291Chapter 1: The New Wielders
Taren followed the man who calls himself Macbeth, he was uncertain what was going on or where he was but all this man said something about being sent here by his parents, he knows nothing about this man or if he really was telling the truth. Still sore from that… Grimm? As he called them just now, caught up to him and decided to get some answers to find out what's going on and how did he know about his parents. "Ok, look I want to know where I am and who is it you're taking me to. I'm just confused of what's happening."
"Patience, you'll get answers from someone who can shed light on it." Arrived to a door, reached out to open it and allows the young man to enter the room first. It looked like a dining room, and somewhat fancy for a guy who must be rich to own it. But something else pulled his attention and saw an elderly man in blue ropes sitting by the fire and a teenager with short brown hair and dressed smart, these two weren't strangers to him and knew full well of who they were.
"Wh…Ben?" Taren pondered if it really him.
Ben turned to whoever spoke his name. "Taren? Wow, I can't believe it, your here too?" Couldn't believe who it was and smiled to see a familiar face.
"Yeah, I was gonna say the same to you. What are you doing here?" Taren asked him.
The brown haired teen named Ben and the son of Belle, one of the seven Princesses of Heart and Adam, formally known as Beast during a curse until it was lifted many years ago. The two first met when they were kids after Taren's parents came to see the newly formed alliance of countries known as the United States of Auradon, Belle suggested they volunteer to visit Kairi's homeworld as representatives after Xehanort was defeated. The two sons of the families became best friends since then with the common interest of seeing other worlds and keyblades for the adventure.
"Well let's just say it was something unexpected. After heading home from visiting my grandpa, when out of nowhere these monsters showed up in the middle of the street and starting attacking everyone." Ben told him of what happened to him. He sighed before continued his story. "Everyone was scared and confused, we thought they were heartless but looked nothing like them."
Taren's eyes widen upon hearing this, there was no way that it could be a coincidence that it was the same creatures he saw in both his dream and Destiny Islands. "Any of them had black skin or fur with white bone armour?" Seeing the shocked look on Ben's reaction that already shows he knew what they were.
"Yeah, you saw them too?"
Taren sighed, not a pleasant experience for him. "Chased and almost beaten like crap by one to put it simply. Plus, there was a hooded guy with this wierd metal arm that my dad and Riku seem very familiar with. Didn't get a look of his face, but all I got was a metal arm."
Yen Sid frowned softly as he realised this became more serious then he thought. "So Destiny Islands have been attack, my boy?" Drawing their attention when he spoke up after being silent all this time.
Taren know who he was as he was the oldest known master there was, told to be respectful to the wizard by his parents. Turned to face him to answer his question. "Uh, yes sir. I didn't get a look at his face, but my dad clearly did and blamed him for whatever happened to him of what he is." Never forgetting the arm and the Grimm he summoned, there were answers he needed to find out and what's going on. "I want to know who that bastard was and why he was after my parents?" But more then that, were they ok? But before he could ask another question.
Ben approached him and tried to calm him down before he could get a little anxious. "Taren, take it easy. I'm sure everyone especially your parents are fine. Master Yen Sid and Mister Macbeth can shed some light on everything soon." Ben assured him, knowing how he feels and worried about his family in hopes they're all fine.
"He's right, we've received reports that they are fine, but it was clearly a planned out to hunt down the next generation of Keyblade wielders. Mainly to draw you out for whatever he has planned." Macbeth said.
"Wait, hold on a moment, I'm starting to remember something now before I round up here." Taren brought his hand to his head as he was remembering what happened just now. "I was facing one called a.. Berin-Beringel right? That gorilla-thing, when it had me by the cliff, I… I think I summoned a keyblade. But before that, a voice came out of nowhere, that's all I can remember."
"Did it also have something to do with your eyes?"
One of his eyebrows rose up and looked at the prince, uncertain what he was talking about. "My eyes? What, what's wrong with them?"
