Chapter 1 - The Fight.

I shielded my eyes from the late spring sun. It bathed all of Battle Park in a crimson red. It would have been pretty except for one thing. The thug dressed in all black across the clearing. That, and the fact that my girlfriend and my best friend were watching. Plus my girlfriend’s girl friend was refereeing this match. All three of them would get to see me get my @$$ kicked by the giant kid.
This wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Mrs.Fascamp. I’m getting a D+ in her class, (Advanced Battle Tactics) for no other reason than that she doesn’t like my brother. That’s a whole different story though.
She assigned me three hours of on call fighting time in Battle Park for the four-day weekend. I was instructed to pursue anyone else that wanted a fight. No matter what level they were. Ugh. She didn’t care that I had plans, or that I had a Life!! No. Now I’m here, at the last half of my three hours, on the last half of my weekend, ready to get beat by this thug. Have I said Ugh??
Shyel (the girlfriends girl friend) called us in closer to her. We both walked over to her and stopped to listen to the rules she was going to lay down.
“No exiting the clearing without forfeiting. No cheap shots. Aka knees and below. Clean match you guys. All right?” We both nodded our heads and she continued, “Two blade changes only. Can’t reuse a Keyblade. And Max. Turn on your recorder. Mrs.Fatcamp will want to see this,” she said, using the un complimentary name that we stuck our teacher with.
Looking at her with my eyebrows raised, I said, “It’s already on,”
Her face screwed up in a grimace and she said, “We’ll edit me out later. Alright, take your positions,” We both marched back to our spots and I pulled out my Hilt. Across the clearing, the thug was doing the same. Where as mine was a shiny silver, his was a dull black. I’m sure there was more on it but I couldn’t see from here. In between us and off to the side, Sheila raised her hand. I squared off in a defensive position, trying to choose a strategy. If his size was anything to go by, physical strength would be out. I’m not the type who knows how strong a persons magic is just by looking at them, but I had a sneaking suspicion that he knew more than most. Even just the way he looked. Complete Org fashion. From the way he knotted his hair up top to the zipper running down the front of his robe. I sighed, knowing I’d have to show off a little to even come close to matching this guys skills. Plus, I needed to show off a little anyway since, come Monday morning, Mrs.Fascamp would be watching along with the rest of the class.
“On three. One. Two. Three!!” Shyel shouted. On three I yanked my Standard Keyblade Charm from my Charm holder clipped to my jeans. I attached the simple M on the chain at the end of my Hilt. I waited, feeling the power building. I watched my opponent across the clearing as he attached his own Charm to his Hilt. Where I had chosen the most basic Blade I had, the one we were all given on our eleventh birthday, he had chosen something much fancier. Where as mine simply chinked into existence, his bent the light around him. It cast purple and black shadows around him, making him look dangerous. I started towards him at a cautious speed, hoping that the display was just for show.
His blade finished forming, curving to a wicked point. Mine had no curve to it, used for more practice than anything else. He shouldn’t have been using anything stronger than a level three blade, considering mine was level one. His looked to be about a Lvl, 5
I increased my pace, wishing I’d have taken advantage of his Key forming. Oh well.
As I got close, he grinned “Well Blondie. Ready to party?” he asked.
“Only if it’s Tango,” I said randomly. He grinned even wider. I swung for his head while he was distracted. He ducked just in time. I followed his body with my stroke as he rolled away.
“Hey, that’s not fair.” The guy said as he jumped up. He was till grinning as swung in. This time it was my head in danger. I repeated his roll and got up just as fast.
“Stop dancing and fight already!!!” Sosh yelled from the sideline. My girlfriend. Knowing her, she was probably rooting the other guy on.
I spun around half way and yelled,” Fine!! Here goes!!” I ducked as I heard the air whistle behind me.
I quickly unclipped the M from my chain. The blade stayed, knowing it was going to be needed again. I started running as the guy swung again. So far he hadn’t used any magic attacks. That gave me hope as I fumbled to clip my next Charm on. This one was a simple whole note. But it packed a punch that had gotten me bumped up to Advanced Battle two years ahead of everyone else. The dull grey length of the old blade morphed and stretched, splitting into three different strings and a woven fret board. Then the area around my hands wrapped around to make a hand guard in the shape of n electric guitar. The end popped out in the form of a sixteenth note. That was the only thing I could use for Physical battling. The rest was magic.
