//------------------------------//
// Nobody's Home 
// Story: Life of a Nobody 
// by Xinrick 
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Spending time with mom and my new siblings, and other Dire Wolf moms was the best. I’ve been hunting, playing tag, chase, even tug a war with large sticks. It’s a blast. Fishing in this form is odd, but doggy paddling isn’t that hard to figure out, it’s catching the fast moving fish that’s the trouble. Den said in the deep waters there is three high value, and tasty, fish. The Glora Bora, an eel like prey with sharp teeth and slippery skin.

The Fire Flasher, a slow moving fish with rock like skin and an ability to chew the rocks of the ocean floor and spew them out as molten projectiles. Thankfully though, if you can trick it to spit out that magma upwards, it can fall back down, and being so hot, even under water, the magma will fall back onto it, and melt through it’s own skin.

Lastly was the Great Sea Monster. I giant manta ray fast enough to create whirlpools and, if enough of them are present, they can even make hurricanes. Their hide isn’t that tough, it’s their speed that’s the issue. They can break the sound barrier underwater. 

I’ve hunted one of almost every prey on moms… my ancestral homeworld. I feel proud to be this race. I was born to be this race, why I wasn’t originally I’m just gonna call a fuck up on fates part.

“Ah….this is the life.” I said with a warm smile, feeling wonderful about everything.

I was atop a very high, massive tree, it’s branch making the whole trees from Yellowstone look like twigs by comparison. Truly these trees have been here, most likely forever. I was enjoying the view, the landscape like a picture of nature's true beauty. “I...I can’t wait to bring my family here. They’ll love the sights and the beauty of this world...and all my pups will enjoy being here.” I said with a warm smile, knowing all of my kids will be of Dire Wolf lineage. “This has been such a massive gift…” I muttered, looking around over the horizon seeing all the things here.

“Looks amazing, huh?” Cript said, he was in a Dire Wolf form surprisingly. Brown fur, blue eyes, and he was about Den’s size. He took a seat next to me.

“It’s doesn’t just look amazing, it is amazing.” I said with a happy smile. “So much fun...I feel so free...it’s amazing.”

“And this is just a copy.” Cript said. “Ben, it’s time for lesson three.”

I panicked. “Excuse me, you can’t just say that and make me not think you’re going to burn this place to the ground.” I said worriedly, knowing for a fact I’m overreacting but i was just so worried about wording and all the training I have to do.

“Heh, sorry for my wording. You see, while this is a legit planet, it is still a copy of Den’s home. Her actual home is still corrupt, and very much poisoned.” Cript sighed. “Lesson three. How far will you go?” Cript asked me. “On the original home world of Den’s, I placed something than can return it to how it was, just like this place. A Time Gem. Very rare. Find it, and break it. It will reverse time on the world to when it wasn’t a hellscape of poison and evil. But, going to this place as it is won’t be easy. Are you ready for it?”

“Oh boy…” I muttered. “Well...when you say ‘how far will you go’...what do you mean?”

“Ben. When I send you there. You will be as is. Just, a Dire Wolf. No weapons, no humanoid form, no Nothingness powers. You have seen the darkest moments of you kind in test one, and the joys and pride of their people before. To save their history, you must do it as one of them. Are you ready to charge head first into this hellscape?”

“Well the Keyblade War is happening in three years, and I did train in that one warzone so...sure why not.” I said honestly, stretching a bit as I got prepared for what’s to come.

“Alright. When you return, you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

“Hopefully…” I muttered as I got ready for heading to the original world. “Well, I’m ready.”

“Right then.” Cript said. A portal opened under me, and I fell in.

I landed on soil that stung just to stand on it. The whole of ‘grass’ was sharp rock like spikes with jagged, natural hooks to catch onto you and rip your paws up.

“Yeesh, already this is gonna be rough…” I muttered. “Gonna have to tread carefully…” I muttered, trying to move without ripping my paws apart like an idiot.

