//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Drezke's True Goal // Story: Broken Barriers: Secret Reports // by BioQuillFiction //------------------------------// After the attack and the apparently fake Spoiled Rich was dead, the Nobody, heartless, whatever they were, were dealt with rather quickly. Joy brought DT to the infirmary. It’s been three days and she hasn't woken up. He called his other girlfriends and told them he’d be gone for a while. Diamond Tiara was hooked up to the works. Doctors said it was a miracle she was even alive. She had enough darkness in her to cover all of Daybreak in Darkside heartless. The Crystal Heart was fine, but it almost suffered a meltdown. “Can't things ever be simple?” Joy asks bitterly. He looked over to Tiara, she had a breathing and feeding tube in her, and it pained Joy to see her with them. “Damn it.” Joy muttered, using his assistant to buy more of those special crystals to see if he can help save Diamond. He bought at least ten of them as they sat on the ground. “Hey doctor.” He called. “Yes?” One of them said, stepping in. “You have a question?” “More like a stupid idea.” Joy says. “Who do you think has good concentration, a good heart, and is willing to help me do something really stupid to help Diamond?” He asks the doctor simply. “Cause I'm gonna need a bunch.” Joy asks, lifting a crystal and summoning Reunion. “Cause I'm gonna be trying to extract all the excess darkness in her and putting them in these crystals.” “Afraid not. This is something her heart has to sort out young man.” The doc said as he left leaving. “Has enough darkness to cover the planet and apparently her heart has to solve it.” Joy frowned. “I call bullshit.” He said, looking at the still sleeping Diamond. “Damn it...can't I do anything to help?” Joy asks himself sadly, taking a seat on one of the chairs nearby and trying to think of a way to help. “If I can't do this...no that's the Foretellers realm of expertise…” He muttered to himself, thinking diving into her dreams would help possibly but not knowing anything about that. “Hello there.” Joy looked up, seeing Zeke’s Luna enter, taking a seat and moving it over next to Diamond Tiara. “I take it you are Joy?” “Yes I am.” Joy nodded. “But I'm not really feeling joyful at the moment.” He sighs out, making a bad pun about his situation. “Heh, I can tell.” Luna said, looking over to Tiara. “Even before the Nobodies first came, I kept a close eye on Diamond Tiara. So young, going through such cruelty at her mother's hands. When Zeke got rid of them, saved what was left, she had nightmares. Such horrible nightmares about the one who caused so much harm. I calmed them to my best abilities, but somehow, that horrible man’s face keeps coming back to her. When Ben and Zeke brought the dead back...her friend...Silver Spoon...didn’t come back. We assume she moved on, to a better place. Still, Tiara mourned her friend, she was the little bit of light she had in the times before.” “Funny how similar and dissimilar my Diamond and your Diamond are.” Joy says. “The...Manehattan incident killed Silver Spoon and her parents...including a not super evil Spoiled as far as I know...then a family curse or someone killed Filthy...but instead of nightmares my Diamond...you'd think she shoved her arm in a wood chipper before I helped her.” He shook his head. “I'm sorry for rambling but...the two suffered losing those they cared about so much in different ways...but…” He trailed off sadly. “Seems they are destined to suffer. I have never been one for Destiny. I don’t know about your reflections Luna, but I never wanted to be a demi-goddess of the moon and a princess.” “What did you want to be?” Joy asks curiously. “A baker. I guess in that I am guilty of Celestia being such a sweets addict. But, I learned my talent, moving the moon, and became an alicorn.” “For some reason I'm reminded of Pantheon…” Joy said. “Haven't met him or gone to the world he lives on but he is a powerful Spartan Warrior...and apparently he’s always wanted to be a baker even if he's the best Spartan in his world.” Joy says, remembering League of Legends back from Earth. “Well… After reading all I could in the records room...I think I can Dive you into her dreams...maybe get her to wake up.” Luna said, gaining Joy’s full attention. “It will be tricky, and dangerous.” “I don't care, please help.” Joy says, almost pleading with how much he wanted to help Diamond. “Alright, close your eyes, and I’ll perform the spell.” Joy closed his eyes, relaxing before he felt...light, wind