//------------------------------// // Nobody is busy // Story: Life of a Nobody // by Xinrick //------------------------------// When I got fully dressed and saw all my wives still in bed I smiled. “Can't wait for the wedding…” I mutter to myself, knowing it's been a while since I proposed to all of them. I left, it being still early surprisingly and was wondering if anyone was up. As I turned the hall I saw Trinity sitting in an open window, just watching the night sky. “Oh, hey Trinity.” I say while walking over to her. “Enjoying Luna’s night?” “Keeping watch.” She replied. “Heard about Zeke, and his light half becoming a Psychopath. You know how they say ‘shit’s about to hit the fan’? With that monster out there, it hit and broke the damn fan. See for yourself.” Confused, and worried, I walked over to the window… At first, I didn’t notice much...then I saw it. A star went out. “Oh no…” “At least when Darkness takes them, the world can return. Him ending them, it’s Void for everything on it. So far, that’s the fifth star...This hour.” “I need to stop him…” I growl. “I need….to do something…” I say, the second time I said it sounded weak given how weak I am compared to that thing. “It may be half, but it’s still a reflection of dad, chance of cure is below none. Come on.” She said, jumping back into the hallway and opening a portal. “Time I trained you, and it will be in more than just Chakrams.” “Thank you...I'm still too weak…” I mutter, fearing that everything I know and love will be next on their damned list here. “So...training area?” I ask, motioning to the portal. “Sorta.” She said, I entered the portal, and was on what looked like a barron, bleak place with scorched soil everywhere. “Welcome to Warzone. This planet has the highest ever shadow creature spawn rate to date. It’s 24/7 three-sixty combat.” She said, summoning her chackrems. “In other words, don’t stop fighting, or you’ll die.” When she finished that, swarms of what looked like the Flood Unversed, but were a bit larger and had Shadow heartless antenna were charging at us from...everywhere. I summoned my chakrams and spun them quickly, fire catching on them. “By the by, do you know Latin?” I ask Trinity. She grinned. Spinning her chackrems and then clashing them together. “Morsus Pyro!” She yelled, a tornado of flames shooting out of her weapons, incinerating a good chunk of the horde incoming. “I’m part angel, it’s natural to me.” “Care to teach me while we fight?” I ask curiously, raising my chakrams up. “Triple Firaga!” I shout, three points seeming to collapse inward before a blowing up in giant fireballs, going back to the normal stance Axel was in during his fights. I took out a small group, but with the amount all around, it was going to be a long day. “Gelida ignis!” She yelled, each chackram getting covered in sky blue flames. She threw them, dozens of shadow creatures being burned...and frozen? “Frozen flames. Fire so cold it burns.” She said, catching them as they returned. “Well glad to know that…” I mutter while spinning my chakrams, fire reigniting. “Don't forget this!” I shout, my body glowing orange as I started using Axel’s desperation move and cleaning through some shadow creatures before floating back. “Got it memorized?” I mutter to myself while shoving my chakrams into the ground, pillars of flame shooting into the shadow monsters ranks. “Now you’re just role playing.” Trinity chuckled, spinning her chakrams together, in a way that was like gears turning...fast. “Ustilo!” She yelled, white fire shooting out like a beam, not even ash remaining of them when it hit. “Come on Ben, you try it!” I took a deep breath and focused, my chakrams spinning. “Ustilo!” I shout, the word reverberating in me somehow as pure white flames shot out towards the monsters. “Huh...cool. But about the ‘role playing’, words can help raise the strength of special moves okay?” I huff. Trinity just chuckled. Her face then turned stern, looking back at the hordes. “New meat incoming! Looks like Knights!” She said, I looked and black knight looking things with swords for hands and large mouths in their chests were running towards us too now. “Dullahans? Really?” I frown, swinging my chakram and killing a Shadow Beast that tried to hit me. “Lets try…Morsus Pyro!” I shout, feeling the words reverberate again, as I shot fire tornados towards the Knights, even if it wasn't as strong as Trinity’s. Some went down, but others kept on. I was ready for another attack...nothing happened. My assistant beeping in alarm. Quickly checking it. Mana Levels: 0 “Ah shit.” I grumble, trying to quickly find a mana potion to buy when one of those Knight shadow creatures stabbed me though my arm, then threw me across the field. “Gah!” I shout, that hurting a lot more than I expected. “Ben, lookout!” Trinity yelled, right when a Knight stabbed me though my chest. It hurt...then went dark. “Ugh…” I woke up, remembering what happened and quickly checking my chest...no damage, injury? I then looked up...I was in a waiting room? “Either Cript stuff...I'm being stuck in Heaven's waiting room...or they're wondering if I could just go back and not try to kill myself in Heaven.” I mutter, hating myself for being so stupid and weak. “Still too weak…” I mutter to myself. As I just waited, there was a flash of light in the chair next to me, and...Scootaloo was there. “Damn it!” She yelled. “I hate ocean worlds.” She grumbled, slumping over. “Hey Ben.” She said, sighing. “Waiting for respawn?” I ask curiously. “Yeah. This is Respawn Hub. Dad, out of extreme worry and reasonable overprotectiveness, made this. Any of us die, rather than ending up in the afterlife, we end up here. Wait for about three or five minutes til our name is called then walk into some room where a dude relays our last location and death, then we just pay the fine.” “Can't wait to hear him complain how I just got back to life then died from my fiances hearing I died.” I sigh out, rubbing my temples. “Eh, not the worst way one of us has died. Check this.” She said, picking up a magazine...that was somehow there. The cover read ‘Lamest Deaths of The Dyritix Family.’ “That’s dad’s last name. Funny he didn’t learn that till he found, then later killed his own dad...long story.” She said, handing it to me. “Lamest death still goes to Gabriel. Died by paper clip accidentally swallowed, and choked on.” “I thought the lamest was gonna be someone died while masterbating.” I frown, finding that thing a bit more lame than choking on something. “Here, check this one out.” She said, handing me another magazine. ‘Greatest Deaths of The Dyritix Family.’ “Number one goes to Beck, flattened by a planet. Eight is Trinity, stepped on by a Titan Shadow. That was when she first joined the family two years ago. Never fought a shadow creature before, demons in hell, walked out without a scratch, first shadow creature battle, becomes gum on a Titan Shadow’s foot. Everyone starts off weak bro, just takes time.” “But everyone doesn't immediately have to fend off Psychopaths that are appearing out of nowhere for some reason.” I frown. “Like me, I have to be so strong too fast and...I'm not…” I sigh out. “Dad was the same.” She said, sighing. “His Psychopath was bound to his soul, and when it broke free, he knew time was not on his side, and despite being outmatched, he beat it. Wanna know how?” “How?” I ask honestly. “Honestly...now that I think about it...something feels off now that I've fought Psychopaths…” I say, thinking about this. “Dad was a lot like you, then he met Mama Lyra, then the others, adopted me, Squirrel, he used his love for us, and tapped into sentient life’s true power. Humanity. Psychopaths power come from our darkest creation...murder, dad...dad drew power from the love one person can have for another. It’s like they're other side of a coin. Draw power from your love of those you hold dear, your strength will be limitless like dad’s.” She said, leaning back in her chair. “It’s hard though, I asked dad how he tapped into Humanity’s power, and he shrugged, said it came to him when in the heat of battle, he only could think of us.” I thought about that for a moment...before nodding. “I'll have to give it a try...maybe I can figure it out.” I shrug, hoping to figure out this mystery power. “Ben.” Scootaloo and I looked up, a door appearing on the wall and opening after some random voice called out to me. “Looks like you’re gonna respawn now.” Scoot’s said, putting her feet up on the small table. “Good luck.” I got up and walked over to the door and entering it. “Hello?” I ask, wondering who called me. Once I entered, I saw a man in a suit sitting at a table with a chair open for me. When I sat in it, the door behind me closed and vanished. “Greetings. First time you died I see.” He said, looking over the papers. “You've come close before though, quite close indeed.” “Too bad my stubbornness and determination didn't keep me alive here.” I shrug. “But it's nice to meet you sir.” I nod. “I have no name.” He said, reading them over again. “Though Sir, sounds nice. So, ready to head back to the grind?” “Don't be surprised if we meet again, if my fiances hear I died they might kill me.” I chuckle sheepishly. “Yes well, that’s life.” He said, handing me three sheets of paper. Lots of words on them and on the third was a signature line. “Terms are standard, fine for respawn is a quarter of your rem, and your exp collected to your next level up will be removed. Check your level now if you wish, it will not be effected, just the exp to the next level removed.” He said, handing me a pen. “When does level even matter to be honest?” I ask, reading through the papers. “Seriously, I haven't noticed the levels doing much...maybe it's because I keep thinking in Dragon Ball logic here.” I mutter. “Like with anything, time and training helps to make the difference noticeable.” He said. I signed the papers, seeing everything was okay, though taking a quarter of my money and exp to next level seemed odd. Once those papers were signed he took them, stabled them together, then put them in his desk. “Pleasure reviving you this evening, we hope not to see you again soon. Now, wake up.” He said, snapping his fingers. “Gah!” I yelped, waking up in… a bunker? “Sup?” I looked to my side, seeing Trinity there. “This is Save Zone. Only place on the planet where the shadows don’t spawn. So, this is the only place you can respawn.” “Okay then…” I mutter. “So I learned a little thing about Cript being so strong.” I say. “But how long was I out?” “Just an hour. Be glad when you respawn your new body is exactly like your old one, and clothes and all. Shadows really...well, ate your old body.” “Well that…” I start before panicking, checking my pockets to see if I still had all my stuff, from the Ainz Ooal Gown guild ring, Trinity’s angel ring, and some other things...And I checked my neck to see if I still had my necklace Den gave me. It was all there. “Oh thank god.” I sigh out thankfully. “Told you.” She said, patting my arm. “Now get a bite to eat, and meet me back in the battlefield. We are FAR from done training.” “Oh dear…” I mutter, checking my level and the amount of money I had. Rem: 999,999,999+ Level: 187 “Still don't feel this level thing for some reason…” I mutter, going to the shop and buying myself a chicken sandwich cause fuck it. When it appeared I took it and ate it quickly. “What do you think about the level stuff?” “Helps keep track of how far we’re going. For instance, and I know you didn’t know your level before starting. You were only level 96 when we started this, and now you’re 187. Not bad huh?” “When you completely forgot it existed to begin with?” I frown. “No.” “Ben, we were only fighting for about forty minutes before you died. That’s good progress.” “Forty minutes?” I ask with a raised eyebrow. “Didn't feel that long.” “Time flies when you’re having fun.” She laughed. “Come on, finish that up and head on outside, it’s not over til you are at least level 1,000 and can hack any enemy to pieces.” “I known I know.” I say while finishing my sandwich and getting up on my feet. “I suppose this isn't a ‘you teaching me how to use certain weapon’ and just ‘kill enough things till you got it’ kind of thing?” I ask her, “That’s how dad learned.” She said, leading the way out of the bunker. “No better teacher than practice.” “I mean...while that's true you at least need a starting off point then just swinging away. I do that with my other weapons but I haven't mastered them.” “True, that’s why you need to master your flames with them also. How did Hades put it in Kingdom Hearts 2…’Feel The Heat’? Something like that.” I chuckle. “You know, out of all the world's I've been to I have never been to a Disney world.” I say honestly. “But true, just got to learn my fire and fight through with it.” The way out of the bunker was a long elevator ride. When it stopped and the doors opened, we were greeted with a metal fence, and what I was guessing was…..family, all over, shooting from inside the fence and others wielding other weapons of all kinds jumping the, clearly twelve foot tall fence, and into the swarms of Shadow Creatures trying to get though. “Ready?” Trinity asked, summoning her chakrams. I summoned my chakrams as well. “Just don't tell my fiances. I don't want to die a second time in such a short time frame.” I say nervously. Using her wings, Trinity flew over the fence, and fell into the horde, flames them burst around where she entered, only she stood when the flames died down, and she went at them without mercy. I flew over the fence and fell feet first, my chakrams spinning and flames billowing with increased speed. “BURN BABY!” I shout just like Axel and slam my chakrams towards the ground, a massive pillar of flames incinerating shadow beasts before I leapt through the flames after they started to die down and started to carve through things the best I could. “Better be more conscious on my mana here…” I mutter to myself, not wanting to die because I freaked out about not having mana. As if it knew what I wanted, my assistant...altered my eye sight, I saw my face, like in Kingdom Hearts, my health bar wrapping around it. Wow, that’s long, and an MP bar, just like the one in Kingdom Hearts 2, and only a small bit of