Vale watched as her world had turned upside down. She was sent away from Scala ad Caelum by foreteller Ava. Her heart shattered as she fell from Kingdom Hearts. The death of her master hit her harder than anything else. A war for a blade that could reopen Kingdom Hearts itself. She watched as her friends killed each other for the X-blade. Everything was falling apart as she watched the world form. The Keyblade Graveyard. That day she fell to darkness. Evils in her heart consumed her as she wandered alone in the Keyblade Graveyard. An eternal struggle with the light her master taught her and the dark she hunted. It's been several years since that day. Now she sits atop the tower in the Garden of Avalon. Staring out at the sixty three meters of space that this place had to offer for her training with magic. Here she found hope in the darkness. Hope instilled upon her by the Magus of Flowers, Merlin. Though he wasn't very forthcoming when it came to magic, he was an excellent teacher. When it came to swordplay was a different story. He showed her incredible bouts and feats that only a servant could do. It was hard and grueling training that left her beaten and scarred worse than her training with her kind master Ava. It was hard to tell whether Merlin was a servant or the human-incubus that he claimed to be. However, he was very much alive in the eternal prison. But eternity is never truly eternal. It's just a very very long time.
The day came where Vale looked off into the fields of flowers. In her hands was a horn that was long, plated, and curved. It emanated energy that would bring despair upon any world. This horn belonged to the Mother of All Monsters, the Earth Goddess, Tiamat. Even here in a world of hope, this horn caused despair. It was far from hell however. Vale clutched the horn tight in her hand. Then she heard the footsteps of a mage and a very familiar beast. Her head turned to Merlin and Cath Palug. She didn't bother to look back at him, or the little beast. Instead she began her conversation, staring down at the horn.
"You going to stop me?" She asked the Magus.
"Hmmm. Normally heroes take my advice instead of moving on their own path." Merlin said with his normal smile.
"As much as I want to take your advice Merlin, I need to do this."
"Do tell what you gain from trying to bind a beast servant like Tiamat to your soul."
"...Power. Power to protect the things I love again. A power that…. I didn't have when I most needed it."
"Power alone will not save the things you wish to protect."
"...No. It won't… But I need power to back up everything I learned from you. And… Ava."
"Why not fight for the grail instead? Get a wish. For power or for your master."
"Because… I don't want to trifle with a war that's results end the same. Someone wins, but not always do they get their wish. Besides. Looking after Servants that don't like you or don't match your personality is tiresome."
Merlin smiled warmly and walked over to her. "You can't do it alone you know."
"... No. No I can't do it alone. If I tried, I'd die. Let's be fair, Tiamat isn't going to sit there and let me bind our souls together."
"Then who will you call upon? Who will aid you in your journey to do such a dangerous task?"
"...You're not coming? I'm shocked."
"No no no. I will be joining you dear. Because there are so many worlds out there that these eyes wish to see. However, I can't fight Tiamat with just you alone."
"Fou!" Cath Palug finally made itself known.
"And of course, I can't leave you here alone. It's best we take you along."
"FOUUUUU!"
Vale smiled and her keyblade appeared, falling into her dainty yet firm hands. The two sided blade glistened in her hands. One side of the darkness she fell to, and the other of the light she trained with. Engravings and molds of heartless and nobodies on the pitch black side, and images of the Foretellers on the side of light. A keychain dangled from the hilt. It was two faced like a fools mask at the opera house. The breeze that carried flower petals blew through her black hair. Long strands in a bob cut covered her left eye. Her clothes clinged to her small body. Black t-shirt with a collar that reached up her neck. Pants the covered down to her knees. Shoes that looked like they were grafted from shadows themselves covered her petite feet. A violet vortex swirled around the pupil of her eyes. She hefted the keyblade into the air and Merlin smiled lifting his staff in the air.
"I beseech thee. Heroes of other worlds come to me. Heroes who do not belong come and help guide my hand in my times of darkness. A pact be made from your help. From me on to you. One deed shall fulfill another. My everlasting aid to those who save me from my plight."
The key glistened from her chant. Merlin poured in his own mana to assist in her summoning of heroes from worlds they did not belong to. Then the light shot forth into the sky and five pillars of light landed on the fields of pink flowers. A man stepped forth from the light. He wore a black uniform. His eyes were a bright blue and his frame was sturdy, but meek. Energy swirled around him like a vortex. The next person came through. He wore military apparel of what would best be described as a wastelander or ranger. Face Mask and trench coat that hugged close to his undershirt. Gloves and an under uniform that matched the deep blue military uniform. Two orbs of amber burned brightly from his eyes. Then another guy came through. Brown hair kept short. Skin in between tanned and ghost white, body built with muscles from untold training, and these pure forest green eyes. On his belt was a mask of red and grey that held an aura almost as powerful as Tiamats horn. A boy came through another portal. He was different. Montral pointed up in the air and Lekku pointed down. This tail that was as long as he was tall. Four blade-like wings spread across his back. Silver eyes that felt like they could pierce through your soul. He looked so young that she knew he wasn't older than her. Not by a long shot. Then the final light opened with a man that towered over man itself. He wore very little that covered his chest. Short, messy, light brown hair atop his head. Eyes as blue as sapphires. Magic flowed through his veins giving them this other worldly blue appearance.
