Kingdom Hearts - Blades of Three Realms

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

Roveth and Axel seem to be sizing each other up with 'serious faces' for about a few minutes while Roxas and Xion talked to crystal, before the scrunching of their faces made each other laugh and just give up on going at each other before Roveth finally spoke up "if anything, it gives me a way to spook her whenever i feel in the mood and i see her plenty distracted, like she was when Xion had spooked her." he said, shrugging, while Axel just watched the two worrying over Crystal, before getting up and smirking "well, i'll fix the food then, come on Shiro, need your help too." he said, before dragging the light-half into the kitchen, who didn't even resist since he usually -liked- cooking, and Roveth of course just went back to his book, before pulling out the Dimensional Grid and idly waving it in Crystal's direction "managed to upgrade it a bit, but this thing is definitely intensely complicated, so it'll take more time studying machines and high technology before i can continue working on it. for being such 'ancient' tech it is -very- surprising."  

[[XIII] Roxas]

"Right, so in that case I'm really going to have to do a better job of keeping my head clear," Crystal said in response to the looming threat of Roveth attempting to spook her in the future. She didn't think it was really that funny. Although she did relax a bit once Roveth brought out the Dimensional Distortion Grid. "Someone definitely went to a lot of trouble to make it, but whoever it was didn't leave any instructions behind. So, what did you manage to find out?"

While Crystal was chatting with Roveth about the Dimensional Distortion Grid, Xion remained on Roxas's case. "Come on, Crystal definitely needs someone to talk to about whatever it is she's going through and you're obviously really worried too. We've all seen the way you look at her when she's acting all distant and out of sorts."

"You don't think she'd have an easier time talking to you or maybe Shiro about it?" Roxas continued to protest.

"Shiro is wrapped up in his own complicated head space so he doesn't make a very good conversation partner," Xion pointed out. "And besides, it seems like she has an easier time to talking to you anyway."

"Yeah, I wonder, why is that?" Roxas began to puzzle over that thought.

"If I knew that do you think we'd be having this conversation?" Xion countered.

"Good point," Roxas shook his head. "It still seems a bit weird though."

"You two do realize I can still hear you talking about me, right?" Crystal spoke without even glancing over at them.  

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

Roveth hummed a bit "well, i managed to get it to update info into a translated version for worlds you have already visited either alone or with Shiro, and i found odd pathways that connected the worlds, and those still beyond them, though those are still undecipherable at this point. as for the paths themselves, i need to study more on the quantum physics of dimensional travel in order to figure them out, but it also showed old pathways that are now closed off at this point, called the 'Lanes Between', but these original paths i'm still looking into. i also noticed it show oddly enough a white colored bee-line path towards 'A Bleached World' from El Nido archipelago... i think that's a recorded path using Shiro's Corridor of Light technique." he said, humming "not to mention the paths we've taken via Corridors of Darkness are on the grid too."  

[[XIII] Roxas]

Crystal would have taken back the grid to see for herself what changes had been implemented. "Well, being able to read at least some of the details is a monumental improvement. And it doesn't look like there are any major distortions on any of the nearby worlds, although I'll bet before we took care of the Unversed this world would have been flashing on high alert." She pocketed the Dimensional Distortion Grid. "Thank you, Roveth, this might even actually prove useful now that we can read some of the information it outputs."

Crystal then turned her attention back to Roxas and Xion on the basis that they were both showing way too much interest in her troubles at the moment. "It isn't exactly a secret that I have a dark and troubled past. It's just that there are certain things about it that haunt me more than others. I meant it when I said I wasn't anyone important. It wasn't exactly glamorous being a princess. All that mattered to anyone, with the exception of my elder brother and my guardian, the rogue captain of the royal guard, was whether or not I could be used for my power as a summoner. I was proficient in magic from a very early age and chosen to become a crystal bearer of the goddess of light, Cosmos, which also drastically boosted my affinity for being a summoner. In fact, I became so gifted at it so quickly that the other children were afraid of me. I went behind the backs of the royal court to learn the ways of the sword and eventually found myself an apprenticeship under a renowned Keyblade Master. When I joined the Keyblade Union it was the first time I met anyone who didn't immediately fear me. But it was too good to last. So... if it seems like I don't always know how to connect with people it's because friendship was always an uphill battle for me and even after all that I've been through in this much more accepting era, I still sometimes find myself at odds with myself over whether or not I'm really doing the right thing by being here. I know better than anyone that I'm far from perfect and I don't have all the answers. But, I can safely say that Riku was wrong about me being one of those 'pure hearts'. Mine was honed into pure light to make me useful as a weapon and not for the benefit of the world."

