Rhapsody cares deeply for others, and is more than willing to give the benefit of the doubt to others. Be they friend or foe, she looks for the light within those she meets and always tries to see the best in people.

She refrains from speaking cruelly, but in spite of her kind nature, she's willing to stand up for what she believes is right and just. Her resolve is unyielding, and once her mind has been set on something, she will see it through to the end.

She has been known to be "kind to a fault" and often finds herself in more dangerous situations than necessary due to her actions. She is a bit oblivious when it comes to greater matters of the world, and so can easily be taken advantage of so long as she believes that her actions are for the betterment of others.




Born and raised in a small mountain village of less than a hundred, Rhapsody lived a life of relative peace amongst her people. The village in which she was raised was one of cohabitation between Zoanthropes and Humans that chose to cut themselves off from the rest of the world. Mystically veiled and hidden by a powerful, deceptive fog, the village remained mostly unknown save for from the few that ventured out to learn of the greater world; sharing their tales of where they came from as they journeyed.

The origins surrounding Rhapsody's birth were a topic always shrouded in mystery to the girl; while she had a mother and father, neither were of blood relation. In spite of this fact, a fact told to Rhapsody at a rather young age, she suffered no negative aspects in her upbringing from this. How Father and Mother both were caring, and the village Elders took great care in maintaining her upbringing and outlook on life. Gifted with magical ability much like the other small few of her village, Rhapsody's future was set for her.

Until the age of six, she would be much like the other children of her village; save for her appearance that set her apart rather uniquely. While the Zoanthropes of the village featured more animal-like appearances, and the humans of course featured no such animal traits; Rhapsody seemed to be something in between. While subtle, the lack of human ears and the sight of cat ears atop her head along with her golden tail were a fair sign of her possible Zoanthrope heritage. Not so subtle, and even more mysterious however were the wings upon her back; a feature that stood out greatly and couldn't be traced back to any within the village. Yet, despite these traits, Rhapsody displayed the same joys and sorrows as any child in the village, and would play alongside the rest without issue.

Much like the other magically gifted within the village, it was around the time of Rhapsody's sixth birthday that her magic would manifest. Thanks to the conjured atmosphere of the village, the manifestation of ones magic was a simple display, with children merely waking to one day find lights akin to glitter surrounding them. Unfortunately for Rhapsody however, this marked the end of her carefree days with the other children; with the manifestation of her magic, she would begin tutelage under the Elders of her village, where she would learn to use her powers for the good of others.

The tasks assigned to Rhapsody during the years following her sixth birthday went far beyond mere magic practice; and thankfully enough, Rhapsody found joy in the activities. From helping with odd tasks around the village, to aiding the wounded with medical care; the only tasks Rhapsody took bother to were her studies in solitude. While she had no issue with learning, she always felt a need to be away from the books and to go out to do more. Still, she would tolerate what the Elders expected of her, following their instruction without issue... That is, until the day of her eighteenth birthday...





[OT1] Strike Raid: With Keyblade in hand, Rhapsody is capable of delivering a flurry of attacks either by striking repeatedly at close range with her weapon or throwing her weapon much like a magical boomerang to assail her foe!

[ST1] Anti-Malus: As a practitioner of Magic and Medicine alike, Rhapsody has learned through the years how to use her magic to aid her allies against aliments they suffer. With her knowledge in Combat and Poisons added, this ability can be reversed when used offensively against a foe. The affects of this Technique varies when used against an ally or enemy; to use this technique against an enemy, it must be combined with an Offensive Technique and the Cost and Damage of the chosen technique become locked.

    Notes on Anti-Malus Idea:
        •[ST1 Versus Ally] - Reduces 1 Status Effect by a Maximum of 1 Tier with each application; requires 25% of chosen resource.

    Additional Notes of Technique itself:
-When applied to an Offensive Technique, this changes the Resource Expenditure and Damage Dealt.
-Status Effects involve things such as Bleed, Toxin, Burn, etc; Anti-Malus has no effect on Ultimate Status Effects such as Majin Mind Control or the like.


[ST1] Anti-Sense: Being magical by nature, Rhapsody has no Ki Energy to be either sensed or located by advanced technology. This level does not prevent those with Magic Sensory Techniques, or advanced natural tracking skills from locating her however!

[ST1] Commune with Nature: Since a young age, like most of her kin, Rhapsody has been able to communicate with both flora and fauna. This level allows her to communicate with smaller plants and animals with ease; larger plants and animals however can either only be vaguely interpreted or not communicated with at all.

[ST1] Flight: As Rhapsody's grew into maturity, her wings strengthened and she gained the ability of flight! Due to her physical build however, it's less of her wings helping her to fly and more of her inherent magical ability. This level allows for standard speeds of flight and levitation.

[ST1] Key of Heart: Amidst a harrowing experience, Rhapsody called upon a powerful weapon to aid her in her time of need using her magical ability. This weapon took a curious shape, and held within it the power to open locks. This level allows for the manifesting of a simple weapon known as a Keyblade and the opening of standard locks with it; attacks with the weapon in hand act no different than regular basic attacks and the weapon has no ability to unbind or unseal more complex or powerful "locks".




A soft breeze, a steady rustle of the leaves as birds awoke with the calm rise of the morning sun. The day Rhapsody's eighteenth birthday began as a pleasant one; with a fair sky above, and the soft growing glow of sun as it rose further and further. Rhapsody had taken to her usual morning routine, flying all throughout her village before many had even awoke; getting her tasks done in quick succession so as to focus on the activities of the day she found greater interest in.

She'd gathered firewood with ease, and loaded the crates outside of each house accordingly; while the skies seemed clear for now, being the month of December, there was no telling when high winds or even a snowstorm may have been upon the mountain village. Once the firewood was gather, she'd quickly take to clearing the rooftops of the village homes of snow that had accumulated overnight before quickly setting upon her next task. Rhapsody would continue this in quick succession, tackling task after task, before finally finishing up just as the first besides herself in the village would awaken and emerge from their home.

"Rhapsody!" A furry faced, gray cat-like man would yell, "So busy, but on your Nameday of all days? Even you can take a break, ya know?" He'd say with a bit of a laugh as his gaze panned over the adjacent homes, taking notice of all the odd tasks that'd been completed.