blowing against his face. When he opened his eyes, Joy was falling. It was a lot like Dream Drop Distance, though, rather than orbs, there were just random rocks and heartless flying around. Joy summoned Reunion just in case. “Diamond?” Joy calls out, diving down in hopes it is like DDD and he'll find Diamond soon. As he was falling, he cast spells to deal with the heartless and rocks that got in his way. Finally, he was approaching her Station of Awakening. DT was leaned to the side, like Sora’s. Orbs of those she cared for all around. Joy saw himself there too. When he landed he looked around, seeing nothing til he turned around. There, he saw Zeke’s Keyblade Armor, standing in Lingering Will pose with Tiara’s No Name Keyblade. “Of course.” Joy muttered. “Hello?” Joy asks the armor, having a good feeling what's gonna happen soon. You? Well now, this is interesting. A voice spoke. Joy couldn’t actually hear any voice, but he knew what it said. “Yeah, it's interesting that I'm in the mind of a girl I love.” Joy says to the unknown voice. “Who am I talking to if I may ask?” Names are trivial, but, I suppose something is on order. You may call me No Name. That’s what my wielders have usually called me.. “There, no name for time as it were I suppose.” Joy shrugs. “But names hold power, so don't call it trivial. But how are you doing?” As good as I can. My wielder is surrounded by darkness. Ancient Darkness. My new… ally, Gazing Eye, came to her when he sensed her darkness. You were there, if memory serves. “When she hit Scootaloo too hard.” Joy says. “But how can I help Diamond?” Help her? That is what Gazing Eye and I are doing. He is this armor, in the form of someone she trusts and misses, and me, in my form, to protect her from the darkness around us. Around her. Too long we have been separated. We almost forget we are brothers. “Interesting.” Joy says. “Never got to talk to Keyblades given...well I'm not X but...it's interest to talk once and a while.” Yes. It’s been a while. Oathkeeper and Oblivion, Myself and Gazing Eye, Your Reunion and Duskblade. Tell me, what do you think we all have in common? “I mean besides the obvious ‘two sides of the same coin’ thing?” Joy asks. “Cause besides that I have no clue given I barely know the history of keyblades.” Yes. We are all twins. Oathkeeper, the keyblade of light and promises. Oblivion, the Keyblade of bravery and courage. Gazing Eye, the Keyblade to see the future and all its possibilities. Myself, No Name. The keyblade to enter and explore those futures and pasts. Duskblade, the Keyblade of pain, the hurt a heart and a body feel after becoming something they never should have been, and Reunion, the Keyblade of happiness, pain no more and two beings becoming one again. We are the only twin Keyblades, as far as we’ve learned. “The more you know~.” Joy said in a sing song tone. “But besides this wonderful lesson, how do I help...clean up?” Joy asks, motioning to the dozens of things he probably has to kill. To rid this much darkness? End it’s source. We are not only protecting her from the extra darkness, we are protecting you from what is in her. A fragment, a speck of Eve was in all that darkness that possessed her. Even though Eve took it back, that speck remained, a link to Eve herself. Strong, but not as strong as she. End it, and the darkness will leave. “Mind pointing me in the right direction? Cause I have no idea where to start.” Joy says, not knowing anything about Diamonds dreams. If you are truly ready, then Gazing Eye and I will release what we are holding back. Are you ready? “Hold on.” Joy says before casting several buff spells on himself to make him faster, stronger, and more tanky, and double checked his items, which he had several elixir's.”Yep.” Joy nodded, readying for the fight. “Let's get this fight going.” The armor and No Name faded to light, and when it left, stood a much taller, and older looking version of the Eve Joy saw that came out of the darkness not so long ago. She stretched. “Man, those brats kept me stiff as hell.” She then looked up, seeing Joy. “Oh yes, you. I remember you. You were there when I finally escaped Core’s heart.” “Hello Eve.” Joy says, Lindworm surrounding him as he readied for combat. “I see your more like your original self rather than a child.” “That is my original self, this is just what I look like cause this is me over whoever this girl is.” Eve said. “See for yourself.” She said...peeling off half her face...and Tiara was there. “Joy!” She yelled, Eve covering her…skin back over. “Such