it was missing at the moment. I cloaked my chakrams in flames as I hacked and slashed at everything around me taking out many, seven or ten rather than two or four like before. My MP bar was still holding strong. As I was slashing through them I started thinking. My life before all this. The more I thought about it, the more I found it funny, it’s like God knew exactly what reflections to put us in, where we would find love, make a life, be heroes. I wouldn’t be surprised if he did do that somehow. I remember my first battle, waking up in that hospital where Twilight was with me, Luna coming in not much later. Everything moved so fast, they put up with my crap and it still amazes me. Assistant Power Analysis. New Power Detected. Humanity power accessing… .0003% I slashed at them, but this was...stronger. The whole wave of them was taken out, for a long ways back. “What the?” I muttered. Assistant Power Analysis. New Power Vanished. Returning to base mana usage. “Nice going!” Trinity said, flying next to me. “How’d you pull that off?” “I think my Assistant said something...like ‘.0003% of Humanity’ or something? I don't know...I was just fighting and then thought of my family.” I shrugged. “Wait, what!?” She yelled, grabbing the arm I had the assistant on, she quickly cast a barrier around us to keep the shadows from hitting us. “Holy shit. It’s right here in the records log...You used Dad’s power...how?” “Uh...I thought how my life is...just laughably absurd, my loving family putting up with my crap...and suddenly I cleaved through a fuck ton of shadow beasts...then it left just as quickly.” I explained simply. “Scootaloo explained stuff to me in the respawn room but...didn't think it would actually happen.” I tell her. “I'm just as surprised and clueless as you here Trinity...now that raises the question...what's gonna show up now that I did that?” I ask worriedly. “Me.” We looked to our side, Cript standing there. “And I just got to say, Finally, one of you kids are figuring it out.” “Well not many find their life being as absurd as mine when you think about it.” I joke, knowing it was bad but it was still there. “But hey, when you have a loving family and somehow think God set up our happy lives...well it feels good to think about all the love and family you made.” Cript clapped. “THANK YOU!” He yelled in joy. “Finally, that’s the key to it! Realizing you have such happiness, loved ones, and despite your past, despite your faults, they love you. That’s the key to accessing the Humanity Power.” “Hooray, now what's my next protagonist revelation?” I joke. “Master your weapons.” Cript said quickly. “All of them, once you have, I’ll come to train you personally. I warn you though, this will be different than how I trained the other kids. Sad to say, but I will be putting you through hell, then throwing that hell into a Freddy Nightmare, then putting that nightmare into my memories. Then we’ll see how strong you get after that.” “So Tuesday?” I ask with a cheeky grin, knowing it's a lot more serious but I couldn't help it. Cript laughed. “Oh so far you funny. When you master them all, I’ll just pop in.” “Gonna have to take a rain check on that part cause once I master all my weapons I'm gonna have to meet that old man ya know?” I say, meaning the King of Nothingness, but calling him an old man cause I don't know his actual name. “Saw the ‘special door’ as it were not too long ago. Get what I'm saying?” “Yeah, I get it. Well, I’ll let you get back to this. Oh, and just to show you what Humanity power can do, watch this.” Cript said, pulling out a handgun. “Just a normal .32 pistol, weak caliber, but charged with some Humanity.” He said, a gold and grey energy flowing around the gun. He fired it, the bullet hit a Shadow creature, then everything went white. When it faded...there wasn’t a shadow in sight. “That, was with a full percent. Trust me when I say this Ben, Humanity power is one of the few ways there is to meeting a Psychopath on even grounds. Master it, and they will learn to want to avoid you.” “The power of Heart seems a lot less shit then what the Captain Planet show makes it look…” I say bluntly, completely dumbstruck at how strong that attack was at one percent. “Best part, by its very nature, it only eradicates evil. Innocents are spared. It’s this power I used when I fought Psychopaths and Admins before becoming one. There were some screwed up Admins, and I made them know me when one by one I ended them. Not all, just those who were...too stubborn to accept the change that was occurring.” “Well...I suppose that makes sense.” I say nervously. “But how can someone that powerful still die? Does Immortality mean literally nothing here?” “Admins are hard to kill, but they are not immortal. They age, a trillion years for us is an hour in their lifespans, and killing them means having the most power. I only know of one true immortal, and thankfully, he’s an ally. An asshole, but an ally.” “Well glad to know immortality is a real thing but is it that extremely rare?” I ask curiously. “Well, we, me, you, this family. I’ve set it so we choose when to die. Already you’re...what, nineteen?” “And gonna have a few billion kids soon and forgetting when my actual wedding day is.” I nod. “Yeah, once you turn twenty one, you’ll stop aging physically all together.” “Right.” I nod. “But seriously when the hell's my wedding day? I think I forgot...or we never decided on a day.” “Hmm...Don’t know, not sure, it’s your job to firstly gather your fiance’s together, propose, then pick the day.” “Did everything but pick a day.” I tell him. “But I'm in the middle of training…” I frown. “And back to it.” Cript said, snapping his fingers, vanishing as Shadow Creatures began appearing again. “Well, you heard Dad, back to it Ben.” Trinity said, flames covering her chakrams. “Let's burn them all to the ground.” I grin, my chakrams spinning with fire around them. Meanwhile, back on Equestria, Joy was having a rather normal day. His girlfriends were having a girls day, which left him to his own devices, mainy, some light reading while music played softly on a stereo behind him. “Ah, nothing like a good book, soothing music and some relaxation.” Joy sighs out. “Okay what problem is gonna ruin this peaceful moment?” Joy frowned, knowing something will ruin the moment. On cue, the doorbell rang. “Better than an explosion…” Joy mutters while putting his book down and heading to the door. When Joy got to the door he opened it. “Hello?” “Hi Joy.” Ventus said, being the peace disturbing culprit. “I came to...ask a favor…” “Do you need to find a girlfriend?” Joy asks with a cheeky grin. “What? No, heh, no...It’s just...ever since Ben broke me out of the crystal coffin, I got my heart back and such, I’ve been remembering things from my past, from before Xehanort and all that. It’s just that… I finally remembered where I was born, the world I came from...I was hoping not to go there alone.” “Sure, anything for my wind affiliated friend.” Joy nodded. “Know where it is?” “Yeah, I think I can open a DTL to it.” He said, summoning his Keyblade and opening a DTL. “Well...Here’s to finding out where I came from.” He said, walking in as Joy followed. “Hope for the best.” Joy says, entering the portal with Ventus. When they exited, they found themselves in a large green field of grass, a single dirt road was the only path in one way or another, and a knee high stone wall sat along one of the roads sides. “Well, it looks nice at least.” Ventus said, taking in the scenery. Joy hopped on top of the stone wall and walked on it like a tightrope. “Yeah it is pretty. So take to the air and look around?” Joy asks, ready to fly around and see if there was any towns nearby. “Actually…” Ventus says, looking down one of the roads only two ways. “I think I...know this road…” He said, letting memory and instinct take over as he walked down the road. Joy followed Ventus, letting him take the lead in his memories and instinct. “Know where you're going?” “It feels...familiar. I...think I walked this road a lot before Xehanort adopted me…” Joy heard that, curiosity peeking his interest.  “That still raises the question, why did Xehanort adopt you?” He asks curiously. “I...don’t know. I was young when he did though, four maybe. Man, ten years flew by. At first, he was nice, taught me about Keyblades and treated me like a son, then, he said I had to learn to access the darkness in my heart, learn to fight with rage. He took me to the Badlands, the area outside the Keyblade Graveyard, and was having me fight heartless. It wasn’t going well, at some point he stepped in when I was almost passed out, the heartless left, and...that’s when Vanitus came into the picture. I think you know the rest.” “That's weird…” Joy frowns. “The old man adopted you, raised you as his own, then abandoned you cause ‘I want ultimate power for no reason’.” Joy says in a mock impression of Xehanort. “I don’t get it either.” Ventus said, looking up ahead. “Oh, there’s a fork in the road.” He said, Joy looking over Ven’s side and seeing the split in the road, a signpost in the middle, two arrows made from wood, each pointing in one of the directions. “Which way my friend?” Joy asks, not knowing anything about this world. “Let’s see.” He said, we coming up on the signs. The top one, pointing left, read, in a newer sign, Sunset Orphanage, and the on pointing right, read Elric Household. “Elric...that sounds familiar.” “Edward and Alphonse Elric?” Joy asks, wondering if their actually in this specific world. “Yeah...Edward...that...dang it, I feel like that name is important to me, but I can’t quite put it down...that person...that name just...feels important.” Ventus said, trying to think. “Dang it…” He muttered. “Well he would be important cause he and his brother stopped Father and his homunculi from destroying their country.” Joy explains. “Why don't we head to the Elric household okay?” “Yeah. Sure.” Ven said, still trying to think on the name. The walk to the Elric house was several minutes before they came up on a large house, flowers planted around and in decorative pots set around. “Pretty.” Joy says while seeing the flowers planted. “But I do wonder if this is really the Elrics house...if we hear a guy complain about a woman named Winry smacking him for some reason then we might be in the right place.” Joy explains, heading towards the house, avoiding the plants and pots carefully. When he got up to the house he knocked on the front door. “Hello? Anyone home?” After a time, a girl, maybe a little younger than Ventus, opened the door. She was bright blonde with Ven’s blue eyes. “Yes?” She asked. “Hello.” Joy nodded. “My name is Joy, and my friend here is Ventus.” He gestures to Ventus. “Mind if we come in miss?” He asks politely. “Wendy. Wendy Elric. Are you fans of my dad and uncle?” “I am but I think...Ventus here is a bit special to your family.” He says. “May we come in Wendy?” Joy asks politely, now knowing full well this is the Elrics house. “Um, sure…” She said, letting us in. The inside was decorated simply, and on the living room wall, was hundreds of pictures, old and new pinned up all over it. We sat at the dining table, Wendy looking us over. “So, my dad’s at work and mom’s at her automail shop. I guess you’re here for autographs then?” Joy looked at the photos but had a weird thought. “Did you have a brother?” Joy asks curiously, having a strange feeling about this. ”If this is actually after Brotherhood then…” Joy thinks to himself, looking at Ventus and Wendy, then some of the new and old pictures to see if there was a lack of brother in them. She sighed. “Mom and dad don’t like to talk about it. I was barely two when he disappeared. When great granny died, mom wanted to put her old house to good use. So, it became an orphanage for Ishvalan children and such. War was long since over but the after effects still affect us. Mom would have my brother and I play and stay there, since it was run by an old friend of dad’s, when mom went to her new shop and dad was teaching at the university. I don’t know what happened, but one day, Von just...was gone.” “Do you have a phone?” Joy asks. “And do you know if your parents have phones or a phone nearby?” He asks, deductive reasoning taking over his mind at the moment. “Mom’s office has a phone, but you’d have to leave a message for dad, he’s in Central City teaching at the university.” “Can you call them and tell them it's an emergency? I think...I helped bring your brother, and their son, here.” Joy says while motioning to Ventus. Wendy chuckled. “Yeah, sure. A lot of people came here with kids, claiming them to be Von. If it was really Von, he’d have an aged scar on his right arms wrist.” “Oh, you mean this?” Ventus asked, taking off one of his...bracelet, things, showing there was a scar going all around it. “Had it for as long as I can remember, I started covering it up cause it just-” Ventus stopped, Wendy’s hands lifting his face up...her eyes filled with tears. “Von…” She said, grabbing his wrist, looking at the scar. “It...It’s you...it’s you!” She cheered, hugging Ventus. Joy smiled gently. “Where's your uncle?” Joy asks curiously, thinking he could get to Alphonse faster. “H-he should be in town. He’s here on break from traveling.” She said. After a while, and several phone calls, Edward, Winry, and Al were all in the room, Winry and Ed just...looked at Ventus, shock and...joy in their eyes. Joy smiled at their own joy. “Glad to see your all happy.” Joy says. “I just...I can’t believe it. Von…” Ed started. “I called in every favor I had when you vanished, we searched from here to Ishval for crying out loud...where were you?” “Who knows how to make tea?” Joy asks. “Cause this is going to be a long...and very complicated explanation, even more complicated than explaining seeing the face of god.” Joy says simply. “I’ll go start a pot.” Al said, getting up and entering the connected kitchen. “Well...That’s kinda...hard to explain.” Ven admits. “First I guess I should ask before I try and answer that is...my real name is Von?” “I...named you after my dad. Your grandfather. At first I thought against it...but after all he did for Al, me, and the world pretty much...I guess I owed him that much.” “So...where were you