Ragnarok
"Welcome home."
Ozma's home was a simple cottage but it had a living room, two bedrooms with one being a guest bedroom along with kitchen that was fully stocked. It was located on the outskirts of Midgard, Ozma's kingdom in the western lands and a prominent one at that. Salem took a step inside and looked around, already feeling at home here than she ever did back in the tower.
"It's…It's…" Salem searched for the right word.
"Let me guess: You were expecting something a little more…extravagant from the youngest knight of Midgard." Ozma said, following her in.
"Oh no." Salem hastily shook her head. "The word I was looking for was…homely."
"Homely?" Ozma raised an eyebrow.
"Yes." She nodded with a sheepish smile. "I was never allowed out of my room in the tower and the only person to visit me aside from my father was my nanny. She was the only person there I had a positive relationship with when I was growing up. She was the one who taught me magic, how to read and write."
Salem made her into the living room, seeing the green carpet over the wooden floor with the blue colored furniture that all together showed a comfortable and warm looking home.
"All I was one window that would show the moon rising when it was night. My father told me my mother loved looking out and seeing the moon in the night sky when she was alive." She moved over to the window. "He made sure I would see the moon the same way, thinking it would show me the same beauty my mother saw. But for me…"
Her eyes glared hard through the window.
"I hated it. All it served to do was remind me of how much a prisoner I was. How little he loved me as his daughter and more as a possession, like all the gold he had hoarded." Salem said, her tone becoming venomous.
"Salem?" Ozma reached out and touched her shoulder.
The glare softened as she turned around, smiling now. "But it's all over now."
"Yes it is." Ozma smiled back.
They were leaned forward, seemingly about to kiss when a flash of light outside caught their attention. They looked outside and saw a great explosion in the distance.
"That was near here. Near the Emerald Castle." Ozma turned over to his scepter leaning against the wall. "King Arthus could be in danger."
Salem turned around, following Ozma to the door. "Wait, take me with you."
"I can't." Ozma stopped at the door. "Wait here for me. I'll return, I promise."
Salem could only watch in worry as Ozma took off into the sky. Ozma flew through the air, heading towards the Emerald Castle, seeing the explosions growing closer to the castle and landed in front of the main gate.
The approaching monsters were Grimm, made by the God of Darkness.
The king's top five knights were already assembled and him being the sixth made all Six Knights of the Emerald Castle.
"About time you got here, Oz. Wouldn't be much if the Emerald Castle didn't have its Emerald Knight."
The person who spoke was a young woman with dark hair that was pulled into a bun, light tanned skin and wore a similar outfit to Ozma only her cape was blue and she carried a single hilt with a blue gem embedded in it.
Ozma smiled, seeing there was no annoyance in her silver eyes. "Glad to see you as well, Arta. And it would be an equal loss if there was no Sapphire Knight."
"Can we get a move on here?" A muscular man dressed similar armor to Ozma said but his cape was red. His weapon was a giant iron sledgehammer with red gem embedded in the hilt.
"Calm down Heracles. Such impatience is unbecoming of the Ruby Knight."
The man grunted. "And what you do think is better, Amethyst Knight Artemisia."
The woman in question had short purple hair and wore less armor than the rest, carrying bow with an amethyst gem but no arrow quiver on her back that was covered by a purple cloak.
"It certainly might be a challenge this time." A slim but muscular man dressed in armor with a multi-colored cape spoke. He was slightly older but retained a youthful vigor and carried a trident with an opal gem embedded in the hilt. "But no match for me, Thiseas."
And the final member, a broad shoulder man with blond hair and beard, carrying a doubled edged broad sword and a crown with a diamond embedded in it stepped forward. "That is enough. Prepare yourselves!"
"Right, you heard Lance!" Arta barked as the Grimm approached and her silver eyes flared.
In a flash of light, they were all turned to stone and crumbled to dust. Heracles stepped forward, swinging his sword onto the ground, releasing several blasts of flames that traveled through the ground and incinerated the Grimm that came after.
