With Betty’s help, we cleared Stonefang Tunnel, The Shrine of Storms and we were at the end of the valley of defilement. This place was horrific, wreaked of death and disease, and was just...truly a place abandoned by god. We reached the final boss area, and was met by a man wearing heavy armor, with a colossal mace/club thing.
“Well...looks like we’re probably going to be fighting this guy.” I said honestly.
He turned around. “Follow me.” He said, low toned, but commanding nonetheless.
“Or not…” I muttered, following along but still at the ready in case something happened.
He brought us down into the grimmy water blow. In the very back most of this cave thing, was a woman, the grim attached to her legs like vines and a she held this glowing orb. The armored man then fell...onto a pile of corpses, and rested. “Hello.” The woman said. “You two are not like the Demon Slayers of past, are you?” She asked.
“That depends, why do you ask?” I asked simply, hoping this person was a lot more reasonable here even though it seemed she was...literally apart of this place.
“I am Maiden Astraea, guardian of this sanctuary for those abandoned by god. I know why you have come here.” She said, taking out one of Jenny’s memory cards from behind her. “Take it, and leave this place in peace.”
“What’s the catch?” I asked. “Cause while I would be oh so happy to just take the card and leave...it doesn’t seem that simple. Need some help or something?”
“We live peaceful, humble lives here.” She started. “I use my powers as a demon to heal all I can, and even revive those left here to rot. Just leave this place, leave us alone.”
“I understand.” I nodded, gently walking over and taking the card. “Thank you Maiden.” I nodded.
“Thank you, and may the deviens grant you safe passage away from this place, and to wherever your goal will take you.”
“And may you find peace taking care of those in need.” I said. “But...did the person that gave you this...did he mention who else had these?”
“He gave one to each of the demons of this land.” She started. “I can tell. You have slane most of them, all that remains is the four waiting the Boletarian Palace. Be warned, The Old One’s most powerful demon resided within the Palace. Be safe.”
“I always try to.” I nodded before turning around and heading off to the palace.
The Palace wasn’t that hard, honestly the first boss was a joke, second was...a bit awkward but eh, and now, after making a friend with a knight from this place we where outside another boss fog. “This is the Penetrator. He’s fast Ben, so be careful.” Betty said.
“From Software had to know what they were calling this fucker cause this things name can’t be by accident.” I said, shaking my head. “I mean come on, the Penetrator?”
“Trust me...he’s not joke worthy.” We entered, and where created by one of those Fat Ministers, only for him to be stabbed through by a long, large sword as the boss entered from the other fog, and tossed the annoying lacky to the side like a rag doll.
“Please tell me I can steal his sword?” I asked.
“In game I know you can make it...but I dunno about reality...maybe?” She said, quickly pushing me aside as she backed away, the Boss almost screwing us both in one thrust. He WAS fast!
“Okay one, rude.” I said, summoning Frozen Pride and trying to shield bash him. “And two...well we’ll figure that out when he’s dead.”
Aside from thrusting his swings where also very fast. Frozen pride was able to block, but his force behind his attacks did make me skid back some feet each time. Betty, while it was busy with me, ran up and jumped onto the Penetrator, and jabbed her cursed sword under its helmet, into its neck. The curse began taking effect as he staggered back and fell over. I took this chance to steal his sword from his grip. “That...was cool.” Betty said.
“It’s good to have back up sometimes.” I said honestly, channeling Nothingness into the sword and slashing with it, a bladed wave of Nothingness was sent straight towards the knight.
The Penetrator was sliced in half, and from it’s fading corpse dropped it’s soul, and the card. “One to go.” Betty said.
I took both the Soul and the Card. “Alright…” I muttered. “In game, did you ever fight the Old One? Or did it just die in a cutscene?” I asked curiously.
“In game after slaying all the demons and kill the final demon who guards the old one, the old one is just a mass of light and energy, that the Maiden in black luls to sleep the the rest of time, and makes you the next Monumental, the guardian of the world. Why do you ask?”
“Just making sure.” I said. “Cause if it was a boss then it would have the last card...but maybe it’s bodyguard has it?” I wondered. “Also...I’m pretty sure we could have gone to the Nexus and then leveled a bunch from all the murdering we’ve done.” I pointed out. “But how strong is the final boss?”
“Honestly he’s a joke. His attacks are weak and he mostly flops around like a fish out of water. Kinda disappointing to be honest.””
“Okay then...wonder if that’s true in reality.” I said honestly. “Anything else I should be concerned about here?”
“Well...Ostrava of Boletaria is up ahead, past that second dragon…” She started.
“Of course.” I sighed out. “Well, let’s keep going and see how that’ll go.” I said honestly.
After reaching past some heavily guarded places and running into some Black Phantoms, got some neat items from them. We came across the other dragon and I unloaded Sharpshooters at it. It dyed, making the way clear. On the steps sat Ostrava. “Oh, hello you two.” He said, taking notice to us.
“Hello.” I nodded to Ostrava. “How are you doing?”
“Honestly, not too well. I just saw my father… He’s become a demon...the rumors were true after all…”
“Do you really want to die because your dad chose poorly?” I frowned. “Or do you want to take a moment and not kill yourself, then help everyone that’s still sane here?”
“And how do you know that if I continue on, I’ll come out any better than my father. He was like me once, cared for his kingdom, but in his old age, he sought means of solving mans blight… I don’t want to become like him. You can’t truly escape blood, after all.”
“Who the fuck said blood dictated what you did?” I asked. “Cause right now I’m seeing someone who’s doing a lot better trying to solve people’s problems than causing them. Just because he’s your father, doesn’t mean you have to end up like him. Choices are thrown at everything in life...and unlife in this case. Right now your choices are these, die and fail to help people like your father wanted to do before he became a demon, or live and help the people who are here without resorting to demons?” I asked bluntly.
“...” Ostrava sat quiet, then stood. “Wait here. I’ll return shortly.” He said, taking off.
Betty and I waited for about an hour or so before Ostrava came back. He had a pure white sword in his grip, and handed Betty the shield. “It protects mainly from magic, but it can stop most blades as well.” He explained. “If my father truly has become a demon, then I must use Demonbrandt to slay him. I can reclaim Soulbrandt and reforge our family’s strongest weapon.”
“Thank you.” I nodded. “And we’re here to help in anyway, plus...I’m pretty sure he has something of importance to me.”
We headed up, taking the elevator...thing up and were met with the fog wall. Traversing through it, we saw before a broken throne, stood the tall, elderly figure of the King. He appeared human, and wielded a sword that was half Demonbrandt, half another sword. “Northern Regalia. Demonbrandt, and its other half, Soulbrandt, fused together as they should. A weapon to slay men and demons alike.” Ostrava said, raising Demonbrandt. “But then...how does he have it, if Demonbrandt is here?”
“How are they made?” I asked. “Cause the king is a demon, he probably has the powers to just make another one.” I said honestly, checking my Assistant to see if one was just a replica and the other was actually the real one.
“No, they can not be replicated. All attempts in the past where either look alikes that held no true power, or caused whoever held them great sorrows. Demonbrandt and Soulbrandt must be fused together using a powerful demons soul, and ONLY Soulbrandt was missing from the mausoleum… He’s wielding a fake… HE is a fake.” Ostrava stated, pointing Demonbrandt towards the ‘king’.
I checked my Assistant just in case. “You can remake Demonbrandt...but Soulbrandt…” I wondered, hoping my Assistant can tell me if I’m right and there both the real thing.