Von?” Winry asked. “Basically...another world.” That earned confused looks from Winry and Ed, even Al, who was hearing bits and pieces from the kitchen, was confused by Ven’s statement. “Trust me, it's true.” Joy says. “The world he was on at the time is my home world with my older brother and all my girlfriends and his fiance’s.” Joy starts. “But...want a weird but kind of understandable explanation for different worlds?” “Uh...I’ll have to get a rain check on that.” Ed said, rubbing his temples. “I dealt with a lot of crazy crap when I was younger...but that’s...a new one.” “Mind if I ask a question?” Al asked. “Um, shoot?” Ventus asked. “How did you get the name Ventus?” “...Xehanort gave it to me, sorta…” “I think I can help explain that.” Winry spoke up. “You see Von, when you were young, your teeth didn’t want to grow in right, and you couldn’t pronounces anything with an O, so when you spoke, whenever anyone asked your name, you would say ‘Van’ or ‘Ven’ rather than Von.” “Oh...I guess when Xehanort asked I said Ven, and he thought it was short for Ventus.” “Alright, now I have a question for the guy who brought you here.” Ed said, looking at Joy. “My name's Joy.” Joy nods. “And please, ask away.” “That cloak of yours...are you in some sort of club or something? I saw some people wearing other colored versions of that cloak, and a woman wearing a black one. They said they were alchemists and were in the aria for research. They had the pocket watches and paperwork so I didn’t ask much.” Joy frowned. “Did they give any names?” Joy asks curiously. “No, no names, just asked where the edge of town was from the train station. Something about that chick rubbed me the wrong way, she was icy and just gave me the creeps. I gave them directions but that way leads to a river that acts as the edge of town.” “Ah shit.” Joy muttered. “Any other questions before I go out and make sure those strange people aren't poisoning your river?” Joy asks curiously, not sure who they are but worried either way. “Not really. If they are still there, let me know, guy at the train station got some pretty good sketches of them as well as a photo. If they are bad I’ll send world to the president, heh, man, calling the colonel a president just feels weird.” “Mustang right?” Joy asks. “Yeah.” “Right then. Ventus can explain his life and all the magical crap involved, I'm gonna be right back.” Joy says while leaving. “And can you please save some tea?” “Will do.” Ed says, Joy heading out and quickly taking to the sky with his glider. Once high up, he began looking for the river, which wasn’t hard. “Okay, let's see where these strange people are…” Joy mutters while flying towards the river and search it, hoping nothing too bad is happening here. “And why is a state alchemist wearing an organization cloak?” He mutters, too many questions being raised too quickly. Joy quickly saw in the distance, a building under construction...with those half Heartless half human abominations of Core’s doing the work. “Come on guy’s, Rich wants this base set up by the end of the week!” A man with Neoshadow antenna’s, left leg and arms yelled. “Yo! The fuck is going on here?” Joy shouts, taking the direct approach to this situation. The Neoshadow guy looked up. “Crap! It’s the mini mutt!” Joy then found himself being assaulted by the ones that could fly, and all sorts of spells being cast at him. “Shit!” Joy yelped while diving and dodging the spells and attacks, disbanding his glider and summoning Reunion and Lindworm. “Ventus Ira!” Joy shouted, feeling the words resonate with his magic as bladed tornadoes suddenly appeared near the enemies, ripping all who got sucked in apart. Tired. Everything hurt, I was tired, but I wasn’t stopping. I hacked them apart, by fire or by actually slashing them. I’m not sure how long it’s actually been, but I wasn’t giving up. Wave after wave of these monsters came, and at some point, I realized I was alone fighting these things. “Fuck...you...ALL!” I shouted, fire erupting around me like a bomb going off. They were gone for the moment...I took a breather. “Well, well, not bad.” I heard that voice, accompanied by stupid slow clapping. It was him...that copy of me that… “You’re doing well I see.” “Oh come on!” I flung my arms in the air, wincing a bit at my body being in pain. “Okay, hi. Why are you here sènior?” “What? A copy can’t check in on the original?” He asked, walking smugly. Wait, is he wearing a sweater vest? “I’ve just been going around for a while, seeing sights, meeting grand places. Did you know your world also has a Mirror portal to an Equestria girls universe too? Wow, had fun there.” “You...killed everyone there?” I asked. “Not everyone. Just that Sunset bitch and the Sirens, and the world leaders, released a few Shadows, some deadly diseases, set off a nuke or two… I just made it more interesting.” “By killing people and damning everyone else.” I frown. “Yes. Post apocalyptic worlds are fun. Even more so when you’re the one making them like that. Though, to be fair, I did not touch Africa, they have enough issues.” “Oh glad to see a Psychopath have a heart.” I sass, wondering why he was really here. “Oh don’t worry.” He said, blinking as...his eyes became that of Psychopaths, before blinking again and they returned to normal. “I didn’t touch them, but the blast force of the nuke did though~.” I took a deep breath, remembering my family and friends, all the ones I cared deeply for and why I fight. “I've gotten over hating myself just so you know.” I tell him. “But here's the thing...you should really take up Cript’s offer for a new life. It helps give some new perspectives on things...and when you have a harem you'd spend eternity with, that also helps.” I explain simply. “Nah, I’m just too fucked up.” He said, pulling out a dagger and slicing his arm, blood pouring out, more than what should be. “You see, I remembered something. Something long before all this happened. A sin. A sin we committed so long ago. You remember? Our first time behind the wheel,” As he spoke, the blood coming out of him formed a pool, and a hand was starting to come out. “All went well, then she just ran in front.” As he spoke...the blood soaked...woman I...She came out of nowhere. “We were there when she died in the hospital. It was so bad, you repressed it.” The woman was now out of the pool of blood, her eyes black and body soaked in blood and twisted. “She didn’t blame you...but you sure did.” “What?” I ask, taking a step back. “She...I…” I mutter, putting a hand to my head in pain from apparently the repressed memory. “It...was an accident…” He smiled. “Yes, it was, but her blood stained the windshield in the end.” The woman’s twisted body then tackled me, pinning me down as her lifeless black eyes stared into mine. “I'm sorry.” I tell the woman. “Even if your not in there...just wanted to apologize for such a thing.” I say to the lifeless woman, trying to get out of the woman's hold. She arched her back so her head was up high...as her mouth suddenly covered her entire face, and she went in for a kill...I closed my eyes...before feeling something splash on my face. I