a drama queen this girl.” “Let her go!” Joy shouted at Eve. “Diamond has nothing to do with this, just let her go.” He says, wanting to protect the one he loves dearly. “Hm, let me think about that...no. Truth be told, I’d rather kill her than keep her. Such a dark heart, yet helplessly clings to the light.” Eve said as she began pacing back and forth. “So dumb.” “Why is she dumb?” Joy frowns. “Is it because you see her as lost potential to control? Or is it because she's not dumb enough to grab that Apple?” He asks her. Eve raised an eyebrow. “Why does everyone make that reference with me? Well, anyway, no. She’s dumb because she’s clinging. You all think darkness is so evil and the light is so good. Black and white perspective you idiots all have.” “Me and Ben? Not really.” Joy says. “We know full well it's in the hands of the wielder to show if something is good or evil. Darkness can do just as much good as light can and vice versa, but I suppose people fear darkness cause most of the things that keep appearing and trying to murder them on a daily basis appears from one side half of the time.” Joy explains with a frown. “Heh, fair enough. Still, you were there when I got out. You know our goal, wanna know why we want to kill Kingdom Hearts?” “One, sorry for referencing you to the ‘Adam and Eve’ story, if Cain existed and caused Psychopaths to exist then me.” Joy starts. “But why do you want Kingdom Hearts dead? One of three reasons, one because fuck it, two because that is what Darkness wants to do, or three because Kingdom Hearts has some dark secret that not many know or some cheap shit like that.” Eve looked over at Joy. “In the beginning, there was just the one world. We called it Playground. There was the sun, forests for eternity, Kingdom Hearts, which shared the sky with the sun, always watching over us...then there was us. Children. The first life made by Kingdom Hearts, were children. Back then, there were countless of us, and I remember when I first woke up on Playground. Met other kids. We were taught by Kingdom Hearts language, math, to make tools, the works. We played and frolic in the forests, which provided all we needed. Then, Kingdom Hearts told us we would not be children forever. We would age, become adults, and...produce babies, to become kids and the cycle continues. “Everyone began aging...everyone but me. As my friends grew old, met their partners, made the first families...I stayed a child. Years passed, I watched the first deaths and the beginning of burials, old friends dying, more and more of them as time went on. I traveled, wondering why just I wasn’t aging...turned out, I wasn’t. I found the first towns, farms, and after a long time, I found nineteen others who didn’t age, just like me. We were kin, in the end, as time went on, we always had each other. Those towns and farms became cities and castles, they...forgot about us. Forgot we were ageless. All who saw us thought us orphaned children. We were older than any of them could fathom, we knew their first ancestors...and they treated us like ignorant children.” “We didn’t age, but we got hungry. Too young to work, we had to steal. We were quickly branded thieves and sent to the next town or city...time after time...after time. After we had long lost count of the years gone by, of our true age...we begged, cried to Kingdom Hearts to let us age, let us be normal… He said we didn’t age, because we were not of his making. It was then he showed us his light...and our true forms were revealed. We were these...things. The bits of Darkness that would become what it is today. The shadows Kingdom Hearts Light failed to reach. We ran, ran for help from the descendants of our friends...they treated us like monsters. And when they begged Kingdom Hearts for a way to defend  themselves against us...he gave them Keyblades! “We ran and hid for years, and they grew in their numbers. Darkness began growing in their hearts...and they blamed us. Finally, they made the one special Keyblade that can kill us...that damned X-blade. We knew though, it was made from light and darkness, and drew power from Kingdom Hearts himself. It would take a special wielder to use its power. A person born with a heart that was in perfect harmony, balance with its light and darkness. Unum. She dealt with everything we threw at her. Finally, we figured...they will always see us as monsters. Demons...Devils, so that’s what we will be. Rage used our powers, and ended her, our first kill ever. When I saw Core in the Realm of Darkness, wielding the