Rhapsody had intended to return to the Hall of Elders, a rather large and grand building much further up the mountain where she currently lived. Having heard the familiar voice of the man who called her however, she couldn't help but to land and engage in conversation. As she touched down upon the ground, she would pat down her plain and casual, light blue dress to remove any dust, while her feathers would ruffle to shake free accumulated snow.

"Oh Father, you can't be serious?" Rhapsody would laugh with a soft smile, "Was gathering firewood this morning not your task? Waking this late, how long would it have taken you without my help?" She would tease as she crossed her arms and looked upon her adoptive father with a smirk and raised brow.

"Gah, ya got me." Rhapsody's Father would remark, rubbing his paw-like hand through the fur on his head in an awkward display as he gave a cheesy grin, "Hey, I'm lookin' ta go fishin' down by the lake later today." He would remark as he tried to change the topic, "Don't suppose my little girl will be joinin' this year?" He'd question cheerily, before suddenly becoming a bit somber, "Though, I suppose you're not so little anymore, eh? Got somethin' else planned maybe?" He finish with a sigh.

"Father-" Rhapsody would begin with a long, exaggerated sigh as her right ear twitched, "No, I most certainly am NOT 'little' any longer." She'd remark firmly; receiving a disappointed look from her father as his own ears slanted backwards, "Hehehe, but I'll always be your little girl!" She'd continue, before suddenly rushing her father into a deep hug; surprising him initially, but receiving a rather warm and grateful hug in return.

The two would continue with their conversation for a time before parting ways, with Rhapsody returning to the Hall of Elders as intended while her Father went about his business for the day; the two of them agreeing to meet with each other again down by the lake just after mid-day. While the Zoanthrope man wasn't her blood relative, he had acted as her Father since the day she could first remember. Rhapsody had been given to him and his human wife by the Elders, and the two were happy to receive her. Rhapsody had known since she was young that the two were not her real parents, but this was of no issue for her; they cared for her deeply, and she care just as much for them, that was all that mattered.

By foot, returning to the Hall of Elders would have been a somewhat trying task. The Elders had magic to take them up and down the path, but for those without, the only path was a steep, winding trek of nearly a thousand steps. It was the young who sought to improve their fortitude and resolve who usually made the climb, bringing supplies up and down the mountain as needed; Rhapsody however, had no such trial to contend with however. With her grand wings, and magic of her own, a flight up and down the mountainside was as easy as a leaf being carried upon the wind. Within less than a minute she would find herself returned to the Hall of Elders, and awaiting her outside, garbed in a thick, brown hooded cloak, was the Grand Elder himself.

"Ahh, young Rhapsody, you have returned to us." The Grand Elder would remark as he pulled back his hood, revealing himself to also be a Zoanthrope; a rather portly looking cream colored cat with dark brown fur going from his nose to his forehead, "I trust you fetched water from the well to fill the village troughs and cleared the snow from the rooftops as requested?" He would ask behind his seemingly closed eyes, and almost smug looking cat face.

"Of course, Grand Elder." Rhapsody would respond respectfully as she approached, "As well, I may have taken to a few additional tasks. Nothing too grand, just a few... expected duties, one might say!" She'd add with an expectant smile as her tail secretly swayed back and forth excitedly beneath her dress.

"Hmm, diligently attending to all your tasks for the day, are you?" The Grand Elder would remark as he stroked the long bread-like fur upon his chin, "And I suppose you would be expecting a reward for this?" He'd say, opening one of his eyes slightly as he took notice of the grin Rhapsody attempted to hold back, "No, no, you are MUCH too responsible to have done such duties for reward, yes? No, I expect one as diligent as you expects further tasks to be assigned to you, yes?" He'd continue, expertly teasing Rhapsody without missing a beat; eliciting a quick reaction from her as her ears fell back depressingly and her tail ceased it's excited swaying, "Well young one-" He'd quickly continue, turning about to face the doors of the Grand Hall to hide his own grin as he continued to speak, "I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I am afraid I have no further tasks for you this day. Alas, you will have to make due with your own devices until tomorrow." He'd finish, turning his head slightly and cracking open his eye to see Rhapsody's reaction.

"Oh...? Oh!" Rhapsody would remark; though initially disappointed by the Grand Elder's previous statement, before realizing the follow up, "How absolutely terrible! I suppose I have no other choice but to make due though!" She'd say, acting out the scene of feeling disappointed while her tail and ears gave away the truth of her excitement, "Weeeeell, then I guess I should see if maybe Father or perhaps one of the villagers have need of me! Plenty of other tasks I can find to remain diligent and all that." She'd continue as she slowly back away from the Grand Elder, ready to take flight at a moments notice; only to be immediately stopped as the Grand Elder called out once more.

"Oh Rhapsody, do wait for just one moment, I recalled one important task I did in fact have for you this day!" The Grand Elder would explain, stifling a laugh as he noticed Rhapsody nearly stumble; before taking to approach the girl to alleviate her worried smile with his next remark, "Do have a wonderful Nameday, would you?" He'd finish with a kind smile; receiving a bright, and enthusiastic smile from Rhapsody in exchange.

With an agreement to the task, Rhapsody would quickly take to departing from the Hall of Elders; having successfully confirmed that she wouldn't be allotted further tasks for the day. The Elders had been as much her family as the parents who accepted her; she felt it possible that they knew more than they let on about her origins, but she had no desire to get the information out of them. She was happy with her life, and saw no reason to search for things beyond what she had; though she found herself curious of the outside world beyond her village, she also knew her village needed her. It was such need that kept her bound to her home, and such need that had her venture down the mountain and into the shrouded woods.

A personal task she saw fit to complete, the gathering of medicinal herbs in a location otherwise out of reach to the rest of the village. While the magic fog that encompassed the woods acted as a barrier to keep out visitors, it unfortunately also acted as a barrier to keep in the villagers. Only those either gifted with the sight by the Elders or the knowledge of how to traverse the fog were capable of making it through without issue. The unique magical ability Rhapsody possessed made her one such individual with the capability of traversing the paths within fog, something she had learned quite early on. Her father as well was another individual capable of traversing the fog; as the Grounds Master of the mountainside, it was required of him to venture deep into the forest to fulfill his own duties. The fact that the two used their ability and knowledge to make for the Crystal Lake every year to fish was merely one of their father/daughter perks.