Ben gave a nervous expression and gave a quick glance to Yen Sid then back at Taren. "Ok, well. Man, this is gonna be awkward." He sighed. "I didn't know how to say anything, but… they were always blue right?"
Blinking his eyes a few times to be sure he heard him right. "Uh, yeah, since I was born." This was weird, why ask such a weird question as for all he knew, he was perfectly fine and can see well. "What's gotten into you Ben?"
Macbeth coughed up to catch his attention, approached him and led the confused copper haired teen to the closest mirror in the room. "I think it would be best to see for yourself and try to remain calm."
"What are you talking about? There's nothing wrong with m-" But when Taren took a step forward and looked at his reflection, instead of seeing a pair of blue eyes, they were amber. His eyes widen and completely freaked out. "AAAAHHHH! What the… how did… what the hell happened to my eyes!?" Took a closer look in the mirror to study the new eye colours of his eyes as they were different now, this was really strange and freaky for Taren, unable to understand how or why they changed colour. "Ok, this really turned into a whole new level of freaky." He mumbled to himself, not knowing if anyone could hear him but didn't matter right now.
"There'll be a time to find out, I'm sure Master Yen Sid will take a look. But we have more important matters to attend to." Macbeth said. "Such as when the third wielder to arrive."
Both boys looked at each other, wondering who else was a keyblade bearer. "Third?"
Just then the doors opened and stepped through was a young teenage girl, her style of clothing seem to have a bit of a purple, pink, and a little of green, even her shoulder-length hair was purple. Her green eyes studied the group and noticed two boys about her age but ignored them for now, turned towards the keyblade master. "Sorry was late after getting here. So I'm guessing these two I'm working with?"
"Taren, Ben, allow me to introduce Mal." Yen Sid gestured his hand to the young lady beside him as she gave a quick smile to them. "Mal, this is Taren from Destiny Island, son of Sora and Princess Kairi." Looked at the red head, a little intrigued by the eyes but quickly wore off. "And Prince Benjamin."
"You don't have to be formal with us, just Ben would be fine." Ben came up to her casually and offered to shake her hand. "But it's a pleasure to meet you." She stared at him with a bit of hesitation until she slowly reached up and took his hand.
Gives a small smile to him after shaking his hand "Pleasure." Then turned to Taren who did the same to greet her.
"So you're one as well?" Asked her when raised an eyebrow.
All they received was a cunning grin on the corner of her lips, raised her right hand and a flash of light formed. The guard had a pair of purple dragon-like wings curved around the handle, the blade was grey and had thorn-shaped curves in the middle of the blade is dark blue and forms two triangular blades that overlap each other and slant downward. Its keychain had a dragon-like head with two horns. "Does this answer your question? This is the Shadow of Redemption. Had this for a while now and learned a few tricks. So guessing you two must be newly chosen?
They were in both surprised to see a keyblade being summoned by the purple haired teen who demonstrated her abilities to them, however something had being bogging him just a while ago. "Wait a minute? You mention new generation? She has one. I have one…. Even you?"
Looked at Ben if he had one too, and by looking at the sheepish look and scratching the back of his head. "Uh… guess it's the reason I was brought here." Did the same gesture as Mal did and formed in his grip out of light was another. The shaft of the keyblade had a earthly-texture, dark brown and bronze edges, it had a wolf running up with only the head and front legs, the rest of it was in a curved tail at the end of the shaft was half a gear formed in a crescent-shaped curve, forming a row of teeth. The keychain was bronze-coloured and was a mix between a star and flower. "This one's the Beast Within. Not certain why, but maybe find out later."
"Whoa! So awesome, how did you get it?" Couldn't believe his friend had one, the wolf emblem looked like a nice touch. "So, how did you been able to wield it? Did it have something to do with the Grimm?"