"So that means when you told me before about how even the light can be misused in the wrong hands, you were speaking from experience, weren't you?" Roxas was shocked, to say the least, by this new revelation.

"Well, that might very well have been the case for me if I hadn't been so recklessly rebellious throughout my childhood," Crystal admitted. "That part of my attitude, being too free-spirited and stubborn to control, hasn't changed one bit."

"That explains the personal vendetta against anyone who manipulates others to fulfill their own ambitions," Roxas realized. "And why you especially seem to hate Master Xehanort."

"It's amazing you've been able to keep all that bottled up inside," added Xion.

Crystal scratched behind her ear while looking embarrassed. "Well, acting childishly is how I've managed to uphold some semblance of normalcy to keep myself sane, relatively speaking, and I also had mental barriers in place to shield myself against the weight of my own emotions. But, of course, I broke those down when I forced my way down into my subconscious, which I have no regrets about, but now I'm dealing with the consequences of my own actions so it's really been my burden to carry. Old memories are rising to the surface. Memories," she added a little more sadly, "of people I lost and who back then meant the most to me."

Oh man, and there go the waterworks. Xion was pretty quick on the uptake at this point at least so there wasn't any need for shoving to happen to make with the hugging already. Although she did think to drag Roxas along as well since he wasn't catching on quickly enough and all.  

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

Roveth thankfully kept quiet, and just let things happen, proceeding to continue reading his book, sure, he'd love blackmail ,but blackmail made from this? not worth it in his opinion, so hed' leave it be and instead resumed his focus on reading about Magitech gear and items, to continue soaking in all he can about technology and all.  

[[XIII] Roxas]

Crystal's natural progression was to shift from feeling sad to feeling annoyed and embarrassed at herself. "Geez, get a grip, you are not supposed to be freaking out and breaking down like this," Crystal would be muttering to herself.

"Here's an idea, how about you save the wanting to beat yourself up over this for once you're actually feeling better," Roxas suggested. Really, as bewildering as this all was for him, it was also something of a relief to finally see this side of Crystal. She was always acting so strong willed and seemed to lack any sense of vulnerability and that really struck him now as being somehow very wrong.

"We're all friends here, right? So you don't have to keep holding back," added Xion.

Crystal seemed to calm down after that. Usually when she probably really needed someone or something to hang onto she was left grasping at air and would have had to dig deep into her own willpower to beat back the sense of solitude and isolation that it brought, but at the moment that was damn well impossible. And you know what? It helped. A lot. Crystal had to wonder at herself why she always felt like that was such a bad thing. To rely on others for support, to reach out when she was feeling down. Entirely too often she was hellbent on keeping those sorts of feelings to herself. Was it for her own benefit? Clearly it wasn't. Then for Shiro? Maybe. He wasn't exactly the touchy-feeling-hugging type.

"Fine, you win, just this once I'm not going to fight," Crystal decided that the best way to feel comfortable with this arrangement was simply not to think too hard about it. Her subconscious might try to make her feel awkward or bad about it later, but her subconscious was going to be getting swift kick in the face if it tried to pull that bullshit on her again at a time like this.

"And here we thought Shiro was the broken one," Roxas observed. "But you're both in pretty bad shape."

"Which is why I generally try not to think about it," Crystal interjected out of protest.

"I get that, but you should really be looking out for yourself too, don't you think?" Roxas pointed out.

"I think maybe sometimes I could use a friendly reminder," Crystal admitted quietly. "Because I know I don't always seem to remember."

"Well, now seems like a good time to start," noted Xion.

"Anyway, I wonder what's taking Axel and Shiro so long with preparing lunch," Roxas decided to change the subject. "I mean, shouldn't it be ready by now?"

"That's a good point," Crystal went from reasonably relaxed to being slightly more rigid and very red in the face at the mere thought that Shiro and Axel might see them like this. Even if it was totally innocent, being caught in yet another hugging pile with Roxas and Xion was definitely cause for further embarrassment. What can I say? Crystal really can't seem to control her blushing reflex.  

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

Roveth had looked up from his reading with a raised eyebrow, beforel ooking back to his book "trust me Roxas, you have- no- idea how distorted my idiot light is, then again, surviving his world's death without memories of it and growing up with all the troubles he's had, not including losing many people around him before he met Crystal? trust me, there is something inherently wrong with Shiro, but at the same time i wouldn't change him, as that might break him even further." he then smirked "though i wonder if this hug-pile thing you three got going on is gonna be a tradition whenever one of you three have mental breakdowns, cause it is cute, and blackmail worthy, in a 'kicked puppy' fashion."  

