//------------------------------// // Zeke: Out of Purgatory // Story: Balance // by BioQuillFiction //------------------------------// Zeke and Crow walked for what felt like days. Time seemed to have no meaning as the sun was stuck in an eternal sunrise. They stumbled upon a massive ruins of a city made from all stone. “So...third little pig did good for himself.” Zeke said. “Cool story bro.” Crow said with slight sarcasm. The two of them started investigating their surroundings. “Looks like another empty ruin dude.” “Which they all are, save for Silhouettes.” Zeke sighed. “So, when we get out of here...we’ll be like the Organization Nobodies… Should we find matching cloaks?” “You can figure that out on your own dude. You know how I feel about this.” Crow argued. “I’m not leaving until my brothers and sisters free me.” “And I know at least ten different ways of knocking you out bare handed, if I have to drag you out of here unconscious, I will.” Zeke replied, the two of them walking down some stone steps. “So...how long do you think we’ve been here?” Crow sighed, “Once you’ve been here as long as I have, you tend to forget about time. Seeing as there isn’t day or night here. But if you’d like an estimate, I’d say a few weeks since we met up.” “Heh, for us. I mean out there.” “Who knows. Time could be running differently, it could be moving the same. We won’t know until we’re back in the world of the living.” “I just hope this Door doesn't just drop us off in the lanes between. I would rather not wait for the big ass spaceship from Lilo and Stitch to pick me up like it did Terra in Birth By Sleep.” Crow chuckled. “Well, you’d have quite the story to tell.” “Heh, screw that. I’ll just grab Stitch, whack Jumba upside the head, flip off the council woman then steal a ship like Stitch did in the movie… Wow...I must miss my family because that’s their territory.” “Well, then we’d better hurry up and find that door so you can see them again.” Crow said as the duo continued to shuffle through the ruin. As they walked around they saw an odd sight...an orb of darkness. “Well that’s new.” Zeke said. “Yeah, I haven’t seen something like this before.” Crow said. “You know...it kinda reminds me of that secret boss fight in Birth By Sleep, the one against...Vanitas’s...Ghost…” As Zeke finished, the dark orb evaporated, revealing a masked Silhouette of Vanitas, wielding a broken Chaos Gear Keyblade. “OH COME THE FUCK ON!!!!!” “Didn’t see this coming.” Crow summoned his blade at the ready, as well as Zeke. “Hey...you ever beat this fucker cause...I never did...Even at max level…” Zeke admitted. “To be honest dude, I’m not that good at games. But this ain’t a game.” “Yeah, I made that realization quick long time ago...but they do give hints to what we will expect….” Zeke said, Vanitas rushing towards them, freezing then appearing behind them as he struck them both, sending Crow sliding across the ground and Zeke crashing into a stone wall...he was comically stuck in an imprint of his body. “I hate secret bosses…” He groaned, falling out. “Owe…” Crow walked up to Zeke’s side. “Well this guys tough. Now I’m glad I’m not good at games. I would be rage quiting for weeks if i kept losing like this.” “And get this...he ain’t even the hardest in that game, nore the series…” Zeke said as he got up. “But...he can only hit us when we are together...every fight he’s been in is one on one...Split up, whoever he goes after, the unchased one attacks.” Zeke said, he running left as Crow ran right. Vanitas looked at the two, and followed Crow, only to get hit by a Strike Raid from Zeke. When he turned around to face him, Crow landed four hits before backing up. “Can’t handle the both of us, hun tin head?” Crow shot a fire spell, knocking Vanitas back a bit. “What?! How come I can’t use magic!?” Zeke yelled, throwing his Starlight into a strike Raid, knocking Vanitus’s Helmet off, Crow running in and delivering a Zentenzucan. The Silhouette vanishing as it’s broken Keyblade fell to the ground. “...Sadly that was less exciting than I thought...but then again he never had much HP in the game, all he had going for him was speed and strength.” Crow sighed. “Well at least he’s gone. Now we can go back to what we were doing… aimlessly wander until we find the door.” “Yeah…” Zeke said, picking up the mask, surprised to see it’s the same from the game. He then put it on. “What do you think? Wow...ever see those commercials where they advertise glareless sunglasses...that’s how this looks.” “Looks good dude. But a bit disproportionate to the rest of you. As well as it don’t look right without the rest of the outfit.” Crow laughed. “Meh, I’ll find something.” Zeke said, picking up the Broken Chaos Gear. After a bit of concentrating, it flashed white, and was fully repaired, and handed it to Crow. “Wanna have it? Come on, Dual wielding Keyblades is badass.” Crow looked unsure for a moment, before taking Chaos Gear in his hands. “Might as well. We’ll need any advantage we can get here.” “No kidding, but if I somehow see Sephiroth or the Lingering Will, you are taking them alone.” Zeke said, keeping the helmet on as he and Crow continued their walk. When they were around the only, still standing buildings, three triangle shaped towers, they took a rest. “What’s up with old civilizations and triangle buildings?” Zeke asked. “... Illuminati confirmed.” Crow said flatly, before breaking into laughter. “Heheheh...heh...No, seriously, they exist….my dad is on their speed dial.” “I knew it!... Well enough banter. Let’s check them out.” Crow and Zeke got up, deciding to explore the tops of the buildings. They made it a race for kicks, and Crow won, and almost froze at what he saw. “Hey, what’s