Pain. Everything hurt. My body ached like crazy. Slowly, I forced my eyes open, and saw I was buried. Under corpses. “Oh…” I muttered, trying to move the corpses off of me so I can see what's going on.
When I got myself out under what felt like a mountain of death. When I emerged, I was in the Keyblade Graveyard. The death was everywhere. “Again?” I muttered. “Okay...time to look around…” I mutter while starting to move around this new graveyard to see if there were any survivors.
I called out, no response. As I was walking I came across… Twilight. Her Keyblade shoved do deep through her stomach and into the wall she was pinned to only half the grip was out. I knew it was her Keyblade, cause I saw the keychain…”Oh no…” I muttered. “No...no no no….”
I walked up to her. Slowly, I lifted her head. Horror flooded me. Her eyes... they looked like they were burned clear through into her skull. Just...chard skin and bone the way through. “Fucking hell.” I muttered, starting to look around and hoping the others are alive. “Hello?” I called out again, moving around to see where the others were.
I heard a scream, and followed. When I turned a corner, I saw someone in a blue organization 13 cloak. They had a hand pressed against someone's head. The person's eyes glowing a bright light as fire erupted from their eye sockets.
“Hey!” I barked, summoning my new keyblade that I got from my one dream and rushing towards the bastard burning the person alive.
They turned to me, summoning One Winged Angel and raised it to face me.
I slashed down towards the strange person with the rare keyblade.
They blocked, quickly going in for a jab. I dodged, bearly, and swung my Keyblade at them as I spun. Rather than dodge, he drew a new weapon… Graceful Delilah… How does he have it? And blocked my swing with it.
“Who are you?” I asked bluntly, summoning Skysplitter and swinging at him, trying to catch him off guard.
Every swing I made, he dodged. It was like he had an eternity of combat ahead of me. Finally, I managed to knock his hood back...and froze. His eyes...were stitched shut, and branded with...some kind of symbols. His mouth, his cheeks on both sides were...torn and...ripped, like they were pried open beyond what he should be able.
“Okay what in the unholy fuck.” I frowned. ”I wonder if I'm going to talk to the King in this new hell...cause I'm talking to everyone here!” I mentally complain, finding this pretty freaky.
“Like it.” As I turned around I felt the tip of a Keyblade pressed against my back. That voice… “You sure have been having a lot of Nightmares Ben.” Kexez said.
“Like you give a damn.” I roll my eyes. “Your a Nobody with God like powers you don't want to use. I kind of guessed you had it because of the X-blade in some way shape or form.” I said.
“True. Zeke learned early on the X-blade is only wielded by one of a balanced heart, Royalty. King, or Queen, of the realm of light and darkness. Zeke didn’t care for that though, so it was tossed aside. Even without his heart, I can still use some of it. I can create Keyblades, as well as new life. For example, before you is one of my former followers turn mutant. An angel. His name was Castiel, heh, was being the keyword. Now his mind is empty, his heart broken, just a loyal husk with incredible powers and strength. The world I made base on has...quite the plethora of unique and strong beings. As well as artifacts. In place of his heart, I placed an item called The Leviathan Tablet. There are lots of tablets on that world, each for a different creature, but you see what a Leviathan-Angel hybrid can do.” Kexez snapped his fingers, and Castiel’s head snapped open, his head becoming nothing but one big mouth as featherless wings sprouted from his back.
I started to shake, my left eye turning into a Psychopaths. “This waste of life…” I growled. “You just torture people and strip away their life...just to make weapons?” I said, preparing myself to fight these two fuckers. “You want to see how strong this fucker is? Well I'll show you it's not enough.” I growled, spells circling around me as I boosted all my stats and the runes on my body glowed.
“Halt.” Kexez and I looked to the left where the voice called out. There was someone walking in the armor Joy described adorned him when he fought Eve.
“Hmm. Well, what warrants his arrival?” Kexez asked aloud.
“Maybe to see my interpretation of the next keyblade war.” I say while motioning to the mountains of bodies in this barren hellscape.
“I care not for your childish nightmares or this one’s hellish creations.” He said, motioning towards Kexez. “I come today to tell you that you are no longer the sole heir Ben.”
“Cause when you have a Nobody who's connected to Kingdom Hearts your like ‘Gee should I wait for this one depressed fuck with a lot of issues or just go with Mr. God Like over here’.” I explain, my tone being very good at explaining how bullshit that sounds. “Am I wrong?” I asked bluntly, knowing full well he's gonna talk about Kexez here.
“Very much so.” The old king said, making me confused. “It’s been so long since anyone met the qualifications. Let alone two. So, for my own amusement, I’m making it a competition for the crown. Before this second Keyblade war is to begin, you two will battle for my crown on the world without a heart. There, we will see if one with a heart can claim the crown, or something without a heart, but connected to them all.”
“Well...it's a bit better than throwing me under the bus…” I said, taking a deep breath. “So, I'm glad to finally meet you...um...I think I heard your name before from Cripts old master...but Im not sure…” I say, remembering when I went into that Masters world above his grave.
“A life I long since called dead. Now then, to make this official.” He said, raising a hand as mine, and from the look of it, Kexez’s right hands burned and smoked, the Nobody symbol branding us. “You both have armies, power, potential. Make it a good show.” He said, laughing as everything went black.
I woke up and groaned. “Damn it…” I mutter, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes. “Well…” I muttered, looking at right hand to see if the symbol was there. And when I saw it was there I just groaned more. “That was a thing…” I got out of bed and got dressed, feeling tired even though my nightmare wasn't that horrific and I noticed the runes on my body glowed. “Oh yeah...I need to practice these…” I mutter.
Too tired for much thought I just looked back at the bed. Pinkie and Twin were still there, as well as Aj and Silence. ”Wonder how she sleeps with those things on?” I thought to myself about Silences bandages. ”This shouldn't be your fight…” I thought before sighing, heading out to get some breakfast.
In the kitchen I saw Celestia making rather large stacks of paincakes and Luna chugging a pot of coffee right out from the maker. “Morning Ben…” Luna grumbled, drinking more coffee.
“I see I'm not the only one who hasn't been sleeping well.” I grumble, loving the smell of pancakes. “But morning...um Luna...have you looked into my dreams?” I ask the tired mare.
