//------------------------------// // CH5.2: Spike's Descent // Story: Kingdom Hearts F.I.M: Rise of The Elements // by Spirit Shift //------------------------------//  “TWILIGHT!!” he screamed as he bolted toward the older girls house.  Growing up alone, and unloved one had to become observant of ones surroundings, even in a crisis. The meant that even in his frantic running, he didn't fail to notice the townspeople, their faces…. and their words. He managed to pick out a few key sentences with his keen dragon senses.                 “Served her right......”                                                             “.....Should Not have helped that thing” “Didn't her parents die almost a year ago?”                                    “Did you use enough gasoline?”         “I hope they're both still in there, together, burning”                 “She should have just kept her nose in those books, everyone knows that you don't help that beast!” So that was it. Anger boiled in his chest as he came to 3 different revelations. First he realized that she was in fact an orphan whose’ parents have died a year ago. Secondly, the adults were the ones that set the fire. Third and most alarmingly, it seemed that the entire town seemed to be in on it, because as he ran, he noted that no one else had run toward the fire, and that no one looked even the least bit worried about the young girl probably burning to death. That only made him run faster, because he knew….. He knew that if he slowed down, even a little, he wouldn't be able to stop himself from beating them all down. ~~~~~~~~~~~~         Thanks to the books that Twilight read to him, he knew that even being only half dragon, he was almost completely immune to fire. If it had only been him he’d be fine, but the town just HAD to drag the girl along with him. He faltered for a second, wondering if it was his fault all this happened, he shook it off quickly though. Telling himself that it was her fault, that she brought thin on herself for helping him. He never stopped running to her though, not slowing even a little, even if he couldn't understand why.         Reaching the house, he didn't think twice before jumping through the fire heated windows. Landing on the carpet like a baws he called out to her. “Twilight!” he yelled, waiting for a response he scanned the room with his eyes and thought. “Maybe she got out, maybe I'm here for nothing” Hearing a crash, he quickly tossed that thought aside. Running to where he recognized as the room she had taken him to he saw her. Crawling on the ground trying to gather as many of the books as she could. It stunned him speechless, her entire house was ablaze, but even then she cared about the books.           Taking a split second to snap back to focus he leaped over a few fires to reach her near the corner of the room. “What are you doing, the house is on fire!” he yelled as she grabbed her shoulder. She turned around and looked at him with tears in her eyes.         “You came back” she said with a stunned look, but quickly turned back to the bookshelf that luckily hadn't caught fire yet. Desperately she grabbed some books from the shelf, coughing all the while. She was quickly succumbing to the effects of the smoke, he knew he had to get her out of here. He tried to grab her but she resisted fiercely shoving him back in desperation.         “NO! The books *cough* we have to save them,” she tried to yell but ended up in a coughing fit. She was going to pass out soon….or die. He didn't have time for this, it didn't affect him, but he could tell that it was getting hotter in here by the amount of fire. He had to get her out, but she wouldn't leave the books, growling in frustration, he acted without thinking. Running over to the nearby window he quickly pushed it open. Running back to the girl who still tried in vain, he grabbed her already built pile, and tossed it out the window. Twilight watched in tears, but before she could protest she passed out. Acting quickly he grabbed the entire book case that held the remaining books. Even with his dragon strength, the weight of a large book shelf taxed his muscles, but he did it he tossed it out the window, safe from the roaring flames. Mustering up the last of his strength he grabbed the limp body of Twilight and jumped out himself.         Huffing and puffing and out of energy, he dragged himself and Twilight to a safe distance up the hill from the burning house, making sure to not be seen by any of the townspeople for obvious reasons. Setting her down on the grass just outside of town, he looked over Twi to make sure that she was ok. There were some scrapes and some burns, but no serious injuries, her hands looked like they suffered the most damage, probably from braving flames for those stupid books. Something caught his eye however, a symbol on her forehead, if she were standing it’d be hidden by her bangs but laying down like she was currently, it was plain for all to see. It looked like a purple star with 6 points. “So she’s a mage then.” he thought. He knew from fighting mages that their symbol on their foreheads were the sign that they could harness their magic, while most could only cast small spells like levitation, some could cast advanced spells like teleportation.         