The woman named Artemisia stepped forward and aimed her bow at the oncoming horde, conjuring a bright glowing arrow that she placed her in bow, pulling it back and then letting loose. The arrow split into dozens of smaller arrows that hit their targets and vaporized the Grimm upon immediate contact.
Thiseas spun his trident in one hand as it glowed bright and then slammed into the ground, creating a massive tidal wave that slammed into the Grimm and washed them away.
Then Lance charged forward, his sword glowing as he cut through the Grimm that came for him, destroying them instantly.
And Ozma raised his scepter, releasing streams of green magical blasts that hit any surviving Grimm.
In a matter of minutes, the Knights of Midgard stood victorious against the Grimm Horde, putting out the fires and quickly getting any survivors to safety.
Then more Grimm appeared.
Just as the Knights were ready to do battle again the Grimm halted and stood still, snarling all the while.
Thiseas raised an eyebrow. "What is this? What are they doing?"
Ozma looked up and saw a giant Nevermore flying above them in the sky and on its back was something. The dark figure jumped off the Nevermore, landing perfectly in front of the Grimm as the Knights readied themselves. The newcomer wore dark robes and armor made of dark purple crystals as it stood up, holding a flaming sword with the blade made seemingly of the same purple crystals that formed its armor but was made even darker by the dark purple flames that glazed from the hilt.
"There you are…" It spoke in a cold and raspy voice. "Ozma."
Thiseas glanced at Ozma. "A friend of yours?"
"I have never seen him before." Ozma shook his head.
The dark being chuckled. "Oh right. When we last met I was a very different…person. Regardless, I now come to end your life and the lives of your precious kingdom for having destroyed mine."
"That will not happen." Ozma declared, glaring at the monster. "You appear to be another creation of the God of Darkness. His monsters are not welcome here."
"I am Sutr and I will do what I please." The monster said, spreading his arms out. "You do not consider this land part of the great one's domain. Fine. I will bring his land, Ragnarok to you!"
He raised his sword and unleased a stream of purple fire at Ozma who plunged his scepter into the ground, conjuring a green energy barrier to block the attack. Surtr ended his attack, watching as Ozma rose up with the jewel on his scepter still glowing.
Heracles and Thiseas charged at him, but two figures charged past him and collided with his would be attackers. Ozma's eyes widened when he recognized the attackers.
Generals Guan and Cu Chulainn, their weapons clashing against Heracles' sword and Thiseas' trident.
Only their skin was pale, black vein like markings were traveling up their arms and their eyes were completely black.
And if they were working for Surtr…
"Sidorak." Ozma looked at the new dark lord. "Is that you?"
"Sidorak is no more. There is only Surtr." The dark being snarled. "I am Midgard's doom and yours as well. All will burn."
"I don't think so." Ozma narrowed his eyes, readying to attack. "I stopped you as Sidorak and I'll stop you again, no matter what form you take."
Surtr chuckled as a third dark figure charged at him, this one being Mikoto with the same dark eyes, pale skin and dark markings as her comrades. Lance stepped in, getting between her Ozma and her swords clashed with his single double edged blade.
"What manner of creatures are these?" Lance looked at Ozma. "I thought you said you didn't know them."
"That was until I saw those three. They are generals who worked for Sidorak from the Crimson Kingdom that I ended. And I think Surtr is Sidorak after he paid to the God of Darkness." Ozma answered, looking at Surtr who remained stationary. "Is your hate of me so great you would give up your humanity to become a monster just for revenge?"
"I only live to see you die now, Ozma!" Surtr snapped, approaching the Emerald Knight. "I swore my very soul to the God of Darkness just for this moment! But I would wait an eternity to kill you, if only to make you suffer all the while!"
Artemisia aimed and fired an energy arrow that Surtr slashed at with his flaming sword, burning away the magic that sustained it.
