"So we hit Ruta first then?" Link asked.
"Yes. The Zora live long and their king should still be alive." The king said.
"He is." Impa said. "He is old but alive and well."
"Hopefully we can easily reach them and get their help." Starlight said with a nod.
"Second will be Rudania, deep within Death Mountain. Only those well stocked with Fireproof potions or wearing special clothing can even enter the area further in." The king said.
"I'm fireproof." Starlight said with a small grin.
"Why am I not surprised." Link said with a chuckle.
"Plus I can open portals." Starlight added. A quick demonstration with DTL's showed the others. "So long as Link has his Keyblade out I can appear in Ruta and Rudania. We can take both at once."
"And from there I assume the same can be done for Medoh and Naboris." The king asked.
"Easily." Starlight confirmed.
"Alright then." Link said. "The king and I will head off to the Zora dominion, and Starlight will head off for Death Mountain."
Death Mountain was… hot. This head would in fact boil/cook any normal person alive. Thankfully Starlight was not normal. She was an Admin, and a Living X-blade, so the heat didn't affect her. She actually barely felt it. It was more like it was just a muggy day if even that. She didn't expect people to actually live inside an active Volcano, but then again she had never seen a Goron before. The round stone backed beings thrived in the heat of the lava and apparently could tough out any and all harsh environments. They mined the mountains of gems that Starlight felt were all strong, easily the same quality of gems from Equestria, and good for enchantments too.
Upon arriving she met with the village elder who had some sever back pain. Starlight never studied Medical spells but a Curaga fixed him up for now. "Thank you little horse." The elder Goron said. "I am Bludo, Chief of the village. What brings a creature like yourself here?"
"I actually need to reach and get inside Divine Beast Rudania."
The chief was quite taken back. "You need to enter the Divine Beast? As much as that would relive things here I don't see how you can."
"You can say I have the keys to the thing." Starlight said with a smirk.
"Really?" Heart asked.
"Yes." Starlight replied mentally.
"Hmm… even so we'd have to stop the thing for a time. For that I'll need-" Before Bludo could continue, there was a mechanical roar. Looking Up, Starlight saw the Divine Beast. Rudania looked like a lizard, walking atop Death Mountains volcanic spewing top like it was harmless water. It let out another roar as suddenly Large lava rocks flew out, many hitting without aim while others aimed at the village. Starlight's horn lot up brightly, catching the rocks well before they reached the village and tossing them into lava pools some distance away. "Thank blasted Rudania is gonna make the volcano blow real bad one of these days!" Bludo roared angerly, then yiped as his back pain spiked. "Ouch…"
Starlight cast another Curaga. "So to prevent a second Calamity via Volcano… care to help me get inside to either turn it off or reclaim it from Gannon?"
"I'm too old for this." Bludo grumbled. "You'll have to find Yubono, he was supposed to be back with my pain medication hours ago. Boy is afraid of his own shadow and likely is hiding from Moblins. How he is kin to Champion Daruk I will never know."
"Wait, he's related to Daruk?"
"Yes. Yubono is Daruk's grandson. He inherited Daruk's special power, able to summon an unbreakable Sheild around his body. Daruk used it to charge head first into his enemies without fear. Yubono uses it whenever a pebble is flung cause he's scared he'll get hurt."
"Courage and Bravery aren't always first or even second nature."
"True, but the boy can't be like this forever. I know I promised his parents I'd look after him but I'm old, and won't be long for this world much longer. The boy needs to grow and become a man before I pass. Otherwise I'll have failed his parents."
Starlight hummed at that. "Well, maybe I can help. You said he is needed for dealing with the Divine Beast, right?"
"Yes. His inherited Sheild ability makes it so we can launch him like a cannon ball at the Divine Beast. A few hits and the thing will back off for a day or two."
Starlight blinked at that. "You… shoot him out of a cannon at an ancient machine of war possessed by a being of death and chaos… and he lets you?"