He noticed her eyes slowly open and glance around, they saw the burning house, then landed on his face. She broke out in a large bright toothed smile. “You came back…..see you're not….…….a….. beast” she managed to mumble before succumbing to the hands of sleep         He could only sit and stare at her, then back to the burning house behind them. Finally, he just sighed and decided to lie down next to her. “Whatever….. nerd.” he mumbled before falling asleep himself. ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fluttering her eyes open, Twilight instantly analyzed her surroundings, she saw the sky, so she wasn't in her house. Thinking hard she remembered fire…... books burning and..... “Dragon boy!” she sat up quickly and looked back and forth.         “What?” he called out from behind her, sounding annoyed at the nick name. Quickly turning around, she stared at him in disbelief then at the smoking house behind him. Many questions ran through her head, but only one made it through her mouth. “What happened to the books, I don’t remember anything after seeing you at the door.” she confessed.         “I threw them out the window.” he replied simply, still staring out at the sky.        “YOU WHAT!” she screeched. Quickly sitting up he spaced a hand over her mouth and the other held a finger to his lips.         “Shhhhh, look…” he said gesturing over to the house. “Closely” he whispered. Following his arm, Twilight looked back to the now smoking house, looking closer she saw that people were just now gathering around the burnt place, inspecting the wreckage. Seeing only a few people but no firemen or police, Twilight, to her credit, put two and two together fairly quickly. “A...are they the ones who set the fire?” she turned and whispered to the boy next to her. He nodded slowly. “B..But w..why would they do that.?” she stammered, tears watering her eyes. Turning, he met her violet eyes with his own slit emerald ones, wearing a very serious expression. “It’s because you helped me, stood up for me when I was attacked. I'm a beast and everyone knows it, you doomed yourself the moment you helped me.” “Hahahahahaha…..” what started out as a small barely held snicker, turned into a laugh that had her rolling on the grass. He just sat there in stunned silence, why was she laughing, did she not understand the consequences, did she inhale too much smoke? Finally calming down she tried to wipe her eyes a begin “Sorry, its just what you said sounded like it came from a really badly written story. You're not a monster, or a beast, you just saved me from my own burning house. You said you were going to leave tow, but you came back for me. You're a good guy. You even took the time to save……... my……. books” In that moment something seemed to click in her mind. She stood up and grabbed his shoulders. “You said you threw all of the books out the window right, so that means that they were saved from the fire right? ALL OF THEM!?” Nodding dumbly he pointed toward the part of the house closest to them, towards the pile of mostly unburnt books and bookshelf. “Yea….over-” he couldn't finish as Twilight instantly rushed off in the direction that he pointed. “Wait the adults will see you” he called out as he chased after her. Reaching her just as she dove into the pile, he hastily looked from side to side, currently they thought that they were both dead, but if they saw them hear they would probably resort to more……. direct measures. Seeing that they were currently checking the front of the how it seemed that they were safe for the moment. “What are you doing?” he hissed. “Looking…” she replied numbly. Eventually she surfaced with a book that she held in her arms so closely that he thought it might burst like a balloon. She turned to him with tears in her eyes, and before he could blink she grabbed him, instincts kicking in he almost flipped her in defense, before he realized that this wasn't a tackle, not even a push. She wrapped her arms around him and started crying into his shoulder. “It’s called a hug,” she said, guessing that he never heard of that word either. She’d be right as no one had ever had the courage to hug him like this. It felt weird…...but nice, and warm like the bed she had him sleep in…. he liked it. He wrapped her in his own arms in return. “Ok, but why?” “Its another way of thanking someone…... so thank you!” she said, not lifting her head. “Alright, but why are you thanking me.” “You saved this?” she said, finally letting him go and holding up what looked like an old, tattered book.         “Your book? Man you really are a nerd aren't you?” he replied with a slight smirk.         