The Master of Masters

"They were close. Close enough she needed assistance at the end."

Though his children had been defeated, the God of Darkness was pleased.

Pleased because his newest child had not only managed to follow Aqua to her world, but it had managed to perform well enough to the point that Aqua had been forced to run. Sure, she had bested the three that had been born as a result of the new gift he had given his child, but she had still been taken by surprise and forced to flee.

That was a very good sign.

Still, his child had been killed by the aid of those other Keyblade Wielders and they were apparently more powerful than Aqua was.

"So, my Grimm children can rival these…Keyblade Wielders." The God of Darkness mused. "An interesting display of power."

He hadn't realized it but Aqua's presence was forcing him to become creative in his methods of creating Grimm to challenge her.

Yes, he had continued to make Grimm in secret and sent them out to test the humans they had created on this world but Aqua was not like them.

She was strong.

Powerful.

Wielding a seemingly limitless power at her finger tips.

Almost invincible.

The God of Darkness had first felt compelled to remove her before she contaminate the Experiment, feeling his brother was being foolish. And she showed them a world outside of theirs and now they were driven to know more in their own way. The God of Darkness was compelled to test her and her people, seeing them stand against the Heartless, creatures of darkness like his Grimm children.

She was strong.

So strong he had to make new Grimm that were stronger than the rest.

The God of Darkness had to pause for a second as the sensation of these feelings suddenly made themselves known to him. "Am I…excited? Why? She is a great threat."

And no more a nuisance than that Salem woman was.

With Salem, he had felt pleased to have a second disciple and then anger for when she had dared to deceive him.

With Aqua, it was…something else.

Did he hate her?

He wasn't so sure.

Did he believe she was dangerous?

Yes, very much.

So why was he feeling excited?

The God of Darkness was unsure of these new feelings stirring in him and left confused on what he should do about it.

Xxx

When Aqua had heard the Land of Departure had been destroyed and the Master had been slain, she had to come see for herself. She easily retraced the path home, coming upon the world she had been raised on.

It look exactly nothing like the world she had known.

Darkness blocked out the sky, shrouding the entire land. Aqua was only able to navigate up to the temple by the night lamps that had seemingly lit up when sky had blackened.

As she walked up towards the temple, she felt something.

A dark presence.

She spun around and watched as someone in a dark coat and hood appeared before her. They held out a single hand…

And then clenched it down, summoning a blue glowing ethereal blade that was soon followed by another appearing in his other hand.

Aqua immediately summoned her Keyblade and they fought.

The dark coated stranger had many incredible formidable abilities that made Aqua wonder more than once if she was going to walk away from this fight…alive. He cast many powerful spells as they fought such as powerful fire, wind and ice spells that projected fiery vortex, tornadoes and large ice blocks. They also displayed outstanding swordsmanship skills as well as great speed and agility, wielding his duel blades to preform many deadly attacks, also displaying proficiency with the whip and spear forms that weapons could surprisingly undertake by fusing them together.

His most astounding ability was being able to turn invisible and fight at the same time and to be able to make illusionary copies of himself.

She could use the Vanish spell for stealth but was unable to fight while under it. Finally the fight ended when the dark coated stranger before Aqua's eyes.

She never found out who the person was or what they wanted.

Did they have a connection with Xehanort?

Were they really an enemy?

Maybe Aqua would never know.

Xxx

And maybe she would.

For standing in front of her was a man dressed in the same dark coat as the stranger who had attacked her that one time.

"So, you've had a bit busy time, haven't you?" The man asked, sitting down next to the bed she was sitting up on. "Man, and I thought I had seen it all."

Aqua just stared at the man, unsure what to say.

"And I can see right now, you look like a gal who has questions." The man said.

"…Who are you?" She finally spoke.

"Ah, she speaks and I guess that's not an unreasonable question." The man mused. "Who I am…is not important."

Aqua raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"What I am and what I hope to understand is. Right now, I'm a man who is deeply interested in how a beautiful young lady like yourself," Aqua blushed at being called 'beautiful'. "Could wander into our humble home with such ugly monsters chasing her."

"You ask much of me when you tell me so little about yourself." Aqua replied. "Are you not the Master of the Foretellers?"

