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?

38. Howling Into the Abyss

Outside of Castle Oblivion, Kairi showed the group the text message. "They are about half way done and it sounds like Master found something one of us should check up with her on," Riku scoffed to that. "What kind of world did that kid unleash in the castle?"

Kairi rolled her eyes and was feeling anxious. "I have no idea. But if they gotten that far by around four hours, they are going by a little quicker than we expected," Riku sighed and sat down to keep watch. "Yeah, by the time Aqua caught up... I think that kid already had some of the places dealt with. It doesn't take that long unless they goof around."

Mickey felt there was another reason for the delay. "If they just climb up the castle and past the illusions, they would miss some of the secrets of the world and that could be gone forever." Sora looked up curiously. "What kind of secrets are there that we needed to know?"

Riku answered certain. "Powers from the heart we might want to know about and-" He felt a bell ring in his brain. "And powers of light and darkness. Kairi, was she talking about me?"

Kairi nodded. "Specifically you. I think that power is in between." Riku almost smiled and tried to deny it. "Are they really trying to pick off anything they can record? Does that kid really think he would get off scott free for this?" Kairi cringed as Sora argued. "Come on, he's trying to fix the mess he caused and isn't that enough?"

Riku answered as he looked up to the sky. "He's trying to up his game in there if he wants to actually help. All it takes is some motivation." Kairi had her hands on her hips and reluctantly agreed. "He needs the experience."

She had an idea, put her teachers Keyblade to the side and drew out Destiny's Embrace, inviting him to a safer battle ground. "Do you mind if I knock some into you?"

Riku flinched as Sora backed away, letting his friend know he is on his own. Ana cheered by the castle door, some entertainment to ease the boredom was to come. "Come on Lass, show him what you did last time and let him have it." Sora casually sat down and smiled to both his friends, warning Riku in silence that he was entering a shocking battle.

In Castle Oblivion.

Ken had the door open and smelled something rather fresh. He and Aqua were drawn in and were at the exit way of a church, going into a vast dark forest. Ken found himself back in his silver knight set as Aqua saw carved down shrubbery. "How did Jambert's journey take him here?"

They followed the trial and saw an opened door that lead to a stair way down into a much wider ground of forest. Ken saw faint shadows behind the trees. "And somewhere filled with strangers that are keeping watch of something. Once we go in, we need to move," Ken called off his burning keyblade and readied to make a run for it as Aqua tapped her foot for a sprint. "I'm still not letting you run far ahead, do you see the trees?"

Ken understood and asked. "We are going to jump across the trees and if we find a door ahead, that's where we go?"

Aqua smirked and asked. "It's a flow motion to get us across, the hollows are one thing and those like the Silver Knights are another, but I don't want to attack anymore people unless we have to," Ken knew what she was talking about. "I seen that done a lot of times, was that like how you got out of the way of the boulder?" Aqua nodded. "This is an idea for later, but can you try something like that?"

Ken gave a faint gust of wind and looked upon the trees. "There is a bit more to it than this, but I know you GOT to be nimble to put up with guys that teleport around and anything that can jump you from anywhere." He shot himself to a tree and used his keyblade to swing from branch to branch, finding ruins ahead and jumping far ahead. He sprinted and saw a simple man with a shield and sword, keeping guard as Ken rushed close to him and knocked him to the right, he made a sprint to the ruins and noticed an odd thing perching from a window, a white wild cat.

Aqua caught up and had a bit of criticism to give. "Practical, but you rely on air magic to carry you across. What will happen when you fight someone that would shut that down?" Ken sighed. "I did had that happen and I had to think quick, fighting a daemon that could topple armies by himself is scary business." He looked upon the wild cat looking down at him and his teacher, Aqua patted him on the back. "It's pretty advance for both you and Kairi, but eventually you need to learn the actual technique."

Ken laughed to that. "Kairi flies with wings and we knew where that came from. I guess this is another short cut I got to stop doing." Aqua wanted to corrected him. "You actually have the technique down, but the trick is doing it without needing the wind as a handicap."

Ken felt a bit better about himself and felt like the wild cat wanted something. "But it isn't the time or the place. Jambert has to be around here somewhere."

The wild cat meowed out a feminine voice of curiosity. "Is it not so that thou art new?" The humans turned to the cat in shock, the cat tilted her head in curiosity. "Thou fared well to find me, for he seek the grave of Sir Artorias." Her grey eyes stared into them and Aqua asked. "Jambert is heading to... a grave?"

The cat shook her head. "He is traversing the dark for naught but a fabrication. My advise true, forget this! The legend of Artorias is but a fairy tale. Have thine own respect, go not yonder knocking for nothing I say!" Ken politely refused. "So even if the thing he came for is a load of baloney, someone needs to get him out of here and not by attacking him. That would just make him try again."

The cat agreed and flickered her tail. "Well said indeed, thou art a strange one!" Aqua sighed and asked the cat. "We need to know why he is grave robbing in the first place. Who are you?" The cat purred, taking a liking to the two. "I am Alvina of the Darkroot Wood. I command a clan of hunters who track down defilers of the forest graves. What dost thou say? Wilt thou join us?" Ken and Aqua looked to each other in consideration, the Keyblade Master answered. "We can't stay, but we will help you stop Jambert from doing something stupid."

The student sighed. "I thought he was learning his lesson from the last time this literally bit him. But actually going after a grave of a knight... doesn't sound like him. Did he stop to talk to you?" The cat nodded. "I believe thou should hear it from his voice. He speakth insanity." That was enough for Ken to get himself going ahead. "And I'm stopping this."

