Things have been put into motion that cannot be undone. As I am uncertain of the future I have chosen to chronicle the journeys of two young keyblade wielders. Given time, I believe they have what it takes to become keyblade masters.
Rachel and her brother Bryan were born in Radiant Garden. At one might expect, they knew little of the worlds that existed outside their own. Stories of other worlds were just whispers from old legends and the sparkle of wonder in a child's dream.
Needless to say a world is much bigger than its main city. The city of Radiant Garden, still known as Hollow Bastian at this time, this is of course what it was called before darkness drained the beauty and life from the great city, had begun to stagnate. The behind the scenes studies of hearts and long standing secret plots had slowly taken their toll. Slow enough few residents truly realized what was happening. This droll lifestyle pushed the siblings to make their own fun.
Journeying far beyond the city limits to explore, the two made a discovery that would change their lives forever. After a few days hiking the two took shelter in a mysterious cave. It was evident immediately the cave was old. Very old. And it had a strange, eerie presence about it. In the back, a long tunnel led down into dark, unknown depths. On the walls, images were scratched into the stone. Although there were no words to give details to the story, the siblings had a pretty good understanding of the tale.
A long time ago a great battle had been fought and led up to an image of what looked like a field, but instead of grass or flowers, the filled consisted of keys. The key seemed to be a reoccurring image through the story. The end of the tunnel opened up into a small, but high-ceilinged cavern with just a pinprick of light trickling down from above. The light shone on something incredible.
A key
A long glistening key with a handle.
It had been smashed into the ground where the end was stuck in the stone. There were images on these walls too. Going around the room told the story of how the key got there. This is the best the siblings could put together.
Some time ago a great battle had been fought with these key-shaped weapons. What they were fighting against or fighting for was not made clear. Amidst the fighting, one man fled, traveling across the stars to leave the battle far behind. Overwhelmed with guilt, he found a place of isolation. He left his weapon behind and left forever, his heart shattered with shame.
On the ground by the key a short message had been scribbled on the stone.
I have disgraced myself and my comrades. I am no longer worthy of wielding the Keyblade. Perhaps I never should have been given the honor at all. I can only pray that one day I may have a successor with a heart stronger and purer than mine. I now give up this world and hope Kingdom Hearts will accept a heart as cowardly as mine.
Understandably curious, Bryan tried to pull the keyblade from its stone lodging. As hard as he tried it wouldn't budge. Rachel's attempt fared no better. Determined to liberate this mysterious relic from its stone prison, both grabbed the handle to pull it free. But before they could give it one proper yank, something incredible happened. The blade came loose but it had split in two!
What exactly happened can only be left to speculation. Perhaps splitting in two was the only way the Keyblade could give itself to two equally worthy wielders. Maybe it had split because the siblings combined hearts had the strength, courage and light necessary to become keyblade wielders. So long as they remained strong together, the blade was not actually in two. Why or how this happened is a mystery to me. Traditionally only Masters can pass along wielder ship of a Keyblade. But I must remind myself that at one time there were no masters to hand down knowledge. Someone had to be first to begin the legacy. And although my knowledge of magic, history and the Keyblades is vast, I would be foolish to believe I have been privileged to all there is to know. Although I do wonder if the previous wielder's message holds a clue,
"I can only pray that one day I may have a successor with a heart stronger and purer than mine."
Perhaps that was the consent from a Master and it took until Rachel and Bryan found it end the waiting for a worthy heart.
Regardless of the specifics, fate had intervened that day. Within a very short time I fear the floods of darkness will race across the stars. Devious plans will upset the balance of darkness of light and once again. Hearts will be tested. Hearts will be blackened. The worlds will need many heroes to calm this dark storm of chaos and pain.
I had been astounded to hear the whispers of a lost Keyblade. From the heights of my tower I could sense the heartbeat of a veteran Keyblade of the keyblade war. But something was wrong. This keyblade had two distinct heartbeats? How could that be? What could awaken a single sleeping keyblade so it touched two hearts?