Ben nodded but it wasn't something he liked, as it was still only recent. "It might have been, this man just as you described came to my home the other day. Master Yen Sid was present that day, warning my parents of the danger coming, when out of nowhere, Grimm started attacking." He stopped for a moment, a little hesitant to go on but continued his story. "My father didn't hesitated to give magic users permission to use magic defend the city despite the law of not using magic to protect the people from the Grimm until Yen Sid could conjure a spell to wipe them out. Without knowing, one of them, possibly a large bird came out of nowhere in the sky and was going for my mother." A pause in his sentence and balled his fists. "My dad was too far to reach her in time, I was so scared of losing her I just couldn't stand there and wanting to save her life. Then, without knowing, I took the Grimm down with a recently summoned keyblade before it could lay its talons on her."
"So you took down a bird?" Hearing about a bird Grimm seems familiar as it reminded him of the dream he had.
"Not just any, it was big, really big and all black with a white mask on the top of its face." Describing it to them of what he saw. "It was nothing like I ever felt, like this voice in my head told me to summon the keyblade to safe my mom. The Grimm were gone and then later was brought here for my safety."
"That's almost what happened to me, only I got chased by a large gorilla with anger issues." Taren said, having the feeling something big was happening and wondered what it is.
Yen Sid stroked his beard, pondering the possibilities of the nature of the Grimm. "Possibly a reaction were they felt the keyblade's light as a threat to them." It sounded possible when you think of it, turning his attention to Taren. "And I understand that you have been chosen by one such as yourself, young Taren."
Taren looked at him, confused by what he meant just now. "Wait a minute, me? But…" Brought his hand up to his head, trying to remember what happened to him before that bright light and the Grimm using his… Keyblade. "Keyblade? That's right! I actually summoned it at the moment after… well, after a voice." He muttered at the last part under his breath when remembering a woman's voice that gave him some confidence to fight.
"Pardon?"
"Uh, nothing. Forget it, I was just thinking of something else." Brushing it aside after the wizard asked him. "Yeah, so I really did summoned a keyblade just when I was cornered and felt this strange power suddenly surged through me." Trying to recall how he first did it and the lessons his parents and Riku told him about. "Wish I knew how, everything happened so fast." Sighed as he put his hands in his pockets, but then he felt something in his right pocket, his fingers traced it with his fingers as it felt like a chain. "What the…" Got a hold of something and pulled it out of the pockets. In his hand was a gold/silvery chain with a black shuriken-shaped star with other side of it light. "A keychain?"
"A keychain that is part of a keyblade, symbolising that you truly indeed wielder." Yen Sid proclaimed after seeing it in the astonished boy's hand.
His eyes widen in realisation of what was in his hand, trying to find the words "So… this is part of my keyblade?" Couldn't believe he really has one, one of his greatest wishes to be just like his parents, the sudden moment of thinking about them, probably worried sick to death of his where abouts and no doubt his dad wouldn't hesitate to just jump the chance to find him anywhere across the cosmos. Clutching the keychain in his hand a little and turned to the two elders for answers.
"Just, what are these Grimm exactly?" Taren asked him, knowing the other two would be thinking the same thing.
"They are a creatures of pure darkness, much like the Heartless as you may know about." The three nodded their heads, both the boys were told about them from both their parents and been often told how they came to be. "These are much different from them, unlike Heartless, the Grimm are not formed from a person, but darkness itself. They hunt by sensing the negative emotions, come in various forms which make them a dangerous threat."
"The Grimm had been dealt with before by containing them in their own world, but now. They are free and able to spread across worlds to wreck havoc and chaos." Macbeth frowned, not taking it well for the recent growth of sightings on other worlds. "But what is frightening is they are under control of a very powerful, and dangerous man who should've died years ago but survived."
"Who is he exactly?" Ben asked him.
Taren also wanted answers himself. "Yeah, seems whoever or whatever he is, he sure had some personal vendetta against my dad over something that happened to him."