Demonbrandt was a sword forged many years ago in a land in ruins. It can only be truly utilized by one with a pure intent, while it’s Counterpart, Soulbrandt can only be truly utilized by one with dark intents. The two swords counter each other, one to slay the demons that plague man, and the other to slay man themselves. Their whole form, Northern Regalia, can be wielded by anyone, man or demon. None of them can exist if one of the other is in existence. Northern Regalia can not exist while Demonbrandt and Soulbrandt exist, and vise versa, either the two swords must exist, or the one. How they were made is unknown.
“Okay...that’s fine but that’s not what I asked…” I frowned, as I tried to actually figure out if both Regalia and Demonbrandt were both the real deal instead of one being fake and the other not. “Or I can just figure it out by smacking it really hard…” I muttered, summoning Skysplitter just in case.
The king attacked, but before I could go forward, Ostrava ran ahead of me, crossing blades with what may, or may not be his father. “Ostrava are you crazy!?” Betty called out.
“No, he’s not.” I said while summoning my keyblade and circling around carefully to the demons back so I could back stab him.
The demon began to grow an aura of wind around him, before almost like an explosion, expelling it all, knocking Betty over. Ostrava stood his ground. I was staggered back, but before I could swing, Ostrava charged again. The demon...impaled it’s sword through him, all the way to the hilt. “Ostrava!” Betty cried out. Running into the fight only for the demon to side step and kick her into the wall nearby.
Rage filled me. I could feel my eye turning. “THAT’S IT!” I roared, Lunatic appearing in my hand, feeling my other eye also turning as I was going to beat this fucker to save others. “I AM SICK OF YOUR SHIT!” I shouted, rushing over to the demon rather quickly and slamming Lunatic into the demon’s legs really fucking hard.
The demon was knocked back, but not dead. As it got back up… I saw Ostrava grab the hilt of it’s weapon, pulling himself more along the blade and ramming Demonbrandt into the demons chest. “Demon...Brandt… R-reject...Darkness.” He managed to saw, the whole blade glowed with a pure light that… that’s Zeke’s power… the X-bades’s ability? The demon’s whole body began to cunvolce and twist, til finally it, and it’s weapon where no more, leaving it’s soul, the card...and Ostrava, a hole in his gut the size of a human head.
“Fuck..” I muttered, calming down as I summoned my lexicon and tried to cast healing magic on the poor guy to save his life.
It took some time, but his wound closed, finally, and he was breathing steadily, but unconscious. I looked at Demonbrandt, still in Ostrava’s grasp.
“Weird…” I muttered, using my assistant to scan this thing. “This weapon...is it really?” I muttered, wondering if the twenty shards are actually still a thing after so damned long.
Scanning…
Scan complete. Detecting metals and ores not local to this world.
Detecting magic not local to this world.
Detecting slight temporal anomaly.
“Okay, what are those things?” I frowned, trying to figure out more about this thing of what it’s made of, what the magic is, and why the hell time had something to do with this.
“Hehe, surprised, aren’t you?” Ostrava said weakly, not moving but speaking. “Everything hurts… why am I not dead? Or a black phantom?” He asked.
“You are not dead, or a black phantom. I healed you fast enough so you didn’t die.” I said to him. “So, how the hell did you get a piece of the X-blade?” I asked simply, knowing X has that ability to reject darkness.
“X-blade? Heh, not sure what that is. When the kingdom was young, two shards fell from the heavens. One that wreaked of evil, and the other with a glow rivaled by heaven alone. They were the bases for Demonbrandt, and Soulbrandt, the other materials came from travelers from unknown lands. We have no idea from where they haled or why they agreed to help us forge them, but all she said was that ‘time was her plaything’. At least, it said so in the old texts.”
I frowned. “That’s...rather concerning.” I said worriedly. “But Demonbrandt and Soulbrandt...are two pieces of a much grander weapon...a weapon that can either cleave worlds asunder...or put worlds back together.” I said honestly. “And the Regalia...that’s when two of the twenty or so pieces are put together. But what was this woman’s name and were there anyone else?”
“The texts don’t say much, all I does say is that she wore a black cloak, with hourglasses decorating it’s sleeves and back.”
“Oh no…” I muttered, checking my Assistant to see if it has anything on Mother Time in this case rather than Father Time. “Please tell me it’s in here…” I muttered.
“You can relax.” I turned around, seeing the very cloaked figure Ostrava just spoke of appear. She was tall, taller than me, and her voice was...familiar. “This is all planned out.”
“And...why do you sound familiar?” I asked. “And what do you mean ‘it’s all planned out’?”
She held out her hand, and summoned the No Name Keyblade, quickly disbanding it. “Does that at least calm you down?”
“Not really...but there’s only one person at the moment that I know has that Keyblade...so, are you Diamond Tiara or are you someone else?” I asked simply, remembering that Joy saw his Diamond had No Name.
“Yes, and no. There where many of us to obtain No Name. We all came together, and began to moneter time. We also keep track on events that are meant to happen, and what can be altered for better.”
“And two pieces of the X-blade being here is for the better?” I asked. “Well...actually yes that makes sense but still.” I said honestly.
“This reflection needed Demon and Soul-Brandt. I also knew at some point you’d be here. Kill two birds with one stone.” She said.
“Right then.” I nodded. “So...is X going to actually be reforged? Cause if two pieces are here...then the other eighteen will be around somewhere.”
“Yes. While not in this world, they are on others.”
“Of course.” I sighed out. “So, I presume you need to tell me something important? Cause while I can ask you questions all day here I doubt you’d want to answer cause time is a very weird and fickle thing.”
“Honestly I only came to keep you from looking for answers not written on any texts.”
“Right then.” I nodded. “So, about the part where there was technically two of each weapon?” I asked, finding that rather concerning.
“This demon, and it’s weapon where fakes, made by the true king to fool his subjects and servants into his devilish biddings. A false king, in a sense.”
“Heh, so my father is still a demon, and took Soulbrandt?” Ostrava asked. DT nodded. “Well, then when I am well again, we will find him. My guess is in the belly of the old one.”
“And he’s probably holding the last card, and he’s gonna die painfully.” I said while taking the card and soul. “So, besides that...is there anyway this world can get back to some form of normalcy?” I asked curiously.
“Slay the old one, the same way it is slaying the world. Consume it, and save this world. It can’t be that hard for you, after all, That’s what Zeke did, to keep the old one from reseting the world.” DT said, a blue clock with arrows spinning around appearing behind her as she entered it, and it vanished just as it appeared.
“Okay then.” I said honestly. “Glad to know that.”
“Let me rest for a while Ben, then, we’ll finish both our journeys.” Ostrava said.
“I'm gonna have to make sure your spine isn't ruined.” I said honestly. “Never took a day of medical school but I'm certainly acting like a medic here.” I grumbled.
The Zeppelin ship landed in the Zebra lands, and we were greeted by quite the royal reception. Guards and nobles of the land rested kneeled in two rows, leading to a palace made from stone and large wooden planks. “That took way too long…” I groaned, hating that we literally had to stop to help a dragon for a bit. “Can't wait to meet the royalty here.”
Upon entering the palace, we were greeted by a small child...with cloth wrapped around her eyes. “Greetings, White Knight.” She said, bowing. “We have been anticipating your arrival.”
“Sorry we weren't here sooner.” I said a little sheepishly. “Just...got side tracked is all.”
“That is alright. Your presence alone is honor to the kingdom. Please, follow me to the King and Queen’s quarters.” She said, turning around and leading us down the halls.
“Not to sound rude or anything…” I said nervously. “But um...the cloth wrapped around your eyes…” I trailed off, not wanting to sound rude to either a blind person or sound like an idiot to maybe a prophet.
“I am the castle’s sage. Hollow Grove. I am forbidden from seeing anything, and so my eyes were removed at birth.” She said. “My position as such means all Zebrican spells are drawn from me throughout the kingdom.”
