The Age of Fairy Tales:

Sin

"There has never been a shortage of monsters to be found on Remnant, both in its history and fairy tales. There is one monster in particular that stands out, even amongst the Grimm. This monster is called…Sin. An apt name as any to describe a monster that seeks nothing but pure destruction and death wherever it might go.

It is said long ago, the world was a different place. Before the time of kingdoms, people were struggling to survive in whatever place they could call home. Villages built deep in swamps, forests, mountains and even in lands of snow and ice. Walls were built around these villages with people only having rudimentary skills in holding back the Creatures of Grimm.

What kingdoms that did exist were heavily fortified fortresses where the rulers would reside. Some were benevolent and thought of how best to help their people while others only thought of themselves. Then one day, a new monster came into existence. This was not a Grimm born from the depths of the darkness that plagued this world long before man's time.

Instead, this new beast was born from mankind's own vanity and it would not leave until the entire world atoned for their arrogance.

Some may ask how does one atone for the crimes of all mankind?

What crime did mankind commit to deserve such punishment?

Was it how the Faunus were treated?

Possibly but then one would have to explain why the Faunus too would come to fear Sin as their destroyer.

Was it because mankind turned on the Gods?

Another valid theory.

Perhaps Sin was created by the Gods as form of revenge on mankind for betraying them.

Whatever the reason, Sin's sole purpose it seemed was destroy where it wished, when it wished and thing could stand in its way.

Except for one.

Legend speaks of one who began training mankind to hunt and kill Grimm instead of being hunted and killed themselves. This one, would go on to face Sin and supposedly redeem the world.

If true, I am saddened to say that the lesson did not last for very long."

Xxx

"Now students, today we delve into one of history's greatest mysteries. Is anyone familiar with a former kingdom known as Spira?" Dr. Oobleck asked the gathered students in his class.

"I am." Pyrrha Nikos raised one hand.

"Really? Well, perhaps you can tell us what you know, Miss Nikos." Dr. Oobleck suggested.

"The Kingdom of Spira was a kingdom that was settled on the coast of Anima, close to Argus. There are still some ruins out there that are visited by scholars and researchers." Pyrrha answered. "My family actually visited the ruins several times."

"Ah, I suppose that makes sense." Oobleck raised a finger to his chin.

"The Kingdom of Spira existed in ancient times but fell to a destructive force, likely the Grimm." Pyrrha continued. "It was said that Spira was an advanced kingdom where the people tried advancing their lives through some form of science that was also seen as magic."

"Yes, a common misconception for those times." Oobleck nodded as he adjusted his glasses. "Anything else?"

"Well…There is a legend surrounding what destroyed Spira but it's seen more as a fairy tale." Pyrrha hesitantly said.

"Now, now." Oobleck held up a finger. "Just because it is considered a fairy tale doesn't mean there is not a line of truth there. Continue please."

"Well, according to the fairy tale the ruler of Spira summoned an unstoppable monster to defend his home and people. However, the monster was tainted by the sins of humanity, corrupted by their greed and arrogance and thus the monster turned on Spira, destroying it." Pyrrha continued again. "The survivors named the monster Sin and the only way to stop it was to atone for this corruption. Sin would also be referenced in several other ruins but it's seen more as a myth than an actual monster or even a Grimm."

"True, Miss Nikos. True." Dr. Oobleck nodded. "Though, one cannot discount the possibility that such a monster existed at one time. Even it was a Grimm and less powerful than the myth suggests, there is no doubt that it was seen as quite the terror."

Near the door to the classroom, Professor Ozpin had slipped in and listened to Oobleck's lecture, his eyes closing as memories from the long forgotten past began to surface in his mind.

A time when things seemed to be getting…

Brighter.

Xxx

"I have to go warn Aqua." Terra said, preparing to step into the portal but was then stopped by Penny.

"You can't. If you enter now, you'll become part of Remnant's timeline and have to move forward. Even if you come back here, you will still be found to return to the same time and place you left." Penny argued.

"So is Aqua." Terra argued.

"Aqua will be able to move much faster but you will be trapped to live out many millennia before the time of my friends." Penny quickly said. "Do you understand how long that will be? You will be alone, by yourself."

Terra was silent as he considered Penny's words.

"Even if you are with Aqua, you will be forced to spend a very long time as a heart in a suit of armor. Can you imagine what burden you would be placing on yourself? Please, think long and hard before you do this."

Terra clenched his fists.

"It is one thing to watch all of this but it's another to live through it-" Penny continued.

"What am I supposed to do then?!" Terra asked, raising his voice and scaring everyone with his outfust. "If I can't tell her what's happening now than when!"

