The first thing Annora noticed about fighting Master Ira, was he fought very similarly to Master Ava. She supposed that made sense, they had the same master after all. The second thing she noticed was it was actually a little bit easier. She was still outclassed, but less so. Annora didn't know if that meant Master Ava was stronger than Master Ira or if she had just gotten better.

Annora rolled to the side to avoid a blow from Master Ira. She landed in a crouched position and launched herself at the master. She caught him off guard, allowing her to actually hit him, though it didn't seem to have any effect.

Master Ira swung his keyblade catching Annora's chest and sending her backward. She managed to land on her feet, struggling to catch her breath. Before Master Ira could advance any farther Skuld stepped in his way, her own keyblade raised. Master Ira sighed before quickly attacking Skuld.

Skuld blocked most of the hits from Master Ira, only being hit on the side a few times. She returned the string of attacks, trying to push Master Ira back. Master Ira used a gust of wind magic to push Skuld back, then slammed his keyblade into her stomach, forcing her to the ground.

Annora heard a buzzing in her ears as anger filled her. She pushed herself at Master Ira and attacked with everything she had. Master Ira staggered under the blows. Before Annora could finish, however, he wrapped a foot around her own and pulled her to the ground. Annora panted heavily as the masters keyblade pointed at her throat.

She glared up at the master, not speaking. Much to her surprise, the keyblade was removed from her throat.

"You avoided being swallowed by your anger and sadness-- you fought well." Master Ira said. There was suddenly a bright flash of light that made Annora cringe. As she blinked to clear the spots from her vision she saw they were no longer in the Foretellers chamber. It was the hallway underneath the tower once again. In front of her was Master Ava rather than Master Ira.

"Master Ava!" Chirithy cried out in shock. Annora glanced at Skuld who looked just as surprised.

"Annora, Skuld. You allowed me to determine the strength of your hearts. The master you were just fighting, as well as the location, was just an illusion I created." Master Ava said calmly.

"What's going on?" Annora asked as she stood. Skuld did the same where she was, watching the young master with suspicion.

"As Ephemer told you in your dreams, the end of the world seems to be upon us. If all of us are swallowed by the end of this world, that will be the end of keyblade wielders. That must be avoided." Master Ava answered. She sounded sad, which Annora suspected was due to her knowledge of the worlds eminent doom.

"How?" Annora asked.

"I've been carrying out my role, preparing exceptional keyblade wielders, despite union, to last in the next world." Master Ava explained, pacing back towards one of the gears. Skuld moved to stand beside Annora, looking between the master and her friend in confusion.

"The next world?" Annora asked, tilting her head to the side. Master Ava nodded with a small smile.

"This is all happening too fast," Skuld said, sounding very frustrated. "What happened to Ephemer than?" She asked. Master Ava sighed.

"The world is facing its end. Perhaps he started searching for the truth because he felt that. And he got close faster than anyone else. So I asked him a favor. I asked him to guide the Dandelions in my stead." Master Ava answered.

"Dandelions?" Chirithy asked, jumping to be sure Master Ava noticed it. Master Ava laughed softly at the Chirithy's gesture.

"The keyblade wielders that will go on in the next world. They who shall not witness the worlds end. My role is to establish those Dandelions. However, I have to witness the end of the world. So that he may guide those who are left after I'm gone, I decided to send Ephemer on ahead." Master Ava explained. Annora frowned. How could they know the world was ending? And since they knew, why weren't they trying to stop it?

"On ahead. He's safe then?" Skuld asked. Master Ava nodded.

"The world will end because among the keyblade wielders some have been swallowed by darkness. I'm sure you met the dark Chirithy. He's the proof. So that the darkness will not persist in the next world I give your hearts a shake and choose those whose hearts can't be swallowed by a little darkness to be Dandelions." Master Ava explained. Annora was confused as to why she was explaining it to them. Maybe to keep them from looking for Ephemer. Her question was answered by Master Ava's next words. "So I wish to ask you both. Will you join the Dandelions?"

Annora was shocked, to say the least. It was the last thing she expected to happen today. Get asked to join some secret organization. Her mind was reeling. How was she supposed to answer?

"Yes," Skuld said, almost instantly. She looked to Annora, waiting for her to reply. She was surprised when she heard none. "Annora?" Skuld asked.

"What will happen to everyone who can't join the Dandelions?" Annora asked, looking at Master Ava curiously. Master Ava frowned.

"They will face the war at the end of this world." Master Ava said sadly. Skuld gasped.

"So it's true." She said in a whisper.

"It's already unavoidable." Master Ava confirmed sadly. Annora frowned, unconvinced. There had to be something they could do. War couldn't be the only option left already.

"Let me think it over." Annora said. Skuld turned to Annora in shock.

