Embrace your Destiny

by Ocelot the Devil

Chapter 10 - The Moon Mom

Don’t panic, Kairi… it’s just a princess. Nothing wrong with that.

Oh, god… I’m panicking! DAMN IT! I’M PANICKING! WHAT THE HELL DO I DO!? Umm… Oh, bow! NOW!

Bowing quickly in front of Princess Luna, I hoped that my disrespectful ways didn’t make her mad since she was a person of royalty. Needless to say, her reaction was a simple giggle. Oh, shoot… I think I broke her.

“No need to bow, young Kairi. As I stated before, I’m the one that should be grateful to you for standing in the face of danger instead of retreating. You have my thanks.” Luna assured me as I gave a small nod before standing up albeit reluctantly since I was still in the presence of royalty.

“R-right. I have to say thanks as well for helping me out with that bodysuited girl… although, do you have any idea who she might be exactly?” I asked but Princess Luna’s answer was a simple shaking of her head. It seems like she had no clue.

“Unfortunately, I do not know. I was planning to ask you the same question since she seems to be aware of who you are… but you don’t know as well from the looks of it. Before I came to your assistance, did she reveal anything of importance to you? The smallest hint of information?” Luna questioned me although I didn’t have all of the answers.

“All she said was that ‘there’s more to you than meets the eye’ and ‘that she had taken an interest in me’. That’s all that was told to me yet you have to believe me that I have no clue on who she really is and what her interest in me is.” I explained as Luna raised her hoof to silence me.

“Kairi, please be calm. I’m not accusing you of anything since this is indeed the first time that you are meeting the mysterious girl in the bodysuit. However, what worries me is how you fit into all of this along with your ability to wield the Keyblade.” Luna replied as I summoned my weapon.

“You are aware of the Keyblade?” I asked as the princess nodded before replying in a serious tone. “Yes… well, the legends at least. I’ve never seen one in person before nor have I met a wielder. Yet, I’m aware of one thing – its purpose.”

“Its’ purpose…?” I asked before Princess Luna continued speaking. “Yes… the Keyblade is described as a weapon of salvation or doom. It is often said that the legendary weapon will either protects those in a time of need or bring ruin and shatter the peace.”

I cringed upon hearing that… the Keyblade can do that? Oh, man – I must have really pissed off someone in my past life so hard that he/she punished me by letting me wield this. Maybe I don’t really want it anymore… if it brings ruin, then I could get in big trouble with the local populace in Equestria.

“At first glance, I thought it ludicrous that a legendary weapon like the Keyblade could exist and said to myself that it was just that: a legend. But after a while I changed my mind and started studying about the lore encircling this weapon and its abilities. Which is why I intended to make contact with you for a while now but could not the appropriate moment. Especially due to the masked wielder that assaulted you…” Luna explained as my eyes widen in surprise.

The princess wanted to talk with me…? But why? Did I do something bad? And if so, I wondered what sort of apology would be needed in order to fix the unknown mess that I supposedly caused.

“Seeing as the mystery wielder has fled from the battlefield, I have a chance to finally get an answer to some of my questions. Kairi, I must ask that you answer them honestly without a single lie. Not that I don’t have anything against you, it’s basically a formality to determine whether or not I can trust you.” The princess explained it.

I guess it does make sense seeing as how we’ve just met and all that… although I’m not sure if my answers will be to her satisfaction mainly cause I don’t remember a damn thing on how I came to Equestria or why I gained a Keyblade as a weapon. Gotta go with the flow, I guess…

“Well, alright Princess…” I told her.

Despite being in a dark realm of somekind that we still had no clue where it was stationed, we sat down and surprisingly didn’t fall through the darkness. Weird but honest truth.

“Now then… Kairi, I know that you aren’t from Equestria. Where are you from exactly?” Princess Luna asked her first question.

Oh, dear… I’m in trouble with this one. How can I answer since I have no idea where I’m from or who I was before I came to Equestria?

“Princess, you have to believe me on this one – I haven’t a clue. My memory is on the fritz right now and I can’t see to remember anything before I got here. Honest truth.” I answered as Luna’s eyebrows arose.

“Nothing at all?” The princess asked me once again as I gave a simple nod which made stare at me for a moment before she continued onward. “This will be much harder than it first seems… I presume that your answer will be the same involving the Keyblade, correct?” She asked as I nodded once again.

“Yep… I don’t even have a clue on how I gained the ability to wield the Keyblade nor do remember what my real name is.” I explained.

“Your real name…? Do you mean to tell me that Kairi isn’t the name you were born with?” The princess asked as I nodded. “Hmm, interesting… very interesting. It seems that the masked figure was right about one thing – there is more to you than meets the eye. Severe loss of memory, the ability to wield the Keyblade, the figure knowing about you… Kairi, I have a theory although its plausible at this time.” She told me.

“How so… if you don’t mind me asking.” I said while awaiting for the princess to answer. “That’s the thing – it’s still plausible and I need to be sure that I’m being correct on this. Your missing memories and your unknown connection to the masked wielder might be connected somehow but I’m not sure yet.” She explained as my eyes widened.

Wait… so the person that attacked me with a Keyblade and left me cryptic messages is possibly the reason I’m in Equestria without my memories of my old life? If what Princess Luna is saying then my opponent definitely has a lot of explaining to do… next time I see her I’m gonna kick her ass so hard and make her tell me the truth of how I ended up in the pony world and why I can’t remember anything before coming here.

“So… what happens now? Does that mean I’m in trouble for using the Keyblade to protect the weak and such?” I asked with Luna being silent on that one for a couple of seconds before she answered. “No… while I’m still unsure of what your goals and motivation are, I can easily deduce that you do not wish any harm upon mine and my sister’s subjects. Though I will keep an eye on you for the foreseeable future.”

