved. His blade connected with a few Heartless, but his reckless attacks left him open. Claws tore at his arms, legs, and sides, each wound fueling his frustration. He roared, slamming his weapon into the ground, sending a shockwave outward. Then, silence.

Panting, Xander blinked through the stinging pain. The shadows were gone. But something was wrong.

The smoke from the defeated Heartless didn't fade. Instead, it gathered in a swirling mass behind him. A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the air. Slowly, he turned—only to feel his stomach drop. A towering Heartless loomed over him.

It was massive, its muscular body coated in pure darkness. Short, gnarled legs supported its hulking frame, while its elongated arms flexed with raw power. Two twisted wings jutted from its back, twitching slightly. A heart-shaped void pierced through its chest, glowing with ominous energy. Dozens of writhing, black tentacles covered its head, concealing all but its small, glowing yellow eyes.

Xander took a shaky step back, his instincts screaming at him to run. But when he glanced around, his breath caught in his throat. There was nowhere to go.

The landmass beneath him was crumbling, floating in the abyss, surrounded by the swirling vortex in the sky. The Heartless took a single step forward, the ground trembling beneath its weight. Without effort, it reached out and shoved aside a nearby building. The structure crumbled instantly, its rubble spiraling upward into the storm above.

Xander's pulse pounded in his ears. The creature bent low, slamming a fist into the ground. Darkness pooled around its arm, expanding outward like an inky flood. Xander stumbled, barely keeping his balance. His tail flicked, helping him stay upright.

This was it. He clenched his jaw. If he ran, he'd die. If he hesitated, he'd die. The only way out was through.

With a sharp inhale, he dashed forward, gripping his keyblade tight.

The creature barely reacted as he leapt, swinging his weapon at its monstrous, tentacle-covered head. His blade sliced through the writhing appendages, black mist seeping from the wounds. The Heartless let out a low growl, slowly rising to its full height.

Xander landed, muscles coiled, watching for its next move.

The beast lifted its arm from the pool of darkness, revealing a swirling mass of purplish-white energy in its grasp. Its fingers clenched, crushing the sphere. Then, it spread its arms wide, its hollow chest glowing ominously.

Xander's breath hitched. The glow intensified—then, suddenly, a barrage of massive projectiles burst forth.

Eyes widening, Xander sprinted, dodging between the blasts. Each orb homed in on him, detonating on impact with the force of an explosion. The shockwaves sent him tumbling, pain erupting through his battered body. One blast grazed his leg, searing through his jeans. Another slammed into the ground beside him, the sheer force launching him through the air.

He crashed hard, skidding across the broken pavement before slamming into the side of a rusted car.

Agony rippled through him. Every inch of his body screamed in protest. His vision blurred, blood trickling from fresh wounds. But he had no time to rest. Through the haze of pain, he saw the Heartless raise its massive fist, preparing to crush him.

Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to move. He rolled, barely evading the devastating blow. The creature's fist smashed into the ground, sending a violent tremor through the landmass. The impact launched Xander into the air once more, his body twisting mid-flight before he crashed back onto the pavement, groaning.

He struggled to his feet, using his keyblade as support. His entire body shook, exhaustion threatening to pull him under. But then—he saw it. The Heartless was vulnerable. Its attack had left it hunched forward, momentarily open.

Ignoring the searing pain, Xander gripped his keyblade tighter and charged. His legs felt like lead, but he pushed through. He had one shot. With everything he had, he leaped, swinging his keyblade downward—driving it straight into the creature's eye. A guttural roar ripped through the air. The Heartless reeled back, clutching its wounded face.

Xander barely landed before another shockwave sent him staggering. The beast, in its pain, plunged its arm into the darkness again, summoning another sphere of energy. Xander prepared to counter—but the attack never came.

Instead, the Heartless lifted the energy into the air and slammed it down upon itself. The moment it made contact, a massive explosion erupted, ripping through its body. Chunks of darkness tore away from its form, dissipating into the abyss. The beast let out one last, deafening roar before vanishing in a whirlwind of black smoke.

Silence.

Xander collapsed to his knees, panting heavily. His body ached, his vision swam, but—he was alive.

His keyblade reappeared in his hand, its glow dimming slightly. He barely had the strength to hold it. As the landmass continued to crumble beneath him, his grip loosened. His eyelids grew heavy. The last thing he saw before everything faded to black was the swirling storm above, pulling him into the darkness

The landmass beneath Xander crumbled. The vortex's pull became inescapable. He reached out, scrambling for anything to hold onto—but the force was too strong. "No, no, no!" he shouted as he was sucked into the abyss, vanishing into the darkness until a huge flash of light covers Xanders body keeping him just barely alive.

Inside the barricaded corner store, Blitzø paced in frustration, the rhythmic tap of his hooves on the floor the only sound cutting through the distant howling outside. Moxxie, Millie, and Loona stood with their backs against the front entrance, eyes flicking between the shuddering walls and their increasingly agitated boss.

"Alright, team! We're trying to survive a strange, world-bending storm, so let's think this through," Blitzø barked, gesturing wildly. "Moxxie, do you know anything about this?"

Moxxie shot him a glare. "Why the fuck would I know anything about this, Blitzø?"

"I don't know! Maybe because you act like you're smarter than everyone," Blitzø snapped back.

Loona scoffed, crossing her arms. "He does do that."

Millie immediately stepped forward, bristling. "Moxxie doesn't do that! He just has class—something a mutt like you wouldn't understand!"

Loona's ears flattened, and she bared her fangs. "You wanna say that again, farm girl?"

Before Millie could respond, the store groaned under the growing pressure of the storm. The windows shattered in a deafening crash, sending shards of glass flying through the air. The wind roared into the store like a living beast, tearing through the space with enough force to lift loose items and send them spiraling into the chaos outside.

Blitzø, Moxxie, Millie, and Loona instinctively huddled together, arms locking in desperation as the storm tried to rip them apart. Loona's tail wrapped around them in a desperate attempt to shield them, forming a thick cocoon of fur that blocked some of the deadly debris. Even as jagged shards scraped against their skin and the freezing winds cut through their clothing, they clung to one another.

The building trembled.

A sickening crack echoed from above.

Blitzø barely had time to look up before the entire roof was wrenched free, disappearing into the swirling vortex above. The barricades they had stacked against the doors and windows were sucked into the storm, hurtling past them like missiles.

The very ground beneath them began to crumble. They screamed for each other, but the deafening wind swallowed their voices. Blitzø's grip on his team tightened. He wasn't letting go. He refused. Moxxie's fingers dug into Millie's arm. Loona's tail squeezed around them all.

The storm pulled harder, tearing at their bodies like it wanted to separate them—like it wanted to unmake them. And then— A blinding white light erupted from the sky, swallowing them whole. Silence. Weightlessness. Nothingness.

For a moment, there was only void. Then, the darkness swallowed them completely

Chapter Text

BlitzØ groaned as he pushed himself up from the cold, cobblestone ground, his body aching from an unknown journey. He blinked blearily, taking in his surroundings.

The alleyway was dimly lit, tucked between towering red buildings with blue-bricked streets stretching beyond. A wooden crate wobbled beneath his weight as he steadied himself, and it was only then that he noticed the massive white door behind him. The mansion that loomed beyond it was pristine, adorned with gold and blue accents, almost glowing in the starlit sky.

"Well, that's some overcompensation," BlitzØ muttered, crossing his arms as he surveyed the scene.

Spinning on his heel, he took in the rest of the street. The city was bizarrely beautiful, with winding paths and buildings set at varying heights. A small hotel stood on one end, a shop on the other, but the most unsettling sight lay above. The sky, devoid of Hell's usual burning hues, stretched infinitely, filled with countless stars. Not a single nearby planet, no glaring reminders of his infernal home—just an endless abyss of distant light.

A sinking realization crept up his spine.

"Holy shit. WHERE THE FUCK AM I?!"

Panic surged as he darted forward, scanning the streets frantically.

"Loona, sweetie, where are you?! Millie, scream like a damn hillbilly if you can hear me! Moxxie, you limp-dick coward, fire off a shot or something! Where are you guys?! HELLO?! HELLLLLOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"Can you shut up already?" a voice drawled from above.

BlitzØ snapped his head upward, locking eyes with a stranger perched on a rooftop. The man stood with an air of indifference, dressed in dark blue pants with a cloth draped over his legs, fastened by a purple rope belt. His white, long-sleeved shirt hung open at the torso, revealing a lean but muscular frame. Black arm guards covered his forearms, and his dark hair spiked slightly at the back. He peered down at BlitzØ, unimpressed.

BlitzØ scowled. "Who the hell are you talking to, you Hot Topic fuck? I'm trying to find my family, so unless you know where they are, I suggest you fuck off."

The stranger smirked. "Oh yeah? And what are you gonna do if I don't, horn-head?"

BlitzØ's fingers twitched toward his jacket, expecting the familiar grip of his firearm—only to find nothing. He patted himself down, his movements becoming more frantic. The stranger chuckled.

"Let me guess. Weapons disappeared? I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet, but maybe the Heartless will teach you that lesson."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" BlitzØ growled, fists clenched.

"It's nothing," the stranger said coolly. "Just keep your head up. Meet me in the First District."

With that, he threw down a smoke bomb. BlitzØ barely had time to recoil before the stranger vanished into the thick, billowing cloud.

"Oh, for fuck's sake—" BlitzØ started, but a sinister chittering cut him off.

Shadows rippled across the ground, pooling into the familiar inky shapes of small, beady-eyed creatures. The same ones that had attacked him before. In the pride ring of hell.

A burst of light flared in BlitzØ's hand, and he looked down to see his weapon—a long, red and black sword—appearing in his grip. He blinked at it. "The fuck? Well, whatever—guess that'll do!"

The first Heartless lunged. BlitzØ sliced through it mid-air, reducing it to black smoke. 3 more shadows jump toward BlitzØ, attempting to slash at him with their claws. BlitzØ manages to parry the attack and knocks the creatures back. While the three monsters are in mid-air, BlitzØ slashes through them, reducing them to nothingness in an instant. BlitzØ Waves his hand to get rid of the smoke and the shadows left behind.

"Man, these things are easy to kill when I have a weapon that works on em." BlitzØ thinks to himself. "Speaking of which, where the fuck did I get this thing? It looks similar to another sword I have, but I left that at home."

BlitzØ Looks at the sword in his hand and notices all the small details of the blade's curvature, small indents on the handle, and the empty pocket at the bottom of the blade shading into a jagged heart shape. He begins to smile a bit before remembering his current predicament. He looks around the town again and notices a big brown wooden door at the end of the street. BlitzØ started making his way towards the Door, believing that's where he needed to go. He'd look to his sides and realize the place he was in was more claustrophobic than he realized, all the buildings bunched together like giant walls. It is too comfy for his liking. Before he could keep thinking about that, More shadows began to spawn around him. Leading to BlitzØ taking another fighting stance, "Jeez, I barely moved an inch, where do these little fuckers keep coming from?" He asked himself. BlitzØ would take them out one by one, only missing a few by a hair when the shadows sank into the ground. He'd create an entire cloud of sulfur-like smoke around him from the defeated Heartless before he realized he could barely breathe in the cloud.

BlitzØ's breath grew ragged as he bolted for the massive wooden door at the street's end. He leaped over a railing, rebounded off a wooden bench, and scrambled up a ledge. But just as he reached the next level of the district, new Heartless emerged—these ones taller, clad in armor, their claws gleaming under the streetlights.

"Oh, what fresh hell is this?!" BlitzØ barked, bracing himself as the armored creatures advanced.

One of them swung a massive claw. BlitzØ ducked, barely avoiding a decapitating blow. He retaliated with a flurry of strikes, his sword sparking against the enemy's armor. The Heartless staggered but did not fall. Instead, it roared, swiping again with brutal force.

BlitzØ couldn't dodge fast enough. The impact sent him flying, his back slamming into a nearby building. Pain flared through his spine as he collapsed to his knees, gasping for breath. The armored Heartless loomed over him, its claw raised for the finishing blow— A blur of movement. A flash of steel.

BlitzØ barely registered the attack before the Heartless was sliced in two, its body dissipating into darkness. A figure landed beside him, blade drawn.

"Hey there," the stranger from before said, flicking black mist off his weapon. "Need a hand?" BlitzØ groaned, pushing himself up. "Yeah, thanks. Not like I was getting my ass kicked or anything." The remaining Heartless closed in. BlitzØ and the stranger exchanged a glance.

"Think you can keep up?" the stranger asked. BlitzØ cracked his neck. "Bitch, I was born for this."

With a shared smirk, the two charged. BlitzØ focused on the armored soldier, looking Heartless, realizing there were small parts of the armor with openings he could attack. He then struck into the shoulders of the creature's armor, and eventually, it dissipated like the Shadows before it. 2 more Soldiers Heartless ran up behind BlitzØ and attempted to claw at him, only for them to get hit in the nape of the neck by the stranger's Shuriken. This allowed BlitzØ to swipe his sword through the front of the necks and dissapating the Soldiers.

One particularly armored Heartless reared up behind the stranger. BlitzØ leaped, summoning a bolt of lightning that struck the beast, stunning it long enough for the stranger to deliver the finishing blow. BlitzØ looked down at his sword, confused at the seemingly magical action he performed, but He couldn't focus on that for long as a Large body Heartless appeared out of nowhere. This Heartless loomed over BlitzØ and the stranger with a spherical-shaped body and two large Arms and Feet.

The Creature began to swing its arms at BlitzØ, causing him to just barely weave through the attacks. While BlitzØ Was dodging the Arms of the creature, the stranger ran behind it and struck it multiple times with his sword, causing multiple cuts to appear on the creature's backside. The Large body screamed in pain and slapped its big belly, covering itself with a strange purple aura as it managed to charge behind itself, knocking the Stranger into a wall. BlitzØ took this as a chance to dart behind the beast and stab into it, causing it to fall like the monsters before it.

As the last enemy fell, the street fell silent once more. The Stranger picked himself up and walked towards BlitzØ. "Not bad," the stranger admitted, sheathing his blade.

BlitzØ grinned. "Not bad yourself. You got a name, or am I just gonna call you Brooding Edgelord?"

"Sasuke," the man replied simply. "And you?"

"BlitzØ. Best damn hitman in Hell." Sasuke raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Instead, he motioned toward the far end of the district. "We need to get out of here. Follow me." BlitzØ hesitated only a moment before nodding. "Lead the way, Emo McStabby." Sasuke sighed but didn't argue, walking to the giant wooden door. BlitzØ followed, mentally preparing himself for whatever came next.

Moxxie groaned as consciousness slowly returned to him. His body ached, and his head throbbed as if he had been hit by a freight train. As he pushed himself up from the wooden floor, he realized the surface beneath him was not the ruined streets of Hell but something entirely unfamiliar. His crimson eyes blinked blearily as he took in his surroundings.

The room around him was a dazzling spectacle of color. Bright neon lights flickered along the walls, illuminating shelves stacked with mechanical contraptions, gears, and glowing orbs. The walls themselves were painted in an array of warm oranges, blues, and greens, blending together in a chaotic yet inviting manner. Various gadgets hummed and beeped while ceiling fans spun lazily overhead, their metallic surfaces reflecting the shop's vibrant energy. It was overwhelming yet strangely enchanting.

"Millie?" he called out, his voice hoarse. His heart skipped a beat when he didn't hear an immediate response. He scrambled to his feet, spinning around frantically. "Millie! Where are you?!"

A soft groan came from behind a pile of metal scraps near the counter. Moxxie rushed over, relief washing over him as he spotted his wife stirring from unconsciousness. Millie sat up slowly, rubbing her head. Her striped tail twitched as she blinked at her surroundings in confusion.

"Mox?" she murmured, her voice groggy. "Where... where the hell are we?"

"I don't know!" Moxxie admitted, panic creeping into his tone. He gestured wildly at the unfamiliar shop. "One second we were trying not to get sucked into some hellish vortex, and now we're... here! Wherever the fuck here is!"

Millie pushed herself up, her brows furrowing. "You reckon we're dead?"

Moxxie's tail bristled. "We were already in Hell! Where else would we go?!"

Before Millie could respond, the door to the shop creaked open. Both imps tensed, instinctively reaching for their weapons—only to realize they were gone. Their tails flicked as they braced themselves.

A young woman with short pink hair and a determined expression stepped inside, her red outfit standing out against the colorful interior. She carried a small medical pouch at her side, her green eyes scanning the room before locking onto them.

"Well, that's not something you see every day," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Two imps waking up in my shop."

Moxxie's mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. Millie, ever the more composed one, stepped forward cautiously. "Uh... sorry, miss. We're just... a little lost."

The woman nodded knowingly. "That happens to a lot of people around here. Welcome to Traverse Town. Name's Sakura, by the way."

Moxxie and Millie exchanged confused looks. "Traverse Town?" Moxxie repeated. "That... that doesn't sound like anywhere in Hell."

Sakura crossed her arms. "That's because it isn't. This town is a refuge for people whose worlds have been swallowed by darkness."

Millie's eyes widened. "Wait, are you sayin' Hell got swallowed?!"

Sakura sighed. "I can't say for sure. But if you're here, that means something bad happened to your world."

Moxxie's breathing quickened. "O-okay, no. Nope! We are not accepting that explanation! We need to find Blitzø and Loona—if they're even here! And we need to figure out how to get back home!"

Millie grabbed Moxxie's hands, giving them a reassuring squeeze. "Sugar, I know you're scared, but panickin' ain't gonna help."

Moxxie sighed shakily. "I know... I just... what the fuck is happening?"

Sakura gave them a sympathetic look. "You might want to check the First District. That's where most people gather, so if your friends are here, that's where you'll find them."

Millie nodded determinedly. "Then that's where we're goin'. Come on, Mox, we ain't got time to sit around."

Reluctantly, Moxxie followed her lead. As they stepped out of the shop and into the cobblestone streets of Traverse Town.

The two imps look around the Victorian town, walking with determination in each step however, they start to notice the place isn't just unfamiliar but downright uncanny to them.

The permanent night sky, the brick roads, and the familiar-looking buildings so close together they almost form a wall.

"Wow," Moxxie says, "This place is so claustrophobic. We just passed what looked like a hotel, a shop, a bakery, and they're all just one big wall."

"Yeah, it's kinda creepy," Millie agrees. "What's even more unnerving is that no one else seems to be around here. It's like the pride ring on extermination day."

As the two walked, the eeriness of the situation was getting to them more than they'd like to admit, and they even realized that they had no idea where they were going.

"Millie, let's stop for a moment and get our bearings I think we're lost," Moxxie says.

"Well, of course, we're lost," Millie Replies. "We were just told we're in another world, nothing looks right, I have no idea where our weapons are, and I just."