Walking on this ground is not easy, and I cut my paws up a lot. When I finally found flat ground blood was oozing from my paws like water. Grunting, I licked, literally, my wounds and headed on. I saw something in the distance. A field of ‘trees’ that where all black bark, purple leaves, and I saw vines squirming around them like snakes.

“Well...that’s not good…” I muttered, going to hate going through an Assassin Vine forest.

I looked around but the forest seemed to go for a long while on both ends. Grunting, I found what looked like the best path and ran. The vines all immediately reacting and wiping me, cutting my skin open and making me bleed.

“Christ these things are fast…” I muttered, trying to dodge as many as I can so I take less damage. “Crap...and I have a feeling I’m not even close to being close to the time stone.”

I managed to rush outside the other end of the forest, only to avoid being stopped by a giant mutated version of the first prey I ate, its size five times what it is normally and its body armored with metallic looking skin.

“Holy shit…” I muttered, doubting this thing would taste good considering what this place has been so far.

I managed to rush passed what was a herd of them easy, the footsteps just almost crushing me on many close calls. I made it into a forest where the trees weren't trying to whip me and ran into a cave, catching my breath.

“Well...Cript was right about this place being a pain in the ass…” I muttered, looking around the cave in case I didn’t just either walk into something’s home...or walk into something’s mouth.

As I looked around I stepped on… ashes and old wood… I let my eyes adjust, and saw I was in the same cave as back on Cript’s copy… it looks untouched.

“Hmm…” I hummed, getting up and wondering if this place was truly untouched as I walked into the cave.

It looked preserved, well kep- “Who are you?” 

I yelped, almost jumping and hitting the ceiling. Before me stood a rotten looking Dire Wolf. black and grey coat, but rotting. Older, and covered in battle scars.

“Um...hello?” I asked the dog. “Who are you? And...shouldn’t you be dead?” I asked worriedly.

“I was. For a long, long time.” He heaved. “The poison of this land brought me back as an undead. My will alone allowed me to keep my mind and personality.”

“Alrighty then.” I nodded. “My names Ben, what’s yours?” I asked curiously.

“Goto… I believe it’s my teeth on that necklace of yours.”

I blinked in surprise, putting a paw up to the teeth. “Um...yeah.” I said gently. “It’s...probably a little weird seeing someone literally wearing your teeth isn’t it?”

“Not as weird as waking up undead and seeing your homeland turned into poison. What brings you here young pup? Only ones like us around are undeads like me, only those mutts are far more violent and mindless.”

“I’m here to bring this world back to normal.” I said. “There’s a chance of it going back to the beautiful world it used to be.” I told him.

“Really? Pray tell young pup, what do you know that I do not?”

“Well, I can start with your teeth being made into a necklace for the greatest warriors each generation.” I said honestly. “But how to solve all this...well there’s a special stone that can reverse all of this.”

“Special stone? Ah, I believe if such a stone exists, it would be in the Badlands. Where I once lead battle against our highly poisonous foes from my time. The undead of all the warriors who wore my teeth around their necks as you do walk there, as if guarding something. Before they’d just run around like the beasts they now are. Now they roam around the old hive of my greatest victory.”

“That’s...that’s not good.” I frowned, having a bad feeling about that. “I...suppose they’re drawn to the power of the stone, the poison of this world using their bodies to keep anyone away from the one thing that can stop it…” I took a deep breath. “Um...know the direction where the Badlands are?” I asked, wanting to at least know where to go instead of blindingly run.

“Of course. I am more than willing to help, to restore my honor. My death was poisoned with the blood of my own kind, blood I spilled. I wish to rectify that mistake.”

“Thank you.” I nodded. “That’s all I can ask for...and I’m sure my family would just get a kick out of hearing I fought alongside you.”

“Not so fast young pup. I’ll help you, and restore my honor, but my primary means of combat,” He opened his mouth...right, toothless. “-Are decorating that charm of yours. If I am to be of any use in this hunt, I require them back.”