There was still time however before the two would meet up to fish; as for now, Rhapsody found herself deep within a field of flowers as the sun rose to mid-days height. She'd completed a few stray tasks as she flew through the village before making it to the forest, but now was the time to gather the herbs she sought. Potent and powerful, filled with the natural energy of the suns glow through their magical properties; while at first glance these bright, yellow plants she picked may have seemed like flowers, they were in fact herbs for the strongest of healing elixers. Though, legend in the village did speak of a special plant with far greater healing ability than one could imagine; the herb Rhapsody gathered was at least the best around in their village.

Once these herbs were gathered, Rhapsody would make haste through the forest once more; continuing through its seemingly treacherous bramble, making it deeper and deeper until finally slowing down as she came upon a small, enclosed grove. The trees overhead offered a great deal of shade, allowing only the slightest bit of light to break through the leave to the grassy hill that sat in the center of the grove. The sound of a narrow, babbling brook would break the air of silence with its light flowing water from behind the hill; while atop the hill, was a notable marker made of stone. Rhapsody would land a fair distance from the hill, pulling in her wings as she began to approach slowly. While she said no words at first, closing her eyes upon reaching the hill and taking a deep breath; upon opening her eyes and giving a soft smile, Rhapsody would reach out to pat away the dust from the stone marker.

"Hello Mother-" Rhapsody would begin softly, with the slightest crack in her voice, "I um- that is, it's my Nameday!" She'd continue, kneeling down to the small hill as she looked upon the stone marker, "As of today, I'm an adult you know? Hehe, no more fooling around, no more games!" She would say firmly, with her voice quieting as she spoke, "No more hugs... or good mornings..." She'd mutter as her chest clenched, her thoughts clearly in another place as she looked upon the stone marker with a distant gaze, "It hasn't even been a year since... since you..."

With watery eyes, Rhapsody would fall silent for the moment; allowing the gentle breeze to pass by, and taking a deep breath to calm herself. Where all had fallen silent, the nearby sounds would slowly begin to emerge once more. From the rustling leaves above, to the trickling water once more; along with the sounds of nearby chirping birds and singing crickets, nature began to speak up to rouse Rhapsody from her sullen state. She would close her eyes for a brief moment to take in the voices of nature, before taking one final deep breath and steeling her resolve once more.

"I... -ahem-, sorry about that Mother!" Rhapsody would say as she wiped her eyes, before quickly revealing a bright smile, "I hope you've been well! Father and I have been doing well ourselves, and I've done my best to continue with due diligence in the village! I've completed my studies and now take to assisting those in need." She would explain as she lifted the herbs she brought with her, "Look! I brought the herbs you asked for! Aiden has taken over as the village apothecary since you've... left." She'd remark as she placed one of the herbs down by the stone marker, "I've been working alongside him, together we're doing our best to meet your expectations! I'll be bringing him these herbs for medicine, then we'll be... or, I'll be..." Rhapsody would continue as her enthusiasm began to fade; before she would lose herself to the somber emotions once again however, she would take to standing and gaze up through the leaves above, "Anyway, I'm sorry to cut this visit short, but Aiden's expecting me! Heh, father will be as well, we have our yearly fishing trip!" She'd finish with a soft smile as she looked back down towards the stone marker.

Rhapsody had no other words to say, and would merely offer her farewells with a moment of silence and respectful prayer. The stone marker was the headstone of her deceased mother, the hill, her burial ground. Her mother, although also not related by blood, bore a striking resemblance to Rhapsody with her bright blond hair and clear blue eyes in life. The woman had been the previous village apothecary, and worked diligently to help aid and cure those of the village of their ailments. Though, perhaps as a cruel joke by the heavens, from a young age the woman had been weak herself, and hadn't been expected to live long in the world. By her early twenties, her life was expected to cease; yet when the infant Rhapsody came into her life, the woman had somehow found the strength to carry on.

For an additional seventeen years the woman would live, going well beyond all expectations as she taught a new generation the art of medicine: Rhapsody included. Unfortunately, her illness and weakness would return before Rhapsody's seventeenth birthday; and though she would live long enough to see that day pass, she would pass away quietly in the summer months before her daughters eighteenth. It was a day Rhapsody wouldn't soon forget, holding herself responsible for her lack of ability at the time. Questioning on occasion, had she only been faster and diligent in the task assigned to her back then, would her Mother yet live?

Rhapsody concluded her moment of silence and bid farewell to her mother; now, she had taken back through the forest and made to return to the village. Her next destination? None other than the Apothecary's Hut; once run by her mother, but now run by her childhood friend, Aiden. While Rhapsody was by no means estranged from any she had grown up with in the village, her friendship with Aiden ran much deeper than with any other. Be it as rivals in their training, or comrades in their studies; the two shared a bond that went beyond that of mere friends. Though, as to what the deeper meaning behind that bond was, the two remained ever oblivious; seeking only to encourage one another as they continued with their adventures.

Upon arriving at the Apothecary's Hut, Rhapsody would enter without hesitation; her sight immediately greeted by the form of her friend, Aiden. Standing over seven feet tall, with a grand, golden brown mane and rather sturdy build, it would be clear to any that this man was a Zoanthrope of a specific species; that of a lion. Strange though the sight was to see such a large, beastly individual taking to such a delicate task such as potion brewing and medicine making, it was a sight Rhapsody was most accustomed to. There had been plenty with even stranger interests that didn't mesh with their appearances, so there was no oddity in the sight of Aiden enjoying his field of study. The size of the hut suited Rhapsody quite well, even with her wings; Aiden however, seemed to have no choice but to hunch over, lest his head break through the roof. As such, it made for quite the humorous sight as he heard the door open behind him and took to shuffling about in an attempt to merely turn.

"Heheh, ya know, you CAN expand the hut a bit. I doubt Mother would mind!" Rhapsody would state as she leaned against the doorway and merely took in the sight of the overgrown cat.

