//------------------------------// // Truth Hurts // Story: Keys of Harmony // by BioQuillFiction //------------------------------// Eclipse stared at the point where Josh left the entire time as Twilight dragged him away. She said something but it didn't register until the name Zeke was brought into it. It was then he realised he was in the field where they trained earlier that day. “Please, get Zeke! If you don't know how to handle this, he has to!” Twilight begged Justin. “I can send a message, let’s just hope he answers.” Justin summoned his Keyblade, and held it into the air. “SOS code, three.” His Keyblade flashed three times. As Zeke, Unum, and their new nanny exited the DTL, the X-blade flashed. “That was Justin’s Keyblade. Code three.” X spoke through Zeke. “Busy day.” Zeke said. “Nana, you go find someone and ask them to take you to Twilight and Cid, alright?” “Alright.” The Purified Invisible said as she floated off. Zeke opened another DTL, and he and Unum jumped into it. “Eclipse, can you hear me?” Twilight asked worried. Eclipse nodded slowly before Twilight asked, “Why did that...the monster call you his son, and you called him father. What is going on Eclipse?” Before he could answer, a DTL opened up nearby. Zeke and Unum jumped out, and ran over to the group. “The heck happened to Eclipse?” Zeke asked, spotting his new branding. Zeke’s eyes shrunk. “Who did that to you?” Eclipse looked down, ashamed as he said “My father from earth I never met...Josh Ventral” Zeke nearly froze. “Josh… so… you’re his son… and my cousin?” “No offense to you, but I wish I wasn't” Twilight interrupted. “What the hell is going on?! Last time I checked, Eclipse and I were twins right? So there has to be a mistake right? Our father is Night Light of house Sparkle!” she yelled before tearing up. Zeke looked at Twilight, then to Eclipse. “You lived a whole other life, reborn literally with someone you could trust… and never told her?” “How was I?” Eclipse said, the pain in his arm now numb. “I was afraid...afraid of this exact thing….” Zeke summoned Discord, and held it over Eclipse. “Curega.” The spell healed the wound as the bullet rose out of the hole in Eclipse's arm as it soon healed to where it was like there wasn’t a hole there. “I suppose… but still. The longer you were to brush it off… the more the pain would hurt when the truth came out.” “You're right...she-Twilight.You deserve the truth.” Eclipse said after moving his arm stiffly “Are you aware of the concept of Reincarnation? Well, The world Zeke came from...the world I was first born in fell of our own stupidity. Lucky me, I was peaceful and just wanted to live life and didn't participate in the slaughter. God, the bastard, let me have a wish. I chose my Keyblades and to live life here, as a pony. Well, because I said I wanted a new life, he played well, god and had me reborn as the pony in front of you….with all of my old memories. Ever wonder how when we were kids, I seemed better at math at first until you went out of your way to beat me? That's why…” As Eclipse finished, he simply looked to the ground. “I'm so, so sorry.” “No, No you’re not.” Twilight said shaking with anger. “You've lied to me. You lied to everypony! You're not my brother, not my twin.” She snarled as she looked Eclipse over. “Be lucky that coat only works for you or otherwise is take it and let one of the girls have it! You've lied! And now, live with that. I won't tell Spike, but you Better not come within a city of us again. You aren't welcome anymore.” She said before looking away from Eclipse’s pathetic form “I'm going home. I'll be on time for tomorrow’s lesson Justin.” As Twilight left, right out of view, Eclipse broke into tears. “Justin.” Zeke said. “Make sure to double your usual strength for teaching Twilight. She’ll need to work out her anger.” “Yes sir.” Justin said, walking back towards town. He sighed as he got out of ears range of his boss. “Hope this works itself out sooner or later, I don’t want Twilight to turn out like I did.” He muttered. Zeke grabbed Eclipse and was carrying him. “Come on, I know a bar back in Daybreak.” He said as he carried Eclipse though the DTL, Unum close behind. Eclipse just let it happen, ignoring the voice whispering as he felt himself be pulled through space. He didn't even care on how humiliating it was, just that his one treasure in life has left him. “So...a normal pony in your world...I take it stranger things have happened?” He mutters. “I purified two Pureblood Heartless so they are now living beings, have hearts, and are intelligent enough to talk. Yeah, stranger things.” Zeke says as he places Eclipse into the bar booth. It was largely empty, pictures of older years hung on the wall, the wood all around the bar was aged, but kept in good care. “The worst part of all this though? Two high powered, drive form boosted mega