“Hm? Oh, no. Can’t. Your brain’s frequency is something I can’t access. I think it’s the Nobodies who do it, I was only able to do it that one time cause of Jenny, through her dreams we traveled through the links from the heats, and from there you can technically say I used her as a shield to get into your mind. Speaking of, wonder how she is doing?”
Meanwhile.
“Week long bender!” Jenny screamed, standing atop a pile of drunken crusaders.
“Where is Joy…..” Sweetie muttered through her drunken headache.
With Ben.
“Eh, can’t be too bad since your clone is there.”
“Jenny's there…” I frowned. “And...oh wait, there going on a week long bender wondering where the hell Joy is…” I frowned.
Luna sighed. “If it was any other child, I’d be worried.” Luna said, finishing off the coffee then putting the jar back to refill.
“So, has anyone seen Chrysalis this morning?” Celestia asked. “She wasn’t in bed when I woke up and I haven’t seen her yet.”
“No…” I say worriedly. “I hope she's alright.“
“Has she done this before?” Luna asked, setting the coffee pot to brew again.
“Well, once. Don’t know what she did then either but she was back rather fast.” Celestia admitted.
“Well looks like I'm gonna be having to look for her…” I sigh out, knowing there's plenty of spots to hide here. “How close are we to the capital?”
“We’ll be there by days end.” Luna said. Watching the coffee drip into the pot.
“Alright…” I nodded. “Do I...move in my sleep?” I ask nervously, thinking these nightmares would make me accidentally hit one of them.
“Not really, you do mutter a lot, but it’s like… I don’t know, another language I think?” Celestia said, flipping an oversized pancake on her pan. “It’s really soft so we only hear it when one of us directly next to you.”
“Anything you can recite? Cause the only language I know well is Common and some minor Latin…” I say nervously.
“One word you say a lot I think it’s… Kersra, or something like that.”
“Kersra?” I ask, raising an eyebrow in confusion. “I mean...Kexez is the closest I could think off…” I mutter worriedly, wondering what I spout while I'm asleep. “Maybe Pinkie or Twin recorded what I said because...reasons.” I rolled my eyes, knowing they probably would do something that weird. I wanted to talk about them being apart of my fights but I stopped myself. “When are those pancakes gonna be done?”
“Ten more minutes or so.”
“Okay, call me when your done. I'm gonna be looking for Chrysalis.” I say while getting a quick drink of water and downing it before walking off through the place, looking for Chrysalis. “Hope she's alright…” I muttered, searching for the sexy changeling.
I went out to the deck and looked up. High up near the front was a form of Crows next, and there, I spotted her. She was looking at the landscape.
“Hello?” I gently called out. “What are you doing out here Chrysalis?”
“Hm?” She looked down at me. “Oh. Hey Ben. Nothing, just...looking at the landscape.” She admitted. “My whole life my hive lived underground, expanding the hive and having to sneak around to gather love to survive. Now… We can stay out in the open, no disguise needed, and not have to worry about when our next meal is… it’s a world my mother used to say was never meant for a changeling.” She spoke, gaze never leaving the landscape.
“How's it feel to prove her so horribly wrong?” I ask her, looking to the landscape below us.
“Half glad, half sad. Mom put so much for the hive in her time. We have been called lots throughout the years. Monsters. Demons. Shapeshifters. Ghosts. Angles once, but we always called ourselves hungry, or starving. For once my kind will know what it is like to never fear hunger or starvation. Look, my holes even healed up. Didn't know they could heal up or close, had them for as long as I can remember.”
“I understand.” I nodded. “And glad to see those holes are healed up. But hey, right now your in a loving herd, with children on the way...oh god it's gonna be a nightmare to name all of the kids.” I groaned. “So...know anything about the Zebrican royals that I should be aware of?”
“I know there was an old changeling hive there two thousand years ago. Doubt it’s still there. If it is, we’re in trouble.”
“Why?” I asked worriedly.
“Changelings from different hives act like wasps from different nests. We just fight, and fight, and fight until one hive remains. Something about the difference in our pheromones.”
“Well if they are there they'll probably know about me and how I deal with bullshit against my family.” I say simply.
“Maybe. Believe it or not my past invasion of Canterlot was tame compared to what past hives have done. There is one hive that’s the worst of them all though. It was the one time all other changeling hives managed to resist the urge to kill one another and worked to kill them specifically.”
“Fed off wrath huh?” I asked curiously. “Or do all Changelings just feed off of one thing ?”
“Normally, all changelings feed off love, but those ones… they fed on souls. Their queen was talented with magic, but was...selfish minded. She summoned forth a demon, and killed it. Legends speak of those who kill demons and devour their hearts… Being the queen, when she ate the demons heart, she gained all it’s powers, and so did all her hive. They weren’t changelings anymore, just shape shifting demons. Before, that war, there was over a hundred hives, after, there was four left. Mine, my great grandmothers at the time. The Zebrican hive, The South Hive and the Lunar hive.”
“There's still so much I don't know about this world…” I sighed out. “But the Lunar hive? What, are they big Luna fans?” I joke, trying to lighten the mood.
“Hehe, no. Some old legends say that the Lunar hive feeds not on love, but on celestial energy, energy from planets, or moons. They were also talented with magic, and fed from the moon every night. No tales of where their hive is though. Lots think they died off after the war, some say they were never real. Was WAY before I was born, so I don’t know for sure.”
“Right then.” I nodded. “Uh...question, are Ursa Minors and Majors celestial creatures? And if so...are there others?” I ask, really curious on if there are others.
“The Ursa are not Celestial themselves, but they reflect them. The only real Celestial creatures are Alicorns and from the look of it, Keyblades it seems.”
“Apparently. But are there more than just the Ursa? Like Scorpions, Lions, anything else?” I ask, really hoping I can possibly tame a celestial scorpion and ride it, or maybe a celestial lion.
“Not to my knowledge. Maybe Twilight or that other Twilight might know… Say, have you noticed something off about that one? The one from Daybreak I mean?”
“She's just going through some stuff.” I shrug, not lying but dodging the question like Zeke dodging a much needed nerf.
“Maybe. There’s just something about her… I might just be paranoid or something but I swear it’s like looking into her eyes there’s someone else looking through them. Know what I mean?”
I put my hand over my left eye. “You'd be saying the same thing to me…” I mutter sadly, knowing I have to face this and accept it but it still scares me.
