I've been waiting here with Small the fox for two weeks and finally those eggs hatched. Mushroom 1 jumping up and clapping happily.
“Thank fuck!” I cried out in sheer joy. “I have been waiting! For two weeks!” I whined just like Loki did in Thor Ragnarok. “And this is just adorable…” I said, finding the mushroom jumping and clapping adorable.
The mushroom then looked over at me, walking over before booping my nose and vanishing off. "One down, eleven more to go." Paladin said with a sigh. "So, what about your friend?" He asked, pointed at Small, who was currently under me.
"Well...what was my prize for waiting?" I asked. "Normally the game gives a prize unless the boop was it…" I said while gently petting Small. "As for Small here...want to come home with me?" I asked the fox.
(Yes please.) They said, tail wagging cutely.
"Alright…" I said, before thinking a little bit. "Um...do you want to stay as who you are or...like me?" I asked curiously.
(Like you how?)
"Well, like this." I said while motioning to my anthro form. "On two legs, can speak common, and a bunch of other things." I said simply.
(Sure.)
With that, I did what Mama Den and Lyra showed me. Small was now just shy of my height, but had my figure and six well sized tits, a fine ass, and the curves to draw eyes. A quick ring on her new finger gave her a member also shy of mine. "And just like that I'm bisexual." Paladin said jokingly.
"Oh wow!" Fox said, speaking.
My assistant also flashed.
Race Tree: Fox; Aquit
“Cool.” I said as I checked what skills the fox race could give me. “So, how does it feel Small?”
"I feel ready to breed."
I chuckled while giving her a quick kiss. “I know you’ll love this family.” I chuckled, not sure if I’ll have to immediately take care of the sexy fox.
Knowing I had other things to do, I first explained to Small how the linked Bellies ability worked, and sent her down. She was skittish but seemed to enjoy it. Once she was in I brought her out in the bedroom and she got settled. Paladin opened another portal.
Exiting this time we were in like a castle of sorts. "America, 4009, earth 99K74." Paladin said.
“Okay that’s the...second earth a mushroom is on.” I said honestly. “So...why are we in a castle?”
"This Earth invented the wheel a few… thousand years too late. So despite this being the 'future' it's more like the sixteen hundred." Paladin said. "And the reason why is stupid."
“Oh I would love to know how stupid it is.” I said honestly.
"Follow me." Paladin said, leading me a bit down the hall. All too familiar scents and noises became present to me… and when we turned the corner, a massive orgy was before us. "Sex was apparently extremely well liked."
“Okay so...I’m not seeing the full problem here.” I said simply. “Is it just because they fucked too much or what?”
"Yeah. You know that thing in your mind that when someone asks you if you wanna fuck and you can have the option to say no, yeah they didn't develope that here. Getting laid on this world is as easy as asking anyone if they wanna fuck. This world is actually taken into your family by Lyra, like the whole world."
“Cause of course she would.” I chuckled. “So yeah...this place is going to be a fun time when I have off. So where is the mushroom?” I asked curiously.
"...there…" He pointed, the poor Mushroom 2's head… stuck up some ladies privates but how is she stretched that big?!
“Jesus how does she stretch like that?” I winced, finding that just a tad painful.
"Genetics. The stretchier the hole the more sex they have… apparently." Paladin sighed. "Mind pulling them out, I'd just prefer to not touch anything while we are here."
“Sure.” I said while moving around the people carefully and grabbing the lady and pulling the Mushroom out of her, pulling out a toy and immediately shoving it into her before she could complain. “Hey little buddy, need a shower first?” I asked the Mushroom curiously.
The nodded, clinging to me thankfully.
I showered them up and we were off again.
This time we were on… the fuck are we? "Dimension -7753, the pulsating Space." Paladin said, this area various swearls of pink and yellow blobs floating around, and pulsating.
“I mean...I can tell it’s pulsating but where the fuck are we?” I asked honestly.
“I just told you. Dimension -7753. Not every reality or dimension out there has life."
“I know that.” I said simply. “But I’m not saying ‘where are we’ to what dimension just...never mind.” I shook my head. “So, where is the Mushroom here?”
"If I was to guess…" They said, taking a look around. "There." They pointed at one pink blob above us, the Mushroom 3 floating in it.
“Cool.” I said while flying up to the mushroom. “Hey little guy, want to get out of here?”
They happily float spun I'm a circle before giving a nod, and Poof's to the others.
The next area was another large… different Forrest. "Earth! 16,000 BC earth KJ9978."
“Well then...this feels different.” I said honestly. “But it’s also still huge.”
"This world died in the asteroid strike. So go hunting."
“Um...sure.” I said while rushing off to both hunt and find the Mushroom.
As I searched around for mushroom 4, I got a few nice snacks. Along the way, they were tasty. "Well...at least the food is good.” I muttered, continuing to search for the fourth mushroom.
After looking for a while I found the Mushroom, sat snuggly between five large eggs.
“Oh please…” I muttered while gently moving over. “Uh...hello?”
They waved at me casually.
“Want to head out or are you waiting for the eggs to hatch?” I asked the mushroom curiously.
They pointed up, showing that there was a massive fucking bird thing flying above us.
“Ah.” I said, “Don’t worry, that won’t be a problem.” I said while gently moving over and picking up the Mushroom, careful to not disturb the eggs as I also made sure to keep an eye on the bird.
As we made our way into a small forest for cover, the Mushroom got off me. Gave me a nod then vanished off.
"That was interesting." Paladin said.
“Interesting?” I asked curiously. “What do you mean?”
"Just that, I've known these guys tend to get into trouble when not all together, but this is… more than what I was expecting. Especially the next one."
“I’m more surprised about not having to do any mini games. Seriously, did they just decide to do a scavenger hunt this time around?” I asked curiously.