Moxxie, realizing his wife is panicking a bit, pulls her in for a hug and rubs her back to try and calm her down.

"It's ok, Millie, it's ok," Moxxie says calmly.

Millie is able to calm down just a little and even giggles a bit.

"What's funny, honey?" Moxxie Asks.

"Usually you'd be the one freaking out right now, and I'd have to calm you down," Millie responds. "Kinda ironic innit?"

Moxxie smirks a bit and says, "Yeah, it's pretty funny, I'm sure I'll be freaking out soon tho."

As the two break the hug, Moxxie looks just behind Millie and notices a giant wooden door at the end of the street. "Maybe that's where we need to go?" Moxie says.

"Well then, let's get moving. Standing around won't solve anything," Millie responds.

Before the two imps can take a single step, a purplish glow surrounds them. From the swirling light, several Large Body Heartless emerge, their hulking forms blocking every possible escape route. The creatures close in, their glowing yellow eyes locked onto Moxxie and Millie like prey.

Moxxie instinctively reaches for his guns—only to grasp at empty holsters. Millie realizes the same horrifying truth—her weapons are gone. They stand back to back, bracing for the inevitable onslaught.

Just as the first Heartless lunges, a streak of motion flashes behind it. A sharp blade cuts through its massive form, and the creature vanishes into black smoke. Before the imps can react, Sakura rushes in, grabbing them both and leaping onto a nearby rooftop in one swift motion.

She lands with ease, dropping Moxxie and Millie onto the rooftop's surface. The two imps stumble slightly, frustration evident in their expressions.

"You didn't need to do that! We could've handled those fat bastards," Millie snaps, crossing her arms.

Sakura smirks. "I'm sure you could've, but tell me—do you have any light weapons on you?"

Moxxie furrows his brow. "Light weapons? What does that mean?"

"Try this," Sakura says, her grin widening. "When one of those things charges at you, flex your palm."

As if on cue, a Large Body Heartless leaps onto the rooftop, its weight shaking the structure beneath them. With a guttural roar, it barrels toward them.

Trusting her words, Moxxie and Millie flex their palms. In a dazzling burst of light, twin pistols materialize in Moxxie's hands, while Millie finds herself gripping a pair of curved daggers.

Before they can fully process what just happened, the Heartless reaches them. The imps react on instinct—dodging to opposite sides as Sakura vaults over the creature. Moxxie spins mid-air, raising his newly conjured pistols and firing. Bright, luminous bullets streak from the barrels, striking the monster's exposed back. The purplish light pierces straight through, and the Heartless lets out a distorted howl before dissolving into a black mist.

Moxxie barely has time to celebrate before another Large Body crashes onto the rooftop behind him. It swings a massive arm, sending him hurtling off the edge.

"Moxxie!" Millie shouts, her heart lurching. But there's no time to hesitate.

She turns on her own attacker, lunging forward to drive her daggers into its gut. The impact rebounds, sending her skidding backward. Her boots scrape against the rooftop as she barely manages to stay on her feet. The Heartless retaliates with heavy, sweeping swings, forcing her to dodge frantically.

Just as one of its fists nearly connects, a golden hatchet slices clean through its back. A shockwave of energy ripples through the creature before it vanishes into smoke. Sakura lands beside Millie, offering a hand.

"Come on," she says. "We're not done yet."

Together, they rush to the edge of the rooftop, spotting Moxxie below. He's already back on his feet, weaving between the lumbering swings of two more Large Bodies, narrowly avoiding each crushing blow.

Sakura nods toward Millie. "Drop down behind them—take them out while they're distracted."

Millie doesn't need to be told twice. She and Sakura leap from the rooftop, descending like shadows. As they fall, they slash through both creatures in perfect synchronicity. The Heartless barely register the attack before vanishing into nothingness.

Millie and Sakura land smoothly on the street, weapons gleaming in the dim light.

Moxxie, catching his breath, looks between them and smirks. "Alright... I'll admit. That was pretty badass."

Millie grins, twirling her daggers. "Damn right, it was."

Sakura simply chuckles, readying her weapon as more shadows flicker in the distance.

"Looks like we're not done yet," Sakura says.

Moxxie turned the pistols over in his hands, his tail flicking with curiosity. "Alright, what the hell just happened? One second, I had nothing, and now I'm holding... glowing, magic-infused guns?"

Millie twirled her daggers, watching as faint arcs of energy crackled along the blades. "Yeah, not that I'm complaining, but what are these things?"

Sakura smirked, resting her hatchet on her shoulder. "They're light weapons. They're formed using the energy within you—your own strength, emotions, and willpower. When you flexed your palm, you instinctively called upon that energy, and the weapons responded."

Moxxie narrowed his eyes. "So... they just appeared because we willed them to?"

"More or less." Sakura shrugged. "But they're more than just physical weapons. They channel your inner magic, allowing you to do things you normally couldn't—like this."

She lifted her free hand and snapped her fingers. A golden circle formed beneath her feet, and in an instant, her hatchet was engulfed in flames. The fire spiraled up the blade, dancing along its surface before vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.

Moxxie and Millie exchanged a glance.

"So, you're saying we can do that too?" Millie asked with her excitement barely contained.

"Exactly," Sakura confirmed. "You just have to focus your energy on the weapon. Try it—picture an element in your mind, feel it, and let the weapon respond."

Before the imps could even try, several pools of darkness formed around them. From the writhing void, multiple Shadows emerged, their glowing yellow eyes locking onto the trio. They twitched and slithered unnaturally, circling their prey like silent predators.

"Well, no better time to practice than now," Sakura said, readying her hatchet.

Moxxie and Millie nodded, gripping their weapons tightly. Moxxie took a deep breath, focusing on the sensation of heat—roaring flames licking at his fingertips. Almost instantly, warmth surged through him. The barrels of his pistols glowed red-hot, embers flickering along the edges.

Without hesitation, he raised one gun and fired. A streak of fire shot out, slamming into the nearest Shadow. The creature let out a distorted screech as it was engulfed in flames before vanishing into a puff of black smoke.

Moxxie's eyes widened. "Holy shit, I did that?"

Millie grinned. "My turn!"

She gripped her daggers, focusing on raw, crackling energy. A jolt of electricity surged through her arms, racing down into the blades. The weapons pulsed with bright yellow energy sparks, flickering along their edges.

With an excited whoop, she slashed at the nearest Shadow, and the moment her electrified blade connected, a burst of lightning erupted from the impact. The shock spread through the surrounding Shadows, making them convulse before they disintegrated into wisps of darkness.

Sakura let out an impressed whistle. "Not bad, you two."

Moxxie, now eager to test more, focused on a different sensation. Instead of fire, he thought of the bitter cold of winter, the way frost crept over glass in the dead of night. The gun in his left hand glowed blue, and icy mist curled from the barrel.

He aimed and fired. A bolt of ice shot forward, striking a Shadow mid-leap. In an instant, the creature froze solid, suspended in midair before shattering into glittering shards.

Millie let out a laugh. "Damn, Mox! Looks like you're hotter than usual."

Moxxie giggled. "Thanks, babe."

More Shadows emerged, their numbers growing.

Sakura readied herself. "Alright, now let's see if you two can keep up."

Millie twirled her electrified daggers, smirking. "Oh, you're on, pink bitch."

Moxxie cocked his pistols, fire flickering in one, ice misting from the other. "Let's fry these little fucks."

The moment the Shadows emerged, twitching and writhing from the pools of darkness, the air around them grew heavy. Their glowing yellow eyes locked onto the trio, bodies shifting erratically as they prepared to strike.

Sakura spun her hatchet in her grip, smirking. "Alright, imps—let's see what you've got."

Millie twirled her daggers, sparks crackling along the blades. "With pleasure!"

A Shadow lunged at her, its jagged claws slashing toward her chest. Millie ducked low, rolling beneath the attack before slashing upward in a twin arc. The moment her electrified daggers connected, a surge of lightning shot through the creature. It convulsed violently before exploding into black mist.

Moxxie took a stance, raising his pistols. He fired a shot from his right gun, a scorching burst of flames erupting from the barrel and incinerating two Shadows in its path. Another Shadow lunged at him from the side, but he was ready. He flipped his left pistol around and fired—a freezing bullet struck the creature mid-air, encasing it in ice. Without hesitation, he kicked the frozen Shadow, shattering it into pieces.

He smirked. "Not bad."

Sakura moved effortlessly through the battlefield, sidestepping a Shadow's swipe before delivering a powerful slash with her hatchet. A golden crescent of energy shot outward, vaporizing multiple Shadows in its path. More of the creatures emerged, slithering from the darkness, surrounding them.

"They just keep coming!" Millie called out, flipping backward as Shadow's claws nearly grazed her cheek.

Sakura adjusted her grip on her weapon. "Then let's clear them out in one go."

She slammed her hatchet into the ground, and golden runes flared beneath her feet. "Channel everything you've got! Let's end this now!"

Moxxie focused, gripping his pistols tighter. He channeled both fire and ice, the barrels of his guns glowing—one red-hot, the other covered in frost.

Millie took a deep breath, sparks arcing between her daggers as she infused them with even more power.

The Shadows charged.

"NOW!" Sakura shouted.

Moxxie unleashed a dual barrage—his right pistol firing rapid bursts of searing fire, while his left shot piercing ice rounds. The storm of opposing elements tore through the Shadows, erasing them from existence.

Millie leaped into the air, spinning in a deadly whirlwind. Lightning crackled along her daggers, and when she slammed into the ground, her daggers let out a shockwave of lightning.

Sakura delivered the final blow—raising her hatchet high before slamming it down, sending a golden shockwave rippling across the battlefield. The last of the Shadows shrieked before vanishing into nothingness.

Silence settled over the rooftop. The only sound was their heavy breathing.

Moxxie straightened his jacket, rolling his shoulders. "Well... that was invigorating."

Millie grinned, nudging him playfully. "Yeah, Mox! This magic is just a cooler way to kill, huh?"

Sakura smirked, resting her hatchet on her shoulder. "Not bad, you two. You're catching on quickly."

Moxxie spun his pistols in his hands before holstering them. "Alright, I'll admit... that was kinda badass."

Millie chuckled, dispelling her daggers. "Damn right, it was."

Sakura glanced toward the distant buildings, her expression turning serious

. "You two probably shouldn't be wandering around alone. The First District is the safest place in town. I'll take you there."

Moxxie exchanged a glance with Millie, who gave him a small nod.

"Well, considering we have no idea where the hell we are," Moxxie sighed, "we'd be stupid to say no."

Sakura smirked. "Smart choice. Let's go before more of those things show up."

With that, she led the way across the rooftops, and the two imps followed, leaving the battlefield behind as they headed toward safety.

A low groan escaped Loona's throat as she stirred, her body aching from whatever the hell just happened. Her vision swam as she blinked blearily, her ears twitching at the distant hum of flickering lights and the soft patter of water against stone.

She pushed herself up with a grunt, shaking her head as her silver hair fell messily over her face. As her senses adjusted, she realized she wasn't in Hell anymore.

The air was cool, carrying the scent of damp stone and something vaguely metallic. The ground beneath her was made of smooth, patterned brick, worn from years of use. Large, arched doorways lined the nearby buildings, their stone walls illuminated by streetlamps with a warm but slightly eerie golden glow. The whole place had an old-world charm—like a town trapped in a dreamlike twilight.

Loona stood up slowly, stretching her limbs before glancing around.

Above her, the sky wasn't Hell's usual burning red—it wasn't even the smog-covered gray she was used to. Instead, it was an endless dark void, dotted with stars that seemed far too bright.

"Where the fuck am I?" Loona muttered, rubbing her temples.

Her glowing red eyes scanned her surroundings, taking in every detail. A massive, circular emblem was embedded into the center of the district's ground, its intricate design faintly reflecting the dim streetlights. To her left, a short flight of stairs led to a large, closed gate, its metal surface worn but sturdy. To her right, a few doors stood slightly ajar, leading into warmly lit rooms, though the buildings themselves looked old and slightly abandoned.

The soft trickle of water drew her attention to the far end of the district, where a fountain bubbled quietly, its surface reflecting the warm lights from the streetlamps.

Everything about this place felt... strange. It wasn't Hell. It wasn't Earth. It felt like she had stumbled into a dream. Loona let out an irritated sigh, crossing her arms. "Great. Lost in some random bullshit town with no clue where anyone the fuck is."

Her ears twitched as she heard a faint noise in the distance—something moving, shifting through the shadows just out of sight. She narrowed her eyes. She realized she wasn't alone.

Loona smells the air and picks up the familiar scent of sulfur and oil. She tenses up a little and darts her head from side to side, looking around the area. She hears the sound of metal clanking, running towards her from behind, and as she spins to meet the gaze of whatever's charging at her, she's knocked onto her back by a swift kick to the jowls.

"Fuck!!!" Loona screams in pain.

Rolling onto her stomach, she attempted to stand, but an Armored Heartless slashed at her back and rear, making her cry out in pain. Disoriented, she heard a whoosh and the sound of metal being struck. Looking up, Loona saw black smoke dissipate and heard a heavy thud. Turning her head, she saw someone standing tall.

Loona sees a fair-skinned woman with brown eyes and straight blonde hair wearing a grey mesh shirt and a teal-coloured kimono over it. The kimono has short sleeves and red lining around the collar, which she secures with a blue sash.

The woman walks over to Loona and bends down to look her eye-to-eye. She grabs Loona by the chin and holds her face in place to get a good look at her. Loona aggressively slaps away the woman's hand and bounces up onto her feet. "Hands of the merchandise bitch" Loona growls. The woman rolls her eyes and looks past Loona's side to see a few clouds of dark smoke forming and more armored Heartless appearing. Loona hears the clank of metal slap the ground, and as she turns, one of the heartless jumps to kick Loona. Before the creature could land a blow, Loona ducks to all fours, and the Woman throws a kunai at the creature, slashing through its armor, causing it to dissipate into a cloud of smoke. Loona then charges towards the remaining armored heartless. She lunges at one of the monsters, and she tries to bite down on it, only for her teeth to phase through the heartless. She then tries clawing at two others to no avail. One of the armored Heartless kicks Loona in the back while another slams its claws into Loona's Chest. She falls onto the ground again in pain. Only for her to look up and see the blonde ninja woman throwing more Kunai from a distance, dissipating the heartless that just attacked Loona. Loona stands up, trying to figure out how to hurt the creatures, only to realize they're all gone now. Kunai littering the streets are stabbed into the ground. Loona looks back toward the woman who managed to close the distance between them in the time it took Loona to turn around, startling her.

The Woman looks Loona up and down and smiles a bit.

"Well, you clearly aren't a Heartless, so I might as well take you somewhere safe," The woman says.

"You're not taking me anywhere, I don't know you," Loona snappily responds.

"The names Tsunade, ninja teacher, and fifth hokage. Now we don't have much time before those creatures come back, so do you want to get attacked again or not, wolf girl?" Tsunade says.

Loona looks around and thinks about how she has no idea where she is, where her father and coworkers are, and especially what those creatures she couldn't hurt were. Loona sighs and reluctantly nods her head to gesture for Tsunade to lead the way. Tsunade smiles and snaps her fingers. The Kunai littering the street disappear and teleport into Tsunade's left hand. She throws them into a wall, creating a perfect door shape with all the knives. She snaps her fingers again, and the knives charge with electricity, and a blinding light explodes from the shape, creating a portal of sorts. Tsunade gestures for Loona to follow her, and the two step through the portal as it closes behind them.

Traverse Town's First District buzzed with quiet activity under its eternal twilight. Lanterns glowed warmly, casting long shadows over the cobbled streets. A massive circular emblem decorated the square, surrounded by benches and storefronts.

Moxxie and Millie stood at the center, weapons holstered and eyes scanning the streets anxiously. Beside them, Sakura leaned against a wall, arms crossed. "He'll come. If your boss is anything like you two, he won't go down quietly."

Footsteps echoed through the alley, and soon Blitzø and Sasuke stepped into the light.

"Oh my Satan, you guys are alive!" Blitzø exclaimed, arms spread wide.

"Boss!" Moxxie shouted, running forward. Millie wasn't far behind.

The trio embraced tightly. Loona arrived moments later, led by Tsunade. Her eyes widened as she saw them.

"You dumbasses are still kicking," Loona muttered, barely hiding her relief.

Blitzø turned, grinning. "And you're still the grumpiest Hellhound I know."

They pulled into a group hug, the team reunited at last. For a moment, all was still.

But the joy slowly gave way to confusion.

"Where are we, exactly?" Millie asked.

"Traverse Town," Sakura answered. "A world that catches people when theirs is destroyed."

"Destroyed?" Moxxie's voice cracked. "Are you saying Hell—our world—is gone?"

Sasuke looked away. Tsunade answered gently, "It was swallowed by darkness. Just like others."

Blitzø frowned, his bravado fading. "We were just living our weird, violent lives. And now this?"

Loona folded her arms. "I don't even know what those monsters were. Or how we survived."

Moxxie kicked a loose stone. "So... we're homeless interdimensional refugees now."

"For now," Sakura said. "But you're together. And that counts for something."

The group sat on the edge of the fountain, quiet. Millie rested her head on Moxxie's shoulder. Blitzø rubbed Loona's back. For the first time in ages, they didn't have a job to do, a hit to carry out, or a target to pursue—just each other.

"Well, we should probably get you guys set up at the local hotel," Sasuke speaks up. "You can have your existential crisis after we get some basics out of the way."

Blitzø snaps upward and looks Sasuke dead in the eyes. "And what exactly do you mean by basics???"

"Well, you guys do need a place to stay, and it's our job to help acclimate you to your new life," Sasuke answers. "But if you don't want that, we can just leave you to the void of space."

Sakura cuts in, saying, "He's joking about that last part, that we'd never abandon anyone in need."

"Well, any help is good for us at the moment," Millie replies. "Please lead the way."

In the hotel of Traverse town's first district. Another ninja, wearing a green flak jacket over a dark blue long-sleeved shirt and matching pants, sits and waits inside a red room. Sitting at the small table and taking a sip of tea. The ninja looks over to his left, looking at the figure sleeping in the bed next to him. The ninja looks at Xander, knocked out cold, and sleeping as if there's nothing to worry about. The ninja sets down his teacup and walks over to the knocked-out Xander. He reaches just below the side of the bed Xander is sleeping on and picks up Xander's keyblade.

"I can't believe a kid like you ended up with one of the most powerful weapons in the universe," The ninja says to himself.

As soon as the ninja finishes his sentence, the keyblade disappears from his hand and right back next to the bed where Xander is sleeping. He almost chuckles a little at how dire the situation is from his perspective. The ninja then hears a knocking at the red door that leads to the hallway.

"Kakashi, we have some new people wanna meet em," Sakura asks from the other side of the door.