"Heh, at first he hated it. These days though it's a normal job. Once every few days, about three or four hits and repeat."
"Sounds brave to me."
"That was the point. Sadly Yubono doesn't even realize what he is doing. Keeping the village safe with his acts. It's not that he is incapable of bravery, it's that he does the bravest things and doesn't realize it."
"Huh… well, I'll go find him. With his help I hopefully will be able to get into Rudania."
"Good luck to you small horse." There was an Audible pop from the elder. "Owwwh…" He groaned. Starlight cast another Curaga and was off.
Finding Yubono was easy, Starlight easily removing the Moblins and opening the cave he was in. Somehow he got a bunch of rocks blocking the entrance. "Yubono?" Starlight asked. He was large, but smaller than most of the other Goron, so he must have been younger. He was covered in a hexegonle sphere that covered his whole body as he shook inside it, scared and turned away from the cave entrance. He turned slowly, seeing Starlight.
"Uh… a pony?" He asked, barrier still holding up but not shaking as he looked at Starlight.
"Hi, I'm Starlight." She said with a smile.
"You can talk?" He asked, curiosity beating his fear as his barrier dropped and he turned, standing at full height now and looking at Starlight. "I've never seen a talking pony before."
"Well I've never seen a Goron before arriving in this village. The elder asked me to find you, about his pain medicine."
Yubono's eyes went wide. "Oh my gosh! I got so scared I forgot I came here for his medicine! He must be hurting badly."
"I helped him a bit. Little bit of healing magic I know helped but not much."
"You can do magic?"
"Yeah. I am a Unicorn." Starlight said, pointing a good at her horn. "That's a nifty looking barrier you can make."
"Oh, you saw that? Yeah, I inherited it from my grandfather. It's unbreakable. I mostly just use it when I'm scared though."
"Chief told me you also use it when fending off Rudania."
"Oh, well, yeah but it scares me every time. I just pull up my barrier and keep my eyes closed. I'm a cowered…"
"A cowered wouldn't let themselves get shot out of a cannon at an ancient demon possessed war machine on the weekly basis. You're braver than you give yourself credit for."
Yubono blushed a bit. "You sound like chief."
"Come on, let's get him that medicine then you and me are gonna deal with that Divine Beast."
"Huh? How?"
"Might." Starlight said, pointing a hoof at Yubono. "And magic." She finished, pointing a good at herself.
After giving the medicine to the chief the two headed off. Here Starlight spotted several flying machines with eyes the scanned the ground below. She remembered Impa talking about the Guardians, this one the Skywater type. They were tough. All Guardians had a weak spot, their eyes which were both to track and see targets as well as fire a powerful energy blast at them.
By all means they were well made, and strong. Too bad for them Starlight was stronger, though, this did give her an idea. “Hey Yubono, if I can bring those things down, think you can break them?”
“Me?!” Yubono shreaked. “I-I can't hurt those things! They fly, and are super tough!”
“Your shield is tougher and you are a Goron, a race with strength matched by few others if any.” Starlight pointed out.
“Well, yeah but I can’t hit it with my bare hands! I’d need a weapon or something and all the tools and weapons are back in the village.”
“I can give you a weapon.”
“But, I don’t see one on you.”
Starlight smirked. “It’s a special kind of weapon. One that won’t break, at least not in normal combat.”
“Like my sheild power?”
“Kinda, yeah.” Starlight nodded.
Starlight let unseen magic take place, her heart, a heart she now shared, reached out and met Yubono’s, the young goron was brave at his core, and his heart pure. She called to the Keyblades, and one responded. A flash and Yubono was looking at a large, long keyblade. It’s handles small boulders wrapped around the hand grip, the hilt of the blade decorated with an ore deposit splitting as the blade rose up easy seven feet tall, and three feet wide at its widest girth towards the top. It was similar to a that of a goron sword, til the top cracked and opened up to a miniature version of Death Mountain, Divine Beast Rudania standing across the top of the weapon, it’s lights its true blue colors as it seemed to look out from it’s spot. Dangling from the base, a Keychain depicting a lizard silhouette with a glowing blue eye was showing.