He walked out and saw a faint flicker of fire by a glittering pond, Aqua followed and saw the flicker. The two went after the sight of light and were nearly slapped by vines of blood thirsty shrubbery, animating and rising after their prey. They were quickly dispatched and cast aside as they watched a tree fall from something, it has to be a mighty foe. They reached the pond and found Jambert sinking his chaotic blade into a large walking mushroom with fists. SLASH!

The mushroom took the burning damage and lazily swung its fists, the knight rolled to the other side and finished it off, causing it to fall over. There was a pond with small walking mushrooms trying to hide and a large mushroom keeping guard of a chest.

Jambert switched the fury sword for his server and noticed two more visitors, relaxing his guard and whispering. "Hello again, what brings you to the Darkroot?"

Aqua answered judgmentally. "We heard you were searching the forest to pilfer a grave. Do you want to explain why?" Jambert looked back to where the two came from. "That pesky cat told you of my venture? Very well, I placed the Lordvessel upon an alter deep with in the Firelink Shrine and I require fuel to open the way to Lord Gwyn. The Souls of the Great Lords, found near the First Flame during the beginning of the Age of Fire. Two are in possession of the Grave Lord Nito, who lives deep with in the Catacombs near Firelink Shrine, and the Witch of Izalith, who has to be beyond the Fair Lady's home. But one is divided into two shards by Lord Gwyn and given to two. One is Seath the Scaleless, the Grandfather of Soul Sorcery and the other is the reason I came here. The former rulers of the city of New Londo, Four Kings that gave into the temptation of the Dark." He shivered. "I'm not breaking the seal of that dreadful place until I am ready to vanquish the four. I came here to seek the Knight Artorias and instead suspect this forest to be his grave."

Ken felt it was a repeated cycle. "So you are going to search his grave because?" Jambert answered the boy, feeling his blood cold in guilt. "For if I do not acquire Artorias's secret to traversing the Abyss, going down there would be suicidal. The ruins of New Londo are cursed with the spirits of those who once lived and the Four Kings slumber in the darkest depths of the city, I am not going to unleash that horror upon the world."

That Aqua was understanding of as Ken noticed the large mushroom losing its patience and waddled over, the boy didn't want more trouble and aimed his gun like blade upon the mushrooms stomach, firing a beam until the mushroom fell over dead. The Keyblade Master asked. "If the legend is even real. Should we make sure you're not wandering for nothing?"

Jambert sighed, put his blade away, left the smaller mushroom creatures be and opened the chest in the pond, finding a basket of ember giving off a soulful glow. "You only need to see what is in that dark place to understand, I take no pleasure in this grave robbery. There is no honor, no chivalry, but if it means I will reach the Fire and dispel the Dark to end this curse, it is what I must do." He took the ember and put it in his box, Aqua felt the regret and demanded. "You will tell us everything you were told when we get to New Londo, how did that come to be?"

Jambert grunted and lead the way to a glowing plant with dead trees shrubbery. "Oh I shall, it takes a brave soul to be willing to traverse the Abyss. What say you?"

Aqua agreed with that as she and her student followed the knight to a ledge by a flowing river, leading to a bridge towards a closed gate. They went down a slope towards their right and went across the bridge, Jambert took out a crest on seeing a glow and approached the door. He shined the crest to the door to undo the seal and cause the door to open a way towards a moss covered grave stone that had many swords planted into the ground, scattering all over. The knight looked upon the swords and sighed. "Sir Artorias must have been beloved, to give up everything to fight the Abyss itself and be respected," He found a more ornate sword in front of the grave yard as Aqua had grim memories of her own. "And to have so many that wish to follow in his footsteps? Please... hurry and find something."

Jambert had one thing in his sights and went for the obvious artifact. "The secret of his ability to travel with in the abyss is associated with this sword. Now... what can we use with this piece of the puzzle?"

Ken shook his head and watched. "I don't think that sword is what helped him, maybe if we try looking around the place and not mess around with a grave."

Jambert agreed and wanted to examine the swords surroundings, wishing to clear away any debris and look at its inscriptions. Grr. Hrrgrr. Jambert and his companions looked up to the grave stone in surprise, a great grey wolf glared down upon him and snarled. Jambert backed away in peril as the wolf jumped in front of the blade, Jambert tripped on a rock and fell backward, the wolf placed its paw on him and sniffed. The wolfs glare lessened, looking just as confused as the knight, the wolf put its paw off the knight and whimpered a question, Jambert stared blankly and asked. "Wha... what are you?"

He and the wolf locked eyes, the wolf turned to the blade and pulled it out of the ground with its teeth, it flipped back to the knight trying to stand up, he adjusted the sword for a battle stance and howled to the night sky. Ken felt he seen the kind of story before. "A dog being that protective of a grave, could this wolf be Artorias's?"

Aqua felt wrong in the heart and backed away. "It... is, that sword it is using, was also it's masters?" She looked at the keyblade she held and felt conflicted as Ken saw a fogged gate at the way they came. "Miss, if that wolf gets Jambert, it will be coming for us next. It's late to turn back."

Aqua shook her head and tried to advise. "Kendry, we shouldn't be here. Everything about this is... wrong." Jambert heard and waved. "Don't you worry for me, I'll be the one to do this foul de-" The wolf dashed to him and swung its head, slashing the blade at him, the knight rolled over the swing and was under the wolf, he took his server and attacked the wolfs legs.

Ken found a pond nearby, took his distraught teachers hand and guided her to it. "Come on, this is getting hard for you to watch."