Kakashi then opens the red door and steps out to greet the younger ninja.

"Well, Sakura, let me guess more refugees from a destroyed world," Kakashi says, scratching under his mask a little.

"Well, who else would it be?" Sakura giggles.

Kakashi looks over Sakura's shoulder and sees the colorful cast of individuals Sasuke is escorting to a room with a green door. Sasuke almost takes a step forward until he hears a groan come from behind him.

"Actually, Sakura, maybe you should come use those healing skills of yours to work," Kakashi says.

Sakura walks into the green room and sits next to Xander on the bed. She placed a glowing green hand over Xander's bruised side, and a soft light emanated from her palm, slowly fading the dark marks on his skin. Kakashi watched, his lone visible eye thoughtful. He remembered finding the boy crumpled in a dark alleyway, just a few hours after the massive storm had hit. He'd been barely conscious, clutching a rusted pipe, and mumbling about shadows and a terrifying, unseen beast. Kakashi had recognized the signs immediately—another lost soul from a world claimed by darkness, much like his own. He'd brought Xander here, to the safest place he knew, hoping for a recovery. After healing the Bruises, Xander starts to wake up and looks at Sakura's face. "Oh great, I've finally made it to heaven, I thought angels wore white?" Xander says groggily.

Sakura giggles and blushes a bit, and then helps Xander sit up by grabbing him by the head and slowly lifting his head, and setting him up on his back. "I'm no angel guy, and this might not be the heaven you're looking for," Sakura responds. Xander opens his eyes a little wider, and after looking around for a bit, he starts to internally freak out. His face must've done a bad job hiding it because Kakashi walked over quickly but calmly to let Xander know he was no threat. "Hey, calm down, don't worry, you're in a safe place. It may not be heaven, but it's as much as a slice as you'll need," Kakashi says warmly.

"Wh...Where am I?" Xander chokes out. Sakura notices Xander's raspy voice and walks over to the sink to get him some water. "You're in Traverse Town, a place where lost Hearts like yourself end up. Atleast after the worlds they're on collapse and fall into darkness." Kakash answers. Sakura hands Xander the cup of water, and as Xander drinks the cup in one gulp, he then takes a deep breath. "Thanks for the water.....Now, can I please get a real explanation?" Xander demands.

Kakashi strokes his chin while Sakura scratches the back of her head nervously. Sakura then speaks up and answers, "Well, that's all the explanation we have ourselves. When a world falls into darkness, sometimes people with strong wills can survive it and end up here in Traverse Town. My sensei and I are here just to do our best to take care of those who pass through."

Xander looks down at his hands for a minute and realizes he's still the creepy creature from hell. He started panicking a little, only for his keyblade is appear in his hands, startling him. "What the fuck???" Xander screams. "I'm pretty sure that belongs to you, young man," Kakashi says, chuckling under his breath a little.

"So, young man, might I ask your name"? Kakashi asks.

"It's Xander, and you are," Xander answers and asks as he sets his keyblade to his side.

"The names Kakashi, and these are two of my apprentices, Sasuke and Sakura", Kakashi answers. "We know this might come off as a surprise, but that blade you have is kind of important to us and maybe everyone in existence.

Xander looks at Kakashi, confused, and his face scrunched up. "Important? What is it, some kind of magic sword? Because I don't want it. It just keeps appearing when I don't want it to, and it seems to attract those... shadow things." He gestured vaguely, a shiver running down his spine.

Kakashi exchanged a look with Sakura and Sasuke, a subtle nod passing between them. "It's much more than a magic sword, Xander," Kakashi began, his voice taking on a serious tone. "That blade in your hand is called a Keyblade. It's a weapon of light, specifically chosen by fate, or perhaps by something beyond our understanding, to combat the Heartless—the very shadows you encountered."

"The Heartless are creatures born from the darkness that consumes worlds," Sakura added softly, stepping closer. "When a world falls, its heart is lost, and the darkness breeds these monsters. They seek out other hearts, infecting and corrupting them, expanding the darkness across the universe."

"And the Keyblade," Sasuke continued, his arms crossed, "is the only weapon capable of truly destroying them. It doesn't just banish them; it purifies the darkness and restores the hearts that were stolen."

Xander looked down at the gleaming weapon in his hand, then back up at the three ninja, his expression a mixture of disbelief and growing dread. "So, you're saying I'm... supposed to fight these things? With this?" He held up the Keyblade as if it were a dead fish. "I don't want to fight. I don't want any part of this. I just want to go home."

"Unfortunately, Xander," Kakashi said, his voice gentle but firm, "the Keyblade doesn't choose just anyone. It chooses a heart strong enough to wield it, strong enough to fight for the light. And once it has chosen you, it won't leave your side. It's tied to your heart now."

"But... I'm not a hero," Xander stammered, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I'm just... a survivor. I barely made it out of Hell alive. I don't know how to fight monsters, and I don't want to." His voice was barely a whisper.

"You already did fight them, Xander," Sakura reminded him, her green eyes kind. "You must've fought some of them while you were in your home world."

"And it's why you survived when your world fell," Sasuke added, his voice less gruff than usual. "Your heart refused to give in to the darkness. That's a rare and powerful thing."

Kakashi nodded. "The Keyblade is not just a weapon; it's a reflection of your heart. It responds to your will, your courage, and your desire to protect. You may not want this burden, Xander, but it has chosen you. And in doing so, it has given you the power to make a difference, not just for yourself, but for countless others whose worlds are threatened by the darkness."

Xander slumped back against the headboard, his head spinning. The weight of their words settled on him, heavy and undeniable. He looked at the Keyblade again and began to panic on the inside. His breath was speeding up, yet it seemed like air wouldn't reach his lungs. Sakura rushed over to Xander and placed her hand on his head. Using her chakra to calm him down and force him to take deep breaths.

"Calm down, your panic attacks aren't gonna help anyone right now," Sakura says while calming down Xander. "Just take some deep breaths and calm down, I get it a lot, but try and understand." Xander swallowed hard, the warmth from Sakura's hand a small anchor in the storm of his thoughts. He managed to take a few shaky breaths, the panic slowly receding.

"We're not asking you to become a hero overnight, Xander," Kakashi said, his voice softer now. "We understand this is a lot to take in. Our goal is to help you in any way we can. We're not throwing you out there to fight world-ending threats alone. We'll train you, guide you, and teach you how to use that Keyblade. Think of it as a journey, and we're here to help you take the first steps."

"And that Keyblade... It's not just for fighting," Sakura added, a hopeful glint in her eyes. "With the right training, it can do so much more. It can even open pathways to different worlds. If you master its power, you could, theoretically, go to any world you desire. Even find a way back to yours, if it still exists."

Xander looked from Sakura to Kakashi, then to the Keyblade still resting beside him. The idea of reaching other worlds, and even the slim possibility of returning home, stirred a faint spark of hope within him."Alright, well, that all sounds great, but I think I'm getting a headache from all of this."

Sasuke glares, is annoyed at Xander, and starts walking towards the door.

"Guess it's time for us to make our leave," Sakura says. "We left a change of clothes in that wardrobe over there, and later we'll come check on you in a few hours."

As the ninjas walk out of the room, Xander just lies down contemplating everything that's happened to him. One day, he was walking down the street to his apartment after temple with his mom, next he woke up in hell, walking around aimlessly, having to learn what he was, where he was, and how he was going to survive, then he got this key.....the keyblade. A weapon that he never chose. A thing he doesn't even understand. Xander raises the keyblade over his head and examines it. He looks it up and down, taking in every detail. The black and red handle the yellow streaks down the blade beam and down the red teeth. "This must be some edgelords fan weapon for a samurai game or something," Xander thinks. "How the hell am I gonna do anything with a cosplay toy like this. It couldn't even help him stop the thing it's supposed to fight. Xander dropped the blade to his side and turned over in the bed. Closing his eyes, he was hoping everything was just a bad dream or a long nightmare.

Down the hall in the hotel, Tsunade finishes helping team I.M.P. settle into the hotel and gently waves as she exits the room. "Well, everything we know and love is gone. We have no homes to go back to, we have no money, no friends, no family, no one, and we're basically in a place no one can find because we aren't even in the same world or planet or....." Moxxie just keeps yelling and pacing around the room, feeling more comfortable to freak out as Millie follows him, trying to calm him down. Loona just scrolls through her phone trying to make any of the apps work, only to see no text, no post, no anything from hell. All that's left are her pictures. She scrolls through them, trying to make herself feel better, looking at pictures of her first hound party, meeting people she could have been friends with, and even seeing some people she didn't even recognize at first. Different hounds in the background of her selfies. Pups from her Orphanage, all gone. She almost broke down until. She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, loony, we'll be ok," Blitzø says calmly. He then stands up and grabs moxxie mid-freak out. And pulls him into a hug.

"Sir, what are you doing?" Moxxie Asks.

"I'm shutting you up, dumbass," Blitzø Answers.

Blitzø then drops Moxxie and shuffles him and Millie to the other bed in the room. Blitzø then walks in front of the beds while looking back at his team. "So we don't have a plan, we're in a new world, and we have nowhere to go. But we're all still together, have bad ass magical weapons, and I'm sure these knock off ninjas can give us some guidance. So let's just relax and try to sleep this off. Worst case, all of this is real, and we're stranded but together. Best case, we're all tripping on some kind of drugs. Sooooooooooooo yeah," Blitzø presents all of this, trying to hide his internal fear and possible freak out. Blitzø released Moxxie, who landed with a soft thud on the floor, before ushering both him and Millie towards the other, surprisingly comfortable-looking, bed in the dimly lit room. Once his team was settled, Blitzø positioned himself in front of the beds, his gaze sweeping over them, a forced calm masking the turmoil in his eyes.

"Alright, team," he began, his voice a little too loud in the sudden silence, "So, here's the rundown. We don't have a plan. We are undeniably in a new world, a world where the very air feels... different. And to top it all off, we have absolutely nowhere to go. No headquarters, no familiar stomping grounds, just... this." He gestured vaguely around the unfamiliar room.

"However," Blitzø continued, a flicker of his usual bravado returning, "We are all still together. That counts for something, right? We've got each other's backs. Plus, we're still armed to the teeth with our ridiculously badass magical weapons." He patted the hilt of his own weapon, a slight smirk playing on his lips. "And," he added, a hint of something resembling optimism creeping into his tone, "I'm sure these... knock-off ninjas, as I'm calling them, can give us some guidance. They seem to know their way around this place, even if they dress like they're perpetually ready for a costume party."

He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair. "So, for now, let's just try to relax. Let's try to sleep this off, clear our heads. Worst-case scenario? All of this is horrifyingly real, and we're truly stranded in an unknown dimension, but at least we're stranded together." He forced a strained smile. "Best-case scenario? We're all just collectively tripping on some kind of seriously potent hallucinogenic drugs that the 'ninjas' somehow slipped us. In which case, this will all be a hilarious story to tell when we sober up."

He paused, a flicker of raw fear crossing his features before he quickly plastered on a casual, almost indifferent expression. "Sooooooooooooo... yeah." Blitzø finished, his attempt to present a nonchalant front barely concealing the internal fear and the very real possibility of an impending freak-out that gnawed at him. He needed to be strong for his team, even if his mind was screaming.

Moxxie, sitting next to Millie on the left bed, looked up at Blitzø, his wide eyes reflecting a strange mix of terror and resignation. "So, you're saying... we should just... go to sleep? After all that? After our entire world just... disappeared?" His voice wavered, but he made no move to argue further.

Millie, already curled up on the bed, let out a shaky sigh. "He's got a point, Moxxie. What else are we gonna do? Run around in circles screaming until those shadow things come back and eat us?" She shivered, pulling her knees closer to her chest.

Loona, still intently staring at her lifeless phone, finally lowered it, her gaze softening slightly as she looked at Blitzø. "You really think we'll be okay, Blitzø?" Her voice was quiet, a rare vulnerability.

Blitzø met her gaze, and for a fleeting moment, his forced bravado wavered. He swallowed hard, then straightened his shoulders, forcing a confident grin. "Of course, Loony. We're Team I.M.P., aren't we? We've faced worse. Remember that time with the possessed toaster? Or the sentient demon lawnmower?" He chuckled, though it sounded a little strained. "We'll figure this out. We always do. Together."

Moxxie and Millie exchanged a look, and a flicker of something akin to trust, perhaps even a hint of hope, passed between them. Loona simply huffed, but the corner of her lips twitched upward into a small, almost imperceptible smile. They might be in a strange new world, their home gone, and their future uncertain, but Blitzø was right. They still had each other. And for now, that was enough.

Chapter Text

In a tranquil underground canal, Kakashi and Tsunade meditate amidst the gentle flow of water and ancient stonework. The soft, ambient light illuminates Sasuke as he leans on the moss-draped walls and crumbling masonry, hinting at the town's forgotten infrastructure and imbuing the space with a mysterious, almost sacred ambiance. While at the very end of the tunnel, Sakura is using small rocks to scratch into the wall, creating images of different people. As she details a person's face, giving them a small smile and keeping their eyes closed in a warm expression.

"Sigh, I wish I were as good at art as you were, Sai," Sakura says to herself. "If only things were better." Sakura looks over to one of her previous drawings and sees the image of a boy with spikey hair, six small lines on his cheeks, and a wide smile. Sakura smiles a bit, but her smile slightly dims thinking about the situation she's in. Kakashi opened his eyes, his gaze distant for a moment before snapping back to the present. He stood, and the slight shift in the water's flow was the only indication of his movement. "Alright, everyone," he said, his voice calm, but with an underlying current of urgency. "Let's talk."

Tsunade, still in her meditative pose, slowly opened her eyes. Sasuke pushed off the wall, his usual aloof expression replaced by a more attentive one. Sakura turned from her artwork, wiping dust from her hands.

"The situation has grown more complex," Kakashi continued, walking to stand in front of them. "We have new arrivals from a destroyed world, and one of them, Xander, has manifested a Keyblade."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "A Keyblade wielder. That changes things significantly. We haven't seen one of those here in a long time."

"Indeed," Tsunade agreed, rising gracefully. "And if the Heartless are increasing in number and aggression, it suggests the darkness is spreading faster than we anticipated. Traverse Town itself may not be safe indefinitely."

"So, what's the plan, Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura asked, her voice tinged with concern. "We can't just leave them to fend for themselves, especially Xander with that weapon."

Kakashi paused, looking at each of them in turn. "No, we can't. Our primary objective remains the same: protect those who arrive here and, if possible, find a way to combat the darkness at its source. But now, we have a new variable. Xander and his Keyblade. He is untrained and overwhelmed, but he is also our greatest asset, and potentially our greatest risk."

"He's a kid," Sasuke stated flatly. "And he doesn't want any part of this."

"That's true," Kakashi conceded. "But the Keyblade chose him for a reason. It's tied to his heart. Our first priority is to guide him, to help him understand and control its power. And in doing so, perhaps we can learn more about how to fight this growing threat."

"So, we train him?" Tsunade questioned, a thoughtful look on her face.

"And protect him," Kakashi added. "The Heartless will be drawn to him. We'll need to work together, more so than ever. Sasuke, your tactical prowess and your ability to handle multiple threats will be crucial. Sakura, your medical expertise and growing combat skills will be vital in keeping everyone safe. Tsunade, your strength and wisdom will be invaluable in both direct combat and guiding us through this."

He looked at them, his single visible eye conveying the weight of the situation. "This isn't just about protecting Traverse Town anymore. It's about protecting every world, every heart. Are we ready for this?"

Sasuke nodded, a grim determination setting in. "As ready as we'll ever be."

Sakura's gaze hardened, her hand unconsciously moving to her medical pouch. "We'll do whatever it takes, Kakashi-sensei."

Tsunade's expression was resolute. "Let's get to work."

"What about the other refugees? " Sasuke interjected, his gaze shifting from Kakashi to Tsunade. "The imps. They're... a handful, and clearly out of their depth. We can't just leave them to stumble into trouble." He paused, then added, a hint of genuine concern in his tone, "And how exactly are we supposed to train a Keyblade wielder, let alone fight back against this growing darkness, when our own chakra reserves are dwindling? We're not exactly at full strength out here, and the longer we stay, the weaker we get."

Sakura snaps her fingers, realizing something. "Wait, what if we don't have to train Xander?" Those demon guys seem to be great fighters, and they picked up on their new weapons really well. Maybe we can have them teach Xander to fight while we guide them in the right direction. Plus, we know where the source of the darkness is coming from. We just need to make sure it gets blocked off."

Everyone stops and thinks about Sakura's plan for a bit, and Tsunade stands up, "Well, it's the best plan we have, but to see how strong these guys actually are, we should focus on using their new powers on something simple, but at hand." She suggests.

"Well, we need to push back those armored heartless again. Let's send them after the mother," Sasuke added. "That thing usually shows up in the third district, and they'll have plenty of fights beforehand, and if they stop the mother, they get to clear up some of our work."

The ninjas all nod in agreement and make their decision.

In the hotel of the first district, Xander awoke from a restless sleep, the hotel room still a disorienting reality he wished was a nightmare. He rose and stretched, popping his neck and loosening his joints. His gaze fell upon the wardrobe Sakura had mentioned. Inside, he found a selection of clothes. "Hmm, not gonna lie, this stuff looks pretty cool," he muttered to himself.

He pulled out a pair of slightly baggy blue jeans, a new blue jacket with black padding on the chest, shoulders, and elbows, a large white t-shirt, and a pair of red and black tennis shoes. After changing, he noticed the jeans were a bit too large and the jacket sleeves too long. He grabbed a belt from the wardrobe, tightening it as much as possible, and managed to roll up the jacket sleeves, creating small, puffy rolls at his wrists. After Xander puts on and ties his shoes, he looks at himself in the mirror of the wardrobe closet and smiles a bit for the first time in a while. He actually likes how he looks. Xander then looks around the room, wondering where his keyblade is. He eventually realized what he needed to do and flexed his palm. His keyblade formed in the palm of his hands, and he smiled a bit.

Xander hears a knock at the door. "Come in," Xander says. The door opened, and Tsunade stepped inside, a warm smile on her face. Her eyes immediately landed on Xander, taking in his new outfit. "Well, look at you," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "That's quite the upgrade. You clean up nicely, kid."

Xander felt a blush creep up his neck, but he couldn't help but smile back. "Thanks, Tsunade."

"Feeling a bit better now?" she asked, her gaze softening. "Good. Listen, I was about to head to the local market to grab some food. You hungry? It might be good to get some fresh air and see a bit more of Traverse Town."

Xander thinks about it and realizes he hasn't had anything to eat for a while. "Yeah, I could eat," Xander replies to Tsunade. As the two leave the hotel, Xander notices that it's dark outside. "Huh, did I sleep all the way till nighttime time" Xander asks. Tsunade giggles a bit hearing this and answers, "No, no, dear Traverse Town just has an eternal night. We don't have a daytime here. It's actually quite peaceful."