X-blade, I thought he was some sort of back-up wielder. I’m sure you know the rest. “We want to end Kingdom Hearts, because he let us exist just to be the bad, the evil you Keyblade wielding idiots fight. He knew what we were from the beginning...and told us when it was too late and armed the ones that were hunting us. Killing Kingdom Hearts is revenge. Payback long overdue.” Joy looked at her. “So you want to kill Kingdom Hearts...because people don't understand your pain and wanted to kill you off?” Joy asks. “While...this is all a lot to take in...it sounds like all of you need a friend...who doesn't see you as the monsters everyone, even yourselves, think you are.” Joy explains, feeling sad for the Embodiments considering what he just learned. “We saw Kingdom Hearts as our father, and he let us be hunted down and become what we are now! He armed the hunters and we had to learn what we all could do from scratch while he taught them all how to fight us, hurt us! We would have taken death over this torture!” Eve yelled, a strong wind blowing Joy back as he quickly used a Lindworm spear to stop himself from falling off the edge, Eve in front of him. “Before we killed Unum. We begged, pleaded to our father one more time. Please. Help us. Kill us… He said no. So we will kill him, and let him have the mercy we never did!” Eve yelled, darkness forming in her hand as she raised it and the Soul Eater Sword Riku had appeared. She then slashed at Joy. Joy raised Lindworm and blocked the slash. “You want the sweet mercy of death?” Joy asks Eve. “How can I do it without hurting Diamond?” Joy asks, dodging to the side so he could get some room to properly fight. Eve jumped back, now standing at the edge of Tiara’s Station of Awakening… and laughing. “Just try!” She said...taking a step back, and fell off. Joy ran over, only to almost fall back as a giant hand grabbed the edge. Then another...and what came up was something Joy had never seen before. It’s head was a skull, wrapped and covered in black and purple exposed muscles. Yellow glowing dots were the eyes, and it’s arms were like that of a Darkside’s, it’s chest wrapped in bandages. ”This is what we really are!” It yelled, Joy realizing...this was Eve’s REAL form. ”We will give our father the mercy we begged for! We will end him like they’ve all tried to end us!” Eve yelled, taking a swipe at Joy. Joy dodged away from the swipe, flying up in the air. “I'd love to say you honestly look cool…” Joy starts. “But I have a feeling you just need some rest.” He says, Nothingness surrounding Reunion as he slashed, a wave of thorns shooting out towards Eve’s titan form. Eve raised a hand, the thorns wrapping around it. ”Heheh. Not bad, but I feel nothing...she feels it though.” Eve opened her mouth...and Tiara was there, stuck in the dark and purple muscles, trying to struggle free. “AAAHHH! STOP IT! IT HURTS!” Tiara cried. Tears falling freely. “Diamond!” Joy shouted, the thorns disappearing immediately as he rushed forward, hoping to save her from Eve. Joy was about to reach, when Eve shut her mouth closed. Joy almost lost his arm. ”Not that easy wolf.” Eve now had two MASSIVE Soul Eater swords, one in each hand, and was swinging them at Joy, who was trying to dodge each of the hits. Joy got hit, once he was hit, the wind was knocked out of him and Eve grabbed him, and squeezed tightly. Joy screamed, his bones breaking and organs bleeding from the inside. ”Pathetic. If this is all Kingdom Hearts could bring us to fight, then ending him will be a cakewalk!” As Joy felt his consciousness going, he saw between the teeth. Tiara, looking at him. Fear, horror, sadness. She was scared. As Eve was about to finish Joy off, Joy appeared on the other side of Diamond Tiara’s Station of Awakening, all his weapons appearing around him in a circle. “You really think Kingdom Hearts sent me?” Joy asks, staring up at Eve. “I may help the Light not die against people like you who choose to be monsters, but I am much more than Light itself.” Joy tells her and starts floating up in the air with all his weapons. “You understand nothing Eve...but when you hurt the ones I love…” Joy says. “Lets see what Darkness can do against Nothing.” He says, his weapons now spinning around him as Nothingness Thorns wrapped around his body, grey armor forming around him as they all merged. Joy now was adorned with armor bearing the Nobodies symbol on the chest and helmet, and his weapons all came together, forming a single, large Keyblade that was the length of a Greatsword. It’s grip and handlebar