I stood in a type of dreamscape. The only thing for miles or even further is grassy fields. I summoned Two Become One and set it on the ground. I focused on it and tried to summon another keyblade but nothing happened, "You are not ready." a voice, that sounded like a female and male mixed, echoed around me.
"Who are you?" I called out.
"I am the one you call, Two Become One. You are not ready to move to my next stage of power."
"Why did you choose me if I couldn't wield you to your fullest potential?"
"Because, only those who have to work for their power, will respect it. I have always been this way with all of my wielders, as you would say." I looked at the keyblade on the ground, "My ability, Light & darkness, gives my wielders two forms. One is Anti, a form of darkness, and the other is of light. I will not reveal the truth of that form until you are ready for it."
"So how do I become ready?"
"You will know when it is time, but until then you are needed to protect these ponies you have come to know." before I could respond the world fell apart around me.
*****
I could hear a faint beeping noise on my right. I groaned as feeling returned to my body. I was sore. I suddenly felt like I was choking so I reached towards my face and felt a tube going into my mouth, and I pulled it out, "What happened?" I asked to no anvil. The only other sound in the room, or wherever I am, was the beeping. I slowly forced my heavy eyelids open and took in the dark room. I guess that I am in a hospital. I notice that there is a chair in the corner of the room, and in the chair is a sleeping Luna, who's eyes were red, "I guess that she took me getting hurt hard." I said quietly.
I could hear voices outside the room, "Mistress Luna said that none are to enter this room without her permission." was that Midnight.
"Ōkami's heartrate increased slightly at the same time as a sudden spike of mental activity. I have to make sure that he is alright." a mare said.
"I don't care. If anything was to go wrong Mistress Luna would have came get someone." I had enough of this. I pulled the tabs for the heart monitor off, and removed the IV from my arms. I slowly stood on shaking legs and made my way to the door. I pulled it open and walked behind Midnight, "You two are so loud you could wake a dead person." I said in her ear before the white and red mare could say anything.
Midnight jumped and spun around, "Master Ōkami!" she yelped in surprise.
"With all due respect you should be in bed." the white and red mare said, who I assume is a nurse.
"With all due respect I don't care. I have a job to do, and I will do it." I said defiantly. I honestly didn't expect this to work but I hope it does.
"Well you are going back into your room resting. I don't care how you feel about it." the nurse snapped. Little pony has some bite, I could have some fun with this.
Suddenly the nurse collapsed and I looked at Midnight, "What she was annoying me. I didn't hurt her, just knocked her out."
I sighed, "I guess we should go wake Luna."
"Probably best if you did that on your own. The last time someone was inside that room without her permission they almost ended up in a room of their own."
"That sounds about right." I walked back into the room and made my way to Luna. I place a hand on her side and shook her gently, "Time to wake up." I said softly as she started to stir.
She looked at me and smiled, "Shouldn't you be in bed?" she asked softly.
"The nurse said that I should and I told her I didn't care. I have things to do." I responded making her giggle, "So shall we leave?"
"Yes. I really don't like hospitals." she said.
"Whelp lets get going then." I helped her up and started walking out the room. I stepped over the sleeping nurse, and Luna gasped, "Don't worry she is just knocked out." I said receiving an 'oh' from Luna before she followed me out. As we walked down the hall of the hospital I noticed a large number of thestrals in armor, all of which saluted me and Luna, as we passed, "When did they get here?"
"Not long after I brought you here and half the town followed. They have been guarding the building for the past two days." Luna said from right behind me.
"So I have just slept for two days? Neat. I guess I should step up my game on finding more Lunar-Key Guards." I stopped and snapped my fingers, "Before I forget would you like to be part of the first batch of recruits? I need to build my forces before I can even think of trying to bring Seresutia back to the light. Core corrupted her, so it is my job to bring her back to the only one in this world who truly knows her." I put my hand on my mouth once I realized that I said her name, "I remember. That must be why I could say it when I talked to God in my head when he gave me another of his lectures on what he thinks will happen."
"Her name is beautiful." Luna said.
"Yeah it is. Her great grandmother shared that name with her. In her family it was tradition for the eldest living on the father's side to name the first born child." I said, "But that is not really important, right now. I need my list of people to evaluate, but first I need your answer."
