"I'm the Boss!" -- Fabled Countryside [Open/Complete]

[noster_nostri]

Years ago, Adam had told Sora about his world. He told Sora about the quaint little village, the wolf-infested woods, and the castle where his staff (they were really more like a family) took care of him. He had told Sora how despite it's moments of tribulation and the predators in the woods, the world was still peaceful and happy

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[twisted_face]

The large beast stood at the top of the grand staircase that graced the entrance to the castle and glared down upon this new intruder. He scented the air to better get a taste for this stranger. The smell brought up no familiarity for the beast, and he crouched low, a lip curling away to bare his teeth. He had obviously been roughed up some by the black beings. Deep gashes ran down his arms and chest. Blood stained fur peeked out from under the torn and tattered cloak.

After what seemed like hours, something caught the corner of Adam's eye. Turning, he spotted a pinpoint of light, some few miles or more away. Lazily, he rose to his feet and began to walk towards this new occurence. None of his footsteps appeared to bring him closer to this light. Since he had nothing else to do, he continued to traipse on. Within moments an all too familiar smell filled his nose. It was difficult to place, but it reminded him of happy times. Adam smiled.

Small clutches of Heartless - the regulars and wolves alike - rushed past the beast towards the human. The monster merely watched.

[noster_nostri]

Sora grinned as more of the Heartless came forward. "Ha!" he said as he slashed through the first one that came near. They were no match for the Keyblade and therefore no match for him, at least that's what he knew. His movements were fluid, as he danced the dance he had learned so long ago. He made small joyful sounds as he defeated one after the other.

The Keyblade twisted and twirled in his hands. It started to slow as he concentrated. "Sorry, guys." he said as he defeated two more Heartless. "But I have to get back soon or else I'm going to have more chores."

And with that he pulled the Keyblade towards him and a dazzling light shot through his body. It pushed the Heartless away and left the room empty of the any more of them. The wave of the light settled over the room, leaving an eerie glow for a moment until it disappeared into a wispy mist.

[twisted_face]

After the bright display died down, the great hall fell eerily silent. Seeing that this intruder had no intention of leaving, Beast stalked down the stairs. His eyes remained fixed on this powerful person. Step after step, untl he had made it down to floor level. Only several feet away from the Keyblade Master, Beast stood and waited to see who would be the one to make the first move.

It wasn't too long before the little pinpoint gave a brilliant flash, causing Adam to squint. There was a voice... though too far off to make out the words.

[noster_nostri]

"Adam!" Sora said surprised but happy to see his friend. He had been on the top of his list of worries after all. He almost took a step towards the figure but something made him frown.

There were deep gashes in Beat's coat. His clothing was torn. The Heartless must have gotten past his powerful attacks.

"Hey, you're hurt. I can heal you if you want." He knew Adam could handle much worse, after all when they had just met Adam had been injured but had carried on and protected him, but that didn't mean he wanted his friend to remain in pain.

[twisted_face]

Beast lowered his head and defensively took a step back when the boy began to talk. A feral growl trickled out of his mouth. No expressions of recognition were visible. An unseen dark aura danced around him in the air. His hackles rose and his patience was waning.

Yeah, he could use some help, couldn't he?

[noster_nostri]

Sora's blue eyes narrowed.

"Adam?" he asked. Something was seriously wrong with his friend.

Despite himself Sora raised the Keyblade, ready to defend himself if need be.

[twisted_face]

Beast stepped to the side and began circling the boy, like a shark looking for the best place to take a bite.

Adam now could hear that voice all too clear, but he couldn't tell where it was coming from. The light that had been so far off was now surrounding him from all angles, dim but there. "Sora?" he called out.

Without much warning, Beast lunged, aiming to take the boy down quickly.

[noster_nostri]

Sora was quicker than that. The pacing had been enough to let him know to be alert. Even more because the Beast had ignored his feeble attempt to reach him again by calling his name.