“Hm?”
“Just...something I'm wondering if I should show you all…” I sigh out.
“Yeah, I-” Chrysalis started before stopping abruptly. She turned he head to the right so fast it would make an owl jealous. “Did...you sense that?”
I took a deep breath and focused, trying to sense what she felt and bringing out my new keyblade just in case. It was an energy, new, that just appeared. It was familiar yet different. I took a sniff to the air and smelled someone… female, that was all I could make out. “Someone’s here.” I growled, looking around to see if they were here specifically.
Chrysalis got up, looking out and over the edge of the deck. Nearby, she opened a sack and pulled out a spyglass. She peered down it for a time before speaking. “I see someone.” She said, handing me the spyglass.
I took it and looking into it, I saw someone… they were holding a rather large axe, dressed in a full set of metal armor, like a knights, and they were covered in this unnatural red aura. They looked around for a time before taking...something out, and vanished in flurry of firefly like green lights. When they left I looked at Chrysalis, the both of us feeling that energy leave. “That...was very weird...and very worrying.” I say worriedly. “That power...it felt familiar...god who was that?” I asked worriedly, wondering if I ever saw someone with either an axe or armor like she had.
“You think the others felt it too?”
“It would be weird if they didn't cause...that's a lot of power that just up and vanished.” I say. “This is weird…” I ran back inside to find the others. As I passed an open door I saw Twi- No...Bara… She-He was reading that book I found. The one from the cave. “Hey, did you sense that energy and if so do you know who it belongs to?” I ask.
“I felt it.” They said simply, flipping the page. “Who it belongs too I don’t know, but I know what causes that. Figured you would know. Your dead friend carried that Keyblade.” They then looked up at me, a smirk on their face. “Looks like things in Daybreak are going to get interesting.”
“Then it sounds like you need to go back before shit goes haywire.” I say, worried about how someone just suddenly had that power here. “And what's in the book given your reading it?” I asked, not having gotten around to reading the whole thing yet.
“Most of it talks about the Gazing Eye and No Name Keyblades, their abilities, and how to replicate them with spells. It’s interesting, but not what I was hoping for.”
“Doesn't it talk about Nothingness in some way?” I asked, kind of hoping to learn something about it cause of speeded up deadlines.
“Not really. Sorry pup, but when it comes to Nothingness there’s already little to say there. Only one with the answers is the King himself.” She said, closing the book and getting up. “But I guess you are right, I don't wanna miss seeing who is this new wielder of the X-blade.” She said as a DTD opened behind her.
“Or...too Daybreak to make sure something bad doesn't happen?” I suggest.
“Nah. What’s the fun in that?” They asked as they walked into the DTD, it closing behind them.
“Of course…” I sighed out before heading off to find the others and talk to them about the sudden power. “Well...let's hope there not going to my house...300+ daughter's, Joy’s herd going on a drunken bender...oi vey.” I sigh out.
Joy and the Straw Hat crew exited the bar and saw someone they really hoped they wouldn't meet. “Kuma!?” Robin gasped.
“Well shit.” Joy frowned, but looked closer. “Wait...that's not Kuma!” Joy shouted, the giant person opened his mouth and light glowed in it. “Shit!” Joy yelped before bolting over and uppercutting the robot, causing it's head to snap up and fire the bolt towards one of the giant trees, causing a huge explosion when it hit.
“No, they finished it!?” Robin gasped.
“Finished what?” Franky asked bluntly.
“The Pacifista…” Robin said worriedly. “A robot made to look like the real Kuma and follow absolute orders…”
“So basically their killing machines for the government? Wonderful.” Joy grumbled before the fight went into full swing.
After about two minutes the machine went down and exploded, Luffy, Sanji and Zoro all panting from the exertion. “There...we beat it.”
“Oh dear.” A laid back voice said in surprise, making everyone snap over to see a very tall man dressed in a yellow and white striped outfit, a navy admiral cape drapped across his shoulders.
“Admiral Kizaru!?!” Joy panicked, knowing exactly where this is going.
“Admiral!?!” Chopper, Brook and Usopp all screamed in terror.
“You destroyed one of our Pacifista robots huh?” Kizaru said, seeing the crater the explosion caused. “Well I better no let you all go.” He said before raising his leg, the entire body part shining a bright light.
“Move!” Joy shouted, everyone diving for cover as a beam of light shot out, causing another big explosion. “This is all I needed right now.” Joy muttered, drawing Hearts Guardian cause he wasn't sure if Lindworm could hurt a man literally made of light.
“A Keyblade huh?” Kizaru said in more surprise. “Who are you little guy?”
“The names Joy.” He said, ready to fight the guy.
“Hold that thought.” He said before another Pacifista walked up to the group.
“Oh come on!” Sanji shouted. “Another one!?”
“We’ll just keep breaking them until there isn't any left!” Luffy shouted before leaping over to fight the new robot.
“Where'd you come from kid? Off world?” Kizaru asked, creating a sword made of pure light.
“Off world, but I come with a message.” Joy said. “And you can take this up to your superiors, but the Straw Hat pirates are under the protection of the Prince of Nothingness, one of the, being his Bard.” Joy said. “And the second Keyblade war is coming, the Prince is extending his hand to all the survivors or any keyblader wanting to keep the light alive to join him under his banner.” Joy told Kizaru.
Kizaru’s normally laid back demeanor seemed to go stock still. “I've heard of the war kid…”
“So the Prince wants us old timers to join him to fight the war huh?” Rayleigh asked, walking up with his normal sword and Ends of the Earth in both his hands. “I never was apart of the war, but I heard it was the bloodiest of all time...not even the most blood thirstiest of pirates would want to be apart of it if they knew it's horrors.”
“Well I'm just putting the message out. We need all the help we can get, and three survivors of the keyblade war are also out spreading the word. We only want existence to stay intact and people survive after all this.”
“Hmm…” Kizaru hummed, looking over and seeing the Straw Hats being flung away by the real Kuma. “I'll send word to the Government Joy. We may not want to work with pirates...but if it's to save our world then so be it.”
“I'll put out word as well to the people I know.” Rayleigh said.
“Thanks.” Joy nodded, before Kuma stood behind him. “Sent the others away?” Joy asked.