[[XIII] Roxas]

"Well, as much as I don't always appreciate being floored by them, I really don't mind hugs," Crystal responded while giving a quick glare in Roveth's direction. "A good hug can solve a lot of problems. A pile of hugs is sometimes even better. But it can be kinda embarrassing when there are other people watching."

"Well, we probably won't be making much of a habit out of this regardless," noted Roxas. "I mean, this was pretty spur of the moment." At this point the three of them were finally attempting to get back on their feet.

"I'm just glad it helped," Xion mentioned with some relief.

"Like I said, a good hug can fix a lot of problems," Crystal responded. "When you send positive feelings to people you care about and they receive those feelings, then it's only natural that something good should come of it. I mean, sure, I'm still going to feel sad for a while, but now at least I don't feel like I have to face it alone anymore."

"Anyway, we should probably go check up on Axel and Shiro to see what is taking so long," Roxas suggested. That, of course, meant heading for the kitchen to find out what exactly those two were preparing that seemed to be taking forever.  

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

just as Roxas mentioned what was taking so long, out came Axel and Shiro, carrying loads of cooked/prepared finger foods, fried chicken, cheese fries, bit of sushi, some soups, sandwiches, so on, all could be seen coming out, clearly making sure they had enough to eat for -all- of them, not including Shiroi Senkou who had snuck some greens from Shiro's back pocket once he passed by the chocobo to put the dishes on the table and all "sorry it took so long, but i had to make sure Axel didn't burn anything like the pyromaniac he is." Axel of course put a hand over his chest "Agh! straight through the heart!" he said dramatically, while Roveth just shook his head with a chuckle.  

[[XIII] Roxas]

"Everything looks great you guys," Xion would assure both Axel and Shiro.

"Thanks Shiro, Axel, you've made a real feast," Crystal added as they started to arrange themselves around the table to start digging in. She noticed that the left sleeve of her silk over-shirt had slid down off her shoulder and tried to adjust it back into place, but it seemed to want to hang loose like that so she gave up after it simply refused to stay. Instead she smiled and laughed it off, with a hint of blushing here and there because she still couldn't quite seem to turn off that reflex for the time being. It wasn't really from embarrassment though. It was more because she was really happy right now.

Roxas was pretty amazed by the whole transformation. Crystal had seemed so sad and lost before, but now she was basically back to her more usual incomprehensible cheerful energy levels which thankfully weren't anything like Sora's. Sora would routinely smother those around him with love and affection, that was definitely true. Crystal's cheerfulness was passive, more of a tangible substance that lingered in the air making the pressure of the world seem lighter somehow. He watched with some amusement as Crystal tried to teach Xion the proper way to open a bottle of Ramune only to fail spectacularly and have the bottle erupt in her face. She didn't miss a beat though as she carried on laughing and grabbed another bottle to try again. It looked like she got it right the second time as the marble slipped down from the seal and the soda stayed in the bottle.

"Oh? Think you can do better?" Crystal grinned as she issued the challenge and held out another bottle to Roxas.

"How hard can it be?" Roxas shrugged and took the bottle.

"If you don't angle it just right, it'll get you," Crystal warned him.

"Okay..." Roxas held the bottle with intense concentration attempting to emulate the method he had watched Crystal employ to get the second bottle open. He applied slightly too much pressure, only partially loosening the marble causing the liquid to fizz and spray into his own face. "Gah!" Roxas called out in alarm. This was harder than it looked. It also got Crystal and Xion laughing again.  

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

Axel had at least stayed away from the ramune bottles and instead grabbed a normal bottle of Dr. Pepper, and used a snap-pop routine via the table edge to pop the cap without needing to do anything overly special and drank some in amusement at the antics of the bottle openers.

Shiro of course took a bottle of Bubble Gum Ramune and mimic'ed Crystal's method while keeping his hand ON the plunger tight enough to wait for the soda to stop fizzing, then he'd take it off and drink as he watched everyone.

Roveth of course popped a can of Monster Java Irish Blend for himself, while sugar is nice and all, he needed something with a bit more kick, so coffee drink was the item of the day for himself as he grinned seeing the soda fails and laughing while eating.  

