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?

37. Glamour

On a gummi ship sailing past the world of Destiny Islands, Kairi let the ship sail and had an odd text. Ken of all people texting her. "How is your day right now?"

Kairi texted back. "Fine, me and the guys found out something and I found something that belonged to Master Aqua and we're heading to where I hope she is," She was given a wide smiley face and a text. "Oh she is, but if you see a castle on your stop, don't go in yet," Kairi showed the text to Namine, the blonde girl put her right hand over her face and was trying not to laugh, the princess asked. "You wandered to a place you shouldn't have and Master caught you red handed?"

Ken texted. "Correct and I might have turned this castle into a complete death trap by accident," Namine looked and whispered to Kairi. "It wouldn't have mattered." The Princess imagined disaster with in and texted with a bit of disappointment. "And I'm sure Master has already told you about what you done," She saw agreement. "That's why I'm helping her clean this mess up. Also a warning if you fight her, she learned a couple new things that's pretty cool." Namine really wanted to know and stayed her voice as Kairi noticed the ship by a world looking like a vast grass land, she texted. "What is it?"

Ken answered. "That would be a surprise, but seriously what ever you found might make her day a lot better than it is now. See you soon," Namine hummed. "What did he do to make the castle like that?"

Kairi had a better idea, put her phone away and held her nobody's hand. "Let's see what we can do. What does the castle do?" Namine answered her. "It creates illusions depending on your memories. But where did he go to have memories so... dangerous?"

Light shined and Kairi answered as she kept her teacher's keyblade in hand. "To fill a whole castle? Not... enough and he would be this happy if it had anything to do with... that." Namine shivered as the light shined, spiriting the two to a grass land with a long stretch of road. Sora appeared carrying the set armor with Donald and Goofy, they had a case of deja vu as Kairi told the three what happened.

Sora felt like the situation was confusing and insane. "He kept talking about finding something new to him," He smiled nervously. "I guess it wasn't as new as he thought. Ha, ha." Donald imagined it and looked ahead, appreciating. "Well he learned it now." Goofy nodded to that. "Y'all ready? We got to hurry." Namine lead the way across the long road.

In Anor Londo

A tower ascended and let Aqua, Ken and Jambert walk across to a set of stairs leading to a cathedral. The teacher looked at her student's smile, like he wanted to say something when given the chance. "I knew you were doing something Jambert wouldn't get, we'll talk once we get into the cathedral," They walked up the stair way and found two sentinels keeping guard, one at a left gate way to a ledge of pink winged demons, the other at a right gate way leading to something more expansive. Both sentinels approached and were ready for battle. Jambert rushed to the left knight as Aqua flashed skipped to the right one, her keyblade bouncing back from the sentinel as Ken used his air magic to jump behind, he dismissed his ranged weapon and held his melee oriented weapon with both hands, he stabbed the sentinel in the back with a charge, pulled, jumped back, held his burning keyblade on his left hand and caused a great fire ball to form in his cybernetic hand. He aimed and shot three at the sentinel as Aqua jumped in his place.

PEW!

She shot an ice ball at the sentinel and caused it to fall over dead. Jambert rolled from a shield slam and hacked the other sentinel down, with the foes vanquished, Jambert approached the closed door and cursed. "Fiddlesticks, this one's locked as well,"

Ken called back his gun like keyblade and looked up at the gargantuan Cathedral. "So we are going to have to find our way around this too?" Aqua sensed something unusual went to the passage to the right. "I guess so."

To the right of the courtyard, she found another locked door and turned to find a ledge down a set of stairs, two pink winged demons perched, ready to strike. She threw herself at them, jabbed one in the chest, jumped back and flung a spear of light upon another. The jabbed demon nearly fell off as the other was knocked off limp, the demon took flight and was dealt a finishing blow, Aqua heard another from behind, side flipped and caused five masses of energy to form. She sprinted and struck the demon in melee as the orbs of energy turned into beams and finished it off, clearing the way as she noticed a buttress leading to the top of a tower.

Ken whistled and followed as Jambert stumbled and admitted. "I say, that is a sure way to deal with those fiends," Aqua looked at another buttress connecting the tower to somewhere at the side of the cathedral and thanked the compliment. "This is the best place to practice and we should get in there quickly." She lead the way down as Ken agreed with her and followed. "I'm seeing where this is going."

Aqua had a vision of an old skill being something of an appetizer. "There is nowhere near enough enemies for me to try it, but this magic compliments what I use." Jambert followed behind and saw not one, but two pink demons, one at the closest left pillar, the other at the far right. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you are like the mighty creatures we've been fighting up till now," Ken imagined a dozen things to watch out for and agreed with him, he jumped to the furthest pillar to the left in a sprint, catching the demons off guard, the demon closest to the buttress was tackled and flipped upside down by Jambert as Aqua made quick work of the other demon. Ken heard something to his right and barked. "Arrows coming from the left!"

Aqua hid behind the pillar as Jambert decapitated the demon, found a salvageable spear and tried to pick it up, two javelins flew at him and nearly knocked him to the edge, piercing through his armor and leaving a mark that Aqua and Ken cringed. PEW!

Jambert crawled out of the way and pulled the javelins out. He was bleeding and he drank from his flask to try and stop it. Javelines flung and Ken took his chance to look at the trouble, he found a silver armored knight with a bow, on a ledge far away and in a position where he couldn't make a clear shot. PEW!

Ken backed into a corner and watched the javelin fly past him. Jambert had an idea. "In your position, there would be no easy way to get up without the threat of getting skewered," Ken counted the spike like rails and calculated. "Those could help block the way," Aqua took her turn and saw a pillar ahead along with another silver knight on a ledge way that lead to what seems to be a balcony, she saw a faint shine of metal on the knight and backed into the corner. Watching the javeline capable of mortal wounds fly past. "And that pillar could help, but you need to time it."

Jambert laughed to that and readied a large shield with the symbol of an eagle. "Or you can have someone with... less caution, bull rush to the pillar while Sir Kendry defeats our ranged foes." Ken thought that was a good idea and signaled the knight to come towards him. "I'll get you up there if those things push you back and then you can leave the rest to me. Go, go, go!" Jambert rushed to him and rolled to dodge overly large arrows, Jambert hid behind his eagle shield and charged, Ken followed close, the arrows fired and missed them as they reached behind the pillar.

Ken pressed his back to the pillar and crawled to the left, he flipped forward and found one of the silver knights letting loose its arrow. The boy stepped to the right to dodge and revealed more of himself. Aiming Cadia's Light and letting loose his automatic upon the silver knight. The knight blocked with its shield and was pushed back over the buttress, falling to his death as Jambert noticed something black standing on top of the towers roof, a black robbed figure with two silver cross bows with purple spikes. The knight saw the cross bows quickly aimed at the boy and stood in the way with his shield. Taking the arrows of light and barking. "Come down there and face us, you coward!"

Ken gasped and the knight ordered him. "Focus on the silver knight, we need to get past this gauntlet," Ken did so and stepped forward to find the silver knight contemplating something, the boy aimed at the knight that looked back to him and readied its shield. Ken fired and found little progress as the knight was simply pressed against the wall. The boy stopped and the knight aimed its bow at him, Ken aimed with Firekeeper's Wish and fired a fire ball above, he skipped to the right to dodge a javeline and aimed his gun like keyblade as the fire ball stopped above the knight.

PEW!

The silver knight aimed his shield and looked up to find the fire ball shine like the sun and burst, raining down upon it and causing it to lose its balance and fall off. Ken yelled. "I got it! Jambert, do you have the next punk in sight." The knight tried to answer as the black figure disappeared, Jambert was confused as he saw Aqua wondering what was going on. "He... disappeared. Lady Aqua, you need to hurry.. I think we are being invaded."

Aqua did so and Ken rushed across the buttress and was at the outer wall, keeping his eyes from left to right as he pressed his back against the wall and kept close watch, Jambert switched his shield for his great curved sword and followed as Aqua was quick on her feet. Ken kept to the wall and went over the hexagon like pathway, he found the balcony in view and made his drop down. He watched Jambert drop down and went to a fogged door, Aqua was the last to jump and asked the knight. "Invaded, what are you talking about?"