Starlight looked the Keyblade over. It seemed to have been pre built already, and hearing it’s story understood. The original champions of the divine beasts who sealed it so long ago were also Keyblade wielders, and after sealing the calamity the first time, died when they answered the call to the keyblade war. She smiled, happy it has a new wielder. “It’s called, Goron Pride.” Starlight said.
Yubono looked the weapon over, awe struck at its craftsmanship and beauty. “And… you’re just giving it to me?” He asked.
“It chose you.” Starlight corrected. “These types of weapons choose their wielders. It chose you.”
Yubono was silent for a long time, finally they reached out, taking Goron Pride in his hands. He felt the link between himself and the Keyblade instantly. Holding it made him feel… safe, and brave. “Wow…”
Starlight nodded. “Let’s go!”
Reaching Rudania would have been challenging, however, Starlight’s magic easily took out the airborne Guardians and Yubono got to take two out with the accidental learning of Strike Raid. Once at the first cannon Starlight helped Yubono inside, and he formed himself into a ball and activated his barrier power. With proper aiming and a Megaflare down the small shoot ment for explosion to launch Yubono, the young Goron was selt flying hard and fast into the ancient war machine. She winced, worried for the young Goron until she saw them hit, bounce off the impact and roll down the volcano’s side and off to a safe spot. When they stopped their barrier fell and Yubono stood looking dizzy. “That always makes me see everything all spin~” They said.
Starlight laughed a little at that.
The next few cannon fires at the divine beast were the same more or less. Finally after the final hit the divine beast retreated inside the volcano. Yubono following Starlight over to them til she was at an unactivated warp pad, and a shekha slate pedestal. “This is the spot.” She said.
“How do we get inside?” Yubono asked.
“Hmm…” Starlight thought, tapping the pedestal with a hoof. While the door opened, the warp pad did not activate. “Figures. I’ll be right back, I have to go check on Link.”
“Link? You mean like the hero of the Hylians from a hundred years ago?”
“The very same.”
“... Wait, what?!”
“Long story.” Starlight said with a bit of a laugh. With a flash her horn lit up and opened up a DTL to the Zora Dominion. “You coming?”
“Where… does that go? What is it?”
“It’s a portal, and it’s just at the Zora Dominion entrance. Link is there working to get Divine Beast Ruta open.”
“Wow… I’ve never left Death Mountain…”
Starlight gave Yubono a smile. “If you don’t want to, I understand.”
“I…” Yubono started, looking at where he was, the Keyblade in his hand… and then to Starlight, and found himself smiling. “I’m gonna make Grandpa so proud!”
The Zora dominion was nothing like Death Mountain. Where Death Mountain was hot, lava flowing constantly and the ever present heat ready to set all wood a blaze and cook any raw meat left out too long, here was a chilly wet rain that downpoured constantly, soaking everything in endless water. Yubono felt like they were taking a bath from how much water was washing the dirt and grime of home off his skin. “Wow, this is so different from Death Mountain.” They stated.
“Yeah.” Starlight said, casting a spell to keep the water off them both, but she was already soaked, a sensation that didn’t bother her much. “Come on, let’s go find Link.”
The two didn’t have to look far, as Link was speaking to a tall, red and white Zora male, who gave the hero a sharp toothed smile that, oddly was comforting and even twinkled in the sunless rain. “Link!” Starlight called, he and the Zora male turning to see Starlight and Yubono arriving. “We got Rudania down, but your Sheikah Slate needs to activate the warp and the internal stuff.”
“Are these friends of yours Link?” The zora male asked. His smile ever present on his face.
