In a beautiful day lit sky, a great castle stood tall, guarding the world known as The Land of Departure. The lush plateaus that surrounded it guarded the castle like stone knights, the castle itself looking like a crown of a king. White marble walls were incased in gold roofs and foundations, the main building a skinny, but grand piece of work. The castle arched out on each side of the single plateau it stood on with smaller buildings like the main one itself. The castle was only held up by the thin foundations that held it to the land and the golden chains in which linked it to the surrounding plateaus, like arms that extended to reach inside them. A large spiral staircase linked the castle to the surrounding plateaus, connecting the castle with the land.

In the castle lied a greenroom, where a beautiful garden existed. The roof extended outward to let the sun bathe the plants that reached for its warmth. The garden itself was about the size of a ballroom, surrounded by tall hedges on all sides except the two entrances of the garden, the front one leading to the Main Hall and the other leading to the quarters where the apprentice Keybearers slept. The garden was covered in a rainbow of flowers, the most beautiful flowers in the world of light I was once told except for a place called Radiant Gardens. Stone paths crisscrossed throughout the flowers in the garden, all sourcing from a central square, which offered the apprentices an area to practice their skills outside from formal training.

A little girl, around five years old, stood in the middle of the gardens with both of her Keyblades raised at hand, the Keybearers legendary weapons. The girl herself was rather tall for her age, skinny but a well built seasoned figure, with pearl-like skin. Long silver hair flowed around her head to her shoulders, bangs almost covering up the top half of her face, which was soft yet well defined. Purple eyes scanned her surroundings with intelligence, but a little naivety to compliment her young age. She wore a black jumpsuit, which cut off at her shoulders, but extended down to her ankles, where black combat boots encased her feet. She had a purple over-jacket with vertical white stripes that also cut off at her shoulders, and two black leather bands crossed over her chest and over her shoulders where an emblem of a roughly-edged heart with three crossing spikes at the tip connected them. Two similar leather bands also sat on her hip, except without the emblem.

On her right and left shoulders were pieces of jet black shoulder armor, where spiky layered pieces curled protectively over her shoulders with purple buttons that sat in the middle of them. Two other pieces of black armor sat around her abdomen, curling inward but spiked out that protected her flanks. A necklace hung on her neck, a star-like shaped piece weaved with seashells and the same emblem in the middle of it, and three spear-like pieces coming out from the bottom and diagonally on the lower half of the piece. The necklace – known as a Wayfinder in which the legend said if you gave it to someone it can lead that person back to you – was received long ago by Master Eraqus, her mentor, in which originated from a far-away land. He told her it was a special Wayfinder; it had the ability to carry other's abilities within it when a connection if forged and use them in times of need, even when that person falls into darkness. That girl was innocent, but only for a little while longer. That girl was me, Emiri.

I was practicing my new techniques shown to me by Master Eraqus with my Keyblades Oblivion and Oathkeeper. Keyblades are the mystic blades that resemble keys that chose their wielders by the strength of heart and can be used for preservation or destruction of the Worlds. Oathkeeper was a long Keyblade, reflective-like rainbow colored, with a handle that extended out on the sides inward to wrap protectively around its wielder like the branches of a palm tree. The blade splits in half to meet up at the top, which is divided into two parts: one part which looks like the beams of starlight in which tips as five points that encase a semicircle, the other side an italic-looking heart cut in the middle. The blade finishes by extending a little further up until it curves off to reveal an edged tip. A yellow star-shaped fruit –known as the paopu fruit – hung from a keychain at the end of the handle.

Oblivion was its opposite, a long, jet black Keyblade in which its handle extended out on the sides outward, like the wings of a bat poised to strike. The blade also splits in half, but a long chain runs down the middle of it until it meets up at the top. It only extends out on one side, looking like the teeth of a gothic-style key. The top extends straight to look like a rough-edged layered spear-head. It also had a key chain, but it was of a black crown. I was the only person who possessed dual Keyblades in the Land of Departure, even Master Eraqus only had one, so I was taught differently in my fighting style.

