I ran out of the portal,to Bolitaria, but Zeke or rather the one in control when I called, Clementine, wasn’t here. Her friends and Zeke’s family in the castle didn’t see where they went. I was back at the bridge where Clementine’s friends last saw them, some of them were surprised to see me, their reactions to Zeke’s family equally as it seems they are new to world hopping.
Damn, where is he? I thought. “Fine…” I muttered while summoning No Heart. “Help me find Kingdom Hearts cause when he actually has a physical form you can find him right?” I said to him, knowing Keyblades are connected to Zeke so my X blade better be able to find him.
“There’s no need for that.” I jumped, turning around and seeing Lord standing behind me. “Your friend is safe, what’s happening is expected, and to be honest I’m surprised this didn’t happen sooner.”
“What happened to him?” I asked curiously.
“Eclipsa took him away for now, but what’s happening is that he has twenty different people all with the same heart as his, but with different minds, not to mention an entire afterlife and unborn hearts all awaiting their birth and rebirth, his mind is finally processing that part, both dead and unborn residing within him, his mindscape is adjusting to it. It’s to be expected when he became Kingdom Hearts.”
“Of fucking course...and it was literally when I was going to ask Trixie if she wanted to quit from being apart of my Council because of this shit.” I said honestly.
“Want my advice?”
“Cause I still can’t find the rest stop between here and the fucking point half the goddamn time.” I frowned. “But please, I’d like some advice.”
“Replace her.” He stated bluntly. “Right now all those reflections of each of the twenty are also merging, first the most similar, then the different ones, and the final product will be a being of many different personalities, memories, and past experiences all within one body and mindset. While one can argue your Trixie is just part of a greater whole, one specific set of memories in that mess is hard to bring up, in fact the Trixie that ends up there as the ‘finished product’ of this whole thing might even have different personality entirely, not even I could calculate that odds.”
“Well...alright.” I said while holding my hand out. “Sorry Trixie, but your fired.” I said while trying to summon Fair Game back to me from Trixie.
The card deck appeared back to me, it’s color slightly duller now that it no longer has a welder. “Now then, onto something I wanted to speak about.” Lord said, kneeling down to my height. Damn he’s tall. “So, you’re an Admin now, there are some things I’d like to help you with.”
“And will it involve this being a handout?” I asked curiously. “Or am I actually going to work for it like a normal person?”
“You’ll have to work for it.” Lord said. “Unlike Cript, I don’t give handouts, at least, not without some extra terms attached.” He said, standing up. “Your connection to Nothingness means your Code will be rather Unique. I’d like to take you to someone who can help me examine its nature.”
“Sure, why not.” I said. “Gonna need to learn how to use Code to begin with, and I need to find a replacement for Trixie.” I said honestly. “Not to mention I’ve been watching a lot of Youtube and reading up on history...I have a lot of new Nobody’s to create.”
“Come then.” Lord said, a portal opening to my left. “This will be where we start then.”
I followed him and where we ended up was… is this… the Underground?
“Wait, why are we in the Underground?” I asked. “I brought all the monsters from my universe to my Equestria.”
“You’re right. This isn’t even my Universe… this is a different place altogether.” Lord said. “Now then, where is he.” Lord asked, looking around. As we were looking we came across an… odd looking person. Red hair, grey skin, and a black and red striped shirt. “There you are.”
“Hm.” They said, looking over to us. “Oh, hello Lord. What brings you to this place?”
“Him.” Lord said, pointing at me. “His code is unique. I wish to study it.”
“Ah, so is this the favor I owe you then?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, then let me see.” The ‘kid’ said, vanishing in a trail of pixels before appearing in front of me. Their eyes were just red slits.
“Uh...hi.” I said nervously. “Um...who are you if I may ask?” I asked, not knowing who this person was or how he could help Lord learn what I can do.
“Do you wish to know who I am, or what I am?” He asked,
“...Yes.” I said slowly.
“Well, I’m not an Admin, but not too far off either.” He said, looking around me. “What I am and where I come from I left when I became what I am… everyone calle me Player, as for what I am, well, simply put.” They said, a smile crossing their face as their eyes went black, the red slits still there. “I’m a dirty Hacker.”
“Huh...that’s interesting.” I said honestly. “Who knew Hackers existed like this.”
“Player here somehow entered this reality from his original, not even he is entirely sure how, but what he did is one of a kind. In exchange for helping him achieve his wish, he owed me a favor. Despite not being an Admin, his understanding of Code and how to apply it is a match for my own. It’s quite impressive all things considered.”
“Well Hackers are supposed to get past code and do things it wouldn’t normally allow.” I said honestly. “Makes sense, so he can tell me how special my Code is?”
“Yes, he can copy it and from there we can understand its nature under different circumstances, after which we’ve learned that we can test and see how well they effect and act outside of simulation and calculations.” Lord said.
“Honestly...even though I haven’t been out to other worlds much...it feels awfully convenient he’s here “ I said, not knowing why it felt that way. “But hey, as long as I can train with Code.” I said honestly. “So, how do we begin?”
“First, I make a copy.” Player said, a sequence of floating grey ones and Zero’s appearing in his hand. “Secondly, we monitor it’s nature and compare it to other known variations of code.” He said, the code floating up, and dozens of other colored codes appearing around it. “After we gather the this data for a baseline we begin testing.”
“Cool.” I nodded. “Can’t wait to start screwing around with this...god I wish I learned more about computers before all this happened…” I muttered.
“Okay, so while we wait for that let’s go over some things.” Lord said, facing me. “First off, do you know any of your own or your realms ID tags yet?”
“I literally just became an admin not five hours ago. Do you expect to me to know...literally anything about this?” I asked curiously.
“Heh, fair enough. Well, to start off with think in terms of Video Game logic, everything from characters to items and even rooms and maps have some form of an ID for them. As Admins we have access to popping in and out of these locations and items simply by remembering their ID tag. For example.” Lord said, raising their hand as… No Heart appeared in their grasp. I summoned mine… two? “I can see your X-blades ID tag and copy it, same stats and everything. Though doing this to another admins creation, is considered rather rude.” He said, grabbing the copy’s tip… and breaking it, the second No Heart breaking off into light and Nothingness like dust in the wind.
I held No Heart away from the guy. “Well...cool, that’s good to know.” I said honestly. “So I can basically recreate anything if I know the ID of it?” I asked curiously, wondering if that was the case.
“Yes, this includes places and people, but again, it’s often considered rude or taboo outside your own realm of creation. For now though I’ll allow it since this is training.”
“Cool.” I said simply, hoping to learn how to do this well.
“Here.” Lord said, taking out a notebook with a pen attached to it. “The first page has two things, one from my realm/Cript’s, and a second from yours. Everything else you’ll then have to discover it’s ID, then learn to use it. Alright?”
“Alrighty then.” I said while opening the notebook. “Gonna have to learn all this someway...gonna be a nightmare.”
I opened the book, seeing the Id’s of whatever they were.
//>ADM9935823>GiveItem>28923843947893092049548573920902948478583928489294893249832389498>QUT>1
//>User>GiveItem>2843948395493852954993587865939>QUT>2
“Uh…” I blinked at seeing all that. “Yeah um...wut?” I asked, having a feeling this is the ID of something but not knowing what I’m seeing here.
I could feel Lord roll his eyes at me without even seeing them. “I told you, think Video Game logic. The first one is how to get an item from my realm, specifically, a wooden mallet.” THAT'S JUST FOR A MALLET!?!? “And the second one, yours, is for two gold Ingots.”