“Yes.” He nodded, seeing the keyblade in Joys hands. “That weapon…”
“He works for the Prince of Nothingness Kuma...I'll tell you the rest when we head back to HQ.” Kizaru said, his laid back nature seeming to take a back seat here.
Kuma nodded. “I know a place…”
“If it means more help...then let's get going.” Joy said, taking a deep breath before he vanished into thin air from Kuma sending him away with his Paw Paw ability.
Den had Cadence and I in the living room to practice some stuff. “So...after all of this your going back to the Crystal Empire?” I asked Cadence curiously.
“I...don’t know honestly. I know it’s my kingdom, they need me, but… Could you go back to the place you saw your loved one murdered?” She asked me.
I wanted to make a joke about how I kind of abandoned Earth to be hear but kept it to myself. “Sooner or later your gonna have to face it...even if it hurts.”
Cadence sighed. “I know… But right now I just… want to stay away from it.”
“It's alright, stay as long as you want.” I tell her gently, hiding my worry about that weird knight woman behind just talking and practice. “Oh question, Chrysalis didn't know but are there any other creatures like the Ursa?” I ask her, having a feeling she would know cause of Twilight.
“Hm...I remember Twilight did a report on them, they have a sort of cousin way up north, past the Crystal Empire. They’re only seen during an Aurora though.”
“And other species besides bear?” I ask curiously. “I was told the Ursa and anything like them aren't celestial beings...even if they have constellations in their fur.”
“Well, they say there is a special type of Dove in the White Tail Woods. It’s like a Phoenix, but shines bright blue and freezes what it touches, rather than burns. They say if it’s caught, the one who catches it gets a wish. It’s an old foals tail so I’m not sure if it’s true or not.”
“Nightmare Moon was treated as an old foals tale, Im sure the Crystal empire was also treated as it, Slender Pony needs to stop staring at this house and actually come up and say hi, and there was a war on cheese...I'm pretty sure an Ice Swan granting wishes isn't that much of a story when you think about it.” I explain.
“I guess. Most of Equestria is unexplored so it is likely. Still…”
“Hello.” Den said as she entered the room, carrying Baby Braig, Nancy, and some diapers. “Today is Diaper changing.” Den said.
“Goody.” I grumble. “Alright, let's get on with this.”
I got a whack on the back of the head. Looking behind me, I saw it was Cript. “Pay attention. It’s a lesson males and females need to know.”
“That's why I said ‘let's get on with this’.” I said. “Just because I don't like it doesn't mean I'm not gonna do it.” I huff, rubbing the back of my head.
“Less attitude then.” Cript said, pulling out a book and flipping through the pages.
“Fine fine…” I say. “But...I talked to Humanity if you needed to know.” I tell Cript, not knowing if he knew it but still wanting to tell him as I got ready to start with my new job here.
“Really? So, how did that go?” Cript asked as Den handed me Nancy, the pup drawing a blank expression upon looking at me.
“Oh you know, a good talk about how Psychopath is it's other half, how it might be possible to have both Psychopath and Humanity powers, and how if I don't fully understand good and evil my nightmares will continue to get worse.” I explain, starting to change Nancy’s diaper.
“Welcome to my hell, population now two.” Cript said, petting/messing up my hair.
“And besides that whole thing the King of Nothingness is now wanting me to beat Kexez in a fight to keep my future job cause you know, he wants entertainment when he can pick a god like douche.”
“Called it!” Cript yelled, suddenly running towards a window. “You owe me fifty rem Jesus! Pay up ya pot smoking hippie!” As soon as Cript moved from the window, a small bag was thrown in from nowhere. “That’s more like it.” He said as he picked up the small bag.
“It's been awhile since someone bet on me doing something or being apart of something.” I sigh out. “But you know, Zeke needs to be kicked down a few pegs and his Nobody is the closest thing right now for me to shove all my rage on.”
“Had an issue with the old X-blade wielder?” Cript asked, counting the money in the bag.
“Zeke as a nice guy and all, but when he was basically gifted god like powers right out the gate while we all have to work for it…” I frowned. “And then a bunch of other crap happens, he's the cause for this new war coming up…” I sigh out. “Just a bunch of crap going on right now.” I said.
“Did you ever see Zeke use the full extent of his powers?” Cript asked.
“No for a few reasons, one because we’re not at the part of the story where we all get god like powers, two because he didn't feel like it, and three because he'd possibly rather just be a hero with a keyblade rather than god.” I say honestly. “Or is it for another reason?”
“Well, if he is a reflection of me, and he is, it’s likely just he didn’t care for it. Even before I became an Admin I was OP. My magic was unmatched, ranged combat was very accurate, swords and hand to hand, I was fast and deadly. Did I take advantage of that? Nope. Never cared. I used what I was given to help others when needed, but I just took what life kept throwing at me. It’s how I met Lyra, this whole massive family stuff happened. I only became an Admin because it was the one thing I chose. I only chose it because this is a power too great and easily abused. I’ve made creation better, but I accepted it because, guess why?”
“I don't know, I wasn't born great like you and Zeke.” I said sarcastically even if it was true on a technical sense.
“Says you. I accepted it because what I was, half a creation, half an admin...it’s what the ‘Pureblood Admins’ needed. They were dying off. A thousand years to us is a nanosecond to them, but they still grow old and die. There’s only about ten that can use Code, the remaining four hundred or so can’t. So, me being an Admin makes you…” Cript pointed at me, wanting me to finish.
“Part admin?” I asked.
“And we have a winner.” Cript said, moving a finger as a bell rang from...somewhere. “All of you kids have the potential to use Code, but like Humanity, it’s something you have to develop and learn to call forth. Like Humanity likely told you, there is no point to anything, only self motivated purpose. Mine is to keep all reality from screwing itself over too bad, yours is your family, and to be king of nothingness, but being in my family, I am keeping doors open for you for higher purposes, only if you want them. Whether you do or not, they will be there, but it’s your choice.”
“Well I already have an ass ton of things to do...and given current trends in my life I'm most likely going to have full Psychopath powers along with Humanity somehow…” I shook my head. “Jeez, came a long way from being just an average guy with super powers to suddenly becoming...all of this.”
As I finished up Diapering Nancy, Cript nodded. “Well yes, but the question you keep forgetting to ask is. Do you want all of this? Do you want to be King of Nothing? A World Renowned Hero?”