"Indeed he has, for he is Tezzeret." Allowing them to absorb the info of the new foe. "Not long before your birth, Tezzeret was affiliated with a group of dark forces from another dimension know as the Magic Dimension, a realm much like ours with magic is very strong, exists alongside our own but difficult to travel when protected by a veil to keep outsiders from entering it, only the most trusted masters for many centuries since then are the only ones who know of its existence, protecting its secrets from those such as the Organization XIII, and especially Xehanort. But, it was then until it fell into a crisis by forces known as the Ancestral Witches whose desire for dominion over their realm." Explaining the events that happened.
"Kinda sound like the Organization and Maleficent. But if what you say is true, how were they to accomplish that?" Taren asked him.
"Well, we would like to know IF you give him a chance, red." They turned to Mal who took a chair and had one leg crossed over with her arms over her chest.
Realised he may have cut in without knowing and felt embarrassed. "Uh, sorry."
However, the wizard took no offense to the boy's curiosity. "It's alright. But you are correct about how they can achieve this. To conquer a whole dimension with many worlds in the Magic Dimension they needed something very powerful and to do that, they invaded a planet called Domino."
Taren blinked his eyes and widened when he suddenly realised the name of the planet was what the hooded man spoke about. "Domino? Wait, that's the place that Tezzeret guy said when he last met Dad and fought him there!"
"Indeed, a battle between your father and him, before its unfortunate demise." Yen Sid's tone was low and solemn, lowering his head when speaking of it as a painful memory.
"What do you mean by that?" Mal asked him, confused by what became of Domino.
"You see, many years ago we received contact from their world by the Company of Light, a group dedicated to protect their realm from the hands of evil such as Tezzeret and the Ancestral Witches, an alliance of powerful foes posed a threat to our worlds so we formed an alliance to turn the tides in our favour, earning the praise by the kingdoms for our heroic deeds and selfless acts to protect the innocent." Yen Sid explained to them of what happened. "Tezzeret was leading a group of followers under his command and invaded Domino, challenging its king over the power of the Dragon's Flame. His powers were strong and could've defeated him with his dark magic, but didn't expect Sora to make a timely arrival and saved the king's life."
Listening about how his father saved someone made Taren felt proud of his dad. But, something didn't seem right. "But what made him so determined for vengeance?"
Yen Sid frowned softly. "I'm afraid I know little of what happened, only your father knows what happened and he was presumed to have been killed. However, the moment of peace didn't last when Domino was destroyed." Their eyes widened in shock to find out that an entire world destroyed. "There were no survivors on the surface, or any life. Nothing but snow and ice." Unable to continue and ended it there, not going any further. "We had helped saved the dimension, but not able to save a planet."
"And Tezzeret came back after so many years for vendetta?" Taren pondered.
"Hmm, unfortunately we have not found anything. But it was no doubt, he was hunting you three for a reason. That is why you have been brought here for safety until you learn to wield the keyblades." Making the statement of training the three to master their weapons to defend face a greater foe like the Grimm and Tezzeret.
"Wait, you mean we can't go back home?" Ben asked him, not certain how long they were going be here to train.
Macbeth frowned. "Hmm, afraid so. When you three came here, I immediately cast a protective shield surrounding this area to hide our pressence on a remote world where no one could find us. For the time being until somehow they can break through the barriers, we are on our own."
Hearing the news that they were unable to return to their homes did not sit well for them, each of them probably began to wonder if they'll ever get home and see their loved ones. All because of Tezzeret and the Grimm. Taren didn't take the news so well as the others, the last thing he saw was his mother at home and his father being attacked by the bastard who brought the monsters to get to him. Taren lowered his head, trying to keep his frustrations under control after everything that happened so fast.
He gave them his question. "When should we start?"
They all looked at him in confusion, Macbeth only raced an eyebrow after hearing his question. "You really want to go through with it?" Asking him to be sure if he wanted to go through with it.