“Okay…” I said, rubbing my temple a little bit. “Oh dear...this is gonna be a pain…” I muttered while trying my best to make a wooden mallet first from what I have in front of me right now.
“You’ll need to remember each number of the ID as well as the proper order it comes in, otherwise you’ll summon something else.”
“Well that’s scary…” I muttered while thanking god my mind was a supercomputer as I remembered everything from what I read and tried to use said thing to get the mallet. “Let’s hope this works…”
I held out my hand, something appearing in the ones and Zeros and… it’s a paper crane… “You were three numbers off.” Lord said.
“Well it’s better than accidentally summoning a monster…” I said nervously while putting the paper crane on a table gently and trying again to summon the mallet.
Again, I was summoning something… only this time it was a brain… that I immediately dropped. Gross! “Nine numbers off.” Lord said.
“Jesus christ...please tell me I didn’t just accidentally kill someone…” I said worriedly.
“Relax, just a bodiless brain. Could be a copy of anyone's but no one died. That’s not how this works.” Lord said. “You keep thinking like a mortal, not an Admin.” He said. “You need to open your mind more.”
“Gee, I fucking wonder.” I rolled my eyes while trying to ‘open my mind’ to this weird crap when it’s a lot different to casting a spell to create something. “Third time's the charm hopefully…” I muttered while focusing on the ID of what the mallet was to try and make it.
Something was summoning and it was… OH GOD! “Seven off.” Lord said… that’s a fetus… oh god!
“Jesus fucking hell…” I muttered, not believing this and not knowing what to do now cause honestly this just went from bad to worse. “I just killed an unborn child! Fuck!”
“First off, again, not how this works.” Lord said, taking the fetus from me. “This fetus didn’t exist until you put in that wrong item code, it wasn’t unborn or even developing, just nonexistent. You can’t kill what wasn’t even real until you bring it into reality. Secondly, here.” Lord said, taking the fetus and summoning an orb of… flesh, and he placed the fetus inside it. “If you’re that scared this will incubate the thing til it’s ready to be born in, given that stage of fetus, I’d say seven more months. THEN, it will be a person, and now, it’s an unborn child.” He said, handing me the flesh ball. “This is going to be harder than I expected.”
“Again, didn’t get this power until five hours ago.” I said while gently taking the ball and holding it carefully and protectively. “While thinking of it like Video Games is one thing,” I said while summoning my Lexicon. “I have several spells that do the exact same thing without needing this complicated crap. I know this is basically computer code stuff, but come on.” I said honestly. “Also, blame Cript, he explained to me literally nothing about this when he was basically handing me this power after I murdered Gideon.”
“That’s because he doesn't know I’m training you.” Lord said. “Alright, first off, while those spells do work to an extent they are still limited ot mana, this method is limitless, and it’s tradition. Hmm… There has to be a missing piece here.”
“I can think of three things, one being fuck tradition.” I said honestly. “The second might be the Code I use is different, and the third...well the third could easily just be ‘why can’t code act like spells?’, cause if Mana can do just as much as Code without this,” I motioned to the notebook Lord gave me. “Then there might be a problem with how people actually teach Code, figured out how to use it, or people who discovered new things with Mana have a better idea on how to make things than just a string of random fuck off numbers.” I explained. “Seriously, if people figured out how you can do things with a limited source of energy...you’ve got a problem.” I explained. “Or Cript did a thing I don’t know.”
As Lord was thinking, Player came up to me. “Having trouble?” He asked.
“Yes, cause I have tried to make a wooden god damn mallet three times and failed, the third time I basically now have a new kid to raise.” I said while showing the orb with the fetus in it. “Lord thinks I’m missing something, I’m calling Code a pile of shit when Mana can do what Code does but better when it’s limited.” I said with a frown. “Please tell me you can help.”
“Hm.” He began pondering. “When I was first getting ready to leave my old self behind, I studied code for years, up til I, well, died. Memorized every number, line, and ID code and what it goes too, but, I did think of a possibly simpler method.”
“And what would that be?” Lord asked.
“Well, a Script.”
Lord was silent for a time, then facepalmed. “That would make it easier in the end actually… and it would be basically the same thing since all a Script does is run a line or lines of Code…” He grumbled.
“Oh yeah, Cript did a thing like that to help keep me out of your bullshit for a while.” I said honestly.
“Yes, typically Admins use Scripts to govern things like the day and night cycles, growth and decay, the more… complicated stuff, on worlds and etc. It’s basically the rules and the numbers and activators and events, etc for anything, normally they are used for that and are, for Cript and I, even Player here, rather easy to make once you get it working right, but making one with just a single, maybe two lines of code to run would make them more like a…”
“Consumable item?” Player asked with a smile.
“Yeah...that.” Lord said. “And since you’d be making them and summoning it would basically just run the cod it has on it, it would just summon the item or whatever rather than the script itself, which in a sense is still the same thing.” Lord said.
“Yeah, then Ben only has to remember the //give and such commands to apply it simpler.” Player said, taking the notebook lord gave me from me and writing a few things down. “There’s a ton of different ways for these items and ect to go about, but this is how they all start out.” He said, finishing and giving me the notebook back.
I took the notebook and looked at what was written. “Let’s hope it’s simple…”
//User>GiveItem>(ItemID)>QUT>1
User = You, GiveItem = Give Item(Ability, Health, Spawn Orb, ETC) QUT = Quantity or Amount
ADM = Admen(Admin’s ID) (Yes, Even Admins have them but you can not use code lines to copy an Admin, you just get an Error message)//User>GiveItem>S0001>QUT>1
“Okay so…” I muttered while trying to do what Player wrote to me, hoping this time it’ll work instead of it coming up wrong again.
I summoned...whatever it was, what I was summoning taking a bit longer than before, but what appeared in my hand was… A Wooden Mallet. YES! “Yay! It worked perfectly!” Player said.
“Huh, guess that would be easier.” Lord admitted. “In that case, we just need to list and Script everything in your realm and every location and link it to a Script with an easy ID for you to memorize.”
“Oh boy, that’s gonna take forever.” I rolled my eyes. “But yay, it works.” I said thankfully.
I actually pocketed that damn mallot. Keeping the damned thing. Lord went over code, making Scripts and writing in those Script’s ID’s for me as something simple to use. “Alright, I have his Codes nature.” Player said, walking over to us.
“What is it?” I asked curiously.
“Well, to start off your Code acts much like a virus, but only if you allow it. For example, you can inject your code into corpses and revive them as Nobodies, same with animals.” Player stated.
“Huh, that’s cool.” I said honestly. “Interesting on how that works.”
“Yes, and it’s not counted as Necromancy either.” Player added. “Next is how your Code interacts with other code. It seems rather passive, watching the new code, and if hostility is detected it acts like an anti virus and contains and if needed eliminates it.”
“That’s good to know.” I said honestly. “Anything else?”
“Yes, your code can also become parasitic, but not in a harmful way. It can exist symbiotically with the code of whoever it is attached to, be it Admin or not. What it does though I’m not sure.”
“I have a feeling it either works with the person if I make it that way...or it could literally be a parasite to those I just hate.” I said honestly. “But who knows.”