“I...I knew the Zebra’s had a very different kind of magic but…” Celestia started.
“Huh...that's interesting...and morbid.” I said honestly. “That’s quite a thing...and here I thought you were actually a Seer, someone who could see the future and stuff like that.” I said honestly, knowing it was cliche’d but still.
Making it to the throne room, it was like the inside of a tree. The King and Queen sat atop a throne of stone and pillows. Everyone kneeled. The king stood up. “White Knight of Equis.” He spoke. “We’ve been expecting you. We are humbled to have a hero such as you in our lands.”
I bowed humbly. “It is an honor to meet you your majesties.” I said honestly, wanting to make a good impression here as a person and prince and not as a hero or a snob.
“I see you bring your broods with you… Zecora.” The king spoke up, the Zebra in question freezing up. “I had not expected you to be in this entourage. Normally, for your crimes you’d be thrown in the dungeon, but, given your...status and relationship with the White Knight it seems, I shall let it pass. Guards, escort the Knight’s Life Mates to their quarters while I speak with the White Knight alone.”
As the guards came up to us I felt my Twilight grab my hand. “We won’t let them try anything with Zecora, okay?” She said, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving with the others.
“I suppose I don’t need to tell you the ramifications if you hurt the ones I love?” I asked simply.
“I am aware of your...temper. I cannot say some of the guards might try something, but if they do, I will deal with them accordingly. Now then, before I give you one of my daughters in marriage, there is something I belive you acquired for us from that accursed cave?”
“Yep.” I said while pulling out the book in question. “One book on Nothingness is right here. Mind if I ask why you need it? Cause I only got a cliff notes on it.” I said honestly, remembering being told that it was an item to help fight against the heartless roaming around.
“Come with me.” The king said, standing up as he lead the way down another hallway. Here we came across a door with...an Alicorn Zebra? “In times past, all races had their versions of the Alicorns, like your lives Luna and Celestia. Zebra’s had few, and when the Alicornien era ended, only one remained.” He opened the door, and there were wood carvings of...keyblades. Paintings of the Keyblade war...and an old, aged armor and Keyblade. Oathkeeper. “He carved these, the weapons of his fallen kin, and painted these images of a bloody war. He made that book, to help us after his madness became too much, and took his own life. It was stolen by the very beings it was written to help us fight. Now that it has returned, we can protect our lands from them.”
“Damn…” I muttered honestly. “But...with the help of a friend we’ve been making a school for future Keybladers...and believe me...we’re going to need all the help we can get.” I said honestly.
“That is good to hear. Many kingdoms forgot their rulers of past, butt he hold onto our past just as much as we embrace the present.” He said, picking up the old, rusted Oathkeeper Keyblade, and giving it to me. “Take this, a token of my, and my people’s trust in you. Upon your marriage to the daughter of mine of your choosing, you shall rule both Equestria, and the Zebra lands. I know, you cannot stay to rule any of the kingdoms, so, I will keep the lands in check til you are able to do so on your own.”
“Thank you.” I nodded while taking Oathkeeper. “Been a while Oath.” I said honestly, wondering if my new wife will be their new wielder. “How’ve you been?” I asked, knowing keyblades can respond in different ways than actually talking.
The Keyblade flashed, it’s body glowing white as all it’s age and rust vanished, and it looked like new. “This, is a sign of good fortune in our future.” The Zebra king said. As we were leaving the room I spotted the paintings, the Zebra alicorn fighting...with someone in a bear mask...
“Aced?” I muttered.
“Hm?” The king said, seeing what I was looking at. “Ah, no. That is Bara. He was an alien of the stars that was as close as Kin to our old lord. The two of them defended this land from the darkness for years… then, they left to fight this war, and only our lord returned. He said Bara had died, the darkness taking him. We honor his memory with a yearly Celebration we call the Bear Festival. It’s mostly contests of spellcraft and strength, free food and drink, and everyone wears a mask like his in memory.”
“I suppose this was before he went insane right? Cause if we’re talking about the same Bara then that guy’s an asshole and most likely dead at the moment.”
“Yes, his fallen form is like your Equestria’s Nightmare Moon. Dark Bara sought only information, no matter the cost. While the Bara we celebrate learned to help others. He helped write the very book you brought us. His last work before the darkness claimed him.”
“Ah, that’s nice.” I nodded. “Well the Dark Bara is most likely all sorts of dead at the moment, but glad to know he was actually good once before he became a genocidal twat blast.” I frowned. “But thank you for telling me this your majesty.” I nodded. “Good to learn a bit of history that isn’t always bleak as hell.”
“Yes, legends teach us more about who was in them, at times. Come, time for you to meet my daughters.” We walked back to the throne room. Five Zebra mares all stood before us, the youngest had to be at least seventeen while the oldest looked almost thirty. “Now then, choose which of them will be your wife, and unite our kingdoms.”
“Choose huh?” I asked, looking over all of them. “Hmm...tough choice…” I said honestly. “Hmm...any of you know what a date is?” I asked honestly, feeling very wrong about just picking one and saying ‘my wife now’ without at least getting to know them.
“That is not how our marriage customs work, I am afraid.” The king started. “A family with daughters eligible for marriage will announce so, any a male of equal status to the family will choose which to marry. If the marriage does not work out, then a divorce is allowed so long as both parties agree to it. After that it’s rinse and repeat.”
I frowned. “Well that’s not fair at all, I would have loved to get to know each of these lovely ladies before making my choice.” I said honestly. “Oh dear...this is something I didn’t want cause now I’ll feel bad just saying ‘your my wife now’ like I’m at a goddamn vet picking out a new pet for my kids.” I frowned. “Can I say ‘I pick all of them’?” I asked nervously, the kings daughters seeing that I did actually care about who they were and not just here to say ‘your mine now’.
“Hm…” The king thought. “While herd marriage is not common in our lands, it is also not against the rules. Looks like I owe my wife some bits then.”
“What? Wife thought I couldn’t just pick one?” I asked honestly.
“Yes. She’s good at gambling.”
“She’d love to meet a master of mine.” I said honestly. “But yeah...I’m just too much of a nice guy to just pick one...and also the part of just picking one in general kind of also made it a little worrying for me.” I said sheepishly. “So ladies, what are your names?” I asked honestly, hoping to at least know their names.
“I am Rotha.” The eldest spoke.
“I am Kathem.” The second oldest said.
“I am Ala.” The third oldest said.
“I am Emerald.” The second youngest said.
“I am Gra.” The youngest said.
“It is nice to meet you all. I hope I can be a good husband to you all.” I said honestly. “So, what do you all like to do for a living?” I asked curiously, wondering if any of them will have something in common with my fiances.
“We were raised and groomed to be perfect wives and princesses.” Gra said. “We are, whatever you want us to be.”
I frowned. “Well that’s not right.”
“Their teachers did some major damage.” The king whispered to me. “Turned out they were old fashioned sexists, their all pretty much brain washed… can’t even get them to garden without it being ordered to them. Was hoping you could...break that.”
“Christ…” I sighed out. “I suppose you dealt with them?” I asked the king honestly, hoping he beat those sexist fucks for ruining his kids.
“Personally. But their damage was done. Hopefully you can break their...programing and make them themselves.”
“I will.” I nodded. “So ladies, which one of you actually has a fucking thought in those heads of yours?” I asked the five bluntly, hoping one of them will answer and the brainwashing isn’t that ingrained.
None of them said anything. The king just pat my arm. “Good luck. Hopefully you can succeed where I failed.”
“This is gonna be a problem...good thing I have Luna.” I said worriedly. “Christ...and here I was hoping things would have been simple.” I said honestly. “Oh well...but I better get these five to the others so they can be themselves...and hopefully it won’t take a while and you can see your daughters be who they were supposed to be.” I sighed out. “So, where would the guest rooms be?” I asked, not actually knowing the lay out of this place.