Aqua followed and wanted the battle out of her sight, Jambert took a deep breath and switched his server for his fury sword, he wielded it with both hands as the Great Wolf jumped back toward the gate and moved the sword to where it had the whole hilt in its mouth, aiming the sword straight and shaking its head left and right. Jambert rolled to the left to avoid a spinning swing and to the right to avoid another, he struck under the wolfs chin and caused it to suffer bursts of fire. The wolf stepped back, swung once and flipped far back, positioning the blade to the left side striking the knight off his feet. Jambert got up and watched the wolf sprint to him, the wolf tilted its head and slammed the blade at him, the knight rolled to its left and struck it in the side, the wolf tried to shake him off and felt a spin of a burning blade underneath. The wolf jumped to the right and swiped, Jambert rolled back and breathed heavily. He approached the wolf again, rolling back from a swing and going into its underside for an elegant spin of flame. The wolf yelped backed away and countered with a swift swipe, it looked nearly tired as the knight drank from his flask and saw the next attack coming from the right, he rolled left and struck again, causing the wolf to limp and struggle to carry the blade. Jambert closed his eyes and struck again, the wolf gave a painful grunt, dropped the sword and fell away from the blade.

Jambert felt himself swelling with power and opened his eyes to find a soul flickering from the blade. He took it and looked in mouth of the wolf, finding three odd things with in its teeth, simple rings with a green gem stone. He picked them out and felt an odd light, he placed his hand on the cheek of the wolf and petted it gently, he left both the wolf and sword be, going to a pond that Aqua was facing towards as Ken tried to whisper something. Jambert took two of the rings and approached with them in hand. "We have a way to traverse the Abyss."

Aqua turned and tried not to look at the dead wolf. "It better have been worth this." She and Ken took the ring and placed it on their finger, feeling a faint protective aura as Jambert readied a bone. "It should be, I will be preparing both the soul and myself for our venture into the Dark, meet me by Firelink Shrine and don't stray in this forest." Jambert knelt and gave off a glow. "Thank you for finding me."

PEW!

The knight disappeared in light and Aqua wanted to leave, Ken wanted to ask something and kept quiet, the two went back the way they came and were back in the vast forest, they found a ledge to their left to have an odd gate like structure. Knowing what it really was, they traveled through and were in a neck of the woods with a trio of hissing giant black cats. The cats rolled after them in high speeds, the duo found that weird and jumped above them, watching them collide with one another, the duo reached to a ledge with another gate. They went through that one and were at a lake that had the corpse of a massive multi necked hydra, headless and being pecked at by birds. Crystal golems wandered and waddled towards Aqua, the duo simply walked to the left, towards the lake. Ken fired up his burning keyblade and formed a barrier of ashes. Giving the two time to reach the lake and find a river feeding into it, they saw a white door under the waterfall and a summon sign by the river.

They went through the door and found themselves in a hall in Castle Oblivion. Reality seemed in the norm and a deep voice echoed. "To battle the darkness of the Abyss. Was it really worth the death of such a noble beast?"

An illusion of Garland appeared, Aqua wasn't in the mood to banter. "That isn't the reason, it was guardian the grave of its master no matter what. Yet... the wolf seems like it recognized the knight. Why?!"

The illusion of the intruder wished to know himself. "Milady, the things you saw traversing the castle all seem to intertwine, is the Dark truly the source of that worlds ordeals?"

Aqua growled to him. "It's always the reason a world faces oblivion. Time and time again. But what is the Abyss?"

Ken asked confused. "The Realm of Darkness? Oh... oh no."

Aqua stiffened as Garland sighed. "That is a misfortune for you, is it really worth continuing this venture?" The woman glared at him and was ready to strike. "Are you going to get out of this castle?" Garland chuckled out of spite. "No, I think not. Not yet anyway, its amusing to see you try to stop me. What's to say you are even going the right way?"

Ken growled and yelled. "Oh come on, you wouldn't be playing this mind game if we were going the right way." He readied to shoot. "That's it, we're kicking your butt out." PEW!

Garland stood there, took it and shattered in illusions, laughing in entertainment. "Yes, continue these glorious battles, not even the Abyss will stop you."

Ken puffed his cheeks as Aqua closed her eyes to try and sense who was where. "Ken, he was trying to toy with us. He is still higher up, but if the floors are as quick as the last one, we will be there soon." The reckless student hoped so and asked. "Miss, we can't be going into a memory of a trip like that. What the heck were the Four Kings thinking?"

Aqua opened her eyes and wanted an answer herself. "Jambert traveled to that forsaken town, so we should ask him. This is a bit convenient for you." Ken cringed. "It's a lesson about why I shouldn't mess around with Darkness, come on Miss, I seen the kind of madness that came from messing with it already."

The teacher agreed with that. "But there is more to that, because of those Four, a whole town, guilty or not, have been swallowed up by the darkness. It is terrifying to deal with knowing that, we need to know the rest of the story."

Ken sighed and stepped forward. "Alright, it's the reason we can't go easy on those that keep screwing it all up." He and Aqua went down the hall and found themselves in an illusion of an elevator. Finding Jambert with a large, pristine blade that glowed with in the light. The knight was amused. "Who knew that broken old blade would be ascended into this. Now we are ready."

The elevator went down and Aqua asked. "What happened in New Londo?" Jambert took a deep breath and answered. "A long time ago, the Four Kings were considered powerful rulers, yet they allowed their hearts to be weaken by one thing. A desire for power." Aqua and Ken found that a simple, petty reason to give into the darkness, Jambert continued. "Then an evil serpent presented the art of Life Drain... the power to drain life, before them. Finding a power so appetizing to them, they became willing pawns of the Dark. They formed a convenent called the Darkwraiths and spread this gift, for that New Londo were imprisoned in a seal of water, to keep the Darkwraiths far away from others. Many were sacrificed to achieve this and their spirits haunt the ruins. This leads to today, I hold the key to undo the seal." He presented them with a key. "Ingwald trusted me with this tale and I will make sure when the seal is broken, it is to eliminate the Four and halt the spreading of the Dark. Any longer and they would be freed into the world."