I became surprised at what she told me. “Huh… nobody has taken an interest in me before. Why the supported liking to me and my character? I’m just an ordinary person.” I stated but my words made Luna grin a bit.

“You interest me. I can’t quite explain it but there is something about you that just peaks my curiosity. And no – it’s not the Keyblade. It’s something far deeper than your ability to wield the legendary weapon… though I’m not sure what yet exactly.” She explained.

Huh… never imagined that someone would take an interest in my before. Although why is she telling me all of this?

“Not that I don’t want to be rude or anything like that but again – why the interest in me?” I asked.

At that, Luna smiled sadly. “In the books that I’ve read, I’ve learned that most Keyblade Wielders suffered a nasty fate… not just to the darkness but also the Heartless as well.” She explained.

Wait… Heartless? The hell are- Wait, it couldn’t…

“Princess, are these ‘Heartless’ by chance creatures that are black-colored and possess yellow eyes?” I asked and with a nod from Luna my quick suspicions were confirmed.

“Indeed… the Heartless are basically the manifestation of one’s heart should it succumb to the darkness. They have many shapes and forms but almost all are extremely dangerous. Their own goal is to satisfy their hunger for hearts – the more hearts they obtain, the more their numbers increase… my sister and I have done everything in power to make sure that our subjects never have to fear the Heartless though I don’t under how they have returned. I’m sure that we locked the Keyhole a thousand years ago…” Luna explained.

My mind immediately blocked as I had a multitude of questions running right now – sister? A thousand years ago? Heartless? Okay, I need some answers and I need them right now.

“Okay, Princess… pardon me for being rude but I need some answers. How do you-” Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish as a bright light blinded me and I began to feel like I’m fading away.

Nearby, I could hear Luna sighing. “It seems that our time is up. We’ll have to continue our conversation once you return.” She told me.

No! NO! I can’t go back to waking up since I still had so many questions to ask Luna!

“W-wait! This can’t be over yet! I have so much more to ask! Princess, please!” I pleaded but all I heard was a simple giggle.

“Relax, Kairi. We have all the time in the world – when you return to the realm of dreams, I will be here once again to answer any questions that you might have. One thing before you go – please be… discrete in your conversation with Twilight Sparkle once you wake up. Don’t mention my presence and appearance in your dreams and instead explain only what you have learned. It’s very important.” Luna explained as the light grew brighter and brighter.

“But!” I began only for the light to truly blind my eyes which couldn’t allow me to see anything including where the princess was. “Until we see again in each other’s dreams, Kairi… until then you must FACE YOUR FEARS!”

AHHHH! Volume control much!? Soon, the light overtook me and I couldn’t see anything due to being blinded.

(In the real world…)

My eyes began to crack slowly open as I released a soft groan while getting up from the… couch?

“Oh, my gosh… Kairi! You’re okay! Thank goodness!” The familiar worrying tone of Twilight yelled in relief as she appeared in my face and wrapped her hooves over my neck… tightly.

“T-twilight… c-can’t… breathe!” I told her through c-choking… goddamn it! I c-can’t breathe!

Twilight realized this and immediately removed her hooves which allowed me to catch my breath slowly as I coughed a bit. The purple unicorn chuckled sheepishly. “Oops… my bad. Sorry!” She apologized.

“It’s… it’s fine.” I assured her as I finished coughing before laying back down and asking her a question. “Where am I?”

“My home… I drag you inside and immediately got to work in patching you up. You were a mess when I brought you in.” Twilight explained.

I noticed that I wasn’t wearing my usual clothes and instead I was wearing a gown of somekind and there were bandages all over my body. Wait, how did I get in this state?

Oh, shit! I remember! The town and the Heartless! Fuck, I completely forgot about that! “Twilight! What about the town and the creatures? Is it safe? Did we win the battle?” I frantically demanded the answer as Twilight raised her hoofs to calm me down.

“Kairi, Kairi! Please calm down! We did win the battle – however, you have no idea how extremely luck you are to walk away unscathed. Do you have any idea how close you were to death? You nearly scared me and Rainbow – don’t even get me started on Fluttershy. Kairi, don’t you dare scare us like that again! Got it?” Twilight told me – although her tone sounded like a threat of somekind.

I rubbed the back of my head. “Sorry, Twi… it’s just – there were too many Heartless about and they didn’t stop coming no matter what we did.” I explained as Twilight sighed.

“I know… you were trying your best to be the hero but you didn’t – Wait, Heartless? You mean those black-colored creatures have a name?” She asked.

I nodded and it was time to get down to the business at hand. “Yeah… actually, two things: I know what the Heartless are and I do believe that we might have our culprit that is responsible for bringing them in the first place. I think you better fetch your notepad, Twilight. It seems we have a rather dangerous individual on our hands.” I told her as she went from surprised to a determined.

“Right… first though – I wanna fetch something to eat. You’ve been unconscious since yesterday and you’ll need the extra meal. Then we’ll discuss the situation more clearly.” Twilight told me.

As much as I hate to admit, I could use a little snack since I’m feeling a bit peckish. Also, I was unconscious since yesterday!? Damn… that bodysuited bitch is gonna pay when I see her again.

Twilight left to go and get me something to eat while I just laid back down to think about the situation more clearly. I still had no clue on how this is going to end nor do I have any idea on what that bodysuited individual and the Heartless have planned for me…

All I know is that ‘Mystery Mask’ is connected to me and up to something big involving the Heartless. With a sigh, I realized how much tougher my job was going to get with each passing minute.

For some reason, it made me grin a bit… Hmph, I just love a challenge. Yep, this is going to be an interesting war between myself and the masked figure.

All I had to do now… was wait until the next move was made.