Jambert answered with memories of annoyance. "Every once and a while, a vagabond from another reality, much like this one would appear and cause all manner of trouble. Some cross bow man in a black coat appeared from the roof top and was gone once I called him out."

He went to the fogged door and entered an orderly hall, finding a spiral stair way up and two doors, one to the left and one to the right. The knight went to the left door and made sure Aqua and Ken were following him before he opened it, being caught by a pleasant surprise and going in more eagerly. "Ah, ha. I knew you would survive those trials," A voice familiar to Ken echoed. "Oh, there you are. You been quite gallant these days." Ken hurried and had a wide smile that Aqua guessed in a whisper. "He is someone else you met?"

Ken nodded and offered to guide her in, holding his teachers hand like a child would to a mother. "He is and we were getting worried that he hollowed out or died trying to come here." The friendly voice asked Jambert. "Smooth summoning out there?"

The knight tried to answer as the keyblade wielders entered a well kept room with a fire place and several tables, with in was a bonfire and a green shouldered knight with a sun tabard. Ken answered the knight. "More than that Solaire. We made quite a few friends here and someone caught up with me." He introduced him to Aqua. "This is Solaire of Astoria. A Warrior of Sunlight that helped Jambert and me against a couple monsters we fought. Including that big monster from the sewer you probably heard." The woman sensed a radiant glow and sat by the bonfire as Solaire greeted her. "You look quite radiant, Milady."

Aqua felt charmed and waved. "Thank you, I'm Aqua... Keyblade Master of the Land of Departure and teacher of Sir Kendry and of Princess Kairi of Destiny Islands." Solaire felt that was a mouthful and looked upon Jambert like a follow brother. "You've had a bright journey since we last met." The undead knight sat down and warmed up. "Oh definitally, I thought something happened to you when your sign didn't appear in the swamp of Blighttown or anywhere in Sen's Fortress."

Solaire fondled his fingers in a confession. "I apologize for not doing so, those boulder wielding barbarians never gave me the chance and those poor souls carrying eggs were haunting. Brave Tarkus has marked his legacy upon the Fortress and it was not my right to dim it." He promised his fellow knight. "But, any time you see my brilliantly shining signature, do not hesitate to call upon me. You and Kendry left me with quite an impression. I would relish the chance to assist you."

Ken blushed and sat by the fire. "Thank you, it was a trouble getting this far, but so far its been worth it. Finding a warm fire with some friends to share it with." Solaire agreed with that. "It's always worth this moment while out on a journey," Jambert nodded. "Especially out in this unforgiving world. What do you know of this Chapel and the Lordvessel?"

Solaire wondered himself. "This place use to be the domain where Lord Gwyn ruled the land of Lordran and the Lordvessel I heard fondly of should be in the highest point. You really are fond of chattering with me aren't you?"

Jambert blushed under his helmet. "Because there is few truly welcoming in these lands." Solaire agreed back. "I guess it doesn't matter where we traveled from, as long as we share the journey together. If I didn't know better, I'd think you had feelings for me!"

Jambert blushed even more as Ken noticed Solaire having a hint of embarrassment in what he said, the warrior of sunlight tried change the subject to Jambert. "Oh, no, dear me. Pretend you didn't hear that," He laughed it off, Jambert joined in the laughter and warmed up. "You would not be wrong to think that. That is what makes the sun more welcoming, instead of something for us to run away from."

Solaire kept calm as Aqua wanted to laugh with them and stopped, Ken stood up and asked her. "I'm going to keep watch until we are ready to look around. Do you think we got past the worst of this city?"

Aqua looked away from the brotherly friendship and answered. "We don't have to watch our steps and this layout is something I'm use to, but we are not welcome here. One miss step and we could find that we are taking on more than we can manage." Ken grabbed a chair and sat in front of the open door. "No windows, only one way in and out, if they come in with weapons ready, they are getting a second to drop them." Jambert fed a black shade to the fire and watched it rise. "I doubt we are going to have another invader soon, but we should stay on guard."

At the end of a grassy plain.

Sora, Donald and Goofy felt like they been in the world before as they found three people keeping watch of a gate to an odd. Riku looked bored and was leaning by the gate as Ana looked upward in wonder with Moonfang, Mikey noticed five people arriving with something odd and approached with a semi scolding. "Stop right there!" Sora, Donald and Goofy stopped cold at the tone of authority, even Kairi and Namine stopped firm with respect, Mickey knew who they were and lightened his aura a little. "You fellas found something and came as soon as you did? This isn't the safest place to come to."

Riku noticed them and ran to them as Sora answered while setting the set of blue armor onto the remaining patch of grass. "We found out something you and Aqua need to know. It's going to be hard to believe," He placed his hands behind his head and gave a goofy smile. "We found Ven's heart and it was in an obvious place the whole time." Riku caught up as Ana turned in shock, the silver haired teenager asked. "You did?! Then where is it?"

Donald and Goofy pointed at Sora's chest, the boy answered more cheerfully. "His heart was with in mine the whole time. Ah, heh." He smiled weakly as Riku puffed his cheeks in a laughing manner and lost control. "Pfhahahahaha! That's weird, but it's good to know it been in a safe place," He looked back to the castle. "We just need to wait for Aqua to finish in there."

Mickey agreed and looked at the armor placed down and the keyblade Kairi had, recognizing it as he asked. "But if you came to say just that, it would have been a pretty careless reason. Are those what I think they are?" Kairi nodded and kept her teachers old keyblade close. "We found Master Aqua's stuff and we had to come here. It could take a while for Master to find Garland and kick him out before we can finally rescue Ven."

Mickey guessed why. "Because someone else is in the castle, Aqua could be running into some obstacles. It's a pretty special place," Namine agreed and said it. "It isn't just Garland, Ken was talking about a world he found that he been wanting to explore and it turned out to be this one."

Riku's mood crashed to an astonishing halt. "Him?! With that weird keyblade of his?! Oh no," Sora sighed. "That's news to no one, so what gives?"

Mickey had his right hand over his face and let go as he answered. "The castle would have more memories to work with from that keyblade than it would from him. As scary as the places we have been to were."

Kairi looked up to the castle and told him. "That's exactly what happened, Aqua caught up with him and he texted me that he is cleaning up this mess," She warned the group. "He also said not to go in there. He said Master has found something that might make her stronger... or-" Mickey finished. "Or new skills that could help her in the long run. So it isn't all bad. Right now, it would be a bit easier to wait and keep watch." Riku felt that was the frustrating part and asked. "While that happens, how did you find out in the first place?" Sora cringed and took a deep breath. "It started when we found a strange world of monsters."

In the Cathedral of Anor Londo.

Ken and Aqua explored the hall and watched Jambert explore the room next to the bonfire. A silver knight with a straight sword and shield awaited them behind the spiral stairs, Aqua approached and asked her student. "I'll handle this one, see what else is in these rooms."

Ken understood and watched the knight charge at Aqua with a frontal stab, the teacher back flipped and quickly counted him with a parry and riposte, the boy went to the hall and found a door on his left, finding a room filled with drawers and had two tables with scrolls. He mentally drowned out the sound of a one sided battle and found a fire place looking odd. He walked to it and tapped it with the hilt of his gun like keyblade, feeling it go through, revealing an illusion that faded into a corridor. Ken explored in without much concern and went down stairs to a dark room filled with columns. By the walls were lines of treasure chests, most were dark brown and with curved chains, save for one by itself, looking light brown and having a straight chain.

He approached with his gun like keyblade aimed and focused deeply, causing it to radiate light at the nozzle, the boy pulled the trigger and fired, shooting a beam wider than the keyblade and causing the chest to open its lid to reveal a mouth of teeth, the mimic sprout its legs and tried to jump out of the way as the beam punctured it and sent it slamming against a wall. Part of it cracked and shattered on impact, Ken stopped and watched the mimic slide down the wall dead. He noticed something sticking out from the mimics chest and pulled it out, a club that reeked of darkness, a hunger for life and bile, Ken yelped and tossed it to his left.