Penny and the others stepped back away from him of his outburst. He looked around and noticed each one's look in their faces, showing that they were scared of him. He took his step back as well and calmed himself.

"My apologies," Terra spoke with remorse.

His temper was brought on by his fear of losing another friend and the feeling of helplessness he had experienced from falling for Master Xehanort's manipulations. He knew from the looks on the others' faces he was in danger of repeating his mistakes and needed to calm himself.

The tension eased off a bit around them. They knew he was a bit offensive because someone he cared for someone was beyond his reach.

"I know there is a risk that I'm willing to take," Terra said to the new Avatar. "If that is only just a one-way trip how I'm supposed to tell her of the dangers."

The three could hear in the hurt in his voice.

Even Neo could sympathize with the armored being. She would be willing to tell her friend especially like Roman about the danger that is coming.

Except now going through this portal it's only a one-way trip.

And she couldn't go through to help because this was far before her time. Aqua was a dear friend to her and to Terra as well. There had to be another way to communicate with her to know what is coming.

"I have to figure out any way to reach her to tell about the danger and for what had happened." Terra spoke out loud as he was very concerned for her in that world right now.

Terra was deep in thought, trying to think of another way but in his heart he knew that there was no other option. As he began to think about going to that timeline that Aqua is in he felt something in his heart that stopped him.

"Terra, don't. It's not time yet to help her." He heard a voice along with everyone else, surprising them.

Neo even summoned her Keyblade if this new person was someone was another threat.

Terra was surprised too when he began to realize that he knew that voice. A light appeared out of the armor's chest and then the form of someone Terra knew very well.

"Master Eraqus." Terra's voice could barely be heard as he stared at the Keyblade Master before him.

He knew deep down in his heart he was with him. And thanks to him he's here not consumed by the darkness or extinguished his heart. Everyone else just stared at the apparent newcomer. Penny and Neo did not know who this individual was but heard Terra speak the man's name so it was obviously someone he knew.

Other than the apprentice Oscar recognized him immediately when the days of Master Odin.

"It is a pleasure to meet all of you, especially you Terra no matter what form you might now take. I know one day you will regain your true body but for now you must be patient and endure your current state for both Ven and Aqua's sake." Eraqus said with a smile, pleased that each one that his apprentices had made friends. "You don't have to go through this portal not just yet. The answer is within yourself Terra when you listen to your heart. And when your heart has made up its decision and your mind finds any other solutions then the answer becomes clear. Search within your heart for what is connected with others and with yours."

Oscar heard the word 'connected' look back at the portal seeing Aqua using her semblance to reach himself as Diggs.

That was when he realized it was the solution to reach her you have to have a connection.

"That's it! We can use the connections that we made from Aqua by using her semblance." Oscar pointed out.

Xxx

It had happened without warning.

In the midst of training, Aqua froze and spun around, looking off into the distance.

"Aqua?" She could barely hear Poppy's voice behind her.

Darkness

She could sense an overwhelming amount of Darkness somewhere out in Remnant.

It easily eclipsed the feeling of Darkness she felt when she reached the forest she believed Salem to be dwelling in.

But what was this new Darkness she was sensing?

Heartless?

Unversed?

Did Xehanort find his way to this world?

Or did Maleficent return?

'Aqua.'

Aqua's eyes widened even further as she looked up into the sky. "Terra?"

"Terra?" Poppy followed Aqua's gaze, trying to understand what was going on.

'Aqua, we don't have much time. Listen to me, something terrible had happened.'

"Something terrible?"

'A spell cast by someone using the Staff of Creation has led to Kingdom Hearts, or at least a miniature and inferior copy of it to appear in Remnant. It's power was then corrupted by the darkness of one man's heart and now it has taken form of a monster.' Terra quickly explained.

"A monster?" Aqua looked back in the direction she had sensed this new darkness. "Kingdom Hearts appearing here?"

'It was the nature of the man's spell. Aqua, you have to stop this monster fast before it goes on a rampage across Remnant.' Terra instructed. 'It can and will destroy everything in its path.'

Aqua brought a hand to her chest. "How do I know you are actually Terra?"

'Because you're heart knows it's me, thanks to our connection.'

"Connection…" Aqua stopped as she saw a bronze light appear over her chest. "…My Semblance."

'I have been told a Semblance is a manifestation of a person's soul and in your case, it represents the bonds you have made with me, Ven and so many others. That's how we are able to speak with you now.'

"We?"

'Hey, Blue.'

Aqua's eyes widened at the familiar voice. "Neo?"