“This is Starlight, I told you about her.” Link said to the zora male. “Starlight, this is Sidon, he’s the prince of the Zora, and champion Mipha’s younger brother.”
Starlight looked up at the zora prince… she saw it, he definitely looked royal. “So, over a hundred years old?”
“And still have much life ahead of me!” Sidon declared proudly.
“This is Yubono, he’s champion Daruk’s grandson.” Starlight introduced the young goron.
“Hi.” He said shyly.
“By the goddess! The hero of light, aided by a being of magic and a descendent of one of the champions! How inspiring!” Sidon said, his twinkling smile making sure all eyes were on him. “Link, you are truly blessed to have such help in your journey!”
“You wanna tag along?” Starlight offered, Link turning to her. “What? It’s only fair. Sidon is Mipha’s brother, he should be there when reclaiming Ruta.”
“You’d truly have me join on your adventure!” Sidon said, on their knees now and hunched over to be at Link’s eye level.
Link simply shrugged. “Sure, it will all go by faster, plus, like Starlight said, it’s fitting you’d be there.” He then turned to Yubono. “You’re gonna be there for Rudania?”
Yubono nodded. “Starlight is helping me be brave, and I want to make grandfather proud!” The young goran said proudly.
Link noticed the goron’s Keyblade, then looked at Sidon, then Starlight. “You’d best give Sidon one too. He’ll need a good weapon.”
“A weapon?” Sidon asked, standing back up. “Yes, to face the dangers ahead I will need a weapon of my own! Much like your own Link!”
“I think I know just the one.” Starlight said with a smile.
Repeating the process with Yubono, Sidon’s keyblade came in a flash of light. The Keyblade’s handle was thin, having a one sided hand guard over the normal two sides, the hand guard itself seemed to be almost made from water as it looped around the hand grip, up over the thin blade that seemed to be part of the grip. The glowing water looped around gracefully around the shaft like blade, reaching the tip, a Zora style trident that had the water splashing off the right side of it, taking shape of a Zora head silhouette. It’s keychain was an elephant silhouette, with a glowing blue eye in it’s center. “It’s called Splash Force.” Starlight said.
Blinking out of his stupor, Sidon took the keyblade, feeling the link between himself and the weapon. “Yes, this is a weapon of a true Zora worrier!” He declared, raising it high into the sky… right as Lightning struck the blade. There was a flash and Sidon froze, expecting electrocution but instead saw as the weapon took the lighting and seemed to store it along its water decore. “Uhh… what happened?” He asked dumbly.
Starlight looked the Keyblade over, hearing the weapons speak to her and explain. “It’s its special ability, Absorption. It can absorb cast magic and store it to shoot back out or to cause the spells elemental damage to be inflicted on an enemy when hit physically.”
“Wow…” Sidon said, looking the Keyblade over, and smiled even wider. “I will take great care of this weapon miss Starlight.”
She chuckled. “It chose you, it’s gonna take care of you.” She said, earning a snort from Link.
“Either way!” Sidon said, regaining his usual attitude.
“Can mine do anything like that?” Yubono asked.
Starlight caught Goron’s Pride speak it’s ability. “It’s ability is called Meltdown. Basically hitting rocks or anything made from stone or metal will make it melt to slag. But leave things like gems, fossils, ect alone.”
Yubono looked the weapon over at hearing that. “I am so getting mining duty when this is all done.”
“Do you have everything to get to Ruta?” Starlight asked Link.
“Yeah. The shock arrows were hard to get, but I got all I needed.”
“... You do know Keyblades can cast Lightning magic… right?” Link stared at Starlight. “Did I not… teach you that?”
Link’s hand met his forehead.
Dealing with Ruta was easy, shooting the shock arrows from glider rather than Sidon’s back. Soon Ruta was down as well. Landing on the warp pad, Link activated it and opened Ruta up. Starlight quickly opened a DTL back to Rudania and even though the door was open, Link used the slate to activate the warp pad. “Which do we take?” Link asked.