He looked to the other chests and opened them, the one next to a chest on the corner had a bigger black club that resembled a tooth. The one in the corner had a massive stone shield, the two chests behind the boy felt more tempting, he went to open them and saw thick pieces of a stone set of armor. "Wow!"

He heard foot steps and felt a comforting presence coming. He turned to find Aqua weary of the dark and startled by the brutally displayed corpse of the mimic, the boy explained. "I wasn't fooled by that thing and it got the idea that it needed to move, don't pick that club up. It's evil."

Aqua looked to the left corner to find an ordinary looking club. She squinted her eyes, approached the weapon and made the mistake of picking it up, feeling a void that hungered for the light, that desires nothing more than to slaughter the divine. She looked mortified and simply dropped it, she asked to try and calm down. "But what was it doing here?"

Ken guessed as he heard clanking armor coming. "Someone that really hated the gods, the silver knights came here and wasn't too careful when he or she found this room? Guess the element of darkness really does exist in the world?"

Aqua found that disturbing as Jambert entered with an impressive silver spear and looked like he found a mother load. Aqua warned the knight and wanted to kick the club into the dark corner. "This is the only thing here that's junk you really don't need." Jambert took the woman's word for it as Ken pointed to the chests. "These however are pretty interesting. What did you find?"

Jambert put the spear on his back and went to check the find, having rather dramatic flash backs on seeing the set. "It's a spear I took from a silver knight guarding a sun medal. It seems Havel had a position here before I found him in his tower. I should consider packing this when I have a better time."

He showed a ring with many stones. "This is the secret to how one many could carry such a load." Aqua was interested in the tale. "I see and Havel hollowed and tried to attack you?"

Jambert nodded and lead the way out. "As I explored a tower I shouldn't have and was squished many times," The group of three went back to the hall and found the last door locked from the other side. They went to the spiral stairway and traveled up past the next floor and found a floor with two door ways ahead. Jambert put the spear away and went back to his server, he opened the door and found another silver knight with a spear, he rolled to battle as Aqua heard deep breathing, followed and looked bellow to find an odd statue like demon, breathing heavily, wielding a massive pole on its right hand and having a stone like structure on its back. Ken noticed and readied his shot as he watched Jambert strike the knight down from its back. "And this?"

Jambert looked down and carefully backed away. "You don't want to fight those, although they have valuable titanite. The stones you saw me gather," Ken smiled to him and aimed for the demons chest. "And if we want to search there, we need it dead." The titanite demon raised its pole at Ken's head and caused the tip to crackle, the boy backed up and promised the two as he watched a thunder bolt pass through. "I'll let you know when it's dead." He went back over the ledge and fired down.

Aqua and Jambert understood and left the room, they went to the stair room and found an odd treasure chest in both the left and right. Jambert grumbled on seeing the straight chains and went to the left chest with the intent to kill as Aqua approached the one to the right. She rushed at the chest and stabbed it in the lock, the chest revealed its maw and gagged in agony, Aqua went deeper in, kicked the mimic back and flung a fire spell into its mouth, burning it and causing the mimic to collapse on its back. A silver coin covered in saliva spilled out as the woman heard something falling over in a thud, she picked it up and met to another hall with a silver knight by a window. Readying its bow and arrow at the keyblade master.

PEW!

Aqua flipped forward and watched Jambert charge after the knight with a reckless yell, flipping it upside down and sending it falling off. Aqua felt a hint of danger was averted and went to the door on the left to open it and found herself in an odd, well decorated bed room with rich looking paintings, a fire place and high standards to living, this was more than a cathedral, it was a palace. Jambert entered to look around at the tapestry. "It's like you step into a whole different world compared to the ruin."

THUD!

They heard a mighty foe fall as Aqua agreed and noticed a door at the end of the room. "It's always like that. Go look around while I wait for Ken to get here," Jambert nodded, went to the door to open it, went across unaware and was carved into by a silver knight that caught him by surprise. Jambert rolled out of the way and done battle, Aqua looked away and saw her student keeping his guard proudly. "That was easy once I kept the shot at him."

The teacher stood aside and let Ken have a look at the room, the boy wanted to experiment and took out his phone at a window of golden light. Click! He looked with in and saw the bitter image of an all white, empty room. "Grr."

They heard something being knocked to a wall and went to the room past the door, finding a bloodied Jambert with another dead silver knight and a corridor to a spiral stairway up, the undead drank from his flask as Ken reported. "The demon is dead, we just got to go pick up the goods."

He walked past the door and up the spiral stairway to find an open stone yard of various passage ways, he found a silver knight by a doorway left and felt it was unaware. He put Firekeeper's Wish down and focused with both hands at the silver knights head.

PEW!

He snipped the knight and caused it to fall over limp, dead. He stepped into the golden light and shook his head as Jambert and Aqua followed him. The teacher noticed a silver knight in the far end of the roof top, walking from the door and seeing what happened. Aqua crouched in preparation and silently pointed to the males to go down the other path.

She jumped from structure to structure in a flow and confused the knight, long enough for her to shoot herself at the knight like a spinning missile and letting loose a quick flurry of attacks. The silver knight landed on the wall and was attacked by something that flickered in and out of existence. It fell dead in that glow and Aqua went forward in the door way, going to a spiraled stair way that lead downward until it couldn't go downward anymore. She entered one last hall way that had stairs leading up to somewhere grand. She went to the right in an attempt to investigate and found a tall room with the heads of many drakes. She found two silver knights waiting on guard. On looking at the end of a stair way squaring down, the other by a chest. She jumped down from the edge and the knights looked a tad astonished. They charged with their lances, the woman back flipped and circled around them fast, she stuck fast and pulsed in ice magic, the knights took the damage and blocked with their shields, they tried to stab her with their spears and missed as she circled around and flicked them to a wall with freezing ice balls that made contact and froze them in place. She looked to the back of her right and saw a door, opening it and seeing a familiar place.

"This place was once so beautiful." Aqua turned and found the Firekeeper trying to look at her, the keyblade master agreed to that. "There isn't any denial, it really is the capital of this land. Do you want to talk about what happened to it?"

The Firekeeper shook her head and focused on what was important. "It's fate was also in the past. Up above leads the way to the Chosen Undead's destiny, when the doubts with in his heart burned away. Two warriors will stand in thy way, the Executioner... Smough, detested by many for his brutal practices. Yet a loyal guard of Anor Londo's royalty. The other is the honorable Dragon Slayer, Ornstein, who's spear can cleave boulders."

Aqua was at a lost of what to expect. "We are going to battle both of them and it sounds like... an unlikely team." The Firekeeper nodded. "It is one memory that burned the brightest among the others. But... why were the heartless here a moment ago? Who was the invader Jambert mentioned?"

Aqua answered with the knowledge coming together. "The heartless came when that man sneaked into the castle through a corridor and he is here for me. How else would he have been able to stand in a place near impossible for those of the world to stand on?"

The memory connected and she felt annoyed. "And I know who it is. I never thought one of the Castle's illusions would drive him away like he did." The Firekeeper asked teasingly. "Thou still talk about Jambert as if he is?"

Aqua placed her hand on her chest and felt crestfallen. "I have to, if the real one's heart is like what we seen and heard, it would hurt to say goodbye once we have to leave this one behind. Firekeeper, what do you know of the power that club had?"

The Firekeeper rubbed her left arm. "One of the occult, of the Dark that consumed the world. If thou continues to travel the castle, thou will understand." Aqua had a head ache and sat on one of the two treasure chests. "It and the Darkness I know sound one and the same. I'll know when I see it."

In another part of the cathedral.

Ken and Jambert walked down a spiral stair case and found a familiar, onion like knight leaning by a wall near an open window. Siegmeyer was lost in thought and folded his arms. "Mmm...hrmmmm. What ever can be done?" Jambert asked. "Sir Siegmeyer, up against a wall again?" The Knight of Catarina turned his head in astonishment. "Ah, you two again! I'm afraid so. Let me guess. Were you repelled by the Silver Knights?"