"Those mini games are actually trials. But that's besides the point. This next one is actually in a sensitive temporal area. Are you ready?"
“Sure.” I nodded. “Let’s get going.”
The portal opened, and we entered.
This forest… I've seen it.
"Earth 9732, November 8, 2002. The Mana Forest. Last Ministry of Magic."
“Wait, the last ministry of magic? But...I’ve been here before...or at least seen it before.” I said nervously.
"That's because, you've seen this temple, but as ashes." Paladin pointed behind us, a massive Temple of blended cultural designs surrounded by a tall cobblestone wall and powerful magic… This is the temple Cript was raised in.
“Oh...so that’s why.” I said nervously. “But...what’s it doing here?”
"They do as they please. It's annoying." The sound of large doors opening echoed by us.
Paladin and I looked around the corner, and saw a woman who looked a lot like Hearts mom, holding a small brown haired kid, who was clutching a teddy bear.
“That’s...Cript and his mom?” I whispered to Paladin.
"Yes. This is the day she left him here… and the day she is killed. We need to find number five fast."
“Alrighty then...so where is Number Five?” I asked, not knowing where it is as I need a guide to find these mushrooms.
"Not in a convenient place." Paladin looked up. Mushroom five was walking along the top of the temple in a circle.
“Convenient enough for us to not be spotted.” I said as I flew up to the roof of the temple to get to the mushroom.
As I was about to land, a jolt of magic hit me, knocking me back and over to Paladin. "Did you really think it would be that easy?" Paladin asked.
“Yes, especially when that jolt of magic shouldn’t have done anything to me.” I stated simply. “But nope, plot needs to work.”
"Did you forget this is the place that hid Cript from Vincent for ten years, a place Vincent could not enter at all? Those monks aren't just monks, they were Admins."
“Cause of course they were…” I muttered. “So...how the hell are we supposed to get up there when we need to hurry?”
"We have to wait for Cript's mom to leave, then we can Ask to come in. Okay?"
“Alright.” I nodded. “So that’s gonna take a while maybe…”
It wasn't that long. Half an hour and Cript's mom was back outside, crying. She took four steps… then...
"Gluck." She coughed, Vincent appearing behind her, a knife in hand and shoved into her back.
She collapsed, and Vincent turned to the temple doors. He placed a hand on them and was bit back by the same jolt of magic that hit me. "Crafty old bastards. As expected of the Admins of Rebellion. No matter, that child will be heir to my legacy, and this flawed, broken reality can finally end properly." They said, vanishing in a blink, as did Cript's mom's corpse.
“Well then…” I muttered. “That happened…”
"Hope you kill that guy." Paladin said, walking over to the front door.
“He’s gonna die.” I said honestly. “But he might come back again and again cause why not…”
Paladin knocked on the door. One of the monks, or apparently, one of the Admins of Rebellion, opened. "Ah, a Time Walker. What brings you to our sanctuary?"
"Mushroom number five is on your roof." They said simply.
"Ah, the little trouble makers. Come in, you and your associate are welcome here. Just knock next time." The elderly man said, looking at me on that last part.
“Hi.” I said sheepishly.
Paladin and I walked in, the older man leading us inside the temple. Three other older men were present here, one I remember from when I fought that Lingering Will of them in the future. "I shall fetch the little one, you two wait here." They said, taking leave as the other three walked over to us.
“So...how are you all today?” I asked the three walking over to us.
"As well as we can be." One said.
"I can tell you are an Admin too. That power was used by a former student of ours, so long ago. How is he?" The other asked.
“Um...that depends on who your former student is? Cause I’ve been...around.” I said sheepishly.
"He currently goes by the King of Nothingness. Self made in title and power. As all royalty should."
“Oh...well uh…” I looked over at Paladin to see if I was even allowed to tell them.
He nodded.
“Well uh...he’s kind of dead.” I said sheepishly. “Wasn’t my fault...old man didn’t give me a choice…”
"Passes the crown in death, to his heir. Understandable."
“Yeah...it was a thing.” I said honestly.
"Here is the little one." The first old man said, back and holding Mushroom number five. They jumped over to me. "They like you, it seems."
“I mean, I have found five of their siblings?” I asked, not sure if they’re related or anything as I gently patted the thing’s head.
The mushroom gave me a nod, then poofed off to be with the others. "Such powerful beings. The first Mother's greatest creations."
"And with their help good things will happen." I said honestly.
"Let's go." Paladin said, opening a portal.
This time we ended up on an island of sorts. "Alternative Earth 97890, April 6th, 1857. Kane Island."
"Excuse me?" I asked. "Did you just say Kane Island?" I asked nervously.
"Yes."
"Okay so...is this the Kane Island I'm thinking of or another Kane Island?" I asked, thinking this was Cooper's family island.
"Same island, different world version. Very different world version."
“How different?” I asked curiously.
"Swap the Cooper's and Clockwerk."
“Oh…” I blinked. “That’s...not good.” I said worriedly. “So...where is the mushroom?”
"In there." They pointed. Turning around I saw the Cooper Vault, or rather, the Clockwerk vault, the image of an owl rather than a racoon. Cane lock was still there. "Keyblade time."
“Yep.” I nodded while pulling out my Keyblade and gently tapped it, the vault door unlocking itself and popping open.
The door opened and inside I saw the loot of generations of a Clockwerk family version of the Cooper's. In the back I saw number six swimming in the gold coins like Scrooge McDuck.
“Well...they seem happy.” I said while flying down to the Mushroom. “Hey there little guy, having fun?”
The dived into the coins, bursting out and giving me… a Keyblade Keychain. The one from Port Royal from kh 2. Recognize that Madaline anywhere. They then poofed away.
“Huh...wonder where Clockwerk found this…” I hummed curiously.
