"Who are you?" a woman's voice asked.
"My name is Ōkami. Who are you?" I responded.
"Who I am is of no importance, but you on the other hand are very important. Currently I hold you here, in the darkness between world's. The only reason it has not consumed what little light your heart holds is because I am stopping it. You remind me of a friend of mine who was taken by the darkness almost ten years ago. Me, him, and one other, once wielded a Keyblade much like you do. I was a master. The only one of use three to get that title before things went bad."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because, only once you learn to tame the darkness in you, will you be able to save others. Every fight you have lost because you use it without knowing how, or because light would have worked better. Only one who understands the need for balance can be a true master. I failed, but I can help you succeed if you wish."
"What can you help me with?"
"First you must be placed in a timeless sleep only darkness can achieve. Then you must master it and find your light. Only then will you stop your heart from ripping itself apart."
"Lets us start then."
*****
I stood in the grassy field from my dreams, only this time the castle is not in ruins and the place is full of heartless, "What is this place?" I asked.
"This is a reflection of your heart." the female voice from earlier responded.
"Alright." I looked around and tried to focus on One, "Where is One?"
"Your keyblade is being blocked by the darkness."
"Great." I started walking towards the castle and found the remains of three ancient knights. The first had a sword, the second had a shield, and the last had a wand.
"Pick the one which you favor." she said. I reached out and grabbed the sword, "Now choose the one you don't need." I kicked the wand away, "Very well. You have chosen the vanguard path. It is difficult, but rewarding." all three knights turned to dust leaving the sword and shield. I placed the shield on my left arm and swung the sword a few times, "Before you is the darkness in our heart. There is many ways to complete this trail, but there is only one path to mastery. Choose wisely."
I started walking towards the castle. Many of the heartless before me just watched. Not a one moving to stop my approach. The walk was longer than I hoped it would be, but patience is important here. I don't want to tire myself out for when the fighting starts. The castle itself was full of heartless also, it was unnerving to say the least, "Is my heart really this far into the darkness?"
"I'm afraid so." the woman responded, "Your destination is the throne room."
"Thanks." I started my way there. It felt like it was a trap, but I planed to spring it. Once I left the heartless infested halls, and entered the throne room, I looked at the site before me in shock. Sitting on the throne was me, except he worn all black and his trench coat was red.
"So NiCe Of YoU To JoIn Me." he said.
"I can't let you run unchecked like this." I stated.
"ThEn StOp Me."' he said summoning some type of twisted keyblade. I raised my shield and watched him. He jumped off his throne and tried to sam his keyblade into my head, but I raised my shield and deflected the blow. When I went to hit him, he just blocked my sword, "FaCe It WiTh OuT Me YoU ArE WeAk." I ignored his comment and continued to try and land a blow on him, "YoU CaN't BeAt Me. I Am YoU." he was right. He knew all my fighting styles. Taking a deep breathe I ran at him. I had to fight him and win or things will never get better. When I got close I went to bash him with my shield and he jumped back, but he did not have time to block my sword that I threw at him, "So yOu CaN FiGhT mE." I looked at my sword on the ground next to him and cursed. He saw what I was looking at and smiled, "YoUr Out oF TrIcKs aLrEaDy?" slowly I started to circle my dark half. He started to laugh, "YoU hAvE No wEaPoN gIvE Up."
I stepped back and focused. Slowly I could feel a power within me start to stir. "Your right. I don't have any weapons." my shield vanished and my sword glowed. I could hear a name being repeated in my head, "Aqua." I said quietly as Lost Memory appeared in my hand, "But I do now." I took off like a bullet towards the dark me. He barely had time to react as my keyblade connected with his shoulder, "I will always find a way." I said as I knocked his keyblade away, "I will always fight to protect." I launched him to the side with another attack, "I will always fight to preserve those who cannot fight for themselves." I brought Lost Memory down on him, making a small indention in the ground, "Share you power with me and we can do those things together." I dropped Lost Memory and reached a hand towards my dark self.
"Finally you have realized that we can be one, but you still have to find your light." he said as he grabbed my hand and slowly disappeared.
"Who is Aqua?" I asked.
"That is my name. I lent you some of my power, which is something I won't do it again."
"Why?"
"Because you have promise. I should have known that you were not ready to face him yet, but I still brought you here. Now go and find the light."