"And destroy the history around us!? NEVER!" Aiden would exclaim firmly; nearly roaring as he finally turned around and took a seat upon the floor beside a table, "This hut has a STRONG and STORIED history within the village! From your Mother, to the Elder before her and so on! All the master apothecary's of our village used this hut as is for generations, and I have no intention to besmirch that time honored tradition!" He'd explain with a huff, "Now then, do you have the herbs I requested?" He'd ask curiously as an obvious look of enthusiasm overtook him.

"How is it that you care more about the unchanged state of this place than me?" Rhapsody would remark with a playful sigh before revealing the herbs, "Yeah, I got your herbs right here, and more than enough to make some strong medicine to last the village through winter three times over." She'd say happily as she walked inside and placed the herbs upon the table; with Aiden quickly snatching them up excitedly.

"Amazing Rhap!! The quantity, the purity!!" He'd exclaim as he examined the herbs, "Something you could only find DEEP within the shrouded woods, yes? Bah! If only I was allow to leave, I could certainly have found these on my own!" He'd exclaim with another deep huff, "Just imagine the potions I could brew if I had access to all those ingredients from the deeper forest!" He'd finish as he scooted upon the floor, turning away from the center table to face a nearby desk with other ingredients delicately strewn about it.

"Ya know the Grand Elder's gonna be rather upset with me if he finds out I did this for you... right?" Rhapsody would remark with a laugh as she watched Aiden quickly get to work with dismantling one of the herbs, "Still, hopefully the winter medicine will stave off his... anger?" She'd question, "Hmm... I dunno what he gets, maybe it's not really angry... still, whatever it is, I don't wanna experience it!" She'd laugh before sauntering over and leaning against Aiden's massive back, "Sooooooo, since I gotcha the herb you wanted... didja perhaps get ME something?" Rhapsody would finally ask casually, hinting towards a previously agreed upon arrangement between the two.

"Something for-? Oh, yes! As if I'd forget." Aiden would reply as his tail reached up and brushed a cabinet door open, "Catch!" He'd say suddenly, with his tail then knocking out a small jar from the cabinet in Rhapsody's direction, "As promised, this concoction is sure to be the best bait you've ever used! I don't know what kind of fish are in that lake of yours, but you're bound to experience more than you've ever handled before." He'd remark, while maintaining his focus upon his work; with Rhapsody quickly catching the small jar as she brimmed with enthusiasm.

"Ohhh! Thank you Aiden!!" Rhapsody would exclaim as she swiftly hugged Aiden from behind.

"Yes, yes, Happy Nameday and all that."

Rhapsody had completed another task on her to-do list for the day, and had ensured a potentially perfect afternoon with her father during their fishing trip. She would remain with Aiden for a time, conversing a while longer about a number of different topics; though Aiden may have seemed solely invested in his work at first glance, Rhapsody knew him well enough to know how easily he could multitask. The two would pitch ideas as Rhapsody observed his distilling of the special herb, noting his skill as an apothecary. As the sun reached it's apex in the sky however, and began to crest, Rhapsody would finally take her leave from the hut and ascend to the skies above to overlook the village.

As she moved higher and higher, the grand horizon would come into view; the suns warm bask of light would break pleasantly through the moving clouds. The greenery of the forest that spanned in all directions was always and tranquil sight, and from her vantage point in the sky, Rhapsody felt like she could see it all. From the strange white tower far off in the distance that seemed to stretch on for eternity, to the nearby lake that she was to meet her father at for their trip; everything felt so near, and yet so far. Had she been allowed to, she could simply fly over the horizon and arrive at any destination she so desired; unfortunately, the magical properties of the fog conjured by the Elders did not allow this.

While at first glance, there appeared to be no fog at all, however once one neared the forest the fog would appear to hinder you without hesitation. Stopping the advance of villager and outsider alike, the fog had an even stranger magic about it, turning around those who could not follow the correct paths through the forest. Even from high above the sky as Rhapsody was, should she had attempted to fly over the forest the fog would appear to stop her; and should any who entered stray from the path, they would find themselves somehow returned to the start of their journey no matter how straight a line they seemed to move.

It was thanks to Rhapsody's sight and knowledge that she could travel the forest without issue, and now, it was finally time to head off to meet with her Father; before her departure however, she merely wanted to ensure the safety of the village. Looking down below, she could see the entirety of the village she called home; growing up, it had always seemed so large, and it had certainly grown in recent years. Yet now, as she looked down upon it, it seemed so incredibly small. She had no idea just how small her village was compared to what existed outside the boundaries of the forest, but while curious, it wasn't something she concerned herself with. So long as those she cared about were safe, she didn't need to know what lie out in the greater world.

As she slowly descended from the sky, she would take in the peaceful sight of both Human and Zoanthrope alike going about their days. While adults tended to their various tasks, the children would run around playing without worry. All seemed well within the village, and it seemed none were in need of additional assistance; yet as Rhapsody attempted to breathe a short sigh of relief, something would tug at her instincts. Her ears would begin twitching, as if hearing something far too faint to distinguish, but it was something that gave her a feeling of unease. For the moment, Rhapsody would ignore the feeling; after all, the village seemed well, so there was hardly reason to rile herself up over nothing.

Touching down upon the ground before the forest entrance, Rhapsody would begin her journey down the proper path. While she may have had the ability to traverse the forest, even for her the journey throughout it was tedious; she was not immune to the magic of the fog, and one wrong step would see her sent back as any other. The path was long and winding, even with how near the lake actually was, it would take several minutes even in flight to finish the trail; but it was always a pleasant walk, and one she enjoyed to take on these yearly fishing trips. Though as she continued down the path, her ears would continue to twitch as if hearing something, and the uneasy feeling would grow.

She felt that her worry was unwarranted, but in spite of that she would take to flight down the path to quicken her pace. She didn't know what it was that bothered her, but drawing nearer to the lake, the indistinguishable sound became slightly more clear; only serving to cause Rhapsody further worry as she sped down through the forest. Finally, midway down the path, she would hear clearly what it was that had been giving her such a feeling of unease; an echoing roar that caused the trees to tremble, and now, and accompanying yell that caused Rhapsody's heart to skip a beat.

"HEEEEELP!!!"