was a tail, it’s blade a body with folded wings, and it’s tip a dragon's head breathing nothingness thorns. It’s Keychain was a crown with the Nobody symbol. Joy swung it, not caring how or even what just happened. Eve raised her arms to block, and Joy swung. There was a pause...before Eve’s form began to fade. Joy’s new found power didn’t last after that one attack, his Keyblade returning into his weapons and his armor vanishing as he fell to the Station of Awakening. When he looked up, he saw Eve, on her knees as her skin was evaporating, revealing Tiara’s body underneath. “Heh...if dying is anything like this...we should do this again.” She said, falling over as Darkness covered her for a moment before vanishing, leaving an unconscious Diamond Tiara behind. “Ow…” Joy muttered, feeling his entire body sting in pain from...whatever the hell just happened as he moved over to Diamond, hoping she was okay. “Diamond?” He asks, hoping she was okay. “Ugh…” Tiara grunted, getting up and rubbing the back of her head. “Damn...that bitch left a crick in my neck.” “Oh thank god you're okay.” Joy smiled happily. “Ow...damn it that hurts.” “I should be the one saying that. Those thorns of yours hurt like hell!” Tiara said, giving Joy a light whack to the back of his head. “Ow!” Joy barked in pain. “I'm sorry okay? At least you weren't getting crushed a whole bunch...then...doing whatever the hell I did.” Tiara looked at Joy for a while. Then, she laughed, Joy confused, just laughed with her. “Damn...guess we’re never going to have normal dates. Tell you what, next time I’ll save you.” “I'm the hero here.” Joy says. “I save my wonderful Diamond from danger.” Tiara grabbed Joy by the neck of his cloak, pulled him in and planted a kiss right on his lips. Joy was happy, enjoying it. Finally, it ended. “We’ll see.” She said, light blinding them both. Joy jumped awake, looking next to him where Tiara was getting her tubes and such taken out. “Now remember Tiara, it will be a few days til you are back to full strength.” A doctor said as they pulled out that feeding tube that goes up your nose from her nose. “Owe!” Tiara yelped as it came out. “Fine.” She said, grabbing a tissue and wiping her nose clean. She then turned around, seeing Joy awake. “Well now, look who finally woke up sleeping puppy~” Tiara said playfully. “I'm looking at Sleeping Beauty right now.” Joy said just as playfully. The doctor finished up taking all the wires and other things off of Tiara, who now was just laying in bed waiting for the final few blood test results before she got to go. “Damn, these patient gowns are comfy.” She then looked over at Joy. “And being nude under this would give you a view if I just turned on my side~” Joy blushed, his tail wagging against his will. “What would your mother's think?” Joy asks, wondering if she's gonna have to actually fight them for some reason. “Let’s be honest, in any reflections they’re none to talk. From the few meetups I listened in on your reflections version of them are worse than mine.” “You should meet my harem...they tease too damn much.” Joy sighs out. “Heh, I bet. Also heard you knocked them up.” Tiara said, Joy almost frozen from shock. “How did you hear this?” Joy asks worriedly. “Got an invite to the baby shower from your reflections Pinkie.” “Of course.” Joy shook his head. “Its Pinkie after all.” He chuckled. “And I suppose the rest of your family was invited?” “No, just me.” “Ah.” Joy nodded. “Well okay then. But...I'm sorry I hurt you...and not be able to stop you from getting hurt so much.” He sighs out, ever so thankful Diamond is safe but upset he couldn't have protected her from this to begin with. “Eh, don’t worry about it.” Tiara said, shrugging. “This is just the first step in a long road of crap to get to the end of the rainbow.” Joy was going to point out something but kept it to himself. “Well at least your safe and sound. But...I still have no idea how I did that.” Joy frowns, wondering how he got armor and a kick ass looking greatsword keyblade. “Well, enough about that.” Tiara said, Joy suddenly finding himself covered with her gowned...her still in it as she moved to sit on his lap with him on the chair. “It’s time to rest and relax til the next battle, right?” Joy blushed and nodded. “Uh...yeah, sure.” Joy says sheepishly. “So, how about tomorrow, we go on a normal date, well, try to make it normal. I can ask Scootaloo if she and her boyfriend wanna tag along and make it a double date?” “Sounds good to me.” Joy nods. “Just...don't be surprised if my girls suddenly