"Fool! My sword, my Twilight was given to me by the God of Darkness himself!" Surtr boasted. "Such feeble magic cannot hurt me!"
Artemisia fired another arrow that split dozens of smaller arrows that flew straight at Surtr who slashed his way through them with his Twilight sword. Ozma fired a magical blast from his scepter that Surtr dodged and swung his blade, sending a fiery blast through the ground towards Ozma who leapt back.
"AAAAAHHHH!"
There was a flash of light from Arta and suddenly Surtr was on the ground, growling as his form was slightly smoking and he glared at her. "You…"
Her silver eyes glowed for a brief second as she glared at him. "You're still standing."
Surtr roared, pointing his Twilight sword at her that released a stream of purple fire that she quickly dodged. More Grimm arrived, surrounding the knights as they fought against Surtr and his generals while the dark lord himself fought against the silver eyed woman, releasing a blast of crimson magic at her, keeping her moving and stopping her from using her eyes against him again.
"Sidorak!"
Surtr spun around, blocking a strike from Ozma as he attacked from behind. "Sidorak is no more! I AM SURTR!"
He shoved Ozma back with enough strength to send him flying but the Emerald Knight managed to land on his feet. Ozma then fired a magical blast at Surtr, knocking the hood of his head and revealing his true 'face'.
He had a white skull mask with horns on the head like a crown with purple eyes glowing underneath the mask.
When he said he was no longer Sidorak he meant it in more ways than one.
It seemed he was no longer even human.
Surtr roared as the number of Grimm grew and swarmed the knights.
"SUFFER MY WARTH!" Surtr screamed as he charged at Ozma, his Twilight sword batting down against the knight's scepter as Ozma hastily tried to defend himself. "NOW DIE!"
He swung his blade down…
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Only for a series of multi-colored orbs to slam into him and blast him back. Ozma looked up and spied a familiar figure in blue armor land in front of him, holding the same key shaped weapon as before.
"Aqua…" He murmured.
Surtr was smoking as he rose up, seemingly injured from the attack but paid it no mind as he looked up and glared at the one who attacked him. "You…"
It was her!
The other knights had noticed her but were too busy fighting off the Grimm and the generals to comment on or even ask her identity.
As for Aqua, she kept her eyes on Surtr who raised his fiery sword. "Look upon me and see what I had to become to survive what you did to me."
Aqua remained silent, simply settling into a fighting stance.
"Now I will burn the skin of your body before I slowly torture you in every way imaginable!" Surtr declared, pointing his sword at Aqua and unleashing a blast of purple fire.
Xxx
Meanwhile, the twin Gods were watching from the God of Light's domain.
"Brother, why did you give your follower that sword?" He asked, looking at his darker brother.
"Whatever do you mean?" The God of Darkness asked, feigning ignorance.
"Do not try to fool me, brother. I recognize the power in that sword." The God of Light pointed at the sword Surtr was wielding. "You enhanced his power even after you already changed him into what he is now."
"I was merely making sure the opposing sides are even, brother. She wields a weapon of great power, so should he." The God of Darkness explained. "The sword he calls Twilight is simply meant to be another conduit for magic."
"And your powers of destruction." The God of Light gave the impression he was frowning. "There was nothing that called offering him this much power."
"Yet you offered her that conduit for magic to travel to other worlds." Darkness pointed out.
"Only if she defeats your follower. Why place this much on the outcome of this? Like we have agreed, she is not of the experiment."
"Exactly so there's no need to scold me. Since she is not of our work, I am not breaking our rules." Darkness turned and watched the fight. "Let's see if she can back up her claims."
Light was silent now, turning his gaze back to the battle but had a feeling this was more than about testing Aqua.
He saw the crown on Surtr's head.
What had his brother done to the former human?
Xxx
(Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Soundtrack Enter the Darkness Starts)
Surtr's attacks were strong and powerful and he proved to be agile and skilled as his sword clashed with Aqua's Keyblade.
