Of Keys and Hammers

by zcritic88

In a realm beyond, the Four Chaos has taken notice of a realm tied close to the heart. They squirmed into the darkness and sought to corrupt if to reach a prize beyond the light. Will the Light of Order, be able to repel this ancient evil?

22. Virtues and Vices

At a train station over an aqua duct in Radiant Garden. Even gave Elrena a sharp glare as Ienzo listed an objective as finished. "And you allowed him to run off and use a corridor." Elrena glared back and hated to agree. "That kid mentioned about some brutes that could appear in any of the worlds and start more problems. You shouldn't have told Lauraim about that Gurak guy."

Tap! Tap!

Ienzo was the first to notice Lauraim returning with his usual wears and asked him. "You should decide on where you should spend you're recovery, darkness was the reason all of us are in this predicament in the first place and we have other ways across the worlds."

Lauraim brushed his hair and greeted him with a certain smile. "I understand Ienzo, but someone had to deal with that those barbarians."

Even guessed more smugly. "You, negotiating with them. Ma...Lauriam, to think you would stoop that low."

Lauraim didn't care and turned back. "Having more... eager soldiers for this cause was a necessity and something that could provide beneficial for us and the committee."

Elrena gasped and guessed. "You think there is no way we can manage the Forces of Chaos by ourselves? There is only a handful of them and I heard some of them bit the bullet."

Lauraim had an instinctual feeling that the Word Bearers had a deeper plan in motion. "None of us would be laughing if we have legions of demons swarming us or if the Chaos Space Marines... find a way to open a pathway from their galaxy to the worlds and unleash more of their kind. They would not be the massive threat we speak of if it really was a minuscule number," He looked sorrowful. "Death will come soon and it won't just be to them. So what better to delay than encourage something... or someone not too afraid to die, to get into a foolish battle."

Elrena agreed and notice a Commissar approaching. "That's where those brutes come in, shrewd thinking Lauraim."

Even agreed with that and noticed their ease dropper. "If it would give us the time we need, so be it. Tahm, how much have you heard?"

Tahm wasn't too friendly with them and held to his bolt pistol. "More than enough, you are not wrong to assume a legion of heretics on the horizon and I care not for the means to delay the enemy. From what you speak of, this would eliminate two dangers upon the worlds if by some miracle."

Lauraim nodded to him. "Or at least... cripple the delayed waagh to something we can manage."

Tahm placed his bolt pistol away and advised them. "Providing you burn the bodies of the green skins." He asked an eager Ienzo. "Word is you are inviting an... ally from another world to visit the garden with her forces?"

The young scientist answered with a calm smile. "We have the means to transport her armies steeds and her work in Traverse Town is nearly done. We... need to talk with the committee about a postponed project of theirs, Villains Vale is beyond our salvage."

Elrena snickered to him. "But that isn't important, some of us want to know how did a single lady restored an old town she was squandering in." Ienzo was unaware of the double meaning as Elrena continued. "It's about time she sees more people than just her own." She looked up and thought about it. "...Actually, she and her guild is what this town needs once this blows over."

That much the group agreed with as Tahm looked forward to that. "Her experience could provide for more than her town. Now if you will excuse me." He turned. "I must see what Magitinus has to discuss with me and the guardsmen."

He left the group by themselves, Even wondered. "What could that Tech Priest want now?"

Ienzo had no idea and went to his schedule. "We should have a report on the carts update shortly. We should not upset the town with all this talk about war."

In a black and white castle, at the highest tower.

Maleficent was less than pleased with Pete's report and wished to shoo him away. "So even the girl can best you. No matter, we know of the princess's world and some activities of another." Pete felt a lower morale as the witch had something more certain to speak of. "The Eldar have been expelled from the worlds, that wretched Song had been let loose and with that, a new pathway has been opened. One that will be the end of those fools if they continue to trend."

Pete chuckled to that. "Sound like everything is going according to plan."