appear for some reason.” Joy says sheepishly. “Heh, well then, I’ll plan the date, you just come by my place to pick me up.” A throne. Without asking him, without consulting, they built him a throne. Drezke, they wanted him to be a king. The world who’s darkness he purged wanted him to rule. He was no king. He was only half of the man he once made. Still, he sat atop it, surrounded by children, largely children, few adults, and infants the Heartless gathered. All who were savable on his new world were present, in a kingdom being built from the remains of an old one. He gave them all keyblades, those he could. Surprisingly, the filly Velvet had with her, Littlepip, was given Oblivion, and Oathkeeper followed immediately. Velvet herself gained Rejection of Fate. [img][url=https://www.khwiki.com/images/6/6f/Rejection_of_Fate_KHD.png[/img] https://www.khwiki.com/images/6/6f/Rejection_of_Fate_KHD.png[/center] Velvet was determined to train, but didn’t believe ending lives was the answer. She wanted to heal them, believing those with darkness in their hearts were merely sick, and as such, should be helped. So, Drezke respected her wish, and implanted within her, a link to him. He taught her Consume darkness, and all that darkness that went into her, would flow into that link, and into him. It would spare her, heal her target, and he gained the power. If power was all Drezke was after, he’d be taking in the darkness from the Realm of Darkness. No, Drezke needed the energy, the fuel for his plan. When he was equal to the Embodiments in strength, he would go after them, and rather than attack, he’s consume them, but, not until he had enough darkness to make the Crystal Hearts effects on his newfound darkness nule. He needed the Void Keyblade. “Once I’ve taken all of them in, I will strike myself down, ending both my pain, their threat, and with luck, darkness itself.” He said to himself. He was often alone, as he wanted. After running into Yellow and taking the Xehanort Hearts and fake X-blade, he kept the hearts, and broke the fake X-blade, freeing all the hearts trapped within it. So many children Core took for that weapon. “I will end darkness. At any cost.” Zeke and Crow began traveling. It was all there was to do aside from the constant combat. With each battle won Crow and Zeke grew in strength and coordination. Though, one question still rang in their minds. “How come the Heartless and Nobodies Silhouettes are partnering up?” Zeke asked, the two walking a trail in a seemingly endless forest. “Not really sure dude. It just happens sometimes. From what I could tell from my limited KH knowledge I’ve made a theory. I think they pair up because they try to find even the smallest remnants of a heart or a body, so they just attach to each other, even if its their own or not.” Crow said. “Huh...that would make sense. When I had control over them, I could sometimes hear the heart lost in the darkness, but not with Pureblood heartless. I found out you can inject them with light and they gain sentience, made an Invisible my Nanny.” “Wow, that's pretty weird to think about. A heartless looking after a child when they are originally just beings that steal hearts.” Crow jokes. “Well, if you think about it, the Purebloods are just strong negativity, so, they are basically super strong Unversed.” Zeke and Crow looked ahead, and stopped in their tracks. There was a town ahead, like many they had seen before...but this town was largely destroyed. “What the?” “Hm, been some time since I’ve found a town. Hard to come by when you start walking again.” Crow explained. “But...why is it wrecked? Looks worse than the ghost town my older bro had his eighteenth birthday party at AFTER it was over...Pretty sure the ghosts left that town after that night.” “Not quite sure dude. When you’ve been here and think that you’re the only intelligent being around you don’t get much of an explanation.” The two walked into the town, finding large slashes and cuts in every building and the soil.  “Nice place to take up shelter though. More places to hide out than just open wasteland.” “I dunno man, I don’t think whatever did this is gone.” Zeke said, looking around and  stopping when he spotted something abnormal. “Hey, check this out.” Zeke said, pulling out a sword that was stabbed into the door of one of the buildings. “A blade? Never seen a weapon outside of my keyblade here before. Maybe it was left here and this city was pulled to this world or something. Hard to believe anybody can live here.” “No...it looks familiar…” Zeke said, looking at it for a time...then his eyes went wide. “I know who’s this is.” Crow raised his brow. “Well don’t keep me in suspense man. Who?” “He was a survivor of the Keyblade war. Wore this red lab coat and black bear mask. He ripped out his own heart to controle Nobodies and killed just about everyone on the Equestria I ended up on...How in the fuck is he here?” Zeke questioned, looking at the sword. “We best leave n-” Zeke then felt something cut his arm as he and Crow turned around. There, the Silhouette of the man Zeke ended so long ago stood, swords floating around it and a book in its hands. “Shit.” “This an acquaintance of yours?” Crow summoned his Keyblade, prepared for another fight. ”I knew I’d see you again.” It spoke, the voice sending chills up Zeke and Crow’s backs. ”Now, it’s my turn to kill you.” He said as dozens more swords appearing and rushed to shish kabob the two. “Okay than less than an acquaintance!” Crow yelled as he blocked an oncoming blade. Change. “You hear that?” Zeke asked, deflecting the swords as fast as he could. Crow knocked back another few swords coming at him. “Hear what?” Take his hand, and change. Zeke grunted, knocking more to the side but more came still. “Huh...Well, better than nothing.” Zeke said, knocking more aside before dragging Crow and taking cover behind some half ruined building. “Take my hand.” Zeke said. “Your hand!? You better not be getting cold feet on me!” Crow yelled skeptically. “Look, crazy BS like this happens to me a lot, just do it and if nothing happens, if we survive this, you can lead wherever we go next. Just grab my hand and hope some magic shit happens...Do not take that out of context.” “Not really! But you sound like you know what you’re talking about. If this is some kind of trick then we  better not speak of it again.” Crow said, taking Zeke’s hand. In that moment, Zeke’s whole body glowed in a golden light, it glowed and glowed, blinding Crow. When he could see as the light died, Crow found himself holding the X-blade, though, it was different. One of the Kingdom Key’s that made it was a dule black, the other an ethereal Kingdom Key D, and the white of it that made up the rest was a golden yellow. The keychain was wrapped around his right arm, and part of his Torso. The Keychain itself was much like the X-blades, though, the heart behind the crossed Keyblades was blue. Holy shit! Zeke’s voice yelled from within Crow’s mind. “Ahh! Don’t yell in my mind dude!” Crow said out loud. “Did my life just turn into Soul Eater?” Been to that world, turns out Lord Death was the X-blades second wielder, and was there when the world wa split off into the many we have now and the multiverse. But, in short, yes. Damn, I knew Kingdom Hearts turned me into a human Keyblade, and my kids could shift into Keychains...but this is new to me. Didn’t think I could shift also. Zeke explained. Crow smirked, “Well whatever the case,” He swung Zeke around with his right hand and held Way to Dawn in the other. “We’re twice the Keyblader now! Time to kick some ass!” Crow jumped out from cover, the Silhouette sending more swords, Crow tossing them with ease, Zeke’s Keyblade form size making blocking easy. Owe! Damn, they feel every hit!? This sucks! Zeke complained, Crow ignoring him as he made his way closer to the Silhouette. Crow now was bringing Zeke into a swing, ready to slice the Silhouette. Crow swung, now behind the Silhouette as it began to fade, it’s outlines fading and the book it was holding fell to the ground. “Huh? Did we win? That was far too easy.” Crow said. Zeke’s Keyblade form glowed, a bright light covering all of him as Zeke appeared next to Crow, human again and falling on his butt. “Owe! Damn it, that sucked.” He groaned, getting back up and dusting himself off. “Huh...If that worked...I wonder if…” Zeke thought, holding out his hand. Sadly, nothing happened. “Damn… Hmm.” Zeke hummed, walking over to Crow and taking his broken Way to Dawn. “Hey! I’m still using that.” Crow objected. “Just...let me try something.” Zeke said, holding the Way to Dawn in both hands and gripping tight. “Come on, come on...I know you can hear me...brother.” There was a flash, Way to Dawn was whole again. “Ha! I knew it you little shit.” Zeke said happily. I’d leave at that comment but my welder is right next to you. Zeke heard Dawn speak. “Man...never thought I’d miss having Keyblades talking in my head.” Zeke said, giving Dawn back to Crow. “He says he chooses you. Take care of each other.” Crow gently took The blade from his hands, and did a