I pocketed the keychain, closed and locked the vault backup and we were off to find number seven.
We arrived on… "Minecraft dimension! No idea what year it is, time here is fucked." Paladin huffed.
“Huh...this is a place.” I said, as it was as blockey as it was ingame. “Now to find the Mushroom here…”
As I walked around, finding that even as an admin, I need to rapidly punch these things to break a block, I began having a little fun. As I explored I found a small dirt hut. Mushroom seven was in there, waiting by a furnace that was cooking, or smelting something.
“Hello.” I said to the Mushroom.
They didn't respond. Touching their furnace showed me the menu in my HUD, they were cooking 64 steaks, of which five were done, and had six coal blocks fueling it.
“Want to make food first?” I asked politely, not wanting to interrupt their cooking time.
I sat next to them as we waited for the food to get done cooking. It didn't take long and when the stack of steak was done, he gave me half, ate his half in one bite, somehow, he didn't even have a mouth, then poofed off.
“Alrighty then.” I said while starting to eat some of the steak while heading outside. “Next?”
Number eight was in Spain, 1515, my old earth. I was about to grab it when. "What a strange Creature." I ducked, seeing a man that… that… Nicolas Ventral. Hearts Ancestors and Core and Unum's second child. He looked around the Mushroom number eight. "Hello there is a strange one. What manner of God made you?" He said, looking over the not quite heartless.
”The hell is he doing here?” I thought to myself, not remembering this time period being where he was as I stayed hidden from Nicolas. ”So...better wait until he leaves…” I thought to myself.
"Hmm?" He hummed, seeing the number eight numerals on it's back. "Eight. Are there eight of you?" To Nicolas's surprise, and mine, the mushroom shook it's head. "Oh, you can understand me? Fascinating. So more than eight? Ten perhaps?" They shook their head. "Hmm… thirteen?" The mushroom gave a happy nod. "Thirteen of you? How interesting. And what an oddly specific number."
”God damn it…” I thought as I transformed into a human male with proper attire of the century. “Hello.” I said as I got out of the shadows and acted like I was walking by.
"Oh, hello!" Nicolas said, quickly getting in front of the Mushroom number eight.
I raised my hand gently. “No need to hide the being...I was actually looking for it honestly.” I said simply, not sure if I can really talk about the mushroom’s to the very first Ventral.
"Oh? Really?"
“Yes.” I nodded. “They tend to enjoy games, and right now they are playing a sort of...hide and seek game.” I said, not really sure why they haven’t tried doing any trials yet but thinking this was ‘trial’ enough for this scavenger hunt kind of thing.
"Games? Are they like children then?"
“They are excitable like children...but from what I’ve learned through my years, they are anything but children.” I said honestly. “And...games are a bit of a stretch the more I think about it…”
"Well, what are they. It seems to say there are thirteen of them?" In the background behind Nicolas I saw Paladin shaking his head rapidly.
“Honestly, no idea.” I said, which wasn’t really a lie now that I thought about it. “All I know is that I need to get all of these beings home.” I said while gently moving around Nicolas and putting a hand on the eighth mushroom head. “Time to go little one.”
They looked at me, then Nicolas, then kicked my shin and ran over to them. That little….
"Awh, he likes me." Nicolas said, Eight running around them in a circle. "I wonder why they are shaped like Mushrooms?"
“No idea…” I sighed out, looking over at Paladin with a pleading look given the little bastard now has practically imprinted on Nicolas.
Paladin looked around, finding a rock. They threw it at Nicolas, only for in a flash, Mushroom eight grabbed and flicked it back at Paladin, an audible clunk as it hit his head and he fell over… seriously? "What was that?" Nicolas asked, oblivious to what happened.
“Nothing.” I said quickly. “God I wish these things could talk sometimes…” I muttered to myself while looking at the Mushroom. “Listen, you need to get back to your family, they're worried.” I said to the Mushroom. “Please?”
It smacked me than ran off. "Hey, wait up!" Nicolas yelled, chasing after it. "If the village sees you they'll think you a demon!"
I panicked at that and rushed after the Mushroom, a little pissed at how it’s acting but hoping the village won’t get pissed. ”So Time Walkers are about as fragile as wet tissue paper...wonderful.” I mentally groaned
Nicolas and I chased the little brat towards the village border, Nicolas catching them just before they ran into town. "Such energy. Hopefully my children are more tame."
“Children can be a handful no matter what.” I said honestly. “I just...don’t know why it’s being so stubborn…”
It wiggled from Nicolas's grasp, jumping to the floor and shaking, and In almost a sneeze like motion, tossed a… Starlight Keychain to Nicolas. "What's this?" Nicolas looked at the keychain with interest. "A pendant?"
”Are you fucking kidding me!?” I thought to myself incredulously. “Okay cool...now can you please head home?” I asked the Mushroom.
I swear it blew a raspberry at me and threw a rock at my head. I caught the rock before it actually hit me in the head. “Rude.” I frowned. “And so far you have been nothing but rude this entire time.” I frowned.
"Perhaps he just wants to do something before going?" Nicolas offered, kneeling down to the Mushroom. "Is there something you want to do little one?"
It nodded, pointing at a large cathedral. "The church? If they see you they'll burn you alive. What could you want there?"
I thought for a moment, thinking about the last few Mushrooms and how they just...randomly either were doing something or just hanging out. “Do you need to obtain something or return something?” I asked curiously, wondering if it either wanted to return an item to the church or if it wants to get something from the church.
They pointed at the Starlight Keychain in Nicolas's hand, then with a foot, drew a keyhole in the soil. "A lock?" Nicolas asked.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “So that’s what it is…” I muttered. “I know what it wants...either of us to do. Do you have any items on you that aren't clothes or jewelry?” I asked curiously, having a feeling the Mushroom would want Nicolas to do this.