"Well, I could lie and tell you what I am, when I'm actually brilliant artist, or even a scholar. I could tell that I dream of world peace, when I'm actually planning its destruction. The truth is what you see with your eyes, not what you hear." The man answered. "So, little lady. What have you seen?"

Aqua stared at the man…and down at her lap. "I've seen…I've seen me being happy with my friends in one minute, and the next we fall apart. I've seen strange new people, both filled with light and darkness, struggling in worlds that I thought looked peaceful but had hidden darkness there that was waiting to rise up. I've seen my friends fight for what they believe in…and fall at the end, leaving me the only one left at the end, wondering why I was left behind."

The Master leaned back in his chair, contemplating Aqua's words. "You wonder why you didn't fall with them, huh? Maybe you're just too good to fall."

Aqua clenched her hands into fists as her hair fell over her eyes. "Good? I made so many mistakes. I tried to be what my Master wanted me to be, someone who could solve the problems and make everyone happy…I tried to be good and humble…but I couldn't do anything right. I drove them away, helped split us apart when I should have been trying to keep us together. How can I even think I earned my title when I failed so many times?"

Master Eraqus struck down…

Ven losing his heart…

Terra becoming possessed…

Ozma dying…

"Did you fail?" The man stood up and walked around Aqua's bed. "Sure, you got the young 'Hey, I got promoted so everyone has to do what I say' vibe going on and you fell hard when you saw it wasn't as easy as everyone else made it to be. But do you really think your friends or your master would want you to wallow in self-pity and guilt?"

Aqua just looked up at the man.

"Change is hard, believe me, I know. But things need to keep moving forward and you need to keep up. Otherwise, you'll be left behind and you'll always be alone." The Master said as he folded his hands behind his back. "Can you really say you've done nothing good?"

Aqua considered that for a moment.

Saving Cinderella from her step-mother and step-sister and allowing her to get together with Prince Charming.

Helping Prince Philip defeat Maleficent.

Meeting Zack.

Fighting alongside Hercules against Hades.

Meeting Peter Pan and the Lost Children.

Aqua wasn't sure if these accomplishments were supposed to comfort her but she felt a little better. "Why does this matter to you? Am I not just a stranger to you?"

"A stranger…Well maybe." The Master turned around to face her. "But I can tell you're the good kind of stranger."

Aqua just stared at the strange man.

"I mean, you have caused trouble around here, you've bonded with Ava and trust me, she's a real sweetheart but not one who is easy to fool so if she likes you then we all ought to like you." The Master reasoned.

"But didn't you tell her and the others to test me?" Aqua questioned.

"Well, that's because I wanted to be sure of your intentions and you don't truly know someone…until you fight them." The Master shrugged.

Aqua felt the only she could do was just stare at this point.

This man was just so odd.

"Well, it's been a fun chat but I have to go. Make sure no more crazy monsters pop out in this little town of ours." The Master said as he walked to the door but stopped just in front of it. "Oh, and before I forget. May your heart by your guiding key."

Aqua glanced at the man with a surprised look on her face. "What did you just say?"

"Just a little something I like to say from time to time." The Master shrugged. "I just like the sound of it. See ya."

He opened the door and walked out, closing it behind him and leaving Aqua in the room.

May your heart be your guiding key.

That was not something said just out of the blue.

Aqua had heard of that saying from her Master who said it used to be a phrase Keyblade Wielders said to each other.

So what did that meant exactly?

Was he really a Keyblade Master?

Well, he trained the Foretellers and he obviously wasn't the strange man who attacked her. But still, Aqua could tell this man was really elusive but he seemed to genuinely want to help her.

Right now though, she had to deal with the matter of the Grimm appearing in Daybreak Town.

The only she could do that was by going back to that world and find out what was going on.

Xxx

"She shouldn't be allowed to run free. She brought those monsters here!"

Aced could hardly believe that Aqua had been allowed to leave after a brief discussion with Aqua who told her about those Grimm monsters she had been fighting.

"That was not her fault. She hadn't even been aware she was here until we brought her back." Ava pointed out.

"And what happens when she brings more here?" Aced argued.

"Relax. It's all taken care of." The Master said as he walked back into the room. "She has offered to leave and make sure those creatures don't come back."

"Master?" Aced looked at the Master.

