Chapter 16: The Past and Present
Since that first meeting, Morgana Pendragon proved to be a force of nature that could possibly give even some of the tougher enemies I faced the run for their money, her analytical mind, her unending cunning, and her creative imagination defeated me more times than I could believe.
The day that followed that fateful meeting quickly became one of filling some of the most important parts of history. Then we eventually did get into training displaying her deadly experience against someone who was a novice.
Meditating in the training room as part of one of our relaxing days, the memory of that day slowly worms its way into my mind as I breathed slowly, keeping the rhythm that she taught me.
Sleeping with the covers strewn around me, my breathing was labored as my eyes moved side to side frantically.
"No, no, no!" I yelled out, bolting upright as yesterday's events were vividly recalled in greater detail than how I would've liked. Placing my hands on the sides of my head, I started to breathe in short and frantic breaths as I laid down staring up at the ceiling while my heart slowly calmed down.
As my heart calmed down back to manageable levels, the sound of the door opening to my bedroom was heard. Quickly with a flash of light, Oathkeeper appeared in my hand as I aimed it at the door. Only to be surprised that it was the man from the last time looking at me with only a raised eyebrow.
"You are awake? Then hurry less Lady Morgana find herself angry with your lack of punctuality." He said as he spun and exited the door leaving me dumbfounded and confused until my mind caught up with what he said.
Bolting up from my bed, I quickly when to the bathroom in order to tidy myself up and getting changed into new clothes. Looking into the mirror one more time to ensure everything is looking proper, I immediately hurried out of my chamber.
I found the man standing guard against a door that was to my right as I walked up to him. Even though he seemed distracted, I have the distinct feeling that it was an act the reason that his act failed when his hand twitched to the sword that rested by his side. Looking at him, he seemed to observe that his act failed and allowed me through to the chamber.
"Well, it seemed that you understand that looking the part will become important in this society." She said as I looked surprised to see her with a white dragon on her lap. No, I'm not joking, it was small and yet when it opened its eyes, I can see the intelligence hidden inside of them. "I also see that you are enchanted by Aithusa."
"What kind of dragon is she?" I questioned finding the name to be more feminine.
"She is a great dragon like the one that taught Merlin the wizard when he was a younger man. However, the difference is that she is very young and doesn't have as much experience." Morgana explained as she rubbed the dragon at the crook of its neck as it let out a content rumble.
"So, she can speak?" I said interested.
"Yes, but due to her of observations of the world. Her language is archaic compared to modern English and only a handful of people can understand her." Morgana said. She soon started up disturbing the dragon who leaped and landed near my feet. This froze me in place that it started to look at me critically as it circled around me much like a panther stalking its prey.
This only lasted for a few moments as it did this action several more times until I let out a breath, I was holding in as it rubbed its head on my leg. Breathing normal, I went down and rubbed its head as it let out a rumble before walking off.
"Aithusa can discern if someone is pure or if they have darkness in them. If you were to have darkness within you, then we wouldn't be having this conversation." Morgana explained as she ignored the look of surprise that filled my face.
"Wait, what happens if I was created by people with less than noble intention?" I questioned as Morgana just shook her head.
"Unless you did things that you truly display that you're in the dark -like the ones you fought- then you're fine. Aithusa allowed you to pet her displaying that even if events of your past were dark, you truly want redemption." Morgana said noting how my eyes averted to the floor.
Quietly sighing to herself, she put her hand on my shoulder resulting in me looking at her. "It's fine, it's better to find your goal and then work towards it. Otherwise, follow me, we will be at the dueling room."
The dueling room was more like a giant stadium without the seats. Unlike some of the other rooms, you can practically feel a humming in the air that comfortably shake you.
"This room is powerful enough to take a hit from several deity class characters like Hercules or Zeus." She said as she walked to the middle of the room. "However, in this case, we won't be needing to damage the room."
She turned to me, and the look of her eyes quickly puts me on guard as her eyes glinted with something that promised pain. "By the end of your training, I expect you to fight Merlin and me to a standstill while being able to escape some of the tougher opponents." As she said this, the room started to shift and turn eventually turning something akin to an empty field. "This is known as Catalan, the field that the ancient forces of Camelot led by a legendary wielder of Excalibur, and here they faced the forces of Darkness and their puppets."