"Annora!" She said in shock. Annora shrugged at her.

"I understand. You are under no obligations. But please, don't spread word of this. I'm afraid it will only cause more chaos." Master Ava said, smiling softly at Annora. Annora nodded in agreement.

"Right." She said.

"Ava!" A distressed voice called, the sound echoing through the hall. It took a moment for Annora to identify the voice as Kamiko. Kamiko appeared beside Skuld and Annora seconds later, panting heavily.

"What's wrong Kamiko?" Master Ava asked concerned. Annora was once again surprised to see the relationship between the two. It was much closer than she was used to a master and lieutenant being.

"Master Aced and Master Invi are fighting! If they keep this up they'll destroy half the town!" Kamiko said, panic clear in her voice. Master Ava frowned.

"Oh no, be sure these three get out." Master Ava said before running off, presumably to go and find the fighting masters.

"We probably should have mentioned that fight earlier." Annora said to Skuld, looking where Master Ava had vanished.

"Yeah, looking back on it." Skuld agreed. Beside them, Kamiko finally caught her breath and looked at the two wielders and Chirithy.

"Fancy seeing you here. What were you up to?" Kamiko asked curiously. Annora shrugged.

"Looking for Ephemer." Annora answered. Kamiko nodded with a sad smile. Something in her eyes suggested there was something she wasn't saying, but Annora figured she was in enough trouble for the day.

"Right. Well, come on. Let's get out of here." Kamiko said, leading the three back the way they came.

Above ground, the group split up. Kamiko said something about needing to find Master Ava and be sure everyone was ok. Skuld said she wanted to go think things over on her own. Annora didn't mind, she really would rather think things over on her own too.

Annora ended up just wandering the town, Chirithy beside her the entire time. It was a sad thought, that this world was going to vanish. That it would be destroyed by a war that would take the life of nearly every keyblade wielder Annora had ever met. Annora didn't want to see that day. But the thought wouldn't leave her mind.

"Is something wrong Annora?" Chirithy asked, forcing Annora to come out of her thoughts. Annora frowned looking at the dream eater.

"I just can't stop thinking about this whole war thing, it's terrible," Annora admitted. Chirithy nodded in agreement.

"Yeah," Chirithy agreed sadly. "But you could escape." It added. Annora frowned once again.

"I know, but what about all the others?" Annora asked. Chirithy was at a loss for words. "I'm not sure I could bear doing nothing," Annora explained. Chirithy nodded and looked at the ground in front of it.

"Right." Chirithy agreed solemnly. It was sad to think most keyblade wielders would die. Chirithy looked up suddenly, its ears twitching. "Someone's up ahead," Chirithy said quietly. Annora looked around and found a staircase. She pulled herself as close to the building next to it as she could and peaked down the stairs. She was surprised to see Master Ira and Master Aced. Master Aced didn't look well though like he had lost the fight with Master Invi. He was leaning against the wall heavily.

"Come to finish me off?" Master Aced said as he saw Master Ira. "Then make it quick." He said as he dropped to the ground. If Master Ira wanted to kill him, it wouldn't be a challenge.

"That's not what brought me here today. I wish to fulfill the role bestowed upon me, that's all." Master Ira said as he approached his comrade. "It isn't our place to try to change the events of the future; that is not our mission. We're here to make sure that light lives on. With only five lights, we can't afford to lose any." He said, sounding almost disappointed, or maybe even sad.

"You...still count me as one of the five lights?" Master Aced asked in disbelief, looking up at Master Ira. Master Ira put a hand on Master Aced's shoulder.

"Of course." Master Ira said simply.

"Only you could be such a good guy after everything we've been through." Master Aced said in admiration as he began to stand, being supported by Master Ira. "But hey, I guess that's one of the reasons I respect you so much." He continued with a laugh. "However, we still might only be four." He said, sounding very grave. Annora frowned, what was he talking about. Had he killed one of the others in the battle? "I'm talking about Gula. He's using the knowledge of something called the lost page. He said it contains events that are missing from all our books. He's using it to discover and apprehend whoever is the traitor, claims that's his role. But who knows what his real intentions are? What I do know is that I'll never forgive him for hiding the fact that he knew someone would betray us. That's the biggest betrayal of all." Master Aced continued, answering Annora's question. Her frown only deepened.

"I'd like to believe that Gula was simply carrying out his role." Master Ira said, clearly frowning. "Aced, I'll deal with this matter. Please keep it to yourself for now." He said, walking away from Master Aced.

"Understood." Master Aced agreed.

"I need to see that lost page." Master Ira said as he walked away. Annora watched him for a moment before pulling back to the wall once again.

"Lost page," Annora said to herself quietly.

