Into the Light {OPEN}

[Luka]

"Well, here it is Geko! Radiant Garden, in all of it's majesty!" The creamy-white shadow by the boy's side quickly scampered up a leg, an arm, and a shoulder to get a better view. "We'll probably be much safer here than the streets of that terrible town, if they accept us. If they don't..." The boy didn't want to think about what would happen if the Lightsiders didn't take him in. Would he be right back in the slums that was Traverse Town, or would they just execute him on the spot, seen as a threat?

Steeling himself, the boy began walking forwards again; forward to an unknown fate.

[Natas]

Natas had shrugged on his black vest over the purple shirt he wore every day. Looking out his window, he could see so much contradiction. Light. Darkness. Almost balanced in this town. And the only light he could not see was his own.

You have a gift, future Master Natas. You know where your allegiance lies. Trust in your Heart, and you need not to see your own light. It shines brilliantly, Natas. Never doubt that.

That was what Master Yen Sid had said. Why he called Natas a Master, he did not know. Perhaps to remind him that he was, indeed, Light. To help him remain unwavering. Smiling softly to himself, Natas opens his door.

There is a most interesting boy on his way to meet you. Do not attack him immediately, my boy. Hear him out. And trust your own Heart, its judgement, before acting on anything. He had said this earlier today. So Natas decided to go meet this boy today. Yen Sid had never said that he was an enemy, nor a friend... He opens the door of his room, and just a little bit down the hall was his second-in-command and best friend, Keiran.

He approaches calmly and slowly, like always, before nodding to his friend. "Hello, Keiran... I'm going on a walk. We may have a new recruit, and I wish to meet him. Would you like to accompany me?"

[Keiran]

"O-of course, Sir!" I replied, standing, before brushing reflective silver hair out of my eyes.

They'd long since gotten used to the brightness of this place, so different than my own homeworld, but this world was much the same.

"A new recruit? Did Master Yen-Sid send you to meet him?" I asked, coming to stand next to him. "Do you know anything else about him?"

[Natas]

"He did send me to meet him..." Natas begins walking, but stops mid-step. "And don't call me 'sir' in private. It's odd... We're friends. Alone, use my name. Okay?" He takes a few more steps. "I don't really know anything. He is seeking our army. He may want to join us. He may not. I'm prepared for either instance." He nods once as they leave the building. "I suggest you be the same."

[Keiran]

I looked down at my side to the pair of blue eyes looking up at me. Absently, I stroked the head of the creature beside me, the one no one but myself could see unless he willed it.

"Of course, Sir," I said. "It's my job to protect you and this base, after all."

[Natas]

Natas nods and smiles softly, the smile vanishing as quick as it came. "Right. Let's move." And so they began their walk through the Garden. His almost-glowing pink eyes scanned the area for any unfamiliar light or darkness. And before too long... he found both. In one... two beings? It was hard to discern. The boy was like a Light bulb. But tendrils of dark surrounded his chest. They didn't close in to hurt, either. It was almost... symbiotic. Like it was hugging him, rather than hurting him.

This had to be the guy. Natas did not confront him immediately. He holds up his hand to halt Keiran, his eyes turning to the boy's. Natas had never been one to initiate conversation. And if this boy was looking for the Lightsiders, he had to ask around. He would come to them...

[Luka]

It was after some advanced walking (and getting lost) that the boy decided to sit himself down and take a rest. "Bleggh, why is this so tiring? And why does this place have to be so confusing..?" The boy shouted out as he sprawled out onto his back, noticing at the last minute the two figures in front of him. "Oh, when did-" The boy jumped up quickly, hoisting his Shadow in his arms. "Umm..." The boy took a few shy steps forward. These were the people whom he had been searching for.

"Umm..." The boy started. "My... My name is Luka. And this is Kageko..." Luka thrust the white Shadow Heartless forwards quickly, in an attempt to show the figures before him. "I would... I would like to join your army thing!" The boy called out, stepping forwards bravely. "That is... If you would have me..."

[Natas]

Natas raised a curious eyebrow at the boy in front of him before giving a confused glance to Keiran. He keeps the gaze for a moment before turning his attention to the white Shadow in front of him. It was white, not black. The insignia was blue like ice, not red like blood. It seemed... rather friendly, rather than out to get Hearts. Natas pokes its insigna, but it didn't show any hostility.

The light made sense now. His eyes dimmed back to their normal, pink shade with no glow. They seemed almost pale and lifeless now as they met the much-shorter boy's eyes. "Do you...? Why? And how did you know... That I am with the Army...?" His sentences, now that he was around the unfamiliar, turned choppy. It was almost like he struggled to get the words out.

[Luka]

Luka took a couple steps back, tightening his grip on the Shadow. "Oh, well... I thought I would be safer here than on the streets of Traverse Town..." Luka replied, looking a bit wistful. "It was... Horrible there. And I just kinda assumed the first people that I saw would be with the Army, so... I guess i'm sorry, or something... You'll let me live, right?" Luka finished with a bit more frightened tone, taking a few more steps back wards and dropping Kageko to the ground in case they needed t run.

[Natas]

Natas raised an eyebrow high into his brow. "I..." He was thoroughly confused. "I will not... kill you..." He was almost offended. "We do not... kill. I have heard... of Traverse Town." He shakes his head, recalling one particular private who had come from there. He wept of his lost family and Heartless onslaught. "You can... come. There is no... harm. Light. Yours is strong." He nods once, looking to Keiran for confirmation.

[Keiran]

Mist formed around my ankles, setting itself between myself (and Sir) and the boy and his... Heartless? Was it a Heartless?

"I don't know," I said, eying him critically. "He doesn't seem harmful... I'm inclined to let him join."

The mist spread, swarming protectively, and I gave it a critical glare before looking back at... Luka?

"I trust Sir," I told him. "The least we can give you is the same treatment we give all prospective recruits. But that means surveillance, and training. Do you find that acceptable?"

[Natas]

Natas sighs in relief, the talking being done for him. If the kid got close enough, he wouldn't feel so hesitant. He couldn't even begin to describe why he choked up around new people. He was not afraid or worried. It just happens...

[Luka]

Luka began to beam widely, before shrinking back to a more shy expression. "Yes! I mean... Yeah. I think I can do that. Geko and I had to run away from bad Heartless in Traverse Town, so we're pretty good at being sneaky and stuff... And I was hoping I could be trained in some sort of battle art. I have this, after all..." Without another word, Luka summoned Shared Heart and held it outwards for the two to see.

[Keiran]

The mist backed off, swirling around my ankles.

"Well," I said, partially to Sir and partially to the wolf that was crouching low, generating the mist, "he's got a Keyblade. Guess we've gotta take him in now." I gave him a comforting smile; despite the Heartless and Gale's uncertainty, I was willing to trust this person. I didn't think he meant us any harm.

[Natas]

Natas eyes the Keyblade in the boy's hand. It was a very beautiful design... And the fact that his heart was tied to a Heartless and he had the Keyblade... It was a rarity, if not, the only one of his kind. It was very new, very interesting. "You show your weapon to us..." In Natas's world, if a man shows his weapon in any way that wasn't violent... It meant a sign of respect, of loyalty. In the same sense, not returning it is most disrespectful.

He holds out his hands as a light silver light encompassed them. The plain silver blades coated in barbed wire known as Tough Love appeared in his hand. "These... are mine." He replies hesitantly.