He exhaled as Ken frowned with him. "I seen the end result of the people that turn to that stuff myself. The damage is done, but we can make sure no more get hurt by this. It's no wonder you got desperate."

Jambert understood and it looked like he was closing his eyes. "Could that wolf be doing more than just protecting a grave of a friend? I will ensure that wolf didn't die in vain," Aqua listened to the vow and warned the knight. "You haven't seen anything that the Darkness could do, don't do anything foolish." Jambert wanted to shake the dread out. "Ha! I suppose I haven't, perhaps we will spin a tale or two at the bonfire when this is done?" The elevator stopped and Aqua stiffened at bad memories. "...Maybe I will. It depends on how bad it is down here." Jambert looked rather disappointed and lead the way.

Aqua and Ken found themselves out of the illusion. Aqua took the lead and imagined the horror. "It has to be a nightmare ahead. Ken, what ever you do," The boy finished. "Don't wander off, because the dark is everywhere beyond that door." Aqua nodded and opened the door, the two crossed over and found themselves in ruins most dark. Finding Jambert pitying various hollows that seem to be shaking their heads in agony or praying, among them was a corpse Ken and Aqua were familiar with, the crestfallen knight. Jambert asked the two. "Meet me by the bridge while I deliver that enchanted ember to a black smith. I'll explain what we need to do soon."

Aqua looked upon a city flooded with water and tried to keep calm. "To think that knight is our guide through this. It takes a lot of courage to face these things," Ken agreed and found it a bit of a laugh. "He is just an ordinary guy that despite how everything is trying to kill him, he is still himself. Ha, all it takes is one big adventure to make someone shine."

In a few moments, Jambert returned with ghastly, severed arms and gave them to the key bearers. "Squeeze them once you see the ghosts and follow me, it is the more effective means of slaying them," They were weirded out and followed the knight, reaching to a more watery ledge, a white robbed specter appeared and floated to the three. The keyblade wielders did as instructed as Jambert took a limb and squeezed, giving off a spectral aura, he charged to the ghost and struck it into oblivion, the knight asked. "Search for any remaining limbs, for once the curses effect wears off... there is little protection against them. There may be countless, but with the three of us, they will be as fragile as bees." He cheered in valor and lead to a set of stairs leading up and deeper into the ruins.

With in a black and white room.

Xion finished a comic about a peculiar girl with squirrel like powers and put it away, she found the Replica fast asleep from a long day and sneaked out to see what was occurring in the lobby. She found a rubric keeping guard, finding herself by her lonesome as she noticed a familiar Sorcerer arriving, she asked him bored. "How much longer are we going to stay put? There isn't anything to do besides reading books."

Ahriman gave a suggestion to the rubric and had it march down the hall, the Sorcerer answered. "As soon as the Replica wakes up you're free to travel where the two of you please. You know fully why it was necessary for me to do that."

Xion nodded. "It's so they know they can leave us alone. Since my... brother doesn't have to get the Tzaangor food anymore, does this mean he finally has some freedom to do what he wants with his munny."

Ahriman chuckled. "He wasn't using it for them anyways, so he earned that and much more. The cross roads of fate. So you say that despite the Changeling undermining him in his task, you managed because an anomaly to your condition revealed himself."

Xion had an idea in her mind. "What if I find more like him, friends that can find me?"

The Sorcerer snapped his fingers and asked smugly. "Can you? It's like finding a one in a million and it could lead to more heart ache, one way or another."

Xion raised her fists up. "I can, I just need to know where to find them. Are you trying to mess with my head?"

Ahriman shook his head. "I'm helping you decide things on your own, the way you want to exist, although I could easily pull your strings. What was planned for the Replica was planned for you, you just need to find it."

Xion didn't wish to think about her plan in front of someone who could read minds, Ahriman advised to her. "You should follow your brother's lead, for that is the best outcome for you when you traverse. I will not speak more of this."

He petted the teenager on the head in affection and caused her to feel confused. "That's because the others would listen in if you do?"

Ahriman nodded and answered. "Or because it would be foolish to trust even me. Every action, works towards a plan, a plan that would drive anyone else into madness if they try to understand. In the end, you will arrange your own machinations and those around you will think the same."

Xion felt she understood part of the Sorcerer's motives and gently moved the affectionate hand away from her head. "You're strange." Ahriman wasn't denying it. "Discuss this with the other when you are finally out of my reach. That will be all for now."

Xion and the Sorcerer parted ways, she went back into the room and found the Replica snoring away, she had one idea in mind. "Hmm, what about that one world he sneaked into?"

In New Londo.

Ken and Aqua felt a case of the spooks as they dodged a swarm of ghosts stretching out their long arms and revealing uncanny teeth. With a combined swipe of magical light and flame, the ghosts dissolved away. They listened to Jambert slashing at a ghost and followed him into a tower with two stairways, one leading up, the other leading down, the knight calmed himself and went up the stairs. "Even knowing the layout of the ruins, its still a dread coming back. I'll go see if there is anything note worthy up above."

Ken and Aqua weren't letting the knight travel alone, the keyblade master voiced her refusal. "And what will happen if there are even more ghosts up there. We'll stay together at all times."