The castle melted away and was replaced with the grassy fields. The only difference is that now there is a barn of sorts in the distance. I started running for the barn. What little heartless remained stayed clear of the barn. Once I got close I quickly located the door and pushed it open. What I saw inside almost made me drop to my knees, Seresutia. She was brushing the mane of a black quarter-horse. Suddenly the world twisted, Seresutia and the horse both lay on the ground dead. I slowly approached her body, tears falling down my cheeks, "Why is everything so cruel?" I asked but received no answer. I screamed at the world. This was not fair, I had lost her once before, but to loose her once again. It was to much. Everything turned cold as I could feel the darkness in my heart growing in power. All I could do is weep as I sat down next to her. My tears started to burn as they froze. Suddenly I started to feel a warmth in my hand. I looked down and saw a keychain. The chain had two metallic angel wings on the edge of a heart. Gripping the keychain I placed it on Seresutia, and walked out the barn. Once outside I found two swords laying in a cross. I picked them up and watched as heartless started to converge on the barn. I charged them bringing the sword in my right hand down in and then, using the sword in my left hand, I spun hitting any heartless that was close, "I will not let you corrupt her." I growled as darkness started to pulse around me. I didn't care that she was dead. I could not let them get her heart. I brought the swords to my right side and had the blades running parallel. I slashed upwards with both swords destroying three more Shadows. Behind all the heartless I could see someone in a black cloak. I started carving my way towards him. When I got close I slashed with my right sword only to have him block it with his hand.
"Now, now. There is no need for that." he said before pushing me away.
"Who are you?!" I asked.
He put his hand on his chest, "I'm hurt. How can you not remember me? I mean we did used to be friends."
"What are you talking about?"
"That really hurts you know. We were together all through elementary and middle school." he summoned a pair of dark blue crosses that had a metal ring connecting the points.
"Who are you?"
"That don't matter." he threw one of his weapons at me, and I jumped to the side. When his weapon hit the ground the area froze. I ran at him before he could get it back. I swung my left sword down and he blocked it with his remaining weapon. My sword turned to ice and shattered. I cursed and just eyed him, "You know." he said laughing, "You were never this feisty before, but then again having that girl die on you made you mad." I ran at him again, only this time I grabbed one of the frozen fragments of my broken sword. Once I was close enough I threw the shard at his head and waited for him to block his view. As I had expected he moved both his weapons to block the piece of frozen metal. I closed what little distance there was and hit him with the flat of my sword, knocking him over. I looked down at him and hit him in the head with the pommel of my sword knocking him out. Suddenly warmth returned to the grassy fields. The remaining heartless vanished along side the barn.
"I did not expect you to find enough kindness to spare him." the woman said, "But that was all it took it seems. Your heart has accepted both the light and darkness, and is no longer fighting itself. Now come let us return you to your world."
*****
I could feel the darkness around me, but I could also feel that something was keeping it away, "Ōkami, only just over a day has passed. The two who care about you are both scared right now, and there is a major dark presence in the structure I took you from." the women said.
"I understand. Please send me back." a portal much like the one that brought me here formed before me, "Will we speak again?"
"Maybe one day, but for now there are others who need you more." I walked through the portal and was almost blinded by the amount of light in the room. I was back in the dinning room, but unlike last time it was empty. I sighed and walked out the room and towards the throne room.
"Why are you doing this to me?" I heard a mare cry. There were other voices but I couldn't hear them, so I started running towards the room that it came from. When I got to the throne room, I saw Twilight get surrounded by a green circle. The pink alicorn had a smug look on her face, but everyone was so focused on Twilight they didn't see it. I ran forward and grabbed Twilight. Everyone in the room gasped at my action. I tried to pull her out the circle but we were both trapped. Suddenly green fire consumed us.
*****
I rubbed my head as my vision cleared, "Twilight you there?" I asked.
"Yeah." she responded.
"What was going on?"
"Whoever that is, they are not Cadence, but when I tried to expose her everyone turned on me."
"I knew something about her felt off." I said, "She has a heart of darkness."
"Why didn't you say anything if you knew that?" she asked.
"Because then we wouldn't have any chance of finding the real Cadence. Do you know where we are?"
"Possibly the crystal caverns below Canterlot, but I am not certain. There is no maps or pictures of them, only mentions of them in books."