“We will lead you husband.” All of them said in unison, walking in a row leading the way.
“Good...luck…” The king said, taking off.
I sighed out while following the five. “I sure hope Luna, Twilight and Brigid can do something about this…” I muttered, hoping to have these five fixed so I can see who they really are. “Is there anything about you five that you can tell me without it being because your brainwashed?” I asked, hoping there was something there.
“Why, whatever do you mean?” They all spoke simultaneously...that’s getting creepy.
“Because what you were taught is absolute dog shit.” I frowned. “Your not brain dead slaves, even if you had that beaten into you.” I said.
We made it to the room. A large table with fruit was set out as well as some other foods set about. I sniffed the air. I smelled meat. Pork, Chicken, Beef, Fish, and...something else. What is that? “Ben!” Pinkie and Twin jumped me as I entered. “What took so long?” Twin asked.
“Two things, one I need help getting my new fiance’s not brainwashed slaves, and two what is that smell? I smell pork, chicken, beef fish and something else I have literally no idea about.” I said.
“Brainwashed? Hm, let me have a look while you check out the smell Ben.” Luna said. I got up and looked around the table. I found the abnormal smell. It was a stew, potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, the works, but the meat in it was… What is it?
“What are you mystery meat?” I frowned, kind of worried about the smell and why I had literally no idea what was in it.
I kept sniffing it. It didn’t smell bad, but every primal instinct I had said not to trust it. “Who made this?” I asked with a frown.
“It was delivered with the rest of the food.” Celestia stated.
Zecora walked up to the stew pot, taking a sniff then tasting the bizarre meat. “Oh….OH…. Ohhh….” She then looked at me worriedly. “Ehh… This brew is called Poor Man’s stew, and it’s meat is from… lower kin to you…”
...IT’S DOG MEAT!
“Who delivered this?” I asked. “Cause this is one thing I am very opposed to.” I growled. “First we have sexist bastards brainwashing the princess’s into being mindless slaves, now we have some random fuck trying to feed the fucking dire wolf dog meat.”
“Oh!” Twilight perked up. “I read about it, cause most meats have to be imported, the Zebra lands breed dogs for hunting, and when they get old use them for food. Culturally it’s normal here Ben. I don’t think they meant any harm, must have just been absent minded on the cooks part. While everything here looks fancy, the Zebra lands are one of the poorest nations out there. They do what they can to survive. Even if in other nations it’s a taboo.”
“Ah…” I nodded. “Well good thing our nations are going to be together so we can start helping the Zebra’s where they need it.” I said honestly. “But yeah I’m...gonna not be eating that…” I said sheepishly.
The rest of the day was rather simple. I ate the other meats, but stayed away from the stew… Towards night, after Celestia and Luna did their thing with the Sun and Moon, Luna came up to me about the Zebra princesses. “Well, I can’t do anything.” She said, taking a seat and slumped in her chair. “They were taught this all from their earliest years and know practically nothing else. All we can do is expose them to free thinking slowly til they accept it and that’s even IF they want to.”
“How would ‘everything you know is a lie’ work?” I asked. “Cause I don’t know much about brainwashing but that sounds like something that might work...maybe.”
“No, they would go into shock. I can’t suppress those memories cause that would be no different than giving them amnesia, slow exposure is the only safe path.”
“Christ…” I sighed out. “Again, I thought this was going to be simple, not having to immediately do a slow debrainwashing process.” I sighed out. “Oh and yes, I did pick all five cause I’m both indecisive and because I already felt bad that I basically had to say ‘your mine now’.”
“Our indecisive little pup.” Luna cooed. “So how long should we stay here?”
“Restocking the ship should only take three days.” Celestia said. “So anytime after that.”
“Right then.” I nodded. “So we’re gonna be here for three days, and that’s going to be three days of slowly getting five zebra’s to learn that everything they’ve been ‘taught’ and or beaten into was just a bunch of bullshit and sexist lies.” I said honestly.
“Let the torture begin.” Luna said, taking a bite into a pineapple she levitates over from the table of food.
“So, which way are we going next?” I asked. “Cause we have Yaks, Minotaurs, the Monster Princess…” I said, trying to remember all the races here. “There are also the Merponies...Deer if memory serves...are there cat people on this world?” I asked curiously.
“Yes but they have no established kingdom.” Celestia said.
“Okay then. So I still have at least five kingdoms left...oh wait Saddle Arabia, I almost forgot.” I said honestly. “God...just...so many things are happening right now…” I groaned, having both all the things on Boletaria happening, my training in the Realm of Nothingness, and so much more.
“Lets rest up, tomorrow you can relax, take a tour of the city and we can work on these five.” Bridged said.
“Alright.” I nodded. “Thanks for helping…” I said, thinking I’d be helpless in most cases without them.
The next morning I was up early, ate something fast then headed out into the town. Outside the castle here was… very different. Houses were made of sticks and stones, farm looked alright, but the sun beating down was gonna make them wilt quick. The people walked around, minding their business with whatever they were doing. Eventually, I came across a bizzare, shopkeepers and buyers ran about in organized chaos.
“Well at least the people are okay…” I muttered, but keeping my guard up in case of either thugs or thieving kids. “Hmm…” I hummed, wondering what’s for sale in this place.
Gems, foods, fabletics, clothes. Lots of stuff was for sale here. Merchants were yelling out what they were selling. I almost tripped, seeing the culprit was...that cat...Cheese?
I knelt down. “Excuse me but how the hell did you get here?” I asked the cat. “Thought you were in the Diamond Dog capital?”
The cat meowed, then ran off. I chased after her, and ran into a building that smelled of...sandalwood? “Huh, wonder what’s in there?” I wondered, walking up to the building and seeing if the front door was open. “Hello?” I asked, knocking on the door to see if anyone was here.
“A visitor, how fortunious.” Said a voice from the other room. I entered, seeing an elderly Zebra mare. She was in a bed, covered in blankets and held up by the mountain of pillows behind her back. “What is your name, young one?”
“Ben. And what is your name Elder?” I asked politely.
“Narufu. Sit, please?” She asked, motioning to a chair next to her bed.
I nodded and took a seat on the chair. “How are you doing today?” I asked curiously.
“Fine, fine. Tell me, from what land do you hail?”
“Want the simple or complicated answer? Cause the short answer is I came from Equestria...the complicated answer is complicated.” I said sheepishly.
“Hm… No, no, you came from Earth, didn’t you?” She said, catching me off guard.
“And how do you know that?” I asked curiously. “Cause not many know that and I’ve kind of made sure to keep it that way.”
“We are the same.” She said, reaching under her blanket, and pulling up an old photo, but the image showed a human girl, sitting in the driver's seat of a car. “That was me, before 2012. I asked God to start life over, in a humble, peaceful land. I got what I asked.”
“Well this is now the second person outside the core group of friends I have that also came from earth.” I said honestly.
“Glad to know there where many others it seems. In this life I was finally able to live life. I was terminal back on earth. Brain cancer. I was twenty five. Now, here I am, ninety eight, mother of five, grandmother of many. Great grandmother of more. Heh.” She laughed.
“Sounds like a nice simple life.” I said with a little smile. “Glad to hear you got the life you wanted, while I’m here with twenty five wives, over three hundred kids, and am a world wide hero with cool powers fighting off evil.” I said honestly.
“We all got what we wished for, but in the end, we got more than we asked for. I wished for a fresh start, a humble life, and life long health. I got experiences. I loved, Fell in love. Saw a few amazing lands. Modernized farming and breeding for this kingdom. I gave that credit to my son though, a gift from me to him. From a world...perhaps better left forgotten.”