Taren nodded his head. "I want to learn how to use this power to help others and get stronger, if I've got a keyblade then I might as well need to use it. Plus, it may give me a chance to see new worlds and personally kick some Grimm butt." Giving a small grin at the corner of his lip.
"So will I." Ben smiles and placed a hand on his best friend's shoulder to give his support. "If Taren's then I'm in."
This earned them an approval smirk to Macbeth of their honest answers. "I like the sound of that." But then there was one more. "And what about you, young lady?"
They turned to Mal who was a little quiet during the time. "Well… I don't know. Spending who knows how long with strangers I hardly know." Taking some time to think it over.
Suddenly Taren threw an arm around her shoulder, startling the girl when she saw his smile when earlier was a gloomy. "Come on, it be great! My dad told me that adventures the best part of the experience."
But Mal suddenly grabbed his wrist and called forth her Shadow of Redemption, pointing it dangerously close to his face. "Guess he never filled your head about respecting one's personal space."
Taren's face paled and turned blue, tries to wiggle out of her grip and make a mental note to avoid getting her mad. Remembering his training and slipped his hand out of her grip and took a few steps backwards to gain some distance. But before either the elder keyblade Master or Macbeth could separate the two, a bright flash brightened the room, only a moment but what they saw amazed them of what was in Taren's hand.
The keyblade had two light brown colored wings with orange tips at the end sprouting from the top of the guard: one into the form a flame up and the other down, the guard has a golden dragon curling down to the side of the handle. The shaft was dark brown with the curved blade to flow with the sprouting wing and at the top had three wing-shaped teeth in a curved formation.
Taren studied the blade and awed by it's design, this was really his keyblade.
"Light's Rebellion"
A soft voice spoke out, not sure where but somehow it meant this keyblade's name.
"Wow, that's your keyblade?" Ben asked him, finally able to see it and glad.
Taren gave a bright grin and held it up. "Guess so, this is the Light's Rebellion."
"A fitting name for a purpose." Macbeth couldn't help but grin and now knowing this boy is one of the three who have awoken their keyblades and have a chance to fight back the darkness. "Now that you all have summoned your keyblades, I can say we will begin your training first thing tomorrow morning. You may not have time to commence the trials yet, but we will begin our journey to the Magic realm in a few months time after you mastered much of your powers to face Tezzeret and the Grimm horde."
"We?" Mal asked him.
"Indeed, Mal. May I reintroduce Macbeth, an old friend of mine, long time ally to the Keyblade Masters, and your mentor. He will observe your training and report back to me once you reach the other side of the veil." Yen Sid informed them.
"And you better be prepared, for this will unlike anything the three of you have ever faced in your lives."
6 months later
With the three newly chosen wielders began their training to master the power of the Keyblades, observed by Yen Sid of teaching while Macbeth trains them in the arts of combat, adapt to any situations in battle and know their foes. Macbeth believes in extending one's abilities then to rely more on magic and their Keyblades should they be unable to summon or run low on energy, which the elder sorcerer was most supportive as it could extend the potential of their strengths. The three slowly began to understand the use of the keyblades like a sword and part of themselves, proven to a challenge when they all sparred against Macbeth despite not having one himself, but a capable warrior with many years of experience beyond the trio. To keep them safe, they stayed in a remote area with a magical barrier to cloak their presence.
With just over a month after training to use the keyblades, they began to learn how to use magic and use of the elements. Mal had proven to be the most adept to the subject but seems to keep herself a little distant of opening up to her male companions, the mentors knew she was keeping something to herself and hardly spoke much about her past. Yen Sid sensed some negative aura within her magic, but seems to be at a manageable level that they will need to observe more. But has developed some sort of sibling-relationship with the two, mostly towards Taren since the first day.