opened my eyes...her head was gone, and blood was pouring on me. “Get up.” I heard Cript say, him pulling me back on my feet. “And don’t worry, that’s not Psychopath blood...though you may want to get a check up at the family doctors.” “And where'd my happy reflection go?” I ask him, hating the amount of blood on me. “Still here.” He said, now in front of me. “So, this is Cript. Wow, the stories I’ve heard. Still, I wonder if.” The other me said, reaching for my throat. “They are,” He grabbed it. “True.” Then, a roar, something like that of the worst beast in hell roared, and the other me was suddenly not in front of me, and rather, was a dozen or so feet away from me, a large wolf pulsating with a dark aura was ripping him apart. “Oh they are.” Cript said. “But I am not the only one who can handle my own against you freaks.” “Is that Den?” I ask, shocked at the sudden giant wolf attacking him. “Yup, that’s your mama’s Primal Form.” Cript informed. I looked at what was my happy and energetic sexy wolfmother being a primal badass right in front of me. “Woof…” I mutter, my tail wagging against my will. “Careful there, she is your mom.” Cript said, patting my back. “But yes...woof.” “I'm sorry just…” I put a hand to the necklace she made me. “Best mom ever...you are lucky she is your wife.” “Well, it happened unexpectedly. I’m sure she told you the story, right?” “I believe she did...it was when she…” I trail off, not wanting to say it. “Yeah, she was like this, unable to control herself. She was sent to kill Scoot’s, Squirrel, I received word fast, and was there before any casualties or injury had appeared. A split second, I looked into her eyes...I saw rage, hate, but behind it, I saw fear, sadness, and pain. That was back when the Humanity Blade was new, and it worked. I stabbed it though her heart, and it began to work it’s power, it encased her in crystal, and expelled all that evil that was making her act the way she did. When she broke free, she was…a bit lost, hurting, but there was just such...love, in her. It wasn’t long until she became one of the wives...but…Damn she can get freaky… I can not belive I just said that.” “Rune, Pinkie, Derpy, and Luna...christ do they want some freaky stuff that I don't like.” I shook my head. “But uh...why is Den here exactly?” I ask curiously, thinking it was a tad random for her to be here. “Now I love Mama Den whenever she's around and it's always a nice time but...pretty convenient huh?” “She is very protective, you may be her oldest pup, but she’s always watching you too. And with a thing like that.” Cript pointed to the now mangled other me. “She felt the need to...be the protective mother.” “Remind me to never piss her off.” I say. “And...I need help trying not to be attracted to the greatest Milf ever.” I mutter. Cript smacked the back of my head. “Wow...incest much?” “Joy is technically my little brother and is dating Jenny who is my daughter.” I frown, rubbing the back of my head. “But yes I know, it's...well actually Celestia is added to my herd...frankly incest is only frowned upon by the genetic part of it, but besides that if it's two consenting legal parties who love each other without a single fault then power to them.” I explain. “Love knows no bounds right?” I ask. “I think it’s time to take a break.” Cript and I looked up, seeing Den, in her anthro, sexy form. “And awe, how cute. You have a crush on your mama.” Den said, kissing my forehead. “Cript, do you know what I’m thinking right now~” “I think I do...and ha!” He laughed. “I feel like I'm missing a joke here…” I say, thinking I'm gonna be knocked out here soon for some reason. “Close your eyes deary.” Den said, and hesitantly, I did...why’s everything hot and squishy? Joy finally dealt with them all, and the house that was being built was now ruble, and he now had the Neoshadow man impaled on the ground, questioning him. “Why the hell were you building here?” “Grah! Screw you mutt.” He snapped. “Hmm...what would a ball of concentrated light do to you when up close?” Joy asked, using Reunion to make a ball of light and gently inching it to the half Neoshadow, wondering if it would burn him or just not do anything. It seemed to be burning him, and he was trying to squirm away. “Fuck! Fine, I’ll talk, just turn that crap off!” Joy took the ball away from him but didn't turn it off. “Thank you. Now why were you building here?” Joy asks again. “Cause the new boss marked this site for a base. After that Huxley dush killed Core, Spoiled Rich took over and has been running operations. All I know is that this place is for researching what this world calls Alchemy.” Joy rolled his eyes. “Oh yeah? And how well has working for Spoiled Bitch doing for ya?” Joy asks. “Surprisingly, no different than Core. She somehow managed to get into his research terminals and has been making progress with researching Psychopaths and Cript.” “Of course…” He sighs out. “Hoping she would be retarded here.” He muttered. “Why do you all want to learn Alchemy?” He asks. “It’s from Core’s research about Cript. It said something about Alchemy from an off world being used on him to try and trigger his Psychopath coming out.” “Do you even know what Psychopaths are? How strong they are and how little they give a damn about you or everyone in this worthless war?” Joy asks curiously. “All I know about them is that they are nearly unstoppable, but Spoiled isn’t after them directly, she’s after the rejected host forms.” “Anything specific you know about these rejected hosts?” Joy asks, finding that news interesting. “All I know is that they have a fraction of the power of a Psychopath, but all the mental insanity, that’s why they are called Insanities. Their a body that had the potential, but couldn’t hold the pain and mentality of the Psychopaths.” “Then everyone under Spoiled’s command must have heard that as long as there's a living being in existence a Psychopath will hunt them down and kill them for the fun of it.” Joy says. “Being the physical manifestation of murder does that to ya.” “Grr. I’m just a foot soldier anyway, having this done to me, I only got about a month or two before my own heart collapses on it’s own stress. I’ll be dead before that psycho bitch figures out that power.” Joy thought for a moment and checked his assistant. “Hmm…” He wonders. “Do you want a second chance at a proper life?” Joy asks, a hollow crystal appearing in his hand. “Cause I can give you a second chance without any chains attached.” “If it works, dump me on some random world.” He said, his expression telling me he doesn't think it will work. “Okay.” Joy nods before pointing Reunion at him and closing his eyes, the hollow crystal starting to glow as the half Neoshadow felt like the darkness killing him was...being lifted and taken off his burdened heart. “Almost there…” Joy muttered, before at some point he stopped, the hollow crystal seeming to be filled with a dark liquid. “You okay?” Joy asks, opening his eyes and hoping his idea worked and didn't do any serious problems on the poor guy. “I’m...wait.” He said, getting up, seeing his body was fully human again. “That...worked...holy