“Well right now it’s a barren hellscape so fucked people literally can’t die and either decay into madness ghosts or just stay as crazed undead.” I said honestly. “But that’s what happens after a few hundred years.” I shrugged.
“Heh, sounds like we got what we deserved. The good got to live on, and the bad where punished. Guess, in a way, the bible was right.”
“Except for the parts where God was the son of Yen Sid, our existence was generally apart of that old bastards imagination, and...well him dying.” I said honestly.
“Heh, so god is dead then? Ha. Well, nothing we can do about that now, is there? So tell me, what was your life like before 2012? Before given a second chance?”
“Oh god...it was terrible.” I said honestly. “Let’s see now...died as a kid, was brought back by my light half, did a bunch of fuck ups, both my parents were murdered, and then I proceeded to just not care so much my heart started dying.” I said. “So yeah...not really the best ten years after I first died…”
“Hm. I was one of those privileged brats, born to money, and cared about nothing. Then, I fainted. Woke up in the hospital, brain cancer. Was terminal, even with what the doctors could do, I had a year to live ‘normal’ and after that a month in the hospital waiting to die. While my parents argued and threatened lawsuits, I just began realizing… I did nothing important in my life. All my ‘friends’ where followers on social media, I had no little siblings to think about. I never even had a boyfriend. So, I traveled, met people, had...fun… Heh. I ran with a Ventral once. My parents threw a fit.”
“What was the Ventrals name?” I asked, curious to know if she met Zeke or not.
“Sandra Ventral. She marketed drugs, not pot or coke, prescription meds. They called the Ventrals monsters, but what she did...proved otherwise. She’d steal from people who received meds from the dead, gave them to homeless who needed them more. What was left she did sell for profit. Mexican cartels need to keep their members healthy too. After that, I would just walk around town, take it all in. Memorize every detail. When I got to the last month, parents hired mercenaries to guard me, just in case the 2012 stuff was real. The gunfire was so loud. I was scared, alone in my room. Imagine my surprise when Sandra jumped from the air ducts into my room. She was the only real friend I made, and I was the only outsider she ever met that didn’t think her a monster. She stayed with me, til the Cancer took hold. I woke up with God, and the rest you know.”
“That’s nice to hear.” I nodded. “One of my friends is a Ventral, and two of my daughters, one adopted and one...reborn technically are both Ventrals. Friend is Zeke Ventral, and my daughters are Jenny and Nancy Ventral.” I said honestly.
“Hm. Sandra spoke of Zeke before. Said only his dad and grandfather could beat him, his father, because Zeke can’t go all out against him, and his grandfather, because he was cruel, and fought even dirtier. She said, she saw Zeke once shoot the cap off a beer bottle from a mile away. She thought he would have made a great leader.”
“Well she’s going to be pleasantly surprised cause Zeke is a leader of his own world, even though he’s all ‘I’m not a leader, I have a council’ when everyone knows he’s the leader.” I said honestly.
“Hm. Seems like in the end, we all got more than we asked for, huh?”
“Oh yeah.” I nodded. “So much more than we asked for.”
“I’m glad, seems like...everything worked out.” She said, taking my hand. “I named one of my daughters after Sandra. Everyone thought it was an odd name. The prince thought it was lovely.”
“The prince? Well...there’s probably a lot of prince’s so…” I said, feeling like I’m doing a dumb here and missing something really fucking obvious.
“The king, right now. His daughters are my grand daughters. I heard you are marrying them. Make them better, those teachers twisted them into mindless machines. I’m glad the king executed them.”
“I will.” I nodded. “I’m going to make sure they are all safe, sound and happy...even though I’d love to tell them everything they’ve learned is a massive lie but Luna said that would send them into shock.”
“The mind is a powerful thing, but also can be harmful to us. Sometimes, I wonder why we were made this way. Made to feel pain, emotions. If we didn’t have them, we’d all be monsters, less than we are in ways those like that think they are superior too. When I was in india, I heard something once. A soul to guide us, a heart to fill us. A body to experience. Without one, we are not whole. One alone, can not make choices, for what they choose, will be guided by outside forces.”
“Makes sense.” I nodded. “Sounds like someone who understood some things about life.”
“They where. Funny, I wanted to know more about life, when I was going to lose it. Now, I got to live long to a very old age. Grand kids think I’m going to out live them all. Heh, maybe. Doctors say I got a month. Talk about dejavu.”
“Deja Vu indeed.” I said honestly. “But...sadly I don’t think I can get your grandchildren back to normal in a months time…” I sighed out. “It would have been nice to see you happy for the five of them when they are free and happy.”
“As long as they do get better, I’d be happy. You best be going, my sons will be back from shopping soon, and they can be protective. I don’t want you hurting them.” She chuckled.
“Alright.” I nodded. “It was nice to meet you Narufu, hope you have a good day.” I said with a smile before getting up and leaving the elder in peace.
That was nice. Someone who lived a full, long life. Happy, and not complicated like mine. Wonder who else was given a time traveling rebirth. Only man who knew is dead now I guess.
“So...what are you doing?” Celestia asked, seeing Luna having the five new additions to their family reading several books.
“Having them read texts about Mare’s rites and freedom events in both Equestrian and Zebrican history. Introduce them to the idea, and have them slowly act on it once the idea is implanted.” Luna explained.
“Smart. How are they taking it?”
“The eldest seems unmoved so far, the younger two seem to be giving some raised eyebrows. Makes sense, they got less of those sexist pricks teachings than their older sisters.”
“Where are the others?”
“Touring the castle, out shopping. Rarity is buying special fabrics only made in these lands. Equestrian trade society banned them in Equestria cause they are made from a special spiders web that, if not cleaned right, can be as poisonous as their bite. But it’s softer and finer than any silks.”
“Wonder what she plans to make with it?”
“From what she told me it seems our relationship with Ben inspired her to try for new exotic designs. She’s used Guilda as a model and used traditional Griffon themes in it’s design.”
“And what of you?” Celestia asked, taking a seat next to her sister. “Last time we were both here Zebrica was mud huts and farmers.”
“Lot’s changed.” Luna said simply.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more for you…”
“I’ve accepted my mistakes, letting my anger and jealousy take over rather than finding somepony who would listen.”
“I should have listened.”
“You where busy.”
“I should have made time!” Celestia shouted. “I just… Wish things turned out differently.”
“We can’t change the past. All we can do, is move forward.”
“Ben!” I heard the familiar call of Rarity behind me. She ran up to me, bags loaded with fabrics, and Zecora behind her, carrying just about the same.
“Oh, hello.” I nodded. “Wow, think you shopped enough there Rarity?”
“Oh Ben darling this is just what I wanted to carry, the rest are being shipped on to the Zeppelin so I can tinker with them later. I also took the liberty of stocking on some more exotic food stuffs Zecora here knows us and can make some delicious dishes with. Don’t worry though, none of it is dog meat.”
“Thank you.” I nodded. “So, Zecora, how’s it feel being back here?” I asked her honestly, not sure if I asked her this when we got here.
“Memories flood like a rushing river. I’m avoiding all those that are bitter…” She said, a mixed smile on her face.
“I understand.” I nodded. “But as long as your having a good time here Zecora, that’s all I care about.”
She nodded. “We were about to head off to a restaurant Zecora knew of before she left. They make this dish called Curry, that single dish can be made a million different ways. All varieties they make, served by itself, on rice, or in these cute little bread buns to eat with your hands.”
“I know what Curry is Rarity.” I said honestly. “I may have never tried it but I know what Curry is.” I said. “But sure, I’d love to join...if I’m allowed.”
“Of course, why would you think otherwise?”