few practice swings. “Balance is great, I guess because he’s whole again. Plus it's nice to finally use one without cutting my hands on the jagged, weathered hilt.” “Heh, now let me try.” Zeke said, taking out his Starlight. After a time, Starlight was whole again also. “Yes. Well, looks like we have some real weapons now. About time.” Crow dispersed his Keyblade, and picked up the book that was left by the silhouette. “What do you make of this?” “Hopefully? Answers.” Zeke said, taking the book from Crow and opening it. As theorized, this is Purgatory. The place where enemies slain by Keyblades go, Heartless, Nobodies, even the ones like me end up here. If legends hold true, this land also holds the true selves of those with Balanced hearts who’s darkness and light are split. It’s known that our personalities are made up of some of our light and darkness. People with balanced hearts personalities, qualities, everything are even between their light and darkness. So, when their heart splits, two identical, but very different beings are created in the process. It’s here where their true selves end up. The lucky bastards, they’d have hope of ending up here. Their halves bodies are made up of the energy their halves of the heart they make up. This is where their body ends up unless they are reunited. They can leave here if the door is found. Two things are needed though, a whole Keyblade, and the door. It’s impossible to get both. All the Keyblades here are broken, and the door changes locations daily. I’ve seen it once, the day I arrived. Magnificent in design, but useless to me. My heart is in the realm of light and here I am. Hm, I wonder though, if this is the afterlife for Heartless and Nobodies...where do we go when we die here? Zeke closed the book. Rubbing his forehead. “So...We both have balanced hearts...and are split...Core split you I’m guessing...and mine split when it became out of balance…” Zeke said. “So that’s how it is huh? Wither the two versions of use fuse back together, or we have to find this door. Both sound pretty difficult.” Crow sighed. “Yeah… Wait...So, these are just our bodies...so if we leave here, we’d be Nobodies...like he was...Wait a minute...I remember what I looked like as a Keyblade...weird, I know, but...one half of me was ethereal...and the other was dule black...I don’t think that’s normal.” “Are you not supposed to look that way? It looked pretty badass.” “X looks like, well, you know what he looks like. If I’m some sort of human version of him, I should be nearly identical. That one Keyblade was just black and the other looked like a Kingdom Key D, but was ethereal… X reflects the damage of the world we are on, when it’s all fine, he’s whole, when it’s not, he’s cracks and such, like how Vanitas held it when Ventus fought him...What if I’m reflecting my own damage...something happened to one of my halves. That’s the only thing I can think of.” “Well if we’re talking about symbolism, then it seems like your dark half decided to stick around while you right side skipped off. Kind of ironic when you think about it.” “My light and dark halves are in harmony. I’d meditate and talk with them, they treat each other and act like brothers. No, something bad must have happened. They even constantly balance each other out, if Dark got too strong Light would just reflect him, and back and forth. Knowing that...I shouldn’t even be here anymore if they fused...something really bad must have happened.” “Then we better find that door and get you out of here. You gotta keep them in check right?” “I guess...And I’m sure you want out of here as quickly as possible. So let’s get out of here and force your halves to rejoin and figure out what happened to mine.” Crow paused for a moment. “Sorry, can’t do that dude.” “What? Why?!” “From what you told be on what my family is doing right now, they are doing everything they can to bring me back. I can’t just show up before that happens like it’s nothing. I have to wait here till they achieve their goal. That’s when I’ll apologize. My first priority right now is to get you out of here. They need you out there more than me.” “Like hell! You read that book too, you die here your halves can’t rejoin.” Crow smirked. “Then I better not die till then.” “You- Huh?” Zeke said, pausing as he turned around. Silhouette Darkside, Neoshadows and Demon Tides heading for them...lots of each. “Son of a! We are not done with this talk.” Zeke said, ready for the incoming hordes. Crow got ready as well. “I guess they didn’t tell you how stubborn I am.”