"Where? Where the hell am I?" The tall one stated.
"I am sorry that I brought you all here without warning." Vale began with an apology. "I summoned you all here with the help of my master Merlin."
"She did all the work though." Merlin laughed it off.
"Why though?" The man with amber eyes adjusted the goggles on his head.
"Because… I need all of your help. I am willing to send you all back, or even help you all to the fullest of my abilities if you do."
"...I'm in." The tall man said.
"Huh?! But you don't even know what I'm asking of you."
"No. I know I get to hit things, drink things, and sit in bed at the end of the day knowing I did the right thing."
"... I need your help binding my soul to Tiamat."
Suddenly he went quiet. The others didn't seem to understand the meaning of this, but the giant of a man did. Merlin stepped in with a smile. "Now please let's sit down and speak about this. Get to know each other by name first."
Everyone looked at each other and nodded slightly to the other strangers. Merlin led everyone to the top of his tower. Vale sat on the edge of one of the windows. She watched them pile in on the rather big room. Her hands still clutching the horn of Tiamat. Fou ran past the giant who seemingly understood what it was and jumped back. Merlin smiled at the group happily as they found spots to stand or sit at.
"Let me begin with me shall we? My name is Merlin." He introduced himself.
"You're kidding…. Right?" The giant of a man said.
"I assure you this no joke or dream. My young apprentice there. She's…"
"Vale. My name is Vale." She interrupted the mage, prefering to introduce herself.
The giant rubbed his forehead between his fingers. "Yorren. Just Yorren."
The man in the black suit looked at him and sighed. "Guess I'm next. Names Tarien. I'm a Tenno."
"Alan. Alan Cannus." The youngest of them spoke. His tail swaying across the floor.
"Davican. I'm mostly just a castaway with a lightsaber." The man with forest green eyes and the strange mask spoke.
"...Fine. Atrun Gallows. Now tell us why we're here." The man in military gear spoke. Clearly agitated by this whole situation.
"Where to begin?" Merlin stroked his chin with closed eyes. "Oh I know. My apprentice summoned you here to assist her in binding her soul to a beast class servant, is willing to compensate you all with her assistance in anything from war to daily chores, and is a special warrior who wields a weapon that can open and close other worlds. As for sending you back. Probably won't happen unless you die. However the realm here should be similar if not identical to your worlds. You should be able to make perfect happy lives here if you so wish."
They all stood there processing this. Then Davican asked the all important question. "What is a beast class servant?"
"... Well you see."
"A beast class servant is a sin of humanity made manifest. The one I am trying to bind my soul to, and in term bind her soul, is Tiamat, the sin of Regression." Vale answered. "She is also known as the goddess of earth, the 'original woman'. She is the second of seven beasts. Cath Palug there is number four."
Everyone turned to Fou. "FOUUU!"
"Don't let it fool you. It feeds off of envy and regret. And here in this tower, it sees all that of the outside world like Merlin."
"W-Why is it so…tamed?" Alan asked.
"Because it likes it here in the tower. It finds it comfortable."
"...Why do you need our help?" Atrun asked with indifference.
"...Because she's too strong for me to bind alone… And by releasing her I technically start the end of days. Because servants usually appear when one of their kind shows up. Beast seven of the end."
"...No. I refuse to help. And if these people are smart, they will too."
A silence fell over the room. They all looked among themselves. Finally Davican sighed. "I'll do it."
"Wait. You want to start the end times and for what?! A girl who seeks what's technically impossible?!"
"Yeah. We can just stop the end times. It's easier doing that when you technically bind one of the enemies to your side."
"I'll go. If it means helping others then I'll do it." Alan said meekly.
"Oh come on. Seriously."
"For the right price after all this is done, sure." Tarien answered.
"Eh. What do I have to lose?" Yorren rubbed the back of his head.
"...You're all mad men aren't you?"
"Nah. We're just used to making the impossible possible." Tarien answered. "Besides. You're the only one who said no after listening to the part of being stuck here till we die. I intend to make the most of it."
"...Fine. I'll play along, but I won't like it."
Vale sniffled. "Thank you. Thank you all so much."
"No offence but we all need to be stronger if we're to… bind, fight, or whatever it is we're doing with that thing that's only supposed to appear during the end times." Davican added.
"Well. I could take us to a world that would be the perfect place to get stronger. Though it might not be what you're used to."
"...I think I'll stay in the tower after all." Merlin said with a laugh and smile.
Several glares focused on him. Although he couldn't die, he still feels pain and he knew this all too well. Beads of sweat dripped off his face as Vale smiled wickedly. He knew all too well about her sadistic side as well. If it got her what she wanted, nothing could stop her. Not too much later, she had Merlin tied up to her keyblade glider. She held Fou close to her near non existent chest. The air chilled as a glow came from her keyblade glider. A keyhole appearing in front of everyone. A beam of light left the blade and opened their way to the next world. All of them hurried through. Two more unwilling than the others. As soon as they left, a man in black stepped out from behind the tower. The Gazing Eye keyblade in his hands. He set up his fingers as if this sight was picture perfect. To him, it was all too perfect. In a cheerful voice, he spoke clearly to himself.
"May your heart be your guiding key."