“Sometimes people go places and don’t want others around.” I said honestly. “I know that probably wouldn’t happen but still…”
“Okay… well, come on then.”
“I’m sorry I’m a pessimist.” I huff. “And half expect all of you to be doing a lot of things and not having planned things with me there cause I’m basically never around.” I sighed out. “But where to so we can actually have a good time and not have me ramble on stupid things.”
“I shall lead the way, so we can enjoy the second meal of the day.” Zecora said, taking the lead.
“Alright...so where the hell am I?” Joy wondered, having survived the last three days on this damned island filled with Heartless, Nobody’s, Unversed and Dream Eaters shockingly. “Kuma wouldn’t have flung me here if I wasn’t supposed to be here.” He muttered while moving some foliage. “Huh?” He wondered, seeing a town off in the distance. “Wonder who’s here?” Joy wondered, walking up to the town.
As Joy walked he noticed the town seemed oddly familiar, from the architecture to the shops, to the massive...key symbol on the clock tower. “Excuse me.” Joy frowned, finding this very weird right now as he looked around and seeing many different races walking around, some looking at Joy and others not really caring.
“Yes…” One of them spoke up, he was human, or so Joy figured.
“Yes, mind if I ask about the giant Key symbol on the clock tower?” Joy asked. “And why there are a bunch of monsters around that really aren’t native to this world?”
He looked Joy over, the man was red haired, green eyed, wore simple white shirt and blue jeans. “Let me see it.” He said.
Joy summoned his keyblade he got from his fight with Zeke’s absent silhouette, the keyblade showing the faces of the many X-blade wielders. “Sure it’s a new one but it’s still a Keyblade.” He said honestly.
“Hm… Welcome to X island. Not many off worlders come here, especially with Keyblades.”
“Well there’s a lot of bad things happening off world.” Joy said honestly. “Do you guys have a leader or something? Cause I kind of have a lot to talk about…” He said nervously.
“Yes. She’s up in the clock tower, but before we let you speak with here we’ll have to… restrain you.” He said. “Nothing personal, we just have rules and anyone who wishes to speak with our leader must have certain restraints on them beforehand.”
“That’s...kind of weird.” Joy frowned. “What kind of restraints do I need?” He asked, having a bad feeling about this.
“Chains of light, keep you from summoning any weapons Keyblade or other. Heart dampener, keep you from summoning anything Darkness, Nothingness, etc. and, full body chains. Keep you from fighting physically. Our leader is strong, but she can’t take a single impact of any kind, or in her state, she’ll die. We take every precaution to keep that from happening. She’s like a queen, or goddess to us. You understand?”
“What sort of sickness does she have?” Joy asked, wondering how the fuck that’s a thing.
“It’s complicated, but you’ll understand once you meet her. Come then.” The man said. Approaching the clock tower, leading Joy into it. Once inside, two guards, both with Master Keeper Keyblades stood ready. “Are you ready?”
“This won’t hurt will it?” Joy asked honestly.
“It’s harmless, but you will feel uncomfortable with the chains on you.” He said, the guards wrappen them both in chains of light, the light chains wrapped in a way that allowed them free movement, but Joy immediately felt his connection blocked to Nothing, Lindworm, and his Keyblade. The guards then placed the heavy chains on them, and they began walking up the stairs to this mysterious leader.
“So, how long have you guys been here?” The dire wolf pup asked curiously. “Cause Rayleigh made it sound like you’ve been here for quite a while.”
“This island has been here since before this world’s people took to the seas, let alone these seas.” He said.
“Cool, and I presume you're all a government kept secret?” Joy asked. “Cause Admiral Kizaru seemed pretty surprised to know I had a keyblade.”
“They know of us, and not to disturb us, or involve us in their worlds pointless disputes.”
“Alright then.” Joy nodded. “What’s with all the Heartless, Nobodies, Unversed and Dream Eaters here?” He asked. “Sure I was just roaming around for maybe a day or two but still.”
“This worlds Keyhole resided on this island. Heartless are attracted to us as Keyblade wielders, the Keyhole, and they attracted the rest. Dream Eaters where unexpected, but with all the darkness attracted to this place, the veil between Reality and dreams tear, and those things often spill into reality.”
“Alrighty then.” Joy nodded. “I suppose this is also a great place to train for...a year or three?” Joy asked, knowing that Luffy will want the crew to wait for
“If you and these friends of yours have Keyblades, we are happy to share our knowledge with you. Otherwise only Keyblade wielders are allowed inside these walls, and without them, your friends won’t last very long outside, or even on the nearby sea. Larger heartless swim out there.”
“Right then.” Joy nodded. “But my friends at the moment are all around the world due to...reasons.” Joy said sheepishly. “The Paw Paw fruit is quite a thing when you want to go somewhere.”
“I see. We are almost above to her quarters. Do you know what you want to say?”
“That depends on what comes first to my head, cause I have at least one question...and a major warning.” Joy said worriedly.
He stopped at a large double door, knocking. “Come...in…” Spoke a soft, fraile voice.
“Well I’m kind of bound so…” Joy muttered, not really able to open the double doors given the person said come in.
The guy managed to open the doors, and inside was an alter of sorts, lit by candles where a pure black skeleton sat on a chair. “Abraham.” Spoke the voice again, coming from the skeleton. “What brings this newcomer to our land?”
“Excuse me...but...pitch black skeleton?” Joy asked worriedly.
“Pardon my appearance, but this is all that remains of my corporeal body.” She spoke again. “Tell me, what is your name?”
“My names Joy...who are you if I may ask?” Joy asked, now knowing why this lady can’t take a hit worth a damn.
“In age long before the Keyblade war, when the world was whole, I was called Unum. I escaped the deepest depths of the realm of dark, where it and void meet. This is all I am left when I escaped, costing me my heart and flesh.”
“Excuse me but an Embodiment murdered you...at least that’s what I saw…” Joy frowned, wondering how the hell she’s still alive.
“So, you know my story, but not all of it, I am afraid. Abraham, leave us. This one you can trust.” The man, Abraham, nodded, and took his leave. “So, how much do you know?”
“Wel I met your stepdad Yen Cid where he explained...quite a lot of things.” Joy said nervously. “How you died, and then I know your the mother of the entire Ventral line...but besides that and you being the very first X-blade wielder and a very powerful one at that...I don’t know much.” He said, the skeleton knowing full well Joy experienced some of her power first hand.
“Yes. I knew all of the X-blades power, all I could do, and undo. My death was… well, not quite accurate. My whole body was compressed and mutilated, and dragged into the darkest depths of the realm of darkness, where it and void touch, and hybrid monsters are born. Kingdom hearts, and my heart kept me alive for years. I saw things the likes of which should never see in the realm of light. I finally escaped, but it cost me my body, my flesh, and my heart. I awoke in what is now known as the Keyblade Graveyard. The war had just ended. I saved a wounded man with what I was able to muster, and as thanks, knowing I was not a monster, he took me to this world, and gathered many other survivors from across all reflections. Aside from the dandelions of Ava, this land was home to most of the remaining survivors. Many here are descendants, most of the original survivors have passed, save for two. The guards you saw upon entering.”
“Ah.” Joy nodded. “Makes sense…” He said honestly. “But...I’ve got a pretty bad warning...the next Keyblade war is coming.” Joy told the skeleton lady.
“I know. I felt it, and at the hands of one of my own descendants. If I had my heart still, it would be broken. I can feel the new wielder of the X-blade. Come closer, Joy.”
“Well...sadly it was a friend’s Nobody that caused it…” Joy sighed out while walking closer to the skeleton. “But hey, there’s things going on to try and stop the entire thing...hopefully.”
“I know, my ascendant is incomplete, his heart, soul and body are all alone. They must be reunited.”
