Kiki sighs, looking up at the sky for any signs of a gummi ship. "Still no sign, Erik."

Soon, however, a gummi ship appears and slowly comes in for a landing. Mario soon steps out, adjusting the sheath for the sword, and looks around. "Ah...I missed this place."

Erik spots Mario. "Alright. Some residents have spotted shadows scurrying around. We gotta go round and take 'em out, clear?"

Mario nods, drawing the sword. "Right. Lead the way."

Erik nods and walks about the beach. He rubs his head, like he had a heache as he heads to the other side of the island.

Mario notices this. "Got a headache?" he asks.

"A bit." Erik says. "It'll take worse to stop me from eliminating thse heartless."

"Right," Mario states as he adjusts the sheath. Clearly, he was not used to actually having to carry his weapon around like this.

Erik laughs. "You get used to it." He says. He looks around. "They were last seen here."

Mario looks around, drawing his sword as he stands at the ready.

Erik does as well, scowling when he doesn't see a thing. "I'm not in the mood for this." He says. Just then, something moves in the distance.

Mario sees the movement out of the corner of his eye and turns, his blade raised. "Something's over there."

Erik nods and runs over, and atttacks a Neoshadow when he gets near it. More appear and attack Mario.

Mario quickly swings his sword around, slashing at the Neoshadows and keeping his distance to avoid their claws.

The Neoshadows attack back, going straight for any openings.

Mario continues to fight back, but this sword was still no Keyblade, so he was not adapt at using it. In no time, the sword is knocked out of his hand and sent skidding through the sand as it gets further away. Mario curses under his breath and barely dodges a follow-up attack. He had no other weapon aside from his fists, so he was perfectly exposed.

Erik tosses his sword to Mario, and fights with magic.

Mario quickly grabs the sword, narrowly deflecting an attack and striking back. He continues fighting, the sword doing a decent job at helping but still nothing like a Keyblade.

Soon the Neoshadows are destroyed, and the beach is cleared. Erik nods at Mario. "Well done."

"Thanks," Mario says as he hands Erik his sword back and picks up his own.

"Keep it up." Erik says, sheithing his sword. "You'll be a knight again before you know it."

Mario gives a nod. "Yeah. It'll take a while to get used to this sword, though. Nothing like a Keyblade. Or magic, for that matter."

"Hey, the sparring ground are always open back in the Castle, or I thinkk that simulator back home is up and running." Erik says.

"Hm...maybe," Mario says. "Not sure, though."

"You'll have to ask Sora when you get back." Erik says. He sits on the sand. "But for now, time for the icing on the cake."

"Hm?" Mario inquires, a bit confused.

"Hey we weren't told to immmendiatly return to Radiant Garden, were we? We can relax if we wish." Erik says.

"Hm...that's a good point," Mario states.

"So lie back and relax." Erik says.

Mario is silent before he sets down his blade, lying down on the sand and sighing as he relaxes. "...It's been such a long time since I was last home...too long..."

"Your from here?" Erik asks.

"Once, for thirteen years of my life," Mario states. "It was a more peaceful time, when I was innocent and still trying to understand what I was. Then the Heartless blew up the planet or whatever, and I was launched into the next three years of my life: a life of war."

"I see." Erik says. "I can't imagine not being a knight. I've always wanted to be one since I was a kid."

Mario sighs. "Well, I never heard of the Knights, and even if I did, I would not have wanted to be one. Heck, I only knew of the Heartless in passing, but I was too concerned with what I was and the lazy days of the time."

"It good to be lazy sometimes." Erik says. Kiki appears and she goes to Erik.

"Uh-huh shoulda figured, lying down on the job."

"Actally we took out the heartless already." Erik says.

Mario gives a nod, seeming too entranced by the ocean view that he had grown up to every day. He says nothing else, only resting there as long as he was able.

Kiki sighs and sits on the sand, staring at the ocean.

Mario soon winds up falling asleep, either exhausted from the long day including the trial or just completely at home back in the Islands.

Erik sighs, and picks up Mario. Kiki hops in and Erik takes off to Radiant Garden.

{Erik and Kiki to Hallow Bastion.}

Mario only mumbles, too deep in sleep to notice his map move.

{Mario to Hollow Bastion}