Xander gazed at the stars, but Tsunade interrupted, tapping his shoulder and urging him to follow. "C'mon, we can stargaze later," she said, guiding him past the hotel. They soon arrived at Traverse Town's main square, where numerous tents and stands bustled under two colossal lampposts. Xander, a bit overwhelmed, remarked, "Whoa, that looks kinda crowded." Tsunade reassured him, "It's not that bad, just stick close to me and we'll be able to get through."

As they navigated the square, Xander noticed only about six stands under the tents: one selling gadgets and weapons, three offering various foods, and two dedicated to clothing. Tsunade led him to a food tent, waving to passersby. "So, Xander, do you like fried rice or ramen?" she asked.

"Heh, who doesn't?" Xander replied, adding, "I've always had a hankering for chicken fried rice and lo mein mixed together, though."

"Good to know," Tsunade said. She rang a bell, summoning the vendor, a tall, lean man with blonde hair obscuring one eye, who had been reading in the corner. He looked up, offered a slight smile, extinguished a cigarette on the ground, and lit another as he approached.

"Hey Tsunade, let me guess, you're treating another new guy to lunch?" the vendor asked.

"Yep, just helping our new friend here get accustomed to life in Traverse Town, and what better way to do that than with a good meal?" Tsunade answered.

The vendor looked at Xander, and their eyes met. "H...Hey," Xander stammered nervously. "Don't be scared of me, kid, I won't bite ya," the vendor responded.

"Name's Sanji, what about you?" Sanji asked.

"My name's Xander, nice to meet you," Xander replied.

"Well, Xander, what would you like...?" Before Sanji could finish, Tsunade interjected, "We'd like two Chicken Fried Rice Lo Mein specials, please. Make mine extra spicy."

"You got it, Tsunade, give me 20 minutes and your food'll be ready," Sanji said.

Tsunade and Xander found a nearby bench, the flickering lamplight casting long shadows across the cobbled ground. As they sat, Xander fidgeted, the unfamiliar clothes still feeling a bit awkward on him.

"So, Xander," Tsunade began, her voice calm but firm, "while we wait, there's something important we need to discuss about those... shadow things you mentioned."

Xander tensed, gripping the edge of the bench. "The Heartless. What about them?"

"They're a constant threat here in Traverse Town," Tsunade explained, her gaze sweeping across the marketplace. "This town exists as a sanctuary, a temporary refuge for those whose worlds have been consumed by darkness. But the Heartless are drawn to hearts, especially strong ones like yours. They don't just attack; they seek to expand the darkness, to swallow more worlds."

She paused, looking directly at him. "That Keyblade of yours... It's a beacon to them. It means you'll be a target. But it also means you're the only one who can truly stop them."

Xander swallowed hard. "But I don't even know how to use it right. I just... swung it. It felt like an accident."

"It wasn't an accident, Xander. It was instinct," Tsunade corrected. "And that's why it's so important to get them under control here. If the Heartless overrun Traverse Town, there will be nowhere left for lost souls to go. This place is a last resort for many. We, the people who remain, have to protect it. That means pushing back the darkness, and right now, you and your Keyblade are our best chance."

Xander looked at his hands, then at the bustling market around them. The casual chatter and the warm glow of the stands suddenly seemed fragile, threatened by an unseen enemy. The weight of her words settled on him, making the new clothes feel even heavier.

"How do I do it?" Xander asks.

Tsunade's head darts over, looking at Xander in surprise. She didn't expect him to just accept his role in everything. It was kind of suspicious to her, but she answered his question as casually as possible. "Well, right now we should focus on stopping the mother of these armored heartless. The shadows won't fully go away, but the mother definitely will lessen the heartless by a few districts, allowing us to take back some of the ground we lost."

Xander thinks for a moment before asking, "Is this mother big?"

"Oh, it's huge, but the Heartless get bigger, so you'll get used to it." Tsunade answers.

A chill went down Xander's spine, and the once-warm jacket now felt ice-cold. Tsunade notices the fear in Xander's eyes and tries to alleviate the tension. "Don't worry, kid, that keyblade will keep you protected, and we plan to not have you do this alone," Tsunade says.

Xander looks over to Tsunade questionably, "Wait, you're gonna train me or something?"

"No, sorry kid, most of my power has been drained over the years without me, world, I've been running on fumes," Tsunade answers. "But you weren't the only refugee from your world. They have weapons similar to yours and can probably be of use."

Xander froze in place, hearing that demons from hell followed him here. A place that finally had some semblance of peace was not harboring the disgusting creatures he had to put up with every day for two years. "Wait... from my world?" he asked, his voice tight. "You mean... demons? From Hell? You brought them here?!" He couldn't keep the revulsion out of his tone. "I don't... I don't think I can work with them. After everything I went through in that place, with them... I just got away."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. "Hell? What do you mean, 'Hell'? Is that what you call your world?"

Xander scoffed, a bitter laugh escaping him. "It's exactly what it sounds like. A literal Hell. Demons everywhere, constant violence, gruesome deaths around every corner. It's a place where the strong prey on the weak, and survival is a daily struggle. Trust me, you don't want to know the details." He shuddered, the memories clearly unsettling him.

Tsunade leaned back, a new understanding dawning on her as she recalled Kakashi's description of the refugees. "Well, kid, it seems you have the perfect mini-army," she stated.

"What do you mean?" Xander inquired.

"It's simple," Tsunade explained. "You possess the Keyblade, the only thing capable of defeating Heartless, repairing worlds, and halting darkness. If these demons are as violent as you claim, they'd be ideal for fighting alongside you. Furthermore, they can't take the Keyblade from you and wield it themselves, so if they want their world back, they have to work with you. You have them completely by the balls, kid."

Xander feels a little less scared now and even smiles at the prospect of controlling the demons that once tormented him. So he enjoys the calm before the storm as Tsunade stands up and gestures for them to go back and pick up their food.

Inside the hotel, Loona wakes up lying on the left side of a bed too small for her. Her tail curls around her body and giving her a small amount of cushioning. Under her own weight. She sits up and yawns, stretching as she looks around the room. Instead of waking up from what she thought was a bad dream. She picks up her phone from underneath her pillow, and when she turns it on, she tries to get any of the apps to work....but it doesn't. Voxtagram has no connection, Buzztube won't play a video, and all she can look at are her photos. As she scrolls through them, a tear comes to her eye and falls on her phone screen just as the battery dies. She realizes she doesn't even have a charger, and now the only thing to remind her of home is gone. Loona chucked her phone onto the bedside table with a frustrated groan, burying her face in her hands. It finally hit her—they were stuck. No home, no way to call for help, just this weird, quiet place. A little whimper escaped her, but she quickly stifled it, trying not to cry.

Beside her, Millie stirred, her eyes slowly opening. She let out a small, confused groan and pushed herself up. "Moxxie? Blitzø?" she mumbled, her voice still thick with sleep. When she saw how upset Loona looked, her expression changed. "Loona? What's up?"

Moxxie, on the other side of the bed, slowly opened his eyes, still groggy. He blinked, trying to figure out where he was, then noticed Millie's worried face and Loona all slumped over. "What's going on?" he asked, his voice raspy.

Blitzø, who'd been pretending to be asleep to keep it together, opened one eye. His heart sank as he saw the realization dawn on his team's faces. The brief escape from reality was over.

Millie, sensing the shift in the room, finally looked around. Her eyes got wide as she took in the strange furniture, the quiet hum of something unseen, and the total lack of anything from Hell. The bright colors that seemed kinda cool before now felt just... wrong. "W-we're really... not home, are we?" she whispered, barely audible.

Moxxie sat bolt upright, his earlier chill replaced by pure panic. He patted himself down, looking for his pistols, his eyes widening when he found nothing. "My guns! Where are my guns?! And my knives? Millie, your daggers—are they gone too?"

Millie frantically checked her side, her hands scrambling at empty holsters. A choked gasp escaped her. "They're... they're gone! All of them!"

Loona finally looked up, her eyes red-rimmed but hardening with renewed frustration. "My damn phone's dead too! No signal, no connection, nothing! It's just a useless brick!" She slammed it down again, the plastic rattling against the wood.

Blitzø pushed himself up, trying to act casual, but his tail twitched nervously. "Alright, alright, chill out, everyone. It's fine. We just... misplaced 'em, probably." He tried to conjure his sword, flexing his palm like Sakura told him, but nothing happened. His forced smile faltered. "Oh. Right. Takes a bit of focus, apparently." He tried again, harder this time, his brow furrowing with effort. Still nothing. The silence in the room stretched, heavy with unspoken dread.

Moxxie's voice trembled. "Blitzø... we're really stuck here, aren't we? Everything's gone. Our apartment, the office, every single job... all of it. We're... we're truly alone."

Millie's lower lip started to tremble. "We don't even have any clothes that aren't what we got stuck in. No money, no food that isn't... whatever this place has. What are we supposed to do?"

Loona scoffed, but there was no real meanness in it, just deep exhaustion. "Yeah, Blitzø. What now, boss? Your brilliant plan was to 'sleep it off.' Well, we're awake. And it's still real. So, what the fuck do we do?" The fragile calm from the night before had completely shattered, replaced by the stark, terrifying reality of their new existence.

A knock at the door broke the silence. "Hello, is anyone awake in there?" Sakura's voice called out.

"Ye...yeah, we're up," Moxxie replied. "Come on in."

Sakura entered, her comforting smile easing the team's apprehension. "Okay, I know this will be an adjustment, but don't worry, we're here to help. First, though, we might have a proposition for you."

"What kind of proposition?" Blitzø asked.

"Just follow me down the hall," Sakura answered. "We'll get you something to eat and maybe some new clothes, then we'll get into the grittier details."

The I.M.P. crew followed, traversing the mostly empty main street. They noticed only tents and stands illuminated by two giant lampposts, and Tsunade eating ramen with another person, as they were led to an unassuming accessory shop—their pre-arranged rendezvous. Inside, Sasuke and Kakashi were meticulously arranging intricate, fancy bowls on a glass table, their profound concentration hinting at a task far more significant than a simple display.

"Welcome, my friends," Kakashi greeted them. "We're just setting the table for you. Come, sit, sit. The food will be here soon."

Team I.M.P. settled comfortably on the left side of the table, while Sakura and Sasuke took the right. Kakashi answered another knock at the door, accepting a bag from someone with a word of thanks before closing it. As he set the bag down, he felt the tension in the room pressing against the back of his head, emanating from people he barely knew. However, after experiencing this for a while, he moved through the feeling with the swiftness of a dancer on stage. He simply opened the bag and presented the mixed fried rice inside, evenly serving everyone and ignoring the deafening silence that screamed at them. After giving everyone a generous helping, Kakashi sat down at the far left side of the table, relaxing and preparing to enjoy his meal.

"S...so, is...our world re...really gone?" Moxxie asked.

Kakashi looked at Team I.M.P., seeing the dread etched on their faces. "Well, it's hard to hear, but yes, when darkness consumes a world, it's completely fallen. But I don't think it's far from being saved."

The demons perked up at this. Millie asked, "Wait, what do you mean saved? Is our world gone or not?"

"When a world is recently consumed, the process can be reversed if the source of darkness is cut off from the rest of the universe," Sasuke chimed in. "However, we don't know exactly how the magic works; we've only seen it work once."

"If you've only seen it work once, how do you know it'll work again?" Loona asked.

"Why do you think Traverse Town is so empty?" Sakura explained. "Someone came through a long time ago and used a powerful tool called a Keyblade to close off a source of darkness, and it restored some worlds. However, that guy went missing."

"So, where do we find one of these Keyblades?" Millie chimed in. "For some reason, we can't even summon the weapons we have, and they aren't shaped like a key."

Sakura chuckled, leaning forward. "Oh, you're right about them not being shaped like a key. As for why they're not appearing... It's not that you can't summon them. It's just that it takes practice. They're connected to your heart, and like any muscle, you need to train that connection. The more you use them, the easier it'll be to call them forth."

Kakashi cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "Actually, there's another development. We have a new arrival in Traverse Town. Someone who can wield a Keyblade."

Blitzø, Moxxie, and Loona exchanged surprised glances. Millie leaned forward, intrigued. "Really? So they can help us?"

Kakashi nodded, a faint smile on his face. "That's what we're hoping. We'd like to introduce you to him. His name is Xander. He's... a bit overwhelmed by all of this, but he possesses the power to truly combat the darkness. If we can work together, pool our strengths, and guide him, there's a real chance we could begin to push back against this encroaching darkness and maybe, just maybe, start bringing back the worlds that have fallen."

Blitzø scoffed, crossing his arms. "Hold on, hold on. You want us to waste our time training some random kid to save worlds we don't care about? Our world just got swallowed by darkness, we don't know who to trust, and you want us to play babysitter to some magic-sword-wielding civilian? What's in it for us, besides a headache?"

Sakura slammed her hand on the table, her earlier calm replaced by a frustrated glare. "What's in it for you? Your world, Blitzø! That Keyblade is the only thing that can bring it back! If Xander can't use it, or if it falls into the wrong hands, then Hell is gone forever. You're not just 'babysitting' a kid; you're protecting your only way home!"

Sasuke's voice was low and dangerous. "And who exactly do you think you can trust, demon? We're the ones who brought you here, who sheltered you. If you want to see your world again, you have to work with us. The Keyblade chooses its wielder, but that wielder needs guidance. If you're unwilling to help, then your world's fate is sealed, and you'll be stuck here, powerless, forever."

Kakashi took a sip of his tea, a subtle smirk playing on his lips. He was proud of his students but kept it cool so things didn't get out of hand.

Blitzø looked a bit freaked out, while Moxxie cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention. "Honestly, that sounds awesome," Moxxie said. "We train your warrior, and we get our home back. I just have a couple of questions."

Kakashi set his tea down and simply asked, "What kind of questions, buddy?"

"First off, what happens when our world comes back? How exactly are we gonna seal off this darkness? And what's in it for us to make this easier?" Moxxie asked.

Kakashi put a finger to his chin as he answered, "Well, for starters, we can hook you up with a way to travel to other worlds. We'll also give you some new clothes that are basically armor against darkness. As for reversing a world's darkness, we've never seen it ourselves, so we don't know the exact side effects. But we do know most folks end up disappearing from here and going home."

Moxxie looked a little confused but seemed to accept the answers. "Hold on, hold on, are you seriously not gonna explain what the hell any of that even means? What do you mean by 'darkness'? What do you mean by 'other worlds'? HOW THE FUCK ARE YOU ALL OKAY WITH THIS???" Loona yelled, clearly pissed off and annoyed. "Everything you're saying goes against time and space. Basic science just doesn't apply here."

"Well, hell's magic broke the laws of science all the time; maybe this is just some kind of magic we don't get yet," Millie offered.

Loona scoffed, "Yeah, that's just super fucking convenient."

Blitzø thinks about all of this while finally taking a few bites of his fried rice. "Hmmm, smack ok to summarize Chew, we just need to train this kid and fight some bitches Swallow. Then we get to go home. Sounds like a good business plan to me."

Kakashi smiles widely and says, "Well, that's great you all agree, let's enjoy this meal before we move on to anything really serious. Please, this rice was made by one of my favorite chefs here in Traverse Town."

Millie takes a bite of her rice, and a huge smile crosses her face, leading the rest of the team to try the food, leading to Loona and Moxxie smiling just as widely.

"Wait, hold on, hold on," Blitzø said, wiping a bit of rice from his chin with the back of his hand. "So, you guys are... ninjas? Like, throwing stars and smoke bombs and silent assassinations?" He looked from Kakashi to Sasuke, then to Sakura, a skeptical eyebrow raised. "Because, no offense, but you guys look like you're cosplaying for a con. Where are the masks? The edgy cloaks? The dramatic posing?"

Sasuke gave a low growl, clearly annoyed, but Kakashi chuckled, a crinkle appearing around his visible eye. "Something like that, Blitzø. We are ninjas, yes. Our methods might differ from... popular media, but the core principles remain."

"And what are your core principles, exactly?" Moxxie chimed in, always the curious one. "Besides, apparently bringing back destroyed worlds and wielding fancy elemental powers. Is it, like, a family business? A secret society? A cult?"

Sakura rolled her eyes. "It's a way of life, Moxxie. We're trained warriors from our own world, dedicated to protecting people and maintaining balance. Our abilities, what you call 'magic,' are based on something called chakra—the spiritual and physical energy within us. It allows us to perform various techniques, like the ones you saw."

"Chakra, huh?" Millie mused, twirling her daggers that had reappeared in her hands after a moment of concentration. "So, it's kinda like our new weapons, then? Just... for more stuff?"

"Precisely," Kakashi confirmed. "Your light weapons are a manifestation of your heart's energy, similar to how our chakra allows us to channel our inner strength into various forms and techniques. The more attuned you are to your own inner energy, the more versatile your abilities will become."

Loona, who had been silently observing, finally spoke up, her voice laced with her usual cynicism. "Alright, fine. Chakra. Light weapons. Whatever. But what about you guys? What's your deal? You just hang out here, waiting for worlds to explode so you can scoop up the survivors and make them fight your battles?"

Sakura, who had been quietly enjoying her ramen, set her bowl down with a soft click. Her expression turned serious. "Loona, this isn't a game. Our world, the one we came from, was also swallowed by darkness. We are survivors, just like you. We came to Traverse Town seeking refuge, and we chose to dedicate ourselves to helping others who arrive here. We guide them, protect them, and yes, sometimes, we ask them to help fight back against the darkness that threatens everything."

"It's about protecting the possibility of a future," Sasuke added, his gaze intense. "Every world that falls is a piece of existence lost. We fight to prevent that from happening to others, and perhaps, one day, to reclaim what we've lost."

Blitzø leaned back, taking it all in. "So, you're basically interdimensional charity workers with superpowers? He paused, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Alright, Thanks for the free meals and all. But don't think for a second this means we're suddenly best buddies. We're still demons from Hell, and we've got a reputation to uphold."

"I don't think you're reputation matters out in the greater universe," Sakura says, "Besides, you'll be saving people whether it makes you look cool or not."

"Plus sir, if we literally save all of hell, imagine how famous we could be, business would be booming in ways we couldn't even imagine," Moxie adds.

Blitzø rolls his eyes in frustration. "Moxxie, I was already convinced you don't need to be a boner."

"Speak of the devil," Sasuke muttered, already drawing his sword.

"Alright, showtime, imps," Sakura said, her hatchet materializing in her hand. "Kakashi-sensei, cover the door."

Kakashi nodded, placing a hand on the shop's entrance, a faint shimmer of chakra enveloping it. "You heard them," he said to Team I.M.P., his voice calm. "Show them what you've got."