“Ben has a way to get his light half and dark half back together hopefully, his body...well that guy needs those, and his soul is with his current family at the moment.” Joy said, standing close enough to the skeleton for whatever she wanted.
“Ah, his soul is in another, similar body I take it?” Unum asked.
“Technically? I mean, Zeke’s soul is inside a hermaphrodite mares body at the moment.” Joy said if he remembered that correctly.
“Gender is irrelevant to a soul, all that matters is it’s potential, and heart. You must find the three Keyblades that symbolize the soul, body, and heart. Inner Self, the Keyblade of the soul. Balanced Desire, the Keyblade of the heart, and Porcorial Sensation, the Keyblade of the body. Use them, and they will restore Zeke, and keep this other whose body he shares alive as well, with their power.”
“Well at the moment Zeke’s light half is kind of dead, Zeke’s dark half is trying his damndest to try and absorb literally all the darkness in existence and then kill himself with a keyblade literally made out of Void, and his Nobody is off doing a big universal no no with Psychopaths guiding him.” Joy said honestly. “But where can I find these three mythical keyblades?”
“All three can be found in a world of beginnings. The first world before it’s reflections Came to be.”
“Good...too bad I am thinking of the place that became Castle Oblivion.” Joy frowned. “Or is it someplace else?’
“This land was home to one of the strongest fighters in the the Keyblade war, I was told. A race of god like beings in mortal flesh. I don’t know it’s name, but when you find the specific world, find the original world, there, you will find them, resting under a waterfall of colors.”
“Am I literally going to have to find a leprechaun?” Joy frowned, finding that strangely reminiscent to the ‘find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow’ thing for Leprechauns.
“Heh. No. Find this worlds prime, and then, you can save Zeke. How you'll find it, I do know of only one way. Zeke's Absent Silhouette. It will bend all reality to give what it's champion desires. The echo of the power of the X-blade, and Kingdom Hearts.”
“Oh god damn it not again with that too many phases fight.” Joy groaned. “The first time I did that I figured out who Core’s mother and father were...still can’t believe that.” Joy sighed out. “Oi vey…” Joy said, but then thought of something. ”Wait, if Ben can multiply himself...can I?” Joy thought to himself, remembering Cript taught him how to do that so he wondered if he could do such a thing as well.
“The price we pay for those we care for can seem unfair, but can be more than rewarding.”
“True.” Joy nodded in agreement. “But mind if I train here for...two years? Given your probably prophetic you would know why.” He said, thinking she might know that Luffy will tell them all to wait two years and get stronger for the ‘new world’.
“If that is what you desire, then all our techniques and knowledge are yours to learn.”
“Thank you.” Joy nodded. “It means a lot to learn from you and others that...well actually know what they’re doing half the time.”
“I will have Abraham inform the mentors. Whoever else you have need to aid, bring. Tis time to bring back the lost age to save the new.”
“Alright…” Joy nodded. “I better go home real quick and gather some people…” Joy said, wondering if he should also find the others and get them here so they can learn how to fight against their future enemies. “But...I’m a bit concerned about bringing the crew I’m with here...even though I haven’t been to many worlds I always have this fear that I might do something bad if I mess with the main story of a world…”
“Child. Balance between worlds relies not with knowledge, of flow of events, but in how its inhabitants act, to each other, and to off worlders. These laws you know of now exist because of fears after the Keyblade war, made by Ava’s Dandelions to attempt to prevent another war, some even hoped for the end of Keyblade wielders entirely.”
“Ah…” Joy nodded. “I suppose that makes sense…” He said. “Learn something new everyday, and I’ve only been doing this for not that long.” Joy said honestly.
I looked before me, the first of the boulders of Vibranium broken. “Rage is Lunatic’s special power.” I looked over to Grapth, who stood still behind me. “Instability. You are never more unpredictable than when you are filled with it, but already you’ve failed to control it.”
“Well I blame the fact some jack hole tortured my daughter, experimented on her, and then proceeded to rip away all her memories and forcing me into some stupid scavenger hunt.” I frowned. “But how the hell am I supposed to control that when it’s literally a berserker’s frenzy?”
“Simple. A handicap.” Grapth said. “Build your rage again, and I will suppress you.”
“Build up my rage huh?” I asked, taking a deep breath. “That...considering all the bullshit…” I growled, feeling my rage spike. “That is simple.” I growled, my fur growing and standing on end as my rage built up and up.
When nothingness aura began swirling, Grapth moved forward, poking my chest… I collapsed, my chest broken as I coughed up blood. “When pain is blinded by your rage, you have gone too far. When with Lunatic, you’d might as well be a Psychopath.”
“Funny you should mention that…” I coughed, feeling my regeneration healing up my broken chest. “Fuck that hurt...so...pain is the limiter here?” I asked.
“A regeneration factor. Cript’s family no doubt.” He said, pulling out a small tallon from his armor pocket. He scratched me with it...it wasn’t healing. What wasn’t healed from his first strike now made me fall over, crying as my ribs were still cracked, and muscles town, but not as bad as before. “There was a race long ago who’s talons carried a curse, the only thing that can halt Cript’s family regeneration. Only ones left alive are in isolation under his protection. They won’t last a generation. Too few numbers.”
“Fucking hell…” I muttered, trying to get up again. “So I can’t heal...and I’m supposed to control my rage like this?” I asked, using Lunatic to help me stand up even though my chest felt like it’s half caved in.
“Yes. We all learn best from pain, physical, and emotional. Fight with it, not passed it. Pain will guide your rage to a safer purpose, use. I was once told ‘we all have to die a little, in order to live.’ Without pain at all in our lives, we are not alive.”
“Yeah, well I already died...twice…” I said nervously, building up my rage as I tried to combine it with the pain I was under. “And let me tell you...dying sucks when it’s not voluntary.”
My rage was building up again. Before it got far though, my kneecaps blew off my bones. I fell to the floor. I was losing a lot of blood. “Fight with it.” He repeated.
I growled, slamming Lunatic into the ground hard, mixing my rage and pain as I tried to fight with the fact my chest is caving in, I’m losing a lot of blood, and I just had my legs ruined. “Trying here…” I growled, trying to get back up again even though my legs are ruined.
The second I managed to get up somewhat, both my eyes popped out of my head. Can’t see! “How much longer are you going to take?”
“Gee, it’s not like I’m actually trying here, but my legs are shot, my chest is caving in, and I literally just lost my eyes.” I said sarcastically. “I really do wonder how long it’s going to take.” I sass, the pain being way too much and me not getting this in anyway shape or form is only helping in pissing me off more.
“It’s pathetic really, no wonder you can’t keep your family safe.”
“Take.That.Back!” I growled, Nothingness wrapping around my legs, digging into them and acting like a splint to make me stand up again. “I may not be able to see right now, but I’m gonna kick your ass if you don’t take that back!” I barked angrily.
“I’m stating facts. A whole city, gone. Your daughter, mind erased. Braige. Killed before you, granted, you did save him in a way, how much of ‘himself’ will he be when he is all grown? Your Equestria’s human world reflection. A whole reflection, gone. You had knowledge of these future events, in some form. You could have visited, made sure all was well. You didn’t. Frankly not even your children are a ‘victory’ for you. The strongest are all adopted, and the ones to be born to your line will be… How to put it. Unworthy of their birth rights.”
Even though I didn’t have eyes at the moment blue and red mist filled my eye sockets as I tried to smack the bastard as hard as I could. “DON'T YOU DARE TALK DOWN ABOUT MY FAMILY!!”
“A family of mutts is all you treasure.” He said, standing back up. “You should go back to your flea ridden ‘family’ where you belong. Play hero with them. You are no match for what this reality has to throw at you.”
