Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he? Where is he?
That question, it keeps ringing and ringing in my head like gong and it won’t stop! I know the answer, he’s dead, my light half is dead! My brother is dead! Why do i keep asking myself that!?
“GGGGGGRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” I screamed, darkness shooting out from my hand as part of my castle and the landscape several miles out was tainted. I sighed, raising my arm back up and taking the darkness back. No, not now Drezke. Soon, but not now...Not now.
“Father?” I looked to my side, seeing Velvet come out of a DTD. Good old Velvet, so young yet so advanced, rivaled only by Littlepip, younger, yet so determined, so driven to find a purpose for herself in this life. “Another accident?”
“Not quite. Frustration.” I say, feeling tired. “Any news about Daybreak?”
“The heart is keeping even us from setting hoof on it now, it’s only accepting those whose light is dominant over their darkness now.”
“Really? It’s strength continues to grow, must be evolving after that incident with the Embodiments. Still, when I was Zeke, if I read those blueprints right, enough darkness directed at it will shatter it, no amount of light or work can repair it from that. Once that’s done I can Raid that secret armory and take the Void Key.”
“Then it will spell the end for the Embodiments...and...you?” Velvet asked, sadness in her voice.
I sighed. They know my plan, all the children do, but I can’t let that stop me. I won’t. “Yes, Velvet. You and the others all know this. It’s time to take some kind of action.”
“Action?”
“I’ll be back, there’s a certain bitch I need to speak to.”
“Spoiled?”
“Yes. There is someone under her thumb I’ll need to...pull off the job.”
“What would that be?”
“Soon enough Velvet, as my second in command you know I’ll tell you everything in time. But for now I can’t leave things to chance. If anyone asks just tell them I went out for research, understood?”
“Yes, father.”
With a nod I opened a DTD to the Realm of Darkness, Core’s old castle, now Spoiled’s castle. She’s done a lot in her short time taking over.
As I exited I felt something...off. It was framilier and unsettling all at once. There was a guard, some Dusk Neoshadow hybrid thing. One of her creations, clearly, that lead me to a library of sorts. It reminded me of the one from Hollow Bastion from Kingdom Hearts one, back when I was Zeke. That library was neat, could do without those secret doors and such though.
In the room was Spoiled, some lady in a lab coat, a man in Eraqus, Terra clothes and wearing a Vanitus mas- “So, what hole did you crawl out of Nobody?” I asked, taking a seat acoss from Zeke’s Nobody. I’d recognize that body anywhere, I was in it for Zeke’s whole life.
“Purgatory. At first I stuck to the ideals of Zeke, you two, but I realized I had my own. After all, the body is meant to obey the orders from the heart. I have never felt so free in my life.”
“Hm, I thought you didn’t have feelings. That’s partially my jurisdiction.”
“Kexez.”
“Typical.”
“Yet, fitting.”
“That’s enough you two.” Spoiled said, taking a sip of some wine. It’s scent was strong and rich. From the smell alone easy worth a few grand a bottle. “Our last guest is a tad late, but he will be arriving soon. You two haven’t met Dr. Sabrina Caratege. On earth she was a black market surgeon, when Core took her in she was the one to splice humans with unversed and Nobodies, and now, she has spliced the Nobodies with Heartless and is working on something new. Thanks to Kexez here. The world and it’s unique magic, as well as that unique Keyblade of his are allowing us to reach unimagined results.”
“A few tablets, some diaties of untold power, some Kingdom Hearts energy to bind them all together and it’s created many grand soldiers. Each one of them were followers at first, unknowing of my changing intentions.” Kexez said with a smile you could feel through that helmet of his.
Then, Crow came in through the door. He took a seat across from Spoiled and that seemed to shift the tone in the room. “Alright then, so as of right now only Sabrina and I know the reasons of this meeting. To put it shortly, I assume most of you already know about this second Keyblade war, correct?”
“Yeah, what about it?” Crow answered.
“As we all know as it stands we are outmatched.” Spoiled clarified. “Even with all three types of monsters, Heartless, Nobodies… Unversed. Even with our Psychopath in our back pocket we are at a huge disadvantage. Daybreak has worlds of amries, spanning across many reflections, the Foretellers unions while small wield old and powerful knowledge. There is also this John person, the people of his world including himself use Void energy like Daybreak uses Keyblades. United, they will end us within a few hours of the wars start.”
Crow huffed, “So what do you suggest Spoiled. If you haven’t noticed most of us have our hands tied with other stuff.” He countered.
“Ah, now that is where you and Dr. Sabrina come in Crow.” Spoiled chimed with a sly smile.