“We will have to see later on.” Player said. “Lastly your Code can seem to… replace a heart? I’m assuming this has something to do with the realm you originate?” Player asked Lord, who nodded. “Well it seems when infecting someone of another realm, mainly corpses and Undead, and making them Nobodies, your code can create something akin to a ‘heart’ to replace what’s missing, or rather what never existed for this person in the first place.”
“Huh...that is very interesting.” I said honestly. “Who would have thought I could do this stuff.”
“It makes sense given where he comes from.” Lord said. “Now then, we now have a baseline for your code. Now summon it.”
“That part shouldn’t be too hard.” I said, thinking it was just summoning a ball of magic as I held out a hand and tried to summon my Code.
What appeared though was magic. Not code. “Think of summoning your code more like summoning forth your own essence.” Player said.
“Can’t just be like Magic now can it…” I grumbled while trying to summon my code by thinking of literally bringing out a piece of my soul.
That did it, grey aura of numbers appearing in the palm of my hand. “Good. Now try and utilize it by channeling it through a weapon.”
“Sure.” I said while summoning my X-blade since I was more used to Keyblade’s than most others, even if one of my clones was getting personal training by Agamemnon. “Alright No Heart, let’s see how this works…” I said while focusing and channeling my Code into my X-blade. “This better not blow up my weapon or so help me god.”
The code flowed over my Keyboard like an aura, quickly changing its look to pure black with grey numbers moving in all directions. “Good. It took to the code flawlessly.” Player said.
“I mean, it is me technically.” I said honestly. “So why wouldn’t it?” I asked honestly.
“Well it was from another realm with different code structure so it might have glitched.”
“What do you mean?” I asked curiously. “Cause I got the Keychain from Zeke’s Absent Silhouette, and when I grabbed it it stabbed my hand and drained some blood from me.” I explained.
“It's nothing too much to worry about.” Player said. “Now, here.” He said, getting up and walking across from me. “Let's see your damage output. Hit me.”
“Well...if you say so.” I said while smacking Player with No Heart.
Comical nines appeared over Player, at least a line of ten nines, but he didn't seem phased. “Hm. Not bad but you need to hit me harder.”
“Alright.” I said while smacking him harder.
Seven more nines on this comical line of them and Player still seemed unphased. “Good. But you can't hold back any more. Hit me like I just killed all your loved ones and realm.”
Player was actually sent into a wall as I hit him as hard as I could. “I will end you if you ever touch my family.”
Player appeared in front of me. “Good. You managed to break through my defense and deal damage to my hp. But remember, you are an Admin, you can't just fight to get stronger. Admin combat is different from normal fighting and getting stronger.” Player said.
“I doubt that.” I stated bluntly. “Besides, I’m still not strong enough normally, I’m not going to have this glorified hand out be all I can do. That would be retarded.”
“Hellsing Abridged much?” Player asked. “Anyway while Admins don't get stronger by levels like normal creations. At least most normal creations Admins get stronger by using their code to buff their stats, the more code you can use and harness the better your stats and therefore strength, speed, you get the idea.”
“Okay, so there’s still the problem of I haven’t really maxed out level wise normally.” I said honestly. “Not to mention I haven’t really ‘mastered’ my weapons so there’s an ass ton of things I have to do with that, so you saying ‘buff spells are the only thing I can do’ isn’t really a thing at the moment.” I said honestly.
“It goes a bit beyond that. Code makes up everything, and as such you can use it to 'cheat’ to learn all you need. This includes things like magic, combat, weapons, people and places, simply by copying something or someone's code and placing it within your own.”
“I’m not going to be a bitch who’s too scared to actually work for their powers.” I frowned. “Unlike some people I have some respect for myself, what little of that respect truly is is up for debate but my point still stands.“ I said, not wanting to be Zeke or any of the Admins and being given fucking everything under the sun because ‘I was made that way’.
“Sorry, but this is how Admins work. At least In this-” Lord looked up, his armor audible enough to make Player stop talking.
“Buff spells can only go so far.” I frowned. “And I’m not like all of you, and who just appeared for me to fight cause that’s obvious going to be the thing here.” I said, knowing full well because I just started learning about Code someone appeared to try and fight me. “So come on, who’s there, we don’t have all day waiting for you to grandstand.”
Player and Lord looked around, nothing happening. “Someone has issues.” Player said, Lord shrugging.
“Who was it?” I asked curiously. “Cause I was expecting someone to appear and try to fight me to prove your point that buff spells mean more than actual hard work.”
“The buffs, so long as you keep code flowing to it are more than temporary. So long as you can maintain them.” Player said.
“Are you honest?” Lord asked.
“Am I honest?” I asked. “Honest about what?”
“About wanting to work for your strength?” Lord asked, still making the shortcut scripts for me.
“Yes. I’m not Cript, I’m not Zeke, I’ve worked for my powers but then Cript didn’t tell me my Copy ability was always fucking active when I was ‘training’.” I rolled my eyes. “So excuse me for feeling a bit mad about doing so much only for one ability to make said hard work mean nothing.”
“Well, If you really feel that way, what do you want then?”
“What do I want?” I asked. “What do you mean?” I asked curiously.
“If you really want to work so hard for your skills, then I can help you there. If you want to get stronger, faster, worthy of the power you now hold, then I can help you there.”
“Hooray, actual training.” I said honestly. “Or do you have a different way to help?”
“Training takes all forms. Mine are hard, but effective.”
“That’s a good start.” I said honestly.
“So you wish to train under me? I can guarantee while the results will be worth it, you will regret accepting, and likely hate me for it afterwards.”
“When has that stopped me or you before?” I asked honestly.
Shrugging, Lord stood, holding out a hand. “Then do you accept?”
“I’m used to dumb decisions so sure.” I said while taking his hand. “Let’s hope this doesn’t interfere with the many other things I have to do and want to do.”
“It will.” Lord said. “As of now, you have one goal I shall give you. This one goal, when you acquire it, you will no longer ever doubt you have the skills or power you have already.”
“Except for the other goals I have because of obvious reasons.” I rolled my eyes. “And I will doubt cause that’s just me.”
“Come then.” Lord said, opening a portal behind him. We walked through we were in what looked like an arena. The sky was dark like storm clouds blocked the sky. “I call this place Casem. I believe it to be my hardest challenge yet.”
“What actually makes it hard?” I asked honestly.
“You'll see.” Lord said, turning around and grabbing my face. I backed up, and suddenly I was… looking down at my own body. “With each of your victories, a part of your power will be restored. Till then, you start from below rock bottom.” Lord said. I suddenly felt ill, like I was starved for months. Severely thirsty, cold and sick. I fell to the ground from the hard weakness. My body was human but basically skeletal with paper thin skin and no muscles to speak of. “Survive. Then reclaim what is yours.” Lord said, everything going black.
I woke up somewhere cold. The pain from just breathing was hard. I could not focus on anything other than my aching stomach and dry as sand mouth and throat.
“Well...fuck…” I grumbled while trying to get up. “Nothing...like the writers hating me for actually wanting to get stuff from hard work...oi vey…” I grumbled while getting up and looking around, wondering where I am specifically.
It was really dark. All I could do was crawl to move, and at a snail's pace. I think I was in a cave. The floor was uneven Stone and dirt. As I moved my hand forward to drag myself more, I felt something. Not Stone or dirt… softer, light… it's a snail. I'd recognize the shells feel. It was then the stomach pains from starvation hit me...
I gently picked up the snail. “God...this sucks…” I muttered.
With weak movements I moved the snail to my mouth, and ate it. It's slimy body and crunchy shell tasted horrible. With labored effort I swallowed it, still wanting more. Or anything really.