“A world renowned hero? That's fine, got the powers so might as well do something good with them. King of Nothing? Well that's been predetermined for me and I've done a lot of work for it so might as well.” I shrug. “And then everything else? Well I'll get to it when it actually becomes a more relevant thing.” I explain. “But if this all means I can keep my family safe...then sure it seems fine with me.”
“Good an-” Cript suddenly stopped, his eyes growing wide. Like he just saw a ghost.
“Cript?” Den asked.
“I gotta go.” He said quickly, vanishing in thin air.
“Well...that's not good.” I frown.
“I’ve seen him like that before. When something bad just happens…” Den spoke, looking uneasy. “Wonder what it was?”
Then, there was a beep on my Assistant.
“Hmm?” I hum, looking at my Assistant to see what was up.
Attention Family.
Spike “The Dragon” Sparkle, son of Mother Twilight #1
… Has passed.
Age: 16
May 14, 2002 - May 21, 2018
Level: 983,278
“Ah, that's why.” I said. “It happens to the best of us, no matter how hard we try.” I say, not knowing if I met the guy but I did feel sad about him being dead.
I looked up at Den...she was in tears. “I...have to go…” She said, getting up and leaving.
“Must have been a pretty good kid…” I mutter, not knowing much about my family but family dying...well I've been through that already.
“He was the first.” I turned around, seeing Cript, eyes red from tears and...his arms were black? Almost charcoal. “My...first child. Adopted, when Twilight married in…”
I took a deep breath. “Oh...right.” I say, not entirely feeling like a dick since I had literally no emotional investment with that Spike but knowing how it feels to lose someone truly close to you. “I'm sorry…”
“And now...he’s the first to die, and not come back… Ever.” Cript added.
“How did...he die?” Cadence asked.
“A Delete. I...wanted to explain later, but now seems as good as any.” Cript said, taking a seat next to me. “You know about Nexus and all that they do, right?” Cript asked me.
“Just the part about you and their worship for Psychopaths, but besides that I have literally no idea about them.” I said. “Just some super evil society from what I gathered.”
“Well, to put it short I recently found out they have been...Evolving. So to speak. They no longer care for the Psychopaths. They moved on to Deletes, much worse, but way more rare and hard to find. They are made inside the void, and anything they touch or even get near…. vanishes...Admins included. I learned making enough excess energy around one can keep you alive...long enough to kill one. But they...are making them. I don’t know how, but they are. They are becoming those Deletes...and they killed Spike… His mind, soul...it’s gone. They left his body as a warning… They’re going from parasites, to predators.”
“Can my time limit get any shorter?” I frown, hating how another big thing is happening that I have to super prepare for.
“Relax. This script you are all working from is made to accelerate time for you and the others involved in it. For it, it will feel normal. Outside, a month for you is an hour outside it. You have time. I’m the one...who’s going to have to step it up outside this Script.” Cript said. His body was twitching all over.
“If these things are made with Void…” I say. “Maybe I could make something to be its opposite and stop them, ya know because Void and Nothingness are like Light and Darkness, they can cancel each other out if the circumstances are met.” I explain. “But then someone would make an ‘Alt’ for my Control and their Delete…” I rub my temple. “I'm so sorry for sounding like an idiot…”
“Heh...it’s alright. Your idea has a basis, but until you can grab that crown… It’s just a theory. I need to go… When Den calms down tell her...I’m out of retirement.” Cript said, vanishing in thin air again.
“...Feels like your family is, uh...going to war?” Cadence said, rocking Braig back and forth.
I picked up Nancy and cradled her like a loving father would. “My extended family is going to war with super bad guys...while my family here is preparing to go to war against regular bad guys.” I sighed out. “And here I was hoping, after I got my crown, I would just start being a good husband and a good father…” I say sadly, tearing up a little as those thoughts seemed farther and farther away.
“Wonder if that’s how Cript feels?” I looked at Cadence, confused. “You didn’t hear? His voice when he said ‘tell Den I’m out of retirement’? It sounded like that wasn’t the first time he’d had to say that.”
“I suppose.” I said. “I don't know much about this whole family...but oh well, it happens.”
“I’m amazed.”
“By what?” I asked curiously.
“Your lack of empathy.” Cadence said plainly. “If it was Nancy, or Braig, or stars forbid Twilight...you’d be in a worse place than Cript, and he lost his son. Just because you didn’t know him, doesn’t mean you should shrug it off.”
“I heard my mother get her brains blown out with a shotgun and saw the mess.” I tell her.
“I saw my husband murdered right next to me. His blood soaked DEEP into my fur.”
“It's not the fact I don't have empathy.” I state, looking dead in her eyes. “I understand they're in pain, but I quite literally have no emotional investment to that specific Spike. I probably never met him, I don't know anything about him besides he's Spike, and that's it. It's sad yes but death…” I took a deep breath. “Death is a thing that takes us all in unknown number of ways, at any time.” I shook my head. “A friend of mine once told me the best thing we can hope for is the people we care about not die within our life time...but being immortal doesn't give you that privilege.” I tell her. “I do care, and I do have empathy, but when you don't have any emotion behind it...it's just a thing, like when my cousin I barely knew died one day, I was a bit sad but besides that I barely talked to him and I didn't know much about him so I couldn't really be all that sad.” I shrug. “You understand or are you gonna tell me I'm a heartless dick?”
“You want the truth?” She asked me, looking away and back to Braig.
“Go on.” I say to her.
“I hope,” She started, petting Braigs head. “These little ones come out more like their mothers...than their father.” She said, taking Nancy from me and walking to the nursery.
“So do I Cadence, at least then they'll be good people.” I call out to her.
I sat there for a time, contemplating everything. I began to wonder, and realize, how similar I was to others back on earth. Realizing we only cared about immediate family, those we grew up with, were attached to, we’re devastated when they are gone, but someone across the world dies, no one other than those who knew them will care, or notice for that matter. ”Damn. No wonder it all went to hell come 2012.” I thought. ”Oh well...not like it's gonna change anything right now, Cadence can think I'm a monster all she wants...too bad she's technically kinda right…” I think to myself.
So, this is his dwelling? This White Knight… Hm. Guess it’s time to test his metal.
As I contemplated getting a drink, ALL my instincts screamed as I jumped forward, right as a beam of pure light tore through the room behind me. When I looked back, the whole of the room behind where I was sitting was...gone. “Looks like some cock ring *really* wants to test my patience.” I growled, casting all my buff spells right now just in case. “So! Who the fuck destroyed a part of my house!?!” I barked.