Jambert sighed and let them follow up the stairs and throw a door leading to a ledge, the knight looked to his left to find a sturdy, short range bow and went to retrieve it as Ken and Aqua looked ahead to find a lush valley with blue drakes, a stone bridge and a gate leading somewhere, having some form of light in comparison to the dark place they had to dwell. Ken hummed. "I guess this use to be how people traveled to these ruins before things went-" Aqua warned him with an irritated growl. "Don't say any puns about the town, they're not funny." Ken obeyed and whimpered. "Alright, it' pretty grim anyways." Jambert put the bow and nearby arrows away as he returned back to them, the knight pointed to the yonder. "That is the Valley of the Drakes, I had to climb up here during my ascension from twilight Blighttown. Are you ready to go back in?"

Aqua took a deep breath. "Let's get this over with, lead the way." The knight did so and lead the two deeper down the stairs, they found a lever that was stuck in place, chains leading down a hole and a cell door. Jambert used the key to open the cell door and found a ledge with a round, horizontal push lever. The keybearers followed and the knight pushed against the lever, despite his consciousness screaming to him that he shouldn't do it. He moved it and the two onlookers watched a gate opening, the water that flooded the town rushed away. Out of the town and into the valley outside, leaving only a blanket of darkness bellow. Jambert dusted his hands. "Now we need to hurry and get down there. I believe the lever inside would solve that problem."

Aqua understood and went in first to pull the lever, hearing the chains clank away as her student followed and looked down, Jambert stepped in and clenched onto his glistening sword. The elevator arrived and the three stepped in, descending into the darkened town. The smell of rancid water on the stone wall worsened the tension. They felt the elevator stopped and walked past a small hall, feeling themselves stepping on something wet and soft, they looked down to find the repulsive sight of piles, upon piles of corpses that were rushed to the gate way and generally corpses that laid on the cities floor. Ken whimpered more. "Miss, I want to go home."

Squish! Squish!

The three listened to something approaching from the darkness, a tall imposing knight in sinister, skeletal armor, completed with a black cowl. It had a mighty sword and a foreboding presence, it approached and let loose a quick combo. The keybearers stepped aside as Jambert rolled behind, Ken shot the knight in the chest and saw it not even phased, Aqua rushed in to slash it at the face and it wasn't even pushed. The knight glowed its free hand in an sinister red and tried to grab her, the woman back flipped and watched Jambert slam his blade across the foes back and swung it to the ground, the foe tried to get up, let loose a hoarse breath and fell on its face dead. Ken found a stone gate leading to a stair way up and slowly entered with caution. "That was a Darkwraith? Sheesh that guy wasn't flinching."

Jambert assumed so and followed with Aqua wanting to take her mind off the fact that she was once again, descending into a dark place. They climbed up into a hut and saw more bodies as Jambert took the lead, lifting his sword over his right shoulder and taking out a small, light shield. The hut was mostly a wooden hall and one reaching the other side, Jambert saw a Darkwraith readying its blade upon him. The knight parried with his shield, pushed the Darkwraith off balance and swung his blade at its knee, causing it to kneel over and expose its neck for a swift decapitation. Jambert breathed heavily and noticed a chunk of stone on the Darkwraith's corpse. He looted it and saw a tower with a fogged gate at the entrance, Aqua kept calm and saw they were past the bodies. "I think I know what would happen if one of them grabs onto us, it's the life drain ability you warned us about."

Jambert tried to keep himself knightly and went to the gate. "They seek any who has a soul, so it wouldn't be... an exaggeration, to assume that they would suck out our souls. Thankfully we will know if they are trying that attack." He pushed through and caused it to fade, with in a water logged tower, two Darkwraiths charged after him at once. The teacher and student went for the one on the left, attacking as one, the Darkwraith raised his free hand and caused a dark ripple to form, blocking the keyblade swings like they were nothing. Jambert noticed something shifting, a wet, rotten bundle of corpses merged together and forming a face that coughed out floating heads, he was slashed into while distracted, yelped in pain and rolled behind the wraith for an effective back stab. With one dead, he drank his estus flask to refresh himself and was left to see the red floating head coming to him. It screamed and let loose an explosion that knocked him silly.

Ken and Aqua noticed the red head coming to them and letting loose an explosion, the teacher back flipped as the student back stepped and spun a jump to see where the source was coming from, an animated blob of corpses that tried to spit slime at him and missed, Ken fed a fire of his own into his gun like keyblade and fired rays of fire upon the mound as Aqua let loose a thunder bolt upon the dark wraith and sparked in lightning. The Darkwraith dashed to her and let loose a fast combo that was dodged, he felt a thrust in the back from an electrical keyblade spasm and collapse. Aqua and Jambert watched the blob of corpses burn from automatic beams, the blob inhaled and shot a spiked tongue out, Ken side stepped and kept firing until the blob quivered and collapsed into a mound that was smelling even worse. Jambert quivered and saw a pathway door way ahead. "I'm going to search this tower and find anything useful, I... think that all of them here." Aqua disapproved as Ken advised the knight. "Fine, but be quick, this place has reached my personal levels of no."

The knight nodded and promised. "You will know why I will be running to you soon enough." Aqua grumbled. "I hope you know what you are doing, come on Ken." She and the student walked ahead and felt their feet in water, finding not one but two Darkwraiths approaching slowly. The boy's eyes half dropped, stabbed his gun like blade into the ground and glowed his hand. "Oh, not this!"

He slammed his hand into the ground and caused light to shine, summoning a large spider being ridden by not one, but two goblins. Stingy Bites yelled out in a frenzy. "Let's get em!"

Venom Dancah giggled and glowed in venom, causing the blue spider bellow to salivate. The right most Darkwraith noticed the spider charging after him and tried to block with the power of darkness, it was pounced down, bitten into and stabbed by the Skuttleboss, leaving the left one to go after the boy that summoned it. Ken held his burning blade and side stepped.

STAB!