I was practicing a move, using a dummy for training. I feinting back then sidestepping to my left to trap my "opponent" when I saw it coming. A giant dark cloud began swirling beyond the castle grounds. I heard screaming and I turned to find these strange looking creatures surrounding a passing maid near the front entrance. I rushed towards her and slashed the strange creatures with my Keyblades, taking them out in a few techniques. The maid murmured a quick "thanks" before running off in panic towards the front hall. I gathered my bearing when I heard a boom shake the castle. The cloud now advanced closer to the castle, lightning scattering from it. The cloud seemed to be getting bigger with every second. I rushed to find Master Eraqus.

I ran through what seemed to be a maze of halls. I passed several Keyblade warriors on the way preparing for the worse, barking commands at each other. I seemed invisible to them, and in a panic I proceeded until I reached the throne room. The room was barren, or so it seemed, as more of the strange creatures appeared. I ran forward and slashed at them with five years of training under my belt, but the creatures started appearing in unfathomable masses. I fled the throne room to run out the entrance of the castle.

I ran outside, "Master! Master Eraqus! Please, help me!"

The cloud now covered most of the sky; deadly lightning bolts rained from the dark presence. I ran only to find a Keyblade left in the middle of the platform which descended into the city below. Tears formed in my eyes as I recognized the Keyblade of my master lying in front of me, stripped of its key chain which resembles the life of the keyblade's master. I ran up to it and clutched it in my hands.

"No…" I whimpered, "He can't be dead. He just can't be." I started sobbing over the loss of my master. I stared up to the sky and wailed.

"NOOOOOOO!"

I screamed for what seemed to be hours. Lightning rained from the sky and the creatures began overtaking the sanctuary of what was my home. Hopeless sorrow soon turned to bitter anger as I rose from my master's pitiful funeral. Darkness began overtaking my body and my eyes flickered until my mind began losing control of my body. My mind receded into what seemed to be a pit of darkness, the only light the spectacle of horror performed by my uncontrolled body.

I saw terrible images; I slashed screaming at the creatures that overtook my home, destroying everything I saw. I fought for an eternity, until I felt myself buckle under my own weight. I began to return to my body from the darkness. Light filled my eyes once again to see a terrible destruction. The castle was collapsing, lightning shot at every direction. The halls were on fire, and the darkness began overtaking the scenery, as more of the strange creatures began overtaking the castle in rampant mobs.

I was on the ground, panting from exhaustion. I scanned through exhausted eyes my surrounding, seeing the enemies I was ripping through moments ago reappear in the thousands. I keeled on Oblivion helplessly, Oathkeeper supporting my other arm, nearly about to give in from exhaustion.

"My master" I moaned, "I lost my master… and now I'm going to die along with everyone else."

Never give in

I raised my head, and found myself filling with new-found energy. I began slashing through the army of creatures as I advanced out of the fallen castle. I rushed up the tallest plateau, putting a great distance between me and my enemies. I began tiring as I reached the summit, but my eyes keen with alert. The plateau was clear. I needed to find a way out of here.

Use the Armor

I paused. I have never used the armor except when my master showed me the use of it once during my training. The Armor was used for Keybearers to travel the worlds, summoned by pressing the buttons on the shoulder armor, but the paths were only unlocked when Master Yen Sid opened them. It was considered very dangerous to travel between worlds without the paths. My body jittered with the fear of being lost in the empty darkness between the worlds.

I was soon thrown out of my mind. An army of the creatures began climbing up the plateau walls. I looked down at the sea of darkness as they ascended the mountain. Trying not to show fear, I pressed my Armor and I transformed. I felt the amplified beating of my heart as I began to glow. Purple and black armor began encasing my body: my chest was covered over by a breastplate that spiked out at the edges; my entire abdomen was covered in layers of black plating; spiked plating cocooned my limbs, purple bands crossing over the black armor occasionally; my helmet encased my head with bug-like horns sticking out the top and bottom of it; I could only see out a thick, but very transparent glass that covered my eyes; a leather purple cape finished off the Armor, swaying with the wind. The only consistencies I maintained were the leather bands that crossed over my chest and hips, the emblem over my chest now representing one of the sole Keybearers left.

I tossed my Keyblades into the air. A portal of light appeared in the distance where the Keyblades disappeared. A black and white Harley-styled hovering motorcycle flew down to meet me. I jumped at it and lifted off the moment the other creatures took my place on the ground. I fled to the portal as fast as I can. I took one last glimpse of the shattered utopia that was once my home, now overrun by darkness.

"Find Yen Sid," the voice told me.

I finally recognized the voice.

"Thank you, Master."

I entered the portal.