"Well I don't think that me fighting is the best idea, yeah I do like defending others like you do, but in a battle of light and darkness I might be a problem."
'She is right. Her heart is full of darkness, but she is not trying to destroy things. Most interesting.' I jumped a little when I heard One's voice in my head.
"If that is your choice than so be it, but if you ever change your mind then just say something." we started walking again. I looked out the window and saw that the sun was rising over the town. It did not take us very long to reach the lobby. The mare at the desk had to look twice before she pressed a button and some ponies in white jackets came out, "I am leaving. No you can't convince me to stay, and don't try to knock me out with any spells." I walked out the font door and was quickly flanked by thestrals, "I liked it better when I couldn't see you guys when y'all were guarding me." they took the hint and vanished, "So anything interesting happened while I was asleep?"
"Other than Discord returning nothing really." I stopped and looked at her.
"You mean the guy you and your sister turned to stone before I got here?"
"Yeah, but the new bearers of the Elements of Harmony turned him back to stone."
"Ok, I'll look into the exact events later, lets just get home. I need to change." we started walking again. Once we got into the town proper, many ponies started applauding me as I walked by.
"You are a hero to them. Even though you almost failed they all look up to you for destroying the heartless. While there is a few who don't like you and think that you should have let the guard fight it." I laughed a little and looked at the ponies and saw one who had his nose up.
"Was it that prick over there?" I asked pointing at him.
"Yeah. His name is Filthy Rich and is the resident rich pony. The only one's better off are us, only because of all those old Equestrian bits you had."
I put my hands in my pocket and started walking towards Filthy. Many ponies gasped when they saw where I was going, but he has yet to notice me. Man he is in for a surprise. I cleared my throat, "Excuse me Mr. Rich." he looked at me and his eyes went wide, "It is not polite to insult others when they defended your sorry hide." was all I said before I punched him in the face, "I don't care if you call the guards on me for that either. They probably don't like you anyway." I casually walk my way back to Luna, who's jaw was almost touching the ground.
"Was that really necessary?" Luna asked when I got close, and kept walking towards our house.
"Yeah. He was a prick. Every prick deserves a punch to the face at least once." I responded casually, "How many of your thestrals want keyblades?"
"Quite a few actually. At the rate they are signing up I'd almost recommend having a barracks built for them."
"Not a bad idea. Notify the Mayor that we are expanding the town boarders to include the old castle. I will try and get in touch with Zeke and see if he can help with the process any."
"Why that place?" she asked as our home came into view.
"Because, it is away from the town. So if any training would go wrong it would not effect the town." I explained, "And I think eventually it will become its own town. I will be calling it Pevensey Castle."
"Why that?"
"I just like the sound of it."
"Oh. Shall I fetch the thestrals that wish to join your guard?"
"That would be great." I responded before I kissed her cheek, "Have them meet me at Pevensey."
"Alright." she turned and started leave, swaying her hips as she walked. I swear she is trying to get me in trouble.
I looked at the Everfree. The dark gloomy forest before me was going to become a town all its own. Me and Luna will act as its co-rulers so to speak. I sighed and started running through the forest, the idea of fresh clothes slipping my mind. I could see the eyes of creatures in the dark as I ran but none tried to stop me. Almost like the actually were scared of me. I finally broke through the trees and saw as old rope bridge connecting the path to the castle. I eased my way onto the bridge and moved across slowly. It took the better of ten minutes for me to cross that bridge, "I really need to fix that thing or just make a new one." Since my return to the none stone life, I have never came back to see if anything survived the test of time. I know that I don't have long until the thestrals get here, so I start looking around t find a decent spot to start working on rebuilding. I found a doorway that was blocked by rubble, and decided to start there. I was not working long before the thestrals started showing up. The first one to come find me was Midnight, "Midnight?"
"Yes Master?" she responded with her own question.
"Didn't expect for you to be here, and stop with that master thing. Soon enough we will all be equals. Plus I don't have my Mark of Mastery yet." I explained as I wiped sweat off my face. The humidity is unreal, "I would like for you to go out and instruct the rest of the thestrals and anyone else who is here, that y'all are to start clearing the rubble and help with the reconstruction of the castle. This will be our home base and hopefully it will become a town in time."