“What is it now?” Crow asked irritated. “I’m still on my own heart hunting. I don’t have time for your chores.”
“Dr. Sabrina here has been working with the Nobodies and some of the Unversed you left with us to study. Now, the Crystal Heart that protects Daybreak form Heartless now also seems to have adapted to even repel Nobodies, however…”
“Unversed are a different matter, while being formed with darkness their negativity so long as it is low can slip passed it's detection. A simple Unversed however can not perform this task alone. Tell me Crow, how long have you been experimenting with them?” Dr. Sabrina asked him directly, taking put a pen and notepad for recording his answers.
“Long enough, about a year. Only getting stronger the more negative hearts I collect.” Crow answered.
“I see, and have you created any Unversed unique to you?”
“Just a few. Why?”
“What emotions do your concentrate into them? Specifically?”
“Negativity, obviously. Hate, anger, sadness, etc.”
“Hmm.” She said, writing down something. “So, what emotions do you feel towards your former friends?”
“Betrayal over all.”
“And what specifically towards Kira?” Spoiled asked. That peaked my interest. Wonder what Crow’s dark half feels about the little sister of them all?
Crow’s expression faltered for only a second before returning to a scowl. “Just like the rest of them. They all betrayed me.”
“I see…” Dr. Sabrina said, writing something else down. “Tell me, what about her do you know so far, the prior Foreteller she has taken over? Ava?”
“Yeah. Apparently they were all reincarnates of the original Foretellers.”
“And where does that leave you?” Spoiled, Dr. Sabrina, and Kexez asked Crow. Well that was creepy.
“The one left behind?” Kexez asked.
“The unspecial one of them all?” Spoiled asked.
“The one without a destiny.” Dr. Sabrina said. “You are not like them, they have destinies linked to their past lives, from birth, they all had purpose, yet as far as we could tell, there was nothing special about you Crow. Knowing that, what about them do you hate most now?”
Crow started radiating strong negative energy. His fist tightened until his knuckles were white, and his teeth sharpened to the point of fangs.
“That even before they knew what they were, I was always the odd man out. They were choosing not to do anything with their crappy lives and when I decided to take control of my own life I get punished. I’ll make my own destiny, by crushing theirs”
“So then, how would you like a chance at the greatest Payback you can get until the war comes around?” Spoiled asked, smiling devilishly.
“What do you have in mind?”
“Framing Foreteller Kira for the murder of Daybreaks Council Member Mors. Or rather, Lord Death as he is known now, second wielder of the X-blade and Daybreaks most important government official.”
“What’s the point of that?”
“Political strain.” Kexez answered. “A head government official, seen in public, mass witnesses, ending the life of another, very important foreign political official. With Zkee gone Daybreak relies on Mors to run, with him dead, by Kira’s hand, Daybreak will be forced to end relations with the Foretellers, their unions, mass deportations, and public outcry. After all, Mors has his own world that adores him, so stress between Foretellers unions and Daybreak soldiers will fuel the fire for conflict to be directed at others rather than us. Plus, while mors is killed, a special recruit of mine will step in, and shatter their Crystal Heart. With Void, with that discovered this will also focus attention to John’s nation rather than us. When the war comes around they will be so busy slaughtering one another we can step in and take control of the battlefield.”
Crow thought for a moment before agreeing. “Sounds fine to me. But no one touches the Foretellers. I’m the one who will take them down, no one else!”
“In time, now then, Kexez, if you would please.” Dr. Sabrina asked as Kexez nodded, he raised a hand and a Nobody appeared. It looked like a dusk, but was blank, no characteristics to speak of. “Now Crow, I want you to channel all that hatred of your former friends into this special dusk Nobody, pour it all into it and leave only what you need to remember why you fight within you.”
“Whatever.” Crow sighed as he once again started rumbling with power.
After a moment, Crow unleashed a large wave of negativity into the dusk. It seemed endless, the negativity, lasting a full ten minutes before it began to fizzle and stop. The Dusk itself changed form, no longer looking like a featureless Dusk, but more of a person’s silhouette. “Foreteller Kira.” Dr. Sabrina said, the thing shapeshifting into...a perfect copy of Kira, mask and all. “There, while Mors himself is linked and bound to his own world, having her able to enter Daybreak for an Escape while also causing trouble will strengthen the accusation that she murdered him. Once safely though a Daybreak DTL, back to the actual Foretellers world, Copy Cat here will simply return here, where we can conduct phase two.”
“Well things are just falling into place aren’t they?” Crow said sarcastically and tiredly.
“Yes. In time we will launch our plan and once the worlds are out of balance…” Spoiled started.