“Well...it’s a start…” I muttered, trying to move forward with what little energy I have.
I found more snail's, a spider, even a patch of moss. I ate them all. Just to subside the hunger. At least a little. Eventually I heard .. water. Still unable to stand I crawled towards it, finding a small stream and drank deeply. With each handful I felt small fish swimming. I caught three, eating them raw. I felt better, but still weak. I can't even stand, at least not on my own. I'll need something for a crutch. Or cane.
“Alright...where the hell to find something…” I muttered while looking around for something.
My eyes adjusted to the dark but I still couldn't see much. Finally after all my crawling I began to feel a draft, and see light up ahead.
“Head towards the light, gonna need more symbolism here.” I rolled my eyes and crawling towards the light.
As I reached this caves end I could smell fresh air, hear leaves blowing in the wind. Finally I was in daylight. Getting a good look at myself I realized how… bearly alive I was… he really meant starting from beyond bottom.
“Jeez…” I muttered. “But thank god I’m in daylight...christ this sucks…” I muttered while trying to get up. “Come on...not gonna get stronger just by crawling…” I muttered. “Wonder how I can get stronger...cause this isn’t like back home…” I grumbled, remembering my time with Den. “Wonder how to continue besides crawling...”
My legs were really weak, I don’t think I can stand without something to lean on… at least I have some rags on. Damn it, wonder how this is all gonna go. Now, there has to be a stick or something large enough for me to use. “Has to be something somewhere…” I muttered, having a feeling Lord took away my powers so I couldn’t cheat here. “This bites…” I muttered while looking around for something to lean on.
Just to get an effort to stand I climbed/leaned on a tree, my balance feeling almost nonexistent. Eventually I managed to at least move from tree to tree, eventually smelling smoke? A fire? No, I would see a forest fire by now… campfire maybe?
“Social interactions...hopefully…” I muttered while continuing towards the smell and still glad I’m a Dire Wolf here.
As I arrived at the source of this fire I saw a man, dressed in mostly leather armor, makeshift from the harsh stitchwork, a thick cloak hood covering their face. They sat against a tree, gazing at their small fire, large claymore strapped across their back.
“Hi…” I said weakly to the hunter.
They looked up at me, then spoke. “You… you’re no Mad One, are you? No, just a starved wolf.” He said, looking back to his fire. “You can join if you wish, I won’t be here far too long. Have to stay ahead of the migrations.”
“I’m new here, and ‘Mad One’?” I asked worriedly. “I have a feeling I’m missing some crucial things here.”
“Heh, must have been under a rock you.” They spoke. “It’s a plague. As you age, you begin to lose your own mind, it starts at age thirty, and by the time you’re forty, if you’re lucky, you’re mindless. You attack anything with even a hint of sanity and the older you get after turning mad, the more deprived and mutated you become. Any settlements here all have an age limit of thirty, after that, you either kill yourself, get killed, or leave. Though lately those are few and far between, since the Mad Ones began migrating in swarms of thousands.”
“Oh dear...that is quite a thing.” I said honestly. “How far are they behind us at the moment?”
“Two days walk, one for the fast, larger ones. Was going to head out in an hour and scavenge the High Wells ruins nearby. Some stuck Mad Ones are there, likely, but that place fell recently, so not expecting too much in terms of resistance or fighting.”
“Mind if I tag along? I know I literally look like dead weight but...better to be with someone that actually knows what’s going on and the area rather than wandering aimlessly and getting myself killed right?” I said.
“Whatever suits you stranger.” He said, reaching behind him and tossing me a small pouch. “There’s a small bean in there. Eat it, you’ll at least have your health about you. Was saving it for a dire moment, but you could use it more. It’s an old magic one. They stopped growing them when the Madness began appearing.”
“Thank god for Senzu Beans…” I muttered while gently taking the bean out of the bag and taking the bean and eating it. “Sorry for taking your last bean…”
I felt like a million bucks after eating it. My muscles and body restoring before my eyes. “It’s a loss, but if luck favors it, I might find more. We can find you a weapon in the High Wells ruins when we arrive. That city was once known for their Keyblade warriors and craftsmen, only rivaled by New Daybreak Empire.”
“I wonder…” I muttered while trying to summon any of my weapons or powers now that I actually feel normal again. “But how do you know about Daybreak if I may ask?”
Nothing, nothing came. So Lord stripepd me down to nothing huh… he did say I’d hate him for this later… “New Daybreak was a Keyblade capitol, one of many, but one of the most influential. While New Daybreak held to more traditional keyblade laws, High Wells was revolutionizing the craft and art, techniques and magic never before thought of. Key armors and armaments of all kinds. The city did well especially since they were built into a still being dug mine, rich with ores of all kinds.”
“Yeah, sounds like a good a place as any to start making all that new stuff.“ I said honestly. “But the names Ben if names matter anymore.”
“Steven.” They replied. “So, from what lands do you come from?”
“Well...you’d probably not believe me even if I told you.” I said honestly. “And I’m not entirely sure how to describe it given everything that’s happened to it.” I said honestly. “Nothing like having your entire domain start having more and more worlds fused into it to become one world again.”
“Hm.” He said, standing and kicking dirt into the fire, putting it out. “Follow then, we’ll have to reach High Wells before dusk, Mad One aren’t the only ones to worry about.” He said, taking out a compass and finding his direction before walking, and I followed.
“So, what caused the Mad One’s to come about?” I asked curiously.
“Hm, they are the result of this era, Good and Evil have a unique balance in this world, an era of good where evil loses, an an era of bad where evil wins and, well, we have situations like the one we live in. They say in the kingdom of Connection, where the lords of good an evil reside, there is a clock that counts down to the end and beginning of each new era. But many think this kingdom a myth.”
“Well there had to be a starting place for the Myth’s.” I said honestly. “Can’t just make up a Kingdom if you didn’t have something to at least use as a frame, or even it being completely true.” I said honestly.
“Who knows.” Steven said as we traversed the forest. I think three or so hours passed of nonstop walking passed by until we arrived at a large hole, and a stairway leading down into it. “Here it is. High Wells.”
“Oh...that’s not good.” I muttered worriedly. “Jeez, what happened?”
“I told you, the city was built INSIDE a still active mineshaft, the actual city is five hundred feet below us, underground.” Steven said, starting to walk down the steps into the underground city. “My father once told me that this city, despite being underground, was so big and massive that it was sometimes hard to tell if you were underground or above it. Wonder if that day and night magic still works.”
“Who knows.” I shrugged. “But let’s hope the place isn’t full of bad things…” I said. “Have you heard of any other survivors?”
“Yes, but these days if you aren’t on the move or in a defensible settlement, you’re either a Mad One or Dead. Most all of us just keep on the road, hoping to survive till the end of this evil era, or just to live without seeing a Mad One. Or at least the swarm we are all trying to outrun.”
“Well that sucks.” I said honestly. “How long do these era’s last?”
“The longest was seven thousand years. The shortest was two hundred years. No one is sure how the lords of good and evil choose the length of these eras, or maybe it’s something else that ends one and begins a new one. No one knows.” Steven said, grabbing a torch off the wall, lighting it with magic as we kept downwards. The deeper we went the more I saw that along with metal and even wood to reinforce the little stations that looked like checkpoints or guard stations, gummi blocks were also used as reinforcements and structure working.