Outside I saw a dark purple mare. She was dressed in black, mane was rather wild looking, her horn was...broken...and she was wielding… Master Keeper?! “So, you’re the White Knight? Rumor had it you were traveling across to the Zebra lands. Guess they were wrong.” She said simply. I saw a large scar over her eye.
“Okay...what bad guy are you working for that's obviously lying his ass off to have you be his loyal servant?” I asked the mare simply.
She laughed softly. “Oh no, my Master didn’t send me here. This is strictly personal.” She said, taking some steps forward. “I was the only one with one of these Keyblades for SO long, and I’ve been itching to test another wielders metal. Then you show up, playing Hero for Equestria like it’s a sappy comic book.”
“Cause being a cunt and letting people die is a bad thing.” I tell her. “And trust me...you do not want to fight me lady.” I frowned.
“Funny, I was gonna say the same thing.” She said, her eye with the scar over it changing from it’s light blue/green to a grey brown.
I took a deep breath and sighed out, pulling out my Lexicon and opening it up. “Well...if you insist.” I say, an open book appearing behind the mare and slamming closed with her inside. “Off to book world with you.” I say simply.
Before I could disband it, the book burst open, it’s pages flying around as… a dark impulse claw reached out, and she climbed herself out. “Nice try.” She said, brushing off the scrapped paper. “My turn.” She said, falling into darkness that quickly rushed towards under me. I jumped back, but the claw came out and grabbed me, and pinned me down. “Cocky, are we?” She asked, the darkness irradiating off her made me feel ill.
I put my hand close to her stomach. “Gravity Maelstrom!” I shout, a ball of super condensed gravity hitting her stomach at point blank range and getting her off me. “Cocky? No. Just strong.” I told her while getting up quickly,
She chuckled, striking Master Keeper into the ground before placing both hands over her heart. “Come now, my guardian!” She called. I held back a scream as a massive amount of darkness poured out from her, forming a figure in Keyblade armor. The mare fainted, and the dark armored figure picked up the Keyblade and cast a protect spell over her before raising it to me… that armor...looks familiar...
“Is that fucking Eraqus?” I frowned, drawing my keyblade and frozen pride as I prepared for this new fighter.
They charged. FAST! They were swinging way too fast for me to dodge, so I was forced to use Frozen Pride to keep the attacks from hitting. Damn, I remember from the game he was a pain, and that was him normal! He has to be supercharged like this from the darkness! Think damn it, how am I gonna deal with this? “Twilight Hold!” I shout, a twilight thorns suddenly appearing around the dark being and clamping down on it, starting to tear into it.
“Ben!” I looked at the hole in my home, seeing Aqua and Terra jump in.
“We just came back and felt that darkness, what’s- What?!” Aqua yelled upon seeing the dark form of her former master. “But that’s...how?”
“Master…” Terra said, disbelief across his face as he dropped his Keyblade. “Master... it's me...Terra.” He said, taking a few steps forward.
“Don’t.” I tell him. “That guy...he's taken all the darkness from the bitch that wrecked my house. I'm not sure if he's in there or not but one thing's for sure.” I growled, runic circles swirling around me. “Bitch is gonna die.”
I could tell my warning fell on deaf ears as he kept moving closer. “Master...dad...please, what happened?”
What was once Eriquis looked over at Terra… then shot a ball of darkness towards him.
“Terra!” Aqua yelled, rushing and pushing him out of the way...only to take the full force of the attack herself.
When Terra his the floor, he snapped back to reality… just in time to see a bright light envelope Aqua’s body… and she changed...their wedding vows magic taking effect...she is becoming a Keyblade.
Terra was, the best I could put, speechless. Quickly getting up and taking the newly formed Keyblade. “Aqua… no...no!” He wailed, tears flowing free like a river.
I closed my eyes, took a deep shaky breath, but my rage couldn't be contained. The ground beneath be cracked as I slammed into the shadow armor with Skysplitter, to any outside viewer you would have thought you saw the very air crack like glass, and sent the bastard flying with God knows how much force. “FALLEN DOWN!” I roared, the point of where the armor was seemed to sparkle a little, before a massive ball of energy exploded outwards. “How fucking dare you!” I barked, storming over and grabbing Tempest by the neck. “Wake up!” I barked at the unconscious mare, trying to wake the mare up from her stupid power nap.
Not three seconds later the fallen Eriquis rushed me, knocking me aside and gently placing Tempest down. Once he saw she was safe he turned to me… I could feel he was pissed now.
“YOU KILLED AQUA YOU CUNT!” I shouted at the armor. “If you can even understand me, you'd know you fucked up royally!” I growled, readying Skysplitter to beat this guy.
”I will... protect this mare…” He spoke, raising his Keyblade to me. ”No matter the cost.
“You've given up on your students huh?” I ask him, getting into a battle stance as power radiated from me. “Well bring it you old fuck.” I growl.
Eriquis rushed me. I brought up Skysplitter ready to slam it on his head, only for his to vanish at the last moment. I was then wrapped tightly in chains of light…. Or darkness rather. The chains pulsating with it and burned my skin. Crap, I can't move at all! I focused and thorns shot out and wrapped around the chains, pulling and breaking the chains as I was able to move thankfully and broke the rest. “Come on, that the best you got?”
He simply raised a hand, and a DTD opened behind me. Like an idiot, I looked behind me, and got wrapped in those chains again, only this time, there was something different… I was frozen. I really can't move at all!
Eriquis nodded, fading back to shadow and returning to Tempest, who woke up immediately after the last of the darkness returned to her. Upon seeing me she laughed. “Well, seems my Guardian did well, as usual.” I wanted to retort, but couldn't even talk. “Stopga is way overpowered, but necessary sometimes.” She said, walking up to me. “Hm, so much rage… so unwilling to use it properly.” She said, pushing me into the DTD. “The world you are going too recently appeared, and is very unique. Good luck escaping.” She said, darkness clouded everything...then I unfroze, almost falling over as I found myself stop a buildings roof edge. Everything around me was… it looked like a bomb went off here.
“Well...doesn’t this look fucking peachy.” I frowned, trying to summon my keyblade to get home.