flares did Jack shit to Josh...I should know. I have Scan.” “He’s been experimented on by Core from what I figured. Some kinda black blood and god won’t wanna know what else. Don!” Zeke yelled, getting the barkeeps attention. “Two of my usuals.” “Two devils poisons coming up.” The barkeep said. “Creative name. Any reason why it's named that?” Eclipse asked. “Being a Ventral, we all have stronger than average kidneys and livers. Strong enough that we are about immune to most toxins and venoms, and several man made poisons. Devil's Poison is a mix of everything the barkeep has, with a little magic placed in it to actually give me a buzz, otherwise it would take a truck of moonshine to get me drunk.” Zeke explains. “Ah, makes sense I guess. Just another thing I have to learn, thankfully not from a rabid wolf.” Eclipse mentions. “That was Josh’s nickname among the family. So, he branded you too huh?” “I refused to get into the “Killing Mood” as he calls it. The bastard almost made me kill ….. Twilight….” Zeke sighed. “THe Killing Mood… when a Ventral first takes a life and the rush of it triggers their own little massacre. All I ever did was hack for information, Josh said I didn’t do enough, branded me like he did you, and gave me a time limit. If God didn’t pick me up I’d likely be dead. He had high hopes for me too… Everyone did…” “Did? From what little I've seen you went above and beyond…” Eclipse said, his face giving away that he is thinking on something. “It’s a family of criminals Eclipse, the act of what I’m doing would be considered treason. All because I was born with red eyes, they expected so much from me...” “Ah, so that's why I had those as a human. I always thought it was a defect and got contact's as soon as I could.” “Hah. No at all. There’s a legend among the Ventral family. The first Ventral to dive into the darkness, becoming the first in the long, long, long, long line of criminals they are now, was born with red eyes. Every Ventral since then that had the red eyes was about as evil and fucked up as you can imagine. Josh was born with one red eye, one green. His red eye is blind now though, his own doing. The hold the red eyed ventrals as the ‘true demons’ of the family.” “Though, it's strange. He didn't shoot me until I mentioned that my mom still loved him. Well, before she died but you get the point. Found that odd.” “Out of all the evil, dastardly, cruel and inhumane things the Ventral family has done, we do believe in love, and that true love only comes once.” Then why did he leave her. Eclipse thought as the drinks came to the table. They were black, with red foam and in large beer mugs. “Most likely because he’s the family leader. Josh was always a work first kinda guy.” Zeke said, taking a sip. Eclipse grabs a mug before taking a sip himself. “That explains who payed the funeral….damn as I said to Josh, everything is lining up while breaking all at once. It sucks.” “Yeah, but at least you didn’t get raised in a car for about seventy percent of your life and spend the majority of the time in the back reloading your parents guns.” Deciding to try and lighten the mood, Eclipse said, “Go through puberty twice, and get Twilight pissed enough to turn you female JUST so you can have a period, then we'll talk.” “Ha! Rune’s been trying to get me to try out gender swapping… not drunk enough for that.” “Yea…” Eclipse takes another swig. “Luna couldn't even convince me to gender swap if she tried after that.” “Oh~ So your reflections Luna and you are a thing?” Eclipse lets himself chuckle. “Yea, kind of. We haven't told anyone yet as it was just a few days ago, but yea, we're a thing.” “You used protection magic right? She may be a princess, but logic dictates you’d still be paying child support.” “First, I have a mountain of hits I have yet to spend. Second, we did because we both aren't ready for little one's yet.” “I already got five.” “Busy man-” Eclipse says giving Zeke’s shoulder a love tap. “Sixteen wives keep it that way.” Eclipse just chuckles “Why am I not surprised?” “You might be getting a buzz now.” “Oh yea, that must be it.” Eclipse says with a shrug before taking another sip. “So, if you and Luna do hook up, anyone gonna join?” Eclipse’s head hits the table. “I swear, if it is everypony who gets all sparkle eyed on me….I won't complain, but I will probably scream bloody murder at first.” “Heh, when I first heard I was getting married, cause some old law about saving kingdoms lands you the princesses on this world, which was taken out in the new laws, I was tempted to jump out the window to a ten story drop. When more were joining, I was about ready to fly my glider up to the atmosphere and drop from there.” “No rest for the wicked I guess.” “I learned to love them all quick actually. Funny, I had to get sent to another world to find love… sixteen times over, and you had to