Taking note that the prince of Auradon was chosen was a certainly one to be gifted, given that his mother is one of the seven pure lights. Indeed he shows traits of his mother's kind and selfless and his father's strong will to do what is right. Both wanted their son to reach such potential and knew he would be a great leader to his people, proven such as at times when Taren and Mal would argue and became the voice of reason, able to put their childish acts aside during their training. But despite such times, when the teenagers were not training, they took time to know one another and begin to form a bond between one another.
It was during the months of training Taren became more adept to wielding the Light's Rebellion using the agility and speed for use of combat, so far his magic more connected to nature elements, giving him the advantage of sensing one's presence within the perimeter, but has yet to reach its limits. There was no denying that the boy was indeed strong with magic, this was discussed not long ago with the boy's parents that he may perhaps inherit such magic when the time the balance between worlds is threatened. With the training and sparring he received over the years from his parents and by Riku, his swordsmanship has indeed proven great. One of the things he has not yet understand was why his eyes changed colour, some theories about it could have been some unknown magic he unlocked when summoning the keyblade, but so far nothing has happened to him which is a good sign. But over time, Taren grown use to them and found them a nice look for him.
Despite the fact that after months of living away from their homes and not seen their families, the new wielders appear to have slowly adjusted well, both Taren and Ben had kept their promises to see their parents again someday and to stop the darkness from harming others as Keyblade wielders. This earned the some respect of Mal for their determination after getting to know them a bit more, especially Macbeth. They've also been tutored along the way to understand the basic things since school was not an option for the three while living with the masters. With news of the long waited moment to set foot into the Magic Dimension within moments, it was the day the three would then prepare for their journey.
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Mal! Come on, we haven't got all day! I need to get washed and you take longer then the rest of us!" Taren gritted his teeth in annoyance that he had to wait outside in his sleeveless shirt and pants to get a wash in the bathroom, but Mal had to beat him to it. Grown a little tall, developed an athletic frame with a few faint cuts on his bare shoulders, signs of firm muscles developed on his fore arms from the training in order to face off the Grimm.
Opens the door a little for her head to poke out, smiling smugly at the red head. "Well you should've been here earlier, Bright Eyes. If you hadn't overslept like usual then you would've been ready." Having developed the amusing habit of teasing the red haired teen to see the look on his face.
For the past months Taren had grown use to her antics, even knowing how she sometimes drive him nuts is almost like being an annoying sister in some way "I was up having sparring when we lost track of time. The thing we've been preparing for months now that's finally arrived?"
"I know, but you take the longest to get up so that's mainly your fault. I can't go to the Magic Dimension looking like you when you just recently got out of bed." Before he could remark that comment, she closed the door on him. Grinded his teeth and had it. Summons his Light's Rebellion in his hand and aimed it to the doorknob before channelling his magic into it.
"Guys, come on really?"
Taren turned to find Ben at the end of the corridor, all dressed up, had put on a blue top that extended passed the waist, worn over the red shirt with a silver shoulder pad on the right, carved with the emblem that bear the face of a horned beast wearing a crown on its head. He had indeed grown a little and more athletic over the physical training by Macbeth. "And she does have a point, you are not easy to wake up when sleeping." Gave a light chuckle in response.
"So I'm a heavy sleeper!" Taren defended himself, raised his arms to respond to his statement, uncertain why that it was a big deal to everyone. Knowing this would get him nowhere and sighed. "Ok, I'll make breakfast as it's my turn anyway."
Mal once again poked her head out with a towel wrapped around her hair to dry. "Oh in that case, I'll have scrambled eggs with toast, and orange juice to add. Thanks!" Smiles and not giving him time to say anything when she shuts the door.
Taren looked at Ben who just sheepishly shrugged his shoulders. "Well, you are making breakfast that was the deal we made after signing up for this. Each of us take turns of a simple chore to help out around the place." Reminding him of what they do as a way of getting to know each other and building up a bond to better improve their relations as a team.