Nothing. I could feel it trying to come, but it couldn't. Like it was lost or...being kept away.
“Okay…” I said before focusing, trying to open a Door to Nothingness so I could get home cause if Keyblades won't work let's go with something that isn't light.
Still nothing. Not even Nothingness works? What is this place?
“Woah!” I heard someone help followed be a crash behind me. Turning around, I saw...Genos? “Darn, that mare got me. When will I learn to stop underestimating my opponents? Oh, hi Ben.” He said, getting up.
“Okay...so we're...somewhere.” I said with a frown, looking around to see where we were. “Seriously where are we?”
“My scans show very little. I am not detecting life, but I am picking up a familiar geological structure or the area matching one within my data base.”
“What's the familiar structure?” I asked him.
“Well, this location matches the city known as… Ohio, of the United States. It's a sixty five percent match, the rest seems to be either flooded or obliterated.”
Ohio...my home state…”That cunt shoved us back to my world.” I growled. “Well now we know where we are…”
“So it-”
“Ahhhhhh!”
Crash.
As if anime logic dictated, Trixie fell from the sky...and crashed on top of Genos. “Ouch! That Tempest is a bitch!” She growler, getting up. “Oh! Sorry Genos.” She said, helping the cyborg up. “Oh! Ben, thank goodness you are alright!”
“If that bitch hurts any of my children I swear to god she will be for death!” I barked in rage.
“Don’t worry. Den and Cadence got them out of the house and Jenny, surprisingly not hungover, is keeping her busy so they can evacuate Ponyville. She’s calling a lot of heartless.”
I stared at Trixie and Genos, the two seeing my Psychopath eye plain as day and it was pretty creepy. “Good….as...as long as they're all okay.” I say, thankful for my family to be safe. “So...welcome to Earth, my original world.”
Trixie took a look around. “It's a… it's a dump, can't lie and say it's nice. Sorry.”
“That's what happens when the end of the world happens.” I shrugged. “But this world used to be full of life and was fine, where we didn't know people like you two weren't just fictional characters.” I explain simply. “But the day I was sent to Equestria with all my powers...well that was the day the world was ending.” I explained. “So yeah, it's fine to call it a dump.”
“So, what are we going to do?” Genos asked.
“No idea…” I sigh out. “I can't summon my keyblade for whatever reason, and I can't open a door with Nothingness for whatever fucking reason…”
“Hmm…” Genos looked over at Trixie, the two nodded and summoned their weapons fine. “Hm. So it is just Keyblades that cannot be summoned? Strange.”
I summoned Skysplitter and cycled through all my weapons that weren't keyblades. “Strange indeed…” I mutter before floating up. “Well we better start searching for answers on how to get home, cause I need to rip the rest of that unicorns horn off and shove it up her ass.” I growled.
Trixie threw a card up, it grew large enough for her and Genos to ride as we flew around. It was a short ride before I spotted a familiar building… my home…”And...here's my old home..” I muttered while diving down towards my old house, wondering how wrecked it was.
As we got closer I saw it didn't look too bad. Obvious damages were fixed and aside from a broken window looked good. Upon walking inside I felt uneasy. A lot of memories here… when I looked around, I saw what looked like a corpse laid on the couch.
“And why is a corpse freeloading in my house?” I ask with a frown, having a bad feeling about this.
Genos walked up to examine it, it's body was almost mummified. It's eyes were even long since rotted away. As soon as Genos touched it, it moved, grabbing his arm and made him jump back. “That, it's not alive! I’m not detecting life from it?!”
“Get...out…” It heaved, barely able to move. “This house...belonged to a good kid long ago, an old student of mine… I won't...let you defile it…”
“Wait…” I said, remembering that voice. “Mr. Torres?” I asked, kneeling down and looking over the mummy. “Mr. Torres is that you?”
“Ben… is that...really you?” He wheased out. I...how is he even talking? “I can't see. Eyes rotted ten years ago.”
“Ten…” I mutter before pulling out my Lexicon and sifting through it, before closing my eyes and humming an incantation, the mummy was starting to be imbued with unholy energy, my old teacher regaining former strength. “Believe me Mr. Torres, I have a lot to talk about, but what do you mean ten years?” I ask, still very thankful I copied literally all the spells Ainz knew, which happened to be all the spells in Yggdrasil as well as a mastery of Necromancy.
“Well… how to put it.” He said, being able to move a bit more, but the spell is still taking effect. “2012 ended badly. Lots died, monsters appeared afterwords. There was just war and survival for sixteen years.” Torres said, sounding sad. “Then, thirty years back, god appeared, said all who is left here, for our sins of violence, tainting the world in blood of our own kind, we will never know the afterlife. We will be bound to our bodies til they rot completely and after, remain as ghosts upon this soil for all eternity. After that, the dead and living fought… if I counted right, and I did, you know I never fail at math Ben, lot like you… it's been close to a hundred years since 2012.”
“A hundred years…” I mutter. “But...I've only been gone for half a year at least…” I said, Mr. Torres being able to see even without his eyes and he could tell I was a fuck lot different.
“Others...came here, last fall. Time...is a fickle thing Ben, remember that.” He said, able to move proper now and could see, his eyes now glowing orbs. “Wow...always figured you for a furry.” He laughed.
I couldn't help but laugh at that. “You have no idea. Trixie, Genos, this is Mr. Torres, my...very old math teacher.”
“Pleasure.” Genos said.
“Hi…” Trixie said, clearly a bit creeped out.
“So, Ben...what happened to you?” Torres asked. “I went looking for you on day Zero but you weren't in the library. Also, here.” He said, handing me a large, old pile of papers. “You owe me like so much home and school work.”
“I think I'm way passed a hundred years of home and school work here.” I chuckle. “But God...decided me and a few special others were worthy enough to go see the real universe...which your in right now cause he kind of...died not too long ago if memory serves.” I said honestly.
“Huh… well that's unexpected.” Mr. Torres said. “Well, guess it's good you came when you did. Any longer my body would have fully rotted and I'd have gone spirit.”
“Well...a friend of mine was so gracious to basically help me become a Lord of the Undead.” I tell him. “So cliff notes, all the things we thought were fictional are all actually real, Kingdom Hearts is a prominent thing in this plane of existence, I have a harem of twenty very sexy women and growing and I'm going to sooner or later be king of a planet.” I explain to him simply. “Also I am all magical with special super powers.”