“Stop running and come back here,” the giant kid said. Did I mention how huge he is? He stood at least four inches above my 5’ 8”. I guess he was out of shape too, because he was panting by now.
“Alright,” I said. “Take this.” Holding the fret board part with my left hand, my middle finger found its mark and I plucked the string from the inside of my blade. A single clear note exploded out into the clearing. I don’t mind the volume, but other people had commented on it, saying that it’s like ten amps on full power, driving into your brain. The other guy acted accordingly. He dropped to his knees and clapped his hands over his ears. His blade dropped to the ground, and he realized his mistake too late. I reached down and scooped it up. Then, in one smooth motion, I unclipped his Charm, a purple bat, from the chain. His blade folded down into the dull black Hilt it had been only minutes before.
“No!! You can’t do that!!” The kid yelled, nearly sobbing. I grinned at the victory. Tossing his Hilt in front of him, Charm included, I held out a hand to help him up.
“Can, will, and did. Besides, look at it this way. At least we weren’t fighting for Blades. Then that little trinket would be mine,” I tried to be upbeat, non cocky. Most of this was for my own grade. Mrs.Fascamp doesn’t allow smack talking.
“Whatever,” The kid said. Jumping up, he grabbed his Hilt and ran away.
“Baby,” I muttered under my breath. Now, I really shouldn’t complain about three hours active. I really do love fighting. It’s just that the teachers the reason I’m out here. That triggers the whole teenage rebelliousness that parents always complain about. Thank god mine are two thousand miles away, at home. Don’t get me started on them.
I heard someone running up behind me. I braced myself as Sosh glomped me from behind. I smiled and reached up with my left hand, non-keybearing, and covered hers with mine. She dropped off my back and spun me around to face her. She stood a little closer than most people would, and I didn’t mind.
“That was sweet. What note was that?” She asked, curiosity shining in her eyes.
“Just a basic B flat. He had really pissed me off by then though, so it came out more than I expected,” I explained, trying to not brag. People always freak out about our magic. We use music to focus our power. Not unheard of, but usually only used by people much older and more “Mature” than us.
“He dropped out really fast though. You hadn’t even built a chord yet. Have you thought about usi..” she started, on the fast track to a ramble, when Mas jumped in. She is one of the most amazing people I know. I’ve known her forever.
“Can you discuss this later?” She asked. Then, gesturing with her hands, she drew our attention outward. All along the edges of the clearing there were people watching. That note really had been loud. I checked my Com.Device. On the little outside screen it said three people wanted a battle. I sighed. That one battle had only been the beginning. I flipped it open. I opened up the first request. The chick was at Lvl. 22. Me, at Lvl. 32, wasn’t even in her league. But it would make me look good, and I could really use the Exp. I hit accept and waited for the reply. All of the sudden, this one girl shrieks and runs out of the crowd. Must be my opponent. As she ran towards us, I sized her up. Shortish, blonde, she had a simple look to her. She was trying to snap her Charm onto her purple Hilt as she ran. I laughed as I connected that to what I had just been doing. Seeing her trying to do that, I was reminded that my blade was stuck as Joymaker. Stupid name, I know. But my brother, Judson, made it or me. He was the one I learned my magic from. He’s the only family I have around here.
I quickly traded Charms and watched as Joymaker became M.
My Standard Keyblade is aptly named. Modeled after the Kingdom Key Sora and King Mickey carry around like all Standard Keys, instead of a crown type thing on the end, there was a large M.
As M chinked back into existence, the girl reached us. She looked up with huge eyes. I guess she’d recognized me. “Are you really Maxile? From the Rumble at the beginning of last summer? I have that last fight recorded,” She ran on just like Sosh and Me do. I instantly liked her.
“Yah. I am. And this is my girlfriend, Sosh. What’s your name?” I had emphasized the girlfriend, and her face fell a little bit.
“Sophie Trebuckle. I was wondering if you could take it easy on me. I just have to have proof I met you. A recorded battle would be great,” her moment of disappointment gave way to her naturally bubblyness quickly. I guess the prospect of showing off to her friends was too much to stay sad.