be reborn to find love.” “Yup. The only relationship I had was my cat and my games. Other than that, does a stuck up boss who underpays you count?” “Nope. I’d say not. So, why’d you pick Oathkeeper and Oblivion?” “Long answer or short, fake answer?” “Short, you might get too drunk while explaining the long one.” “Bullshit answer, I loved their appearance. Long one summed up? I always wondered if light and dark could just….stop fighting and become something new.” “Honestly, I chose the X-blade because it looked cool. After I got it, I learned only someone with a Balanced heart can actually wield it. I somehow have one, and God let me have it. I’m meant to keep darkness and light in balance, with what I’ve done with those two purified purebloods… I think I found a third option when all the fighting settles.” “Did you know God was hesitant to give me mine? He even said and I quote “keep those two troublemakers in line”. At first I thought he was joking...heh that's what I get for thinking.” “Huh, well, when I heard X talking to them, he said hi to Oathkeeper, and told Oblivion to eat shit.” “Odd….I wonder what Oblivion did. When I did a deep dive, he seemed alright…..if blunt.” “What did Oblivion do X?” “Arrogant jackass talked his wielder and Oathkeeper into Fighting my fourth wielder. Let’s just say… words were said that battle.” X spoke through Zeke. “Well, even if they do argue, Oath seems to forgive him. But I'd understand if you can't bring yourself to do the same.” “How can I? That fight led to both our wielders dying that day...” “Because...unlike me, you have eternity with them. Holding a grudge will Just cause a back and forth until one of you is destroyed….permanently. But just thing on that okay?” Eclipse says, his speech slightly slurred. “Heh, maybe some day.” “You got issues weirder than us X.” Zeke says, his speech not even slurred. “Weeelll I've done enough civic duty for now. So…we’re cussins.” “Yeah, my dad is Josh’s brother.” “Funny how life brings family together huh?” Eclipse says with a attempted humor. “Especially in ours. Every major fight involved lots of Ventrals there, ever since the numbers just grew.” “And now the two mutts have the big, bad, Stupid, line stealing alpha after them.” “And even after he’s gone… Core is still gonna be there with who knows else. I know the whole family is allied with him, but not sure how many others he has other than his reflections.” “I'm not too worried. Don't get me wrong, I'm scared as hell. But frankly, people like Core and the rest of our family never win in the end. There's a bitch named Karma for a reason. You hurt innocents, it will backfire….eventually.” “Tell that to about three hundred years worth of crime the family has under their belt.” “Hey, you and I broke away, and I'm related to head fucker directly. Karma is just getting started I think.” “Maybe. We won’t know til we finally win a battle against one of Core’s army soldiers in my opinion.” “You got a point there damn it…” “Although… we do finally have an upper hand.” “We do? It's not my good looks is it?” “Heh, no. The Grandfather Light, the only thing that can kill or cure Core, like it did Unum, and Unum managed to break Core’s Keyblade and take his heart from it.” Eclipse turns to her, too buzzed to realize Unum was Yellow. “Nice job!” “Heh.” Unum chuckled. “Well, when he finally told the truth about who I was I just… lost it. But, my late husband was with me in that fight.” She said, summoning the Keyblade she summoned that say. “Even though it’s been countless years… all the sins I’ve committed, he was watching over me.” “Something everyone should aspire to be...a guardian. Sadly I can't take a hit or else I'd try harder to be one.” “Isn’t that why they invented enchanted charms?” Unum asks. “Well, I've never gotten one. This coat is the only enchanted thing I have...and the most defensive as it's made of Orcinium+” Eclipse shrugs “Impressive. Maybe the old records have a means to upgrade it?” Zeke says. “With the Foretellers help, a lot of once lost information has been recovered. I think there might be something there to help.” “If there is then knock your selves out. I just ask you all be careful, one of the enchantment took eight people to enact. It allows my drive forms.” “Well then, let’s go see.” Zeke placed the munny on the table for the drinks, picked Eclipse up and hung him over his shoulder and he and Unum walked back to the castle. After a short walk, and Eclipse taking a nap the whole way there, Zeke dropped Eclipse on one of the tables in the Workshop. “There should be something around here.” “A bit of warning before you drop a sleeping person next time?” Eclipse complains. Zeke summoned Discord, and held it over Eclipse’s head. “Detoxify.” A strange magic flowed through Eclipse, who could suddenly think more clearly. “Can’t have you drunk while we look.” “Yea… did