'You know it, Blue.' Neo teased and Aqua could just imagine the smile on her face. 'Turns out that Semblance of yours can help the people you hook up with talk to you…With a little magical assistance.'

Aqua took a deep breath and exhaled. "Okay, I think I understand now."

'Better hurry, Blue. That monster is causing a lot of hell already.'

Xxx

"So let me get this straight."

Poppy could only watch as Aqua gathered the necessary supplies. "You heard the voice of your friends in your head, telling you there is a very dangerous monster that is out there causing mayhem."

"Essentially…Yes." Aqua sighed once she had packed everything she needed. "I don't expect you to believe me, Poppy but-"

"I believe you."

Aqua just stopped and looked at the red haired girl. "Just like that?"

"You've got some pretty strange powers, Aqua. At this point it doesn't really surprise me anymore." Poppy shrugged. "So, where are we going?"

"We?"

"Yes, 'we'." Poppy nodded. "I'm coming with you. I think I've been through enough training I can start pulling my own weight here."

"Poppy, this is not something you have trained for. The Grimm are one thing but this monster I've been told about is entirely different." Aqua argued, not wanting to be taking this girl into a battle so soon.

"So what? Am I supposed to sit around all day and wait for you to come back?" Poppy scowled. "No way. You put me through this training to make sure I was ready to actually defend myself and anyone with me and I wanted it because I didn't want to go through or let anyone go through what I did with my home ever again."

This was more than just training to be some warrior or hero.

Poppy wanted desperately to make up for past sins.

Her hubris killed her village and family.

She needed to find a way to make up for that, even if she believed she never actually would atone for her mistake.

Still, she needed to try.

Aqua sighed but relented. "All right, but remember this Poppy: if I believe things are becoming too dangerous I expect you to listen to me when I say 'retreat'. I have no intention of treating this as a mere game, especially since it won't just be my life on the line. Understand?"

Poppy smiled but quickly turned serious and nodded. With this topic cleared up, Aqua summoned the star glyph representing Mickey.

'Star Seeker.' In her hand appeared the star shard that then grew into a large star.

The star then picked her and Poppy up and shot into the sky with Poppy letting out a surprised scream before it vanished behind the clouds.

Xxx

Vexen's Report I

Ever since these mysterious new Nobodies that have been named 'Blanks' appeared, the Organization has been experimenting with them, trying to see the best way to make them useful to our goals. Master Xehanort believes they are the key to locating Ansem the Wise and the missing Guardian of Light. So far, we've managed to evolve their forms so to speak.

The Nobody possessing the most magical abilities has joined the ranks of the Sorcerer Nobodies, becoming the only known Sorceress.

The White Knight would make a welcome addition to the Samurai Nobodies.

The Reaper has joined the other Reapers, retaining its unique appearance and weapon. Rather oversized but effective.

The second one…

This one can project glyphs with a wide variety of abilities. While Xehanort ordered them to accompany Vanitas he also wanted to perform an experiment to further evolve these Nobodies. As Blanks, they migh be more powerful but lack the reason and intellect that us superior Nobodies possess. To the end, the glyph Nobody was chosen to see if it could evolve to regain its human form.

How you may ask?

The research was complicated to say the least but a way was found. My Replica Program yielded many results in the past; including the creation of No.I but this was a bit more challenging. It required the aid of Young Xehanort, following back to the strange world to find the Blank's somebody. Using her memories as a source, I used my replica program to evolve the Glyph Blank and give her a human form, much similar to her Somebody's appearance.

The memories were basic, most for shape and form but Young Xehanort and Vanitas were thorough enough to give me enough to form the personality needed to carry out our goals. A lone girl, locked away in her home, made to feel like a cage. In a way, I have merged my Replica research with that of a Nobody, taking my research to brand new levels. As it is well known by now, Nobodies have two forms: a husk like form and a humanoid form.

The husk form is the result of Nobodies who lose their hearts but lack the necessary strength to retain their human forms and memories with the most basic form being a Dusk.

The human form are Nobodies whose hearts were strong and thus their will was strong enough to keep their human forms.

A Dusk is the weakest Nobody in existence but in time, through battle and experience can grow and evolve, becoming one of the Nobodies that are higher ranked but still under the command of the Organization. I have theorized that it is possible that with enough time, a husk Nobody can become strong enough to evolve into a human form Nobody, regaining the form they lost along with their heart. I never had the chance to test this theory until now when I used basic memories of the Glyph Nobody's Somebody that was gathered by Young Xehanort when he attempted to locate Master Ansem and the Lost Guardian. He was specific in his gathering of these memories, stating that it was important for to ensure these new evolved Nobodies would align with the darkness.