A familiar voice would cry out for aid, her fathers voice, with a fear to it that she had never heard before! Rhapsody's eyes would focus, and her wings would beat with incredible speed as she flew down the path as quickly as caution would allow. A strong worry at her inability to move faster clutched painfully at her heart; but throwing caution to the wind now would have only meant leaving her father alone to deal with whatever his cries for help were about. Should she have strayed from the path and been returned to the forest entrance, she'd have only taken that much longer; as she emerged from the forest to the entrance of the lake however, the worry she felt would take shape by the sight that immediately greeted her.

"FATHER!!!" Rhapsody would call out, unfortunately too late to stop what transpired next as her gaze locked onto her fathers form.

A massive beast like no other she'd ever seen loomed, it's massive, clawed paw coming down with incredible speed and strength to swipe at her father. His body bashed by the strike, and sent flying off, slamming into a tree before falling limp to the ground beneath. The beast would release and incredible roar that bellowed through the woods, shaking leaves from their trees with its power, as if giving a cry of victory. Rhapsody herself had already begun to move; while too late to stop the attack against her father, she would not allow the beast to devour him. With all the speed she could muster, she had flown to pick up her father and moved as quickly as she could to escape the lake; taking to follow the path once more. From the corner of her eye just before leaving the lake, Rhapsody would take notice of the trees of the opposite side of the lake; seemingly destroyed as if something had torn through them, the beast no doubt.

"Father!" Rhapsody would call out as she attempted to readjust the position she held her father; flying awkwardly as she tried to carry him on her back, "Answer me, please! Dad! Come on!!" She would plead as she seemed to drop from flight due to the difficulty in carrying the man.

"R... Rhap...sody?" Her father would finally answer with a cough, opening his eyes slightly as he struggled to breathe.

"Dad!! We're heading to the village, we'll be safe there!!" Rhapsody would exclaim, kicking off from the ground as she ran to continuously return to flight momentarily to keep up her pace, "You're gonna be okay, I promise!!"

Once more, the bellowing roar of the beast would sound out; muffled by the forest as it was, with how near Rhapsody was she could now hear it clearly. The sounds of falling trees and echoing chains seemed to fill the air immediately after; the beast was giving chase... but how?

"No... Rhap-" Her father would begin, coughing with pain as he attempted to speak, "The village... don't lead it... to-" He'd continue, coughing further before falling silent.

"Dad? Dad!?"

Rhapsody would come to a stop; while her father hadn't fully explained, she was able to understand the situation. The beast was locked onto them and was approaching in spite of the magic of the fog; while she didn't know how, she knew that if they continued at this rate then the beast would become a danger for the village. Moving towards a tree, Rhapsody would set her father down gently against it; his breathing was shallow, but she knew she had no other choice.

"D... -ahem-, father, stay safe. I'll be back for you." Rhapsody would say firmly as she backed away from her father and turned her gaze back down the path towards the direction of the beast.

The forest seemed to cry out, though what it spoke was a mystery to Rhapsody; she could vaguely interpret its meaning however, context of the beast as it tore through making the message as clear as it needed to be. Taking flight, Rhapsody would rush down the trail and in mere moments would find herself face to face with the beast that had assailed her father. The beast had noticed her instantly, and with a mighty roar would make to strike; with Rhapsody's superior speed and maneuverability however, she would dodge the strike with ease. Flying over the beast, she would kick off from the back of it's massive head to provoke it before flying down the trail back to the lake; a successful action as the beast seemed to give chase. Once the two had returned to the lake, Rhapsody would turn to face her new foe; now properly witnessing the beast in its entirety.

Towering higher than any house in the village, the beast had the appearance much like that of a bear. It's fur was a an eerie shade of a dark grayish-blue, and its eyes a bright red. From it's snout, a strange carapace seems to extend up its face and down its spine; that same carapace seem to be in several places on his body, almost like a spiky armor. What stood out the most however were the massive chains that lined its body; as the beast moved, the chains shook and jostled about as if loose, yet at the same time, these chains seemed to cling to the beast like magic. All that seemed to hold the chains together was a lock that rested at the center of the beasts chest, but none of what Rhapsody could make of the creatures appearance explained why it was seemingly immune to the magic of the forest.

"Why have you come here!?!" Rhapsody would call out as she attempted to maintain distance from the beast, "Why have you attacked my father!? We've done nothing to you!"

The beast would merely roar, if it gave any response at all, it was far to incomprehensible for Rhapsody to understand. She was at a loss for what to do next; while it may have been successfully provoked, it had been mostly unfazed by the kick she'd delivered earlier. As well, if it was an animal of the forest, the last thing she wanted was to truly harm it. With no other choice, Rhapsody took to flying over the lake towards the direction of the previously seen destroyed trees. This was the direction the beast had likely emerged from, so she hoped to lure return the creature to whence it came. The creature would give chase, but as Rhapsody neared the fallen trees she would be forced to stop as the fog began to shroud her path.

It felt impossible, while the fallen trees may have made a path for her to follow, it was not a path allowed by the fog. Entering the fog would have merely returned her to the entrance of the lake where she had previously emerged. Rhapsody would turn to face the beast once more as it charged through the lake with ease; she would back slightly into the fog, feeling the strange magic upon her wings as she did so. Having the fog whisk her back to the entrance of the lake was a fair idea, if at least to stall the beast; should it had chosen to continue pursuing her however, she'd need to come up with another plan.

Be it good or bad, as luck would have it, as the beast drew nearer the fog would rescind; pulling back and vanishing, and along with it, so too would the magic that trapped them. Rhapsody would take the opportunity presented to her to escape, continuing down the path of fallen trees and luring the beast further away from the lake. The escape was difficult; Rhapsody needed to stay within a close proximity with the constantly attacking beast lest she fall into the fog and be whisked away. She remained vigilant however, maintaining focus and successfully avoiding the beasts attacks as they moved further and further through the woods until finally, the fog would cease.

"Please! If you are an animal of the forest I know you can understand the intent of my words! Cease your attacks, calm yourself!" Rhapsody would plead as the two emerged into a vast clearing of grassy flatland.

With the fog removed, Rhapsody would take quickly into the sky above; receiving a deafening roar of anger from the beast. While she at first remained focus on her adversary, the sight of what lay in this field of grass would quickly catch her eye. Strange vehicles, clawed into, crushed, and toppled; cages strewn about with various animals seeking to escape. The most notable of what Rhapsody noticed was that of a broken cage, and a deceased bear that lie within; outside the broken cage, a man garbed in an unfamiliar clothing, lying motionless upon the ground, with a weapon a short distance from his hand, crushed and mangled.