“Seems a little ironic…” I muttered, taking off my necklace and holding them. “I was given these from my mom because she told me I was the best hunter of my generation...and I’m giving back your teeth, the best hunter of your generation.” I said honestly, moving the necklace over to the undead wolf. “I...kind of doubt I can do proper dentistry…” I said sheepishly.

“No need for that. This poison has its perks.” Goto said, the necklace string coming undone as his teeth, glowed with a black mist and and flowed back into place in his mouth. Once the last tooth was in place, he ran his tongue around them. “Ah, now that’s better.”

“Glad to see...that somehow works.” I said honestly.

“Lets go.” Goto said, standing up and exiting the cave. “Keep up youngblood.” He said racing off as I followed.

“So, how dangerous is this place besides the whip vines and serrated grass?” I asked curiously.

“All the prey animals now hunt like we do, worse even. The Badlands is barren though, so when we arrive we will only have to worry about the undead hunters that came after me and before you. Last I checked there are five of them there.”

“Alrighty then.” I said honestly. “Yeah, nothing like being hunted by a giant fuck off turtle to brighten your day.”

“Oh don’t get me started.” Goto whined.

We ran through deadly forests, evil paw shredding ‘grass’ and fish twice our size in a river too small for them. It was a lot of literal blood, sweat and hard work reaching the dry, dead dirt of the badlands. This whole place looks like a canyon or something.

“Well...that’s a lot of space.” I said honestly. “Now...where would a powerful stone be…”

“There…” Goto growled. In the distance was the ancient husk of what looked like a bee hive, it’s petrified shell looking like it was about to fall over. Outside I saw a large, undead Dire Wolf. My mind flashed back to Den’s story about Saber the strong.

“Saber the Strong…” I muttered. “Well...that’s a good way to start.”

“We will see if his story does him justice then.” Goto said. “We need a plan. I shall attack, you find pointed rock, use like club to bash skull in. Only way to end undeads.”

“True.” I nodded while looking around for anything that would be big enough to bash his head in.

I could hear the exchanged snarls and growls of Goto fighting Saber. Loud thuds and bashing. I saw… the bones of a massive Wolf/Bird/Snake creature. Jesus, this is just the head! It’s three times Den’s body and it’s just the head.

“Jesus christ…” I muttered, looking around for a big enough thing to use as a club quickly. “If this is the thing’s Goto murdered...he’s pretty fucking strong.”

Looking back at the things head, I saw one of it’s teeth fallen out and laid on the side. I grabbed it, and ran back over to them. “Alright...time to bash some undead’s head in…” I muttered as I moved fast to help Goto. “Let’s hope this works…” I muttered.

Jumping over a rock, I saw Goto was rather beat, but not down as Saber had his own share of slices and bruises. Goto saw me and lured Saber in a way that his back was facing me. I raced, raising the tooth, and bashing Saber’s undead head in. I let go of the tooth, Sabers body turned to ash an ethereal version of him rising from the ashes. “Thank you.” Saber said.

“Your welcome Saber the Strong.” I nodded. “Why are you here if I may ask?” I asked curiously, wondering if Saber has some time before he moves on to the after life.

“The poison resurrected me, but while my soul was rebound to my body, I had no control over my form. You have freed me, Ben.”

“Always glad to help.” I nodded. “Wait...how did you know my name?”

“When we die, our souls roam the world, not as ghosts, but as energy, keeping the plants and animal life full and plentiful for those living, and we watch over the new pups, sometimes we are reborn, at our own choosing.”

“And...what do you think of me?” I asked, thinking Saber wouldn’t see much in me all things considered. “I know I’m not all that special, even by Dire Wolf standards.”

“You do our kind proud.” He said, bowing before me, then rising. “Save our homeworld. Restore it to its glory.” With those words, he raised his head, howling as his spirit returned to its proper place. 

I nodded. “Well...that’s one.” I said, having a feeling I’m gonna need to keep this giant club. “But...mind if I ask what that weird wolf, bird, snake thing I found to actually get one of it’s teeth?” I asked nervously.