Maleficent agreed and felt something distorting at the stairway. She turned to find Zagor entering, she sensed the sorcerer's eagerness and spite and greeted him. "Zagor, it was about time you chose to greet us."

The sorcerer gave a polite bow. "It was inevitable, such a salvage, a castle nested so close to the darkness, yet so far to be in shelter."

He approached and gave Pete a burning glare of hatred, scarring the minion off to where he would rather jump to the lower platform than go near the distortions. Maleficent didn't really care and asked. "But that is not the reason you came?"

The Sorcerer shook his head and beckoned her. "Come, the so call war between light and darkness is nearing its end and I wish to thank the one who showed me the way!"

The witch knew the Sorcerer was plotting something and pretended to be curious. "And how is it nearing an end? Surely you and you're followers are aware that the followers of Order and Light are gaining a higher ground."

Zagor gave a small laugh. "Or so they believe! I was been given a task long before I arrived upon this Galaxy, that would... enlighten the children to the full might of Chaos! But that would prove secondary. I have a theory... an experiment that would unleash horrors undreamed of!"

That did interest the witch. "Much like that venom crawler or the Heartless?"

Zagor turned around to the distortion. "Beyond that, those whelps lack the imagination."

Maleficent decided to humor the sorcerer and followed into the distortion of warped thoughts. She felt a small flash of light and was in a part of a space station, a wide circular room that had eight corridors leading to various rooms, right behind her were a hall of cultists chanting and glowing, in one each of the side corridors was a space marine embracing a various cloud of warp energy and convulsing in joyous agony. Their armor cracked and parts of their body swelled from something, she saw parts of their flesh twist as Zagor looked on in pride. "It is a custom with in the war band, for my brethren to embrace the raw energies of chaos, for them and a daemon to become one. As one, they gain a power beyond what their frail forms would provide. To become the very nightmares we seek to wrought."

Maleficent watched the marines limbs twist into something more clawed, one with blades of bone, another with a set of crab claws, one with a pair of wings and long talons, another who's armor burst from mutating flesh and had his chest ripped open, becoming a second set of sharp teeth, she found the devotion to be absolute insanity and looked on to a coffin with a devoted Gurak awaiting something. "This... is your experiment?! A union of flesh and-" She gasped. "That was not what you wish to present to me, you seek to add another to this... unholy union?"

Zagor nodded and called upon a veil of darkness, it took form of a muscular heartless at around his size. The heartless held a blade, had a pendulum like blade for a tail, demonic horns, wings and a heart shaped hole on its chest. The hints of orange on the horns, flame like ankles and wrist wings give a glow to a pure blooded heartless more powerful than expected. Maleficent cringed at the implications. "The heartless and the daemon can become... one."

Zagor beckoned another force, a shroud of purple energy that took the form of a feminine demon. "Indeed they can as a marine and a daemon can become one." He asked his anxious champion. "Gurak, my most prominent of disciples, what you see is the foundation to an... apotheosis. Are you so willing to toss away what you are... for something that can unmake you?"

The champion looked like he was staring into an abyss, the sorcerer and witch saw the reddish green eyes look horrified at a concept, a demented smile formed. "...Yes master! With this, I would become the foundation of terror that would devour the light of this galaxy! With this, I will become a power beyond those mortals comprehension, they believe they stared into the abyss! THEY BELIEVE WRONG! I WILL BECOME THAT ABYSS!"

Zagor hummed as Maleficent looked upon the possessed marines, snarling and looking upon her like she was prey. "And how pray tell are you going to become that?!"

Zagor stepped back and focused his power onto Gurak, the marine looked to be in pain and wanted to laugh at it all. "Through the one binding that keeps us together!"

A pink heart glowing and twisting in shadows emerged from Gurak, the marine looked still, Zagor held the heart with in his hand as he looked upon the daemon. "To become one with the darkness! To take the foundations of all that is and to become an avatar of absolute! One must be willing to give up all that is, that is what the universe rewards. Those willing to toss themselves upon the fires of Hell, to let go and become one with the darkness."