Starlight thought for a time. ”What would the others do… think outside the box… Think like… like an admin… She looked at Link’s Sheikah slate. “I have an idea. Can I see your slate real fast?”
Nodding, Link handed the slate over to Starlight. Taking it in her magic, she used her abilities as an Admin to scan the device over, coping all it’s code and taking the copy, and giving it a physical form. She smiled as soon, floating before her were two sheikah slates. Link just stared at her as she returned the first. “How did you…”
“At this point, would explaining what I am actually answer your questions?”
Link opened their mouth… then closed it again. “Fair enough…”
“So this way we can get everything set up on both sides then join you for fighting whatever is inside Ruta then we rush via DTL over to Rudania to deal with it’s guardian ganna monster.” Starlight said.
“You believe that Gannon placed a monster within the Divine Beasts?” Sidon asked.
“Something killed the Champions, and I doubt it was just Gannon’s darkness sludge alone.”
“I will avenge my sister! That vial monster dies within hours!” Sidon said, raising his Keyblade to the sky again… as another bolt of lightning struck it and was absorbed into the weapon, keeping Sidon unharmed. “That still scares me…” He admitted.
“Me too…” Yubono whimpered, his large body trying to hide behind the much smaller Starlight.
Starlight pet the large Goron. “Come on Yubono, once we unlock Rudania we head back here to help Sidon and Link deal with whatever monster is inside Ruta, then we avenge your grandfather.” Starlight said.
Yubono gave her a nod, and the two entered the DTL back to Rudania.
The Divine beast was as they left it. Door open from Starlight’s Keyblade abilities but once the copy Sheikah Slate was used the teleport pad lit up. The two entered.
"Well now, you two aren't who I was expecting. No not at all!" A booming voice if pride spoke out from the air.
"Ghost!" Yubono yelped, actually managing to get under Starlight in his panic and now wore the smaller unicorn as a hat.
Starlight laughed a bit at the situation. "He isn't wrong is he?" She asked out to the unseen specter.
"Yes sadly. I am Daruk, Champion of the Goron. I was expecting someone else to enter this place, not a follow Goron and a small talking horse."
"Daruk?" Yubono asked, his fear subsiding as he stood. Starlight, still atop him, looked like a hat. "My grandfather?"
"Grandfather… then you're my…" A flash of blue, the mighty Goron Daruk stood before Yubono and Starlight, his spectral form showing all the glory of his might from life. "Family."
"Mind standing still for a moment there Daruk?" Starlight asked, horn glowing with Balance and Nothingness. A beam of the two energies hit the spectral Daruk, glowing bright as bones, flesh and their heart returned to them.
Daruk took the first breath he had in over a hundred years, looking his hands and body over. "I'm… alive."
"S- Starlight… how did you…?" Yubono asked.
"Not the first ghost I've resurrected. Plus, it takes more of a load off of Link in the battle against Ganon."
"Link is alive then?" Daruk asked as Starlight gave a confirming nod. "I see, and he is where?"
"Dealing with Ruta. Hopefully once we reach the thing here that killed you we can get him over here. Sidon will probably have to sit back on this one, being a Zora and all."
"Sidon… Mipha's little brother? Has he finally grown into a proper man?"
"He's an adult, pretty well built too."
"Good for him! He was such a scrawny little thing a hundred years ago." Daruk chuckled, looking Yubono over, and smiled. "It's good to see you grandson."
"It's good to see you too grandpa." Yubono said, also smiling, a few years falling. "I've always heard so much about you… I wanted to be like you, but I was never able. At least, not til I met Starlight here." Yubono said, giving a pet to Starlight, still acting as a hat on his head. "In one day I've had more courage than I have in my whole life."
"Don't be like me Yubono, surpass me." Daruk said, tearing up too as the two hugged.
Starlight remained silent, letting the two be happy. Her sins were nowhere near atones for, the blood not even close to paid for. But this, this was progress.