She puffed out her cheeks in anger and stomped her foot. “I’m not a nerd, why does everyone call me that? Anyway, this is my family journal” she said, anger subsiding. She gazed down at the book with sad eyes. “Its the only thing i have left to remember them, all the pictures we took, all the spells they wanted me to learn, and even the songs and stories that the sang and read to me at night. They're all in this book.” She finished rubbing the cover.        “Was that what you were trying to save when I came in?” he asked curiously.        Looking back up she nodded. “Yes, when the fire started I panicked and decided to try and save all of the books, seems kind of stupid now I guess.” she said with a slight giggle.         “It’s ok, if I had something like that I would risk my life for it too.” he said with a comforting smile. This seemed to shock Twilight as she stared back up at him and took a step forward.         “Wait... you don't have ANY family? Anywhere?” she said some sadness and more than a little curiosity.         “I guess dragons….. or halflings mature quickly, because I've been caring for myself as long as I can remember.” he said, not trying to meet her eyes head on.         They stood there for a few minutes, Twilight looked like she was thinking hard about something, and he just wanted to get away from this location. He began to think about whether or not his backpack was where he left it. He did run off without any forethought, but then Twi suddenly spoke up.         “I’ll go with you….” she said with conviction.        This shocked him into meeting her eyes….. big mistake as seeing her determined eyes made it harder for him to deny her request? “No...no way, I won’t protect you the whole way, and even if i could I prefer to be alone!”        Twilight just stood there defiantly, so serious her cheeks didn't even puff out. “I can protect myself, my mom taught me defense spells, and the ones she didn't teach me are in this book.” she said as she once again held out her Family journal for him to see. I'm going with you and that's final. She said as she turned back to her pile of books to fish some more out.         He just stood there dumbstruck at this development. “What? Why do you want to come with me? You’d be leaving everything behind, you will never be able to come back here! We may even die out there!” he said after regaining his senses.         Twilight replied in a calm voice, not even turning around from her scavenging. Her voice was calm yes, but it also held great sadness. “Because I have the same reason as you now. I don't have any family, any friends, or even a house to stay in anymore. The entire town thinks that we’re dead so there’s no place for me here.” She looked back at him with a huge smile. “So ill go with you as your older sister.”        This one threw him for a loop as he managed to look even more dumbstruck than before. Almost forgetting himself he nearly yelled. “Since when are you my older sister!?”         Still smiling she jumped out with what looked like the dragon book from before. “Since just now, and to make it official I’ve decided to even give you a name.” Looking near the end of the book, Twilight picked out a specific word and showed it to him. “Says here that a common dragon name is Spike, so I’ll call you that from now one.         Despite himself he couldn't help but admit to himself that he rather liked that name…. Spike…. yeah that sounded tough. Kinda sounds like a dogs name, but he shrugged that one off. Looking back at Twilight he could see her eyes literally shining as she leaned low and stared up at him with it. He knew he was losing this fight, eventually after a fierce inner battle he gave in. Older sister indeed. Bowing his head low he just sighed. “Fine….do whatever you want….. thanks for the name though.”         Shrieking in glee she jumped up and down and grabbed him into a hug once more. Panicking Spike looked around to see if anyone heard them, and of course some kid peaked around the corner and screamed for the others.         “GUYS! THEY ARE ALIVE! OVER HERE!” the kid screamed at the top of his lungs, alerting the adults. Both of them head the large amounts of footsteps in coming.         Twilight released Spike and blushed in embarrassment. “Oops…..” Spike only proceeded to face palm fiercely as he groaned in annoyance.         “Lets go, sis.” he ordered. Grabbing Twilight's arm, and taking one of her two books in his other one, they ran to the edge of town towards where Spike left his pack. They had to run into and out of various streets and alleys in order to lose the mob behind them. Eventually they found it, his pack, lying on the ground at the city limits. Huffing and puffing they sat together for a few minutes to catch their breath.         “So…*huff* what did you…*puff* pack?” Twilight managed to get out.         “Mostly stolen food, most of the stalls were empty, guess we know why now.