The heartless fluttered to the heart like it was a waiting delicacy, with sheer will, Zagor broke the heartless down into a black mist as the daemon allowed the darkness to take her. Maleficent gave credit where it was due. "You seek to unite these two evils with that of a heart and through that power, Gurak would become like both with his body and heart being the vessel... something that could be more powerful than either of the three alone."

Zagor smiled to one who understands such a craft. "Alone, they have been bested time and time again!"

Maleficent heard screaming from behind her, they became a rather violent sound of flesh and bones twisting and ended as inhuman moans, she chose not to look and assume that use to be the cultists. "But you know the guardians of light would oppose this union and would try to stop it. The worlds themselves lead them here to stop you."

Zagor let the powers mix and let the heart hover to a swirl of twisting darkness. "And they will be too late! The wonders me and my brother had wrought upon the worlds would seem... minuscule." He turned his head towards the witch that was losing her speech. "You who have forsaken you own small world, because you know you are not the greatest evil among this galaxy. Who is moments away to understanding the Dark Word. Everything about your reality will fade into forever." He clenched his fists and caused the powers to slither with in the heart, Maleficent rolled her eyes in doubt, to let that much darkness with in a heart would result in its complete annihilation, the mist slithered in and the heart gave off an unnatural glow. A shine resembling eight points that left the witch speechless as Zagor gestured like it was a gentle drop. Letting the heart float back to Gurak, the Sorcerer had his arms wide as he continued. "The limits of a heart strength, pushed beyond boundaries! So begins the next phase, would the body endure? Will Gurak finally embrace his destiny? Where so many failed?"

Maleficent's glared and hissed. "You insane fool! Even if he survives, he would become nothing more than a vessel of Darkness, not a ruler of it."

The possessed marines looked taken aback as Zagor turned to her, the skulls burned brightly as the sorcerer laughed. "That is the point! Through him, the Dark Gods would be unleashed! Through him, the Dark Gods will bring us glory." His laughter became louder as the heart sank into Gurak, he woke up in a jolt and spasm out of control, like he was having a seizure. "THROUGH HIM, WE WILL FINALLY WITNESS THE BEGINNING OF THE END! THE END TO THE FOUNDATION OF ORDER! THE END TO THE LIGHT OF LIGHTS, AS IT IS SNUFFED OUT!" Gurak vomited a stream of dark ichor, it covered his armor and face, the blackened body floated in the air as the Sorcerer broke down in his madness. "THE WORD OF THE DARK WILL FINALLY BE REALIZED TO THESE PATHETIC, IGNORAMUSES! ALL WHO DO NOT EMBRACE THIS PATH, WILL BE DEVOURED!"

Gurak's body swelled ten fold as Zagor felt the power blow behind his back, he saw the Mistress of All Evil, look absolutely horrified. Satisfied, he turned back to watch the limbs bloat and twist, spiked horns erupting from Gurak's skull into a heart shape that was adorned with three spikes each, those not sticking out ward grew inward of the pattern. The top of the horns merged together and faced upward, with more horns merging with the collective. Guraks forehead glowed a red line, connecting the pattern and dropping across his face.

His backpack bursted open and fell onto the floor. Thin, black, gossamer wings grew from his back, it had crimson red linings at the edge of the wings. The fore wings had two chain like stripes grow towards the marines back and the two hind wings gave an outward curve. Resembling the emblem of the heartless. Gurak's armor split to expose black flesh, the shoulders had glowing yellow eyes, his left limb twisting into a giant crab like claw that had many yellow eyes, his right limb burst into a bestial claw, the palm opened two yellow eyes and split vertically to split pearly white teeth and three blue tongues that had fanged maws at the end. The marines armored torso opened two eyes on each side and the stomach tore horizontally to reveal another maw. His boots burst to show clawed feet and the marines head twisted along with the horns. The reddish green eyes remained intact, yet the rest of the face tore itself apart to grow a lamprey like mouth, his tongue resembling a hooked dagger. His blackened armor, what was left of it, glowed a bright red. Maleficent's eyes widened and she focused a spell that would open the shadows beneath her and have her flee. A collection of stinging voices whispered with in her mind. "We are something beyond your minds understanding! We are the nightmares your black heart flees from! We are the dark that is free from sanity." The unholy monstrosity landed and caused the ground to quake, the combined voices laughed at her. "We are Xaw'Rak, we are Chaos!"