"Well lets see if I can find a way out then." I started to look around the chamber that we were in and found a small hole in the wall. When I looked through it I saw a pink alicorn lying on the ground. She was a complete mess, "Twilight, think you can break this wall down?"
"Yeah. Why do you ask?"
"Just do it." I ordered. Her horn lit up and she sent a beam of magic into the crystal shattering it, "Cadence is that you?" I asked as I walked towards the alicorn.
"Wh…who are you?" she asked weakly.
"Don't worry. I'm a friend." I said softly, "Twilight come help her."
"Help wh-" she stopped when she saw Cadence, "Cadence what happened?"
"No questions right now. We need to get her out of here." she nodded slightly and picked Cadence up with her magic, "Now it is time to get out of here." I stretched out my hand and focused on the light in my heart. Slowly a portal much like Core's, only white instead of black, appeared, "Get her through. I will follow." Twilight wouldn't move. I grabbed her and threw her into the portal. I gently picked up Cadence and went through the portal.
When we exited the portal I stood outside the throne room, "What was that for?" Twilight asked.
"You didn't want to move and we needed to get here." I responded. I set Cadence down and she slowly stood up, "Cadence you ready?" she nodded. I cracked my knuckles before I kicked the doors open. Everyone in the room gasped in horror at what just happened.
"Ōkami what is the meaning of this?" Celestia asked in an irritated tone.
"I'm just removing a false bride." I responded casually as I walked towards the fake Cadence, "You know your plan would have worked if I didn't see how dark your heart is creature."
The fake Cadence started to cry, "Why are you doing this?"
"Because this is my wedding not yours!" the real Cadence yelled as she and Twilight ran into the room.
The shock from them appearing caused the fake Cadence to look away from me long enough for me to get close and kick her, "I don't know what you are but you need to leave. I do not want to fight."
She started to laugh, "You are to late. It is only a matter of moments before the shield around your precious city breaks, and my army can get in."
I thought momentarily, "You know what. Let your army come, but remember that no matter the weight of the darkness, there is always light. The two cannot live without the other."
Her laughter became a cackle as her body was engulfed in green flames. Once the flames dispersed there was no longer a replica of Cadence. Before me stood a black mare who looked like an alicorn, but twisted, "Chrysalis!" Celestia yelled as she charged her horn and shot a beam at Chrysalis only to have Chrysalis shoot a beam back knocking Celestia down.
"Fool. The love your guard captain has for that mare, made me more powerful than you can imagine."
I jumped back and summoned One, "Why does every bad guy of all time love to monologue?" I ask. I looked back at everyone behind me, "Get out of here and protect those you can." I ordered as many civilians ran out the room. Every thestral in the room summoned their keyblades and stood with me, "I want all of you to delay her army. I will do what I can here."
"I'm not leaving you." Midnight said in defiance, "It has become my job to protect you."
I grumbled a little, "Alright but if I say run you run."
"I guess. Now lets deal with this bug." she stood next to me and readied her keyblade.
"So you think that you are strong enough?" Chrysalis asks, "Come and get me." she started to pulse with darkness and heartless started to form around her.
"Well at least this won't be boring." I said before running forward and engaged the heartless.
"Save some for me." Midnight called before she followed. I could hear Chrysalis start to cackle as we fought her never ending waves of heartless. I slowly moved closer to her as I fought and prepared to knock her focus off. Suddenly it sounded like glass shattered as the dome shield fell and the sky was filled with changelings and heartless.
"Chrysalis." I said, "Stop this. We can work out a deal that does not involve any actual casualties, but if you keep going there will be on both sides."
"You fool! There can never be peace. The ponies will never accept us. My people starve because they refuse to help." I stopped fighting when she said that.
Slowly I walked through the heartless to Chrysalis, "I am sorry to hear that. If I would have known I would have made accommodations for you and your people. I don't believe in segregation of any species."
"Ōkami. What are you doing?" Midnight asked.
"Stopping anymore fighting before it starts. The changelings are residents of this world as much as the ponies are. So in what way does Celestia have any right to force them to starve? As a Lunar-Key Guard it is our duty to see to the safety of this world and those who live on it. The changelings included." the heartless started to vanish as tears filled Chrysalis's eyes, "Chrysalis I hereby place you and your changelings under the protection and guidance of the Lunar-Key Guard. One day you may join our ranks but first you must find out what it means to let light into your heart. Now please have your people stand down and go wait at the old castle in the Everfree Forest. The code for safety is 'May the moons light guide your key'."