“The X-blade of Darkness can finally be forged.” Kexez finished.
“X-blade of darkness?” I asked.
“The X-blade as we all know is made from equal parts light and darkness, however, within this war the X-blade will be forged again, but this time, darkness will taint it, consume it, and from there, consume Kingdom Hearts.”
“It will be an era of everlasting darkness, chaos, and death for those not strong enough to survive.” Spoiled said, almost laughing.
“Hahaha.” Crow laughed sarcastically. “If we’re done here, I have more hearts to collect.” He said as he got up from his seat.
Everyone began to leave, but I quickly caught up with Crow. “Hey, Crow.” I said, catching up.
“You need something from me, boy scout?” Crow sighed.
I frowned at that. “Yeah, wanted to ask you some questions, half a heart to half a heart.” I said.
“And that would be?”
“How was your brother?” I asked, catching him a bit off guard from the looks of his sudden shift. “I know you two were balanced in terms of power, but didn’t exactly get along?”
“He’s doing just fine. Locked up just as much as he was when we were still one.”
“Hm...I don’t buy it.” I said. “If you were always in control when you two were one, then why would Crow, the whole Crow, have cared about his friends for the time they were together? Plus, you two were equal in power, it’s be rather hard to lock up your equal when you can match each other forever and more so.”
“Listen here Boy Scout.” Crow growled. “You’re talking to the wrong half if you think I care. The weakness was left with the light like it always is. I’ve been collecting dark hearts, and I am much stronger.”
I looked at him for a second, then laughed. “I’m sorry, what? You mean to tell me you have been collecting dark hearts like a common heartless?” I chuckled. “Wow, at least I know how to drain the darkness from what and who I face, you have to go through the hassle of killing them first. How bothersome.”
“Then you haven’t felt the full power of Negativity. For everyone I kill, the negative feeling of despair is… almost overpowering. And the negative side of the spectrum is where I thrive.” Crow began to radiate said negative energy off his body. “Light and darkness will always be on the opposite sides of each other. But sadness, anger, despair, They can be found in both. I just find dark hearts… tasty.”
“Heheh, you have not tasted power until you drain darkness from the heart of a world, such raw power, fermented for hundreds of years. No liqueurs can compare, no sex can best it, no greed can resist it.” I said, unimpressed by his light showing off.
“A worlds heart can have emotions too. Maybe I’ll try your way and eat a planet. But for now, it sounds like you’re challenging me, Boy Scout.”
“Hm.” I said, a grin on my face as I walked slowly past him. “Why bother? I’m clearly the stronger one. You’re just a kid throwing a tantrum, Lost Mutt.”
Crow growled, “If we’re talking age wise then I’m the older dark half here. But I guess it’s the older generation to teach his juniors a lesson.” He summoned his Keyblade.
“Hm. Well, I guess I need to vent out some steam anyway.” I said, darkness focused in my legs as I spun around, Crow dodging my charged kicks. I brought a swing down, sending a wave of darkness towards him. He dodged, but the impact shattered some nearby boulders. “What? Can’t fight without your Keyblade?”
“I was just keeping to tradition around here. But if you want, I can go Creed on your ass.” Crow dispersed his Key and coated his fists in negativity. He punched the floor under them, sending a wave of energy towards him.
Darkness still charged in my legs, I jumped, dodging the attack and summoning an Air Pirate and using him like a hoverboard or so. “Awe, who’s a Dante wanna be? DMC much?” I taught.
“First of all, those were one of the best game series ever made. Second, I’m pretty sure Dante can kick your ass just like I’m about to.” He summoned an Archraven to latch onto his back to allow him to fly as well.
“Hm, so determined, so helpless.” I said, letting my illusion drop, my skin becoming it’s ash grey, eyes changed to crimson red. “So out classed!” I yelled, shooting out dark projectiles at him like I was firing them from an assault rifle.
As the projectiles were darting towards him, Crow opened his mouth wide. “ Haaaaa!” and let out a shriek powered by his negative energy, blocking all the projectiles that were shot. “The name Crow isn’t just for show.”
“Heh, so birdy does want a cracker then?” I said, charging towards him. “I’ll rip that beak right off!” I said, letting my darkness flow out of me, charging my body and even summoning a Guardian.
“You more than welcome to try!” Crow unleashed an equal pressured negative wave, summoning a Trinity armor behind him.
We clashed, my guardian and his Trinity armor dishing it out. I let my special trick out as my guardian floated away from me like a ghost, and dual wielded some Keyblades. I then pulled out Kingdom Key D and Masker Defender. “Bet your shit can’t so that.” I said, eyeing towards my guardian.