Midnight saluted me, "Yes, mas- Sir!" she left me to finish opening the room. With how much of the castle that was destroyed, I did not realize where in the castle I was. With the door unblocked it revealed stairs.
"It cant be." I said as I made my way down. Thankfully the enchanted torches still worked, so I was not blind on my way down. Once I reached the bottom I smiled as I looked at the fully intact door, "I guess this place was sealed when Celestia and Luna fought all those years ago." I pushed the door open and walked into the room. My room. Even with the thick layer of dust covering the whole room I could still see my old armor that I never wore. It had rusted long ago, and I wouldn't dare touch it out of fear of it crumbling at my touch. I dusted off some of the other stuff, and smiled at the memories of the days me and my two friends spent playing pranks and fighting together. On the wall is a slightly faded painting, which showed me on a knee in my armor on with Luna and Celestia standing next to me, "Those where the good ol'days." I opened the chest I kept at the foot of my bed and looked at the items that I collected as my brief time as Luna's guard. There is a large bag that is full of Old Equestrian bits, a black trench coat that I had made, a few enchanted daggers from would be assassins, a crown the sisters had made as a joke which got turned around on them, and a notebook that I used to write in. I looked under the bed and found a long box with a latch on it. I pulled it out and set it on the bed. After entering a small number code, the latch popped open, "Lets see if you still work." I said as I opened the case and pulled out a rifle of sorts. I walked out my room and closed the door and locked the door. I then walked up the stairs and into the courtyard. I notice that there was an extreme lack of rubble and the vines on the walls were gone. I found a hole in the wall and took aim, but when I pulled the trigger nothing happened, "Well shit. I was hoping to have my gun back." I placed the gun on my back and walked into a section of the castle that was still standing. I found Midnight directing the other thestrals with extreme efficiency. I called her over to me.
"Yes Ōkami?" she asked.
"It is time that I start distributing these." I summoned Two Become One, "Just remember that your keyblade will be your badge and with it come a responsibility to protect others." she nodded. I grabbed her wing, causing her to blush a little, and placed it on One's grip, "In your hand, take this Key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking, its wielder you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend-no ocean will contain you then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love." I recited as Two Become One glowed. I removed her wing and One disappeared, "You should be able to summon one yourself, but I can't tell you how. Go and retrieve the rest of your people and I will do this for them also."
"Yes, sir." she went as started to send the other thestrals to me. It took the better part of an hour to finish the distribution of keyblades. Im thankful for their wings, because it would be a lot harder to train an earth pony. I started to roam the castle to see how much had actually survived, sadly not much. The old throne room is still there but not whole, both Celestia's and Luna's rooms were destroyed. Same with the kitchen and dinning room. The barracks was repairable but not usable at the moment, and the training field had collapsed into the canyon that surrounds the castle. I had found that the pedestal that the sisters used when switching the day to night was still there and had quite a nice natural garden surrounding it. I climbed onto the pedestal and started to meditate,
*****
Once again I was standing in the grassy field. But unlike last time there is an old castle sitting in the distance, "One you here?" I called out.
"I am always here. I reside within you." the two voices that is One replied.
"How do you think my course of action will end?"
"I feel like you are doing quite well. You are returning hope to a very minor race. They won't say it but their numbers are not what they once were. They are actually refugees themselves. At onetime they had their own world but it was swallowed by darkness. It appears that they have forgotten their roots over time."
"Wait how do you know this?" I asked.
"I know this because I was once wielded by a thestral before their world fell. My last master never made it off the world."
"Is that why you were not apposed to the thestrals receiving keyblades of their own?"
"No that is not why. The thestral race is naturally in tune with the darkness, but they also have great capabilities when exposed to the light. They are remarkable warriors, but they need purpose."
"And me recruiting them gave them that purpose?"
"Yes." One responded, "Now on to more important matters. You have suddenly allowed more light into your heart, why is that?"
"Because I can remember the one who kept me from the darkness on Earth. Currently I am trying to find a way to lure her to Equestria so that I can try to bring her to her senses. I felt the hate coming off of her, Core corrupted her."
"That actually makes sense. He wants you to fall to the darkness so he can control you."
"Of course that is what he wants. So about how long till him or one of his henchman men make an appearance?"
