Chapter 66: The Three Trials
(World of Village of the End)
(Village of the End: Temple of Archives)
(Field Theme: Sacred Harmony)
In what looks like a room full of books and statues Ky, Noel, and Sora are on the ground semi-conscious until they recover and get up.
"Where…are we now?" Ky asked.
"This might be this place Count Nago sent this needed item to." Noel said.
"Okay. So, now we gotta find it, and bring it back to Bygone Fortress, right? No problem." Sora said.
"But WHERE are we gonna find it?" Ky asked.
"I suppose we should start with this place." Noel said.
"I guess." Ky said.
The trio go through the archives area and while looking around they find something on the floor and it's a round semi-complete picture.
"What's this?" Sora asked.
"It looks like a puzzle or something." Ky said.
"I think we should find some pieces that are missing. Maybe it might tell us something." Noel said.
"Good idea." Ky said.
"Let's give it a shot!" Sora said.
The trio search the archives around for the missing pieces for the floor picture and while searching around they manage to find the missing pieces and after finding enough of the missing pieces they go back for the floor picture and place the pieces on the floor completing the floor picture which reveals to be a picture of two figures wielding key shaped swords and one is a man with white hair while the other is another man with black hair and are fighting in a village.
"What's this picture?" Sora asked.
"It looks like two men wielding Keyblades! One's using a Keyblade that looks like mine, but it also looks like that…" Ky stops talking as a flashback of the white cloaked and hooded figure occurs. "Him…" Ky said and he looks at the other Keybearer. "And him…! He looks like Zervik, minus the green hair, but he still has the evil look!" Ky said.
"What does this mean?" Sora asked.
"I think they're fighting in a village…and I think that one is using light, while the other is using darkness." Noel said.
"I see you have noticed the event." A voice said and the trio turn to see a bright light appear and it's the hooded and white cloaked figure.
"You!" Ky said.
"Hello, Ky. It's good to see you again. You have grown a little since the last I have saw you." The hooded and white cloaked figure said and he sees Noel and Sora. "The Child of Light and Darkness. How it is good to see you not corrupted by the darkness. You are just like your father. And you, young Sora. I have heard much about you, and your past endeavors. It is an honor to finally meet you." The white hooded and cloaked figure said.
"You know something like this? That picture of a man wielding that Keyblade looks just like yours and mine, and he's fighting someone of darkness." Ky said.
"Yes. That picture of the two men fighting are known as the two Keyblade Paragons. One is the Keyblade Paragon of Light known as Aptus and the other is known as the Keyblade Paragon of Darkness known as Malus." The white hooded and cloaked figure said.
"Aptus…? Malus…?" Ky asked confused.
"Keyblade Paragons…?" Sora asked confused.
"Wait a minute… The Keyblade Paragon of Light! It's just like what Lord Hiruzen said before! He was a good friend of this First Hokage and this Second Hokage, and also the one, who helped Princess Celestia defeat Princess Luna when she became Nightmare Moon!" Ky said.
"Correct, Ky. Ages before other Keybearers, before even you three, Aptus and Malus were both known to be very powerful beings, that many know them as Keyblade Paragons, but Aptus believed in the path of light, but Malus uses his powers for the darkness." The white hooded and cloaked figure said.
"What happened? What was with this fighting?" Ky asked.
"Long ago, this place you three are in now was a very peaceful world, where many people lived in harmony. No war, no cause and effect. It was like a utopia for many hearts, who existed. There were leaders of this world, and those leaders were known as Aptus and Malus, who both watched over and protected this world for ages during their lives. Those two were more than just friends…they were actually brothers, even though they were opposites, as Aptus always positive, had a sense of justice, always have seen the good in others, while Malus was normally negative, he was less than merciful, and had darkness in his mind, but still wished to serve and protect others. One day, as an unknown force, known as Kingdom Hearts was heard, Malus had a belief that even the powers of darkness and Kingdom Hearts under his control could bring one happiness, along with the light, but views the darkness to be a superior power with Kingdom Hearts combined, rather than light. Malus had a desire that with darkness, and Kingdom Hearts under his power, everything could be ruled with power and oppression, and true peace would be made, rather than how light would bring, but Aptus disagreed with Malus' belief and desire, and this has caused a war between the two for differences of their beliefs, and Aptus was the one, who have prevailed over his brother, and sealed Malus' body away, so he could cause no harm. Unfortunately, their battle has taken a toll on this world, as it has reduced their home in ruins, and everyone was destroyed in the process of their battle. Since then, Aptus regretted what has happened to his home and his brother, and renounced his title as Keyblade Paragon of Light, as he does not deserve the title any further, and has spent the rest of his life exploring different places, but then time has caught him, and met his demise. This place is now called the Village of the End, due to how it is now, because of Aptus' and Malus' conflict." The white hooded and cloaked figure explained.