With Daruk's knowledge of the Divine beast’s terminal locations and all the puzzle locks, the trio made it through the beast with complete ease, stopping before reaching the central Terminal. “Ready to meet back up with Link?” Starlight asked Daruk.
“Definitely. The little guy is a real brother, I can’t wait to see him again.” Daruk answered.
“Good but, there is something you should know.” Starlight sighed. “Link… is missing memories. Most of them really, I don’t know how much he actually remembers but just don’t get upset at what he might say.”
Daruk was silent for a time, but eventually chuckled. “So the little brother lost his memories, and he still went on to save the kingdom? Heh, memories or not, Link is still Link, he hasn’t changed. I’m sure I can jog a few of his memories back.”
Starlight opened the portal, and walking through Daruk, Yubono, and Starlight saw Sidon and Link waving at them from the entrance pad to Ruta. Between Sidon and Link was a glowing blue figure. A quick Teleport over, and Starlight saw the young, smaller Zora female. “Hi.” Starlight said to Mipha’s spirit, a flash of her horn glowing Balance blue and Nothingness grey and the ghost of Mipha glowed bright, regaining life once again. “Man that gets easier every time.”
“Sister!” Sidon said, hugging the smaller female zora.
"I… how?" Mipha asked.
"Starlight's… powerful. That's about all I can say there really." Link said with a shrug. "Honestly how she does this stuff just brings more questions than answers."
“Well, hey there Link.” Daruk said as he walked up to the worrier. “I was told you’d likely wouldn’t remember me.”
“I… Don't." Link said sadly. "I barely remember things about Mipha and that was only after seeing her statue, and then meeting her ghost."
"Hmm. Well, if that's the case then the same should go for myself. When we can, let's talk and I'll show you all the places we used to hang out on Death Mountain, might jog a few of your pebbles back in place." He then turned to Mipha and Sidon. "Sidon, you got tall. Glad to see you finally got your growth spurt, though I didn't think you'd get this tall." The Goron said, comparing his height to Sidon's, the Zora being half an inch higher.
"Heh, still not as tall as father." Sidon said with a laugh.
"Hah! Fair enough. Now then, let's get some payback." Daruk said, a grin appearing on their face as they punched a fist into their own palm.
"Don't you need your weapons first?" Starlight asked.
"Oh… right."
“Don’t worry Grandpa, The Elder has your sword.” Yubono said.
“Ah, yes. Father has your spear as well sister.” Sidon said to Mipha. “Oh the look on his face when he sees you.”
“I hope his heart can handle it.” Mipha said with some worry.
Needless to say, the return of Daruk to the Goron, and Mipha to the Zora, caused quite the… event. The Goron and Zora both declared a massive feast to be held in honor of their heroes and family returned from death, but such pleasantries had to wait til after the DIvine Beasts were freed.
Ruta had already been cleared. Link, Mipha, Sidon, Daruk, Yubono and Starlight all stood before the final terminal. “So I just tap the slate against that and it’s free?” Link asked.
“No… something is inside that.” Starlight said, her eyes spotting a darkness hiding within that device, waiting. “Something not friendly.”
“Waterblight.” Mipha said, clenching her grip on her spear and taking a single step back. “When Gannon’s darkness defiled this relic, a beast emerged from it. It is what killed me.”
“Same for me.” Daruk said. “Fireblight.”
“Looks like the other Divine Beasts will have one in them too.”
“It killed you all alone… It can’t kill you when you’ve got an army.” Link said, summoning their Kingdom Key and walking up to the terminal. Once they raised the slate to the machine dark energy began flowing out, above them formed a sicking mix of darkness and metal, one arm infused with a spear that glowed with a powerful blue energy. A single pulsating eye that irradiated hatred staring out at them all.
It gave an unnatural howl and raised it’s weaponized appendage to swing.