crap…” “Good.” Joy smiled, glad to see it worked. “Now...we have a way to help everyone else like you.” Joy said, excited to explain his new finding on saving people from darkness. ”Thanks Zeke…” Joy thinks to himself, thinking this was a good attempt at what Zeke did with his Reject Darkness ability. “Well...thanks. Oh, um...here.” He said, handing Joy what looked like a stone, carved into a donut like shape with a yellow glowing ring glowing on it. “That’s my access ‘card’. If you find yourself in one of the bases in the realm of darkness, use that to get into any building with a yellow mark on it. They typically break when we die but since I’m not dead, it’s yours.” “Cool.” Joy nodded, pocketing the access stone and the crystal. “So, what world did you want to live on specifically? Or just some random planet?” Joy asks, worried about what the Psychopaths might do to the next world they encounter. “I guess… I heard a lot about this place called Twilight Town, sounds nice enough, and before back on Earth I worked selling pretzels on the beach, maybe I can get back to that, simple work, easy money, and it’s fun.” “Sounds simple enough.” Joy nods, pointing Reunion and a DTL opened. “Just walk into the light and you'll be in Twilight town.” He says. “Start of your new life with a good step.” “Thanks. If you stop by and you want a pretzel, you will be getting them ninety percent off.” He said, walking into the DTL as it closed behind him. Joy smiled and took a deep breath. “It’s good to be helping.” Joy smiled, getting on his glider and flying back to the Elrics house. As he got back he saw them all moving around, getting ready to cook a meal it looks like. “Oh, Hey Joy.” Ventus said as I entered the home. “Everything go okay?” “Yeah everything's good. Figured out how to help save people from Darkness.” Joy smiled. “Oh...cool.” “So, will you be staying for dinner?” Winry asked me. “I’m making Ed’s favorite, Stew.” “If I'm allowed.” Joy says sheepishly. “Of course, the one who brought our son back to us after all these years is always welcome in our home.” Ed said. After...that event I went back home. “It was fun and you know it.” Den said as she and Cript followed me through Canterlot Castle halls. I stopped and looked at Den. “Do you always do that?” I ask bluntly. “Yup.” Cript said. “Let's just say free time and...magic, leads to many a things in the bedroom.” “I meant more to traumatize people.” I said bluntly. “Cause...I didn't like it…at all.” I shake my head. “Well I did.” Den said firmly. “And if you don't, then I can just use that as a punishment if it's needed.” She said, patting my head. “So, what are you looking for in here anyway?” “That mirror portal.” I state. “I...need to see how bad he screwed that world up.” “Ah.” Cript said. “Well, let's keep looking then.” It was a find, but finally, we found the room where the mirror was. “Let’s hope it's not as bad as I fear...” I mutter while opening the door to the mirror, wondering if he destroyed the thing so we couldn't save them. Entering the room, the mirror was whole, on this end anyway, and I summoned Reunion, tapping the mirror as it's magic activated and I took a deep sigh. I walked in...and saw that school… burned down. “Thought it would be a barren wasteland…” I mutter, looking around and wondering if there's any survivors. The more I looked around the more I saw the carnage, building either burned down or destroyed. There were...bodies, here and there, but no one that I recognized. It was chaos...and, it looked rather old, like it’s been this way for a while. “Oh no…” I mutter, looking around and seeing all this senseless death and violence. “I could have stopped this...I know I could have…” I mutter, feeling like shit I couldn't save this world. “Damn it to hell.” I mutter while continuing to walk around, hoping to find survivors at least. As I turned the corner I spotted a now all too familiar sight. Shadow Creatures, surrounding a woman, wrapped head to toe in bandages with goggles over her eyes, trying to keep them away with a machete. I summoned my chakrams out of sudden habit and threw the two at the Shadow Creatures, the flaming weapons circling around and killing the monsters while keeping the woman safe. “You okay?” I ask, rushing over and catching my chakrams, ready to fight more. She nodded, putting her weapon away and began walking off, motioning for me to follow. I nodded and followed along. “Is...is there anyone else?” I ask, hoping to save as many people as possible here. She nodded, not turning back as she raised a hand, one finger pointing at her, then opening her hand to show five, then put her thumb down, four...nine? “Can you actually talk?” I ask. She stopped for a moment, then shook her head and continued walking. I nodded. “So...only nine are alive?” I ask, wondering if she meant that. She nodded. Holding a hand up to stop me. She jumped back, another Shadow Creature jumping out from a pile of rubble, to which she pulled out her weapon and decapitated it quickly, then continued walking. I raised an eyebrow, wondering how she's able to cut these things head off with a simple machete and with surprising ease. “Practiced?” I asked her. She nodded. She then spun her finger around in the air, and held up three fingers. Three...something... “No idea what you mean…” I frown, looking around to see if any other Shadow Creatures would appear. The sun was going down, and she stopped, looking up at the sky as it did. Once the sun was gone completely, she sighed, rubbing her head and then kept on walking. I looked up in the sky… There was only a single group of stars up there... “So much needless death…” I mutter, following along. “The night...is losing its beauty…” She nodded, stopping at a manhole cover and kneeled down, lifting it off and jumping down. I sighed, jumping down also, and was met with a sewer that was lit up with glow in the dark paint and completely cleaned of any...sewage. “Secret home?” I ask curiously. She shrugged, leading the way til we found ourselves at some sort of flood gate. SHe knocked four times, then it opened, a blonde haired, fair skin toned girl with a cowboy hat was there when it opened. “Welcome back Silence...Oh, you found someone?” The woman, Silence, spun her finger around. “Oh, he found you. Well, come on in then.” Applejack motioned. We walked in and once in, she pushed a button on the wall that closed the floodgate. “Well then, glad to see there are still people out there.” “I'm glad people are alive here.” I sigh out. “Is there anyone else?” “There’s me, Silence, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Luna, Nurse Red Heart, and Trixie.” Applejack said. “You’re the first guy we actually found, heh, guess I owe Rainbow Dash ten bucks.” “Why?” I ask curiously. “She bet we weren’t all that was left, I bet we were, I lost.” “Who bet if there was only one male left a harem would happen?” I ask. “Pinkie.” “Of course.” I chuckled. “Always the silly one…” I mutter with a smile. “So, what would happen if I said I could give all of you a second chance at a happy life?” I ask seriously, cutting right to the chase here. “Ah’d say you