"Oh, my…" Noel stopped talking.
"No way…! That's intense!" Sora said.
"So, Aptus is no longer around, and Malus is sealed, but at a hefty price…" Ky said.
"Yes. Now, I understand that you three are searching for a means to bring Bygone Fortress back to its original state, or rather, make greater than ever before." The white hooded and cloaked figure said.
"That's right. We heard it's here somewhere, since we got through that portal, as I was the only one to unlock the way." Noel said.
"Yes. The item Count Nago has created, in case someone like Faust or anyone with dark intensions would have conquered Bygone Fortress. That time has now come." The white hooded and cloaked figure said.
"You know where it is?" Ky asked.
" Yes, but because of Nago's desperation, he had to shatter his creation into pieces, and has scattered the pieces away in this ruined world, because of Faust and the Fearmongers." The white hooded and cloaked figure said.
"Really?! The item's scattered?!" Sora asked.
"Just our luck. Guess we'll find the pieces, and restore this item back to how it was." Noel said.
"To retrieve the pieces, you must first deal with the three trials that were created for those, who are deemed worthy of getting the pieces." The white hooded and cloaked figure said.
"Then, we'll go through the trials! Where are the trials?" Ky asked.
"And how will we get through for the pieces?" Sora asked.
The white hooded and cloaked figure opens a door leading outside.
"Just become the heroes you three have always been destined to be." The white hooded and cloaked figure said as he disappears in light.
"Hey, wait!" Sora called but the figure is gone.
"Well, looks like we're on our own again." Ky said.
"The three trials… If we are to get the pieces for the item, we must be ready for anything." Noel said.
"Yeah!" Ky said.
"No problem!" Sora said.
The trio go through the door and go outside.
(Village of the End: Village Ruins)
The trio are now outside and they look around to find what looks like a village to be ruined.
"Whoa!" Sora said.
"A ruined village, just like what that hooded guy said. Ya know, this place seems familiar to me." Ky said.
"Really? How?" Noel asked.
"I dunno. It looks like that one place was at, after I defeated Kaos, and had to…destroy Pax, Kaos, and the Dark Gem. This place looks like where I found, but had to fight Nex to make him come back to my side, but he disappeared." Ky said.
"Well, we should find those three trials, and get those pieces." Sora said.
"Right. I think our best chance is to split up. If we're going to find the three trials and the pieces, then finding them separate will be quicker." Noel said.
"When you put it that way, that sounds like a good idea." Ky said.
"Okay, and I guess when we're done, we meet back at that archive place." Sora said.
"Yeah. Good luck, Noel, Sora." Ky said as he leaves.
"Please be careful." Noel said as she leaves.
"See ya two in a flash!" Sora said as he leaves.
After the three Keybearers go their separate ways Sora starts going through the ruined village searching for one of the trials needed to go through for one of the missing pieces for the item and while searching around he comes across what looks like a ruined arena.
"Is that a battle arena? Maybe that's one of those trials things. I'm gonna check it out!" Sora said as he goes for the arena.
(Village of the End: Battle Arena)
Sora is now in the ruined arena and everything is destroyed with the seats destroyed and the inside is broken but Sora starts searching all over the arena for the trial and for the one of the missing pieces and while exploring the arena Sora comes down to the ground area and looks around.