Sighs as the copper red haired teen knew he had a point, decides to make way some to pass the times, not wanting to waste time in a fight or get into trouble with the masters. "Ok, I better get ready first as Yen Sid would probably want us ready soon." Heads back into his room and get dressed, wearing a reddish brown jacket with the waist line having a lighter, a brown shirt under it and what seems to be a claw bone wrapped around his neck, a pair of dark pants. All his things were packed up and made certain everything was here to be transported to the Magix, the place he and his friends will be staying for the time being taking out a photo frame showing him as a little boy on his dad's shoulders with a amused expression that was similar to Sora's while his mom was next to her husband, arms intertwined and smiling at him. Taren was lucky to have kept this in his bag and misses them very much, hoping they are ok and probably spend every minute trying to reach him. But that was something he hadn't realised; do they know where he was going? Going to another dimension was different then another world or planet. Least in his knowledge they were ok, keeping the worlds safe from the Grimm as they started to appear on a number of worlds keeping the Keyblade masters occupied. "Don't worry, mom and dad. I'll get back to you in one piece."
"Now that you are prepared and ready for the journey. In the past several months of training, you have now begun to understand how to use your keyblades and know what you will face." The Wizard stood before the three apprentices as they were all dressed and listened to the elder for their new assignment.
"So that means we're finally going? Great, but how do we get there as we know the connection between our dimensions have been closed off since the war." Mal asked him of how they were gonna crossover he explained that a barrier was up between them to prevent outsiders from breaking through.
Yen Sid nodded and stroked his long beard. "You are correct, with Earth's magic lost for centuries, it would prove difficult. Fortunately since it still maintains a strong connection between our dimensions, I was able to establish contact with the remaining members of the Company of Light, to crossover we will require someone from the other side to guide you through."
Taren smiled at the sound of that, believing this to a good sign. "Well that's good news. So lets get going." Eager to get going and know stop the Grimm.
Instead of seeing the smile on the Master's face, he let out a soft sigh for what they may not like to hear. "However, due to the risk of revealing our location to Tezzeret or the Grimm. We felt it was necessary to choose an alternative to meet safely. A student selected by a woman named Faragonda, the headmistress of Alfea school for fairies, will arrive to take you to Magix. You'll know when you feel her magical aura." Giving them the basic instructions of knowing who is to be their escort to the other side, providing them the image of a blonde haired teenager who is a student of the school and the same age as them.
"Sounds simple: find the fairy, get her to take us to her world and we get started of finding Tezzeret to stop him." Mal pointed out to know their plan.
Yen Sid nodded and "You'll receive a transport to reach the city known as Gardenia, that is your rendezvous point to meet her."
Taren looked at him with one eyebrow raised. "Your not coming?"
"Macbeth will follow you shortly once he returns, I must stay here to assist the others and to temporally close the gateway to prevent the Grimm from crossing through. I am counting on all three of you to stop him, no doubt he may find the Dragon's Flame for whatever it is he is plotting."
"Don't worry, we'll stop him and find the flame." Taren nodded his head and made certain to succeed.
"I know. Taren, Ben, once I have managed to contact both your families is there any message you wish to pass on them as you may not return for long awhile." Asking them before they would leave.
Both the boys looked at each other and then back at their master. "Yeah, tell them we're fine and that we'll see them again." Ben told him, wanting to see his parents and hug them the moment he sees them again. Knowing his mother would cry her tears to see him again and his dad would pat him on the back.
"We are Wielders of the keyblades now, so it's our duty to save innocent lives just like them. So no worries, we'll come back and make them proud." Taren hopes they are ok and wanting to hear their voices again after months of training.
Mal had nothing to say for the moment and feels they should get moving. "Well, no one I know off to say bye to. But if you happen to run into a duck with a thick accent and in a kilt, make certain I'll come for him."
"A duck wearing a kilt? You mean Mr. McDuck?" Taren asked her as far as he knew someone from Donald's family with a thick Scottish accent.