"I've never heard of that," Chirithy admitted just as quietly. Annora looked down at Chirithy with a thoughtful look. She glanced over her shoulder where the two Masters had been discussing the page.

"I wonder if that means Master Gula is really the traitor," Annora said.

*<3*

Kamiko crouched nervously beside a kneeling Ava. Master Gula was leaned against the wall, still out cold from his fight with Master Aced. Kamiko couldn't figure out what made him think that had been a good idea. Master Aced could always out power Master Gula, that was just how it worked.

Ava's Chirithy appeared skidding to a halt beside them.

"Someone's coming! They're headed straight this way!" Chirithy said jumping in distress. Ava nodded and turned to Kamiko.

"Take care of him," Ava ordered, standing and running to see who was looking for them. Kamiko nodded and turned back to Master Gula.

Kamiko was scared. She didn't think things would escalate so quickly. Fighting in the streets and nearly killing each other only months after discovering there was a traitor. It was a terrifying thought. Even more so since it actually occurred. For having been training together as long as the foretellers had been there was surprisingly little trust.

Kamiko could only think things were getting very bad very quickly. She didn't want to see the war, not if this was what was proceeding it. So much pain. All before there was really a reason to fight.

Kamiko was dragged out of her thoughts by Master Gula moving and pushing himself to stand. Kamiko reached out to him.

"Master Gula! Please, you're already hurt, be careful." She said. Master Gula ignored her, which made her frown. Seconds later Ava came back, just as Master Gula fell back to sitting.

"Gula, what are you doing!?" She asked trying to help him. He brushed her off and leaned back against the wall.

"Something happen?" He asked nonchalantly. Ava nodded and looked down.

"Ira was here. He wanted me to give you up." Ava answered. Master Gula shook his head.

"I knew it. It's finally come to this." He said, sounding very unsurprised. Kamiko guessed he really had been waiting for whatever this was.

"Come to what?" Kamiko asked though she suspected she wouldn't get an answer. To her surprise, he did answer.

"Everyone wants to know about the lost page." Master Gula said. Kamiko frowned and looked at Ava. Ava looked just as confused.

"The lost page?" Ava asked. Master Gula nodded.

"Yeah. It's a page the Master gave me. It doesn't exist in any of our books. It contains a passage about an inevitable betrayal. It talks about 'the one who bears the sigil'. That's it. So, I don't know what to make of it, to be honest. My role is to find out who it is. I suspected Aced and went to confront him. And look what happened." Master Gula explained. Kamiko looked at Ava warily. Ava was looking just as confused as Kamiko felt.

"Why are you telling us this?" Kamiko asked looking to Master Gula.

"Gula, we have enough to think about keeping with the Masters teachings and my role," Ava said. Master Gula chuckled a little and put his hand over Ava's. It was a friendly gesture, one Kamiko could only assume they had shared many times before.

"Always walking the straight and narrow." Master Gula said fondly. "I'm a fool for basing my actions on what is written on that lost page. Everything in the passage is ambiguous at best. That's why I need to find out." He went on, his grip on Ava's hand tightening.

"But how?" Ava asked.

"By asking the Master." Master Gula replied. Kamiko frowned.

"This sounds like a bad plan in the making." She muttered to herself. Neither of the masters noticed her comment, which was fortunate.

"But he's not here anymore," Ava said in confusion, her head tilted to the side.

"I'm going to summon Kingdom Hearts." Master Gula said. Kamiko felt her jaw go slack. That was suicide. Summoning Kingdom Hearts only brought pain and panic. Despite popular belief, it wasn't a benevolent force. It was a force of unbelievable power, that knew no good nor evil.

"What!?" Kamiko and Ava asked in unified shock.

"Then he'll have no choice but to come back." Master Gula reasoned calmly.

"Summoning Kingdom Hearts is forbidden!" Ava objected.

"And really dangerous!" Kamiko added. Master Gula's grip on Ava's hand tightened further.

"That's exactly why! The only way to get him back is to break the rules! If things don't change the entire world is doomed! But, in order to go through with it, I'll need lux. I don't have nearly enough. You always do the right thing. Help me with this." He pleaded. Ava looked at him sadly, thinking hard.

"I'm sorry. I know you want the Master to return, but you don't know how summoning kingdom hearts will affect the rest of the world." Ava said calmly, removing her hand from Master Gula's.  "The Master, he forbid it for a reason. I'm afraid I can't help you." She said.

"I see." Master Gula said, sounding defeated. He stood up and began walking away, leaning on the walls of the buildings for support. Ava and Kamiko watched him sadly. Kamiko worried for him. She didn't know him well, but she knew Ava would be destroyed if something happened to him. "May your heart be your guiding key." Master Gula said. The words sent shivers down Kamiko's back.

It was likely their hearts would lead them to death.