"This is just like the state the Coliseum is in now… Nothing but ruins." Sora said and while looking around he steps on something which is a pedestal and it rises.
"Whoa!" Sora said and just then Dark Knight Black Xetis appear.
(Battle Theme: War of Ruin)
"Bring it on!" Sora said taking out Kingdom Key.
(Information: Defeat the Black Xetis!)
The Dark Knight Black Xetis attack Sora with their swords.
"You won't stop me! POWER!" Sora shouted and someone appears and it's Genie.
"Sora! Whatcha need?" Genie asked.
"Help me take out these Black Xetis!" Sora said.
"No prob!" Genie said as he takes out what seems to be a Keyblade in Genie's image.
The Dark Knight Black Xetis attack but Sora and Genie both work together and dash all over the arena in the air striking the Dark Knight Black Xetis but the Dark Knight Black Xetis unleash dark slash streaks but Sora and Genie both spin around while firing magical blasts at the Dark Knight Black Xetis but the Dark Knight Black Xetis try to slam their swords but Sora and Genie both strike and then Sora and Genie continue firing magical blasts and strike at the Black Xetis.
"Looks like my work is done! Over and out!" Genie said as he disappears.
"Thanks, Genie!" Sora said as he slashes at the Dark Knight Black Xetis and defeats them. "Whew. That was interesting." Sora said and then he steps on another pedestal and it rises more than the last pedestal. "Again?" Sora asked and then Warlock Black Xetis appears. "Again." Sora said getting ready to fight.
The Warlock Black Xetis attack Sora with black fire spells but Sora dodges and slashes with Kingdom Key followed by casting Aero sending the Warlocks upward but the Warlock Black Xetis cast black thunder spells but Sora casts Gravity to strike and then triple slashes with Kingdom Key but the Warlock Black Xetis shoot dark magic beams to strike at Sora but Sora vertical slashes with Kingdom Key followed by casting Earth to strike but the Warlock Black Xetis unleash dark magic pillars but Sora slashes with Kingdom Key and defeats the Warlock Black Xetis.
"Take THAT!" Sora said. "I think I get it now. If I step on those three pedestals, then Black Xetis'll appear and attack, and I'll defeat them!" Sora said as he steps on the third and final pedestal and it rises way more than the last two pedestals and Dragon Black Xetis appear. "Let's have fun!" Sora said.
The Dragon Black Xetis breathe black fire at Sora who dodges and casts Blizzard and then casts Water but the Dragon Black Xetis attack Sora with their claws and then tail whip but Sora strikes back with Kingdom Key but the Dragon Black Xetis fly into the air and breathe black fire at Sora.
"Okay! How 'bout this?! GIVE ME STRENGTH!" Sora shouted as someone appears and it's the blue creature named Stitch.
"Sora!" Stitch said as he licks Sora's face.
"Hey! C'mon, I need your help!" Sora said.
The Dragon Black Xetis try to breathe black fire at Sora but Stitch retaliates with shooting from his blasters but the Dragon Black Xetis attack with their fangs but Stitch plays his ukulele to hold the Dragon Black Xetis still allowing Sora to slash with Kingdom Key but the Dragon Black Xetis breathe black fire but Stitch shoots with his blasters but the Dragon Black Xetis attack with their claws but Sora and Stitch start playing music with Sora's Keyblade and Stitch's ukulele and also firing shots from the Keyblade and blasters until the attacks end and Stitch disappears.
"See ya, Stitch!" Sora said.
The Dragon Black Xetis breathe black fire at Sora who casts Water to send a giant wave and strike and Sora defeats the Dragon Black Xetis ending the fight.
After defeating the Black Xetis a gate opens.
"Hey, something's open. I wonder what's in there." Sora said.
Sora goes through the opened gate and is led to what looks like an underground place and while looking around Sora finds what looks like a small crystallized fragment.
"What's that? Is this one of the pieces needed to find?" Sora asked taking the crystallized fragment. "I'm gonna assume it is. I hope Ky and Noel are okay!" Sora said as he leaves the arena.