“Your right it can’t. Mine’s cooler.” Crow motioned towards his trinity armor. At that moment the three pieced armor Unversed parts were united connected by a body made of dark energy. Long claws sprouted out of its armored hands as it gave a mighty roar.
“Impressive, I give it that, but I still have some surprises as well.” I said, DTD’s opening next to me as my two best stepped out of them. To my left, Littlepip, to my right, Velvet. “I have more than just my Unversed and Heartless for an army you know. Girls, kill it.” I said, pointing at his Trinity armor. They nodded, charging after it. “It’s amazing the strength the hearts of children have.” I said as Velvet and Pip sliced off one of its arms.
“Yeah but they stil have bodies and they have their limits. When a being of negativity body is destroyed, then it makes room for more and more.” Crow said as Velvet and Pip destroyed the rest of the Trinity Armor. But in its place was what looked like a heart shaped object made of black stone. It pulsated faster and faster until the negative energy burst out, forming the Iron Prisoner in its first form. “The harder you fight negativity, the bigger and bigger it gets.”
“Hm.” I chimed, smiling. “Girls, show him what I taught you.” I said, they both nodded, rushing the Iron Prisoner and both stabbing it with their Keyblades. Crow’s eyes widened when he saw it begin to fade, and then was gone. When he looked back at me, it was behind me. “Something Zeke always liked was to experiment, when he was a normal human, he liked to experiment with computers, but like this, free? I lit my imagination run wild. Kexez must be the same, something we have in common with Spoiled and Core. My children don’t just get power from me, they give me power. All their Keyblades and their hearts are linked to me, any darkness they come across they can drain it, be it from hearts, worlds, or other beings of darkness, it all flows directly into me.”
“If the old you really did like experimenting then he must have been smart. Something that was obviously left with your light half. Unversed aren’t darkness, they are negativity. Being summoned directly from the one who summons it’s own negative emotion. See, the thing you can commonly find in both light and dark is discrete and betrayal. As for subjects of my negative emotions.” The Iron Prisoner behind me started to struggle, until it’s chains broke. Turning into its second form. “It’s there that one can find loyalty.”
I chuckled. “Darkness, negativity, they both come from the heart, and you forget.” I said, his Iron Prisoner becoming wrapped in a dark blue as it’s symbol was changed from Unvered to a blue heart. “I am part of Zeke’s heart, made into a lesser replica of Kingdom Hearts.” I then summoned a wall of Keyblades behind me. “Zeke knew his destiny and rejected it for family and friends. Zeke was to be the king of hearts and Keyblades. He was to be the king of all.” I said, a broken crown appearing on my head. “That, is who the X-blade chooses, a Balanced heart.” I said, raising my hand. “Is a Royal heart!” I said, shooting them all at Crow.
They all struck where Crow was, kicking up dust and covering the whole battle field. When the dust cleared, not only was Crow standing there unharmed but another figure was standing next to him. Another fighter who had Way to Dawn in its hands, a black helmet covered his whole face, and Unversed Symbol on its chest. Keyblades were surrounding them, but not one had struck them. “Like I said. Loyalty. But let’s call it now, Boy Scout. This is meaningless and I’m tired.”
“Hm.” I said, disbanding all my Keyblades, my broken crown also vanishing, and Pip and Velvet left back home. I also brought back up my illusion form. “Sure thing Mutt.” I said, walking up to him. “I have to say, this one is impressive. What do you call it?” I asked, curiously.
“For someone who was half of a Kingdom Hearts fan boy, you’d think they would recognize a Remnant when they see one. I can summon the Remnants of those I concert to do whatever I wish.” Crow said dispersing the Remnant.
“Not bad. Still, I guess I owe Zeke’s being able to wield the X-blade to you and your other half not getting along, otherwise we’d be fighting as who we are whole for it, wouldn’t we? Thank you, for being selfish.”
“Whatever, Boy Scout, I’m out.”
Crow headed off and I laughed. Stereotypical dark half. In his heart and family, Zeke was a black sheep. I thought, walking off.
I then felt...something familiar. What is that? It’s warm, and...welcoming… Lake? No, no...Lake is gone… It hit me again, this time I could tell from which direction… “Brother?” I said alond, running towards the direction it was coming from. I ran for what must have been hours, following that warmth, that framilier sensation. Finally, I can upon one of Core’s old Laboratories. Place looked abandoned, that likely ment it was in operation. Still, it’s so strong here. “Lake?” I said again, heading towards it. When I opened the door I saw the place was like the other labs of his I’ve seen. Blood stained, but the lights were going and machines were making nose. Typical. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but that feeling was so close. I looked around and found a basement entrance and went down. Core must have loved stairs cause there’s a fucking lot here.