"Some medicinal herbs, this strange pendant, and this." They moved their shirt, showing… a Wayfinder, Pure orichalcium+. "It's all I have from… where I come from. The church found me in the streets, still needing my mother's milk, and yet not one around. Just myself and this strange necklace."
I nodded...knowing full well who that Wayfinder belongs to. “Alright.” I said while sneakily crafting a sword without him noticing as I held it still in its sheath. “May I try something?” I asked. “I’ll need the pendant as it’s...special from what I’ve gathered over the years.”
"Oh, sure." He said, tossing it to me. As I tried to place it on the sword, Eight kicked my shin again and took the sword, tossing it to Nicolas and then proceeded to act like a feral cat to my head.
“And that’s about as much dog shit I’m willing to take.” I said while grabbing the thing by the head and getting it off my head, holding it at a distance by its hood. “Cause of course I needed this garbage today…” I growled. “Put the chain part on the sword, just like I was about to do.” I said, keeping a solid grip on the Mushroom to let it know it’s not going anywhere fast.
The second I said that, they stopped acting out. Confused, Nicolas did just that… and nothing happened. "Was something supposed to happen?"
Eight got out of my grip, taking the sword with the keychain attached, shaking it like a dying flashlight. How come nothing happened?
“Now...don’t panic.” I said while trying to bring out Reunion as No Heart would probably cause him to panic. “Let’s hope nothing weird is going on…” I muttered, hoping my powers would still work.
As I felt myself pulling Reunion to me… nothing. In a panic, I summoned Foudre, that somehow worked perfectly. Why are Keyblades not? "That aside, how are we going to get this little one into the church with our heads attached?" Nicolas asked.
“Uh…” I thought. “How much do you know about magic?” I started slowly, reaching into my pocket to put on that Angel Armory Ring Trinity got me a long ass time ago.
"Just that the church burns anyone who is believed to practice it." Nicolas said.
“Um...what god do they believe in?” I asked curiously.
"God, this is Spain my friend, there is no other, and any who say so are, as expected, burned at the stake."
“Ah yes…” I muttered, remembering that this was way before what happened. “That God.” I said while staring up into the sky accusingly, having a feeling Keyblades not working is because of his crap.
"It's best if we wait for night to try the church. I'll be back with a wagon to hide him in. My father in law is quite the eccentric, so he won't inform the church about our new friend. Oh, speaking of. I am Nicolas. Nicolas Ventral, and you are?"
“Names...Kite.” I said, using my Sly Cooper name instead of my actual name cause being called ‘King’ in this day and age would just be a little weird. “And it’s nice to meet you.”
"Kite. What an unusual name." They said, taking leave into the village, leaving me here alone with eight. Eight was just… wait when did they get a fire pit made and… is that rabbit stew?
“Alright you…” I sighed out. “Why are you acting like this if I may ask?” I asked while sitting down at the fire pit.
They didn't say anything, steering their stew and waiting.
“Is it because he got to you first?” I asked curiously.
They shook their head.
“Well then...what’s wrong?” I asked honestly. “Is it because of how I look?” I asked curiously.
They shook their head.
“Then what’s wrong?” I asked honestly.
They didn't speak, rather, used their foot and Drew an X in the dirt.
“An X?” I asked curiously. “What do you mean?”
They shook their head, finding a small stick and drawing a heart, a keyhole inside it, and a line connecting the x and the heart with a keyhole in it… not and x, a Key.
“So you want to either...lock or unlock this world’s heart or a person’s heart?” I asked curiously.
They nodded.
“Ugh… Fucker can throw a rock.” Paladin said, walking over to us and sitting down. “Already informed about all this, perks of time based abilities.”
“So do you know why Keyblades can’t be summoned?” I asked curiously.
“Yeah. This reality is made similar to how Admins do, but uses the sleeping worlds as it’s foundation. Powered and made it’s own by his heart, and his rules. And he ruled No Keyblades. However, certain things still have to exist no matter the world, and multiverse and Keyholes on each world to it’s heart. Without Keyblades though it’s impossible to access them. So, this little punk wants to unlock it?”
“Yes he does.” I said while looking up into the sky. “I doubt I can just call God and he’ll drop down to say hi right?”
“You were saying?” I jumped, seeing the old man, well, yeah still old man standing behind us. He looked more like how the bible says, old man, long white robe, long white hair and beard. “What are you two doing here?”
“Because of this little guy.” I said while pointing to the Mushroom. “And because he won’t leave until we either lock or unlock this world’s heart.”
“I locked every worlds heart here when I created these worlds, why would he want to unlock it, that would cause an explosion of light and call forth darkness. Heartless and many other things I keep out of this place will enter, and Keyblades will become usable here. Is this because of Nicolas?” God asked, Mushroom eight nodded. “Why? Why? Unum wanted him safe, and away from his heritage.”
“Well he’s going to learn about it sooner or later.” I shrugged.
“He is never supposed to know about it.”
“Well he’s going to have to learn at least something cause this guy won’t leave until he unlocks the Keyhole.” I frowned. “Paladin here can deal with all the timey wimey bullshit that that whole thing causes.”
“Ugh.” Paladin huffed. “If I have to, mass memory wipes and rebuilding. Not fun but oh well, this job isn’t always easy. Bosses gonna drown me in paperwork after all this.”
“To be honest, your work sounds like it’s bogged down by too much needless work.” I said honestly. “And this is coming from a King, your jobs should be more hands on, not bureaucratic bullshit and too much paperwork.”
“We’re our own kingdom. Tell me, King, a kingdom does not thrive without laws, rules and regulations. Those who inforce and those who govern, and those who do both. We’re our own society because we are not applicable in time. One of us, ten of us, hundreds of us can die, and yet you’ll see us still, after watching us die. We are all Paradoxes, our existence is needlessly complicated, so our lifestyle and government should be also.”
