Michael
*However... Before the Dark Flames could reach the group fighting Maleficent, a bright ball of light came from above and landed in-front of them, and a person familiar to Dado, Eve, Xion, and even Maleficent appeared.....*
Richard
*Ika's dead. He was speaking with finality. His plan was to take himself out with Inaxuma. A hero 'till the end-*

*Dado's thoughts are interrupted by Dragon Maleficent, Kingdom Key jumping into his hand to protect him, a wall of green fire, and lastly...*

"Master Mod!"
Carl
*Upon realizing that Master Mod stepped in... Xion had a feeling something wasn't going to go too well for them after this... There was a reason she didn't leave the tower as seen in the last meeting... Damn... She had some stuff to tell Master Mod after this too... Unlike the ponies, she was willing to cooperate with demands*
Geraldine
*Xanaro lacks any huge reaction to the appearence of mod, having never met her. He had simply braced himself for death- only for it to stop a moment later.*
Cathy
*Mod raised her hands to her sides, and a wall of light would appear in-front of her, protecting the group and her from Maleficent's flames. Every could feel the immense power just from this act alone, as the 2 forces of light and dark clashed against each other, causing a shockwave throughout the room, and castle.*

"I can not- no, **Will not** Allow more deaths because of me! I must not stand idle any longer! If the next generation of keyblade wielders is to prosper, and light is to prevail, I must trust in those who put their trust in me!"
Jonathan
*Maleficent pushed her flames even harder, attempting to get past Mod's barrier and finish the job, however her barrier would hold out.*
Cathy
*Mod turned her head, looking behind her to the group with tears in her eyes.*

"I apologize, everyone... To Ika, Furo and his friends, you all here, Oswald... And yes, even Suke, Sunset, and all of Louis's friends... I had been too focused on controlling the situation, refusing to allow myself to fully trust you all. In the end, that mistrust in everyone is what had caused the most trouble... Kiki's betrayal had made me quick to judge, quick to dismiss, and caused me to become almost like her in a way. I had almost begun using you all as soldiers, instead of seeing you all as allies. And all the while spouting 'May your Heart be you Guiding Key'...."
Jonathan
*Maleficent attempted to break the barrier again, but Mod forced her back again, putting in more power in her barrier now.*
Cathy
*The group could see Mod begin to age, rapidly again. And if they looked closely, her eyes would turn a dark yellowish.*

"Dado, Eve, Xion... Listen, please. One last time. A final lesson... Being a 'Guardian of Light' isn't simply about fighting the darkness. It is about protecting those who can't protect themselves. Keeping the balance of light and dark. But above all else, it means following what your heart believes is right... That is the true meaning behind 'May your Heart be your Guiding Key'. For when you follow what your heart believes is right, instead of following someone because they told you to, like following me, then you will never lose your way! But that is enough! I cannot hold this much longer... I have but one request, do not look for me. The reason I never actively fight myself is due to my magic locking things in a dimensional prison, however one dangerous enemy resides-"

*Mod is cut off as darkness begins to radiate from her, causing her wall to begin growing weak.*

**"Free at last..."**

*Mod forced the last of her energy, pushing the wall now against Maleficent, causing the flames to vanish and Maleficent to become stunned for a moment from the sheer amount of power and light. After, the group could see Mod begin to float into the air, the darkness daring to burst from with, but instead if bursting, Mod would open up a portal. Within, the group could barely see what seemed to be... A bed and pillow? Dado can recognize the gift he bought for Mod a while back. Mod suddenly maniacally laughed as she seemed to force herself through the portal, the portal getting several light chains and several locks around it, before it vanished... Forever along with Mod-Gnik...*
Jonathan
*Stunned by the light from Mod, she seemed to be open for attack.*
Michael
*Soon after Mod was gone, Furo would rocket through the floor from below next to the group. However if he could sense hearts of feel his connection with his friends, he would begin to feel his connection growing as he got closer, however further up was not the direction.^
Geraldine
Xanaro silently watches as Mod wards off maleficents flames, a confused look growing on his face as he listens in on her speech. He hadnt seen power like this before, opting to abandon his questions. Why should it matter? The affairs of those with a heart mean nothing to him. The battle of light, and dark, are but a means to an end to free more hearts and eventually gain his own. He has no heart to follow for guidance. Only the superior's hold his trust. And so, he prepares to attack the witches draconic form once more.

He sprints to the left, circling around maleficent in order to attack one of her flanks. Most of the people here will likely go for a frontal assault, after all. 

He dashes after her in a burst of speed, closing the gap between himself and the dragon, before thrusting his blade forward. He aims for the underside of her torso, attempting to pierce a location where defensive scales arent as present.