Curious as I was concerned, I traveled to a far off world to request a messenger be sent to investigate the anomaly and report back. The swiftest messenger was chosen and immediately crossed all boundaries to Hollow Bastion. It didn't take him long to find what he was looking for. On the outskirts of the city he found a young woman with long hair and a tall young man fighting back black creatures from the city limits. There weren't many creatures and they weren't very strong. Which was a blessing. Neither the boy nor girl looked to him like they were very skilled fighters. Their strategy appeared little more than understanding that hitting the enemy enough times with the end of the weapon made it disappear.
I could hardly believe what the messenger told me upon his return. Two new keyblade wielders? And they were fighting Heartless in Hollow Bastion? Things were spiraling faster than I could have anticipated. Hearts always contained darkness so there would never be a time when shadows wouldn't exist. But after they keyblade war, a calm had passed over all the worlds. The darkness was weak and stayed to the shadows. Something must have been set in motion to make the darkness suddenly become so bold as to attack a populated area in daylight.
I instructed the messenger to convince the children to return with him to my tower. I needed answers and if they had been chosen wielders, they would need an explanation if they were to be the worlds first line of defense.
Needless to say, Rachel and Bryan received quite a shock when a strange blue man with wings on his heels appeared out of nowhere. He introduced himself as Hermes. He told them he was from another world far away from Hollow Bastion and could take them to other worlds too. If they wanted to learn more about the other worlds and especially the mysterious weapons they wielded, he could take them to someone with all the answers. The decision did not take long to make.
I couldn't help but shake my head a little when Rachel and Bryan first came to my tower. They truly were inexperienced in the art of combat. When they entered the tower I allowed a few Heartless to enter to see how the two would do in a fight. At the time all they really had going for them was potential. They had no battle skills at all. But given time that would all change.
Once we had been properly introduced I had a better understanding of the split keyblade. Rachel and Bryan were brother and sister as well as good friends. Their hearts had a strong bond to one another and their combined strength made the keyblade whole. I have expressed my theories as to how this was possible but I have never heard of such a thing happen before so the naked truth of the phenomenon may never be revealed.
Over the next few weeks Rachel and Bryan went through proper training fit for future keyblade masters. They sparred against each other all the time. If they could fight with no hesitation against each other they could fight with full strength against a real foe.
My good friend Merlin agreed to train them in the art of magic. Nearly every day they spent time at Merlin's cottage to learn new techniques in magic and apply those skills in the forest surrounding his home. New challenges were given all the time as the siblings became more skilled. Regardless of the challenges of the day, evenings always ended at the tower with a warm drink and a story. Stories of other worlds, stories of the past, of the unversed, of Heartless, Nobodies and of course about the keyblades and the keyblade war.
They weren't the only keyblade warriors I'd ever trained. But I feel a special connection to these siblings. Although I never had a family of my own, I believe this is what it feels like to have grandchildren. Perhaps it is only because I have not had an apprentice in such a long time. Giving up the title of Master was my own choosing but there were no more Masters to train them. I have accepted them calling me Master.
Either way I cannot let my feelings hold them back from what they are meant to do.
Again I have felt stirrings among the worlds. I have sensed that somewhere at least one world has fallen to darkness. I knew I would need to send them out soon to new worlds to combat these threats. The day after I felt the disturbance I bestowed Rachel and Bryan with a great gift, two charms with the emblem of Kingdom Hearts. It was a keychain that had not taken shape or power. They would need stronger weapons if they were to have any chance in other worlds. Once they took the charms, both immediately took shape to what could be found in their hearts.
Bryan has a strong love of music and prefers to fight with brute strength over magic. His charm became a tiny blue and red drum. This transformed is keyblade into the Bass Blade, a forceful, long-range weapon infused with the power of music.
Rachel has a compassionate heart and has an incredible knack for magic the likes I have never before seen. Her charm took the form of a winged star. Her keyblade became Moonlit Majesty, a jeweled keyblade with an endless reservoir of magic.
Since I have no vessel I can give them to travel between worlds, I have asked Hermes to journey with them for a time. And neither of them are strong enough yet to transform their keyblades into vessels to travel between worlds. The young warriors know their task. They must protect as many worlds as possible from falling into darkness. Worse yet, I believe this is just the calm before the storm. I sent them out on their adventure today. They know they can return anytime. I know they have strong hearts but I hope I haven't sent them into battle too soon.