“Sure. Just promise me you won’t post it online.” I was worried, naturally, about someone getting the wrong idea. Maybe thinking that I was advertising myself. Namely, that person would be my brother. He hated people who posted themselves, trying to get people to swarm around their Scapeway accounts.
“Never!!” She sounded affronted at the suggestion. Her eyes were huge again.
Sosh’s hand smacked into my head, and I spun to look at her. “What was that for?” I said, feigning anger, but grinning. She pulled me in close like she was hugging me and said, “Be careful. She’s got a major Pull around her,” She whispered. I nodded into her neck. Pulls were used to influence someone’s emotions.
Remember how I said I wasn’t the kind to see magic? Well, Sosh is. It’s genetic in her family. When Keylund was formed a long time ago, all the worlds that had been destroyed were put back together. Everything left over was brought here. Even people. Time works differently here than everywhere else. So all us kids got born, and the adults are still adjusting. They say that the time leap is slowing down. King Mickey thinks it’s because our world is young. So it’s trying to catch up to all the others.
“Shyel!!” I yelled across the clearing. I noticed with some discomfort that more people were gathering. When Shyel turned around, I yelled, “Do you mind if Sosh Refs this one?”
She waved and gave me a fist pump, meaning yes. She couldn’t yell near as loud as me or Sosh.
Sosh looked confused for a moment, then the realization hit her. She could see if Sophie was trying to pull a fast one on me. I hoisted M onto my shoulder in what I hoped was a cool way, and started off to my end of the clearing once more. I turned just as Sophie did, and I seen something new. Checking my Com. Once to check if I was going crazy or not, and my stomach dropped out. The girl that I’d thought was Sophie had just paged me, wondering why there was someone else on the field. This girl was waving at me from the hill. “Flux!” I swore under my breath. Sophie had played me. And now she was grinning evilly at me. Her teeth glinted in the sun, and I shivered. I could feel the power she was building up. It reminded me of my brother. He was a Lvl. 50. One of three on campus at this point. I gulped loudly. I didn’t know what to do. I was already bound by agreeing to battle. Plus it was recorded on both of our Coms. Sosh seen my look and called us into the center again.
“Alright. So here’s the rules,” Sosh started, but was cut off by Sophie. Her voice hadn’t changed, but she wasn’t the bouncy school girl that had glomped me earlier. Her eye’s were more red, and there were her teeth. They looked familiar. A scene flashed through my head. Me getting a detention slip. From the same person that had assigned me these hours on the park.
“I’m sorry, but I already have the rules draw up. They were given top me by my aunt. Would you like to see them?” she asked sweetly.
Sosh looked bewildered (and sexy in the process I might add) as she took the page from Sophie, Her eyes scanned the page as me and Sophie’s eyes locked. She grinned, and I forced my most random smile onto my face. I even crossed my eyes and giggled insanely, hoping she wouldn’t see the fear knotting in my stomach She wasn’t quite as strong as my brother, but still. I didn’t know how much I could take. Sosh bit her lip, done reading, and handed the paper to me. It was crumpled and folded, but I read the same familiar writing that always sent me to the Dean for punishment. I sucked in a breath at the harsh rules scribbled into the paper. I’ve never liked blue ink. I’m sire you’ll sympathize after you read these rules.
1. Neither combatant may stop moving for more than 5 seconds.
2. Neither combatant may stop attacking for more than 7 seconds.
3. No defensive magic may be used, except for healing spells.
4. Every time one of these rules are broken, the perpetrator must stop moving, and or blocking and attacking, for three seconds.
5. If these rules are broken 5 times, the perpetrator is out.
Signed,
Mexle Fascamp

I bit the inside of my lip until it bled. I licked the wound, tasting the metallic acid of my blood. It calmed me somehow. But I had more important things to do than think about that. I had to deal with an Uber. Most kids would savor the experience. Most Ubers would be gentle and help you learn. I had a feeling this one wouldn’t be so nice. She had grown taller. And older. I wondered what her anomalies were. Emotional stuff for sure. But Illusions? I shuddered. All the other illusionists I know scared the shoot out of me.
“I accept.” I said, much to Sosh’s disproval. But what could I do. This was obviously something Fatcamp had set up herself. Probably felt pretty damn pleased too.