help me forget though..so thanks. For the drinks I mean.” “Don’t mention it.” Zeke said, looking over the still standing bookshelves. “I think this shelf had volumes about magic clothing and such?” “Well, there is a way to quickly check. The perks of being a unicorn.” Eclipse says before casting a spell to read every label for anything related to clothing. “Yup, that's the one.” Zeke grabbed the look and began skimming through the pages. “Let’s see here… Spell matrix fine tuning… no, spell re-enchanting… no, Ah, Enchanted clothing enhancing. Let’s see… if clothes or armor are already made with oricorlium or stronger, their durability and resistance to damage can be increased by three methods.” “Huh...Didn't think it’d be that simple.” Eclipse said, looking around the room. “Method one involves smelting either light or darkness and having the item in question absorb it, increasing the power of both the spells placed on it, and the durability of the item.” “Interesting, but gathering pure light and darkness has to be harder than it sounds.” “Method two involves cutting a small part of the wearer's heart and smelting it into the item. The person and the item will be linked, and it’s strength will from then on be determined by the wearers determination… feel like that’s a reference or something?” “Also worrying for me. My heart looked like it was dim last time I checked. Don't think that will help a weak heart.” “Well that only leaves option three. Placing the item in a pure liquid mana pot until it suckes in all the mana, though, it’s labeled as risky.” “So lets break it down. We have one that will be hard to gather materials for, one that's risky to my heart, and one that is a unknown.” Eclipse said in an analytical voice. “Well that last one is listed as risky because the wearers mana must be used. And it says that all the mana must be taken for it to have the full effect, it would leave you in a near death state. As the warning states.” Eclipse looks out a window before sighing and looking back at Zeke. “Well, half the enchantment only work for me anyways. Lets attempt number three. Besides, I don't think we’re going to find any pure darkness any time soon.” “Alright, now we just need the mana pot, and the drainer… Say Eclipse… can you knock a random bookshelf over?” Eclipse looks at Zeke quizzically before lighting his horn and telekinetically knocking one over at random. When the bookshelf fell over, a large green pot fall on top of the pile of books. “Wow… worked. Guess it wasn’t just Kira.” Zeke said, grabbing the pot and placing it next to Eclipse. “Drainer is in the desk.” Zeke quickly ran over to the desk, taking out a strange device and placed it on the edge of the pot. “Alright, book said just touch the thing then when it stops you’ll feel like you got hit by… well, I don’t know what that word meant, so I’ll just say a train.” “Megh, I got hit by a angry Josh, Nightmare Moon, Twilight, Justin, A Half heartless monster, a Yellow core whom I’m assuming is Unum, I think one more on the tally board won’t be a issue.” Eclipse placed a hoof on the device. As soon as he did, he could feel it pulling his mana out of him as a blue glowing liquid poured out of it and into the pot. At first it didn’t feel like much, but as time dragged on, he began to feel tired, and his hoof felt like it wanted to crack in two. After about three hours, the mana finally stopped flowing, and Eclipse fell over on the table, breathing in calm, steady breaths. He managed to get his vest off and threw it into the pot. “It doesn’t hurt….just make you feel..heh...drained.” He chuckles before wincing. “Okay, no jokes.” Unum placed a bowl next to Eclipse. “Heh, I could only grab some applesauce real quick, figured you’d be too tired after that to chew.” “Well, you’re right….sadly…” “And… I’m sorry for… your arm…” “Don’t be...Honestly, If I thought what I was doing was right I’d commit genocide. If it was to protect the few I give a shit about, nothing is too much. Besides...nothing a little magic could have fixed.” “Heh, yeah… still. At least take this for an apology…” Unum placed a green Wayfinder next to Eclipse. “It was a gift from my late husband… I don’t think I need it anymore… I’m honestly surprised I kept it all these years.” “Are you sure? This….this is more than an apology, it’s a memory.” “I can summon his Keyblade now, and I think it’s about time someone else takes it anyway. They say a Wayfinder passed down from person to person gives more strength than any that could be made newly.” “I...Thank you.” Eclipse says, his darkness calming down for the first time today. “Really. Now how long will it take to soak?” He asks Zeke. “Book says all night. You should get some rest, so you can stay in a guest room for the night and tomorrow we can see just what this has done to enhance the thing.” Zeke replies. “Fine by me…”