“I didn’t say you don’t need laws, I’m just saying that it’s getting bogged down from what you people actually need to do, which is make sure time isn’t fucked eight ways from sunday.” I said simply. “But I understand your point.”
“I do not approve of this in the slightest.” God said.
“If you didn’t, then why let Nicolas keep that Wayfinder?” Paladin asked.
God kept silent. “... It’s not just a Wayfinder… It’s all that’s left of Unum. A shard, a hairlike shard of her heart, with him at all times. It’s also what keeps Keyblades from working within a fifty mile radius of Nicolas, so long as he keeps it with him.”
I looked at Paladin, wondering if I can tell him that Unum is in fact alive in the One Piece world...just as a pitch black skeleton.
Even while under the hood, Paladin didn’t need to speak, or shake their head. I can’t. “So that’s why. Oh… Oh, that’s how you gave Heart his X-blade, so many centuries later.”
“Zeke Ventral, yes, so, he goes by Heart when I set him free?” God asked, looking over at me. “My reality, my timelines, mine to watch and know. Sadly I can only see up to then, and after that it’s a mystery.”
Paladin laughed. “You used her Heart Shard to MAKE his heart balanced, to hold the X-blade.”
“Better in his hands than in others.” God huffed.
“True.” I shrugged. “But let me ask...if this actually happened, why wasn’t there any Keyblades or Heartless when I was born?” I asked curiously.
“In this reflection, their… CAN be, but I can control it. Think of it like this, the reflections I created are in a circle, divided like slices of pie, drawing power from my heart to even exist. Lay the circle over my heart, you can see that the ways the reflections play out correlate with their location on my heart, this one resides along the lines where the light and darkness in my heart meet, but the dark side is less than the light, not a perfect split. There is more light than darkness here, but darkness nonetheless. If the Keyhole here is unlocked, Heartless and all that comes with it, Unversed, Dream Eaters, Nobodies, all flood this reality, and break Unum’s last wish.”
“Sounds about right.” I said, “So why does this little guy want to open it?” I asked while motioning to the Mushroom.
“Mothers Rules.” We all looked, seeing… Eight can talk?! “Monsters to battle man, so man does not conflict against man. She hates war, so war with beast, monsters, puts views and ideals into perspective.”
“You can fucking talk?!” Paladin yelled.
“When the fuck could you, or any of you, talk!?” I complained.
“We can. We just don’t like to.” EIght said, still stirring the stew pot. “The others, forgot what life was like back then. When Mother came to power, there were no wars, none with bloodshed at the hands of fellow life. Monsters to kill, prizes to earn, it was enough to keep people of all races working and living together peacefully. The wild untamed lands ripe with victories of slain monsters people by the hundreds would come together to slay, win the prizes, and deaths were mourned without the hunt of the murderer.”
“Also...because you sound exactly how you all act…” I muttered to myself. “But that sounds...very intriguing. And I’m going to help make sure that you remember the joy back then, where people can enjoy life and win...not busy hating each other.”
“So that’s why.” God sighed. “The wars, the bloodshed, you came here, saw it, and hated it.”
“Who wouldn’t? Vincent sure did.”
“And then a lot of other assholes throughout history…” I sighed out.
“What do you mean Vincent did?” Paladin asked.
“Vincent is older than you all think. Counterpart to the Admin of Life, and a Cycle one Admin. Beings like me from that long gone era can recognize each other without a second glance.”
“And...you let him have a full range of time travel why and how?” I asked simply.
“In the end, he is a brother to us as the rest of my kind. A Dying race. Could you kill your own family? Even if they could kill you and not care?”
“I mean, technically Vincent is my father in law, and just for Vincent yes, I would make sure to use his skull as a personal wine glass.” I stated bluntly.
“Then you don’t know the love one can have for someone you’ve known since this reality first came into existence.” Eight sighed, dropping the spoon into the pot. “I guess you have some questions now, right?”
“A few, yeah.” Paladin said.
“Why yes, I do have several questions as we completely segway past ‘Vincent is an irredeemable douche canoe’.” I said simply. “So...just for my sake, why are you and the others not hosting your ‘Trial mini games’? One of you is in a special place I’m not allowed to say in front of him.” I motioned to God. “But why not the rest? Bored or just wanted to play hide and seek?”
“Mother created us each, unique and able to give rewards for those who perform admirably in our trials, some small some fortuitous. Thirteen, was different. Our little brother gives prizes one's Heart desires, the rest are either useful things to come later in their life, or filler. As you saw first hand, he brought back Lake, Heart’s light half, the same way Cript brings back others.”
“Time plucking. Five seconds before they die is where he has his window, but in that window, hundreds of seconds of that person to save.” Paladin said.
“Yes. When we are all together in the same trial, the prizes we offer aren’t just mere prizes, impossible items that either no longer exist or are impossible to get we can gift to the victor. I can see your desire King, you seek Mother's heart. Yes?”
“Either that or Beliefs Body.” I said simply. “Either of those things can hopefully end Void Mother’s rampage before it’s too late…”
“Even so, there is still the threat of Vincent and his grand plan.”
“What, his true Nexus and some C.R.I.P.T’s?” Paladin asked.
“Ah yes, going back to that plot line of ‘Vincent murders someone too important and all of existence just ends’.” I said, “No resets, no nothing, it just all ends am I correct?”
“No. That’s all just how he distracts from the grand plan. I was there the day, the day he looked at our world, our home, and saw that even with Mothers hard work, people still killed one another, took advantage of the life they live. He was sickened, and so for countless years he worked on a way to end it all truly. This reality, even if the next cycle Mother and Belief die, is built to reset and correct the original event that lead to it. Life goes on, as they say. So, he built something that resists the resets.”