Blitzø's eyes widened at the sight of the armored creatures, a sudden jolt of adrenaline mixing with his earlier irritation. "Oh, for fuck's sake! Already?" He flexed his palm, and his red and black sword shimmered into existence. "Alright, you tin cans! Who wants some!"

Moxxie and Millie, though startled, instinctively called forth their own light weapons—pistols and daggers appearing in bursts of light. Loona, after a moment of frustrated concentration, managed to summon her own claws, which glowed faintly with a dark, primal energy.

One armored Heartless lunged at Blitzø, its massive claw sweeping horizontally. Blitzø, with surprising agility, ducked beneath the blow and sliced upward, his sword sparking against its armor. The creature staggered but remained standing.

Simultaneously, another Heartless charged Moxxie and Millie. Moxxie fired a volley of ice-infused bullets, chilling the creature, while Millie darted in, her electrified daggers striking its frozen armor, sending crackling shocks through its form. The Heartless roared, but its movements were sluggish.

Loona, snarling, leaped at the third Heartless, aiming to tear into it, only for her glowing claws to glance off its plating. She slammed into its chest, knocking it back, but couldn't pierce its defense.

"Their armor is strong!" Millie shouted, dodging a heavy counter-swing.

"Focus your power!" Sakura yelled back as she deflected a blow from Blitzø's opponent, creating an opening. "Aim for the weak points! The joints, the neck!"

Blitzø seized the chance, plunging his sword into the armored Heartless's shoulder joint. Black mist erupted, and the creature shrieked, dissipating into nothingness.

Sasuke, moving like a phantom, appeared behind the Heartless, attacking Moxxie and Millie. With a swift, precise movement, he plunged his sword through the gap in its neck armor. The creature dissolved before it could even react.

Loona, still struggling with her Heartless, was knocked back by a powerful fist. Before it could follow up, Tsunade appeared in a blur of motion, slamming a chakra-infused fist into the Heartless's head. The force of the blow shattered its armor, and the creature exploded into black smoke.

"This way!" Kakashi called, opening the previously sealed door. "We'll get you out of here safely!"

Blitzø, Moxxie, Millie, and Loona, panting but exhilarated, followed the ninjas out of the shop and back into the familiar, if strange, cobblestone streets of Traverse Town. The three ninjas swiftly took up positions around them, keeping them covered.

Tsunade and Xander sat on the bench, enjoying their spicy fried rice lo mein. The casual market sounds filled the air, a momentary illusion of peace. Suddenly, the flickering lamplight seemed to dim. Shadows stretched and twisted, coalescing into familiar, armored forms.

"Dammit," Tsunade muttered, dropping her chopsticks. "Already?"

A dozen Soldier Heartless emerged from the darkness between the stalls, their glowing yellow eyes fixed on Xander. They advanced, heavy footfalls echoing on the cobblestones.

"Run, Xander, run!" Tsunade yelled, leaping to her feet. She grabbed his arm, pulling him. "We need to get somewhere safer!"

But Xander was frozen, his eyes wide with terror, the Keyblade not yet appearing. He could only stare at the approaching Heartless, his breath caught in his throat.

"Xander!" Tsunade hissed, shaking him. "Move, you idiot!"

A Soldier Heartless lunged. Xander flinched, instinctively raising his hand. The Keyblade materialized with a sudden flash, almost as if startled into existence by the immediate threat. He didn't swing it, merely held it up as a shield. The Heartless slammed into it, its armored fist rebounding with a clang. The creature staggered back, black mist seeping from the impact point, clearly surprised by the unexpected parry.

Another Soldier charged. Xander still hadn't moved, his face pale with fear, but the Keyblade was still in his hand. He stumbled back, his movements stiff and uncoordinated as he tried to avoid the attack, but the Keyblade caught the Heartless's arm in a clumsy block. It was pure luck, not bravery. The Heartless screeched, dissolving into black smoke.

"See?" Xander whispered, his voice trembling, barely dodging a retaliatory swipe from a third Heartless. His grip on the Keyblade was tight, white-knuckled. "I... I can't... This is impossible!" He wasn't graceful, his swings were a little wild, and he stumbled more than once, but the Keyblade seemed to have a will of its own, intercepting blows and occasionally, accidentally, striking true. One more Heartless fell to a desperate, uncoordinated flail from Xander's Keyblade, dissipating into smoke.

Tsunade stared, momentarily stunned. He was sloppy, incredibly so, and clearly terrified, but he was actually fighting them. "You... you lucky fool!" she yelled, a strange mix of frustration and awe in her voice. "Alright, don't freeze up again, kid!" she yelled, a strange mix of frustration and awe in her voice. "There's more where that came from!" With a grunt, she scooped up Xander, throwing him over her shoulder. "Let's go! I'm getting you out of here!" she growled, scanning for a way out of the chaos.

Tsunade looks around and sees more Heartless spawning all around the first district, and in the distance, notices the other ninjas and team imp running towards the second district. She tries running towards them while holding Xander, only for the door to the second district to slam in her face before she reaches the door. She drops Xander and tries to open the door, only to realize it has a magical lock on it. "Damn it, Kakashi."

"You know, I could have run alongside you instead of being carried like a kidnapped princess," Xander quipped sarcastically as he stood up and dusted himself off. Tsunade glared back, frustrated, but before she could respond, more armored Heartless materialized, accompanied by shadowy figures. Xander readied his Keyblade to fight, but Tsunade intervened, leaping forward and throwing a volley of kunai into the ground. They exploded, decimating the Heartless as Xander shielded his face from the fiery blast.

"Dude, a heads-up would've been nice!" Xander yells. "I'm not trying to become calamari here." Tsunade chuckles, a little nostalgic at his joke. She quickly gets back to business, realizing there's another way out of the first district.

"Xander," Tsunade says, "I know we planned for more time, but it looks like we're going to be fighting the mother of these Heartless sooner rather than later." "Alright," Xander replies, "I was going to have to do it eventually anyway. Consider it a thank you for the food and clothes."

Tsunade is pleasantly surprised and glad to see Xander readily accept the responsibility. She quickly grabs Xander and leaps to the rooftop of the accessory shop, scanning the First District for another giant wooden door. Spotting what she's looking for across the now-closed tents, she uses a small amount of chakra to jump over the First District plaza. They land with a loud thud as Tsunade releases Xander's jacket. As Xander regains his footing, he sees several Armored Heartless appear, along with a large-bodied Heartless charging towards him.

Tsunade pointed towards the charging enemies. "Alright, kid, show me what that Keyblade can do!"

Xander gulped, raising his Keyblade. He didn't feel a surge of power, just a cold knot of dread. He tried to remember what Sakura said. Fire? Ice? Nothing. He just felt clumsy.

The first Armored Heartless swung a massive claw. Xander instinctively lurched sideways, stumbling, but the Keyblade moved with him, deflecting the blow with a loud clang that vibrated up his arm. He hadn't meant to block, just flail. The Heartless recoiled, surprised.

Another Large Body barreled towards him, its spherical mass shaking the ground. Xander yelped, darting backward, tripping over his own feet. He fell to one knee, but as he did, his Keyblade, still held out in front of him, scraped along the cobblestones. A shower of sparks erupted, and a small, uncoordinated burst of light shot out, striking the Large Body in its midsection. The creature staggered, a low groan escaping it as a faint trail of black mist rose from the impact point.

"What the—" Xander muttered, scrambling back to his feet. He hadn't aimed, hadn't even thought of an attack. It just... happened.

"Keep moving, Xander! Don't let them corner you!" Tsunade shouted, already leaping into the fray against other Heartless, her powerful blows sending them scattering.

Xander spun, narrowly avoiding an Armored Heartless's clumsy swing. He tried to replicate the "light" attack, focusing intently on his palm, but nothing came. Frustrated, he just swung the Keyblade in a wide, desperate arc. It connected with the Heartless's leg armor with a dull thud, and the creature stumbled, allowing Xander to follow up with another frantic, overhand smash. This time, a larger burst of light exploded from the Keyblade, and the Heartless dissolved into smoke.

He stared at the dissipating darkness, panting. "I... I did that?"

Suddenly, two Shadows sprang from the ground directly behind him. Xander yelped, spinning around. He haphazardly brought the Keyblade up, more out of fear than strategy. One Shadow leaped, its claws aimed at his face, but the Keyblade intercepted it with a dull thwack, sending it spinning into the other. Both dissolved simultaneously, leaving Xander wide-eyed.

"It's like it knows what to do!" he mumbled, clutching the Keyblade tighter. He wasn't guiding it; it was guiding him.

A Large Body Heartless charged again, its arms windmilling. Xander panicked, trying to run, but his feet tangled. He half-fell, half-slid to the side, and the Keyblade, still held awkwardly, jabbed outward. It caught the Heartless in its eye, piercing through the shadowy orb. The creature shrieked, exploding into mist.

Tsunade, having cleared her immediate area, watched Xander with a mix of disbelief and grudging admiration. He was the messiest Keyblade wielder she'd ever seen, but damn if he wasn't effective. It was like the Keyblade itself was doing most of the work, dragging him along for the ride.

"You're a disaster, kid," she yelled, a slight smile playing on her lips, "but keep that Keyblade up!"

Xander didn't hear her. He was too busy flailing, ducking, and accidentally connecting with the last few Heartless. Each awkward swing, each clumsy block, somehow resulted in a burst of light or a precise strike that banished the creatures. When the last one dissolved, Xander stood amidst the lingering black smoke, chest heaving, hair disheveled, but unharmed. His Keyblade, still glowing faintly, felt surprisingly light in his hand.

He looked at Tsunade, a bewildered grin slowly spreading across his face. "I... I think I'm getting the hang of it?"

Tsunade motioned for Xander to enter, prying the door open. "Come on, kid, run down this street. It'll take you to the Third District. The mother should be hidden there. Find it and kill it."

"What? But I can barely take down small ones. How am I going to take on the mother of these things?" Xander asked nervously.

Tsunade groaned in frustration and yelled, "Have you learned nothing today? The Keyblade will protect you! Just let your heart be your guiding key, and MOVE YOUR ASS!"

Xander ran through the door. Tsunade let it close behind him as she began fighting off more Heartless.

Meanwhile, in the second district, Team I.M.P. and the other three ninjas get into a fierce battle with a large group of Heartless. A blend of large-bodied, heartless, and armored heartless beings begins to surround the large group of warriors.

As both teams stand back-to-back with one another, waiting for the monsters to attack.

"Ready, Team I.M.P.?" Blitzø shouted, his sword already glowing. "Let's show these overgrown shadows how we do things in Hell!"

"Bring it on, you fat bastards!" Millie shrieked, her daggers crackling with electricity as she darted forward, a blur of motion. She plunged one dagger into an Armored Heartless's knee joint, momentarily staggering it, then spun, slicing its midsection with the other.

Moxxie, a pistol in each hand, opened fire. One gun spewed fiery bullets that seared the approaching Large Bodies, while the other launched icy projectiles that froze their massive limbs. He backflipped over a sweeping claw, landing gracefully before unleashing a barrage of elemental chaos. "Eat this, you abominations!"

Loona let out a primal snarl, her claws extending, wreathed in dark energy. She focused her frustration, charging headlong into a group of Shadows. Her attacks were brutal and direct, though her claws still struggled to find purchase on the armored ones. With a frustrated roar, she kicked one in the chest, sending it careening into another, momentarily disrupting their advance.

Sasuke moved with lethal precision, a shadow among shadows. He appeared behind an Armored Heartless, a flash of his sword, and the creature dissolved. Another tried to ambush him, but he vanished in a puff of smoke, reappearing moments later perched on a nearby lamp post, launching a volley of kunai that exploded into three more Heartless. Each movement, though swift, pulled at his diminishing chakra reserves.

Sakura, meanwhile, was a whirlwind of controlled power. She met a charging Large Body head-on, her chakra-infused fist slamming into its spherical gut. The force of the blow sent ripples through the creature, cracking its dark shell. She followed up with a series of rapid-fire jabs, each strike radiating green healing energy that somehow destabilized the darkness, causing it to shriek and dissipate. The effort of maintaining her strength began to show in the slight tremor of her arms.

Kakashi, ever the calm strategist, positioned himself slightly behind the main skirmish, his sharingan eye expertly tracking every movement. When a group of Armored Heartless attempted to flank Millie, he was there in an instant, a rapid sequence of hand signs forming. "Lightning Blade!" he whispered, and his hand burst with crackling electricity. He thrust it forward, piercing through two Heartless simultaneously, their forms exploding into black smoke. A faint sheen of sweat appeared on his brow, and his breathing grew a little heavier.

Blitzø, seeing Loona struggling with an armored foe, vaulted over a Large Body Heartless, landing precisely between her and the armored monster. With a guttural yell, he channeled his energy into his sword, and a pillar of hellfire erupted around the Armored Heartless, consuming it in green and red flames. "Need a hand, Loony?" he grunted, a wicked grin spreading across his face.

"I had it!" Loona snapped, but a small flicker of gratitude softened her eyes as she tore into a fleeing Shadow.

The combined assault was relentless. Moxxie dodged, weaved, and fired, creating a chaotic dance of fire and ice. Millie, a blur of daggers and acrobatic maneuvers, sliced through any Heartless that dared to get close. Sasuke's kunai rained down death, though he felt the growing strain of each shuriken he conjured. Sakura's powerful strikes cleared swaths of enemies, but her movements were becoming a fraction slower, her chakra wearing thin. Kakashi moved with silent grace, eliminating threats with effortless efficiency, yet the sharingan's constant drain was beginning to tell on his weary body.

The ground became littered with dissipating black mist, the air thick with the smell of ozone and sulfur. The Heartless, despite their endless numbers, began to fall faster than they could emerge. For the first time, a sense of genuine momentum surged through the disparate group of warriors. They weren't just surviving; they were winning. But for the ninjas, each victory came at the cost of their dwindling chakra, their movements becoming more deliberate, the fatigue setting in.

"These things won't stop coming until the mother is taken out! Get to the third district!" Saske yelled as the fight intensified.

"Shouldn't we stick together?" Moxxie asked, firing at the backs of some large body heartless.

"Our job was to get you to the third district to get the darkness under control," Sakura explained.

"She's right. You four need to get going and stop that mother now. We can keep them at bay for now," Kakashi stated. "Now get going. It's just down that alleyway."

Team I.M.P. regrouped and headed down the alley Kakashi indicated, running past every Heartless that spawned in their path.

The alley opens into a walled plaza, surrounded by towering, brick buildings with narrow, looming windows that create a boxed-in feeling. Patterned cobblestones pave the ground, and glowing lamps cast the only warmth in the otherwise shadowy space. At the heart of the district, a large fountain, softly lit, contributes to the subtly comforting yet eerie atmosphere.

Just as the team pauses to take in their surroundings, Xander bursts in from another alleyway, stopping short as he spots the group of demons.

"H-hi," Xander sheepishly says.

Moxxie looks down at Xander's hand, noticing the keyblade he's holding. "Wait, sir, I think that's the keyblade the ninjas mentioned."

"Well, damn, that looks like a giant key—seems like what we need," Blitzø replies.

Xander looks at the demons in confusion. "You know I can hear you, right? I'm only a few feet away."

Millie clears her throat and tries to walk towards Xander in a friendly manner, but Xander takes a small step back in fear. "Don't worry, hon, we aren't gonna hurt ya; we just wanna help," Millie says.

Xander squeezes his keyblade a little harder. "But you guys are demons from hell, right? Don't you torture souls?" Xander asks.

Millie giggles a bit and tries to respond, only for Loona to cut her off. "We don't do that shit, and if you know anything about hell, you'd know it's not about torture—more about you living in a shit show 'cause you sinners suck!" Loona yells.

Xander groans a little when hearing that and asks, "So you're not here to drag me back to hell?"

Blitzø laughs. "Kid, we don't give a fuck about you; now that blade of yours is what we need."

"No way you're getting this!" Xander snaps.

Moxxie raises his hand to show he means no harm. "Wait, wait, we're not trying to steal anything from you. We just have a proposition for you... Sorry if my boss is being a bit of an asshole."

Before the conversation could continue, a loud whirring sound went off, causing the group to look towards the center of the plaza. A huge, dark void opens up in the plaza's ground, and multiple darkness-covered objects fly outward. Starting as amorphous blobs of darkness, they begin to form into recognizable shapes: two of the blobs turn into giant metal claws, two into giant metal boots, one into a giant torso chest plate, and one last one into a small spherical helmet with giant glowing yellow eyes. The void closes beneath the disembodied limbs as they float close to one another, creating what looks like a full suit of armor, and it drops hard on the ground, sending a shockwave of darkness towards everyone, knocking them back. The giant armored heartless begins taking its own color of violet with a lilac, diamond pattern around its waist, and has light black additives on it.

A booming, guttural roar echoed through the plaza as the newly formed Guard Armor Heartless stomped forward, its massive metal feet shaking the cobblestones. Its glowing yellow eyes, set within the spherical helmet, fixated on Xander, the Keyblade wielder.

"Holy shit, that thing's enormous!" Moxxie yelled, his voice cracking with fear. He instinctively raised his pistols, but a wave of darkness emanating from the Guard Armor sent a chilling tremor through him, making his aim unsteady.

"No time to gawk, Moxxie, fight!" Millie shrieked, already darting forward, her daggers materializing with a flash. She lunged, aiming for the Guard Armor's leg joint, but her electrified blades merely scraped uselessly against the hardened violet armor. The creature didn't even flinch, casually swinging a massive armored fist that sent Millie skidding backward, impacting a nearby building with a painful thud.

"Millie!" Moxxie cried, firing a volley of fiery bullets at the Guard Armor's chest. The shots splattered against the armor like water on stone, dissipating without effect. The Heartless then extended one of its giant metal claws, sending it hurtling towards Moxxie. He barely dodged, the claw embedding itself in the wall where he'd been standing moments before, leaving a jagged, smoking crater.

Blitzø, surprisingly, was the first to react effectively. "Alright, you oversized trash can!" He summoned his sword, now wreathed in green hellfire, and leaped high, aiming for the Guard Armor's head. He brought his blade down with a furious cry, a pillar of green flames engulfing the helmet. For a moment, the Heartless recoiled, a distorted shriek escaping it as wisps of black smoke curled from the impact.

Loona, fueled by a mix of fear and rage, charged forward, her claws glowing with dark energy. She aimed for the creature's exposed hip joint, hoping to replicate Blitzø's success. She connected, but the black energy seemed to be absorbed by the armor, leaving no visible damage. The Guard Armor retaliated with a sweeping kick, sending Loona tumbling across the plaza like a ragdoll.