Steven lead us into a checkpoint area. It was mostly bathrooms, benches, and broken, long since looted vending machines. Thankfully with a quick flip of the switch the lights came on and Steven put out the torch for a later use. “Keep an eye out for whatever is useful.” They said, searching the front desk area, an old pc with a busted screen sitting on the desk, collecting dust.
“Alright.” I nodded while searching around, wondering what could be useful here.
Aside from old litter, I didn’t find much. A candy bar, some shoes that thankfully fit, and an old newspaper that was surprisingly still holding together.
“Well so far so nothing…” I muttered while checking to see if the candy bar was even edible. “There has to be something…” I muttered while continuing to look around.
The candy bar was passed the date, but something tells me a point in time like this isn’t something to throw out away expired food that can still be eaten, even if it’s stale. As I entered the mens restroom I did see along rotten skeleton… oh… They were an adult, anthro equine… it’s skin and flesh long since gone and their bones black with age and rot. I can’t tell how they died, but there was a handgun still in their bone grip.
I carefully moved over and tried to take the gun, hoping it still had ammo so I can use it to defend myself.
I got the gun, though the skeleton’s hand and arm… fell off… I noticed the handgun had a Keychain on it, and there was no eject button for the ammo… weird… What kind of gun is this?
“Hmm...Steven did mention this place was good with making Key Armaments…” I muttered while looking the gun over some more just to make sure it was fine enough to use.
It seemed unphased by however much time had passed since it’s former wielder passed here.
“Well...gonna need to tell Steven about this cause I don’t want to see how strong this gun is…” I muttered while continuing to search around for something.
We didn’t find much, aside from Steven finding a keycard. Before we were going to leave though, we both heard this groan.
“Glllllughh…” It was a mix of a tired, bored sigh. Steven readied his claymore, single handedly.
“Is that what I think it is?” I asked worriedly while readying my new gun.
“Yes… a Mad One…” Steven said, slowly a person came into view, their skin ash grey, their blood veins black like night, their hair was wet, like oil was soaking it, their eyes were black and their pupils red. They were holding a… a Keyblade?
“Something’s not right…” I muttered. “They sound bored and tired...not like any possessed beings I know, undead or otherwise.”
“Who said they were?” Steven said, charging in as that Mad One and them clashed blades, Steven’s claymore range gained him the advantage as he slashed the arm it was holding the Keyblade with. Blood spilled out like a facet, and sprayed the wall, roof and floor.
“Die!” The Mad One said, grabbing it’s slashed arm, still holding the Keyblade, with its other arm and trying to attack. Steven took the time to back up, then thrust, piercing it’s heart. It was still, it’s body almost… returning to normal… to human. “T-thank...you…” They said, sliding off his blade lifeless.
“Well...that was...a thing.” I said worriedly. “But why the hell could they still wield their keyblades?” I asked curiously. “Shouldn’t they...you know, vanish after some certain things happen?”
“Keyblades, while seemingly unaffected by the madness, link themselves to their wielders heart, not their mental state. Madness affects the mind, not the heart.” Steven said, the Keyblade vanishing now that it’s wielder is gone. “Let’s hope there are not more of them.” He said, taking leave as I followed behind.
“You know full well there’s more.” I said. “Cause whenever you find one...there’s always gonna be more…” I sighed out. “Cause nothing can ever be fucking simple…” I grumbled, now just thinking about what the fuck Lord wanted me to do here so I won’t spend an asston of time twiddling my thumbs like a jackass.
As we headed down We came across a lift that took us the rest of the way down. When I finally saw the city… it was like something from a fairy tale. It looked… well, untouched by the hell above, and intact. As if preserved.
“You said this place was in ruins…” I said honestly. “Looks pretty untouched to me.”
“Ruins aren’t just broken down buildings. It’s government broken, citizens dead or Mad, and culture likely lost forever. It’s a ruin regardless of appearance.”
“So no one’s here because corpses?” I asked curiously. “Or are there actual people here?”
“Corpses and Mad Ones are all we will find here.”
“We’re all Mad down here.” I joked, knowing it was in very bad taste but needing some uplifting thing here.
When we got off we were med with a large...blood soaked street. Buildings that were once shops and roads once walked covered in long dried blood, bones of all races and animals scattered about in the slaughter. Steven walked through it all like nothing… I couldn’t stop looking.
“Sweet jesus…” I muttered, not believing all this shit. “What? Did the people do this to themselves or the Mad Ones?” I asked, cause if this was all sane people’s fault I was going to be kind of mad that all this life was wasted because they all acted fucking retarded.
“When the Mad Ones appeared, the elderly, all of them turned. Who could defend or even kill their beloved elders? Many did not escape, the people killed by their mad elders.”
“Alrighty then.” I said honestly. “Makes sense I suppose…” I said honestly, trying to think of what I’m actually supposed to do here. “Wait, I forgot to ask this, but what year is it?” I asked curiously, thinking about when he talked about New Daybreak like it was a full fledged thing instead of it being an up and coming thing from when I visited there not too long ago.
“The year or date in general?”
“Either or would be grand.” I said honestly. “Just so I know because of...certain events.” I said, remembering the watch Kexez gave me that told me the time the Keyblade War will happen.
“It’s April fourteenth, era ten, year four thousand, two hundred and six.”
I blinked. “Oh...so I’m in the future…” I said. “I...suppose that makes sense…” I muttered, thinking about this a little more.
We walked through the city some more and I came across a statue… of Zeke?
“And...why is there a Statue of Zeke here?” I asked curiously. “I mean, he is mister special man but still.”
“He and the others that reside within him founded this city.” Steven said. “After the second Keyblade War, Zeke and his family left to find a peaceful isolated land to settle, and when Zeke discovered the land they rested on was rich in Keyblade related resources he began digging, he and his others each swapped out when tired, and after just ten years they dug deep enough that the sunstone light could no longer reach down. Others came from all around, and began digging, and soon a whole city was being built. They named it High Wells because climbing out back them was like climbing out of a well.”
“Huh...makes sense...wonder why they ditched Daybreak?” I wondered.
“Who knows. But High Wells and Daybreak became different places completely. Daybreak with high authority on the traditional, and High Wells in revolutionizing the art, weapons and craft.” Steven said as we searched through the town, entering residential areas, the scene not much better here.
“That’s...a little weird considering Zeke founded Daybreak...and then New Daybreak…” I frowned, wondering how it was so split when the two places were founded by the same person. “So there are a lot of weird things that happened in the middle that I have apparently not been involved in…” I frowned. I wonder… is there anything about Nothingness? “Question, what happened to Nothingness and it’s King?” I asked curiously, wondering if I was still alive or something.
“Nothingness? That kingdom, and it’s king vanished. Two era’s ago.”
“Who was the king at the time?” I asked curiously.
“Erik, the sixth king so I hear.”
“Who was his dad?” I asked curiously. “Or do you even know?” I asked, trying to remember my countless kids and trying to remember if one of them was named Erik.
“Their father was unknown, their mother though was Jenny, the Archer and King Ben’s daughter.”
“Oh, Joy’s kid became king? And wait, Gilda became my Archer? I thought Dante was my Archer?” I asked, confused on that whole thing. “I...know I’m asking things you probably don’t fully know about but...what?”
“You who do not know history shall fail and repeat its mistakes.” Steven said simply, taking a look around a corner. I did too… a HORDE of those Mad Ones.