Ken nodded. "They attacked us at every turn just for trying to get past the front door," Jambert agreed to that. "Alone, they are formidable, but in twos or threes, you can consider a retreat." Siegmeyer agreed and assured. "Aww, don't be ashamed. 'Tis the fate of vanguards like you and I. I'll think of something. We can over come this together!"

Ken looked over to an ominous door and thought out loud. "There is a few silver knights across the room?"

Siegmeyer was thinking too hard. "This is quite a fix. We'll need another three, no, maybe five bodies." Jambert sighed and went to get the door. "Or we can resolve this with just the two of us. Kendry, I shall get the door, when I roll, you roll."

The boy understood and watched Jambert open the door, the door went to the left and Jambert looked to his right, rolling out of the way of a swing from a straight sword. Ken rolled further in and watched Jambert do combat with the silver knight and noticed two more approaching. He looked ahead into a bed room, swiped both keyblades and let loose a wave of fire and ash, the knights pushed through and the one on the left met a laser beam to the chest, killing it instantly as Jambert knocked his knight against a corner, rolled in the way of the right, took out a small shield and used it to parry a blow. He riposte as a finishing blow. Ken whistled and watched Jambert notice an intact shield from his bested knight. The knight took it and went to a chest to open it and pick up two chunks of rune titanite.

Jambert put his treasure away and went to open the door as he smiled towards Ken. "Excellent, my boy." He opened the door and Ken smiled back, he went back to where Siegmeyer was leaning at and had news to give. "The way is cleared."

Jambert followed as Siegmeyer hummed a delayed reaction, like his mind was lost in thought for a moment. "Mm! Oh-hoh! What's on your mind friend?" He remembered the words and asked. "Wait... You defeated those monsters?!" He gave praise to the sun. "Fantastic, I'm saved!" He pointed his thumb to himself. "This knight of Catarina hereby commends you!" He had two small rings with a pink gem and gave them to the duo. "Take this, as a token of my gratitude," Ken and Jambert appreciated it as Siegmeyer advised. "But be warned, gallantry entails great risks. Next time, give me a chance to come up with a plan."

The two promised they would as Ken guessed. "It was just a bad time and those knights can be a bit rough. I hope we meet again." He went up the stairs with his reward as Jambert gave Siegmeyer a knights farewell. "You achieved much reaching here by yourself. I'd say I'm quite humbled." Siegmeyer appreciated it. "Thank you Sir Jambert. I wish you fair travels." Jambert and Siegmeyer gave a nod of respect and parted ways.

The undead followed Ken up to the roof and saw the boy marched to the middle door way. "We are slowly finding our way around this place. I wonder if Miss found something." Jambert caught up and guessed. "She may have if she was going a different path than us. If she bested those silver knights by herself," Ken had something to tell him. "She said she went after the elites of an army of blood thirsty maniacs, those knights would be nothing." Jambert gasped. "Goodness." He noticed the dead silver knight and was suspicious. "I say she is more than meets the eye. Underneath the exterior is something beyond my understanding."

Ken laughed in agreement. "She probably wouldn't look that different, she is a guardian angel and I owe her my life for the things she did." He and Jambert went down the spiral stair and the knight had that in vision. "That's a fitting praise, though I wouldn't go saying that say that to her face." Ken blushed embarrassingly and reached the bottom of the stairs, finding a hall way with two doors. "There is someone I need to talk to when I can."

He saw a pole laying still in the left room. "Jambert, that's where the demon was. Could you go look while I check the other one?"

The knight did so with glee and saw the grand stair way ahead. "We will be back here soon. I think this leads the way to the front door." Ken hoped so and went to a room with a stair way leading a square pattern down, seeing two silver knights frozen into a wall and many drake heads mounted on walls left him impressed. He saw Aqua sitting on a chest and jumped off the rafter to greet her. "Hey Miss, I think we're almost done exploring this place."

Aqua nodded to her student. "I think so as well. This was long," Ken agreed, put his keyblades to the side of a wall and checked on the chest to the right, the one his teacher wasn't sitting on. "Jambert should be done collecting loot and if he notices something odd, he will let us know." He opened the chest and found a set of silver gloves and leggings. He pulled them out with a desire and quickly put the leggings on.

Aqua rolled her eyes. "Kendry, that isn't going to matter." Ken made sure the legs were fit and the gloves were on. "Come on Miss, those guys look cool and they have a spare set of armor right here," He stepped firmly in the armor as Aqua got off and opened the chest to find a metal suit of armor and a helmet, letting her student put the second biggest piece on. "Well, they do have a shine."

Ken wiggled under the suit and felt snug as he went for the gauntlets. "You did hint that you use to wear better armor than this so it will-" Aqua gasped and debated. "Oh, no, no. I'm just saying that the armor does look nice." Ken made sure the gauntlets fit and wiggled his fingers, he took a helmet with horns and put it on his head. He noticed his teacher longing for something she lost and asked as he picked his keyblades up. "We can't let Jambert take everything that isn't bolted down. Miss, do you want to go looking for something yourself?"

Aqua blushed embarrassed. "It's silly to look for treasures here when most of it isn't real. Magic is one thing, but this." Ken sighed under his helmet and heard clanking of armor above. "I tried Miss, I tried. Jambert it's me." He looked up to find the knight stuttering. "Oh, no, no, no. I knew it was you when I saw those keyblades." He walked down to have a look at Ken. "Lady Aqua, what happened to your armor? I over heard that much."

Aqua answered even more red. "I lost it and it isn't as important for me to get it back. It's hard to describe since it could mean any armor you seen." Jambert stepped down the stairs and guessed. "It is one of a kind and a klepto such as myself would end up mugging an innocent for it. I'll see if this is a short cut back to the bonfire before we continue."

Ken hummed. "Alright, thank you for the help," Jambert left and the two made sure he was out of hearing. Aqua changed the subject. "You tried to take a picture of this place before and only saw what was really there. So only you and me know of this. Once Jambert gets the Lordvessel, what will that do?"

Ken wondered that himself. "It will get him closer to Linking the Fire... what ever that means." He felt it was a hassle to search his pocket while in armor covering that and asked. "I wonder what Kairi found? Because she and the others were coming here for something."

Aqua perked to that. "What did she and Sora find to make coming here that urgent?" Ken shook his head. "She said it was your stuff." He clapped as Aqua realized what her other student found and laughed triumphantly. "Ha, ha, ha! I can't believe it, did she found what we were talking about recently?" Ken answered with mutual pride. "I think she did."

Jambert returned with grand news. "It was and my estus is full. Come on we have a door to open." The two agreed with a cheerful mood and went together with the knight up the stairs an too the hall with the long path up. They enter a massive hall resembling that of a cathedral. They looked bellow to find two sentinels with more pristine. Ken sniped both of them from above as Jambert dropped down on a silver knight readying a bow. CRASH!

The knight was crushed by the blunt of the great sword and the three walked down the stairs to the floor. Finding a radiant sign of Solaire and to the end of the hall was a fogged gate. Jambert felt something quivering. He took out a black stone with a yellow eye, causing him and the key bearers to give off a blue glow. "...We finally have that man's scent." Ken guessed. "Lautrec?"

Jambert nodded. "We can finally bring him to justice and get the fire keeper her soul back. Are you ready?" Ken nodded as Aqua tensed up. "He won't get away from the three of us. We're ready." Jambert raised the stone up and caused himself and the two to fade, unaware of a black hooded figure looking from the high front window giving off a black glow. "What kind of world did you make? Heh, this will be fun."

With in a parallel realm.

Aqua, Ken and Jambert appeared from a twilight rift as blue spirits with in the grand hall, facing the door way that had three figures. To the left was what looked like a wizard glowing in white, to the right was a simple spear men behind a shield in white. In the center was a knight in golden armor that looked to be hugging itself. The knight took out two shotels and recognized both Jambert and the keyblades on Ken's hands. "Well, look at you. I thought you were wiser, but I thought wrong! Tis a terrible pity. Like a moth flittering towards a flame," He asked his goons. "You fellows? No? Don't you agree?"