up?” Zeke asks, still walking up the steps. “See what i see?” Crow points to the top of the towers. Revealing one large Fancy double door with elegant designs on it. “Isn’t that the door from the first Kingdom Hearts game?” Zeke asked. “I also see the door out of here. C’mon!” Crow said racing up to the top, with Zeke in tow. As Crow dragged Zeke with him, Zeke felt something...familiar, reacting, be went in front of Crow, and blocked an attack from a Silhouette, it’s mody simple...but the mask it wore gave away who it was. “Core.” Zeke muttered. ”I knew you’d search for the door. Sooner or later.” Crow glared at the Silhouette. “Looks like we meet again. I’ve been wanting to talk after you split my heart.” ”Buzz off brat.” Corw said, waving his hand as a gust of wind nearly blew Crow off the edge of the building. ”Your dark half was as useless to me as you are to your own family, such a needy, pathetic thing.” Zeke pushed Core to the side, ready for what the Silhouette might be capable of. “I know that last time we met I took all your darkness away, so let’s see how you are off your steroids.” Zeke said, he and Core crossing blades, the two clashing and blocking each other's attacks with expert skill. Core got the upper hand, casting magic to stun Zeke and land what would be deadly wounds if he was simply mortal. His Keyblade like body merely left him bruised, and his clothes taking the damage. “Heh, still a cheat.” ”Learn some magic and then talk about evening out the odds.” Core said, charging at Zeke again, the two clashing again. ”Go on, open it. I’ll hitch a ride.” Core said, pressing forward. ”You’re hollow inside, a Nobody. Once you get out, I’ll hitch a ride in your mind, and then, take over. You’ll be a better puppet than Huxley would have ever made.” “Don’t go writing me off just yet bastard!” Crow’s voice echoed through the air. From behind, Crow suddenly flew up into the sky and dove towards Core striking him in the back. Crow landed next to Zeke, revealing a pair of metalic wings behind him. One of an angel, and one of a demon, like Way to Dawn. In his hands was Chaos Gear, prepared for battle. “...Not even gonna ask.” Zeke said, reading Starlight. “You best hope those ain’t permanent, from experience with my wives, wingboners give it all away.” “Way to Dawn saved me from hitting the ground like this. I guess it’s how I’m traveling from now on.” Crow smirked. “But first, let’s take care of this bastard.” “He won’t die easy. Think you can take him so I can open the door?” “I’ll buy you some time.” Crow used his wings to rocket him towards Core, blade in hand. Crow kept Core occupied, occupied enough for Zeke to rush over to the door. “Alright...how’s this work?” He thought, looking at Starlight before pointing it at the door. A beam of light shot out and into the door, and it began opening, a pulsing wall of light behind the large double doors. “Crow, get-” Zeke said, blocking an attack from Core in time. “You are not using me you son of a bitch!” “Get back here!” Crow flew up ready to cleave Core in half, but he block his attack as well. ”You insignificant speck! A child like you can never hope to end me.” “Ending you isn’t my end game here!” Crow used most of his strength to force Core away from the duo. Zeke let out a sigh. “Alright Crow, let’s-!” *Bam!* A kick to the gut sent Zeke flying through the door. Crow only smiled at him. “I told you before. I ain’t getting out of here till my family puts me back together. When you’re out tell them, “I’m waiting for them to succeed.” Bye for now Zeke.” Crow said, aiming his Keyblade towards the door, shutting it. “Crow!” Zeke yelled, the sensation of falling overtaking him as he lost consciousness. In the sky of a world where mortals and monsters fight for survival, a storm of unnatural making formed above the sky. In a bright force of energy, lightning struck the ground of a forest, the impact scarring the earth, and incinerating all the foliage for miles around. In the crater of this impact, rose a ragged, blond man...with red eyes. “Ugh...What the?” I mumbled, standing up and looking around...damn...Hope no one was around… “So...I’m back, but I am A, likely not even in the right reflection, and B, clearly not on Equestria...and I don’t have a heart...so I’m a Nobody...I wonder…” I thought, holding out my hand, trying to summon a Heartless...but a Sniper Nobody appeared, it’s head bearing a blue heart symbol. “Okay...that’s new… Scout around?” I ask, the Nobody nodding before heading off. “Okay...that’s gonna take some getting used to…” I mumble, heading off into another direction. A lifetime of being on the run taught me to know which way a road would likely be. Luck was on my side as not half an hour later I found a road and started walking it. Being without a heart is...odd. I feel like I’m still me but...I don’t feel like I actually care about anything...gonna have to force myself to care. To act. I looked up, seeing car lights. Finally. “Hey, over he-” Note to self, that while running into the road to stop a car...total crap! I got hit by what looked like an Impala and was tossed back. “Oh shit!” The driver yelled, he and someone else getting out of the car. “Dean, what did you do?!” The other one said. “Owe…” I moaned. That earned both their attention. “Okay, hey buddy, where you from?” THe driver asked. “Far.” I mumbled, gettin up. That seemed to...scare them. “Alright, now don-” BANG. A bullet hit the cheek of my face, knocking me over at the bullet itself ricochet elsewhere. “The hell?!” I yelled, jumping back up. “Not cool.” “What in god's name are you?” The other guy, tall, long hair, asked. “The name’s Zeke.” I said, rubbing my face. “As for what I am...that’s a LONG ass story.”