I stepped forward and swung again. “You understand NOTHING ABOUT ME!” I barked. “I’m here right now, going through your bullshit so I can be strong enough to protect my family! Not be treated like nothing all because you fucking feel like it!”
Grapth started laughing. Confused, I moved Lunatic from the side of him I hit. He didn’t move when I hit him...wait. I realized My eyes, body...I was fine? Grapth on the other hand...was missing his left arm. He only laughed harder at my realization.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I frowned. “And...the fact you lost an arm…” I said, not entirely sure I fully know what’s going on but when I threw my pain and anger at him...it seemed things went back to being fine.
“Heheh. Pardon the offence, your highness.” He said...bowing to me. “To first understand Lunatic is to have your own weakness and struggles thrown at you. You see, while yes Lunatic was forged from a moon that survived it’s own solar systems destruction, Lunatic itself is a… What’s the best word for it. Funnel, for emotions. Happiness, Sadness, Anger...rage. While rage is Lunatic’s primary use, it’s just one part of the grander whole. For the moon it was forged from held no anger, but memories, of the life forms and planets is was created to witness.”
“Huh...interesting.” I said honestly, looking at Lunatic. “You learn something new everyday.” I said honestly. “So...after that...what’s next?” I asked, wondering what’s next to learn from this.
“Learn what each emotion makes Lunatic do. Rage is always the same, powerful blasts of energy. But others… vary. For the King, Happiness makes Lunatic a Terraformer, bringing life to lifeless worlds. Sadness allows him to alter the weather, for better or worse. For me, Happiness brings healing to all allies around me. Sadness freezes the landscape solid. For you, you’ll have to experiment.”
I looked at Lunatic, thinking this was just a massive beat stick used by a berserker, but learning it was so much more. “Well that’s depressing…” I muttered, honestly sad that I didn’t know what this could actually do.
“Lunatic is a weapon of personal experience. No two wielders of it technically get the same weapon. I trust you’ll learn fast and well, heir.”
“That’s what I always do.” I said honestly, spinning Lunatic. “So much left to do...and technically I can’t learn my sabers cause I can’t use them while I’m near the king…” I frowned, having wanted to learn how to use those from him but that being a bit of a problem.
“May I, make a request of you, heir?”
“What do you need?” I asked curiously, finding it a tad surprising he wanted to request something from me of all people instead of the king.
“Mind if I… hold onto Lunatic, just for a minute. I haven’t wielded the True Lunatic in eons.”
“Oh...sure.” I said honestly, flipping Lunatic over and handing it to him by the handle, but my guard was up in case he decided to hit me for whatever reason.
He took Lunatic, looking at it with what my canine side could tell was a mix of sadness and happiness. “Hello again, old friend.” He said, tapping the top against his helmet, keeping like that for a time. “My heir. Please, tell me. Do you know the King’s Saying? Our battle cry?”
“I sadly don’t know much about any of this.” I said honestly. “What is the battle cry my friend?”
“Live on. Even when everyone has forgotten us. We rule a Kingdom without citizens, a castle with no servants. We live in nothing, for nothing. We will never be remembered, and we shall not care. We will live on, when everyone has forgotten about us.” Grapth said, sounding prideful in his speech.
“That’s...kind of depressing.” I said honestly. “Nice speech but...sheesh.”
“That is Nothingness. Best left forgotten… Until it’s needed and remembered.” Grapth said, flipping Lunatic in his grip… and jabbing it’s ‘blade’ end into his stomach and out his back. He fell to his knees.
“The fuck!?!” I yelped, summoning my Lexicon and flipping it open as I tried to cast a heal spell on him. “The fuck Grapth?”
“Death is a fact Ben.” He said simply. “After our travels where done and we sat alone in this castle, I swore that I’d live to see the new heir take my weapon. I have fulfilled my purpose. I can finally embrace my long awaited death.”
I wanted to do something...but I sighed out and closed my book. “Any last words to the king?” I asked honestly, knowing I couldn’t stop the death he wanted after so long.
“Tell my king… to check his throne. I broke a vital rule, and it’s hidden there.” Grapth said, ripping Lunatic out, a large hole in his stomach as he fell over, and we were back in the church. “I am glad to know the next king, is one with understanding to allow me to do this.”
“May you find peace in the land of the dead.” I said. “Thank you...it was nice knowing you Grapth...wish I had more time…”
He did not respond though. Grapth was...gone. I just sat there, staring at him. I heard a noise, and looked up, seeing the archer across from me, on the other side of Grapth’s body. “So he’s gone.” He said.
“Yeah...he fulfilled his purpose...and finally embraced his long awaited death.” I said honestly.
“So all that’s left is me, and the king.” The archer said, Grapth’s body beginning to vanish into...Nothingness thorns. “Out with the old, and in with the new, eh new king?” He asked, handing me a shot of what smelled like very strong whiskey.
“I suppose.” I said, taking the shot. “So, who are you if I may ask?” I asked curiously, wondering who this Archer was.
“Hehehehehe. Rules are rules, new king or no.” The archer said, taking a shot of his own. “Part of being in this Nothingness gig.” He said, taking out his sharpshooter...and put it to his head. “No one will remember us. For who remembers nothing?” He fired… the bolt went through his head, blood splattering across the room as his now lifeless body fell over, fading into Nothingness thorns too.
I blinked. “Um…” I frowned. “I GUESS!?” I said, completely flabbergasted about him just suddenly shooting himself in the head.
“He wanted to be the last.” I looked behind me, seeing the King walk into the room. “Grapth wanted to see the new king, you, take his weapon. The Archer, wanted to be the last of my knights to die. Now, I am all that is left.” The king said solemnly.
“That’s depressing…” I frowned. “Like...jeez.” I said a little worriedly.
“They gave themselves purpose to carry on. Lord explained this to you already. Remember?”
“I know.” I sighed out. “But Grapth told me to tell you to check your throne...he apparently broke either a vital rule or a vital role...not entirely sure.” I said, not sure if he meant one or the other after he had a big hole in his stomach.
“Hm? … Did he now?” The king snapped his fingers, and we both were before a rather large throne, adorned with images of all the weapons. It was pure white, and held a blue pillows stitched into it for comfort. “I haven’t seen it in ages.”
“Looks fancy.” I pointed out. “And sheesh this room is big...well I suppose it is the throne room after all.”
The king looked behind it. The sound of tape being ripped off. He pulled out a rather large, thick book. “Oh that sneaky bastard.” The King said.
“What did he do?” I asked curiously.
“The rule about our existence is that we can not have documented events or anything about who and what we are. Yet, another rule is that any artifacts that should not exist in the normal realms of light and dark are protected upon entering the castle. This book...is of all of us, our adventures. By law, it should be destroyed, but by already being in the castle, it’s to be stored in the library… that sneaky bastard.”: The king laughed.
I chuckled. “Well that’s one way to keep a history of your old friends without going against any laws.” I said honestly.
The king handed to me. “Take it. I guess, a new king deserves to know who he is inheriting his Kingdom from. I guess in the end you’ll be choosing which of our laws you’ll keep, and which you won’t anyway.”
“True.” I shrugged. “But you do know I’m gonna need your help learning Interdiction right? So please don’t go dying on me right now.” I said, not wanting possibly the main teacher for this weapon to die because of some things as I took the book from him.
“My death will come after you have taken my crown.” The king said. “Til you master all and only Interdiction is left, then the final weapon can be mastered, and your crown shall be earned.”
“Okay then...so I better go off to Radiant Garden and meet my masters for Skysplitter and Lindworm...but I’m not entirely sure about Book of Retribution…” I said, thinking about if Ienzo is old enough. “I’d ask if you know someone about that but...they might be dead at the moment.” I said nervously.
To be continued...