The wizard looked at the silver knight with disdain. "They could have just kept on walking," The spear man checked out Aqua and snickered rudely. "I bet they think justice is still alive these days. Ha, darling how about you come on over and we can show you how wrong you are."

Aqua took a deep breath and focused on the wizard as Ken gave a glow of flame and glared at the spear men. Jambert yelled out to Lautrec. "You murdered an innocent woman and deprived all of us of sanctuary, give us the fire keepers soul and we won't have to come to blows." The golden knight laughed at him. "This was why you lambs came to slaughter?" He approached the knight as the mage had his spell aimed to Ken and the spear men approaching Aqua recklessly. Lautrec balked. "You fools have more humanity than you know what to do with. Well let's get this over with."

Aqua flew at the wizard in glittering light and quickly stopped him from casting spells, dispatching him with swift justice as Ken dismissed Cadia's Light and held Firekeeper's Wish with both hands, he burst into flames with a quick spin that knocked the spear man off his feet. The boy drew in air and jumped back, flinging a tornado of fire at the spear man and incinerating him. Lautrec rolled after the knight that held his server in his right hand and a small shield in his left. The golden murderer swung with his shotels and was parried by the shield, Jambert hacked his server into Lautrec's right abdomen and knocked him to the floor. The murderer rolled out of the way as Jambert switched to holding his server two handed, upper cutting Lautrec into a stun lock and knocking him to the ground. The murderer nearly landed and the darkened world returned to that of light, the blue glowing spirits returned to what they were and in the confusion, watched Lautrec hoving mid air. The murderer was being lifted up by an unknown force and he hissed, forcing himself to look up a balcony to find a man in a black coat. "What in th-" He was forced into a hold and was glowing in darkness, feeling a force consuming him as the trio looked to find the hooded man responsible. Jambert yelled. "You, what are you doing?"

The hooded man looked down at Jambert and answered boldly. "Oh sorry to interrupt your little retribution there, but I can't let this dirt bag go to waste."

Lautrec took offense to that as Aqua called the man out. "Quiet Braig, this has nothing to do with you. Leave this city."

The hooded man gasped. "Woah, you're the one traveling through your own maze missy. You made all this effort to make these people feel real, just where did this messed up crook came from?" Ken yelled at him and had Cadia's Light return to his side. "Will you shut up?!" He freed his right hand from the burning keyblade and swiped his gun like blade to aim. "You came here for something, spill it and get lost."

Braig laughed about that as Lautrec gasped and realized. "Of all the despicable..." Braig aimed two cross bows at the keyblade bearers and fired. Aqua jumped to an upper ledge on her right as Ken side stepped to the left. The sniper dropped Lautrec and caused the knight to pool an odd darkness that slowly consumed him. "Oh, sorry, can't have the two of you wandering about here in the open," He taunted to Aqua. "Hey, Keyblade Master, you got yourself a handful. Shame if someone lightens the load."

Lautrec looked dim and growled. "If you think I am going to serve you, you're more mad tha-" Urg! Darkness engulfed the knight and Jambert cringed as the darkness took shape into something large. A vaguely humanoid shape with insect like wings and curved talons of a mantis, an wasp like head and body with armor of gold, a set of arms that hugged the body and an abdomen with a stinger, emerged from the darkness. Standing up with long gangly legs and fluttering its wings in a buzz, on its forehead was the emblem of the heartless, an image that caused Jambert to nearly stop his breath as Ken focused his aim at the monster. "Oh, come on." The Hook Wasp looked down upon them and Aqua ordered. "Ken, Jambert, keep that heartless busy."

She jumped higher to the stairs and focused on the upper most balcony, flowing towards Braig. The sniper disappeared as she landed for a blow and realized he teleported by a pillar and hovered upside down. She formed a barrier to block the barrage of shots and rushed after him, hissing at him. "His name is Kendry and you will mind your tongue about my students."

Swipe!

She swung at Braig and caused him to disappear again, upside down at a stained glass window that had a hole. "Oh, so that's what you were doing? Is this going to be like what happened between your master and Ter-" Burst! Aqua pulsed in ice magic and rushed after him for a brutal duel.

Below.

The Hook Wasp flew high above to where Jambert couldn't reach him save for a measly fire ball. The Wasp shot dark knifes upon the knight and Ken, the boy aimed his gun and shot at the wings, causing the Hook Wasp to fly uneven and glow in an odd protective light to protect itself. It dived down after the two and pulsed, knocking both against a wall and leaving the two dazed. Ken used a healing spell on himself as Jambert chugged from his estus. Ken gasped to an idea and used his air magic to jump on a higher ledge, the Hook Wasp flew higher and shot beams of energy from its maw at him. Ken rolled to the left and spun into a tornado, catapulting himself to the ceiling and falling down with both keyblades aimed. The Hook Wasp was shot from bellow by a chaotic fire ball and buzzed in distraction. Ken landed on the Hook Wasp and stabbed it deep in its back, it fell to the cathedrals floor and crashed, Jambert rolled out of the way and watched the boy take his burning keyblade, changed it into a katana and spun, cutting the wings off in a display of cinders. Jambert took his chance and formed red energy to force into himself, glowing with a power with in and yelling. "For Firelink!"

He carved at the Hook Wasp that slowly tried to recover, it gave off another glow of light, Jambert rolled back as Ken pulled and jumped off towards him. PULSE!

The Hook Wasp stood up and raised its talons high as its second set of arms unfolded its hug and revealed two small daggers, it sprinted after the two that rolled out of the way, stabbing with its daggers and swiping in a cross pattern with its curved talons. Ken let Cadia's Light disappear and rushed after the Hook Wasp with Jambert, slashing the legs as one, the Hook Wasp turn to the duos direction and slashed down with its talon left. Both stepped back and felt the cut, the Hook Wasp slashed with its right and jumped to them to trust its stinger, the duo jumped to the right to dodge entirely and made a quick smash at its abdomen, then another. The Wasp spun after Jambert with its right dagger and caught him in an impalement. Hoisting him to its maw for a bite, Ken swung a point blank fire whip around the Hook Wasp's neck and yanking it down, freeing Jambert and allowing him to heal as Ken calmly stabbed the Hook Wasp in the forehead and kicked him back.

The boy burst into and inferno and roared, he readied slash and felt a gust of wind from behind, seeing in a near flash, a large figure in golden, lion like armor. He wielded a spear of lightning that made its mark on the wasps chest, leaving it prone, the knight pulled and jumped back with elegance. He readied to attack again as Ken rushed to the Hook Wasp's chest for a stab and caused it to burst into flames. A pink heart flew loose from the ashes as the knight in golden armor nodded to both knights in respect and looked up to find fighting. He jumped like an olympian to do battle.

Up above.

Braig was in a corner as he was pelted by ice magic and watched Aqua turn into a pheonix of ice. She rushed at him and caused the man to teleport out of the blasts. He landed a few shots on Aqua and bringing her to more anger, she noticed her student shoving the Heartless onto the ground and calmed her judgement. "Let me guess, you were waiting until Xehanort was heard from again and you heard enough of where I'd be? Right?"

Braig clicked. "Bingo."

PEW!

He appeared to her right and focused his cross bows into a black shot. "Take this!"

PEW!

Aqua back stepped out of the way, she taunted and gave a glow of dark blue magic. "You made the mistake of thinking I didn't have more to learn." She dashed to Braig and let loose a flurry of blue light that caused Braig to sweat, he heard destruction bellow and of a hellish shriek. "Sheesh your student has issues."

Aqua spun to form five masses of energy around her and jumped high, she flung them after Braig as spears from the soul, the sniper teleported to the edge as Aqua yelled. "This is between you and me. Is this all you got?"

She flung another soul spear and sparked in fire, Braig flipped over the fast shooting spear and readied to shoot mid air, unaware of a golden knight resembling a lion jumping right behind him and readying a spear. The man felt a spark of electricity, had a hint of fear in his eyes and disappeared to the broken window. POW!