Zagor's laughter became that of triumph. "THROUGH THE GUIDANCE OF THE GODS! WE BECAME DARKNESS ITSELF! THROUGH THE RESILIENCE OF NURGLE, WE BRING DESPAIR! THROUGH KHORNE'S COURAGE, WE SPARK FEROCITY! THROUGH TZEENTCH'S AMBITION, TREACHERY TURNS BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER! THROUGH SLAANESH'S JOY, DEBAUCHERY CONSUMES ALL! THIS IS CHAOS UNDIVIDED! THIS IS THE POWER THE WARMASTER SEEKS! THROUGH US, THE WHOLE GALAXY WILL DROWN WITH IN A BLACK CRUSADE THAT WILL RIVAL HORUS'S REBELLION!"

Maleficent felt a darkness finally beneath her and her fading out as Xaw'Rak looked down upon her and twitched his main tongue. "And you, Mistress of All Evil, will be made the first to understand what separates us from you!" The tongue shot out like a harpoon, Maleficent disappeared and the tongue pierced into nothing.

Zagor shook his head in disappointment. "That for all her spite, for all her evil, she focuses only on herself. She witness's true devotion and she falters."

Xaw'Rak's many maws twitched and the voice warned. "Brother, the Master calls."

Zagor turned around to a distortion and kneel, the distortion made itself clear, revealing a large man in thick, black armor that had brass highlights, resembling demonic faces, skulls and a belt with a symbol of chaos. His left shoulder pad had a symbol of eight points, complimented by a glowing orange eye with a black, slit pupil. His right hand hold a glowing sword with screaming faces, his left hand was in a mighty clawed gauntlet with two wrist mounted guns. He had no helmet and had a red top knot, he wore a flowing fured cape and an accessory of trophies, a red space marines helmet and a variety of skulls. Zagor humbly greeted the image. "We have had complications making a foot hold, but all is proceeding as planned. Warmaster Abaddon, the Despoiler!"

The Warmaster looked down upon him and at the monstrosity that joined in a kneel. "This is what you promised me when the warp rift opened?! A galaxy with an... enticing tool for us to bend to our will?" He gave a smirk. "You have done well Zagor! You may rise."

The Sorcerer did so and promised him. "The mysteries of darkness are ours to take! We will begin the final stages momentarily and through our power, open the way for you, Warmaster!"

Abaddon nodded to that. "If they believe they can resist, then they will be crushed under the Black Legion's heel when they suffer the full might of Chaos Undivided, the might of the Champions of Chaos."

Zagor gasped. "You speak of the four aligned?!" The Despoiler became stoic to him. "I do, they will obey me when I speak of the prize that awaits," Zagor held from laughing. "You will tear the beating Heart of All Worlds from this galaxy's bleeding chest! Then at long last, this long war will finally end in o...you're triumph."

Abaddon ordered him. "Go begin the ritual, we will meet in person soon!"

The distortion cleared, with the chance, Zagor hissed. "And then you will become my tool for spreading the Dark Word."

Xaw'Rak watched the hall and sank into the ground, twisting and turning the station to its liking, the many lumps of mutated flesh animated to its will. "May the Darkness come, may Chaos triumph!"

Zagor agreed and looked upon him in praise. "Yes brother, we will show the bearers of light their folly!"

At the castle.