I finally reached the bottom and there were cages everywhere. An animal lovers nightmare from the looks of it. I walked around a bit then- “Lake?!” I yelled, seeing my brother in the cage before me, before blinking and seeing it was… “Crow?” I said, rubbing my eyes. When I got a good look he was in really tattered clothes, malnourished too, and his hair was blond.
“Who are you?” He asked.
“Well, my name is Drezke, but who I was when I was whole was called Zeke.” I said. “I’m like your other half running around being the king of douchebags up there, only I got along with my light half.” I said, reaching into my pocket and taking out some candy from the world I call home. “Want some? It’s a bit old but not bad.” I said, offering him the candy bar.
“What do you want? Aren’t you with my darker half?”
“Only cause I need him and the ass holes he works for to achieve my goal. Killing the Embodiments...and myself.”
“Sounds nice.” He said sarcastically. “Why are you here anyways?”
“I...sensed you. I thought you was my other half, my brother… he’s gone…” I said solemnly.
“Sorry to hear that.”
“It’s...alright. He wasn’t him anymore...there are things worse than the Embodiments out there, he turned into one. I had an opening...and I took it. A real cheap shot, but better I kill him, before he killed everyone.”
“Well at least he didn’t lock you up like mine did.”
“How...did he do that anyway? I mean, what the actual fuck happened between you two to warranted that?” I asked.
“I’ve been locked up since the day Core split us up. Before I had any actual idea I had any remnants of power. These chains don’t let me do anything. Else I would have been gone a long time ago.”
“Huh, your other half said he had you locked up when you two were whole? What was that about?”
“I’m the feelings our whole self kepts away. The feelings for my family and the want to forgive them.”
“Forgive them?”
“He blames them for him ending up in juvie. But also knows that he ended up there himself. The two of us we always at edge in the whole heart.”
“How was it when you two first saw each other?” I asked. “You know, being born and being alive for the first time? Heh, I remember when I first saw Lake, I thought I would go blind. I had never...seen anything, hell, I didn’t even know I was alive of could think before I saw him they day we were born as Zeke. It was like… everything told you to run, despise it, but I was to captivated, curious by his light, his warmth. He saw me and shrieked like a girl, and just said I startled him. Heh, he has a lot of the fears oddly enough, part of why when Zeke became a dad he’d stay up for days on end watching the kids to make sure the new borns didn’t get restless in their sleep.”
“Can’t say anything you haven’t already. Was your original self this long winded?” He joked.
“Heh, sorta. He was the X-blade wielder, and a major council member of a new government stretching across multiple worlds. Talking and speeches was what he did when he wasn’t stuck with the paperwork.”
“Sounds like a nice place.”
“Heh, family life was great too. Two words. Twenty wives. Sex. Was. Constant. I was so happy to be part Keyblade and my magical wives all knew spells for…longevity.” I laughed. “...I miss them. Back when I was whole, your dark half broke one of my son's ribs, and I about bare handed decapitated him when he showed his face to me. As you can guess I was the protective part that was ready to start the killing mood for payback for my son.”
“Well, he probably deserved it.”
“Heh, yeah. Wait, your dark half or Rumble?” I asked for clarification.
“Either or. From what is sounds like your son shouldn’t have been there in the first place. So blame is on both sides.”
“I’m on the bridge about that but eh, a conversation for when we bo-...for when you are whole again.” I said, Light Crow gaining a confused look.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m gonna get you out of here, well, not directly.” I said, summoning a simple Shadow Heartless and having it hide within the compound. “I’m gonna get your family to bust you out of here. I can’t bust you directly cause A, outnumbered, and B, your dark half is stronger than I anticipated. That, and if I lose them I can kill killing the Embodiments goodbye, but your family can more than bust you out of here, that Shadow I spawned in will help me find this place again, I can bring them here, then bolt so they can both bust you out and deal with the fallout. I get off scot free helping them help you, and they likely take out something Spoiled and her new BFF can’t easily replace.”
Light Crow hesitated, before letting out a sigh. “Well then let’s hope your plan works. For both of our sakes.”
“Yeah, same. Even if it doesn’t, my only loss will be Spoiled’s data on the Heart of The Realm of Darkness.”
“Well I guess this is farewell for now. You don’t want your higher ups to get suspicious.”
“Later.” I said, placing the candy bar inside his cage. “Oh, and when you see your friends again they will be different...Kira especially.” I said, covering an eye and I opened a DTD under me and fell in. He’s smart, he’ll realize. I thought,