The knight and his spear landed, Aqua saw a top knot of red and recognized who the knight was. She backed away intimidated as the knight readied to swing his spear, Braig caused a corridor to open up and shook his head. "As if I'm staying, I'll play this game another time."

He jumped in and dodged the spear, the knight looked annoyed and faced towards a glowing Aqua, like he was judging her mettle as a warrior. The keyblade master was dry in the mouth and was given a nod in respect, the knight jumped off the balcony and all the way to the fogged gate. He handed and looked at her and the two knights, like he invited them to a challenge. He turned to the fogged gate and disappeared.

Aqua dispelled the magic glow and jumped off the ledge, slowing her fall with a hint of air magic and a flip forward, finding Jambert looking at the gate and back to a pile of items, a ring and a glowing grey soul. The knight picked them up and didn't wish to ask. "The villain above knows you. Lady Aqua?"

The keyblade master nodded and asked. "Jambert, go get prepared for what is beyond the gate. We will take care of a couple things ourselves." The knight understood and went up the stairs back the way he came from. "Lautrec would trouble us no more, but this is a grim fate for him. Don't dawdle out here too long, for your safety at least."

Aqua under stood and Ken asked in a whisper. "You mean we need to talk about that guy coming in and messing things up? He is a goon that is working for I know who, he came to try and kill us?"

Aqua closed her eyes and went up the stair way to the other side, leading higher and higher until they reached a door way leading to the sound of tinking. She though her words and answered. "Exactly and he almost disrupted the order of the castle. His name is Braig and we've had a little history together."

Ken swallowed as he and Aqua reached a room with an anvil, various weapons and a giant tinking his hammer on an anvil. The two quietly walked down to see the giant at work, reaching to a corner of the room not covered in weapons. Ken took off his helmet and asked. "H...Hello?" The giant turned to the duo's direction. "Who are you? Forge your weapons?"

Ken shook his head and let his keyblades fade. "I'm called Kendry and no thank you. Who are you?"

The blacksmith sounded welcoming and answered. "Smith. Forge, I can! Strong, I am!"

Aqua dismissed her own blade and was interested as well. "You forge for the people of this city?"

The giant went to work and depressingly answered. "No-one home. Everyone gone," Ken knew someone who might want to meet him. "That's kind of sad, a friend of ours might be coming here to see what you can do for him. He would like to have his things forged." Giant grunted with interest. "He come, I forge, we talk?"

Ken nodded as Aqua answered. "We can talk now. We came from a place far away and are traveling with a knight, we want to see how his journey ends before we finish with ours. I'm Aqua and Kendry is my student," The giant greeted her as Ken asked her. "May I go look outside for anything we-" Aqua shook her head. "No Ken, after what happened, you are staying with me."

Ken wanted to sit down somewhere and heard the foot steps of an arrival. Jambert was drawn to the giant and made his way down. "Hello, what are thou doing?"

The giant answered. "Forge! Very good."

Jambert nodded and brought out his silver spear along with a couple glittering stones. "Thank you, could you reinforce this?" The giant looked at the spear and picked up the materials, he hammered away and asked. "Strong soul you have? Forge with, I can." Jambert smiled about that and took out a shotel along with a glittering soul. "When we are to prepare these, the soul of a valiant sister needs her rest."

Outside of Castle Oblivion.

Riku felt his mind was blown by what Sora said. "That's how you found out Ven was in you?" He had a faint memory and whistled. "Wow, we need to get Garland out of there and go wake Ven up. Now." Ana stood guard and refused to let him enter. "Oh no. You know her orders and the castle been scrambled enough." Riku turned to the Stormcast and asked. "But once Vanitas gets out of that door jam, he will be coming with buddies to make sure Ven doesn't wake up. How far is she to reaching him? If she is going the right way?" Ana wondered as Mickey asked him. "The basement isn't easy to reach, but are you sure he's down there?" Sora doubted that as Kairi shook her head. "No, he wants someone to see the final part of his plan come to life. How many floors are there?" Riku answered. "Twenty five, twelve in the basement and thirteen going up." Kairi couldn't take it anymore and texted something. "It's been a while since Aqua went in there and we should find out how far up she is. Let's see."

In Anor Londo.

Ken felt a small vibration as he and Aqua watched Jambert consume spectral wisps. Giving the giant his pay to reinforce an blackened, insect like sword. The knight counted. "A mighty axe like the golem, a more pristine spear and this magnificent fury sword. I believe we will be ready to take on our greatest challenge yet."

Ken agreed with that as the giant used the demon titanite to refine the fury sword. "We got a lot to work with," Aqua looked up and lead her student to the stair way out. "Very, Ken we should talk about that," Ken hummed and said his goodbyes to the giant. "I'll see you later, you're pretty skilled," The giant looked at him and wished him well. "Cometh soon."

The teacher and student went to the hall of the cathedral and found to their right a horizontal lever mechanism by a pillar. Ken went to push it and felt the front door open, he went back and saw the grand light as he asked. "You knew who that spear guy is?" Aqua nodded. "Dragonslayer Ornstein, and he isn't alone." She asked. "How are we going to fight Ornstein and Smough? Given the nature of the world, we only have one chance," Ken answered. "Jambert must have been up against a wall with these guys. We... should see how Ornstein and his partner fights, it looks like he is the kind of guy who would run circles around us and seeing how everyone we know fights." Aqua agreed with that and had a chill. "He could be an actual problem, even for us. Kendry, don't assume you can just shoot him."

The boy understood and perked as he noticed Jambert from up above going the other way to the summon sign. "With four of us and two of them, we should be able to beat them and get to the next floor." Aqua watched Jambert go to a summon sign to summon Solaire, the knights greeted each other and ventured to the floor, Jambert had a refined curved, insect like sword ready and nodded to the two as Solaire eagerly greeted them. "Oh hello again, are we ready?"

The two nodded back and Jambert lead the way to the fogged gate and pushed across, Solaire, Ken and Aqua pushed through, finding a massive hall way with column pillars and two elevators blocked by fog. Awaiting them at the far end was a giant in golden armor that made him look incredibly fat, he wielded a massive great hammer on his left hand and the chin looked up on a balcony to his left. The four looked at the balcony to find Ornstein looking down upon his partner Smough, like he recently told him of something. Ornstein readied to jump down as Smough lifted his great hammer to hold it with both hands. The four felt the immense weight as Ornstein landed with finesse. Jambert shook in his armor. "Oh no, no, no, no." Solaire patted his companion on the shoulder. "Don't worry, with a little cooperation, we can best any fo-"

Ornstein knelt in a stance and glided from the far end of the hall at the speed of wind, Ken and Aqua jumped out of the way from left to right as the knights were knocked aside from the force. Ken tried to shoot Ornstein from behind the closest left pillar the dragon slayer jumped back and moved to the second pillar to the right, he shot a bolt of lighting at the boy that heard the sound comparable to an elephant charging. Turning to his left and finding Smough pushing his hammer across the ground and charging after him. Ken used his air magic to jump to the right of the hall as Smough rushed the pillar and caused it shatter. He landed behind Aqua, who focused and hovered, forming seven beams of various colors and firing them at Ornstein. Smough rushed after her to block the beam, Jambert and Solaire rushed the Executioner and took his attention, the giant laughed, jumped and smashed his hammer at the two knights.

Solaire sprinted as Jambert rolled to the left, Ornstein readied to pick off Jambert as Aqua pounced at the dragon slayer and struck, Ornstein jumped back as Ken jumped towards his left and rained light upon him, the dragon slayer spun towards another right pillar and faced the boy that missed. The lion like knight rushed him with his spear and upper cut him, sending him into the air and leaving Aqua to melee with him again. Smough was struck by Jambert's burning blade and Solaire ordinary sword as he swung his hammer at the two, missing with one swing and hitting another column with another. Jambert rolled to the left most pillar and tossed a chaotic fire ball at the Executioner. Smough pressed his hammer towards Jambert and sprinted after him, the knight ran behind the left pillar close to the exit and watched the executioner butt the pillar with the tooth of his hammer. Shattering it as Solaire charged a spear of lightning and shot it at Smough's back. The knights charged after the executioner, Smough jumped high and slammed his rear down upon them, crushing the knights and forcing Jambert to run away to another pillar. The knight took his estus flask and drank as Smough barreled to him and swung.