Maleficent was gasping as Pete came up with a mutual feeling of terror. "Misses, you were right to say they couldn't be trusted. There just is things you shouldn't mix!"

Maleficent yelled at him in anger. "And even you understand the threshold of insanity." She plotted her scheme. "For as linked to the Darkness as Chaos is, the Word Bearers and what they stand for is a threat to that stability. They didn't simply let the darkness consume them, they became one with it and consume the worlds into hell." She formed an evil smile. "Fortunately, we don't have to set one foot into that place. Sora and the other fools will do that for us, this may require everything they have... everything, just to push them back."

Pete nervously laughed. "If they haven't had enough reasons, they will when they know what kind of messed up junk is in there."

That Maleficent agreed with and readied a spell. "And apparently Zagor is bound to a master that their Imperial friends may know of. Oh what grim times are ahead of them."

At Traverse Town during a morning.

Kairi watched a video Ken advised her on watching. A fast pace one with Sora and Riku flying around everywhere and clashing blows, she was less than amused as Donald and Goofy were impressed. The shield bearer chuckled. "Hi-yuck! They sure outdid themselves!"

The mage agreed with that as the teenage boys were arriving in the park, waking up for another adventure. "For sleepy heads."

Kairi gave a mischievous smile to the newly arrived boys, turned off the video and put her phone away. Ken cringed and backed away. "We...got a long while to go before we catch-" Kairi stopped him. "I know! We are going to get left behind soon if we don't do something and we don't have the time."

Sora heard that and smiled nervously to Kairi. "Uhhhhhh..."

Riku tried to say something, didn't wish to rub salt to the novices wounds and asked. "We don't know much of this world, just... do the best you can and don't think about us."

Mickey arrived with the four space marines, the sister of battle, Tahm and his guardsmen, speaking of good news. "Magitinus said he built something for Hofneil and the others for when we need them the most. It's easy for Resira, Tahm and his guard to blend in... but not a space marine."

Donald looked at the four hulking super soldiers and quacked. "The magic doesn't work that way."

Resira imagined people, both innocent and guilty, running away before she had the chance at subtly and pressed her hands together like a saint. "It is our duty to bring order to the worlds, not cause more anarchy. We will trend where the angels would not."

Elric, Thompson and Perkins saluted the Iron Snakes as Tahm let the marines know. "Consider it an honor to be of aid."

Hofneil allowed it as Pyriel, Nathanal and Dabriel let the guard know their service is commendable. "Then it is an honor to know you all are aiding us."

Wanda arrived to see the massive group and felt a big adventure was coming. "It's an even greater honor to know you all are doing it for our sake," She winked and hinted. "Come around at Radiant Garden when it is over. There is going to be a big celebration thats coming as a thanks to everyone for making all of this happen."

Riku imagined it and wanted to take the offer. "Don't think of partying just yet. The day hasn't really started until that Tech Priest gets here."

Sora gave a dorky smile and shine optimism, catching the grim dark soldiers off guard. "It will be good to finally slow down and get back to something more fun. What do you have in mind Wanda?"

The general opened her mouth to answer and saw the image of green fire erupt out of nowhere behind the boy, stopping herself as the group turned to it. Taking the form of an illusion of a certain witch smiling evilly. Donald had his want ready and yelled. "Maleficent!"

The guardsmen, Nathanel, Resira, Pyriel and Tahm unleashed their various ranged weaponry at her the instant they saw the dark signs. Maleficent was more smug at the bullets, lasers and fire that simply flew past her as Wanda noticed and barked at them. "This is just an illusory spell! Nothing we can do about this kind of magic."

The witch agreed with her and focused on the Imperial forces. "An ever observant eye for a mayor of a wretched little town of nothing," Most looked in anger from that as the witch had a sharp one for the ones from another galaxy. "And quite a zealot instinct against that which you are ignorant of, soldiers of the holy God Emperor."