[[XIII] Roxas]

Once they were finished with the lunch the sticky victims of the Ramune experiment would inevitably need to hit the showers to wash off the soda residue. Crystal would emerge dressed in black jeans and a golden armor textured t-shirt with two crossed swords on the front resembling Ouryuumon's Gairyuu Sadaijin and Gairyuu Udaijin respectively. To be honest, she was kind of hoping to settle in for a nap after showering, but as it turned out Vanitas had plans of his own. Or really, a lack there of planning of any kind as the alarms went off in the Command Center and Vanitas could be seen somewhere in the city beginning to conjure new Unversed to replace the ones that had been destroyed along with the Unversed Colossus.

"I guess he really doesn't want to take a chance that we might bring out that Megazord again," Roxas commented while looking over the viewing monitors.

"And here I thought it might take longer to finally flesh him out again," Crystal also examined the monitors.

Vanitas had taken a canister of deep red spray paint and written over the side of a building 'COME AND GET ME, YOU LOSERS!' making it very clear that he wanted to be found.

"He's being pretty immature, don't you think?" Xion observed as she also came out to meet up with everyone in the main chamber again.

"If he's already throwing a tantrum, then he probably won't be so hard for us to beat," noted Crystal. "Still, we should probably play it safe."

"I know, I know," Roxas waved her down. "I need to back off and let Shiro take point, right? We'll let Shiro get under his skin instead of giving him time to try to get under mine."  

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

Shiro, Axel, and Roveth followed into the main part of the command center as they looked things over, Shiro sighing a bit with a hand reacing up to rub his temples "well, could be worse i guess than vandalism." he said, as Axel nodded to Axel's comments "too true, much as i would love to just have Dragonzord step on Vanitas a few dozen times..." he said, frowning lightly, while Roveth snorted a bit "bit of an understatement Xion, but methinks we killed a few brain cells of his." of course, Shiro looked over to Crystal and Roxas with a whine "oi oi, i didn't sign up for going on point against the brat!" of course, roveth just shook his head and placed a hand on Shiro's shoulders "Aibou, outside of probably Axel Here, as from what we saw, the Sixth Rangers are pretty powerful.. you are the most powerful of us in Ranger form." Shiro just whined at everyone ganging up on him, before giving off a sigh and brought out his morpher, as did Axel and roveth, along with the Super Megaforce Keys "guess its time for Super Mega. Let's Power Up!" he called out, before the three inserted their keys into the morphers and twisted/scanned them, the morphers lighting up "Super Megaforce... Ready!" they shouted out, as they switched into Super Megaforce Red/Blue/Silver respectively, and popped out Legendary Ranger Mode Keys: Mystic Force Red, SPD Emergency Blue, and Mighty Morphin White "Legendary Ranger Mode! Magical Source, Mystic Force! Mighty Morphin'! it's Morpin' Time! Space Patrol Delta, SPD Emergency!" they then inserted new keys (with Axel hitting the proper button for his choice) before they flashed into the Mystic Force Red Ranger, SPD Blue Ranger, and Mighty Morphin' White Ranger, fully ready to go.  

[[XIII] Roxas]

"Sorry Shiro, I'd take Vanitas on myself if I thought I had to, but you've got this," Crystal added. She would of course suit up into the Super Megaforce Yellow Ranger before switching immediately into Legendary Ranger Mode with the Ninjetti Yellow Key. "Don't worry though, we've got your back."

"Let's just make sure we beat him," Roxas agreed. He would morph into the Super Megaforce Green Ranger before using the Samurai Green Key to switch into Legendary Ranger Mode himself.

"At the very least he's going to have a tough time going up against all six of us at the same time," noted Xion. She morphed into the Super Megaforce Pink Ranger and used the Mighty Morphin Pink Key to assume Legendary Ranger Mode.

"Those Unversed might give us some trouble, but so far it doesn't look like he's managed to spawn too many of them," Roxas observed.

"Which means if we hurry we'll have a better edge on him," Crystal nodded.  

[Kuukyo_Fushichou]

Shiro just sighed a bit, before tapping his wrist where the communicator was underneath it, along with Axel and Roveth, before the three teleported off in their respective colors of red/Blue/Silver out of the command center before appearing in the area where Vanitas was, Roveth and Axel taking out their melee weapons and beginning to work on smacking the unversed around at the moment, while Shiro himself appeared behind roxas, and tapped his shoulder with a sarcastic wave "hiya. i see your'e being a sore loser." he quipped, before aiming a punch for Vanitas's face in particular.