What... is all this? Rhapsody think to herself as she began to hear the small animals crying out desperately for aid, "Hunters? What-?" She'd question as she tried to make sense of the words and pleas that the many animals spoke.

It wasn't merely Rhapsody who had taken notice of everything however, but the Beast as well. All was steadily become clear to Rhapsody as to the origin of this beast. It's strange appearance and even stranger ability; it was not bound by the magic of the Elders because the beast itself was magic. A dark magic, born from the loss of it's own life; it was a stretch for Rhapsody to assume, but the beast was most likely the vengeful spirit of the fallen bear. Hunters, or poachers rather, had made it to the forests edge; they had killed the bear as it protected its young, but once the spirit of the bear emerged, those poachers were quickly dispatched. Those that fled had chosen to run into the fog of the woods, with the nearby bear keeping the magic from sending them back; such a series of events had led the bear deeper into the woods until it caught sight of Rhapsody's father.

"I see now." Rhapsody would mutter as she quickly came to a possible conclusion of the events.

In spite of this knowledge however, the matter of the bears vengeful spirit had yet to be handled. Now, more than ever, Rhapsody needed to take action; the bear had caught the cries from the caged animals, and had begun to charge. There was no way Rhapsody could possibly lift and evacuate any of these animals while they remained caged, but she had no other choice but the act! Her body would move, shooting down from the sky as quickly as she could and placing herself between the vengeful spirit and its targets; armed with only her strong desire to protect the innocent, caged creatures, Rhapsody would land between one of the cages and the spirit as it struck. Closing her eyes, Rhapsody prepared for the worst, but as the spirits massive clawed paw came down to maul the girl, something would change...

First, a flash of light; even with her eyes closed, Rhapsody could feel the brilliance of this light as it shone, albeit briefly. Then a warmth that shot through her body; was it blood? No, it was something else... something pleasant, an energy akin to her own magic that sought to empower her. She gripped firmly onto something she had not been holding previously; a shield? A sword? She felt the weight of the spirits paw attempting to press down upon whatever it was she held; as she opened her eyes, she saw it. What she held was a curious item, shaped like a sword but without a blade; at the end of the shaft, a pointed design of some kind.

An axe? Rhapsody thought as the bear suddenly recoiled and backed away.

Rhapsody was awarded the briefest of moments to examine what she held and strangely enough, it nearly resembled that of an old Key. It wasn't merely the power she felt nor the weapon she held that had changed however; within the reflection of the weapons shining metal, she noticed it, and was quick to then examine herself. The entirety of her attire had changed; no longer was she garbed in a simple and plain light blue dress. Instead, from head to toe she now found herself clad in a fabric she'd never once laid eyes on. She had no idea what to make of the attire, but unfortunately had no time to think further about it. She'd successfully held off the spirit, but that didn't mean the danger had passed; the low building growl of the spirit would take her attention once more, and Rhapsody would ready herself for another potential attack.

"Please stop!" Rhapsody would call out, "You're angry, I can sense that, but these animals are the same as you once were!" She exclaimed, "They're trapped, and afraid! Please, let me help them, let me help you!"

The spirit would roar once again, standing tall on its back legs and steeling itself to strike. While the change in Rhapsody's attire and power had momentarily startled it, it was now ready to continue on its destructive path. With another swing of its paw, the spirit would make to send Rhapsody flying; but with an equally swift swing of Rhapsody's weapon, the strike would be parried. The two would seemingly be matched in power as their strikes met, causing their attacks to bounce off each other before the same motion would be repeated. Over and over again the spirit would strike, with Rhapsody parrying each and every time' while their powers were matched, it was Rhapsody who seemed to hold the superior speed in the moment. Unfortunately, it was all she could do to keep the spirit at bay; she couldn't free the animals she protected at this rate, and sooner or later she knew she would lose the stamina to continue. With no other choice, in between strikes, Rhapsody would make her move.

"HAAA!!" She'd cry as she parried yet another strike, before lunging straight at the bear, "Calm... DOWN!!!" She'd yell, swinging her weapon upwards towards the bears face, successfully landing her blow and sending the spirit toppling backwards.

Rhapsody made to quickly turn about in an attempt to free what animals she could, however upon the spirit falling back, the weapon Rhapsody held would sudden pull at her hand; tugging her in the direction of the spirit, and aiming itself towards the lock that kept the spirit bound in chains. So powerful was the pull of the weapon that Rhapsody nearly found herself pulled from the air; yet despite the desire to do so, her hand would not release its hold upon the weapons grip.

"What!? What is this? Are you alive or something!?" Rhapsody would question towards the weapon as she was pulled her dangerously close to the steadily rising spirit.

Standing back to its feet, the bear would reach up to slash at Rhapsody once more; luckily, the weapon she held would cease its pull and allow her the freedom of movement to dodge the strike. It was clear the weapon wanted something to do with the lock upon the bear, but there was no way it could have opened said lock, even if the weapon WAS shaped like a key! In spite of the rather large size of the lock and chains that bound the bear, the key shaped weapon was far too large to act as an actual key for it; but with no other idea in mind, Rhapsody decided to follow the will of the weapon she held, at least until she could find a better solution.

Flying higher into the air to avoid the spirits attacks, Rhapsody sought to dash in for another strike against the spirit. If she could knock it back with the same force as before, then she could perhaps rush the lock it wore with her weapon. To her surprise however, the attention of the spirit was immediately stolen from her by the cry of a pair of animals in a nearby cage. It was a small cage directly beside the broken cage that held the deceased bear and one much too small for the two animals it held within; two cubs crying out desperately for their mother, two bear cubs, that had caused the spirit to give chase in a wild frenzy. Recognizing neither friend nor foe, all the spirit had was the memory of what was lost upon its death; and with the sight and sound of these bear cubs, the vengeful feelings of spite and regret it held were amplified tenfold.

"NO, DONT!!!" Rhapsody would cry out, rushing as quickly as she could to out pace the charging spirit.