"No, someone else. Just some little job I took some time ago." She waved it off, not knowing the grand master was eying the purple haired girl as he was clearly certain what she meant by that and would have to have a word with her sometime.
"One more thing before you leave, the people of Earth have not seen magic for centuries, so do not use any or summon your keyblades in front of them. And also to avoid drawing too much attention to the schools." Giving them the strict look on his face like a teacher who would sometimes discipline the students on their best behaviour. The three could feel a strong aura coming from him and dared not to say anything, even Taren and Mal wouldn't think of getting on his bad side.
"Uh, s-sure!"
"You got it!"
"Yes sir!"
With that done, they make their way outside for whoever the master had summoned to take them to their destination. It was still dawn and too dark to see anything through the mist until they see a tendril of smoke rushing towards them and suddenly stopped just a few feet from where they stood, the smoke formed into some old rundown looking cab, the trio were somewhat confused by the state of it.
"Well… this is our ride?" Taren asked them, feeling a little unsure about this.
Mal wasn't so keen about it either and looked a little grossed out by its appearance. "More like the one way ticket to the underworld."
"But it's a cab from one of those cities... New York city I think its called." Ben said while unsure why.
"That's probably it."
The window slid down, they were unable to see the faces but clearly three in black hoods. "You called for a cab, dears?" One of the drivers spoke, clearly an elderly woman with a rasping voice.
"Come on, come on! We haven't got all day!" Another elderly woman proclaimed, clearly impatient to get a move on. The three were a little hesitant but had to reach their destination in time. Mal came in first, followed by Ben and Taren who closed the door.
"We had this cab sanitised for your protection." A shorter one said who held the wheel.
Taren leaned forward to tell them where they want to be. "Uh, excuse me, miss? We need to get to a place called Gardenia?"
"Oh! A lovely place, pricey!" Under the hood, she gave a grin to reveal few of her old teeth. One of them set the taximeter on and immediately hit the acceleration to full speed, causing the trio to be thrown back against the seats. The drivers were not going steady and drove like maniacs, it was almost as if they were on a roller coaster ride and who knows how fast they were going with whatever was outside just flew past them.
"Maybe we should've taken a different route!" Taren didn't think this was a good idea, even the other two thought of the same conclusion had they known about these cab drivers' so-called driving. They found the seatbelts and wasted no time clamping them around their waist for their health and safety. They were heading towards a coming truck.
"LOOK OUT!" Mal screamed and pointed towards the front, the cab made a sharp turn without alerting the trucker or any harm came to them. She was so caught up in surprise she was unaware of her hand clutching to Ben's arm.
"Oh calm down, young witch. If we didn't know what we be doing."
"We wouldn't have a licence for this." One of them pulled her arm over and pointed her frail looking finger to the photos of the three drivers. They leaned forward to get a closer look at them: The first one had blue skin, a long beak-shaped nose, wearing a black cloak for the ancient frail woman. The second had a sickly green skin, few strands of dark blonde hair sticking out of her hood. The last one was the shortest of the trio for she had pale pink skin, three tendrils of green hair and had a single eye. But something they all had in common and spooked the keyblade wielders of what they were missing.
"Guys. They don't have eyes!" Taren realised with his eyes widened in shock. Looking up at the drivers before them who turned around to reveal themselves but the shortest driver had an eye and grinned at them.
"Enjoying the ride dearies?" The green one cackled like a witch and the wielders let out a scream in terror, backing away from the old crones by their appearances. Just when they thought things couldn't surprise them anymore, this was NOT what they expected.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter as I thought of bringing the trio of keyblade wielders, two mainly from Descendants which I thought would make interesting choices set in the KH, but there will be some characters that be a little OOC, working on OC characters for villains for future story arcs. Like to thank those who reviewed, faved and following this story which is a good start for a recently new fanfic and hoping to catch on.