“That was our enemy in my time.” Goto hissed. “Ever since I was a pup they have been keeping us their prey, and they only targeted us. Devouring us by the dozens daily, we scrapped by in deep underground tunnels built over the generations. Not sure if they are still around now, but back then that was our only safety. I was barely growing my own fangs when my den mother and father where devoured. I was the only of my litter to survive. I swore I’d kill them all… and I did.”

“Yeah...that’ll do it.” I said slowly. “But okay then...time to go deeper into this hell hole.”

We entered the decrepit hive, the skeletons here where in massive pils. These ancient monsters and Dire Wolf skulls decorated the walls and floors like confetti. “I remember this battle. So many died, elders, mothers, children. Anyone willing to fight, fought.” Goto remonised. I noticed the differences in the bones size and age… some of them had to be...kids.

“Dear lord…” I muttered. “So much death..”

“No victories worthwhile come without sacrifice. If this battle had not been won, you might not be here.”

“Ah...makes sense.” I said honestly. “Sorry just...never been much for murder in general...or mass extinction…” I said nervously.

“All kills can be justified. Be it beliefs, or survival. These were kills for survival, when you hunt the preys you kill to eat, it’s not just beliefs, it’s also to live to the next day. We combined the two, to justify the death of our killed preys.”

“Alright…” I nodded, looking around carefully to see if any other zombie wolves are close. As we entered a new chamber, both Goto and I where tackled, those twin looking undead wolves where our attackers. Goto managed to flip himself over, biting down on his attackers neck and ripping it’s head off before pulling mine off, and doing the same. “Right then...that explains where those two were.”

“Ryla, and Gondugo.” Goto spoke. “They fought along me against the queen. They were good hunters. Good pups…”

“Oh…” I muttered. “Well...maybe we’ll get to talk to them like Saber?” I suggested nervously.

“They were hunters, not warriors. I only allowed them to join if they kept to the small fry… if it weren't for them disobeying me… I would not have won… a bittersweet victory. You have pups, Ben?”

“Yes, yes I do.” I nodded. “And...there not old enough to fight...and honestly, I’d rather them not get into the fights I’m going to have to get into…”

“You know your pups idolize you… if they fight with you… and are happy to die for you. Stupid youth… but that’s life. When they argue with you to prove their worth, through any means, it’s all for you. Some would say that’s how your young should act towards you… I say, it’s a good way to get them killed. Ben, if you want any stubborn pups of yours to stay out of your fights, then you’ll have to be their bad guy, even if they hate you for it. Don’t make my mistake.”

Him saying that...made me think of Jenny… she wouldn’t… sigh, she would…

“Except one of them just doesn’t give a flying fuck and will do it anyway.” I sighed out. “But...yeah, understandable…”

As we headed in both our ears perked up, hearing something...someone running… running- “Gah!” Goto shouted, getting slammed into and flung through the wall behind… Gizer. He turned to me, and ran, I only managed to bite his after image.

“Ah shit.” I muttered, looking around quickly to where he was.

As I was looking, he ran up behind, grabbing me by the tail and dragging me THROUGH the walls before letting go… ouch… “Agh. Basterd can run.” Goto grunted. “Ben, I have an idea. Try not to die before I come back.”

“Believe me, it’s a lot harder for me to die than one would think.” I said honestly as I readied myself for the things oncoming attacks.

As I kept myself against the wall I saw him running this time, his after image lagging behind like a bad wifi connection. Growling, I saw him jump at me. I dodged, or so I thought. He has an after image in front of him?! He tackled me where I moved, knocking me against the wall before grabbing me by the scruff and bashing my head against the wall.

“Bitch!” I barked, trying to claw at the bastard and getting out of his grip so my head wouldn’t be bashed in.

I managed to scratch him, but being undead he didn’t flinch. Rather, he did stop bashing me, but hit harder...and hard- I howled, and growled in pain. He… ATE….MY….NECK SKIN! I looked up, seeing him slurp it like a noodle. Oh okay, you pissed me off now.

I tackled the bastard and drove his head into the ground as hard as I could to kill it. “Now you pissed me off ass hole!” I shouted as I kept bashing his head into the ground.

