A New Story Begins[open]

[raive]

Bartz nodded and readied the gun. But Bartz couldn't keep the shock out of his eyes as...

"Orabaria!"

A shimmering, purple barrier appeared and blocked the flaming spears the Heartless had launched. The ground shook and threatened to keep Bartz off-balance, but he simply jumped out of the radius to avoid it. Bartz saw the Heartless's claw open in an attempt to grab him, but Bartz simply rolled away, firing the gun all the while. He continued to fire, jumping, dodging and weaving out the grasping claws and fireballs.

However, Bartz was getting tired. His last dodge was almost too late as the roiling ball of flame passed within mere inches of his body. He could feel the heat, could feel the intensity.

But Bartz knew that this was a fight he must win. Gun blazing, Bartz kept firing a relentless stream of bullets, reloading every once in a while as needed. Since the bullets were limitless (they came from his life energy) he could keep firing.

Bartz suddenly remembered as Lucario called out to him. "Now, Bartz!"

Bartz gritted his teeth and willed Terra Branford's spell to home in on Lucario's okatana. The glowing spheres of light flew from his outstretched hand into the smoke somewhere behind the Heartless. Bartz knew that the battle had turned luck-based now; if Lucario missed on his attack, they would both be finished.

[lucario]

The heartless eyes widened as the gunfire from Bartz machine gun began to fire. The bullets began to fly through the heartless tearing it into holes but they slowly began to fill in with more darkness. The heartless was soon pushed back and kept back up as it summoned a wall of rock up to protect it's self. The wall was a foot thick this time showing that the heartless as well was getting tired. Now it's body became engulfed in fire and focused all it attention onto Bartz. This heartless was not like the others since it was showing intelligence. The heartless then looked to its right and to its left when it heard a whistle.

Lucario had his okatana drawn. He dropped into a partial crouch, both knees bent, left arm drawn back and right extended forward; he grasps the kashira (endcap of the tsuka, or hilt) of his sword with his left hand and rests the tips of the fingers of his right hand (usually the thumb) on the blade near its tip. The Lucario gave a smirk as he was going to use this attack to its full strength. It appeared that Lucario vanished but he was using the true speed of the Gatotsu. As he ran towards the heartless he thrust-ed his left arm forward and suddenly his the wind began to be separated around his body. As he neared the blade pierced the heartless straight into the chest. Lucario then focused his aura in his feet and released it all at once.

The heartless was impaled by the okatana and flew back. As it hit the wall the blade went into the rock wall it raised but then shattered as Lucario released all the aura in his feet. Lucario pushed the heartless into the other wall impaling it to it. Then Lucario closed his eyes and mumbled something as the spell Bartz cast on the blade was released and it spread in all direction ripping the Heartless to shreds. Lucario pulled the blade out of the wall and spun it around as he put it back in its sheath. He couldn't believe this had actually worked.

Lucario stood straight breathing hard and looked over at Bartz as he began to laugh acting as if this was one huge game to him. Lucario then walked over to him and patter Bartz on the back gently. He was impressed with out a doubt at how this kid was able to hold his own against a powerful heartless such as this one. Then it occurred to Lucario that he never gave his name. Well since he hadn't he figured he'd mess with Bartz just to lighten the mood.

'Well kid you earned this much. My name is Valentinez Alkalinella Xifax Sicidabohertz Gombigobilla Blue Stradivari Talentrent Pierre Andri Charton-Haymoss Ivanovici Baldeus George Doitzel Kaiser III.. don't hesitate to call. "

That name was a joke of course. Lucario still was playing around and acted as if nothing had just happened. This was one of Lucarios best traits always seeing the best in all situations. He then leaned against the wall. Looking at Bartz wound. It didn't look fatal but it still needed to be tended to. He stood straight and reached into his pocket pulling out what little munny he had left and walked over to Bartz handing it to him.

"Here go get your-self patched up. Here I'll escort you to the shop I went to earlier. So you don't get hurt. So tell me Bartz tell me where you learned to fight like that. I'll say this I am impressed with our skills."

[raive]

Bartz let out a relieved sigh as the Heartless was torn to shreds by the sheer force of his and Lucario's combined attacks. Bartz stumbled a bit, still feeling icy cold from the wounds, but something that a potion might fix. Bartz took one out of his bag and gulped the contents down, sighing in relief as the bleeding stopped and the wounds began to scab over. They would probably scar. The memories of that encounter would stay with him forever, as would the scars.

Bartz blinked at the man's name, but quickly figured out it was a joke and laughed along with him. "Very funny, old timer. You could have been a warrior of Cosmos. Why she didn't pick you along with everyone else, I cannot fathom... I mean, you have great style and flair with your attacks. Kind of like someone else I know... or..."

Bartz thought of that mysterious, red-clad man with multiple arms. "Now that guy had flair..." Bartz muttered to himself.

Bartz looked up, listening to Lucario's question. "Well, old timer, I'm a master Mimic where I come from - I can copy anyone's weapon and style, but it's limited; for example, I can't learn from anyone who has a truly evil intent. I just can't. I don't know why, but it hasn't hindered me. I guess you can call me a jack-of-all-trades in terms of fighting style."

Bartz held up the machine gun before he threw it up in the air and it disappeared. "That gun took me a while to figure out how to use it correctly. That was the first real fight I used it in."

Bartz refused the money. "What, that all you have left? I'm not going to rob you, old man. Don't worry. I have some money myself. And see?" He gestured to his chest wounds, which had already scabbed over. "Gotta tell ya, though, I'll probably need some new clothes. Know any place where I can get some around here?"
Bartz nodded at the man's offer of escort. "Sure, I'll take you up on that. Lead the way." Bartz looked up at the sky. Not a bad night, and not so bad for the wear.