Aqua jumped back and whispered under breath. "Scan."
A small magical spell meant to analyze her opponent's power and health that proved to be very handy. She could see that Surtr had been wounded from her earlier attack but her spell told her he was starting to recover. That was concerning but he was likely using a healing spell to recover and had to quickly strike him down. Surtr roared as he unleashed another blast of fire at her but she blocked with a barrier that protected her like Ozma's had for him.
During that time, Surtr charged forward and slashed his sword down on Aqua who cartwheeled to the side, dodging the strike that left a scorching crater in its wake. Surtr spun and channeled magic into his sword, firing beams of purple light at Aqua who started dodging as best as she could.
"Defend!" Aqua shouted, using Reflega to reflect Surtr's own attacks back at him.
Seeing he was stunned, Aqua rushed in and slashed at him with Keyblade and found that it was a benefit to stay close to Surtr, as his large size made it hard to shoot smaller targets underneath him. Surtr switched to melee attacks upon seeing Aqua getting close to him. He tried to swat at the Keyblade Master with his sword. To avoid this attack, Aqua look carefully at his right arm, and when he moved it to the left side of his body, she moved out of the way.
Surtr snarled as he tried charging at Aqua but she teleported out of the way and appeared right behind him. This attack could have done massive damage to Aqua if she had been hit.
"Thunder!" She shouted, summoning several bolts of lightning that hit Surtr in the back.
She found that a good way to avoid Surtr's charge was to watch the warning signs beforehand. When he pulls both of his arms back, she was already prepared to dodge.
And just as he was about to charged, she used a Mine Square spell that was placed directly in his path.
BOOM!
"GAH!" Surtr stumbled back, dazed by the hit.
Oddly enough and rather concerning, his health was not lowering as much as it should from all those attacks. He had felt them, she knew that but he was still moving and fighting rather strong.
What was going on?
Surtr spun and prepared to fire another magical barrage at her when a green energy blast hit him in the face, making him scream.
There!
Aqua's Scan spell told her he had suffered significant damage when he had been hit in the face.
Or rather, his mask.
Ozma landed next to her, pointing his scepter at the monster. "It seems the Gods have brought us back together to face the same evil as before."
"You could say that." Aqua nodded. "His face mask is his weakness."
"How do you know that?" Ozma asked, keeping his eye on Surtr as he stood up and growled at them.
"Just trust me." Was all Aqua said.
Surtr roared as Grimm surrounded them, forcing them fight against the incoming horde while Surtr tried attacking them, blasting them back with purple energy blasts. They managed to block several shots but were hit all the same.
"You think you can beat me?! I have been blessed with the power of the God of Darkness!" Surtr roared. "I am no longer human. I cannot die until I fulfill my destiny as the destroyer and lay waste to your homes!"
Aqua grunted as she stood up. "Is that all you desire now? Mindless destruction?"
"It's all I have left because of you. I am this world's doom!" Surtr declared.
Xxx
The God of Light looked at the God of Darkness who just waved off the 'stare'. "He is just rambling, brother. Of course I would not allow him to destroy our world."
Light said nothing back, simply continuing to watch the fight.
Xxx
"Wrong, you could have had more even back before you chose to conquer and pillage. You could have thrived in a land where the people respected you instead of fearing you. Instead, they feared and detested you and look what you have done to those who remained loyal to you." Aqua said, pointing the generals who continued fighting. "You forced that darkness into their bodies, poisoning their minds, souls and hearts until there was nothing left. They're just mindless husks now."
"And thus, they will serve me even in death!" Surtr growled, purple flames engulfing his body. "All that matter is the power I now possess because I was brave enough to do what others won't. I sought the God of Darkness simply because I was smart enough to admit I craved destroying my enemies to rule this world."