With this said, a projection opened displaying a king wielding a keyblade of immense magical power directed his men to battle as hundreds of his knights took to the field. Each one prepared for war as many runes and magic has been laid onto each of their armor. No words were heard, but by the lifting of each of their swords told us everything that was going to happen.
On the other field, I stilled in shock as a familiar raven-haired woman looked at the king murderously as a knight stood next to her, his armor darker than like the ones that stood across him.
"21 knights of the round table led by their king, each a keyblade wielder of their own making. Percival, the noble knight, wielded oathkeeper as his chosen. The others had theirs as well, but none were great as Arthur's. He wielded Excalibur, a keyblade that chose him to be worthy enough to stem the dark hordes. On the other hand, his sister and his traitor led the opposing army. She wielded Darkness incarnate while he wielded Oblivion." Morgana said, the mood-dampening as she began the tale.
"The battle was the largest one fought, more so than the legions of Rome at the height of their power. On one side, the armies of Camelot and their many allies aided by great magic led by Arthur and his knights. On the other, I and Mordred with the army of shadows. When the battle started, magic of both great and terrible power was wrought upon the world, each carrying the blessings or curses of their sides. Black lightning, thunder, frost, and countless others were traded and then the armies met on the field.
The scene changed to display the corresponding narrative as she told the story. Black lightning destroyed many men and yet they quickly came back up due to the healing magic of the many druids. In response, elemental spells combined forming fires as that reached the skies. Lightning and frost intertwined to make makeshift explosives that destroyed hundreds of the enemy.
Then the scene speed forward as the alliance fought the darkness displaying the brutality in the conflict as many fell. However, it was clear that they are losing, as they killed one shadow twelve quickly took its place. The alliance quickly finding itself on the back foot and yet nobody ran.
Soon two dragons appeared, raining down fire upon each other's armies only for the battlefield to stop. A young man with a red handkerchief tied around his neck and clothes that displayed himself as a stable hand and yet something was familiar.
"Emrys," Morgana said behind me as I listened. "Most powerful sorcerer that is only comparable to the likes of some of the stronger wizards like Yen Sid, and yet around this time he was naive looking at the light inside of everyone." She chuckled sadly. "This soon changed as prior events hardened him, but he still tried to reach out to me hoping that I would change."
Quickly with the arrival of Emrys, the forces of light seemed to have a chance once the white dragon fled without anything striking her. The army of light while heavily damaged, continued fighting on.
"The army is winning," I said amazed, but Morgana let out a sad chuckle.
"They would have too, but you discounted the fact that I was there being a puppet of the darkness." With that said, the amazement turned to horror as the shadows quickly coalesce into a giant version of the one that tried to prevent her from leaving.
"What are they?" I asked as Morgana looked at the creature.
"Hratos, ancient guardians that once served as colossi in order to defeat the darkness and serve the armies of keyblade bearers. Unfortunately, these beings came to ruin once the keyblade war occurred. The one that Death said that you defeated is much stronger than some of its contemporaries in mind. Hence the ambush that would've have defeated you."
At that I shuddered, if I didn't unlock the new form, I would've most likely lost and been sucked into the shadows like the last time.
The Hratos that formed looked to the army below it. With a roar, hundreds of shadows came pouring out from him. Unlike the ones that Morgana led, these ones were faster, tougher and more durable. What once was a mighty host of men and wizards, quickly became a mob trying to survive as shadows surrounded and started to butcher the army. The only thing that prevented the total annihilation of the were the 22 keyblade wielders and Merlin. The dragon was doing battle with the giant, its flames blasting limbs and chunks, forcing it back.
But even with this, even their greatest heroes started to fall. Percival and Gwaine destroyed thousands of shadows before being surrounded and promptly crushed. The others soon found themselves facing similar fates and got closer and closer. It was only the wits of Merlin did a few survive.
"What did he do? "I asked as I turned my eyes from the morbid sight in front of me.