Resira took out a chain sword and barked at her. "You mock the Emperor on these grounds witch?! You will pay with-" Riku and Kairi held her back as Sora asked bored. "What do you want, you hag? We got bigger things to deal with."

Maleficent nearly burst into laughter and cast a spell revealing a particular Sorcerer most have seen before, the image of Zagor. "You mean this madman? Indeed he is, are any of you aware of the kind of atrocities he committed and will commit?"

Hofneil had his power sword ready and answered the witch. "He is a Master of Possessions from the Word Bearers, his deeds are numerous and if we do not stop him, we fear he would bring a galactic Armageddon of unholy proportions."

Ken jolted and asked. "Don't tell me, he has another one cooked up for us?"

Sora turned to the blonde boy with his mouth wide as the image of Zagor shifted to a heartless emblem with in a symbol of Chaos, the witch was all too eager to torment the group with fear of the future. "Two forces which should never be, in an unholy matrimony! To all that is sane, this would pose a dire threat, to those like Zagor and the Warmaster he serves, it is an ultimate vitory on the horizon."

Hofneil and his space marines stopped as Sora tensed. "And why should we believe you?"

Hofneil looked at him like the Warmaster was not someone to underestimate as Maleficent pointed to the space marine. "For he knows who I speak of! Ask him."

Her laughter became louder and her form vanished in green fire, letting loose an over the top cackle as Riku gritted his teeth. "A Warmaster?! Please tell me this isn't going to get worse?"

Hofneil stared at Riku in silence like he didn't wish to ruin the morning, Pyriel tried leading the way to the train station with a recommendation. "Stress would hinder judgemental decisions and weaken you're immune system, at a time like this it would mean certain death in battle."

Riku's eyes looked to the ground as he asked. "It's going to get worse, much worse."

Hofneil ordered Pyriel to stop and answered Riku's question. "...The Warmaster of Chaos... the Lord of the Black Legion. She speaks of Abaddon."

Sora had his hands behind his head and tried to naively say. "We can take him."

The words didn't even leave his mind as Mickey asked. "None of us have the power to stop Abaddon if he shows up?"

Hofneil shook his head. "If Abaddon was present, we would have as much hope as a loose gravel of rock, moments away from behind engulfed by lava, as the star nearby the planet expires and undergo a super nova," He marched off with positive news. "Fortunately, hiding in the shadows isn't what Abaddon is infamous for, Zagor... might still seek to summon him. If we can end that heretical sorcerer, then Abaddon would never come. Come, we have a war to stop."

The space marines followed as Resira and Tahm looked still with fear. As vague as the description of Abaddon was, it was enough to affect the hearts of the most stalwart of the Emperor's servants. The Adeptas Sororitas regained composure and advised to the teenagers and animal like people. "It is best to never ask questions about things better off unsaid, for imagination would haunt you as much as the answer."

She walked off to join the space marines as Tahm realized he was being a bad example to his men and ordered loudly. "Men, we are to pretend we never heard of this and advance! The war ends today!"

The trio saluted and followed their leader, leaving a smaller group behind as Wanda sighed. "And... I'll have my men organized for a rendezvous to the garden, they could use the help," She pressed her right hand into a fist and pressed it onto her chest in a salute. "May Sigmar's hammer strike true for you!"

With her gone, Riku regretted ever asking. "That witch is nothing but spite... let's worry about this after we unlock the path to Zagor."

Kairi agreed with that and cheered. "It's a good thing you and Sora learned some new tricks. We need to pull everything we can."

Donald and Goofy looked to each other in an understanding that alone, they can't keep up with that, the duck joined in a cheer. "Come on, we haven't given up before, all for one and one for all!"

Goofy had his hand forward in agreement. "If we all work together, we can make it through anything they have for us."

Donald joined in along with Mickey. Kairi placed her hand in the group and that brought the two boys to join in, the shadows of a fearful grimdark battle removed from their minds as Ken joined in. Mickey cheered with the seven. "We won't give up, not now or ever! All for one," The group raised their hand to the sky and cheered. "and one for all!"