The Darkwraith was stabbed in the back and burst into flames, Ken lifted the Darkwraith high and flung him to Aqua, who didn't hesitate to to side swiped it in the face and send it flying into deeper water.

He and Aqua watched the other Darkwraith become spider food and saw Stingy Bites finding the grim place like home, snickering and wanting to say something as Aqua had bad news to tell them. "This place isn't real, its a memory from a keyblade, don't even think about it." Stingy Bites mood died as Venom Dancah yelled. "What do you mean it isn't real? Why you called us anyways?"

Ken pointed at the murdered Darkwraith. "Because these guys are a nightmare in a nightmare and I really don't want to stay here any longer than we need to. Thank you for the help."

Stingy Bites growled as Skits twitched its mandibles and earned the boys pity. "I heard what happened and I'm sorry to hear it. Are you doing well despite that?"

The spider nodded as his master answered. "Dragon Hackah es gone, but now we'z got no nest." Aqua gasped and asked. "What happened to him?" The goblins had a hard time explaining it, Venom Dancah disregarded his non existent sanity and was flickering away. "He and the boys wents a pew pew into the big castle. Spiky hair knows if you see em."

PEW!

Ken was more confused as his summon disappeared. "Sora helped with... something? I need to figure that out once we get past this town." He and Aqua noticed more stairs out of water, the boy pulled Cadia's Light out of the ground and approached with caution, they found themselves in dryer ground and saw a stair way to a higher building. Aqua saw hints of ghosts and asked. "You took that side step from Ornstein?"

The boy nodded, saw the ghost and squeezed a dead limb for a spectral glow. "If it means I can get back to shooting faster, I'm all for it." He aimed for the drifting ghosts and warned her. "If I shoot those, would anything else notice?"

Aqua answered with a playful, if defeated tone as she took a dead limb and squeezed. "Probably." Ken pulled the trigger. "Fire in the hole."

PEW!

A ghost was vaporized by the beam and as expected, two more flew from the buildings walls, they were snipped as Aqua noticed two dark figures walking out of the building, two dark wraiths. Aqua focused on them and hovered, aiming her keyblade and firing a prism rain upon them, quickly taking one of them down and causing the other to use its barrier, Ken hurled a fire ball at its feet and caused it to nearly trip, exposing it to a fatal shot. Clank! Clank! Aqua heard splashing of metal, saw Jambert with an eager mood and landed as she asked. "What did you find?"

Jambert answered joyfully. "A large ember for Andre to see and an elevator that leads to a way out," He saw two dead Darkwraiths and apologized. "Anymore delay would mean more of them being let loose. I'll have the next one we find."

He lead the way into the building and found three wisp like heads floating to them, they gave off a scream and the three jumped back to see the explosion, there was another pile of bodies with a face, Jambert yelled and rushed to the mass's side to hack away as Aqua focused and shot an icy orb, the mass quivered and collapsed. Leaving a vacant room with a brown chest and a door way to their left. They went through the door and notice to their right, a Darkwraith charging sword first, Jambert rushed back with a parry and riposte it for a quick kill. They saw a summon sign of unimportance at the corner the Darkwraith was and ahead was a small bridge to a fogged gate in another.

They went across the bridge and went through the gate, entering what looked to be a spiral stairway into a deep dark. Jambert traveled down first and felt something calling for him, he made sure the ring he took from the great wolf was still on his finger and asked. "Do you have your rings ready?"

Aqua and Ken showed theirs, the boy looked down and asked. "So this is where the four are?"

The keyblade master was certain herself. "Deep down there is where they make their lair., She breathed through her nose as Jambert was greatly tempted and felt something odd of the spiral stairs, he went to a ledge and readied to jump in the center. Aqua stopped him with a sharp grab from behind the collar. "What do you think you are doing?"

The knight looked into forever and answered. "We are not suppose to go down the stairs, we are to jump. That is where the abyss lies." Aqua thought it was insane as Ken had an idea. "What if I try using aero to soften the fall when we see the ground? Better safe than sorry."

The teacher looked at her student like if he wasn't wearing a helmet, she would have pinched him on the ear. "NO! Do you two know what you are doing?" The two realized how crazy and nightmarish their situation was and the woman answered for them. "Your diving straight into the darkness." Jambert didn't want to whimper at that fact. "But if we don't, the Dark will consume the world. We have to do this."

Aqua let the two go and agreed. "We don't have much of a choice now. Ken, do that thing when you see the bottom." The boy did so, he and Jambert looked down and jumped onto the middle, Aqua followed ready to attack anything odd, they rushed down through the stairs and looked around to find the darkness surrounding them, where not even stone or stairs were around.

Realizing they really did jump into the darkness, Jambert whimpered. "Oh no." Ken wanted to close his eyes and hope it goes back to the light, yet if he did so, he might risk getting everyone killed, Aqua had a feeling of deja vu sinking into her heart.

LAND!

They felt something unknown catching their fall and were with in the depths of the void, the glow of an estus flask and the keyblades were the only lights with in the Abyss. The three pressed their backs against each other and felt like something was watching them, Ken closed his eyes and wanted to say something, not a word came out in fear that what was in the abyss with them would listen, Jambert saw a horror approach from the darkness, a grey specter of wings, a vague humanoid face, long hair and a long grey blade appeared. The keybearers felt the knight shaking in his armor, he nearly collapsed from the pressure of fear. Ken opened his eyes to find on his side was a specter in the darkness, he stuttered. "That made it worse."

Aqua looked in front of her to find another specter and looked to the gap unseen, a fourth king keeping its distance, like it was waiting for one of the three intruders to make a fatal mistake, even she was trembling in fear. Jambert raised his blade and charged yelling. "We'll send you back into the Darkness, you monsters!"