“No… No…” Paladin said, sitting up.
“Well I have a bad feeling about this, Paladin mind explaining?” I asked.
“There is only one thing that can resist a Reset, a Null reset… Grey.”
Eight nodded. “Vincent created Grey. And for all these countless years, let it build and build, so when it fills the storage drive, the reset fails, and the machines will fry. And that will be the final end for us all.”
“So, when you talk about the FIRST Cycle… you mean, the litteral, first Cycle.” Paladin said. “Day one when this all turned on.”
“Yes. Each time the glitch occurs, Vincent lets… some of us, seek safety in the grey. Somewhere he still cares, however little. Maybe he just does it so we can bear witness, whatever the case, we are grateful for it.”
“Maybe because…” I sighed out. “Maybe it’s because of Life herself...he keeps you thirteen around and several others because Life is the only joy he’s found in his damned existence so...why not help some of the people who he sees would support Life, like the Mushroom 13 or several others...but that begs the question on why did he try to murder Eclipsa so many times if she’s the physical embodiment of Grey?”
“It’s not like he can kill her anyway. Eclipsa, Marcy, Collen, Aurther, Kira. Names they’ve taken over the years. He did not expect his creation to gain sentience, but in the end it played out to his advantage. The more grey they use, the more they also create, and the faster the storage drive fills up. In a sense Vincent is also their father, their maker.”
“Cause that’s what I need, Vincent pulling a Bob Ross and ‘making a happy little accident’.” I rolled my eyes. “So, considering you know a lot...would making Grey it’s own storage space be a bad idea? Considering your one of the few beings that’s probably lived through all this garbage.”
“Hmm… It could be possible. Convert the energy into physical addons to the Storage Drive. But only Truth would know for certain.”
“Ah yes, that asshole.” I frowned. “And one of the things the fucker omitted from the ‘oh hey, you’ll learn everything I deem fit because you became deathless’.” I rolled my eyes.
“Either way, only they can have that answer. So, figure out what to trade.”
“I’d rather stab the fucker in the neck than go back there.” I frowned. “Besides, I don’t need Truth to know that this can work, it’s been done before several times through...well I was about to say ‘fictional history’ but it’s more ‘history’ considering our circumstances.”
“There is… one option, I believe can be of use.”
“And what idea is that?” I asked curiously.
“I am sure you know of the Ethernet, correct?”
“Barely, and Cript and Lord are already on that little bit.” I pointed out.
“It’s a pathway to other machines, other creations. With luck, they can have more than one, or even better, one that’s already dead, you can study and replicate. And then of course, there is also the Non Existent. Their access to this… other side of the coin can help in some way.”
“Ah yes, things that you’re saying and expecting me to know about.” I said, “The fuck is a Non Existant? Besides the obvious by name.”
“The beings the Dream Project Vincent worked on tried to replicate. Capable of traversing this side of the coin and the other. Only one of their kind. It was the Nonexistent who built the machines, so one can fix them.”
“Oh, you mean Sarah?” I asked curiously. “If memory serves, Eclipsa mentioned something about her when she...passed through the Dream Gate as it were.”
“Artificial as she is, she still has the same powers as one. Find her, not even Truth can deny her orders or modifications.”
“That’s useful.” Paladin said.
“So about the parts where Project Dream either let you go to the real world or become an eldritch abomination?” I asked curiously. “The fuck is with that?”
“No one knows how the Nonexistent work, how they do what they do, all that’s known is that they are a league above even Mother.”
“I mean, I learned some of that when I did my own digging into the project after Joy burned it with Krot...who knew trying to go past the fourth wall was such an achievement.”
“Such a place is not meant for beings like us. It controls the big and small of our reality, all working in an organized chaos.”
“Sounds about right.” I nodded. “Breaking the fourth wall in words is one thing...actually going past that is a completely different story.”
The mansion Nicolas lived in with his wife and father in law was… big. Reminded me of when we lived in the castle of the two sisters. “Father.” Nicolas said, greeting a large fat man in gold and silk clothing.
“Nicolas, the doctor who keeps my heart pumping and my bloodline going!” He said with a hearty laugh and smile. “How was the search for herbs?”
“I ran into someone and their… unique friend.” He moved aside, showing my and eight.
“A stranger in my home… and their equally strange creatures. How fun!” He said, lifting a large bottle and taking a drink. “I’ll hear this story at supper. Till then, take one of the guest rooms strange man and beast, my home for today is yours.”
“Thank you sir.” I said with a small bow of courtesy. “I’ll endeavor to be a good guest.”
“Then best get drunk.” They said, walking up to me and handing me their bottle. The strong scent of wine coming off of it. “A good guest is a drunk guest in my house.” They said, giving me a pat on the arm as they headed off.
“As you can see, my father in law is very eccentric. If it wasn’t for his donations the church would have kicked him out of the village years ago.” Nicolas said. “Come, I’ll lead you two to the guest rooms.”
“Thank you.” I nodded while following Nicolas to the guest room.
As Nicolas showed me to the guest room, I saw his wife, Sofia, pregnant, largely so. “Triplets, has to be for being only three months and so large.” Nicolas said, pride in his tone. “For never having a family of my own, I’m glad to have this chance to make one.”
I held back my worry about the future considering...what I’ve learned about Ventral’s history. “Congratulations, I hope your children live happy healthy lives.”
“Same.” Nicolas said.
Supper was tasty, the in law of Nicolas can eat. Once night fell Nicolas, myself and eight headed towards the church. Arriving and sneaking in was easy. Once higher up we came to the rafters area, where I spotted it. In the cracks of the wall, shaped a misshapen keyhole image. “That’s… an interesting crack formation.” Nicolas said.