Thats not all though, he repeats the jabbing motion once more- and again, before pulling back, raising his blade, and letting loose a full on barrage of slashes, using ``Ars Arcanum`` on the witch. Once the chain of swift strikes are complete, he pushes himself backwards, aiming to get out of the range of the presumable nuke heading maleficents way.


```Rejected unbeing activated! [LV2] [15 AP drain per turn]
Rejected by Both: While in this form, you can use neither Light nor Darkness.
Rejection of Both: While in this form, you take 20% less damage from Light and Dark attacks.

Phase Two Activated! [2 Turns remain]

HP: 2205 
MP: 95
AP: 85 -70 -35

[Action 1]: Basic Attack, 322
[Action 2]: Basic Attack, 322
[Action 3]: Basic Attack, 322
[Action 4, -15%]: Ars Arcanum, 328

Total Damage dealt: 1294

Total Damage Taken: N/A```
Bruce
From what must have been tbe Underworld, a vortex of wind, lightning, and stone exploded upward as the lone rider tore through everything in his way as he cut in-between an evil dragon an the bland story book heroes.

*Hearts?*

*Connections?*

*Sad farewells?*

*Old lady's leaving their retirement homes?*

Furo could not feel, see, or hear these special things that some special people could. He was normal and did not care, for he did not need to. He trusted in his intuition. He trusted in his friends. 

If any of them were harmed he would tear the rest of the castle down.

If any or all of them were dead...

Well, he had no other allies in the castle at that point and he would make that fact known to all.

Hitting the ceiling his momentum finally degraded enough that he failed to immediately break through. Not willing to be deterred in anyway, he twisted his body, spinning like a top, and quite literally became a human drill of sorts with his blade as the point.

He had three friends to find and no time to waste.
Richard
"Master Mod! MASTER MOD!"

*The darkness took her. "Do not look for me." A dimensional prison? Those chains. Was she imprisoning herself? Her darkness? Will he have to fight her?*

*Focus! Focus on the here, the now. Focus on the dragon. Fiora's captured. Ika's dead. Master Mod is dead. May your heart be your guiding key. He killed Sunset. That Sunset girl, another pawn. Louis and his friends were dead. They would've wanted him to save her. They wouldnt've wanted this. "Those fools in the lower levels." She knows about Brad's crew. His plan was a failure. Agrabah 2, Electric Chair. Oh hey, the asshole with goggles is here. Furo? Kingdom Key informs him he almost died. Of course. Master Mod saved his life, then sealed herself away, probably saving it again. Dragon fire. There was fire in Agrabah, too. It died down by the time Sunset arrived, probably started by Jafar. Jafar, Sunset. Inaxuma. Ika's dead. He hopes his twin is too. Everyone traces back to Maleficent. Everyone works with her. Everyone works for her. His world. His friends. His mentor. Everything. It all leads back to her. It all leads back to one dragon. Is his the fairy tale of the princess who escaped his tower? Is it another tale with a princess, a tower, and a dragon? Is he the seventy-fourth?*

*May your Heart be your guiding key. Follow what your Heart believes is right. What does his Heart believe?*

*Ever After shines brightly... In Dado's left hand. He has no answers. He won't get any anytime soon. All he has are his Heart's connections, and a bottomless pit of unyielding rage.*

*From his right, a crystal soars. Its path arcs towards the dragon, leaving a rainbow behind in his wake. The rainbow. He can never see it again without thinking of his victims. Sunset had murdered her friends, but she had only finished the job he started. And in the end, despite their wishes, he had done the same to her.*
_ _

*From his left, a flower blooms. Light snakes its way towards the reptile, drawing intricate patterns along its path. He failed Fiora in Agrabah. She got kidnapped. He promised Ika he'd save her. He'll die before he breaks that promise.*

*Ika. Both keyblades crackle with lightning at the thought of him. All those expectations, all that danger. Did he choose it? Dado certainly didn't. He didn't choose any of this; not really. It was one ultimatum after another, one danger after another. And with each one, he'd run around with no idea what he's doing. He remembers the doll's shockwave. The way it washed over him. The first supernatural pain he ever experienced.*

*But, as always, only one option is afforded to him. To take it on, head-first. To leap directly into the maw of danger.*

*The wind ruffles his hair playfully as he leaps. Through the smoldering ashes, through the lingering light, directly into the gaping maw of danger. Directly into the gaping maw of Maleficent.*

*Hooking his feet on her bottom teeth, he thrusts Ever After and Kingdom Key forward. A twin beam of pure light shoots down her throat, directly into her core. If he is to be the seventy-fourth, so be it. There will be no seventy-fifth.*

```
HP: 4890
AP: 90 -110 -5
MP: 50/235 Recharge
Second Form Lv4
Guardian of Light 1/5
Light Boost 3/7
Magic Upgrade 3/5

Heartbinder - Remains of Ikazuchi 1/3
Dual Wielding: Kingdom Key + Ever After

Rainbow Remembrance (Spark): 1226
Fiora's Fall (Flower Shoot): 1232
Double Keybeam: 1278

Total: 3736
```
Mary
Information: Oh no! Dado's in Maleficent's mouth! If someone doesn't help him out of there, he's done for!
Benjamin
... Was that one familiar, perhaps? No, maybe not. In another life, another time, maybe she could have been. But Caval certainly didn't know her.

The boy that just emerged from the floor and shot up into the ceiling, however, Cavall has a double-take of actual surprise. Silently, the Hound ponders the notion, practically broadcasting, 'What is that boy doing?'

That feeling is repeated with Dado's impulsive decision, Cavall springing after the boy in a dead sprint, arms swinging up and down with extreme intent. Leaping after him up the side of the dragon, the Hound claws out toward the nape of his shirt— His hood if he has one— And attempts to yoink him from Maleficent's maw!

"We suggest you keep a clear head, young man! Now is not the time to throw your life away!"
Mary
Information: Uh oh, darkness is getting stronger in this castle. If Maleficent isn't dealt with soon, game over!
Richard
*Dado's suddenly yanked back, clearing away some of the chaos in his mind. He falls onto and rolls along the ground.*

"Thanks..." *He nods towards the lanky dog-man as he starts to get up.*