Ken got up, cast a healing spell on himself and dismissed his gun like blade to hold his burning one. He rushed after a near dancing Ornstein and tried to upper cut the dragon slayer as Aqua watched the knights battle with Smough topple more pillars. Ornstein noticed that and the woman stood in his way, Ken flipped to the top of a pillar and pelted fire balls at Smough, the dragon slayer jumped after him and landed on the pillar with him. Ken jumped to a window and left the Dragon Slayer to be struck from behind by Aqua. Ornstein jumped to a ruined pillar by the window and shot lighting bolts at the two. The knights were chased to the window and Smough jumped to his right, giving off a sadistic giggle as Jambert avoided another hammer swing. Ornstein saw his partner was being lured around, flowed to a wall and kicked off, diving spear first into the knights. Jambert rolled to a corner as Solaire was slammed against it.

Smough marched after Jambert and felt a soul arrow against his back. He jumped back and swung behind, seeing Aqua back flip against the hammer. Ken changed Fire Keeper's Wish into a spear and shot to Smough's chin, knocking the Executioner back as the Dragon Slayer stepped back to avoid the knights attacks. Smough tried to shake Ken off, the boy pulled and rapid fired fire balls mid air as Aqua pulsed in magic and sent her keyblade flying to his face. Smough jumped back to where Ken landed and leaped high in the air, Ken jumped back with an unusual battle ready stance to watch the Executioner slam his rear to nothing. He jumped after him with his spear spinning in the air, he caught it with the blunt end facing forward, did a frontal flip and stabbed Smough in the chest. He pulled out and back flipped, Smough tried smash his hammer was met with a spinning keyblade radiating magic power, followed by a point blank shot of a magic orb. The Executioner lost his balance and wailed. "Arrrnoooo!"

Thud!

Smough fell on his back and laid still as Ornstein kept a dance around the knights and jumped to him, beaten and bloodied. Ornstein placed his free hand on Smough's gut and gave a silent respectful prayer as he glowed, taking something from his fallen companion. Jambert and Solaire went to the key bearers side and Jamber felt he heard something cracking. Ken saw the beaten wounds on Ornstein close up and felt like something was about to burst, Ornstein grew to the size of a pillar. Aqua was left with her mouth open at the realization. "We're still not done." Ornstein faced towards them and readied his spear, he gave off a radiant glow of lightning and let loose an aura.

Ornstein knelt in a stance and darted after them, Jambert and Solaire were knocked back across the room as the Keybearers flung even further. Ornstein looked down upon the knights, jumped back and swiped down after them. Jambert rolled to escape as Solaire took it, Ken focus on his spear and caused it to change it into a katana. He shot to Ornstein and slashed through his shoulder as Aqua burst into a dark blue aura and rushed at Ornstein, striking at his face and giving the knights time to hack at his ankles. Ornstein noticed Ken jumping to a wall and trying to slash him again.

The Dragon Slayer jumped high to dodge them all and slammed down, Jambert rolled away and watched Solaire take a pulse of electricity. Ornstein side stepped towards the entrance and flipped, he swiped his spear at Aqua to knock her across and glowed his spear at Jambert, stabbing him, hoisting him up in the air and electrocuting him, the knight yelled in jolting pain and was hurled to Ken. The boy jumped out of the way and slashed the air to let loose a streak of fire at Ornstein, the dragon slayer met a soul spear barrage from where he knocked Aqua too and shot bolts of lightning her way. The Keyblade Master ran high up the wall, burst in fire and flew down after him, taking the form of a fiery pheonix that slammed at Ornstein's face and caused the dragon slayer to cover his face in response.

Ken tensed with his burning katana, gave a glow like a ray of sun shine and in the speed of light, flickered, landing on a wall behind Ornstein and letting his katana turn back to a keyblade. He felt a burst of fire behind him and watching Ornstein trying not to stumble. The Dragon Slayer spun to both of them with his spear, Aqua shot herself down to land as Ken dropped, Ornstein moved his spear lower and Jambert rolled above the blade, landed and spun with his burning fury sword, stricking Ornstein and setting him on fire. Slashing away over and over as Solaire rolled and wasn't close enough.

SLASH!

Ornstein looked weak on the knees and fell, Jambert and Solaire stepped far out of the wall as the Dragon Slayer fell on his stomach and on his right cheek. Aqua and Ken nearly lost control of their legs at the sight. Victory was achieved. Solaire gave a v like pose as Jambert saw a soul flickering off of Ornstein and took it. The Warrior of Sunlight vanished without a trace as Jambert saw a ring drop off of Ornstein, he picked it up and saw a the image of a lion as he gave off a faint white glow. "Do either of you want this?"

Ken and Aqua refused, they got up and looked upon the felled foes, they found two elevators and went to the closest one, to the left of the hall. To get a ride up to the highest reaches of the cathedral, they stepped off and tried to shake the feeling as Ken looked down upon the bodies of Smough and the enlarged Ornstein. "We... seriously beaten those guys?"

Aqua agreed that it was an impressive feat. "She wasn't wrong about this moment." She and Ken saw a bonfire and wander over to think it over, Ken asked. "The Firekeeper?" He wondered. "I get that there were a lot of things of this world she didn't tell me about. But... I'm kind of glad she kept this a secret."

Aqua heard an elevator to her right ascend and saw Jambert walking to the bonfire in near exhaustion, falling on his knees and lighting it up, the knight kept quiet like he was having a hard time believing the feat himself. He looked up a small set of stairs that lead to a brass door, he perked up in good faith and asked. "Past that door is the reason we came to this city and fought... all manner of foes. From Sen's Fortress to the finest of Anor Londo... it's like a dream, this... can't be real," He took his helmet off to reveal his rather shocked face, his eyes glowed to the fire as Aqua assured him. "It isn't a dream, we really have gone through a lot just to make it here." She and Ken felt invigorated as Jambert agreed and kept his helmet to the right side of his hip. "Well, no time to dawdle." He lead the way to the stairs and pushed against the two sided brass door, causing it to open as the key bearers followed him, they met a shine of golden sun light and Jambert almost dropped his head at a beauty on a couch.

A large woman in regal white dress, covering her hips and bosum. She had two gold bracers on both arms that rested, she had bellow the shoulder length brown hair, sun like eyes and a regal, yet gentle smile. "Thou hast journey'd far, and overcome much, chosen Undead. Come hither child." The keybearers dared not approach and felt the audience was not for them as Jambert approached the goddess alone, the knight knelt before her in respect and saw a large bowl laying in front of her. The goddess sighed. "O chosen Undead. I am Gwynevere. Daughter of Lord Gwyn; and Queen of Sunlight. Since the day Father did his form did obscureth, I have await'd thee." She let go of the bowl. "I bequeath the Lordvessel to thee." Jambert got up, put his helmet back on and picked up the heavy bowl, lifting it on top of his back and grunted. "Oof! T...Thank you."

Gwynevere asked him. "And beseech thee. Succeed Lord Gwyn, and inheriteth the Fire of our world. Thou shall endeth this eternal twilight, and avert further Undead sacrifices."

Ken and Aqua felt they heard that line before as Jambert felt his purpose shine. "I...I shall carry out this quest for you milady. Farewell." Gwynevere sighed and wished him luck. "Go forth, chosen Undead. May thou be one with the sunlight for evermore."

Jambert felt the bonfire calling to him and proceeded, past the door with his friends to greet him. Ken asked. "So you... just need to get back to Firelink with that? How?"

Jambert answered confused as the fire became brighter. "Un...until I give the firekeeper her soul back, I will have to go for the closest route." The fire glowed an image of the inner workings of a church and gave Jambert a familiar glow. "I...I think I can make it from here. We will meet again soon."

He and the Lordvessel glowed in unison and disappeared in fire. Ken and Aqua looked back and wondered what did the connections mean. The boy looked to his burning keyblade and asked. "Miss, something doesn't feel right. This... isn't like what I saw."