Now upon the cage which held the cubs, the spirit made to strike; Rhapsody would arrive upon the cage at the exact moment of the attack, covering the scared cubs with wings outstretched to shield them. She expected a pain like no other to rack her form, but to her surprise, the strike never came. Opening her eyes, she took notice of her outstretched arm which held her key shaped weapon in its hand; the weapon itself directly pointing at the lock upon the spirit, shooting an unknown light into the locks keyhole. First silence, then a click; the light from the weapon would fade, and the lock upon the spirit would be unbound.

Rhapsody gasped heavily as she caught her breath, her heart racing from the ordeal; as the spirit took several steps back however, steadily decreasing in size, it seemed like the battle had come to an end. The chains that trapped the bears spirit and bound it to reality would fall apart, vanishing as they hit the ground; the malformed beast would return to its original form, with the mutations of its previously terrifying visage fading. Though the bears spirit spoke no words, the look in its eyes expressed gratitude. The bear spirit would approach the cage which held its cubs, nuzzling its snout against them happily, before eventually fading away, leaving nothing else behind.

The cries of the animals would lessen with the threat to them having vanished, and the area would fall quiet. Rhapsody would drop to her knees and take a deep breath as her wings splayed out beside her as she began to calm; her body exhausted from the constant movement and battle, she wanted nothing more than to now lay down and fall fast asleep. There was no rest to be had for her however; her father still lay unguarded in the forest, and the caged animals weren't about to free themselves. Rising back to her feet, Rhapsody would examine the cages; looking for weak points that she could strike to potentially break the containment's open. Her weapon however, had a much more delicate solution in mind; as she examined the cage which held the bear cubs, the weapon would pull at her hand, aiming towards the direction of the cages lock. Recalling the lock upon the bear, Rhapsody would take a step back, and attempt to replicate the same actions as before.

Keyblade in hand, Rhapsody would extend her arm towards one of the cages; and with no added effort of her own, alongside a small flash, a beam of light would shoot from the tip of the Keyblade and into the keyhole of the cages lock. With a familiar click, the cage would be unlocked and the bear cubs would be free; she would repeat this process with each of the cages, freeing all the animals within, and allowing them all to escape back into the forest. The cubs however, would remain behind with their mothers corpse, now aimless and alone.

"I'm sorry little cubs." Rhapsody would say softly as she knelt down beside the bear cubs; her wings splaying out to hug the both of them, "Had I come sooner, maybe none of this would have happened... I just don't know." She'd continue somberly, taking a deep breath to calm herself as she pushed aside the thoughts of what could have been, "I must go now, I'm sorry there's little more I can do for you." She'd state, rising up and backing away from the cubs, "Please, be well." She'd finish, before turning around and making her way back into the shrouded forest.

Whether the bear cubs understood her words or not was impossible to say, but Rhapsody didn't need to understand the cubs to know their sorrow. As she left them, she would hear their tiny cries as they mourned the loss of their mother. There was still one left to help however, and Rhapsody had already left that person alone for far too long. As she entered the forest, she would be completely shrouded in fog; the magics of the fog would begin to take hold, and as she flew she would eventually find herself emerging from the last place she had willing exited the fog, the entrance to the lake. Without hesitation, she would turn back to the trail newly appeared behind her, ignoring the confusion of the magic; rushing down the trail, she would find her Father and from there, it was a simple matter to return to the village.

Upon her return, she would be met with both concerned and curious looks from the villagers; once they had taken notice of her Fathers condition however, all hands would move to aid the two. Rhapsody would make to performing basic medical care as she awaited the Elders; properly addressing the large wounds her Father had received, her heart skipping a beat as she finally noticed just how bad the wounds were. It wouldn't take long for the Elders to arrive, accompanied by Aiden as well for his medical expertise; they would take Rhapsody's Father back to his home, where they would begin to help him properly. Finally, Rhapsody's exhaustion would catch up with her; with her Father now in capable hands, Rhapsody would drop down and lean against the wall outside the house, taking a rest for the first time in what felt like hours.

The weapon she had held would vanish, yet the new attire that had formed upon her would remain. The sun had long since begun to crest over the horizon, with the afternoon giving way to evening. As Rhapsody sat against the wall, children would visit to ask her both about her appearance and experience; unfortunately for them, while she was still capable of returning their smiles with on of her own, she was far too exhausted to tell the tale of her harrowing experience. Eventually, her eyes would shut, and she would succumb to sleep. She would finally get the rest she so desperately needed, even if it wasn't the rest she currently wanted.

Hours later, Rhapsody would finally awaken to the gentle nudge of Aiden's paw.

"Rhapsody? Are you okay?" Aiden would ask as he gently pushed aside the hair from Rhapsody's face.

Though initially confused, the rest had done well to rejuvenate the girl and return her strength. Her eyes would flicker open and adjust to the dark lighting of the outdoors; her pupils narrowing as she realized night had fallen. She moved her arm towards her side as she attempted to rise, stopping as she felt the tug of a blanket against her and Aiden's own massive paw upon her shoulder as he prevented her from moving further.

"A moment Rhap, we need to speak... you'll want to be sitting for this."

Words she'd once heard before from a village Elder, words that caused her heart to sink as her gaze fixed upon Aiden. She would open her mouth, but no words would come; hesitating for a few moments longer, Rhapsody would swallow back her worry and eventually speak.

"Is it about father?" She'd say softly, her eyes narrowing as she assumed the worst.

"It is." Aiden would nod, "I'm sorry... if I had only had the chance to tend to him sooner, then-"

"So I failed him? I was too late, once again?" Rhapsody would interrupt, cursing her failings, the same failings that had led to her mothers death, "I'm always too late, always! And now-! ... now..." She'd exclaim as a deep pain overtook her before quickly falling silent.

"Calm yourself Rhapsody, and listen!" Aiden would quickly interject, "Thanks to the herbs you brought me, your father yet lives!" He'd quickly explain, "But he sleeps now, and I'm afraid he might never wake. His wounds were severe, and the concussion he suffered was difficult on his already weakened body. While you may have been too late to afford him timely treatment, it is a boon that he still lives!" Aiden would cheer, attempting to rouse Rhapsody's spirit, "I am... sorry to say that the medicine I've created though, simply isn't strong enough to treat him further." He'd finish, rising up from Rhapsody's side.