“So your life went from high school loser to poorly thought out fanfiction huh?” Torres laughed.
“Pretty much.” I chuckle. “So, is there anyone else still around here I should know about?”
“Only ghosts, which reminds me, you best leave before they come around. The ghosts are just murderous and LOVE playing mind games. You got to get off this haunted hunk of rock before sundown.”
“We’d love to but…” I frown. “We kind of can't at the moment…” I said worriedly. “But I know an ass ton of spells to subjugate undead so...maybe that'll help.”
“Maybe. Let's hope so. Cause come sundown they will be the most active.”
“Alright.” I nodded. “Think you can move around enough to help us?” I ask. “Or do you need a bit more of a pick me up?” I ask, noting I still had plenty of MP to last me a long time.
“I think I’m good.” He said, getting and standing up. “Damn. Haven't been able to stand for twenty years… good thing my nerves are still dead, otherwise I’d have some serious cramps.”
“Alright then.” I nodded.
“This still leaves the question as to how we get off this world.” Genos said.
“Back when my body still was mobile and not too rotten I saw some off world types getting toyed with by ghosts, didn't hear them start that ship of there's so it might still be there. Granted it would be seventy years old, but it's your best bet.” Torres said.
“Want to get off this hell hole?” I asked Torres curiously, not wanting to leave a friend here.
“Hell yes. I never thought I’d miss being a teacher so much.” He replied.
“Alright.” I nodded. “Ever used a weapon before?” I asked him, flipping through my book and finding a spell to give undead warriors special weapons. “Cause I can give you a weapon if you need.”
“Can they fend off or harm ghosts?”
“It's a magical weapon yes.” I nodded. “What kind of weapon do ya want?”
“What do you have?”
“I can create a lot of things with the ‘Create Greater Magic Item’ spell.” I tell him.
“I guess just a sword is alright.”
“What kind? Short, normal or great?” I ask honestly. “There are dozens of swords to choose from.”
“Normal.”
“Alright.” I nod before my book glowed. “Create Greater Magic Item.” I said. “One epic level undead bane sword for ya, only works against your foes, not you, coming right up.”
My book glowed for a bit before a sword appeared on the ground before me. It was a simple knight sword, with a light green glow around the blade. Mr. Torres picked it up. “Sweet.”
“Glad you like it.” I said. “So, let's get going then.” I say, closing my book but keeping it out, digging in my pocket and using an ether on myself just to make sure my mana was up. “So, which way was the ship?”
“The park, and we best hurry, it will be dark-” Mr. Torres stopped as we all saw the sky start to darken. “Crap! Run!” He yelled, Genos, Trixie and I following him.
“Hastega!” I shout, four copper clocks appeared behind the four of is with the hands spinning faster and faster, doubling our speed. “We’re faster now, let's pick up the pace.”
We ran, memory and Torres leading us towards the park. “I still can't believe it's been over a hundred years…” I mutter sadly, finding my old home destroyed to such a horrid extent.
“Even after those monsters stopped coming here those left here didn't stop breaking stuff. Last I heard New York got the worst of it.” Torres said as we turned the corner. The old park near the town hall was always beautiful, but now… it's dead. No grass, trees, not even bugs look like they wander around here.
It made the ship easy to spot though. “There! That thing has to have some power.”
“Lets hope, and if not I probably know a spell to fix it.” I say, hoping to get there before the ghosts find us. “Almost there…”
As we reached the home stretch the sky turned dark, and we all were thrown back by an unseen force. “Shit.” Torres and I said. We all got back up and ethereal people started appearing...I know these people. John the local handyman...Suzie the librarian… Harry the Gamestop guy…”John...Suzie...Harry…” I said slowly. “It's me Ben...believe it or not.”
Before I took a step forward I realized something...this is what Terra did before-
I quickly side stepped and dodged a wave of energy, looking back at the three I saw their eyes were all white, and they seemed… primal, almost.
“Hello?” I asked worriedly, ready to defend myself just in case.
They didn't reply, each of them letting out a horrifically loud scream that broke whatever glass wasn't broken yet. They then vanished, but my animal instincts told me they weren't gone. “Ben, once someone here loses their body completely they are just mindless killer- gah!” Torres yelped as he was flung against a nearby building. “So glad I still don't have nerves…” He grunted.
I growled before I opened my book and light flared out of it. “Consecration!” I shouted, a giant circle appeared out from under me and shot outwards also having Trixie, Genos and Torres in it. “Spirits, get out of my friends and speak.” I demand, the circle glowing with power at my command.
The three of them appeared again before me, it looked like they were fighting the spell.
“Can you hear me?” I ask the spirits. “Cause I'm sure the librarian would understand the words of a kid that's been in her library too many times to count, the handyman who's helped my dad fix stuff, and the gamestop guy I always met when I bought new games.” I told the three. “I know I look...a lot different but you guys couldn't have lost yourselves here.”
“G...g….g…” They started saying, the spell forcing them to speak. “Ge...ge...get!”
“Get what?” I asked them.
“Get...get...get… GET OFF OUR PLANET!” They screamed, a powerful wave blasted us all back and on the floor. I looked up, seeing them changing the sky...lightning. “AND DIE!” They shouted as the lightning came down.
I flinched, closing my eyes… I opened them again and...that person… the one I saw through the telescope. “Who the hell?” I gulped, wondering what more bad lucked I'm getting thrown with. “Who are you?”
They turned to look at me. They nodded and looked at the ghosts. They pulled out a wand of some sort and waved it over their rather nasty looking axe. The axe gained a goldish color. He rushed them, the axe actually hacking one of them in half then he spun around, the second blow making the ghost vanish as they turned to light and that light went into the new figure. They then used the wand and summoned a lightning bolt like Zeus and shot it at the ghosts. The area of impact hitting them both as they did the same as the first one who fell.
“Who are you? And what the hell did you do?” I ask with a frown, having a weird feeling this was someone like that Knight thing in my head a while ago.
They pulled off their helmet...and my jaw dropped. I saw the face of a friend I thought was gone for good… “Long time no see Ben.” The blue eyed blond Ventral said.
“Well...I'll be damned.” I said. “It's been a while man.” I smiled. “So...what's with the get up?”
“I have been on the best RPG adventure. Let me tell you about it.” Zeke said as we all got on the ship.