Xander, frozen in terror, watched the chaos unfold. The Guard Armor, seemingly unbothered by Blitzø's attack, turned its attention back to him, its glowing eyes narrowing. It raised a leg, preparing to stomp.

"Oh, no, no, no, no!" Xander screamed, flailing his Keyblade wildly. The blade swung in an uncontrolled arc, accidentally catching the Guard Armor's shin. A dull thud echoed, and to Xander's astonishment, a tiny crack appeared in the violet armor. The Guard Armor roared in annoyance, but didn't seem to notice the damage.

"It worked, kid, you actually hit it!" Millie yelled from the ground, scrambling back to her feet, daggers still at the ready.

"I... I did?" Xander stammered, emboldened slightly. He tried to focus, to channel the elemental power he'd used before, picturing a burst of ice. Nothing happened. He stumbled back as the Guard Armor brought its massive foot down, narrowly missing him. He swung again, a desperate, clumsy strike that bounced off the creature's knee.

Blitzø grunted, landing hard after his attack. "That thing's tougher than a weekend hangover! We need to find its weak spot!"

Moxxie, still dodging, saw the small crack Xander had made. "The armor! It's vulnerable in places!" He aimed his icy pistol at the crack and fired a rapid burst. The ice hit, but the crack remained small, barely expanding.

Millie, seeing an opening, lunged at the Guard Armor's other leg, trying to exploit the weak point. She plunged her electrified dagger into the armor, but the shock barely registered. The Guard Armor responded by bringing both its massive claws together in a crushing clap. Millie barely rolled away, the force of the impact shaking the ground and sending dust into the air.

Loona, bruised but defiant, charged again, her eyes fixed on the hip joint. She slammed into it with all her might, but her claws still found no purchase. The Guard Armor simply swatted her away with a backhand, sending her crashing into the fountain with a splash.

Xander, panicking again, tried to use his Keyblade like a baseball bat, aiming for the crack in the shin. He swung, missed wildly, then overcompensated and stumbled forward. As he fell, the Keyblade instinctively thrust forward, hitting the crack with a surprising amount of force. The crack widened slightly, and a faint groan escaped the Heartless.

"Keep hitting that spot, dude!" Blitzø shouted, realizing Xander's accidental hits were the only ones doing anything. He himself was launching hellfire blasts at the Guard Armor's head, trying to distract it.

But the Guard Armor was already adapting. It raised its massive foot, and instead of stomping, it swept its leg in a wide arc, catching Moxxie and Blitzø and sending them flying into two different walls. They landed with groans of pain.

Millie rushed to Moxxie's side, while Loona slowly pulled herself from the fountain, water dripping from her fur.

The Guard Armor turned its attention fully to Xander, its glowing eyes burning with an almost intelligent malevolence. It raised both its colossal armored fists, preparing for a crushing blow.

"Oh, god, no!" Xander whimpered, clutching the Keyblade like a shield. He closed his eyes, bracing for impact, the weight of the Heartless's power overwhelming him.

Just as the fists descended, a blinding flash of light erupted from the Keyblade. It wasn't a swing, or a block, but an instinctive surge of energy that met the colossal armored fists head-on. A deafening clang reverberated through the plaza, followed by a shower of sparks that momentarily illuminated the darkness. The Guard Armor shrieked, a sound of pure agony and surprise, as its massive arms were violently thrown back, detaching from its torso with loud, metallic shrieks. They landed with heavy thuds on the cobblestones, then, instead of dissolving, they began to float ominously, suspended in the air as if by an invisible force, twitching with residual energy.

Blitzø, pushing himself up from the wall, stared wide-eyed at the floating limbs. "Holy fuck! They're still moving?"

Moxxie, rubbing his head, scrambled to his feet beside Millie. "The limbs! That's it! We have to sever its limbs! That's how we beat this thing!"

Millie's eyes lit up. "You're right, Moxxie! They're like separate targets!" She immediately aimed her electrified daggers at one of the remaining legs of the now armless Guard Armor, a fierce grin spreading across her face.

Loona, dripping wet from the fountain, rose with a newfound determination. Her eyes locked onto the struggling Heartless. "Alright, you oversized toy! Let's see how tough you are without your damn legs!"

Loona, all snarling fury, zeroed in on a leg of the Guard Armor. She lunged, claws glowing with dark energy, aiming to hack it off like Xander did the arms. But instead of breaking, her claws just dug in and got stuck. Before she could shake loose, the Guard Armor started spinning its legs like crazy, a dizzying, violent blur. Loona was caught, just being whipped around like a rag doll on a super-fast merry-go-round.

Xander, seeing Loona in a bind and the Guard Armor all tangled up in its own spinning, saw his chance. He dove forward, Keyblade ready. The spinning legs were just a blur, but he dodged under them, barely missing a nasty kick. He went straight for the disembodied torso, totally exposed now without its main defenses. He swung his Keyblade in a wide, desperate arc, connecting with the chest plate with a loud clang.

Xander's huge hit tore a giant gash across the Guard Armor's chest. "Another one!" Moxxie yelled over the noise, his eyes immediately on the new weak spot. Quick as a flash, he pulled out his fancy fire pistol, its shiny barrel glinting even in the dim light, and aimed right at the throbbing crack. Beside him, Millie, looking a bit beat up – a ripped sleeve here, a scrape there – still moved with total focus. Her electrified daggers hummed with energy as she matched Moxxie, ready to hit the same critical point.

Blitzø saw his chance and leaped forward with a guttural roar. His sword sank deep into the rapidly spinning boot where Xander's tear had opened a fatal flaw. Gritting his teeth, muscles straining, he twisted the blade, the sound of tearing metal echoing through the room. With a final, explosive burst of power, he sliced through the corrupted boot, and it vanished into a swirling, black mist.

"Alright, I'll take the other boot!" Xander yelled, spotting a quick chance. The Keyblade glowed a bit in his hand as he lunged, a clumsy, desperate move that somehow hit perfectly. The blade smacked into the spinning boot, and with a nasty crack, a deep split opened up in its purple armor. He pulled back just as Loona, finally not so dizzy, smashed into the now-banged-up boot with a furious snarl. Her claws, wrapped in dark energy, tore into the fresh crack, ripping through the corrupted metal. With one last, furious tug, the boot came off, vanishing into black smoke.

"Okay, Moxxie, Millie, the body's open!" Blitzø roared, already blasting more hellfire at the Guard Armor's head, getting its attention. The detached body shook, its one eye glaring defiantly.

Moxxie, aiming much better now, fired a bunch of ice-tipped bullets at the cut Xander made in the chest. Each shot hit dead on, making the crack bigger, with icy veins spreading across the purple armor. Millie followed up instantly, her electrified daggers plunging into the icy crack, sending strong shocks through the creature's core. The Guard Armor shrieked, a sound of grinding metal and pure pain as its huge chest plate started to crumble, black mist pouring from the widening cracks.

Xander, seeing his chance, put all his fear and determination into one last, desperate charge. The Keyblade shone in his hand, feeling surprisingly light as he leaped towards the detached body and head. He ignored the twitching, floating arms and the crumbling legs, his eyes locked on the monster's core. With a raw cry, he swung the Keyblade, bringing it down with all his might. It sliced through the remaining chest plate, then through the round helmet, like cutting through butter. A blinding flash of light exploded, briefly filling the whole plaza.

The Guard Armor's remaining pieces shrieked together, a messed-up scream of pain, before dissolving into a flood of black smoke that swirled and disappeared into the endless twilight. Silence fell again, broken only by the heavy breathing of the I.M.P. team and Xander.

The lingering black smoke dissipated, leaving behind only the quiet hum of the Traverse Town plaza. Xander, panting heavily, leaned on his Keyblade, which still hummed faintly in his hand. He looked at the I.M.P. team, then back at the empty space where the Guard Armor had been.

"Did... did we just...?" Xander started, his voice a mix of disbelief and awe.

Blitzø straightened his jacket, a dismissive wave of his hand. "Yeah, yeah, we did, kid. What, you thought you were gonna handle that yourself? Please. Team I.M.P., baby! Best damn exterminators in... well, in this dimension, apparently!" He gestured vaguely, then stuck out a hand towards Xander. "Name's Blitzø, whatever. This is Moxxie," he gestured to the trembling imp beside him, "Millie," he pointed to the energetic female imp, "and Loona," he nodded towards the wet hellhound.

Moxxie, still a bit shaken, managed a small, nervous wave. "H-hi. It's... a pleasure to meet you, Xander."

Millie bounced forward, her earlier ferocity replaced by a wide, friendly smile. "That was amazing, Xander! You were so brave! Well, clumsy, but brave!" She held out a hand for a handshake, her daggers having dissipated.

Loona, after shaking the water from her fur, simply grunted in acknowledgment, though her gaze held a flicker of something akin to grudging respect.

Xander stared at Millie's outstretched hand, then back at Blitzø's. He hesitated, his grip on the Keyblade tightening imperceptibly. "Uh... hey," he said, his voice still cautious. He didn't take Millie's hand, instead shifting his weight uneasily. "So... you guys are really... demons?" The question hung in the air, a clear edge of apprehension in his tone.

Loona scoffed, crossing her arms and narrowing her eyes. "Yeah, we're demons. And no, we don't torture souls or whatever other bullshit you heard. We're here because our world got swallowed by darkness, just like yours, and we want it back. We don't give a damn about you, kid, or your personal demons. We just need that overgrown key of yours to fix this mess so we can go home." Her tone was blunt, dismissive, but there was a strange, almost backhanded reassurance in her words. They weren't here for him; they were here for themselves, and that, in a twisted way, meant he was safe from them.

Moxxie stepped forward, his nervous energy shifting into something more determined. "Alright, alright, everyone, let's just... calm down a moment," he said, looking between a wary Xander and a blunt Loona. "We just defeated... whatever that thing was. We're all alive. That's a start." He turned to Xander, offering a slightly less shaky smile. "Look, Xander, we understand you're uncomfortable. We just found out our world is gone too, and honestly, we're all a bit on edge. But the ninjas—Kakashi, Sakura, Sasuke, Tsunade—they seem to know what's going on. They told us you have the Keyblade and that it's our only way home. Maybe we should go back to the First District and talk to them. Together."

Blitzø, surprisingly, didn't argue. "He's right. As much as I hate to admit it, those ninja weirdos have more answers than we do right now. And free food, apparently." He gestured back the way they came. "Let's head back to the First District. Maybe we can get some real answers, and a nap."

Millie nodded, already moving. "Lead the way, Moxxie."

Xander hesitated for another moment, glancing at the dissipating smoke of the Heartless. The fear of Hell and its inhabitants was still fresh, but the terror of the Heartless was even fresher. And these demons, for all their rough edges, had just fought alongside him. He sighed, adjusting his grip on the Keyblade. "Fine. But no funny business."

As they walked back through the alleyway towards the First District, the silence was heavy, punctuated only by their footsteps on the cobblestones.

"So, uh... Hell, huh?" Moxxie ventured, trying to break the ice. "You mentioned you were from Hell earlier? What's it like?"

Xander scoffed, a dry, humorless sound. "Like you don't already know what hell is. Constant suffering, brutal overlords, demonic creatures everywhere, the whole nine yards."

Moxxie and Millie exchanged a bewildered look. "Imps?" Millie asked. "Like... us? Do you have imps in your Hell?"

"Yeah, plenty of them. Small, annoying, usually working some shitty job or something," Xander replied, waving his hand dismissively. "Wait, you guys are imps? So you know what I'm talking about."

Blitzø stopped dead in his tracks. "Hold on a damn minute. What the fuck are you talking about? Imps are us. We're from Hell, and we're the imps. There aren't other imps where we're from, unless you mean those pathetic video game ones from Doom, which you clearly don't."

Xander frowned. "What do you mean, 'the imps'? Hell is full of imps. It's like... a species. And you guys look exactly like the ones I've seen. Little horns, striped tails, dark red skin..."

Loona, who had been listening with growing interest, suddenly spoke up, her voice devoid of its usual sarcasm. "And what about a giant pentagram in the sky? Always red? And rings, like... Pride, Greed, Lust?"

Xander's eyes widened. "Yeah! All of that! How do you know that?"

A stunned silence fell over the group. Blitzø's jaw dropped. Moxxie and Millie stared at Xander, then at each other, a slow, dawning realization spreading across their faces.

"Holy shit," Millie whispered.

"We're from the same Hell," Moxxie finished, his voice a disbelieving squeak.

Blitzø threw his arms up. "You're telling me, out of all the destroyed worlds in the entire damn universe, they send us a refugee from our own Hell?! What are the odds?!"

Xander stared at them, the pieces clicking into place. The shared descriptions, the familiar terms. His revulsion at their demonic nature warred with a sudden, overwhelming sense of familiarity, however twisted. "You... you mean we're from the same place?"

Loona actually cracked a small, genuinely surprised smile. "Well, I'll be damned."

"Are you guys done killing the queen?" Sasuke called from a rooftop.

The group looked up, smiling when they saw Sasuke. "Yeah, we're finished. The mother was hard, but we handled it," Xander called out.

Blitzø scoffed and giggled. "Pfft, hard! Kid, you had a hard time. My team and I are the best."

Sasuke rolls his eyes in annoyance, but smiles a little, thinking about how it seems Kakashi's plan was working. "Just follow me to the first district. Kakashi released the barriers for now, and I'm pretty sure Kakashi wants to talk with you specifically, Xander."

Sasuke nodded, leaping down from the rooftop. "Alright, follow me. We'll head back to the First District." He led the way, effortlessly navigating the narrow alleyways and cobbled streets.

As they passed through the archway into the Second District, Loona's eyes widened. "Hey, it's... quieter," she observed, her voice losing some of its edge. "And less of those shadow things. Did we actually... do something?"

Sasuke glanced back at her, a subtle smirk playing on his lips. "Traverse Town reflects its current state, Loona. When darkness spreads, the town becomes a chaotic mess, a breeding ground for the Heartless. But when light pushes back, when the source of that darkness is contained, the town begins to heal. The peace you feel now, the fewer Heartless... that's your doing. All of you."

"It's good to know we're actually making a difference," Moxxie remarked, his voice filled with pride and a noticeable bounce in his step.

"Don't get a hard on, Mox. We just killed something. We do that all the time," Blitzø said, his tone dismissive.

"Yeah, but we usually kill for cash, not to save some interdimensional refugee camp," Loona grumbled, though even her tone lacked its usual edge. She looked at Xander. "So, if we're all from the same Hell, what was your life like before you, you know... fell?"

Millie, always the more empathetic one, chimed in, "Yeah, what was it like? Were you a serial killer, a racist, or...?" She trailed off, realizing the implications of her question.

Xander turned, confused, and replied, "What? No, nothing like that. I don't know what I did to deserve the bullshit I got, but I was just a normal kid. I wanted to make movies, and I went to the temple every Wednesday and Friday. I volunteered at soup kitchens and tried helping people."

Blitzø scoffed at Xander's statement. "Look, kid, I'm sure you did something. I've had multiple clients ask me to kill humans, and all of them are just as bad as the others. If you were in Hell, you did something."

"That's not entirely true, sir. Some people we've had as clients were just average humans who got killed, or wanted some kind of vengeance after being wronged," Moxxie added.

Blitzø looked over at Moxxie, annoyed. "Look, Mox, most of those guys are probably secretly scummy too. We don't know, but what we do know is that sinners committed a specific sin and now they boil with us hellborn until someone kills 'em again."

Hearing all of this, Xander contemplated working with these demons at all. In fact, after thinking about it for a second, he realized that if he brought Hell back, he'd be bringing back every demon responsible for causing suffering and bringing back a world that tormented not just him but tons of other souls as well. The idea of bringing a world like that back almost makes Xander sick to his stomach until Sasuke breaks his train of thought by opening the creaking Door from the second to the first district. As the group entered the First District, the familiar hum of the market was a stark contrast to the recent battle. The lamplights seemed brighter, and the air less heavy. Kakashi, Sakura, and Tsunade were waiting near the accessory shop, their expressions a mix of relief and gravity.

"Welcome back," Kakashi said, his visible eye surveying the group. "It seems you handled the Guard Armor. Impressive, Xander."

Xander flushed slightly, still feeling the lingering disbelief of his accidental heroics. Blitzø, ever the showman, puffed out his chest. "Impressive is our middle name, old man. We're Team I.M.P. We get shit done. Even if we're saving some random kid from his own dumbassery."

Sakura stepped forward, her gaze gentle as it rested on Xander. "We saw the changes in the Second District. The darkness has receded significantly. That was a huge step."

"Indeed," Tsunade added, a rare, approving smile on her face. "And the Heartless activity here in the First District has also decreased. It seems that containing the mother did precisely what we hoped."

"Alright, alright, enough with the mutual admiration society," Loona grumbled, though her posture seemed less tense than before. "Can we just get to the point? What now?"

Kakashi nodded, gesturing towards the tables inside the accessory shop. "Let's talk. We have a lot to discuss, especially now that we know you five are capable of taking out bigger heartless." He paused, his gaze thoughtful. "Xander, the fact that the Keyblade chose you... It's unique."

Xander shifted uncomfortably, still processing the implications of sharing his origin with these demons. "Yeah, well, it wasn't exactly by choice."

"Regardless," Sasuke interjected, his voice crisp, "it means your heart is strong, Xander. Strong enough to reject the darkness, even in a world consumed by it. That strength, combined with the Keyblade, is crucial. Our original plan was for us to train you, but given your... unique background with Team I.M.P., and their apparent aptitude for combat, we have an alternative proposal for your training, Xander."

Xander looked intrigued. "An alternative?"

"Yes," Sakura said, leaning forward. "Xander, Team I.M.P., your fighting style, your resilience, and frankly, your willingness to dive headfirst into danger, make them excellent candidates to help you hone your abilities. They can teach you practical combat, how to react under pressure. While we, the ninjas, can guide all of you, explaining the nature of the Heartless, the flow of worlds, and how to truly understand the Keyblade's purpose and your own developing powers."

Blitzø stroked his chin, a calculating look in his eyes. "So, we're basically your personal combat instructors? And in return, these ninjas give us the magical lowdown on how to get our world back? And maybe some more of that surprisingly good fried rice?"

Kakashi chuckled. "Precisely. It's a mutually beneficial arrangement. You help Xander master his power, which directly contributes to reclaiming your home, and in turn, we provide the knowledge and support you'll need to navigate this new reality and defeat the growing darkness."

"And what exactly do you mean by 'developing powers'?" Moxxie asked, twirling her daggers. "Are you saying we're gonna get more magic?"

"Your weapons are directly connected to your hearts and your inherent energies," Tsunade explained. "Just as our chakra allows us to perform various techniques, your unique abilities will grow and manifest as you understand and channel your own inner strength. The more you fight the Heartless, the more you focus, the more your abilities will evolve."