He moved fast...fast that I was suddenly hitting his neck scruff skin and my lower jaw on the ground… ewewww…”Fucking gross!” I yelped, spitting out that things neck skin.

I looked around and saw my upper hand. His body is leaking undead blood, leaving a trail. I followed, and found myself in…. In… HOLY! Before me was one of those bug wolf monsters, it’s skeleton MASSIVE. Reaching the ceiling of this room with ease. Eggs long since dead laid scattered about and still attached to the walls and the skeleton itself… GOTO KILLED THIS THING?! It’s head was bigger than the cave the paintings are in. Hell it’s EYE is bigger than that cave. I did notice it’s left eye socket was...glowing...

“Hmm…” I hummed. “That’s either what I’m looking for...or I have a feeling this planet’s even more fucked…” I muttered, moving around carefully to see what was causing the glow.

As I entered the eye socket I saw a small, glowing crystal that just looking at it I saw time passed...heard it. There it is. I reached in to grab it, only to get yanked out by the tail, my undead assailant tossing be back and onto some dead eggs, shattering the aged shells and showing me the skeletal monster infants inside. Shit, each egg has to have like four or five in them.

“Cause fuck this, can’t be simple right now…” I muttered while getting up quickly.

Gizer was already in front of my when I got up, headbutting me before I could counter, bit my paw, hard. Then tossed me to the side. As I got up he was running again, before...tripping? “That hook like grass can come in handy!” I heard Goto shout, jumping out from a patch of dead eggs and as I got closer, Gizer was wrapped up a dug up patch of that fucking deadly grass. Goto gabbed Gizer’s neck, and snapped it clean off his body.

“Yeah...it does come in handy.” I nodded. “Especially against this bastard.” I frowned.

“Well, that’s done. Heh, like my handy work?” Goto asked, motioning towards the giant dead beast.

“How in the name of hell did you kill this thing? Killed it from the inside or something?” I asked.

“Clawed my way into its eyeball, than once inside got inside it’s head and ate it’s brain.” Goto said simply.

“Yeah...that makes sense.” I said, limping given my paw was bit really hard, towards the crystal. “Well..let’s hope the crystal can solve all of this…”

“Before you do Ben, there is… one last Undead you best take care of...heh, even though I did all the work.”

“You want me to kill you?” I asked honestly. “Give you a warrior's death?”

“Better that then let that thing do...whatever and bring me back. I don’t belong alive at my age.” Goto said, showing me his neck, a clean kill… “May my spirit join my fellow hunters and warriors.”

I nodded. “It was nice meeting you Goto.” I said, moving fast and doing my job to kill the old wolf.

I couldn’t afford to think, to hesitate… in a swipt chomp, Goto’s head came clean off. I howled for him, Den telling me this was our version of prayer. Our howl reaching them in the afterlife. With that done, I headed back inside, and took the crystal in my mouth, and bit down on it hard. After some resistance, it cracked, then shattered.

Everything went white.





When I woke up I was still in wolf form, but Den was with me. We were in the cave. She was crying, but she had the best smile. “You saved my home… our home.” Den said.

“Yeah well...that’s what hero’s do ya know?” I chuckled a little. “I met Goto…and fought with him.”

“Cript told me. He was watching you.” She laughed. “Both Cript’s copy and our home came to your realm. He wants to show you what he did. Said it’s his grand plan.” Looking at the cave entrance, I saw Cript in his wolf form sitting just outside it.

“Well alrighty then.” I said while walking towards Cript. “Sup.”

“Heh. Care for the view?” Cript asked, a cloud appearing before us.

“Sure.” I nodded.

We hopped on- Oh my god this is so soft… It flew up high. Really high. When it finally stopped… It was amazing. My castle stood where Canterlot Mountain was, its size absorbing Ponyville, Appaloosa, a lot of land within its walls. Outside them was Den… my homeland. The two/three worlds and colossal castle all merged into one world. “This Ben, is what I have in mind for all creation. No more dimension traveling, no more realms… all one world, one sky. For infinity. While life for all will be finite, the world won’t be, it and it’s resources will go on forever. Yours, Zeke’s. The Foretellers. You’ll all die, but you can take comfort in knowing no more worlds will ever perish, for you’ll all share the same infinite world.”