“Oh...um...just to point out...none of this happened in the past, or even was thought of…” I muttered worriedly while readying my gun in case the horde rushed us.
Slowly, reaching into his back pocket, Steven pulled out a slingshot, taking a small rock from the ground and fired at a wagon across the horde. They react, quickly and violently rushing and attacking the wagon. We quickly made it passed them.
“Well...that was worrying…” I muttered while still keeping my gun at the ready. “Wonder why there was so many?”
“They like to have numbers. Makes taking out people like us easier.”
“Right then.” I nodded. “Is there anything else we need to find here?”
“For you, a proper blade, for myself, Zeke Ventral.”
“Zeke’s still alive?” I asked curiously. “Oh wait, no he’s still alive, he’s Kingdom Hearts.” I rolled my eyes.
“Yes. Many years back he discovered how to choose his wielder, and therefore, he who wields him, controles his power.”
“Oh dear.” I muttered. “Can’t wait to meet him...he’ll probably wonder what the fuck happened to me.” I sighed out. “Gonna be a bitch…”
“Zeke Ventral is likely in the bell tower, as for you, you should be able to find a Keyblade in one of the shops that will take you on as their wielder.”
“Well…” I frowned. “Probably talking to Zeke about this would also be good for me…” I said, thinking Zeke could help me out here to try and figure out how to get my powers back. “Cause he might know how I can get my powers back...he normally knows things not many would know.”
I ran into the shops, Keyblades and arms decorated shelves and such all around here. Okay, which here… like me? Is that how it goes? “Seriously, two of the many Keyblades I have are literally me...the fuck.” I muttered while looking around for a keyblade that would be good for me, or if they just openly leap out to me like puppies up for adoption. “Okay...which keyblade is here for me…” I muttered, trying to find one.
As I searched through the store, there was a lot of Keyblades but as I was looking them over, I heard this… metallic tick, like one of them moved. I looked around, and found that a Divine Rose one was out place among the others.
“Oh?” I asked while moving over to Divine Rose. “You seem active.” I said while opening up Divine Rose’s case.
It moved again. A little towards me.
“Howdy Divine Rose.” I said to the keyblade, knowing it was there.
I took it out of it’s case, and as I held Divine Rose it glowed, accepting me. Nodding, I looked around a bit more, finding a few potions and an exixer before heading out, looking for Steven.
“Alright, where be the Steven…” I muttered while looking around for a Bell Tower. “Where be the Bell Tower...cause he’s most certainly going there.”
I found the bell tower. It was one of several piller like buildings reaching up to the massive roof, a large bell at the top center of it. I raced inside, seeing Steven as he was climbing the… Oh god why is it all stairs!?
“Gonna kick Zeke in the dick because of all these goddamn stairs…” I groaned while starting to head up the stairs. “And if Zeke can hear me...well then he’ll be glad to see I’m here.”
Steven and I began the climb up. We took a few breaks… my legs feel like jelly… Finally after FOUR HOURS! We got to the top… Damn it Zeke.
“I’m...gonna...kick Zeke...in the dick…” I groaned. “Too...many fucking stairs.” I whimpered, hating my lack of flying abilities.
“Here we are.” Steven said, a large double door before us.
I walked up to the door and knocked on it. “Alright Zeke, open up. You need to answer for four hours of climbing stairs dude.” I frowned.
Steven pushed them open. Inside was a large room, empty, but bright, simple in it’s looks… and a light blue cloak wearing person in the center of the room, their cloak having golden semes and other details adorning it.
I walked in without a single care in the world. “Alright you, you need to answer for four hours of stairs.” I frowned. “Seriously, who the fuck does that?” I asked, my legs killing me because of that crap. “But let’s see, who’s the face right now, Zeke, or one of the many others?” I wondered as I walked closer to the blue cloaked person.
I reached for their hood, but… my hand phased through? What the- Pain, I felt like my spine was snapped as someone dropped from above, slamming me into the ground. I looked up, they were in Keyblade armor. A mix of Master Eraqus's and No Hearts from birth by sleep, their helm also a crown. They got off me, then kicked me all the way back to Steven who caught me. Crap, I… I can’t move. “Two hearts enter this room.” Yup, that’s Zeke’s voice. “Which can prove worthy of wielding me?” They said, summoning X, and Trixie’s X-blade form, as well as the others within them, each floating around them.
“Bitch.” I frowned while trying to move. “What did I do to deserve having you damn near break my back Zeke? And what? Can’t tell I’m Ben due to many years of this shit?” I asked him with my normal amount of sass. “Fuck that hurt…”
Steven rushed in, clashing with Zeke, the two trying to push passed each others force. I took a potion, the feeling in my legs restored at least.
I raised my gun and aimed it at Zeke, using my training with Braig to actually know how to aim properly and fired my gun at Zeke, wondering what will happen if I do this.
The shot hit their head, bouncing off their armor and into a wall. I got up, grunting as I did so.
“Shouldn’t be surprised bullets wouldn’t work...but you’d think a Keyblade Gun would do something.” I frowned, thinking the Keychain on this thing is just for show as I fired at Zeke’s legs, knowing the force would at least do something to shift his weight at all.
When I hit the back of his knees he fell back, Steven taking the opportunity to give Zeke a sword to the gut… breaking his sword. “Normal blades do not work on me.” Zeke said, ready to swing at Steven, then, there was a pause… Steven summoned a X-blade… It’s form like… Eclipse’s… This X-blade went through Zeke’s armor, and body. “That better?” Steven asked.
“Wait, your Eclipse’s kid?” I asked while moving over to his side. “Or at least, one of his descendants?” I asked, readying Divine Rose against Zeke knowing full well he’s not done in from something that simple.
Steven took off his hood, showing his face… He was equine… partly, the other was dire wolf, I could tell from his ears and some sharp teeth. “I am Steven, descendant of Admin of Grey Eclipsa and Admin of Nothingness Ben, their grandchildren were my parents. You will let me wield you, and restore both their kingdoms.”
“Well...that’s good to know…” I said honestly. “Nothing like...seeing my great grandson being a badass apparently.” I said honestly, surprised one of my grandkids married Eclipse’s kids. “Also wait, Eclipsa? When did he get turned into a girl again?”
“Heheh… you did well. Your ancestor was my first welder.” Zeke said, taking Eclipsa’s… apparently, X-blade out of his side, his body and armor healing.
“Can you even tell who I am?” I asked Zeke honestly. “Just curious here since...it’s most likely been forever.”
Zeke looked over at me. “Heh. So this is what Lord ment all those years ago.” Zeke said, walking over to me. “Hello, Ben.”
“Yes, Lords an asshole.” I frowned. “But how you doing my old friend? Keeping busy nearly breaking your friends spines?” I asked honestly.
“Heh, well the last time I saw you, you were eleven feet tall, all grey fur from old age… and in a coffin…”
“Excuse me, how the fuck did I die of old age?” I asked with a frown. “I could have sworn I would have lived as long as the others just to make sure you all knew my great brand of humor.” I chuckled a little. “But let me ask...does grey fur make me look cooler?” I asked curiously, always finding grey or silver on wolves cool.
“Well, you looked wise.” Zeke said. “But, yes. You died from old age. Only certain people, like myself, are ‘immortal’ since my heart/existence is basically the afterlife, or at least one of them. These days it depends on your religion.”
“Alrighty then...but there’s the big problem of I’m an Admin, so the actual hell?” I asked honestly.