Meanwhile in the village ruins Ky starts looking around for one of the trials and one of the pieces of the item and while searching Ky stumbles upon what looks like a giant hole on the ground.
"A hole? Where does this lead to? Only one way to find out." Ky said as he goes into the hole.
(Village of the End: Underground Path)
After entering the hole Ky falls into what looks like an underground path and lands on the ground.
"Dang! That's one fall. Okay, I guess this could be worth exploring. Time to find out if it's one of these trials and find one of the pieces for the item we need." Ky said.
Ky starts going through the sewer path and while looking around he stumbles upon a strange looking ground and as he steps on it the ground falls and Ky falls with it.
"Seriously, what is it with falling? What am I supposed to do?" Ky asked as he finds himself in a different underground place. "I guess I'll find my way out, then keep exploring." Ky said.
Ky explores around the different underground place for a way out and while exploring he finds a ladder and so Ky starts climbing up the ladder taking him upward and later on he finds another ladder and leads him upward to a statue.
"A statue. What's this for?" Ky asked and he sees something in front of the statue and it's a torch. "Hmm…" Ky then casts Fire at the torch and is now lit with flames and as the torch is lit the strange ground now has yellow symbols. "Yellow things on the ground…? What could this mean? Guess I'll see." Ky said.
Ky jumps off and returns to the path and then steps on the yellow symbol on the ground and nothing happens.
"I get it! If I step on the yellow things, then I won't fall, and keep going!" Ky said.
Ky walks down the ground using the yellow steps until he later reaches the end and then reaches another ground but Ky looks up to see another torch and so Ky casts Fire at the torch and lights it with flames making more yellow steps appear and Ky gets on the yellow steps and walks along them until he reaches the end and reaches a different pathway.
"Okay. Time to get going! Looks like this is another path. I'll take it if I wanna keep going." Ky said as he goes for the next path.
Ky is now in what looks like a sewer pathway and searches for a way of where to go to next and Ky later stumbles upon an end with two ways and Ky chooses which way to go and Ky chooses the right and it leads him to a different area and he sees many Phantom Black Xetis.
"Black Xetis!" Ky said taking out Dawn of Hope but as he charges to attack he sees an eye open and causes a bridge to lift up. "Damn… If I let that eye see me, then I'll never get outta here! I'll just have to not let that eye or the Black Xetis see me." Ky said.
Ky searches for a way to close the eye while hiding from the eye opened eye and the Black Xetis and while searching around he finds a switch and while pressing it the eye closes and the bridge lowers.
"Awesome! Now, I gotta get through without being spotted." Ky said.
Ky said goes through the area without being seen and later reaches the bridge and gets across and exits.
"Okay. Now I know how Sly feels when he has to be cunning." Ky said.
Ky continues to go through the sewer path which is now being a maze and later on he reaches another area that has more Black Xetis and the same eye as before but now there are two eyes which are open and the bridges are up so Ky has to search for the switches to close the eyes without being detected by the Black Xetis and he later finds one switch that closes one eye and lowers one of the bridges and then searches for the next switch to close the next eye and later on Ky finds another switch and closes the second eye and then lowers the second bridge allowing Ky to keep going and reaches the next sewer path until he reaches the end of the path.
Ky is now in a different area and he sees what looks like a crystallized fragment.
"What's that over there? Is that the piece that we need? If so, I gotta get to it." Ky said but then another eye opens and something starts coming down and it's a gate. "Damn…! If I don't get to it soon before that gate closes, I won't reach it! I gotta get to it, and FAST!" Ky said.
(Information: Get to the fragment before the gate closes and time is up!)
Ky hurries his way to reach the fragment before the gate closes and Ky stumbles upon climbing up and then going down by using the ropes to get down and then Ky comes across climbing down the steps to reach the bottom and later on Ky comes across the dropping gate and then quickly reaches over to the other side before the gate closes.
"Ha! Gotcha! Now for the fragment!" Ky said as he goes for the crystallized fragment and takes it. "Okay. This oughta be one of the pieces we need! I gotta get back to Noel and Sora. I hope they're okay on their part." Ky said as leaves the underground.