"She has an idea where the come from and she's going to pursue it. In the meantime, Ava, you and Ira might want to consider getting your chance to test her before she leaves."

Xxx

Aqua stepped out of the Clock Tower, taking a deep breath as she held up the Horn of Passage. She wasn't sure how the Grimm were following her but then she remembered what Jinn had told her.

"When the sun rose, the God of Light would awaken and would spend his days created forces of life. Plants, animals, water."

A garden grew around Aqua, followed by rivers and animals that together created a landscape of such beauty that not even the greatest artist could ever hope to capture as the God of Light appeared over the water.

"When night came, the God of Light would sleep and his new brother, the God of Darkness awoke."

Aqua watched as the God of Light sank into the water and the God of Darkness appeared next.

"Disgusted, the God of Darkness brought the forces of destruction to counter his brother's creations."

The beautiful landscape was then burned away, leaving nothing but scorched ground, death and decay.

"Despite his efforts, life would always return to the world. Thus one night, the God of Darkness would create a force that would share his taste for destruction."

The God of Darkness spread his arms out and behind him, creatures made of what could only be described as darkness with eyes glowing the color of blood appeared. They reminded Aqua uncomfortably of the Unversed.

"These were made to be the ultimate harbingers of destruction that would destroy anything and everything. Finally, the God of Light decided that they should not fight anymore and make peace by creating something together. The God of Darkness agreed and together they would create a new form of life that was gifted with knowledge, self-awareness, fear and the comprehension of life and death while having free will and the power to decide what to do with that knowledge."

Before Aqua's eyes the Gods of Light and Darkness came together and formed…Humans?

"This new creation, Humanity was blessed by the Gods but they were also tested many times. The God of Darkness would test their limits and creativity by sending its children to face them. This would lead to another conflict with his brother and both reached a seeming agreement. Despite it, the God of Darkness would continue creating more of its children in many different forms while at the same type, gifting mankind with magic while the God of Light gave them a secret gift to fight against his brother's creations."

"Aqua?"

Aqua was shaken from her flashback by the sound of a voice near the water fountain which she quickly found. "Ava."

The young Foreteller simply stood there and stared at Aqua and suddenly she knew. "It's our time, isn't it?"

Ava nodded.

Aqua sighed, putting the Horn of Passage away and summoned her Keyblade. "All right. Let's get this over with."

Above them, the Master watched through the window of his main study, interested in what might happen.

(Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep OST Master, Tell Me the Truth Starts)

Ava summoned her Keyblade as well, taking a ready stance. "I hope it will be over quickly as well. For what is worth, I enjoyed our time together."

Aqua nodded. "So did I."

They took one deep breath…

And then charged straight at each other, swinging their Keyblades.

CLANG!

Aqua swallowed the bit of fear in her as she leapt forward; both Keyblade's colliding with each other, kicking off the duel. They both pressed their weapons against each other, trying to overpower one another before Aqua broke the lock and spun away. The woman charged after her slashed at her shoulders but Aqua brought her blade up and caught the attack in mid-spin. She then launched two slashes of her own that the woman parried easily and retaliated with a thrust that Aqua dodged by cart-wheeling out of the way.

"Bubble Blaster!" From the edge of Aqua's Keyblade came a barrage of bubbles at Ava who simply chuckled and vanished in a flash of light.

"Huh?" Aqua's eyes widened as she heard a sound behind her and felt a foot kicking her in the back and knocking her forward into the ground.

The Ava she had attacked had been an illusion while the real Ava had moved behind her, striking at the moment Aqua had lowered her guard. Aqua had immediately cartwheeled to the side and pointed her Keyblade at Ava again.

"Bubble Blaster!"

Like before a barrage of bubbles shot from the bladed end of Aqua's Keyblade towards the Ava who jumped up over the attack and landed right in front of Aqua, slashing upwards from a low angle. Aqua managed to block the attack in time but the Ava pressed forward, pushing Aqua back but the blue haired woman ducked and spun around her opponent, forcing the fox masked woman to catch herself as she stumbled forwards and spun with Aqua. Their Keyblades never broke the lock as they spun.