“Yes, you are, but your title and even Adminhood could be passed down to whoever you choose to succeed you. Which you chose, after that you just lived a long life, really long. Cript made sure that anyone who could not die from their title can pass that on and then die/age normally. As part of how he remade creation. I’m an exception since I am a X-blade and Kingdom hearts, even without being Kingdom Hearts, I would still have been a X-blade and would have been ‘immortal’ regardless.”
“Ah, alrighty then.” I said honestly. “Better than staying alive long enough to go the unfun insane.” I said honestly. “So...mind helping me figure out how to actually...you know, do whatever the hell Lord wants me to do? Or is he being a bitch and keeping you from talking?”
“All he told me was that when I see you again to follow your descendant.” Zeke shrugged. “Speaking of.” Zeke remembered, giving a hand to Steven. “Well, you earned me, plus you’re the grandkid of two of my best friends, and your grandmother was my first welder. I’m interested in how you will utilize me.” Zeke said.
Nodding, Steven took Zeke’s hand, and Zeke changed, his Keyblade form like X’s, but like a Kingdom Key-D version.
“So Steven...what do you think of all this revelation stuff?” I asked curiously.
He looked over at me. “Doesn't matter. I still have my goal, who you are and your relation to me does not matter at all.” He said, wielding Zeke and Eclipsa’s X-blade in both hands and begins to head out. “If you are going to follow me, you can, but don’t expect too much in terms of our familial bond.”
“I can imagine family doesn’t mean much to you considering everything that’s happened…” I said while following along. “But believe me...family is important, it’s not something you should just openly dismiss or hate.” I said. “Cause when in doubt...your family will always be there for you.” I said while motioning to Eclipsa’s X-blade as an example. “Like Eclipsa for example.”
He looked over his grandmothers X-blade. “I had to. Otherwise, I would not have been strong enough to get where I am.”
“Family is a hell of a thing...even beyond the grave.” I said honestly. “I may not know your story...but maybe I’ll at least help you relearn the joys of family.”
“When this is over, then you can try.”
“What is your goal if I may ask?” I asked curiously.
“Restoring my family kingdoms.”
“Both kingdoms?” I asked curiously, wondering if he meant to bring back my old kingdom and Eclipse’s kingdom.
“Yes. Yours vanished. And grandmother's was overtaken.”
“Overtaken? Overtaken by who?” I asked curiously. “Or what in a possible case.”
“A hex. Long before this era began, the Grey kingdom was hexed, and all its people were petrified. Like statues.”
“Jeez, Kid Icarus much?” I asked honestly, remembering the story where Medusa petrified every Angel in Palutena’s domain except for Pit because he couldn’t fly. “And...nobody decided to help why?”
“Any who enter, petrify as well.”
“That makes...no sense when you think about it.” I said honestly. “Like...what, did they literally curse the ground people walk on or what?”
“Hm.” Steven said, putting his good back up. “I was told stories about you. At least, the man you are to become. Kind, understanding, compassionate. Looking at you now I see many of what I was told about you, you yourself have yet to learn. If you continue to overthink, then you'll never know true happiness. You'll always be too mad that it doesn't make sense.” Steven said, leaving the room.
I followed after him. “Well I’m not old like my dead self here.” I said honestly. “I’m glad I have a happy life but there are still plenty of problems, like the main issue of people never getting to the point half the time.” I said, having noticed there was a pretty bad issue with people and getting to the point. ”Looking at you Lord, I know you can hear me.” I thought to myself.
“I hope that is false. I'd hate to think that you were such a kind person just because you'd gone senile.”
“I’m a nice person, don’t get that fact wrong, just…” I sighed out. “Just way too much shit is happening right now…” I rubbed my temple a little. “Still processing a lot of things...and just really mad that I don’t know what the fuck I’m supposed to do cause the douche canoe that sent me here doesn’t know how to actually talk like a normal fucking person.” I said, getting real mixed messages cause it sounds like Steven is okay with me being a nice person but also really doesn’t like that for whatever reason.
“Whatever your issues are, I can at least tell you that they will be resolved. I remember once asking grandmother Gilda how you dealt with it all.”
“Oh? And what did she say?” I asked curiously, wondering what Gilda’s wise words told me.
“She said you swallowed your pride, and asked for help.”
I took a moment and thought about that. “Yeah, that makes sense.” I said honestly. “Even if I’ve done that...several times actually.”
“Name once?”
“There was an asston of things in between the two but...one time was when my small number of fiances at the time all went out to another world, causing me to freak the fuck out and have a panic attack because back then I was younger, still new to harem life styles, and just honestly wasn’t really good at bottling up too many things at the time.” I said honestly. “I asked for their help...cause I just could not at the time.” I shook my head, remembering that horrible sad moment I had.
“What exactly happened?”
“God...it’s been a while…” I sighed out. “So...this was back when I was training to become King of Nothingness...so one morning after I made a promise to the small amount of fiance’s I had at the time, which was like ten or something, but I decided to head out first thing in the morning to get back to training cause I was…very depressed at the time...and then when I got back home they were all gone...Jenny told me they argued about why I left...and then they left.” I explained. “So...I was rightfully panicking and feeling like complete and total shit until Luxu basically told me where they went...and when I got to where they were...I only let the voices in my head get to me and tried to push them away so they could train by themselves like they apparently wanted...then I was knocked out by Luna because of magic and we talked in my head...then I just cried like a child pleading for them not to leave...that I couldn’t live without them…” I muttered sadly, tearing up a little. “But thankfully...Luna told me they weren’t going to leave...and the others helped me feel less like shit...all because I asked for help after my talk with Luna.” I explained. “It fucking sucked...breaking down thinking everyone would leave me…”
“And did you ever uphold that promise?” Steven asked. “They promised you they'd never leave you. And you promised to train them. I remember when grandmother Luna spoke of this event. You never did train them. You asked them to help you get over yourself, but you also took away their chance to become self sufficient in a fight, something they wanted so you would not have to worry. Yet, in the end, you never upheld your end of the promise. You asked for help yes, but it was for selfish reasons. Reasons that only benefited you.”
“Thank you for pointing out the fucking obvious.” I said honestly. “I’m already an emotional wreck, I have literally everything going on, and so much other horse shit that just won’t fucking end. Everytime I would oh so happily be with them, train them, do anything with them, something always comes up.” I growled in pent up rage and grief.
“Hm. Guess we are related then. So, you dislike a hero's life?”
“I wouldn’t have any of my wives if I wasn’t a hero.” I said honestly. “But that’s the main problem, I live a hero’s life, but there’s also moments, and this has happened several times, where I have literally had nothing to do, and it would have been a simple day, but something normally fucking happened cause life just really likes to shit on me sometimes.” I said, remembering several times that happened. “Like one time when I took Brigid out on a date on her home world, had to immediately have a bunch of other things happened like going to the Center of Bioshock’s world to stop a Psychopath from doing bad things and...kind of stopping his daughter from breaking reality kind of? Same thing with Coco, took her on a date to Destiny Island, but hey guess what? Needed to get Sora, Riku and Kairi’s Nobody’s for some fuck off reason, people from the Left 4 Dead world, and I’m pretty sure some people from Insidious.” I sighed out.
“Well, that's quite the date.”
“Both of them said they really liked the date, spices things up a bit.” I said honestly. “But again, stupid shit like that happens that only makes me bottle up more of my grief and rage just so I can keep a smile for the people I rule, and for my family.”