It is expected I not make the same mistake as No. I, so I must be careful.

The results were…unexpected.

End Report

Vexen turned away from his screen when he heard footsteps and slowly turned around. Approaching him was the new Nobody that had been 'reborn', so to speak from the Glyph Blank and now took the form of a young lady. She wore a black dress with white frills. She had long white hair that fell down her back and pale skin. Her most unique feature was that she wore a blindfold around her eyes and her expression was cold and neutral.

This was the newest Nobody.

Not a member of the Organization but a member of the small group joining Vanitas into finding the lost Guardian of Light and Ansem the Wise.

Vexen had to wonder why she wasn't given a name with an 'X' in it.

Perhaps because she wasn't officially a member of the Organization, or even a 'benched' one like Demyx would say.

Soon enough after she was 'reborn' she was immediately put to training by Vanitas, Larxene and Marluxia and the results were quite surprising. Adequate fighting skills and her glyphs had evolved with her, taking on an entirely new form.

It was by then Vanitas had given her a new name.

"Welcome…Angel."

The woman said nothing, not that Vexen had expected her to answer back.

She had not spoken a word since she had regained her human form; all thought it was likely because even then she was still different from the person she used to be.

"Don't bother trying to strike a conversation with her, Doc."

Vexen frowned, watching as Vanitas walked up behind the woman named Angel. Amongst all the members of the Organization, Vexen found Vanitas to be rather…unsettling.

And it wasn't just because he was literally Darkness incarnate, born from the literal darkness of a boy's heart.

Vanitas was a savage.

"I will be taking her and the others with me soon to the world where your lost master is slumming." Vanitas remarked, walking around Angel who remained still and quiet. "I am sure we'll flush both him and the Lost Guardian out very quickly."

"I suppose you'll be taking Xaldin and Lexeaus with you as well." Vexen stated calmly.

"You are smart." Vanitas chuckled as Vexen bristled at the sarcastic jab to his intelligence but remained still. "Young Xehanort will taking them along to track down Terra and the ice cream girl. One Lost Guardian is bad enough but one more and another Keyblade Wielder on the loose is not what we need at the moment."

So he was right after all.

Xehanort wasn't taking chances.

Aqua had already weakened the incarnation of Xehanort who was possessing Terra's original body with this mysterious power from the other world.

Weakening a member of the True Organization with a strange new power was more than enough to warrant an immediate response.

"I am just here to tell you that we're not waiting much longer." Vanitas continued, shaking Vexen from his thoughts. "And Young Xehanort has found a way to return the Blanks to their world through time, so we can find out everything we need to know."

"He did?" Vexen gasped, his eyes going wide. "How?"

"Come on, you're the smart guy." Vanitas taunted. "So wouldn't you know how time travel works?"

Vexen's eyes went even wider as he realized what that meant.

Xxx

The Star Seeker arrived in what looked like the ruins of a kingdom. Aqua and Poppy immediately landed on the ground as the Star Seeker vanished, leaving them alone as they looked about the desolate place.

"What happened here?" Poppy asked, taking a few steps forward and looked around with a grave look on her face. "Grimm?"

Aqua was silent as she walked forward as well, glancing behind her to see the remains of what appeared to be a castle of some kind. "I don't think so."

Poppy took a few more steps before she froze, hearing a strange sound unlike anything she had ever heard before in her life.

A monster growling?

Children screaming?

"Poppy!" Aqua shot forward, summoning her Keyblade as Poppy turned and looked up.

Poppy stared up shocked horror; her graze trailing up the sight of appeared to be a massive creature unlike anything she had ever seen before.

Not even the Grimm that had destroyed her village could compare to the feeling of horror she felt from seeing this monster and hearing the sound of voices wailing in pain. It didn't help that the monster was staring down at her with multiple eyes, moving back and forth.

Aqua moved in front of Poppy, settling into a ready stance.

The creature let out a wail that sounded like a thousand voices wailing in agony.

Aqua narrowed her eyes and summoned her Keyblade armor.

'The creature known as Sin was said to be the manifestation of humanity's sins, brought about by our vanity, arrogance and greed. However it is also said that during that time, a great warrior rose up to stand against the beast and fought for the lives and rights of all living things. History has given her many names:

The One Who Gained Knowledge.

The One Who Wielded Creation.

The One Who Tamed Destruction.

The One Who Was Given Choice.

The One Who Named the Gods

She Who Dances In Water.

And her most common titles: The Silver Knight and the Ocean Knight.'