"Power alone is not enough. Without the support of those around you, it's just a simply candle waiting to burn out. Spreading the fire just burns away what it needs to live." Aqua stepped forward. "You'll be left alone in a dead world, no servants, no slaves, nothing but your lonesome self."
"SILENCE!" Surtr roared. "WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF POWER?!"
"I know that the power I have didn't come from me…" Aqua closed her eyes and held up her Keyblade. "My friends…My friends are my power!"
She was engulfed in a bright light that was blinding to the Grimm, Surtr and even his dead generals, all of them shrinking back.
"That light…" Surtr raised his hands to block the light from blinding him.
Xxx
The God of Light perked up, seeing the strange light surrounding Aqua. "…Beautiful."
The God of Darkness could only stare in silent frustration.
Xxx
Aqua's Wayfinder was glowing underneath her armor as she approached Surtr, the power of all the bonds she had made filling her with strength. She shot forward, her speed and power growing as she attacked Surtr, striking his body even harder than before and the light injuring him even without hitting the mask. Surtr tried hitting her with his sword, but her movements were faster and she immediately counter-attacked even when Surtr managed to hit her and even then when he was about to land a hit on her, she teleported out of the way. As she attacked she showed surprising magical abilities such as conjuring fireworks that blinded and burned Surtr, creating a twister of flowers that actually managed to hurt the dark lord or summoned seven colored gems that hit Surtr, causing even more damage.
Surtr was screaming and attacking wildly now but no matter what he tried, Aqua was able to dodge or teleport out of the way, acting on pure instinct at this point. She fired a sphere that hit him and he found himself immobilized. He ordered the Grimm to attack and stop her but Aqua simply spun and summoned a vortex that devoured any Grimm that tried to attack her and produced homing projectiles that shot out and hit any stragglers. Aqua then preformed a series of teleporting slashes and ended with thrusting her Keyblade into the ground, creating a shockwave that knocked Surtr down.
Surtr growled, pointing his sword and trying to hit her with a magical blast but Aqua simply pointed and fired a beam that hit him in the chest, shattering his armor. He screamed as he crawled back with smoke rising from his chest now. She pointed up and summoned a…giant pineapple that fell on top of him, squishing him badly.
(Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Soundtrack Enter the Darkness Ends)
Aqua watched as the pineapple vanished, leaving a broken and defeated Surtr who was groaning in pain from the damage he had suffered.
He stared up at her, fear replacing hate in his eyes now. "What…are…you?"
Aqua's armor vanished, showing her face as she stared expressionlessly at her. "My name is Master Aqua."
Surtr grunted as he struggled to get up. "It's not over…The God of Darkness charged me…I will never stop until I carry out my revenge…As he had promised."
Aqua pointed her Keyblade at him. "That will never happen."
From the tip of her Keyblade came a beam of light that hit Surtr directly in the forehead and passed through his head. The darkness erupted from his body and disappeared as the light grew brighter.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Surtr screamed as there was a flash of light that engulfed everyone nearby.
When they could see again, all that was left of Surtr was his face-mask/crown.
There was silence at first…
"Well, that was new."
Aqua turned around, facing Arta who was giving her a grateful smile. "I don't think I've ever met anyone who could wield magic as great as yours. Not even Ozma."
Said Emerald Knight chuckled as he stepped forward. "Well, I never claimed to be the best. Everyone, this is Aqua. A friend I made who helped me take down Sidorak before he became Surtr."
"Aqua huh?" Arta looked at the Master who looked a winded and a little shy now. "I think the king will want to meet you."
Xxx
"She is victorious." The God of Light said, the image of Aqua's victory along with her greeting Ozma and his fellow knights fading from the pool of life. "She defeated him even with the power you gave him."
The God of Darkness looked most unhappy about that. "We should destroy her now. Her power represents a threat to us!"
"No. I gave my word and I shall honor it." Light refused. "We should see where this new development takes us."
The God of Darkness remained silent before blasting his way out of the Domain of Light.