“Weirdly misshapen but...that’s a Keyhole alright…” I muttered. “Now the only problem is...how the hell we’re going to get a Key for it when it wasn’t working before.”
Eight began jumping and slapping the keyhole.
“Hm, perhaps something is missing?”
As I walked over to the Keyhole, a tad frustrated, I hit it lightly… there was a click… Wait, Right! Heart made me a living X-blade too… Duh!
The keyhole began to glow, surprising Nicolas as suddenly a beam of light hit Nicolas, his necklace wayfinder glowing before an image of Unum appeared. “Woah!” He said, backing up.
“Hello, my son.” Unum’s image said. Is this… a message? “If you are seeing this, then your life did not turn out as I had hoped. It means the dangers of your true home have reached you, and my efforts were in vain to save you. Once this message is over, what I have passed onto you, will be yours to keep and use. Please, I… I am sorry, I gave you up. You and your brother. Please, despite what the world will hold for you now, keep what makes you happy close. The light of your heart and your love will give you strength. I love you, my child.”
Unum’s image faded out, Nicolas’s necklace glowing as the silhouette of a Keyblade. It’s shaped like golden and marble columns, the grip shaped much like Kingdom Key. “What… was that… mother?” Nicolas asked.
“You have a brother?” I asked slowly, never hearing anything about this especially when I remember Joy physically living through Yen Sid’s memories. “But...yes, that was your mother…”
“And… this?” Nicolas asked, picking up the Keyblade. My hud scanned it.
Keyblade: Mothers Love
Att:8
Def:5
Mag:5Special Ability: Critical Clash - Every time you deflect a strike, your next strike is always critical.
“That’s...interesting.” I hummed to myself. “So...that’s...a lot of things to unpack at once…”
“What is this thing?” Nicolas asked.
“That is a Keyblade...an ancient weapon used to ward off Evil…” I said while thinking for a moment. “It’s...basically an angel’s sword, but shaped like a Key cause it can also do Key things.”
“My mother was an angel?” Nicolas asked seriously. I was about to explain how that was not true, but there was a sudden boom. The stained glass shattering towards us. Rushing over to the hole, Heartless began running around. All kinds. “What are they?! Demons?!”
“Technically?” I said sheepishly, not really sure what to say. “It’s...basically their darkness inside a person’s heart given physical form. It’s really complicated, it makes no sense, and how good are you at wielding a sword?” I asked as I was thankfully able to summon No Heart after Unum’s message.
“I have some skills. Church raised me, but not well enough.” Nicolas said, looking at their Keyblade.
“Let’s hope you are a fast learner then.” I said while jumping out of the window and stabbing a Wyvern Heartless swiftly and killing it. “Come on.” I said while a card platform appeared near the window for him to hop on.
“So much for sorcery being the devil's acts.” They said, jumping on the card with me as we landed.
“Which is weird cause Angel’s are just as magic as Demons but religion says they are not.” I said while putting on my Angel Armory Ring. “Now a nifty thing I figured out. Descend my Einherjar!” I called, raising my hand up high as holy light started to appear from the sky, dozens of angelic constructs descending on alabaster wings, shining armor and swords covered in holy flames and Nothingness thorns. “Cleanse the Heartless from these Lands!” I commanded as the angels flew down in formations as they started to due battle with the growing number of Heartless. “That’ll help stop any that get out of the area, so mind if I start training you to actually use that thing?” I asked as we both got to the ground.
“By God’s true name!” Nicolas said.
“That is my true name.” God said, appearing between us, scaring Nicolas who immediately bowed down in respect. “I hate when they do that.”
“I mean...you are literally God.” I said honestly.
“I’m aware of the irony.” God said, pulling Nicolas up and summoning his own Keyblade. It looked like Start Seeker, but held gold and black over blue and white on it’s primary colors. “Come on, Paladin will need time to get the memory wipe spell ready. After that I can repair all the damage.”
“I presume you saw Unum’s message?’ I asked curiously while cleaving a Defender in half even through the shield.
“I see everything here… Yes.” He said, spinning and cleaving an Invisible in half. “Use that Keyblade right Nicolas, for your mother and father's sake.”
“My father? DId you know him?” Nicolas asked God.
God just grinned. “Sure do, dumb ass is my brother.” God said, heading off at a Horde of flying Heartless, leaving Nicolas to short out mentally at that information.
“Trust me...it makes about as much sense as you’d think.” I said nervously.
“Uhhhh….”
I sighed out. "Listen, do I need to slap you to get you back under control?"
The battle went about largely uneventful. Nicolas fought pretty good actually, even did an accidental Strike Raid. Once they were all clear God locked the Keyhole back up and Paladin wiped the memories. With a Thanos snap God fixed all the damages.
Eight went back to the others, their mission done. Nicolas and I stood outside his home. “So, I come from a place filled with… demons but not exactly demons, the powers of divines are within grasp of man, god is my uncle, and this is what my mother left me?” He asked, summarizing all of it up and showing me his Keyblade.
“It’s...a lot more complicated than that, but an extremely long and convoluted story short, yes.” I said honestly. “She...honestly hoped you didn’t have to be apart of this...but sometimes wishing for the best doesn’t really work sometimes…”
“Hm.” They said, looking at the Keyblade, then to me. “You come from her world then, don’t you?”
“I...can’t really explain much, but yes I do. So did Eight and God.” I said honestly, the damage was already being done so why not.
“Hm. Here.” They said, handing me their Keyblade. “My mother didn’t want this life for me, so I will honor that wish. Return this to your world, her world. It belongs there, not here.”
“Well I’m gonna have to check with your uncle to see if Heartless won’t just appear again.” I said honestly. “Yo, so no Heartless or anything will be dropping into this world again right?” I asked God curiously.