“ he attempted to joke, successfully getting a giggle out of her. “Some water and a tent with some blankets.” he finished, having caught his breath a bit before Twilight did.         Finally catching her breath she looked at him in relief. “Good then that means we have some supplies until the next town.” Getting up and patting down her dress, she grabbed her books, both the dragon book and the Family journal. Spike looked at her carrying the books and motioned for her to hand them over. She complied and he stuffed them into his bag.         “You ready?” He asked her as he turned back to the city that they both hated.         She did the same but her gaze lasted a bit longer, as unlike Spike she did have some happy  memories, and some even worse than Spikes own. “Yes, I'm ready, lets go.” And at that, they took their first few steps into the new chapter of their lives. The lonely orphan, and the outcast halfling. They began the day as strangers, and now they left the town as brother and sister. The world’s a strange place like that.         Over time, the duo soon became a trio as eventually they came across a lost southern, earthan girl about the same age as themselves. She had been abandoned by her own parents during a stampede, so they decided to let her come with them. After passing through another town they heard from the townsfolk about a strange avian girl with rainbow hair. She wasn't hated like Spike, but she was even more shunned than himself. Feeling a kind of kinship with this strange girl Spike decided to beat up some kids that were making fun of her behind her back. Eventually they came back as a group, but this time Spike and the rainbow haired girl fought side by side much to Twilight's displeasure and the cowgirl’s amusement.         During the fight Spike became fast friends with the girl and asked her to come with them, she gladly accepted. Finishing the fight, they got themselves fixed up and left the town with one more person in tow. Twilight even tried to make a few jokes about how they seemed to have just about every race with them. Entering the forest, the group began to get more and more lost. Every tree looked the same and every animal looked equally dangerous.         Especially when they came across a large bear, easily three times the size of the group. Just as they got ready to fight, a timid looking, pink haired avian girl jumped from the bushes and stopped them from doing so. Easily calming the bear, and sending it away, she told the group that she lived in the forest with the animals for about 4 years now. Showing them her cottage, the group decided to stay for a while. Quickly becoming friends the girls all had a great time with one another. Only after 3 days, and constant signals from the girl, they realized that she wanted to go with them. She was just too shy and timid to say so properly.         At some point while traveling, a strange earthan pink haired, extremely energetic girl, wandered into their group with her own back pack. No one even noticed that she had integrated in with the group at first, until she broke out into song during the walk, dragging them all into it. Much to their confusion. They liked the girl, however, and because they enjoyed her company and personality, they allowed her to stay.         Finally coming across a small town, the group of 6 decided that this was a good place to stop and make a home. The first person they say was a well dressed young mage girl who gasped at Twilight's patched dress and disheveled hair. Quickly grabbing her, the group had been forced to chase them to the girls home where she quickly gave her a make up and new clothes. Grateful the two mages hit it off instantly, mostly due to the girl having many fashion related books to share.        So from then on the 7 of them became inseparable, always hanging out, and always smiling. Sometimes Spike would sit out at night and think. Think about his current life, he had friends, actual friends. But even more than that….he had family, he had a sister. This brought a large smile to his face every time he thought about it.         Even now as he reached his destination. A large black and white castle near the edge of the void, the space between worlds. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8 Years later   “They’re on the move…” a strange figure cloaked in darkness spoke out to Spike who stood on one knee in respect. “They’ll be headed to their first world now. You know what you have to do.” They finished. "Yes” Spike said monotonically as he stood up and left without another word. His black shirt with the green flame contrasting against the whitish gray that surrounded them.       Alone in the hallway the figure silently chuckled to themselves. “Yes, Spike, it’s time for a reunion. This may be the first time you've left this castle. Who knows what kind of effect it will have on you, however… spending 8 full years in Castle Oblivion that is...”