Loona scoffed. "Great. More weird magic. Just what we needed." But even she couldn't hide the flicker of curiosity in her eyes.

Xander, however, still looked uneasy. "So, I'm stuck with them? The demons?" He gestured vaguely at Team I.M.P.

Blitzø glared at him. "Hey, watch it, kid. We just saved your ass."

Kakashi stepped in. "Xander, this is about more than just personal comfort. The Keyblade chose you because you have a strong heart capable of fighting the darkness. And while your world may be difficult, these individuals also survived it, and they have proven themselves capable warriors against the Heartless. They also have the most direct motivation to see your success, as their world's fate is tied to yours."

"It's about necessity, Xander," Sasuke added, his voice firm. "You need to learn to control that weapon. They need their world back. This is the most efficient path forward for everyone."

Xander sighed, running a hand through his gills.

"Excuse me," Xander interrupted, his voice a little strained. "Could I... could I have a moment to think about this? Maybe step outside for a bit?"

Kakashi, who had been observing the exchange with a detached amusement, stepped forward. "Troubling you, is it?" he asked, his visible eye crinkling.

Xander nodded, looking down at his hands. "It's... It's the idea of Hell. I don't want a place like that to exist, not really. The thought of being tied to it, even indirectly..." He trailed off, a shiver running down his spine.

Kakashi placed a hand on Xander's shoulder. "Xander, with the Keyblade, you're not bound to any one world. You can travel wherever you wish. You don't have to go back to Hell unless you choose to."

"Wait, so I can just go anywhere?" Xander asks

Kakashi gives Xander a soft look of reassurance, "Of course, the universe is a big place, and mastering light and darkness within yourself can allow you many powers. Saving one world doesn't mean you're bound by it."

"What about everyone else? Can I take them to other places? I mean hell is an eternal punishment and that's not fair," Xander says with frustration in his voice.

Kakashi sighs and looks outward onto the eternal night of Traverse Town's sky. "You know, Xander," He says with a calm whisper, "Just because the universe isn't a fair place doesn't mean you can't use your power to make it more just."

Xander, hearing Kakashi's words, realizes that if the keyblade is as powerful as everyone is making it out to be, he could change everything. Whether that be his other worlds or even...his home. In an instant, Xander realized he could potentially go back to Earth itself and see his family again. He could find his cousins, mom, dog, rabi, and his whole community. He could be reunited with them and never have to think about hell again. Sure, he may be some squishy fish creature, but it's still hi,m and he would still be accepted by the people that love him. Xander could do this not just for himself but for anyone in hell, finally ending their torment. He could do so much. Xander stood up straight and said, "Well, looks like I've got some training to do."

"That's the spirit, kid. Now, let's get you set up with a gummi ship," Kakashi says proudly.

Xander no,w with confidence, walks back with Kakashi to the accessory shop, but as they enter, Xander gets hit with a wave of confusion."What a what ship now???" Xander asks.

Chapter Text

Kakashi chuckled, a slight crinkle appearing around his visible eye. "A Gummi Ship, Xander, is essentially a vessel designed for inter-world travel. Think of it as a spaceship, but instead of traversing galaxies, it navigates the pathways between different worlds, through the void of darkness." He paused, letting the information sink in. "They're incredibly resilient, capable of withstanding the harsh environments of the void, and can be customized for various purposes."

Sasuke, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. In his hand, he held a small, intricately detailed model of a spaceship, no larger than his palm. It was sleek, with smooth curves and what looked like miniature thrusters. "This is a basic model," he stated, his voice calm and even. "While not common, they are the safest way to travel between worlds."

Blitzø squinted at the toy. "You're telling me this little... thing... is supposed to take us to other worlds? What, are we going to shrink down and ride inside it? This is even dumber than those flimsy portals in Hell."

Moxxie nervously adjusted his glasses. "Sir, I think it's a model. He didn't say it was the actual ship."

"Exactly, Moxxie! Use your brain for once!" Blitzø snapped, then turned back to Sasuke. "So, you're going to build us a real one? Like, from scratch? Do you even have a cosmic shipyard around here?"

Millie giggled. "That would be kinda cool, like building a giant Lego set!"

Loona just grunted, clearly skeptical, but her eyes were still fixed on the miniature ship.

Sasuke's lips twitched almost imperceptibly. "It's not built, Blitzø. It's... summoned." He then looked at the imp team and Xander. "Come outside to the First District. It's easier to demonstrate than explain."

The group followed Sasuke out of the accessory shop and into the bustling First District plaza. The lamplight still glowed, and the sounds of the market provided a strange backdrop to the impending demonstration. Sasuke walked to a relatively open space near the fountain, the small model Gummi Ship still resting in his palm.

"Alright, watch closely," Sasuke said, his voice gaining a touch of gravitas. He extended his hand, holding the miniature ship aloft. A faint, almost imperceptible shimmer of chakra radiated from his fingertips, enveloping the toy. Then, with a subtle shift in his stance, he channeled more energy.

The air around the model began to distort, shimmering like heat haze. The small ship glowed, growing rapidly. A low hum filled the plaza, gradually increasing in volume. What was once a toy began to expand, metal panels sliding into place, thrusters materializing, and the hull taking on a solid, formidable appearance. In a matter of seconds, the miniature model transformed into a fully-fledged, 2-story-sized starship, resting solidly on the cobblestones. Its sleek design, previously just a detail on a toy, now commanded attention, its powerful engines gleaming in the eternal twilight of Traverse Town. It wasn't enormous, but it was certainly large enough to comfortably carry all five of them, with room to spare.

Team I.M.P. stared, mouths agape.

"Holy... mother... of... all that's unholy..." Blitzø whispered, his bravado completely forgotten. His eyes were wide as saucers, glued to the ship.

Moxxie gasped, dropping his jaw. "It just... grew! From a toy! That defies... everything!"

Millie bounced on the balls of her feet, a mixture of awe and excitement on her face. "That is one of the coolest things I've ever seen! Can I touch it?"

Loona simply stared, her expression unreadable, before a slow, genuine smile spread across her face. "Okay, that's pretty damn cool."

Xander, equally stunned, approached the ship cautiously, reaching out a hand to touch its smooth hull. It felt solid, real. "So... this is a Gummi Ship?" he asked, a newfound sense of wonder in his voice.

Kakashi giggled under his breath as he led the team to the side of the gummi ship, as its hull opened, revealing the inside of its inner workings. Everyone walks into the ship's cockpit and admires the dark blue hard floor, the 5 white throne-like chairs with plush cushions, the intricate yet simple-looking computer console, and the crystal clear glass window, giving them a view of the outside.

"Alright, everyone," Kakashi began, stepping into the cockpit and gesturing towards the main console. "This Gummi Ship is quite sophisticated. It's automatically calibrated to detect nearby available worlds. All you need to do is look at the flight console—you'll see a selection of worlds displayed there. Pick one, press the corresponding button, and the ship will automatically plot a course, take off, and navigate the pathways through the void of darkness to your chosen destination."

Moxxie, ever the inquisitive one, adjusted his glasses. "Wait, so... it just knows? And these worlds, they just... exist in space like that? What about the laws of physics? The gravitational pull? The atmospheric compositions? I mean, structurally, how do these 'worlds' even remain stable in such proximity without catastrophic cosmic events?" He gestured wildly at the crystal clear view outside.

Kakashi chuckled, a knowing glint in his visible eye. "Those are excellent questions, Moxxie. And the simple answer is... the 'science' you know, the laws of physics you're accustomed to, they can be drastically different from one world to the next. What holds true in your Hell, or even in our world, might be entirely irrelevant in another. The universe is vast, and many worlds operate on principles beyond what we currently understand. This ship, however, is designed to adapt to those varying conditions. Think of it less as a scientific marvel and more as a magical conduit between realities."

Moxxie stares at Kakashi, confused. "That still doesn't make any sense to me," Moxxie says, frustrated.

"Well, I really don't give a shit if this thing can help us get our home back, I'd ride a unicorn into the sunset," Blitzø says mockingly.

Xander gazed at the gummi ship's console, his eyes on a small map displaying Traverse Town and two connected dots. "So, we just select one of these dots, and the ship takes us there?" he inquired.

"Yes, but remember, your Keyblade will guide you to the keyhole," Sasuke replied. "Let's get out of here; the ship will handle these guys."

Kakashi smirked faintly beneath his mask. "Alright, Team I.M.P., Xander, I hope you all have a good journey and look out for each other."

"Thank you for everything," Moxxie said, his voice filled with gratitude. "We promise we will."

With a final wave to the ninjas, Team I.M.P. and Xander took their seats in the plush white chairs of the Gummi Ship cockpit. The dark blue floor seemed to hum beneath them, and the crystal-clear window offered a panoramic view of Traverse Town's eternal twilight.

Xander, feeling a surge of nervous excitement, reached for the console. "So, which world first?" he asked, looking at the two glowing dots on the small map.

"The one closest to us, kid," Blitzø said, leaning back in his throne-like seat, his hooves propped up on the console. "No need to go globetrotting just yet. We've got a job to do."

Xander pressed the corresponding button, and the ship's engines roared to life, a deep, resonant thrum filling the cockpit. The chairs vibrated gently, and the view outside the window began to blur as the ship ascended. Traverse Town, with its glowing lampposts and bustling market, shrank rapidly beneath them, becoming a distant, sparkling jewel against the endless darkness of the void.

"Whoa," Millie breathed, her face pressed against the window, her daggers momentarily forgotten. "This is way cooler than a portal. It's like we're actually flying!"

"Because we are, dumbass," Loona grumbled, though even she had a hint of wonder in her voice as she watched the stars streak past.

Moxxie, however, looked a bit green. "I'm still not entirely comfortable with the lack of conventional propulsion and atmospheric stabilizers," he mumbled, gripping the armrests. "And the sudden acceleration is quite... disorienting."

"Suck it up, Moxxie," Blitzø scoffed. "You've been through worse. Remember that time we had to parachute out of a burning blimp over the Lust Ring?"

"That was entirely different, sir! And I had a parachute!" Moxxie retorted, but his voice was drowned out by the increasing speed of the ship.

Xander watched the void, a swirling expanse of black and distant stars. "So, this is the 'void of darkness' Kakashi was talking about?" he mused. "It's... vast."

"And full of things that want to eat you," Loona added helpfully, making Xander flinch.

"Don't listen to her, Xander," Millie chimed in, trying to be reassuring. "She just likes to scare people. Mostly Moxxie."

"It's true," Moxxie muttered, casting a wary glance at Loona, who just smirked.

The conversation lulled for a moment, the hum of the Gummi Ship filling the silence. Then, Xander spoke again, his voice softer. "So... about Hell. What was it really like, for you guys? Before... all this?" He still hadn't fully processed the idea of them all coming from the same place.

Blitzø sighed, slumping deeper into his seat. "Hell was... Hell. You know, constant grind, always looking over your shoulder, trying to make a living in a world that wants you dead. But it was our Hell. Our apartments, our jobs... our routine." He paused, a genuine hint of melancholy in his tone. "We ran I.M.P., Immediate Murder Professionals. Best damn assassination business in Hell, if I do say so myself. Had a pretty good thing going."

"We helped people get revenge," Millie added, a touch of pride in her voice. "Or at least, we helped sinners deal with whoever wronged them up on Earth."

"And I managed the office, handled the finances, all the boring but necessary stuff," Moxxie supplied, straightening his glasses. "It was... chaotic, but it was home."

Loona, unusually quiet, finally looked up from her phone, which was still a dead brick. "I mostly just... existed. Answered the phones, dealt with Blitzø's bullshit. But it was familiar, you know? My friends, the few I had, were there." A genuine sadness touched her voice.

Xander listened, a new perspective dawning on him. For them, Hell was home, a place of struggle and chaos, but also familiarity and community. For him, it had been pure torment. The contrast was jarring. "So, you guys... You didn't hate it?"

Blitzø scoffed. "Hate it? Nah. It was a pain in the ass, sure, but it was ours. It's where we belonged. And now... It's just gone." He looked out at the swirling void, his usual bravado momentarily absent. "That's why we're doing this, kid. For Hell. For home."

Xander nodded slowly, the Keyblade in his hand feeling a little heavier, a little more purposeful. "I... I get it," he said softly. The fear of Hell still lingered, but seeing their raw desire for their home to return, however twisted that home might be to him, stirred something in his own heart. Perhaps, for the first time, he understood.

"So what about you, bud? How was your life in hell?" Millie asked curiously

"Well, for starters, I didn't even know it existed. I was taught by my rabi that hell was a concept Christians came up with to scare people into believing them. It was a tactic of fear, and now it's......real." Xander answered. "When I got there, I had no idea where I was or what I was. I got hit by someone's car, and I didn't have anyone to help me. I tried asking for help, but the monsters just freaked me out. Eventually, I got with the program, but the past two years are all a blur for me. I just want to forget it."

Loona scoffed in annoyance. "Well, sinners are in hell for a reason, maybe it's just what you had coming."

"What could anyone do to deserve nothing but eternal torment?" Xander asks.

"Bitch I don't know. You ended up in hell," Loona snaps back.

Moxxie spins his chair around and cuts in between the two "PLUS...plus the fire and brimstone stuff is just kinda human idea. Hell is more like a caste system where we hellborn have to take care of you human souls.."

"But fuck if we're gonna suck you off or anything," Blitzø laughs from his leaned-back seat.

Just then, a faint glow appeared in the distance through the main window, rapidly growing larger. The Gummi Ship began to slow, its hum deepening. As they approached, a new world began to resolve itself, and everyone pressed closer to the window, their eyes widening.

It was... strange. The world didn't appear spherical like Earth or Hell. Instead, it was distinctly flat, a vast, circular expanse floating in the void. Perched prominently on this colossal disc was a medieval-style castle, its stone walls and turrets looking ancient and formidable. Around it, a quaint village of thatched roofs and wooden buildings was nestled. Beyond the village, stretching to the edges of the flat world, lay a dense, ominous dark forest, its trees appearing twisted and gnarled even from a distance.

"What the hell is that?" Blitzø exclaimed, his hooves slamming down from the console. "It's... flat? And it has a damn castle on it? What kind of cosmic bullshit is this?"

Moxxie gaped, his earlier discomfort forgotten in the face of sheer disbelief. "It defies all known celestial mechanics! How does it maintain its form? What prevents its atmosphere from simply dissipating into the void? And that forest... it looks incredibly... foreboding."

Millie, however, was enchanted. "Oh, it's like something out of a storybook! A real-life castle! Do you think there are knights? Or dragons?" Her eyes sparkled with childlike wonder.

Loona, for once, was speechless. She just stared at the bizarre, disc-shaped world, her mouth slightly agape. "Seriously? A flat world? Is this some kind of sick joke?"

Xander, equally confused, clutched his arm tightly. "A flat world... and a dark forest. This just gets weirder and weirder." He says, feeling a prickle of unease.

Just then, the Gummi Ship's console sprang to life, a soft, ethereal voice emanating from its speakers. "Approaching an uncharted world. Destination: Land of Udragoth. Initiate landing sequence, or maintain orbital trajectory?"

Blitzø, unable to resist a shiny new toy, immediately slammed his hands onto the console. "Landing sequence, baby! Full speed ahead! And add some cool lasers, this thing needs lasers!" He began mashing buttons at random.

The ship lurched violently, alarms blared, and the view outside the window spun wildly. Xander yelped, clutching his seat. Millie shrieked, and Loona let out a furious growl.

"Blitzø, you fucking imbecile! Stop touching things!" Moxxie screamed, his face ashen. He practically leaped across the cockpit, shoving Blitzø aside with surprising force. "Landing sequence, direct approach!" he barked at the console.

The ship immediately stabilized, the alarms silenced, and the ethereal voice calmly responded, "Landing sequence initiated. Preparing for atmospheric entry."

The Gummi ship quickly accelerated towards the planet, its nose pointed directly at the world. As the team observed from the cockpit, a burst of multicolored lights transformed into a familiar sky and a grassy plain. The ship then landed smoothly in the center of the grotto.

Emerging from the open back of the ship, the team surveyed the land. To their front lay a landscape evocative of an ancient world: a Viking-like barbarian settlement with stone houses, grass-roofed dwellings, and a cobblestone castle visible in the distance. Directly behind them, however, stood a massive, dark, and menacing forest. The edge of the trees was so dark it seemed to absorb the light, acting almost as a distinct gateway to a completely different part of the land. The immediate area stretching out on either side of the group was unsettling, a seemingly endless expanse of grassland creating an uneasy, liminal space.

"Man, this is wild," Moxxie says. "We're not home or on Earth, but this other place looks exactly like an older version of Earth."

"Seriously, it's almost fake. I expected aliens, or giant, Tron-style buildings, or at least something out of Blade Runner," Xander says, totally confused.

Blitzø chuckles a little bit at that. "Well, looks like we've got a movie nerd here. Anyway, things are kind of spelled out for us. That dark and creepy forest is probably where things are most messed up. So let's just keep moving and check out what the town's all about."

"How the heck are you so chill about all this? We literally don't—" Loona gets cut off before she can finish asking as Blitzø places a hand on his daughter's arm.

"Listen, Loony," Blitzø said, his voice dropping slightly, losing some of its usual theatrical edge. He squeezed her arm gently. "We're Imps. We've faced worse than a few creepy trees and a flat-earther castle, okay? This is just another Tuesday. We got new weapons, a shiny new ship, and a job that gets us home. The ninjas are counting on us to figure this out. So, quit stressing. We stick together, follow the plan, and if anything tries to bite us, we shoot it in the face. Got it?"

Loona held his gaze for a moment, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. She let out a heavy sigh. "Fine. Whatever, boss."

With that, Blitzø clapped his hands together. "Alright, team! Town looks safer than the murder woods. Moxxie and Loona, you're with me. Millie, Xander, you two stay here. Millie, I want you to help Xander get a better handle on that Keyblade of his. We might need him to be a front-line fighter if things get hairy."

Millie, though disappointed, nodded with a determined look. "You got it, Blitzø! Xander and I will be ready when you get back."

Xander, still a little lost, just nodded, "Uh, okay. I'll... try my best."

Blitzø, Moxxie, and Loona set off, leaving Millie and Xander by the ship. As they approached the cluster of stone and grass-roofed houses, the cobblestone path became more defined. The air here was noticeably cooler, carrying the faint scent of woodsmoke and a clean, earthy smell.

"So, 'Udragoth,' huh?" Moxxie mused, looking up at the high, formidable stone walls in the distance. "Sounds like something out of a fantasy movie, or a video game."

Loona shrugged. "Whatever it is, I hope they have something decent to eat. I'm starving."

Moxxie shuddered, glancing nervously towards the dark forest line. "I still can't wrap my head around this world's structure. A flat disc? Do they believe in a god holding it up? Or is it simply a localized gravity anomaly sustained by... ugh, I hate to say it, magic?"