“Ever think that bottling that up is what led to Rejection despising you so much? Why you're even compatible as an Insanity?”
“Oh I am full Psychopath, and I also have Humanity so there’s that.” I said honestly. “But Rejection hates me anyways, Rejection is my dark half that has just been really fucking lonely cause my Light half was keeping me alive for basically my entire life until maybe a month ago.” I explained. “Glad to just have him be happy for once…” I muttered, glad my dark and light half were happy again.
“Is he? You still hate yourself, so how can he be happy when you keep putting all that self loathing and hatred on him, just to falsely reassure your loved ones?”
“I mean, that’s just Depression and a lack of Self Confidence to begin with so…” I said honestly.
“Your the admin of an entire realm, the king of nothingness and have a harem of over a thousand women. What is there for you to be lacking confidence about?”
“Being good for the two thousand women I married, and the literal millions of children I’ve had with them.” I said honestly. “No matter how strong I am, no matter what titles I have...I’m always scared I’m not good enough for them, even if I can, technically did to some extent, and will move worlds if not entire Reflections for my family.” I said honestly “Zeke could tell you that exact same thing, I know you can hear him, Zeke isn’t one to stay quiet to his new wielder.”
“So in other words. Your impatient and childish. Despite what you have done you still consider yourself unworthy. There's humble and then there's you.”
“Impatient? Not really, I’d actually like a moment for patience but no one wants me to, and childish? Kind of doubt that all things considered.” I said honestly. “But oh well, not gonna change your mind cause your related to me and Eclipse, two really stubborn people.” I chuckled. “Not to mention Jenny’s own stubborn streak.” I smiled to myself, just glad to I have such wonderful family and friends. “Jeez...if there’s one thing I’m glad about...is to have a wonderful family I can call my own.”
“Hm… you lie.”
“Which part?” I asked curiously. “The part where your stubborn, me actually enjoying having a family? Or what you said about me was wrong?” I asked curiously.
“You say you enjoy having your family yet you keep saying that you do not deserve them. Hypocrite.”
I only rolled my eyes at that. “Whatever you say.” I said honestly. “I can’t really say stuff cause I don’t know much about you, this world is hell, and I’ve had this same conversation with several people. Just like with Fluttershy, you can’t solve a deep rooted problem so easily.” I said, thinking Steven at the moment is trying to be like me who’s blunt as hell for me to crack.
“Is that why you are here then? Which problem are you solving then?”
“This?” I asked. “Well that would be a combination of mine and Lords fault. Lord for being a vague fuckwit and telling me literally nothing about what I was going to do, my fault for not asking questions like a smart person and agreeing to whatever the hell he wanted to do. And all of this stemmed from being told ‘When your an Admin, Hard Work means literally nothing when you can just give yourself all the powers’.” I said. “So I took exception to that and told him I’m not someone who takes all the handouts.” I said. “The ‘problem’ is I wanted actual hard work for powers that Lord kept telling me I didn’t need to do, so Lord took away all my power, threw me into a possible future with no context, and expects me to figure out what the fuck to do when I have literally no idea what’s going on, where I am, or what to actually do.” I explained. “So yeah...I rant a lot.”
“... So you don't yet know that becoming an admin locks how much stronger you can become without buffs? Admins can't get stronger because they are considered the strongest, it's like getting to Max level in a video game mixed with cheating all at once.”
“I think there’s a major disconnect here.” I said honestly. “Being an Admin basically says ‘I now have all the cheat codes’, but cheating like that isn’t fun, it’s not worth it if all I can do it just tell everyone ‘I can do this’ and immediately do it. Also I was nowhere near max level before I got admin powers, I still have a lot to learn about my weapons, powers, and a bunch of other things that Lord so blatantly disregarded as ‘mortal problems’. I may have been an Admin back in my time, but as I told Lord, I was only like that for basically two hours.” I said honestly.
“And rather than wait and listen more on how being an Admin is, you threw a fit and called bullshit on a world, species, and culture you know nothing about?”
“I was cheated hard work with Copy because I wasn’t told it was a Passive ability, I actively didn’t want actual hard work that could help me improve both physically and mentally be taken away from me again because of what I became.” I said bluntly. “Imagine already having self doubt that you can’t do anything by yourself, so you constantly try to do things by yourself so others wouldn’t see how fucking insecure you are, and then learn after everything you’ve done to get to a certain point it was basically handed to you when you didn’t even know that was possible.” I said. “This...honestly is less about power at this point, and more just...knowing I can actually do something with my own two hands.”
“Then why did you just say that to begin with and leave out your ranting ignorance/denial of your new abilities?”
I took a step up and put my hand on his shoulder, the half breed seeing a very wide and honest smile on my face. “Cause I’m fucking retarded.” I said simply. “That has been a common thing with me no matter what I do. I can’t shut up, I ruin things because I can’t shut up, so I normally just have to go in a massive fuck off circle to finally say what I had in mind.” I said. “Remember when I said I don’t know many people who actually get to the point? Yeah, I’m not one of those people that know how to get to the fucking point sometimes.”
“So because you're retarded you make your own life harder than it needs to be…” Steven said, turning around. “You won't last long in this world.” He said, jumping off the edge of the stairs down. Crap! I looked down, but he was gone… he ditched me!
I sighed out. “Goodie...can’t keep your fucking mouth shut…” I muttered bitterly. “Literally the only person here that doesn’t want to openly murder me in god knows how long...and they leave because I can’t shut up...christ it’s like Earth all over again…” I muttered while seeing if I could summon a Keyblade Glider so I can fly around and not get attacked by the Mad One’s.
Thankfully I was able… and when I got out I sat and wondered… what next? Steven ditched me, and I have no idea what to do, or where to go… “Well that went horrible.” I turned around. Player? “Took me a while to get here. Lord's work is good, almost too good.”
“How are you doing Player?” I asked curiously. “And what are you doing here?”
“I got worried. Knowing Lord how he is I know you'd be in trouble. Though it seems your mouth did you worse than your current weakness.”
“Thank you for the obvious.” I sighed out. “So, can you help point me in the right direction of what I actually need to do?”
“Sadly, no. I don't want Lord knocking on my door pissed. I'm not suicidal. But I can help with that mouth of yours. Sorta.”
“Lord can suck a dick for all I care...I know I was the one that asked for this, to actually know by my own goddamn hands I’m strong instead of outside crap ruining everything for me...how can you help?”
“Well it seems more likely your mouth and ranting is the issue… always. Time you listen more than speak. In short, I can 'curse’ you so you can only speak so many words a day, so you'll have to choose wisely what you say and listen to others before you cut in and rant.”
“That would be a massive problem for me…” I said honestly. “Christ…”
“Well it’s your choice. Give up talking and likely get along better with others or keep talking and piss everyone off. Your choice.”
“How long will this last?” I asked, knowing this will only help me at the moment.
“Til you regather your strength. So however long you take finding all you need to fight.”
“Good to know I don’t know what the fuck I have to fight though.” I frowned. “Lord really needs to tell people things, not be a cryptic bitch.”
“That's never gonna happen. So, you accept?” Player asked.
“I...honestly just want to go home right now…” I sighed out. “But that won’t happen cause people hate me.” I muttered. “Fine, whatever…”
“Alright.” Player said, passing a finger over my neck. “There. Now, you can only say twenty words a day.”
I nodded, knowing this was probably for the best. I made some hand gestures to be like ‘where do I go from here besides in circles?’.
To be continued...fuck Lord