better have some proof.” “Want to go their physically? Or do you want to see an actual picture?” I ask curiously. “Either.” She shrugged. “Gonna need everyone here if you want physical proof.” I say. “Well, might as well.” She said, Applejack and SIlence leading the way to a second floodgate. She opened it and inside were the rest of them. When Pinkie looked up and saw me she jumped up. “HA! Pay up!” That earned a groan from some and a chuckle from others. “Now while I do enjoy some harmless bets not pointed at me, who wants a second chance at life?” I ask curiously. “If you have a way out of this shit hole I’ll actually do that harem thing Pinkie talked about.” Rainbow said. “Ditto.” The rest all said. “Alright then.” I nod. “We’re going to need to get to the statue near the school. Trust me it will be worth the dangerous wait.” I say honestly. “Where we’re going...it'll feel like home.” I tell them. “I’d call you crazy but at this point we are desperate.” Luna said, standing up. “Three months of this hell is enough for me to chase after any gleam of hope.” Three months...is that what Silence was trying to say? “I...I was three months late?” I mutter to myself, clenching my chakrams tightly as I tried to keep my fire under control here. “Come on...we don't have much time.” I say while leading them to the mirror. “Just...don't be surprised what you'll see in the new world okay? It's gonna be...special.” I say, wondering what they'll all think when they meet my fiances and family. As we were nearing the portal something felt...off. I know this world is in hell...but something feels...bad. I looked up, and saw why...not a star was up there. “Oh no…” I mutter in worry. ”Oh, yes.” I nearly froze hearing that voice, we all turned around, seeing Psychopath light Zeke standing there. ”It’s breathtaking. Pure silence, I just have ten little bugs to take out and this reflection finally will fall.” “Your not killing anyone here.” I growled, my chakrams spinning and flames roaring to life. ”Hehehe, try and stop me, mutt.” Psychopath said, summoning a blood soaked Kingdom Key...no, not blood soaked, bleeding... “The hell happened to the Kingdom Key?” I ask, wondering why his keyblade was bleeding. ”All of the Keyblades within Zeke’s heart split into groups of two, the light half with this body, and the dark ones with Drezke. I just showed them what our power is.” “Or in actually correct terms, you brainwashed them with a fuck ton of bloodshed.” I frown. “Keyblades aren't for killing innocents, especially at the rate your doing.” I tell him bluntly. “There meant to help keep balance in all world's, not used for a murderers whimsy, or for him to forget their are soundproof rooms.” I frown. “The more pain and death you inflict, the more it hurts you...and you know that.” I say, having felt pain from killing those I never wanted to. ”Quite the contrary.” He stated. ”We are the facts of Murder. We are in constant pain, feeling every death that has happened, is happening, or will happen. Our minds are filled with all the conflicting emotions those who murdered feel when the act is done. But with each Reflection and realm fallen, our pain becomes less. Even when we die, we are reborn when another death occurs, and that’s always. In order for us to stop this pain, stop this pointless cycle you sentient life forms put us in, we will end everything.” “Oh…” I mutter, now understanding their pain. “But here's the thing, sometimes instead of feeling nothing but pain and the onslaught of emotions...maybe you should be looking at the Humanity in people, who are willing to fight to protect the ones they love and care for, even above their own life.” I say to him. “I heard you may not be able to come back Zeke, but I'm nothing if not stubborn to help a dear friend.” I say, cracking my neck and ready to protect the people behind me. ”Oh really? Well then.” He said, snapping his fingers as we were then surrounded...by countless...Zeke’s...no...Cripts. Right, Cript is his only...him, to not become one of these things. ”In every reflection in every Realm, Cript’s parallels have been our strongest host body. Can you help...all of him?” They were all laughing, every last one of them. “I've helped at least two if memory serves.” I shrugged. “But if I need to beat all of your asses just to bring you all back then so be it.” I say. “I'll be the first to save the people who can't be saved. It can't be that hard right?” I ask, knowing the massive pile of shit in just said is all but impossible but damn it I could at least try. ”HAHAAHAHHAHAHAHA! Let’s see about that!” They all yelled, charging in at us...right when they were in front of me...then, they...weren’t? I blinked, looking behind me and seeing the others...they were pony now? “You...are stupid brave, you know that?” Cript’s voice said, making me look forward and seeing him there...we were back in the mirror room. “Like father like son huh?” I joke with a grin. “Hmm...Little bit. Well, off to your house then.” Cript said, snapping his fingers and I...was in my bedroom...my fiances here too...and the people I saved behind me. “...Is this one of those...just accept it things?” Rainbow Dash asked. “I can explain…” I start. “But...I doubt you will believe me.” I say sheepishly. “So….who wants to start first?” After a somewhat detailed explanation of what happened, leaving out what Den did to me...and the dying part, and we explained to the other Pinkie, who now that I looked, had brown eyes rather than my Pinkie’s blue eyes, and the other Luna was just a pegasus, not an alicorn. “Well...glad to hear Ben saved you all.” Celestia said, taking a sip of tea. “So...you are all...marrying him?” The other Luna asked, who for clarity sake, are calling Lulu. “We still need to figure out a wedding day….we kinda forgot that.” I say nervously. “Well...That’s...interesting...So...may I ask a question?” Trixie asked. Huh, surprised she’s not talking in third person. “Sure.” I nod. “What be your question?” That got them all blushing. “Well...that bet with Pinkie about a male coming along was a Pinkie Promise thing...and everyone in our school knows better than to go back on a promise with her name in it so…” “You want to join?” I ask with a little grin. “Well...yes.” “We’re all strait and after three months we’re all kinda...antsy…” Lulu admitted. “I can think of some fun stuff I can do involving my other~” The other Pinkie said, who, for some reason, wants to be called Twin Pie. “I think I know what I’m thinking~” My Pinkie said, the two looking at each other, then to me... “Just so you all know...don’t be surprised if you turn bi.” I say to the other girls. “Great...now I need to buy nine more rings...and why are you two staring at me?” I ask worriedly at the two Pinkies. “Twin sex!” They both yelled at the same time. “Of course.” I chuckle and shake my head. “Welcome to your new life ladies, where it's filled with weirdness, magic, and a whole lot of lewd things.” “I’m gonna have to take some time to get used to being covered in...fur.” Applejack said, looking at her new form. “Wait...is my chest...bigger, or is that the fur?” To be continued...