Blitzø snorted. "Who cares, Mox? Less gravity means cooler explosions. Focus on the mission. Look for people who look scared, people who look too eager to help, or people who look like they're about to attack us. The usual."

"But what exactly is the mission here, Blitzø?" Loona asked, catching up to the group. "The ninjas said Xander's Keyblade will guide him to a 'keyhole.' What the hell is a keyhole in a place like this? Is it a lock on the castle door?"

Blitzø shook his head. "No idea, but we need to find out. And we need to find it before whatever's in those 'Dark Woods' spreads even further."

The group kept walking on the cobblestone path, heading deeper into the village where the stone and wood buildings were now packed closer together. They went past what looked like a blacksmith's shop, you could faintly hear the clang of a hammer and a small, kinda dark tavern.

Suddenly, Blitzø stopped dead, pointing excitedly at a building set a little apart from the rest. It stuck out like a sore thumb among all the medieval stuff: a small, brightly painted wooden shack with a super loud yellow roof and trim. A big sign, badly carved and painted in clashing red and blue, swung over the door.

"Oh my stars, check it out!" Blitzø shrieked, practically bouncing.

Moxxie had to shield his eyes from the insane brightness of the paint job. "What the actual Hell is that mess? It looks like a clown puked on a shed."

The sign, with its blocky, uneven letters, read: PJ MC FOODINGTON'S: HOME OF THE BARBARIC BURGER! Underneath the name was a cartoon drawing of a barbarian warrior, horned helmet and all, happily stuffing a super juicy burger into his face.

Moxxie winced. "That... that's a serious time warp issue. A chain restaurant, with pre-packaged food, in a feudal-era setting? It totally trashes the whole world's vibe!"

Loona, who'd actually stopped rolling her eyes for a second, raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? A bootleg fast food joint on a flat planet? What's next, a Starbucks in the King's castle?"

"I don't care what it is, I'm starving!" Blitzø declared, already marching for the entrance. "I haven't had a decent burger since... well, since before we all got sucked into an interdimensional hole!"

Moxxie followed, a determined look in his eye. "A fast food place? Here? This is exactly the kind of crazy, out-of-place stuff that means something. It's either a trap or it's a goldmine of info. Either way, food is food. Let's go, Blitzø!"

The second they stepped inside, they were hit by a blast of old fryer grease and something sickly sweet. The inside was even weirder than the outside—a few simple wooden tables were bolted to the floor, and behind the counter stood a single, unnervingly cheerful-looking barbarian with slightly different colors on his outfit and a nametag that said 'Dave'.

"Welcome to PJ McFoodington's, home of the Barbaric Burger!" the barbarian chirped, his smile impossibly wide. "Can I hook you up with a King Combo? It includes a giant cup of Mead-Ade!"

Blitzø leaned on the counter, his usual tough-guy act not working against 'Dave's' pure, relentless happiness. "Mead-Ade? Look, pal, cut the garbage. What's the deal with this place? And why do you look human, but... off?"

Dave's smile didn't twitch. "Why, we're the top spot for quick, delicious meals for the hungry folks of Udragoth! And I'm just a simple, hard worker trying to save up for new paint!" He gave a super dramatic wink.

Moxxie stepped up, pulled out the only coin he had—a rusty hell penny—and slapped it down. "Listen, we're new here. We'll take three King Combos. But we need info. We're looking for the Keyhole. We need to know who's in charge locally, and why your restaurant looks like it was ripped out of another reality."

Dave glanced at the penny, then back at Moxxie, his smile finally dropping for a split second before snapping right back into place. "Cash only, friend. But for such a big order, I can give you a quick rundown on Udragoth before you head out. The Keyhole? Never heard of it. But the main problem around here is the Dark Woods. That forest... the darkness is spreading from it. The King's soldiers up at the big stone castle are trying to hold it back, but it's a losing fight. And those woods are full of the Scourge!"

Blitzø's eyes went wide. "The Scourge? Do you mean Heartless?"

"I don't know what those are, but..." Dave leaned in like he was sharing a huge secret. "They're mean, they hit hard, and they look like the trees came alive to eat you!"

Blitzø slammed his hands on the counter, his eyes flashing. "Okay, Scourge. Dark Woods. And who's this 'King' trying to stop them?"

"King Hrothgar, of course!" Dave chirped. "He's up in the castle. Good guy, sends his knights out every single day to battle the forest. You guys look like you can handle yourselves. Maybe go chat with him? He's the one who gave us the sweet deal on the franchise!"

Blitzø looked at Moxxie and Loona, then back at the overly cheerful, clearly freaked-out barbarian behind the counter. "The King... and the Dark Woods. Sounds like a solid first move."

Next to the gummiship, Xander practices his keyblade swings: a quick horizontal slash, followed by a stronger upward strike, and finishing with a powerful downward blow. Millie observes from a distance, clapping enthusiastically. "That was great!" she exclaims, "but remember to keep your arms close to your chest before each swing and your wrist tucked under the hand guards, even when it rotates."

"Thanks," Xander replies. "I already knew some street fighting, but this is really helpful."

Millie scoffs at the mention of street fighting. "Look, sweetheart, those wild punches aren't real fighting. Street fighting is just getting beaten up a lot and learning to overpower someone with no discipline. I was raised on a farm; all I know is discipline."

Xander tries the three-hit combo again, adjusting his form to Millie's instructions. "Great, that was amazing! Now all you've got to do is practice until that becomes muscle memory."

"Yeah, discipline, right?" Xander asks.

Millie giggles a little and replies, "Yeah, exactly."

"Alright, next up," Millie announced, her eyes scanning the practice area, "we're going to work on dodging and counter-attacking. When you're fighting something big and slow, like those Large Bodies, you don't just want to block; you want to get out of the way and make them pay for missing."

Xander nodded, adjusting his grip on the Keyblade. "So, like... a sidestep and then a quick hit?"

Millie grinned. "Even better. Think about it like this: they swing wide, they leave themselves open. You want to use their momentum against them. Try this: imagine a Heartless is swinging a big fist at your head. Instead of just blocking, you're going to take a quick step back, let the Keyblade deflect the very edge of their attack, and as they overextend, you pivot and deliver a swift, upward strike to their exposed underbelly."

She demonstrated, moving with surprising grace for her size, her daggers flashing through the air. "It's all about fluidity. You're not fighting them head-on; you're dancing around them, finding the gaps."

Xander tried to mimic her. He imagined a colossal fist swinging at him, took a step back, and brought his Keyblade up. He stumbled a bit, his pivot clunky, and his upward swing lacked power. "Ugh, this is harder than it looks."

"Of course, it is, hon," Millie said kindly. "That's why we practice. Again! Focus on your feet. Stay light, stay ready to move."

They continued for another fifteen minutes, Xander slowly improving. His sidesteps became a little smoother, his pivots a fraction quicker. He still missed the imaginary weak points more often than not, but the concept was beginning to click.

"Better!" Millie cheered. "Now, let's add a spin. Sometimes, they're too close for a simple sidestep, or you need to get behind them. When that happens, a quick spin can put you in a perfect position. Twist your body, let the Keyblade sweep around, and come up with a powerful thrust."

She showed him, twirling her daggers in a tight, rapid circle before ending in a forward lunge. "It's great for crowd control, too, if you get surrounded."

Xander tried it, feeling awkward and off-balance. He spun, nearly tripped, and almost poked himself in the eye with the Keyblade. "Whoa! Okay, maybe not that close."

Millie laughed, a warm, encouraging sound. "You'll get there! It's all about finding your center of gravity. Keep your core tight, and let the Keyblade be an extension of your arm, not a separate weight."

As the sun began to dip below the horizon of the flat world, casting long, strange shadows across the grotto, Xander found himself sweating, his muscles aching, but a small spark of confidence began to ignite within him. He was still clumsy, still scared, but with Millie's patient guidance, he was starting to feel less like a hapless accident and more like... a fighter.

"One more time, Xander!" Millie called out, her voice still energetic. "Full combo! Sidestep, upward strike, and then spin into a thrust!"

Xander took a deep breath, picturing the Guard Armor from before, then the shadowy Heartless. He focused, letting the fear transform into a simmering determination. He sidestepped, the Keyblade flashing upwards, then he spun, a little less awkwardly this time, and thrust the Keyblade forward, imagining it piercing through the heart of the darkness.

"Yeah!" Millie clapped, a genuine smile on her face. "That's it, Xander! You're getting the hang of it!"

Millie motioned towards a large, smooth stone near the Gummi Ship. "Alright, that's enough for today. My feet are tired just watching you, honey. Let's take five."

Xander gratefully let the Keyblade dissipate in a shimmer of light, his muscles protesting the exertion. He slumped onto the rock, wiping sweat from his brow. Millie sat beside him, pulling out a canteen from a pouch that seemed to have materialized from nowhere and taking a long sip.

"Whew," Xander exhaled, leaning his head back. "I still can't believe I beat that giant armor thing. It was mostly luck, though."

Millie capped her canteen, her expression softening. "Maybe the first few hits were luck, but the rest? That was all you, Xander. You kept getting up, and you kept trying. That's not luck; that's guts." She paused, looking out at the strange, flat horizon where the barbarian village met the dark forest. "But yeah, this whole thing... It's a lot to take in."

"A lot is an understatement," Xander muttered. "I went from being a completely insignificant soul in Hell, just trying to survive, to being the guy with the magic key who's supposed to save the whole universe, apparently." He fidgeted with his hands. "And now I'm traveling through space with four demons who are either chaotic assholes or surprisingly nice, depending on the minute."

Millie chuckled, a genuine, warm sound. "Yeah, Blitzø can be a bit much, and Loona is... Loona. But they're good demons, Xander. They're my family. We might have been born in Hell, but we've got hearts, same as anyone. We just want our home back."

"That's the part that gets me," Xander admitted, turning to her. "You guys genuinely miss Hell. For me, it was just... torment. Every day was miserable. If I bring it back, I bring back my worst nightmare. But if I don't, I leave you guys stranded here, away from your home."

Millie's expression tightened, her brows furrowing slightly as she considered his words. "Torment... miserable..." She shifted uncomfortably on the stone, the casual warmth of the moment fading. "That's... that's rough, Xander. I get it. Hell isn't exactly a paradise, but... for us, the Imps, it's home. We have jobs, family, and community. It's hard, sure, but it's our hard." She paused, her eyes searching his face. "But you were a soul, weren't you? A Sinner?"

Xander nodded, his gaze dropping to his hands. "Yeah. I died on Earth and woke up in the Pride Ring. Being on the bottom rung of the ladder in Hell is... different. It's not just a rough neighborhood; it's being hunted, exploited, and suffering every single day until the next Extermination."

Millie's spine straightened. Her voice was softer now, tinged with an unexpected sadness. "I didn't think about it like that, honestly. We try not to be around the Sinners too much. Hell is different for different people, that's for sure. For the Princes, it's a palace. For us Imps, it's a living, breathing city. But for the lost souls, the ones who get dragged back there... I guess I just saw them as part of the noise." She reached out and squeezed his arm, her grip firm. "Look, I can't promise you can wave your key and suddenly make Hell a place of sunshine and rainbows. It's too big, too broken. But you're a powerful guy now, Xander. You can't change Hell, but you can absolutely change your experience of it. If we win and you go back, you won't be that insignificant soul anymore. You'll be the Keyblade wielder. That changes everything."

Xander looked at the spot where the Keyblade had been, a flicker of hope stirring in him. "Change my experience...Like that'll work in a place like hell. But... what if I fail? What if I get you all killed?"

Millie's smile was fierce. "Then we die fighting, same as we always planned to. But you won't fail. We won't let you. Look, we're stuck together on this flat rock in space, with a magic key and a mission. We're a team now. Whether you like it or not, we need you, and right now, you need us. So, put that worry away. Let's focus on getting you good enough to smash some more Heartless." She nudged him playfully. "Now, are you ready for one more set of practice swings, or are we going to wait for the boss and Moxxie to get back?"

Xander smiled faintly, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "One more set, but only if you teach me the spin without almost hitting myself this time."

Blitzø, Moxxie, and Loona emerged from the densely packed village structures and found themselves at the base of a truly colossal set of stone steps. These steps led up to the King's castle, a fortress built of dark, rough-hewn stone that looked like it had been carved from the mountain itself. The main gate was a massive portcullis, currently drawn up, and flanked by two sets of guards who, despite their dented armor, stood with rigid discipline.

"Well, that's certainly dramatic," Blitzø muttered, craning his neck to look up at the soaring towers. "Guess even medieval kings like to overcompensate."

"It's structurally sound, if a bit ostentatious," Moxxie admitted, nervously smoothing down his jacket. "At least the guards look like they haven't entirely given up."

The trio started their ascent, and the two sets of guards parted silently to let them through the main gate. The castle's interior was a labyrinth of dark corridors and echoing chambers. They were quickly met by a clean-armored captain who led them directly to the throne room.

The room was vast and cold, illuminated by flickering braziers. Seated on a simple, stone throne was King Hrothgar. He was a man whose armor was still polished, but whose face was etched with the exhaustion of a hundred sleepless nights. His crown was pushed back on his graying hair, and his eyes, though sharp, held a deep-seated weariness.

"You must be the travelers the gate guards reported," the King said, his voice a low, gravelly baritone that commanded attention. He waved a hand towards a servant, who quickly offered the trio goblets of water. "I am Hrothgar. Tell me, what business brings outsiders to my struggling realm?"

Blitzø stepped forward, performing a shallow, almost insulting bow. "Your Majesty, we're here about a keyhole. We can help you with your little monster problem, but we need to get to the source."

Hrothgar's expression hardened, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his armored knees. "My 'little monster problem,' as you call it, is threatening to wipe my kingdom from the map. It began, as always, with the Scourge—clumsy, slow-witted things. But in the last week, something new has emerged. Something far more dangerous."

He rose from his throne and paced the stone floor, his boots echoing. "My scouts call them the Stealth Sneaks. And they are a menace unlike any we have faced. My best men, the ones guarding the West Watchtower, were butchered without mercy. One survivor, Torvin, described them as monstrous iguanas, ten times the size of a man, covered in razor-sharp scales. However, they start off by sneaking around completely invisible and only come out when they're "

Moxxie gulped, his pale face growing paler. Loona's ears twitched, a primal alertness settling over her.

"They're too fast," Hrothgar continued, his voice heavy with defeat. "My Guards can't keep pace. And their hides... when you strike them, the blade barely leaves a mark. It's like cutting rock. We've tried fire arrows—they simply bounce off the scales. They tore through a standard formation like parchment."

He stopped pacing and fixed his weary eyes on the trio. "They're an omen. A sign that a great darkness is growing If those things make it past the inner defenses... my people will not survive, trapped within these walls. We cannot hold the line against them for much longer."

Blitzø's smirk returned, a mixture of annoyance and grim determination setting in. "Giant demonic iguanas with impenetrable scales. Wonderful," he muttered, then clapped his hands sharply. "Alright, Your Majesty. You've convinced us. Lead us to this keyhole. We'll deal with your new oversized pets."

Hrothgar looked skeptical but desperate. "If you can truly defeat them, I will grant you whatever you ask. But know that you will be walking into a nightmare. They are relentless, and their jaws..." He trailed off, shaking his head.

Loona simply growled, summoning her dark claws and letting them shimmer in anticipation. Whatever these new creatures were, they sounded like a challenge, and for a world-weary Hellhound, a good fight was often the best distraction.

King Hrothgar concluded his dire warnings about the deadly monsters, catching himself before he said more. He quickly dismissed the thought.

"Very well, my fine fellow warriors, I will gather the few men I have left and meet you outside my castle," King Hrothgar stated.

Blitzø, Moxxie, and Loona exchanged nods. "We'll be waiting for you," Loona said as the three departed the throne room.

Overwhelmed by the recent demonic attack and the mystery of the "keyhole," King Hrothgar slumped onto his throne, his mind reeling. With most of his soldiers gone and his only other skilled barbarian flipping burgers, he was desperate. He knew he had to call upon the one person he was trying to avoid.

The King rose and walked down a hall, stopping at a door bearing the sign: "Fang the Destructer." A flicker of a smile touched his lips, quickly replaced by grim determination. He knocked.

"WHAT?" a booming voice demanded from inside.

"Fang, it's your father," King Hrothgar replied.

The door flew open to reveal a cheerful young woman. Her red hair was pulled back in a ponytail wrapped with a fake bone, and she wore an orange loincloth adorned with golden bracelets and earrings.

"Dad, do you need something?" Fang asked.

King Hrothgar hesitated before asking, "Do you still have your brother's old sword, my dear?"

Fang's eyes sparkled. She darted into her room and quickly returned with the sheathed sword on her back. "Fang, don't yank me off the wall so fast," the sword grumbled, its eyes opening as it coughed lightly. "You just sharpened me, dear, and you're gonna make me nauseous."

The King chuckled at the sassy sword's sweet tone with his daughter. "And it's nice to see you this fine morning, Lula. How has training Fang been?" the King inquired.

Lula the sword smiled at the King and proudly proclaimed, "Oh, she's wonderful! Much better than most of the soldiers I've seen in this kingdom. No offense, but she's a much better barbarian than Dave ever was. Fang has always had a violent spirit, but with a little focus, she's become one of the best warriors I've ever been used by."

"That's great, Lula, and Fang, I'm so proud of you," King Hrothgar replied. "In fact, I think now is the perfect time to put all your training to the test. You know of the threat the kingdom faces, don't you?"

"Yeah, the dark creatures from the forest. You sent Mom to try and handle them, right?" Fang asked.

King Hrothgar's face clouded as he prepared to deliver the terrible news. "I'm sorry, dear, but your mother and the soldiers I sent haven't returned from the forest, and I need your help to find her."

"You mean, you and me fighting alongside each other? Father and daughter, kicking butt and taking lives?" Fang asked, her excitement bubbling over.

"Of course, my dear," King Hrothgar affirmed. "I spent most of my life fighting the evil of the world, and fighting it alongside you to find your mother would be perfect."

Fang paused, her excitement momentarily dampened as she considered his words. "Wait a minute, how are you even sure we'll find Mom? She could be..."

"Your mother and I have been fighting evil since we were teenagers," the King interjected. "Trust me, the soldiers she was with were basically inexperienced babies compared to her. She's probably built an entire shack in that forest and started a whole farm by now. I would know; I've seen her do it."

Fang breathed a sigh of relief. "Well, I'm sure whatever evil is in that forest, we can handle it. Should I tell Candy she's gonna be in charge again?"

"Eh, maybe let her keep enjoying her vacation a little more. She basically ran the kingdom for 21 years. She deserves this break," the King answered.