This time, the beast was outmatched.
There is always a reason to celebrate, even in the dark times of the Post Calamity Hyrule. Today, two of the four champions returned to life, Link the Hero also returned, Divine Beasts Ruta and Rudania were freed. In one night, half of Hyrule can now know ease in the night, safety in the day.
Portals between The Zora Dominion and Death Mountain stood open to allow the passage of food and drink between the two races, courtesy of Starlight, who sat at a table with Link. “Surprised you aren’t celebrating.” Starlight said as she drank from a mug, the begrudge was a fine win, one that she could enjoy the taste of, but never it’s intoxication.
“I assume it’s the same reason as with you?” Link asked, giving the unicorn a smile as he too drank the fine Zora wine.
“No real connections. What about Mipha? I thought you remembered her?”
“I remember enough to know her but… You see how she looks at me. I don’t know how much I am still missing. Daruk showed me a lot back in Death Mountain but… nothing. It feels like I’m not the same person they knew, and maybe I’m not.”
“Heh. Sometimes I wish I had your problems.”
“Hm?”
“... Back before I became so… well, what I am now-”
“A talking unicorn capable of reviving the dead without evil side effects and can ive out insainly powerful magical weapons with just a thought?”
“Link, please. I’ve always been a talking unicorn.” Starlight said with a laugh. “But the rest… yeah, before that, I ran a town.”
“Far off outside of Hyrule's territory?”
“Try another planet.” Starlight said with a sigh. “Yup, I’m an alien.”
“I believe it.”
“Oh thanks.” Starlight said, rolling her eyes with a smile as Link laughed. “It was… it wasn’t a nice town. I basically ran it like a tyrant. Everyone had to be exactly the same. Mane styles, walking speed, cooking skills, tailoring skills, if anyone was different, being better or worse than anyone, it was shunned and to enforce this I… took away their talents…”
“Took away their talents?”
“In my world, we get these marks, the same one you see on my flank when we discover what our special talent is, what we surpass at and what makes us special. I hated them. Mine was in magic, and I was a hypocrite. I took everyone else's marks, but not just the mark, the power and parts of that pony that made them… able to do anything. And I replaced it with what can basically be summed up as a curse. I genuinely thought it was a better way of life than having to live being lesser than others or so above others in skill you were hated. I didn’t even remove mine, just covered it up. Then… Monsters attacked. I survived because…”
“You still had yours.” Link finished.
“I watched them die… I could have saved at least some of them, used my magic, broke open the cutie mark vault and maybe… but I was too concerned about my damn image and ideals that… When the Keybladers arrived and finished off the monsters that stuck around… They found me by the vault. It was empty, when their owners died the cutie marks vanished… I watched each one fade and… Just wanted to sit there and die. Almost did. Wanted to but Daybreak is real good at saving people, so, I lived. A few months later I get abducted, and merged into a single body with… countless other versions of me, different races, ideals, personalities. Memories of so many lives I know, people I loved, all poured into me. Sometimes I remember them all and hope they drown out my memories, the memories of the versions of me that did as bad as I did… and so much worse.”
“So the guilt of not only your own sins… but all the others.”
“It builds up.They are… all me, in identity, mind, body, soul, heart, ect. But the ones that still hurt the most are the ones I know were my screw ups, my village…”
“So you want atonement then.”
“I want punishment… But, Atonement is what I am walking towards.”
“That in itself is a punishment.” Link said, taking another swig of wine as Starlight looked back up at them. “Because real Atonement is unobtainable. To work to try and reach the unreachable is a torture and punishment the lkes of which no prison or torment can match.”
“You sound like you have personal experience with that…”
“I… Heh… Yeah, I do. I remember.”
“Guess not even memory loss can remove the sins huh?”
“Never.” Link said with a smile, he and Starlight lifting their cups. “To atonement.”
“To eternal self punishment and torment.” She said, the cups lightly bumping before the two drank.