“So that’s it? One unified world?” I asked. “And what, you’ll lose all your powers after me and my friends fight in the keyblade war?” I asked honestly.

“While you all fight in the Keyblade war, I’ll face my father Vincent, and settle the matter. Once he’s dead, Lord and I will activate this. Everything is falling into place to unify creation as the admins of old should have from the beginning rather than wage war, birthing Insanities and Psychopaths. I’ll still be immortal, but I’ll be physically the same as everyone else. Just can’t age or die. To be honest it will be fun. Finally, things will be a challenge again.”

“Alrighty then...then there’s the problem of all the wars that ill happen due to all the people not understanding certain things and freaking out...then there’s an ass ton of other problems.” I brought up.

“A fact of life. I trust when the day comes you’ll work to establish friendly connections with those who’d shoot first over asking questions.”

“Yeah…” I said, but I had this strange feeling in my heart. “Will...we lose anyone because of this? Not the war, but the whole...merging everything to be infinite?”

“You’ll be with your families in your respective lands.” Cript said. “But as for your friends, I can’t tell how far apart your lands will be from one another.”

“That’s simple enough, we already live in different realms to begin with…” I said. “I was talking...about mom.” I said honestly. “I’m sorry but...I have this bad feeling that she’ll be gone...after what little time we’ve actually spent together…” I sighed out. “I don’t want to lose another mom ya know?”

“Only for a while.” Cript admitted. “Den and the rest of the wives will be fusing into one being. While mentally, Den will be there. They all will, Psychically they’ll all have the same body. Only two ways to split from that. That will be in their, well, our sacred place. Got that set up already, and with these.” Cript said, a small wooden statue of mom appearing before me. She was in both her anthro form and primal form. The two halves of her back to back, divided by a wall between them. “Face which form you want her to appear in, and she’ll be there. While I imagine lots of statues like this will appear, they’ll only appear for those who know them, the kids. Grandkids.”

“Alrighty then.” I nodded. “Glad to know...I won’t fully lose my mom.” I said honestly.

“Things are gonna change Ben, it’s how life is… Hey...is that Jenny?”

Looking down, I saw a thin female Direwolf with the back paws like lions paws, tail included, though the tip was fluffier tip,  and massive blue and brown wings running around like mad.

“Maybe...I mean, it’s a Direwolf with lion parts and wings…” I said honestly. “Well,  wondering why she’s running around here?”

“Enjoying herself. She loved dogs, now can become a wolf, and for the first time, looks like she can act like a kid.” I looked back at her. Jenny was actually playing with the others. Not violently either. Carefully, calmly, and with caution so they where not hurt.

I smiled a little. “Maybe...I could join her...you know, have fun as father and daughter.” I said honestly, so glad to see Jenny happy without any murder or violence. “Be a better dad for her…”

“Well go on then. Enjoy the peace while it lasts. After that, your last test.”

“I have my powers back correct?” I asked honestly.

“Yup.”

“Right.” I nodded before jumping down and flying down towards Jenny. After a few moments I gently landed on solid ground near Jenny. “Hey Jenny.” I said. “How you liking being a wolf?”

“This is awesome!” She said happily, jumping around and flapping her wings. “Care for a race? Loser hunts dinner.” Jenny said, ready to run or fly.

I chuckled. “Alright, but I know some really good prey to hunt and eat.” I said with a smile. “Race where?”

“From here to your castle. Give some stuck up nobles still in Canterlot a heart attack while we are at it.” She chuckled.

“Whatever nobles are still around after I’m done with them all.” I rolled my eyes. “So, ready?” I asked, digging my paws into the ground ready to run.

“Ready… set… go!” Jenny shouted, and we where off.




To be continued...