Meanwhile at the village ruins Noel starts exploring around the ruined village for one of the trials for one of the pieces of the needed item and while searching Noel comes across what looks like a ruined animal house.
"An animal house? It's ruined… I just hope nothing terrible has happened to the animals." Noel said as she goes for the ruined animal house.
Noel arrives at a yard of the ruined animal house and finds a group of frogs and as Noel goes for the frogs but they jump for what looks like a pad and it causes a door to open.
"The door opened when the frogs touched the pad… I'll be able to go in. I just hope nothing bad has happened to the animals." Noel said as she goes into the ruined animal house.
(Village of the End: Animal House)
Noel is now in the animal house and looks around in shock, horror, and sadness.
"Oh, how awful… This place, ruined, because of a war… Those poor animals…" Noel said.
Noel starts exploring around the ruined animal house and later goes outside and finds a yard where she finds what looks like a cow on the yard and as Noel approaches the cow it goes for another pad which opens a gate.
"That cow opened the gate, like the frogs. It's like they know I'm here or something." Noel said.
Noel goes for the opened gate and later arrives at a different part of the yard and she later finds a group of rabbits hopping all over the yard and so Noel walks over to the rabbits and picks up a rabbit and places it into a cage and then goes for more rabbits and later Noel places all the rabbits into the cage and just then the door opens.
"The door opened after I placed the rabbits in a cage? Just what's going on?" Noel asked.
Noel goes through the opened door and is now in a darkened room and while looking around Noel hears something and she finds what look like demonic cats coming at her.
"Oh, my…! Evil cats, but I can't fight them…" Noel said and then she sees a ray of light in the room and as Noel goes for the ray of light the demonic cats go after Noel but the ray of light transforms the demonic cats into normal cats. "I see. The darkness has corrupted these poor creatures. I know how it feels." Noel said and just then a door opens.
Noel goes for the opened door and is back outside where she finds a group of horses.
"Horses… At least more animals are around in this ruined world…" Noel said and then she sees a pen. "These horses need to be safe in a pen. I should do something." Noel said.
Noel starts herding the horses into the pen and later on Noel has placed all the horses into the pen and after all the horses are placed in the pen something is revealed and it's a crystallized fragment.
"A fragment…? Could it be one of the pieces we need to try and save Bygone Fortress?" Noel asked as she takes the crystallized fragment. "Ky…Sora…please, I hope you're both safe…" Noel said as she leaves the animal house.
Back at the ruined village Ky and Sora return to the entrance of the archive temple.
"Sora!" Ky called.
"Hey, Ky! How'd it go with you?" Sora asked.
"I went okay." Ky answered taking out the crystallized fragment.
"That's the same thing I got!" Sora said taking out the same crystallized fragment.
"No way! Um, did you happen to see Noel?" Ky asked.
"No. I thought she was with you when you were done." Sora said.
Just then Noel comes and finds the two.
"There you two are." Noel said.
"Hey, Noel. Did you find the same fragment we got?" Ky asked.
"You mean this?" Noel asked taking out the same crystallized fragment.
"That's the one! These have to be those pieces of the item we need." Ky said.
"In that case, let's make our way back to Bygone Fortress and tell Ry the news." Noel said and the two nod.
The trio enter the temple archives and make their way for the light yellow beam but then the white hooded cloaked figure appears.
"Well done, children. You have obtained the very pieces of Nago's special creation. " The white hooded cloaked figure said.
"Yep. Now we're on our back." Ky said.
"Good. Hurry. Time is of the essence." The white hooded cloaked said as he disappears.
"C'mon! They're waiting for us!" Ky said and Noel and Sora nod and go into the light yellow beam and leave the archives.
There you go! New chapter done! I hope you enjoyed this! I'm still doing writing, but you will need to be patient for updating. Next time, Ky, Noel, and Sora return to Bygone Fortress and attempt to restore the shattered item, but Ky and Noel and the others learn the truth about Zervik, Rixla, and Malus. I'll see you all in the next chapter! Take care, and goodbye for now! Don't forget to favorite, follow, and review! Bye!