He flipped up and out of harm's way before the Beast could make contact.

When he landed on the ground he had the Keyblade up but he didn't attack.

Adam was his friend. He had been there when Riku had ripped the Keyblade from his hands. He had helped to protect Kairi in Hollow Bastion. Their hearts where connected and Sora tried desperately to call on that connection. It had to still be there, Adam had to still be there.

"I don't want to fight you, Adam!" he said, even as he prepared to escape from those massive claws again.

[twisted_face]

Beast immediately turned once the boy jumped away, his claws bared and ready to tear into real flesh and bone. Sora's words and the presence of the Keyblade did nothing to deter him. This enemy had to be defeated. His territory had to be protected.

What? Fight?

[noster_nostri]

Sora dodged again and screamed Adam's name, trying to reach him. His heart reached out, begging for some sign of his friend.

Despite the raging monster Sora did not attack. He spent all of his energy getting out of the way. Beast's attacks were wide and strong, if he slipped up even a little he would get injured pretty badly.

[twisted_face]

His large body possesing more speed than one would think, Beast was able to quickly regroup each time he missed and his claws met nothing but thin air. Though Sora's pleas fell deaf on Beast's ears, someone somewhere was listening.

Suddenly, Adam was no longer dazed and placated in this strange, dreamlike place. He could hear his friend, Sora, calling out his name with desperate urgency. He knew now the direction it was coming from and he ran for it, calling back, trying to let his friend know that help was on the way.

Becoming ever more aggravated by his prey's flighty escapes, the monster gathered his strength and energy and let out a terrifying roar - the kind meant to stun his enemies just long enough for him to take advantage.

[noster_nostri]

The sound shocked Sora. It rattled his bones in a wave that swept over him. His fingers gripped the Keyblade tightly, clinging to it as the only source of solid comfort, as the rest of his body rippled like the point where a stone is thrown into still water.

For a moment he was completely defenseless.

[twisted_face]

Just as it was intended, it gave the monster an opportunity to finally land his blows on the enemy. His massive paw came down, aiming for his victim, with enough force to knock several men off their feet.

Adam shuddered and fell to his knees with force. He was finding it difficult to breathe all of a sudden.

[noster_nostri]

CRACK.

Something inside of him broke. He was sure of it. The claws cut into his body, and forced out blood. The Keyblade fell from his hands and clattered to the ground with a loud sound before it disappeared in a shower of sparkle and light.

His body didn't have the benefit of disappearing after it hit the ground. His landed rather ungracefully on the cold, hard castle floor. He felt like he should have been made of glass and should have shattered into millions of tiny pieces.

He cried out in pain and the sound echoed off the walls of the room.

His heart still reached out for his friend. Grasping for the connection, to reach him before it was too late.

[twisted_face]

Standing over him, Beast prepared to finally destroy this nuisance. One clawed hand gripped Sora's head, while the other supported his own weight. He was going to crush his head in, and be done with him once and for all.

Trembling, Adam rose to his feet despite the suffocating air. Sora was in trouble. He knew it. He looked around and for the first time it occured to him that this was entirely incorrect. Something was terribly wrong. His heart stirred within his chest, and he reached for the light still alive and well. He shouted Sora's name at the top of his lungs, somehow loud and clear when his breath should have been too short to make a sound.

For no apparent reason, the monster jerked back a step, as though something had struck him. The great beast shook his head in an effort to free his mind of whatever demons were plagueing him.

[noster_nostri]

Sora felt the pressure on his head leave and slowly he stood up. One of his arms hung uselessly at his side. The other soon was holding the Keyblade. Even before the light for it's appearance showed Sora moved the blade up and said, "Heal." A yellow light came from the weapon and entered him. It mended the bones that had been broken and let him hold the Keyblade with both hands.

His face was deadly serious and even though his heart was still open, waiting for his friend, he knew that if Beast didn't snap out of this state he could not allow the monster to survive.