Aqua asked him. "About what really happened to this world? Did... Jambert fail in his quest?"

Ken wondered that question odd as the surrounding flickered, Gwynevere disappeared and the golden light faded, giving way to moon light. They turned around to find a corridor opened up from the balcony, the sound of clapping was heard. Aqua kept guard Braig stepped out and confessed. "I almost didn't think the two of you and those fakes would have what it takes to beat those two. Now its getting interesting, so this whole time the light was a sham?"

Ken formed Cadia's Light and readied to aim, he sensed two figures by the elevators, two lady like heartless with parasols, Aqua asked Braig once more. "You haven't learned anything, get out," Ken aimed his burning keyblade at the left most heartless and flung a wave of ashes to blind it as he focused on the other that aimed its parasol at him. Ken fired Cadia's Light and shot through it as Braig focused on Aqua. "Can't, but this is a better time than ever to get a job done."

He aimed his cross bows and noticed silver arrows being shot from the room behind the two. He jumped out of the way, watched the sniper like heartless become destroyed and the boy with the gun stab the ground with his melee blade and focus locked the ashen mists to destroy another heartless. Braig saw the hint of an otherworldly figure glittering in the moon light and realized the forces of the world were fighting back. Aqua noticed something was wrong and heard a feminine voice address the man. "Thou that tarnished the light of Anor Londo. I am the Dark Sun, Gwyndolin, they transgression shall not go unpunished."

Braig saw more arrows of moon light, a crown like that of a sun, white robes and a lower body of various tendrils, he was weirded out and back flipped away from the arrows. Aqua and Kendry felt hints of slithering and turned around, finding but a faint of moon light flickering.

Ken asked. "Uh... who was that and where did he go?"

Aqua felt slithering right behind her and turned to find a white robed figure with white hair and a crown like the moon, looking down upon the cathedral, clenching his right hand that held a bow. The lower waist had tendrils that revealed to be hissing snakes and the man disappeared, three lantern like heartless, resembling angels with two sets of wings, flew from bellow. The entity raised a staff on his left hand and called a barrage of magical orbs as Aqua jumped to the angels and let loose a quick flurry of attacks at the trio as Ken was uneased and snipped the left most angel, causing the destruction one as the orbs of magic pelted the right angel back. Aqua shot a magic orb to slay the weakened heartless and spun into a twister of magic, sucking the angel in and making it difficult for Ken to make an accurate shot. He glowed in fire and hurled it at the angel, destroying it and giving his teacher time to jump back to the balcony, before the entity that wasn't happy with them. "First thou questioned the Godmother, and now thou brought the Dark upon this city?"

Aqua kept her guard and asked. "Something about what she said was suspicious, but it doesn't matter for us. We were not the ones who brought the heartless here, that man did."

Gwyndolin asked with his own suspicions. "And why shall I believe thou? How did thou dispel the Godmother's image?" Ken blinked and answered. "We... didn't, it just... happened." Gwyndolin turned to the boy in the armor of the Silver Knights and had his snakes raised. "Thou who pilfered with the Undead and wielder of light."

He looked upon the burning keyblade to find a striking resemblance, confusing him more. "How has thou come across the Flame? Father Gwyn's own-" Ken answered fast. "I don't want to answer that, it hurts to think about it here, these Heartless came for me and my teacher." He tilted to Aqua. "Miss Aqua. If we find our way out... they will leave."

Gwyndolin knew the boy was hiding a truth and Aqua stood by her students side. "Do you really want to know the truth?" The moon deity sensed something and gave off a glow. "Go back to the tower and find the Tomb of the Great Lord Gwyn. There thou will answer for this." He teleported away and the keyblade wielders looked down to find squirming shadows fighting against a band of people.

Ken picked his burning keyblade and followed his teacher back down the elevator. Fighting the swarms of shadows and freeing the soldiers, who had blades glowing purple with the moon light. They followed and found three parasol heartless fading away in darkness, Aqua sensed the glow of the blades and shivered in unease as agents of vengeance fought back against the dark. Ken asked her as he watched the cathedral take on a much darker light. "Miss, there are a lot of things... wrong here but... they are fighting back the heartless easily. Why?"

Aqua answered and kept her eye open. "It's the power they are using, it is... light. But in the form of retribution."

Ken felt the shiver as he and Aqua made it out of the cathedral and looked upon Anor Londo in darkness. "Anyone who thinks the light is gentle, really... really needs a reality check." Aqua agreed to that. "You can think of several things, you, me and the guardians of light have done that is beyond soft. That is a light more terrifying than the dwellers of dark would ever dream of and it would still be just."

They watched a woman in golden armor slaying a demonic looking heartless with massive blades and walked down the stairs, the woman looked upon them with a hint of confusion. "It wasn't you who caused this? What is going on?"

Ken asked her. "Do we have to answer that?" Aqua answered for him. "That is between us and your Master. This will be over soon."

The knightess hoped so as five neo shadows emerged from behind, she charged after them with confused vengeance and the two went to the tower and pulled the mechanism to make it turn down. They went down a spiral stairway and went to the tomb with a bone fire, it flickered again to a white room with a simple hall way down.

They found a confused Gwyndolin appearing before them and trying to maintain some control over the distorted world. "Halt, thou have come far enough."

Ken relaxed in respect as Aqua pleaded to Gwyndolin. "This isn't what it looks like to you. There is a reason the city is acting like this."

The deity of the moon awaited an answer. "What has thou transpired upon this city? Why does your apprentice wield Gwyns flame? Why doesn't... any of this-" Ken answered clearly. "Because that is what the First Flame became... when I went into the actual world the first time."

Aqua saw the deities confused scowl and answered. "Because the heart of that world is in this Keyblade, it has dreams of what was. My student made the mistake of coming to a Castle that takes memories and reflect them into reality. Gwyndolin, Anor Londo... and the world itself, is an illusion. A figment of memories."

Gwyndolin readied his bow. "Blasphemy," Aqua answered more. "Including you, would you have seen these if we were from in this world?"

She showed her keyblade, Gwyndolin stopped his bow, hesitating to even spring his shot. The white room returned to the darkened room, flickering back to light. Aqua took a deep breath and continued. "The place we're really in is a place Castle Oblivion and this city is just one floor that had interconnecting rooms to make it look like the real thing," She frowned and felt a deity stilling himself. "We are grateful to you and the people of the city for stopping that man from disrupting what was suppose to be. From distorting a memory of the world."

She knelt like she was trying to apologize and Ken did so as well, having to say it with pity. "I don't know what happened to the real you, but he and the actual world are gone. We just want to get this villain out of the castle and make sure that sniper gets it through his head that he doesn't belong here. There is a lot about the world we want to know, but we are just passing through memories. I'm sorry we had to tell you, but that is why we think about this as outsiders."

Gwyndolin kept a stoic expression and turned to find a white door, confirming what was and slithering aside. "Very well, wanderers of reality," He pointed his staff to the door in defeat. "I'm glad I assisted thee. Thou has seen the light of the Dark Moon?"

Aqua remembered the glow and nodded as she and Ken got up, the teacher spoke. "It could be something a friend of ours need to learn. The light with in can take many forms, yours is one that we often witness."

Ken had that memorized. "We'll try to make sure more of this world is remembered. Thank you for helping us deal with that guy and for helping with the heartless."

Gwyndolin sighed and stilled like it was the end of a memory. The duo went past the door and found themselves in another hall of the castle. Ken was out of the silver armor as Aqua had the technique committed to memory, the boy took his phone to check on a text and sent a message back. "And that makes floor number six. Miss, Kairi and the others are outside of the castle and I sent her info on how far we are. Do you want me to remind you of the dark moon stuff?"

Aqua nodded. "Have that in a journal, I know just the person who would want to know of a way to use the light even after nearly giving into Darkness."

Ken had the mental image and kept the pace to the next floor. "Hopefully this doesn't end with everyone wanting a couple words with me." Aqua followed and let him know. "You'll be fine. Now where else did Jambert get himself into after getting the Lordvessel?"