"No one knows, even I one of the greatest magic practitioners of the time, didn't understand what he did to push back the tide," Morgana said.
The scene soon changed into a flash of light, one that seemed impenetrable to the naked eye but to me, it felt familiar somehow. Unlike the light that I once found myself in, this one made me lighter as if the whole world didn't matter. Basking in the feeling, I didn't notice when a creature formed in front of me.
Seeing the anomaly that I was, it rubbed it's head on me making me open my eyes in surprise as we looked eye to eye before the light dissipated. The scene changed from the desolate battleground to a green pasture, with all the bodies of the knights laying with a white cloth draped on top of them. King Arthur, unlike his knights, was being supported by his friend Merlin.
"So, they won?" I asked as Morgana smiled sadly.
"Is it truly winning if you lose everything you hold dear? Is it truly winning when you realize that your kingdom will fall as it has no heir? Yes, they won the battle, but the future and dream of Camelot were destroyed." Morgana said.
The room quickly changed back reverted back to itself as Morgana materialized a blade into her hands. Now that the history lesson is over, I have one task for you. Hit me, without magic.
Sounding easy enough, I charged at her with my two keyblade flashing into existence as I saw her smirk. "Wait why is she…"
With horrible realization, I realized that I fell into her trap as a runic circle burned into existence. Unlike similar traps, this one seemed to freeze me in place forcing me to be stuck in my charging position while she casually walks up to me.
The first rule in combat is never charge in head first without a plan. Unlike the enemies you faced in the worlds you've been in; these enemies are past the idea of kingdom hearts. They are the ones who seek to bring darkness in the land and once they find out that you are a threat…"
She moved with the speed that seemed impossible with the gown she was wearing. In the blink of an eye, her blade was to my throat as she looked at me. Her eyes making me deathly afraid as they had no emotion and seemed to pull me in the depths of the underworld.
"They will make sure your heart never sees the light again." At that, Morgana removed the spell and her blade allowing me to breathe in relief.
As I calmed my racing heart, I noticed that a pile of books seemed to appear in front of me. Without a word, I turned towards her and raised one of my eyebrows.
"Oh please, don't tell me that you haven't studied magic before." She said only to see that I was staring blankly at her.
Sighing to herself, she started to mutter something that I couldn't hear. But with the dangerous glint that filled her eyes at that moment, I'm not sure that I wanted to.
"Since we have to start at the beginning it would be best if you get a general idea of how magic works," Morgana said as the books disappeared and two armchairs appeared.
Motioning for me to sit down with her, we sat across from each other before she began with her lecture. "To start off magic is something that can be only guided and not commanded. Only intent matters for every spell."
During her small introduction, she waved her hand and the room expanded to be larger than usual, then with another wave it shrunk to its original size. With another wave, her hand made a sword appear before changing it into a snake before it dissipated
"Now cast any of the three spells that you learned while you were at the connected worlds." She said.
Complying with her wishes, my keyblades came out before I cast blizzaga. Unlike other times, it was caught by several shadows that seem to have trouble with it before dissipating with the spell.
"Unlike the magic found with the use of the keyblade, this is usually used with different foci and different incantations. Some, like Merlin and I, don't need wands, others who are not as powerful may use staves or wands." She informed me before I interrupted.
"Wait then why does Merlin use a wand then?" I asked curiously as memories of Sora meeting him filled my mind.
"He...did something that made him regret using wandless magic," Morgana said, but with the tone, it was clear that she wasn't going to clarify. Instead, we continued with the lecture.
To say I was dazzled was an understatement as the magical world here seemed to take magic in a different route. From potions that seemed to regrow skeletal structures, to spells that can improve combat, it's shocking how they weren't conquered by the darkness.
When I asked Morgana about this, she had to breathe a bit in exasperation as she told me what this world does to prevent this from happening. "Unlike keyblade bearers, this world has not experienced guardians to the extent that you have, instead it produces a lynchpin you can say. This time, it will be his duty to make sure that the world doesn't fall."
"So, he's fated to combat the darkness?" I questioned as Morgana smiled.