The four kings swiped their wing in sync and caused blades of dark energy to fly at them, Aqua and Ken looked to each other with a silent nod and charged after the king in front of them, keeping a caution to the one in a distance.

It felt like they were making little progress in running, they dodged the slash and kings they faced floated towards them to do battle. Jambert rolled to dodge and swung, missing entirely and realizing he was still a bit far away. The king swung side ways, the knight rolled towards it and slashed upon it, he breathed in to relax and rolled to the side to dodge a vertical slash, he shined with Artorias's sword and hacked into the king, the king spun in a purple glow, the knight made a run for it and was caught off guard by a magic missile, he felt the pulse of dark energy behind him and was knocked onto his stomach. He rolled to his right to dodge a swing from the blade and got up, feeling dizzy and seeing the king spin and flew after him, its wings reaching for the knight that sprinted away and panicked, he looked behind with his blade ready and saw the king tire. He rolled to dodge a horizontal slash and cut back, causing the king to howl in pain and fade away.

Aqua's rush was a little better.

The king approached her and tried to slash at her, she rushed to the side of his face and let loose swift swings, sparking in lightning and flipping to her right to avoid a downward slash. The king spun and Aqua back flipped, seeing it fly to her with its wings ready to grab her, she flew and flipped behind to face the king, she fired lightning bolts at the king and wait for it to tire, she sprinted and electrocuted it, flying high to dodge a missile of darkness and fire down like a storm cloud. She noticed the distant king approaching her and aimed her keyblade down at the king she was dealing with, firing a shot of power at the kings stomach, causing it to kneel and fade away.

As she was dealing with that.

Ken fired at the king and watched it float to the left to dodge, it fired a barrage of dark missiles at him, he sprinted through, rolled to dodge and jumped from a horizontal double slash, he spun downward and carved into the king with both blades. The king slashed downward and the boy side stepped, continuing his attacks and firing both a laser beam and a fire ball. The king spun and rushed after the boy that flew away with a trial of fire, looking back and seeing the king flying above it and trying to reach for him with its wings. He flipped and did his combo again, forcing the king to stop and swing after him with his long blade, barely missing. Ken felt his magic stop and landed back, he aimed Cadia's Light at the kings face and fired, causing the king to kneel back, howl and fade away. He looked back to find the last of the four kings flying after Aqua, the teacher was caught off guard and tried to get away as the king closed in with its wings. Ken cringed and had an idea burning, he focused on the king and readied his burning blade, he flipped mid air and spun a circle, causing a ring of fire to burn around him. Aqua was caught in the wings and was face to face the king that inhaled, giving off a scream of terror and feeling the power of the void sucking something from her.

WOOSH!

A beam of burning sunlight yanked the king off of her and sent it burning. POW! Someone jabbed into him and kicked him further back, Aqua dropped to the floor and was shaking as she stood up, seeing her student jump off the king and landed by her side, giving a smile to her and flashing to a scowl at the king.

They shot a mixed beam of magic and fire at the king that flew above that and over them. It spun in darkness and readied to unleash something. The duo side stepped to the far left and watched a pulse of power unleash itself. The king swiped its blade side ways upon them, they jumped over it and saw a ball of chaotic fire make contact with its back. The king flew down and turned to the direction of the shot. Find Jambert with his gauntlet glowing in fire, the knight yelled and thrust his shining great sword. The king readied his own thrust.

STAB!

The sword of Artorias sank into the kings heart, causing him to give off a ghastly howl and fade away, disappearing and leaving behind the sword that fell blade first into the ground, along with a fiery soul and four white flickers of humanity. The knight took the soul with his left hand and used his right hand to pull the sword up, the Four Kings were no more. Jambert looked upon the fire mesmerized as he saw Ken and Aqua drawn to the glow. "We...we beaten them."

He placed the blade on his back and noticed a miracle of light, a lit bonfire awaiting him, he gave off a desperate laughter and went to it to make sure he wasn't hallucinating, the key bearers saw it and approached in glee. Aqua had a sweet smile for the knight. "Nice use of that fire ball back there, now let's get out of here." Jambert nodded and knelt before it, giving off an orange glow and disappearing, the keybearers felt they understood what they were to do and heard a deep, disappointed growl from their right.

Seeing with in the darkness, a green toothy serpent much like Frampt. Aqua was ready to fight as Ken yelled. "Okay, what was the big idea showing these guys that?! Huh?"

The serpent wasn't even angry to them and gave a respectful bow. "If I must illuminate the truth, warriors of the light," He raised his head up and answered. "I am the primordial serpent, Darkstalker Kaathe, or I would be if it wasn't for the nature of the Castle and the memories of the rekindled Flame."

The keybearers were caught off guard and Aqua asked. "How did you find out?"

Kaathe answered with his teeth clanking. "Is it not to be that those such as you appeared along side the Undead Warrior in his lonely fools errand? Do you wish to know about the First Flame and how it is the source of the strife with in the world that was?"

Aqua shook her head and wanted to refuse as Ken answered. "After what you did and caused the mess of the abyss, I don't trust you. But... something fishy is going on, what is this I hear about Linking the Fire?" Aqua signaled her student that he was making a mistake as Kaathe answered. "The Darkwraiths, the Four Kings, they sought not the true dark and have failed in seeking the truth. Their fate was their own folly. But the Dark is not of your interest, in the Age of Ancients, the world was unformed, shrouded by fog. It was a land of grey crags, arch trees, and of Everlasting Dragons. But then there was Fire and with Fire came disparity."

Aqua asked. "And with the souls found in the Fire, those like Gwyn, Nito and the Witch of Izalith came and with that, the Dragons were no more? But... where did Seath come from?"