I spun on my heel and started marching to my position again. But I felt someone pull on my sleeve. I turned around. Sosh was holding something out to me. It was one of her Charms. It looked like two half moons aced away from each oher. This is where the two charms go. A splitter. It allowed two Blades to be used at once. We’d been training with it, trying to get better. It seemed like now was when we would lean if I’d practiced hard enough.
Never put down for long, Sosh flashed me a grin. “Good luck,” she said.
I tried a grin in response. It failed miserably. But I threw my shoulders back and marched to my spot. Literally as soon as I’d turned again, Sosh blew the whistle.
I hadn’t paid much attention to Sophie’s Keyblade. Now I registered what it was and my stomach dropped even more, if that was possible. It was located somewhere near my butt at this point.
It wasn;t even a keyblade, In her hands she held two long chains, each at least a yard long. She was lazily spinning one after another. She was moving her lips too. Counting.
“Crap!!” I shouted as I remembered the rules. I ran forward, trying to attach the splitter to my Charm. It was still on M, and I didn’t have anytime to change it. The splitter finally clicked into place, and I was dodging Sophie’s chains. One slammed into the ground next to me. It left a deep gouge in its place. I had a vision of my head in the same state. I ran around in a circle, trying to unclip the Joymaker charm from my pants. I tripped as one of the chains wrapped around my ankle. In a panic, I yelled out. The sound was magnified by my fear, and she flinched. I remembered something Judson had once told me. “We can use all sound. Shouts and screams. Songs and curses. They bend to us like rubber.”
I screamed again, this time imagining it as a sword, cutting into her hands. She slackened the death grip she had on her left chain, and it hit the ground. That’s when I seen it. There was a Charm at the end of the chain. A perfect way to win. Just like with the thug earlier. I lunged for it, but was kicked away. She was counting again, onto four. I had three seconds to attack. I swung M up at her from my place on the ground. She got her right chain around it, and I seen a charm on that one too. She was using a splitter like me. I yanked on the chain and managed to overbalance her a bit. That was all I needed. I snapped Joymaker into place. M started to shake in my hands. A gob slipped out from between the links of the chain, looking like molten metal. The gob fell away and I caught it. It was cold in my hand, and hummed with power. It lengthened and stretched until I was sitting on the ground with two keyblades. But the problem with sitting on the ground is that sometimes, crazy girls with huge chains try to knock your head off.
“Ahh!!” I yelled as a chain swung over my head.
I jumped up, pushing on M to support myself. I then swung at her again with M. She caught it with her right chain, and swung for the attack with her left. But I’d run away up until this point. Now I was pissed and ready for action. I blocked her swing with an underhand swing from Joymaker. Now she had both of my Blades trapped. People watching booed and yelled. I blocked them out. They seen it as her having the advantage. But, see, I was taught to never see them as better. If you can’t change it, look at it different. And that’s what I did. Because of the way we had swung, my arms were crossed. And the interesting thing is that it’s harder to push someone’s arms outward than it is to cross them over their chest. So I yanked my arms apart as hard as I could, forcing her arms to cross. A cheer went up from the spectatators. I had a sneaking suspicion Sophie was broadcasting live. How else would they know how things were doing so fast and accuratley? She probably brought half the crowd. This pissed me off even more, and I yanked harder, backward this time. I ended up over balancing myself. I fell onto my butt. Hard.
The crowd booed me, being as bi-polar as possible. She grinned and I could see her concentrate. I felt a wave of heat and then the ends of her chains burst into flames. Now she was just trying to get the crowd on her side now. Idiot. I switched into plan D.
Plan A had failed right away, I can’t remember Plan B and Plan C looked really stupid. So Plan D it was. I let M slide down my arm and switched Joymaker to my right hand. Again the counting. I tried to get up, but couldn’t because Joymaker is too thin and would go through the dirt and M was on my elbow. I rocked violently forward and struck out blindly, fulfilling the attack requirement. I heard Sophie laugh, high and musical. It made me mad, and the sound twisted into a half human howl that made the entire crowd cringe. I jumped up again and rushed her, throwing M into my left hand with a tricky maneuver. She ran back, surprised that I would be so bold after all that running. I snarled, twisting it into an attack. I reached for the fret board, and missed the chain coming at my head. I dimly registered the impact, and then the whole world went black.
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Pm me suggestions for Oc's. It's been awhile since I've played, so correct my mistakes. And, as always, comment!!

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