"Then... what is to be done?" Rhapsody would question, rising up from her seated position and taking a deep breath to steel herself, "I would not have my father live the remainder of his days trapped within a dream!" She'd say firmly, tossing aside the blanket that had been upon her, "Tell me what I must do, and I shall see it done!"

A smirk would come to Aiden's face as Rhapsody spoke; his worries had been alleviated with the resolve he felt from his friend. He expected the worst, with the girl having already lost her mother as well; but it was clear he understood her less than he realized. Her spirit remained strong, even as she regretted her failings; if there was a chance to help another, she would take it.

"Go to the Hall of Elders." Aiden would say as he moved towards the front door of the house, "The Grand Elder will tell you more, in the meantime, I shall look after your father, no matter how long." He'd say with a smile; immediately being met with a swift hug from Rhapsody, with the girl shoving her face into the fur of his chest to hide her steadily building tears.

"Thank you, Aiden." Rhapsody would say softly as Aiden hesitantly moved his arm to lightly stroke the top of her head.

With that, Rhapsody would waste no further time; the failures of her speed had already cost her much, she would not allow further failure to cost her father the chance at continuing his life. Rhapsody would rush through the sky back up towards the Hall of Elders, entering the hall with haste and moving towards the main corridor where she knew the Grand Elder meditated. As expected, upon her arrival, she would be met with the Grand Elder; his expression as unchanging as ever, though with how he sat within the hall, it was clear he had been awaiting Rhapsody's arrival.

"Grand Elder!" Rhapsody would call out as she landed, taking a few steps forward before quickly bowing and rising up again, "Aiden told me to speak with you! He said you could help me, that you knew how to wake my father!" She'd exclaim with an obvious impatience to the tone of her words.

"Oh? The young lion said all that, did he?" The Grand Elder would say casually as he stroked his beard.

"Please! Tell me what I must do, I've no time! I must make haste, I must-" Rhapsody would speak again with further impatience before being interrupted with a sudden whack on the head by the Grand Elders walking stick, "D'yow!? Why did you-!?"

"Rhapsody, you forget yourself!" The Grand Elder would speak up, "Where has your respect gone? Has growing into your power changed you so much that you would forsake any and all for your own selfish needs and desires!?" He'd remark firmly as his eyes opened slightly to look upon the girl.

"Selfish!?" Rhapsody would remark, a small fury building within her before a cool wind would blow over, calming her mind, "Selfish." She'd repeat, thinking over the word and her own actions.

She wanted nothing more than to help her father, but she was a guardian to all of the villagers, not just one. She was raised to use her magic to help them, to protect them as the Elders before her had. Had she stopped caring for the rest of the villagers? No, her feelings hadn't changed; but did helping her father mean forsaking them?

"I am... sorry, for my disrespect, Grand Elder." Rhapsody would say with a pained expression through gritted teeth as she lowered her head, "I care deeply for my Father, but I still care deeply for all of my friends and family of this village." She would explain calmly, "One of the villagers, the Grounds Master, is in trouble; he is a well loved and needed member of our community." She would continue, referring to her father by the position he held within the village, "If the means is available to me, then I would use my power to aid him; for the sake of bringing a smile to all those of the village, and keeping them safe." She'd finished firmly, lifting her head to reveal to the Grand Elder the determined look in her eyes.

The Grand Elder would smile, before giving the girl a nod; rising to his feet, the air around him would change as he looked upon Rhapsody with a serious expression like one he'd never worn before.

"I see, this is true. The position of the Grounds Master isn't one so easily replaced, and without, we would have to make do with what little resources we have." The Grand Elder would begin as he feigned contemplation, "Rhapsody, there are dangers beyond the woods that protect our village like none you've ever known. Our safety is not only thanks to our seclusion, but thanks to the presence of our Planets Guardian who lives in the distance." He'd explain, "If you are to awaken your father, then you are to find this guardian and receive his blessing. Without it, you will never have the means to save him." He'd say firmly as he opened his eyes completely, looking upon Rhapsody worriedly as he placed his paw upon her head, "Should you accept, then you are to leave this village without delay, as many have before you. Gain the knowledge you require, and find the means to protect. Undo your failures, and return to your fathers side one day to save him."

"I accept." Rhapsody would say firmly with no hesitation, prompting an immediate reaction from the Grand Elder.

"Very Well." The Grand Elder would state, with a light emitting from his paw; enveloping Rhapsody's form momentarily before fading, "Then go now, do not allow yourself to be late once again." He'd say, turning around and facing a door on the far side of the room that seemed to open on it's own.

From within the newly opened door, a thick fog would roll out; it was impossible to make out what was beyond the fog, but the magic felt just as potent as the fog of the forest. Rhapsody would move past the Grand Elder, approaching the fog without delay; as she neared, and felt the fogs magic, she would stop for only a moment. Turning back towards the Grand Elder, she would rush at quickly him, giving him a firm hug in spite of how disrespectful it may have technically been. She would say nothing more, but wish for the safety of the village and its people while she was gone, before quickly backing away from the Grand Elder and taking a short breath as she cleared her mind.

With a firm nod, she would turn back towards the doorway and quickly rush through; the doors slamming shut almost immediately upon her exit. Before closing, Rhapsody was sure she'd heard something from the Grand Elder; in her haste however, she'd failed to make out his words. Now, she flew through the fog with as much speed as she could muster; her wings beating more and more powerfully as she increased her pace. She felt the familiar magic of the fog enveloping her, and before she knew it, she would finally emerge from the its magical shroud.

Far, far from her people, from her village, from her forest; a thick fog would roll over a sandy beach beside the calm ocean in the dead of night. From this fog, Rhapsody would rush out and be met with the sight of the expansive sea. The fog would recoil, vanishing from sight, and Rhapsody would be free to explore the wider world at large. She would fly high into the sky to get an idea as to her surroundings; becoming filled with awe at all she saw. From the sparking ocean that reflected the nights sky; to the clearest moon above unlike any she'd ever witnessed. Whether she knew it or not, this was the start of her adventures; she had a mission now, and she vowed to complete that mission.

As to where to start? She had no idea... Her only clue? The existence of a guardian who looked after the entire planet...