"Actually I am surprise that they haven't with the sudden increase of keyblade wielders on this world." Suddenly the world started to crumble away around me, "Of course this would happen."
*****
I awoke with a start as my body fell off the pedestal. I managed to put my arms in front my face before I hit the ground. There was yelling all around me as I stood up. Once I got to my feet I looked around and saw heartless assaulting the thestrals. To my surprise almost half of them managed to summon their keyblade, and more were figuring it out. We were outnumbered big time, and to make matters worse, a lot of the thestrals don't know how to use a weapon yet. I saw Midnight dancing through the heartless with the Way to the Dawn. I decided to join her. I ran and threw my keyblade in a strike raid destroying a small group, "Nice of you to wake up." she said with a smile as we both ran towards each other and attacked the heartless that followed.
"How long ago did this start?" I asked as we crossed paths.
"It started not long after you went on that pedestal. So about an hour ago."
"Didn't feel like it was that long to me." by this point most of the heartless have been cleared out. Me and Midnight went take a small break while the others got some much needed experience, "So how did you learn to us a sword like that?"
"It was a family tradition since we arrived on Equus, and before you ask only my family remembers the time when my many greats grandfather used one of these to defend us as we escaped our world as it died." she explained.
"Ok that makes sense, but do you know what keyblade he wielded?"
"No. Its description was lost to time I'm afraid. All we know is that our family was the only ones blessed to wield these heavenly blades in that time. Sadly only he survived long enough to send his son through the portal to this place."
I summoned One back, "This is his weapon, Two Become One. When I meditate or sleep like I was, I can talk to it. It told me of your people and the warrior who defended your ancestors as they escaped. I am honored to hold the same weapon as the one who save his kind from death in the darkness." I looked at Midnight and saw tears in her eyes. She buried her face into my chest.
"So sweet." a voice said from behind me. I turned and saw a stallion with a black cloak with red lines creating the heartless symbol on his back, "It is a shame that my descendants couldn't follow me into the darkness that gracefully claimed our world. Core was quite courteous when he gave me the option to return my people to the darkness that we were born from, but it seems that you have tainted them with the light that held me back for so long." he summoned a keyblade. It was a twisted and corrupt version of my own.
"Please don't do this!" Midnight cried, "You saved us!"
The hooded stallion started to chuckle before it turned into a cackle, "Midnight, leave." I ordered, "Gather the others, I will hold him back. I just hope that it is enough to give you the time you need." I rolled my shoulders and my black trench coat appeared on me, "That is new." I brought One down to my side as I took on a fighting stance, "You will not destroy the lives of those you once protected." before he could react I charged him. I tried to slash upwards at him only for him to block my attack. I jumped back and focused on keeping my cool.
"Face it. I have many more years of experience than you. You won't win." I smirked as I charged once again. I acted like I was going to slash from the right but a he went to block I jumped and spun, slashing him on the back, "Not bad but you will have to do better."
The marks left by my hit vanished, "Now that is just cheating." I focused on the warmth that darkness had brought over me when Luna was in danger, causing it to flow around me, "You know, darkness is a beautiful thing, but to much of a beautiful thing makes it bittersweet." in a flash I was in my anti-form. I started jumping around trying to make him loose his focus on me.
"Stopga." suddenly I couldn't move, "Magnega" I was forced into a vortex. I could feel the damage being done to my body, "Thundaga" of course he does this. Lightning struck me while I was stuck in the vortex.
"ENOUGH" a voice that was all to familiar yelled as I fell to the ground limp.
*****
Midnight ran towards Ōkami as he lay on the ground. She looks to his side and sees Two Become One. Moving quickly she grabbed it and summoned her keyblade, "You are not the one who save us all those years ago!" she threw a double strike raid. The hooded figure could only block Two Become One, but Way to the Dawn hit home making him stagger.
"You incompetent fool! If you resist Core won't accept you into his cause."
"I DON'T CARE!" she shouted as she ran at the stallion. Neither noticed the crowd that formed. Midnight fought like she was dancing and all the stallion could do was defend, "You will never threaten this world again." she growled as she threw Two Become One and attack directly with Way to the Dawn. Both keyblades hit their marks, causing him to scream in pain.
"Thank…You" was all he said before his heart floated away and his body vanished.
Midnight looked at Ōkami, "Luna is going to skin me alive."