"Thank you!" she cried before pulling me into a hug, "No one has ever shown us any kindness."
"It is my job. As it is the job of all of my men to do the same. Now let us finish this wedding and mend as much damage as possible."
"Ōkami you’re an idiot, but I love you anyway. Just what will Luna say?" Midnight chimes in.
"I don't know but you should probably help Celestia. It will be a step in the right direction to fix some damage. Even if she caused most of it." I said to Chrysalis, who immediately went help Celestia stand back up. Celestia immediately started to try and fight, "Celestia she is on our side."
"Ōkami how do you know she is not lying?" Celestia asked.
I walked over to Celestia and summoned One, "Because unlike you, I am not forcing her people to starve. I am giving them the chance to actually be good when you just alienated them for no reason." I snapped causing Celestia to flinch back a little, "Before today I thought you were actually one of the good guys but I guess I was wrong." Celestia looked like she was about to burst into tears when I finished. Slowly people returned to the room. Celestia’s guards rushed in and surrounded us.
"Queen Chrysalis you are under arrest by order of the Princess." one of them said.
I tapped One one the ground three times and the room was filled with my guards, "Queen Chrysalis and her people are now under the protection of the Lunar-Key Guard. Any attempts to harm her or her people will result in a war. A war that I do not wish to happen." I said. Me and the head guard stared down one another, "Your move." before he could do anything Luna walked into the room and saw us.
"Aunt Chrystal?" she asked. I turned and looked at Chrysalis, who was now free of holes and her eyes were no longer slitted.
"Little Luna is that you?" Chrysalis asked.
"Guards stand down at once." Luna ordered but no one listened, "Lunar-Key Guards make this room safe for you Mistress and company." almost immediately all the thestrals started to move. The pushed the solar guards out the room and reset the wedding decorations, "Thank you." Luna then ran up and hugged Chrysalis, "I missed you so much. When you disappeared everything went bad."
"It is alright Little Luna. Now we must get your sister to some doctors. I seem to have actually hurt her in my blind rage." she said with a sheepish smile, "On another note, where is the bride? I must apologize."
I pointed towards the groom, "She is over there." they looked and saw Cadence holding the stallion as he slowly regained consciousness, "When did he pass out?"
"Not a clue." Chrysalis responded as she made her way towards the two. I followed leaving Celestia with Luna. When we got to them Cadence looked at us with fear, "Don’t be afraid young one. I was not myself when I did those horrible things." her horn started to glow a light green. All signs of injury and being drained vanished from the stallion, "I hope that helps make things better."
Cadence looked at Chrysalis, "It helps some."
*****
The wedding went well. Many of the people there were skeptical of Chrysalis even though we reassured them that she changed. Cadence and Shining Armor both requested an escorts of Lunar-Key Guards. Currently Luna, Midnight, and I are sitting in the slightly restored throne room in Pevensey Castle, "So when are we going to go find one of the other ancient thestral masters?" Midnight asked.
"Well will do that when all of the Lunar-Key Guard can adequately fight. At the moment we will be torn apart by just one of them, because if what Core said has any weight to it. Your ancestor was the weakest of them." I responded as I looked at the most recent trainees fight, "Luna how are things going with the rehabilitation of the changelings?"
"They are doing fine Ōkami, but there are quite a few who wish to join you as a Lunar-Key Guard." she reaponded.
"Sounds good. They will just have to wait until I have a chance to see Zeke again. I still need to ask him for some assistance on getting this place prepared to be independent from all governments. Equestria included." I watch one of the recruits closely. He was practically flying through his opponents, similar to Midnight, "Who is that recruit?"
"That is Radiant Star. He comes from the House of Dawn. Not much is known about their history but they have always been some of our stronger fighters." Midnight responded.
"Radiant Star, please come over here for a moment." I said. He slowly walked over to us, and to say he looked scared was an understatement.
"Yes sir." he saluted me.
"You will be training and traveling with us until further notice." I stated bluntly.
"What have I done to earn this honor?"
"Simple. You have promise."