Kaathe snarled. "The traitor among his kin, you will learn of his madness soon. After the advent of Fire, the progenitor of mankind, the Furtive Pygmy, found a fourth, unique Soul. The Dark Soul. He claimed the Dark Soul and waited for Fire to subside. And soon the Flames did fade," Ken understood what happened. "And only the Dark remained? So the Fire was going to go no matter what and Gwyn linked it to keep the age going? Why?"

Kaathe appreciated an observant mind and answered. "For he trembled at the Dark, he cling to his Age of Fire, and in dire fear of humans, and the Dark Lord who would one day be born among them. Lord Gwyn resisted the course of nature, by sacrificing himself to link the Fire, and commanding his children to shepherd the humans, Gwyn blurred the past of those like the Undead Warrior and prevented the birth of the Dark Lord."

Ken stiffened in thought as Aqua felt enough was said. "Jambert isn't your pawn, what ever you talk about doesn't change what you were spreading."

Kaathe wasn't denying that. "For you seen those who sought not the truth, but their own desires. But that naught matter here, for the Undead Warrior blindly follows the illusion and will link the Fire, unaware of the destiny he was denied. For that is what the worlds heart remembers," He sighed at the inevitable. "But enough of this, go. I will wait in the Abyss for that awaits the world."

He sank into the void and let the duo go to the bonfire, having the image of a familiar grassy shrine. Ken was expecting a lecture as he and Aqua found themselves in the light of the surface world, finding Jambert talking to an onion like knight. He stuttered and asked. "So Siegmeyer made it here, should we go see what's up?"

Aqua felt the knight was familiar, the very one from the stories. "Kendry, I'm not angry nor disappointed. We will talk about this when we can."

They approached and heard Siegmeyer give thanks to Jambert. "You and Sir Kendry did much for me up above. I am grateful. You know, I was thinking...the gates at the old fortress...Was that your doing?"

The knight nodded back. "It was the doing of me, Sir Kendry and Lady Aqua. I say it was a hassle."

Siegmeyer cheered. "Yes, I knew it!" He noticed Kendry and a blue haired woman. "You two came at a marvelous time, Jambert told me about some of your escapades. It seemed like an unlikely coincidence," He gave a respectful bow to the three. "Well, am I fortunate! This knight of Catarina thanks you sincerely." He gave them a scroll. "Please, take this, as a token of my gratitude."

Jambert took it and unrolled it, seeing the image of someone focusing deep with in and emitting a force. He showed it to Aqua and Kendry, letting them read from it and finding something connecting. The knight thanked Siegmeyer. "A miracle I don't think I seen enough of. Thank you."

The knight of Catarina appreciated the thanks. "You're welcome. I'll be heading down into the swamp bellow shortly. There's nothing worthwhile up above."

Aqua gasped. "Blighttown?!"

Siegmeyer assured her. "No worries! Adventuring is my life; I'm prepared for the worst." He laughed and left Jambert worried. The images stilled and the keybearers felt a white door open by a bonfire. The scroll appeared in Jambert's hand and they knew they reached the end of the floor.

They crossed over and entered a hall to find the image of Garland standing before them in surprise. The intruder was both impressed and disturbed. "You pay any heed to that Serpent's words? That was the mistake the Four Kings made."

Aqua shot an answer to him. "I don't trust that Serpent as far as I can throw you. But he was the only one with any idea of what was really going on and was the only one who wanted to tell us," Ken saw himself out of the silver armor and had his own answers. "And figured out he was an illusion like nearly everyone else in the castle. I'm not sure how much of what he said was true or a load of it, but I think I'm getting what is happening to Jambert."

Aqua asked. "He was being had the whole time and he followed along with anything if to give himself a purpose to all he had to get through and the things he had to do. With one of the soul fragments obtained, he needs the other one and the remaining two. What more did he have to do to save the world?"

Garland shrugged. "That is for you to decipher, would that knight find peace at the end of his venture?"

The illusion faded away and left the two alone, Ken readied to text someone. "While we are figure that out, I'm going to get answers about what the guys had to pull to deal with Dragon Hackah. Miss, if I had any doubts about what the dark is, I will say without any question that you are right."

Aqua felt that word to be more stinging than expected as her student spoke more. "Darkness, no matter what form it takes, is way too dangerous to mess around with, and the people doing that need to be stopped at every turn. If not, things like the Heartless consuming the worlds and the Darkness in New Londo will happen and by the time someone does something about it, they will just be cleaning up a big mess. More people need to say that the next time anyone gets any ideas to dangle the Dark to our faces and tempt us to use it."

Aqua nodded to that and relaxed. "It's scary how many times people don't heed the warning. Ken, do you know what you did back there?"

Ken looked up and gave a smile like sun shine. "I used a shot lock and it isn't the dark one. I call it the Sun Spear. Miss, do you think you can show that miracle to the others when we can?"

Aqua giggled certain. "I should, for as terrifying and dark as that world was, it has a lot to teach us."

The boy agreed and asked. "So you're not mad anymore about how this all started?"

Aqua took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. "We still have five more floors of searching before we are finished and who knows how dangerous they are. Nito doesn't sound as nice," Ken grumbled and finished his text. "By the time we get to the door I'll get an answer. I get that I'm not out of the woods until Garland is is out and the whole thing with Ven is taken cared of and even then... yikes."

Aqua hummed. "Oh, this was going to eventually happen, but because of this, we need to know about what goes on as we all travel the worlds and not take it lightly when there is something the other doesn't know about. But we will deal with that once this is all behind us," She walked ahead. "Come on, lets hurry this up."