“None now that the Keyhole is locked again.” God said with a nod.
“Alright.” I nodded. “But...are you sure you want to give up your mother’s gift to you?” I asked curiously.
“Her gift to me was this world, without monsters or men with the powers of god. She left this to me in case the worst happened, and thanks to you, and God himself, they are gone, and will no longer be a threat. This weapon will just collect dust in my hands. Yours though, it can slay the evils it was made to hunt. Please, as my wish, take it.”
I sighed out while taking the Keyblade. “Alright...I’ll respect your wish.” I said gently.
“Thank you, even if we never see one another again, may we keep one another in our memories.” Nicolas said with a bow. He headed back inside. Paladin opened a portal.
Number nine was on a dead earth, year 7098. Whole place was messed up from a solar wave that roasted the world. Nine just sat at a cliff's edge, a large view over the burned landscape.
“Howdy.” I said while sitting down next to the mushroom. “How are you doing?”
They said nothing, looking at me then nodding. Poofing off.
Mushroom ten was on Earth 99432L, year 2002. Overall it was just like my earth and Hey! Kingdom Hearts in stores still. Oh yeah, it did launch in 2002. Wow, they have merch and such to go with it already.
“God I feel so old…” I muttered. “Sure it’s been...thirty plus years for me but it’s only been ten years since kingdom hearts one came out before I went to Equestria…”
Needless to say, I bought it all, and a new ps2… among other games. Mushroom ten was atop a shopping mall, happily eating a hotdog and slurpee.
“Enjoying your food?” I asked the Mushroom curiously.
They nodded, offering me the rest of their hot dog.
“Nah, I’m good.” I said with a raised hand. “Enjoy your food.”
They nodded, finishing their food before poofing off.
Number eleven was on the sun itself back home… for some reason… Being able to walk on the surface of the sun is such a strange experience. Thought kind of cool. The SUN has colonies and dungeons too. Neat. “Oh, hello King!” I turned seeing Genos here… huh.
“What are you doing here Genos?” I asked curiously.
“Training! The hottest fires forge the strongest of metals! And fighting fire with fire in this place puts me at a disadvantage, meaning the more I fight and win the hotter and stronger I become!” They declared proudly.
“Sounds about right.” I said honestly. “So where’s the Mushroom Eleven?” I asked curiously while looking around.
Paladin pointed… a wood outhouse on the sun… not gonna ask.
The door then was thrown open.
Somebody once told me-!
“No!” I shouted while the music cut out quickly. “None of that!” I shouted as I stared up at the sky and pointed at nothing accusingly. “Shame on you.” I frowned as I walked towards where the Mushroom should be.
Mushroom eleven blew me a raspberry in anger, then poofed off to the others.
Mushroom twelve. This one was… Back home. In my throne room actually. It sat on my throne and waved at me.
"Hey there little guy. What are you doing here?" I asked curiously.
He nodded, suddenly there were two of him… then five, then ten, then sixty…
Alert!: Challenge Entered! Slay 1,000,000,000 Mushrooms in one minute.
“Seems...oddly specific.” I said while drawing my weapons. “But very needed.” I said as I vanished and cleaved through thousands of Mushrooms in barely any amount of time.
This was kinda fun. A few got away from me but overall all I got the billion in forty seven seconds. Back in the throne room, twelve clapped happily and poofed off, leaving me a treasure chest.
"Cool." I said before opening the chest. "I wonder what's inside."
Inside the chest was- "Ouff!"
"Ouch!". I took a moment to register the two hot den mother dire wolves before me… recognizing them and their colors as Rejection and Acceptance. My light and darkness.
"So that's what a physical body feels like?" Acceptance said, getting up.
"Yup, that's it." Rejection said.
Shape wise and looks they were basically my triplet sisters, color wise Rejection was pitch black fur and Acceptance was snow white.
"Well...this is...something." I said slowly. "Why?"
"Don't asked us." Rejection said, getting up and helping Acceptance and I up. "One second we're resting in your heart, next we're here in… some seriously sexy bodies." Rejection said, getting a good look at themselves.
"Perhaps it's a message." Acceptance offered. "All hands on deck for the wars to come, yes?"
"I mean...I suppose." I said nervously. "But why would my light and dark half need to be physical for this?"
"Extra hands? I dunno but a fighter is a fighter in my experience." Rejection said.
"Yeah, that's about right." I sighed out. "So how do you like your new bodies?"asked.
"I'm enjoying the Assets." Rejection said, squeezing their own boob and giving a slap to their own ass.
"If it works it's perfect. So I take it these mean we are in the family and Like you?" Acceptance asked, showing they and Rejection has rings from the family on their fingers, and gems on their chests.
"Yes and yes." I nodded. "Alright...so now to do Hearts Absent Silhouette again….cause that wasn't a pain to begin with." I frowned.
"You mean that?" Rejection said, looking outside the window.
Outside, floating above the castle itself, was a small floating shrine of sorts pulsating with the energy of an Absent Silhouette.
“Oh…” I frowned. “When the hell did that get there?” I asked bluntly.
"Ten seconds ago." Paladin said, walking up to me. "The long forgotten Arena of Honor. The Mushroom Thirteen's original stadium. On top of fighting them you have to fight all of their champions. Or rather, their Absent Silhouettes. To get Void Mother's Heart, you have to beat them all."
“And Nothingness Belief’s body?” I asked curiously. “Cause from what I was told Void Mother keeps her heart under lock and key.”
"Same. To get the impossible, you have to beat the impossible. Those Silhouettes will be just shy of the real deal at full power, but still powerful."
“Alrighty then, sounds about right.” I said, “Well...I suppose I’m going to have to stay there for a long ass time…”
"Good luck." Paladin said, taking leave.
To be continued...