"No, this time he's the ones who will ensure that they will not be able to form here." She said.
Looking at her, my head tilted to the side and my eyes squinted to understand what she meant. Then with a dawning realization, my eyes widened as I looked at Morgana.
"He will be a...?" was all I got out before she shook her head.
"Maybe, however it will be him that you need to ensure completes his fate."
Leaving the memory of the day where I got my mind blown several times, I looked up in surprise as Mordred came in. On his arm, an owl was perched with something attached to its leg.
"You know what this is," he said as the owl immediately landed next to me. Immediately placing its foot out, I took the paper that was attached to its leg and read it quickly. Looking at Mordred, I had to give a small smirk as he glared at me. "Seems that he didn't like my final surprise."
"I know you did it," he said
"I will deny everything unless you have proof," I said not even looking at him before placing the letter down. Quickly standing up, I stretched a little as the owl perched on my shoulder. "I will be seeing Morgana, just don't forget to shine your armor." After that parting shot, I quickly ducked away as a blizzaga streaked with black hit the wall behind me.
Laughing out loud, I immediately started to run away as the sound of heavy footsteps started to come. Going through several chambers, I made sure that I lost him before heading to her room. Making sure that I was presentable, I knocked on the door twice while waiting patiently for permission.
"Enter," said Morgana's voice.
Immediately entering, I noticed that she seemed to be at the same position when I first met her. Her eyes staring at the book with vague interest as Aithusa looked at me before laying her head down onto her mistress's legs.
"I'm assuming that the letter has arrived?" she asked as I nodded and presented her the letter. Quickly scanning through the contents, she didn't say anything as the sun began to set, casting the room in the shade of twilight.
"Well then, I think you know what to do," she said as I nodded. "Well, I wish you luck in your endeavor."
At this, I took out a silver pendant located in my bag. The silver pendant looked to be the same sort of necklace one would find at a cheap jewelry store and yet there was one difference. It has a silver Fomorroh on the face of the pendant enchanted for allowing for both a quick getaway as well as a portkey to any location if it's part of the seven heads.
I checked my bag one more time, allowing me to take stock in many of the things I needed during this year. After this, I looked up to Morgana and with a jovial wave I said the keyword "Camelot."
Then the world began to spin as it took me towards my new destination and temporary home for the foreseeable future.
Suppressing a sigh, a small smile started to form on my face as I looked at the spot where my former student has teleported from. However, this smile was quickly replaced by a frown as a feeling of heaviness filled the room that previously was light. "I know you are here, creator of the hallows.
"You don't have to be dramatic, bastard of the Pendragon line." Was the retort as my carefully manicured hands started to tighten on the book while I calmed down the spike of anger that filled me with rage.
After this retort, the shadows darkened to the point that it seemed a singularity took its place. Out from the black depths, a figure dressed in a decrepit cloak came through.
"I have honored my end of the bargain; will you honor yours?" I questioned.
"All in due time. She must finish her mission first. Then you can be reunited with the ones you thought lost." He said.
"You're putting forth a major effort in her succeeding in this mission." I said my eyes narrowing in the process "As if you have another goal in mind."
"And you're not? You're not doing this out of the kindness of what you consider a heart "He said.
I stayed silent knowing that whatever I had to say would most likely be countered. A few moments of silence passed before us. One being lost in their thoughts while the other waiting for something. Eventually, my curiosity won out as I finally looked at him for the entire duration of this meeting.
"Why her? Why not any of the other keyblade bearers? Master Aqua could do this mission without too much difficulty." I asked as Death nodded.
"Unlike the others, only few understand the idea of sacrifice. Not only that but she is currently needed for the events that are going to occur" He said as my eyes hardened. The light giving them a sharper look like that emeralds sharpening. "Don't worry young Pendragon, she will be fine."
After this, the shadows lightened around the room announcing the departure of the unwanted guest. Placing my book down, I couldn't help but wonder if Xion will be alright in this world. "She will be," said a thought as my worry abated. "She's ready, you and Mordred trained her well." I thought to myself. However, this didn't help the nagging feeling that I was missing something important, really important.