A dark portal opens in the courtyard, and Mario and Xildus soon step out. Mario sighs before beginning to look for Sora. He decides to start in the halls beneath the castle, where Tron is.

Xildus, meanwhile, goes to the stable to get some well-deserved rest.

Some food and water are waiting for Xildus, as are a sack of apples.

"Greetings Mario." Tron says.

Mario gives a nod in response to Tron. "Hey, Tron. Sora told me the new area was set up. Any idea where I can find him?"

Xildus notices the commodities waiting for him and gives a small smile, settling down to enjoy some of the apples.

"He's downstairs." Tron says.

Sora is waiting in the manufactery, looking down the gap in the floor.

Inside is a note. Thank You. Take good care of them. The writing seems oddly familiar. Like Mariya's but...different.

Mario nods and descends down to where Sora is. "Hey, Sora. How is it?"

"Pretty good. But....I'm worried Mario. If word gets out, alot of people won't like it." He says.

"I figured," Mario states with a sigh. "That's why I plan to move the Nobodies out as soon as I can find a new place. Perhaps a remote planet where no one would find them or mind them. For now, though, they'll likely be safest here. Another thing, Sora; is there an extra room down there? I'm thinking of setting aside a part of it for tracking Fallen Angel activity, sorta like a headquarters dedicated to capturing the Fallen."

"Ah, I think so. There are quite a few rooms down there, infact." Sora says.

"Alright then, if it'd be possible to get some of those files you have for the Fallen Angels, it'd be a good start," Mario states. "And I'm sure you'd rather have someone else helping you with all that paperwork."

"You have no idea." Sora says. "I'll bring some down A.S.A.P."

"Alright, and I'm assuming you have some security codes on this area, since we woouldn't want unauthorized personnel entering...or leaving."

"Yea, since down there is severly secure, I can give you them down there when I give you the paper work, and we'll talk this over, agreed?" Sora asks.

"Alright," Mario states. "I'll go ahead and move the Nobodies in, then." He then descends into the chambers, going to the rooms and looking them over before summoning the Nobodies.

The nobodies appear, and look to Mario.

Moments later, Sora comes down carrying a few boxes full of papers. He takes them to a room with a few filecabnets, bookshelves and a desk with a chair. He sets the boxes down on the desk.

Mario looks to the Nobodies. "Welcome to your new home, guys. For now, at least." He then looks to Sora. "Those the reports?"

"Part of them. There's two boxes of reports claiming to have seen them." Sora says.

Mario gives a nod. "Alright, I'll begin going through them then." Mario goes into the office-like area, sitting down and picking up one of the files. "Time to start."

Xildus, meanwhile, begins to explore the castle a bit more, an apple in hand as he walks around.

Sora hands Mario a paper, the security codes written on them. He nods before leaving.

The hallways are mostly empty except for a knight here and there.

Mario nods, taking the security codes and pocketing them. He then begins to go through the files one by one, starting a project that might take three years to reach full fruitation.

Xildus soon reaches the courtyard, resting underneath a tree as he consumes the apple.

Sora passes Xildus not to long after, carrying the last two boxes down to Mario. He sighs once he sets them down. "I'm getting to old for this." He mutters.

Xildus is silent as he watches Sora pass, then he gets an interesting urge to go looking for Mariya. He gets up and begins to look for her.

Mariya, however isn't in Radiant Garden. She is still not back from her date with Axel in Twilight Town.

Xildus sighs and waits, sitting down in the courtyard to wait for her return.

Mariya soon returns, and goes down to the stables to go see Sasha. She smiles as Sasha walks over to her, and nudges her. "Hey there pretty girl." She says.

Axel yawns and walks to the courtyard, seeing Xildus he walks over "hey"

Xildus looks up and gives him a nod. "Kweh."

Mariya gives Sasha a treat, and looks to Xildus' stall, and see's the sack of apples. She sighs, and kisses Sasha's beak before going down to the Academy. She puts her hair into a braid before getting her bow and quiver from her classroom. She then goes to the target range and knocks an arrow and aims. A moment later, she releases and the arrow hits the center circle.

Axel yawns and stretches "Mariya is back if your waiting for her"

Xildus is silent before getting up, going in search of Mariya again.

Mariya is still in the practice area, and she goes up to the target and removes her arrows. She puts them in her quiver before going to her firing position. She begins to shoot her arrows again.

Xildus soon finds her, and he waits patiently at the edge of the range until she is available.

(Axel, your turn.)

Axel shrugs, and climbs up his perfered napping tree.

---

Mariya feels someone watching her, and releases the arrow, which hits the target. She then turns, and see's Xildus. "Hey Xildus." She says, putting her bow down. "I was actually gonna go look for you after this round. I have something for you."

Mariya motions for Xildus to follow her, and she goes to her classroom and drops off her bow and quiver. She then heads up to the stables.

Xildus tilts his head, curious about what Mariya wanted with him. He silently follows her.

Axel looks up and watches the light shine green through the leaves

Mariya goes into the tack room and comes out with a pair of messsenger bags and a collar. On the collar is a symbol. "For you. Your an official part of the Royal Knights now." She says with a smile. "We made them so they'd go along with your cloak."

Xildus stands there, and despite his usual lack of emotion, he seems surprisingly surprised. After about a minute, though, a small tear can be seen rolling down his cheek. "Kweh," he briefly murmurs before resting his head against Mariya in thanks.

Mariya smiles, and pets Xildus. "Want me to put them on?" She asks.

Xildus is silent before nodding, standing still so that the bags and collar can be put on.

Mariya nods, and puts the messenger bag on first before putting on the collar, the symbol front and center. "There, you look very hansom." She says.

Sora comes in then, and smiles. "Ah good, just in time, I have a mission for you, Xildus." He says.

Xildus looks to Sora and gives a nod, looking ready to begin his new duties.

Sora hands Xildus a letter. "This goes to Dr. Porter in Deep Jungle. Watch yourself, thiers alot of dangerous animals there."

Xildus nods and is off, immediately rushing through a portal he conjures and seeming to have a lighter step than usual.

Sora smiles. "I think that really cheered him up." He says.

Mariya smiles. "Yeah, I think so too." She says.

{Topic Split}