During a morning outside of the Duradin's Cradle.

Aqua and Moonfang listened to a story Nerax had to share, the keyblade master gasped. "It was that large of a Slaanesh cult in that Shyish town and they summoned what?!"

The knight Venator nodded and looked at Aqua's completed pendent. "A Keeper of Secrets that was attempting to claim the mantle of its god, ignorant of current events." He asked her. "You believe the power of the heart is enough to give the Heartstone its own power back? How... could that be possible?"

Aqua tried to guess as a Stardrake with black scales and star like spikes landed to drop Lorustra off, the Drakesworn Templar apologized unusually humble. "Sorry we were late, we were given new orders to assist with this stone."

Nerax wanted to whistle at him. "Let it go Loru, we will know when it is time to begin the final steps. We are part of a guard... though I doubt anyone would be able to attempt intruduing in such a manner."

Aqua doubted that and saw she and the group were glowing in light.

PEW!

The party of five were summoned to what seems to be the top of a tower overlooking a city bellow, the roofless sky gave Aqua the feeling of being in a telescope, the planets and stars gave her that old feeling of being in another world as a masculine voice from behind coughed. "Lady Aqua, Lord Lorustra, Knight Nerax, Lady Arreia has summoned you."

The three turned around to find a Stormcast with a top knot, armed with a hand canon like cross bow. Nine stalwart crossbow man and nine stormcasts with a hammer and shield, lead by a man with a great blade surrounded the area in guard. Loru smiled at the judicator prime. "This is a light task, but it is one of the most important ones for a whole realm. Consider it an honor to be here Raelorian."

The judicator prime was taken aback by the pep talk as a trio of winged storm cast kept flight above, one with a great hammer, the others with duel hammers. Loru got on Night Scale and whispered. "We join there for now."

Swoop!

The Stardrake flew up as Raelorian lead Aqua to a circle of ten evocators, Davas and Sathea were the two most center as the rank and file were awaiting orders from the stormcast at the center, Arreia. Raelorian addressed the Lord Arcanum. "Lady Arreia, me and my men will keep guard in... the off chance we have someone attack."

The Lord Arcanum ordered him. "It's due to... a theory of mine, this realm is safe from out enemies, but so long as we have that flaw with in, there could be one who would seek to destroy the Heartstone all over again. That is why you, Gashen and Vandax above are... the guard. Nerax, you are to join our persecutors and support them while Loru and Nightscale act as our hammer."

The knight venator took flight to the sky with the Stardrake as Gashen called to the judicator prime, Raelorian went to his post as the Lord Arcanum let Aqua know of her plan. "We think due to how the Heartstone is used, it requires an ample supply of strong magic to power it. Death magic, the magic from you're keyblade."

Aqua had something to correct her on. "Or by giving power from the heart to power the stone, like how that warband tried to use the fragment of Chamon. How much would it be required?"

Arreia answered uncertain. "For something like making a way back to a realm far away from ours... it could take a lot. It may take hours and I hope you took advantage of the free resources when you can, you might be up here all day... maybe more."

Aqua didn't mind as Moonfang readied itself to watch. "But what will you have me do?"

Arreia advised. "You wait unless there is something we need from you. A keyblade is not required to power the stone, leave the fueling to us and we are thankful for that, for as long as we can endure, you cannot."

Aqua found it a fair statement as the Lord Arcanum ordered. "Hallowed Knights, are you ready? We will make a path to save the realm beyond and we will do it proudly!"

The many let the general know they were, Aqua let her pendent float to the center and watched the general step back. The eleven mages focused and poured their power into the stone, Aqua felt her own heart beating in excitement, she turned back and looked to the sky, feeling there was someone missing that would have liked to see her in this moment. She closed her eyes and remembered a hero in silver and blue, glowing with the storms. "...Thank you Ana, for everything."