Aqua grunted as she knew that despite her training she wasn't the best at physical combat. She had decent speed, strength, agility, and stamina and she showed it from multiple hours of sparring with Terra and Ven who assisted in her training but her strength lied in her magic. Master Eraqus even considered Aqua a prodigy in the magical arts and was versed in all forms of it. Still, Aqua wasn't about to go down without a fight so she broke the lock and launched several quick slashes at the Ava who was forced back and then jumped to the side to attack from another angle, pushing the Foreteller back even further.

Ava dropped to the ground and lunged at Aqua's feet but Aqua catapulted herself over Ava's Keyblade, safely dodging it as she landed back on the ground. Ava jumped up and tried to stab Aqua in the back but Aqua dived forward out of the Ava's reach, jumped up and spun around to charge forward with a spinning attack that Ava blocked. Aqua followed up with a series of quick slashes that mimicked Ven's style of fighting ending with a slash to the chest but the fox masked woman caught the strike and twisted her Keyblade that pushed Aqua's aside and kicked Aqua in the chest.

Aqua grunted as she hit the ground and Ava tried to stab her while she was down. Aqua's eyes widened as she rolled out of the way, jumped back to her feet summoned her Keyblade back. Ava tried to stab her again but this time Aqua whirled around her Keyblade and grabbed Ava by the shoulders, pushing her forward to make her lose balance and then kicked her in the back, knocking her into the ground like she had done with Aqua twice.

"How do you like being on the ground?" Aqua asked rhetorically.

The woman chuckled as she rolled way and jumped to her feet. "You are getting stronger. I can tell. You might not be on our level yet but you are making progress."

"Thank you." Aqua said, not lowering her guard. "You helped a bit in that regard."

"I suppose I did." Ava admitted. "I admit, I still find it hard to carry out my task due to the fact that raising my weapon against a fellow Keyblade Wielder goes against my very nature."

"At least you're kinder about it." Aqua replied. "How far should this go?"

"While I am reluctant I am not one to simply stop and walk away from a fight I started." Ava stated.

"I'm not one to walk away from a fight either."

Ava's lips curled into a grin. "First one to fall?"

"You're on." Aqua replied with a smile of her own as a blue aura surrounded her.

With that said Aqua threw her Keyblade at Ava who blocked several strikes before it returned to Aqua's hand and she fired a ball of light that forced Ava back even though she blocked. Ava decided to go on the attack and dashed forward. However Aqua was not done yet as she held both hands in her Keyblade above her head and started spinning on one foot releasing spiraling streams of light around her as she spun. When Ava collided with the spinning light she was repelled by the light and screamed as she flew back, leaving several cuts on her coat.

Aqua landed on both her feet, crouched down with her Keyblade slashing through the air, signifying the end of her attack.

And yet Aqua knew something was wrong.

Aqua immediately spun around, blocking a slash from behind. "You thought you could trick me again?"

"Worth a shot." Ava said before jumping back.

(Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep OST Master, Tell Me the Truth Ends)

Ava dismissed her Keyblade and sat down on her usual spot at the fountain. "I believe this test has gone long enough for me."

Aqua sighed in relief, dismissing her own as well. "I am glad to hear that. Now that we're done, I have to go."

"Should you not take the chance to rest first?" Ava questioned.

"I would but I need to find out how those creatures have been following me." Aqua replied, taking out the Horn of Passage. "I think I know where to look."

"Before you go, the Master asked me to give you something."

Aqua looked at Ava who produced something from her robe. It was a dark hooded coat.

Exactly like the one the Master wore.

Aqua stared at the coat as she slowly took it. "What is it?"

"The Master said that this coat can protect whoever wears it from Darkness." Ava explained, remembering what the Master had told her.

Aqua glanced at Ava and then back down at the coat. "Like armor?"

"Apparently. The Master always wears his coat." Ava answered.

"So…you haven't seen him…" Aqua trailed off.

Ava caught on. "No, never. Still, he is our Master and he trained us to be who we are now."

It was slightly disturbing but Aqua could understand Ava's loyalty, considering her own loyalty to her own Master.

Still, why give her this coat?

"I am sure the Master has his reasons." Ava said in response to Aqua's silent question.

Aqua simply accepted the coat, folding it up and hiding it away before bringing out the Horn of Passage. "Thank you, Ava. I can't say for certain we'll meet again."

Ava nodded. "Farewell then, Master Aqua. May your heart be your guiding key."

"To you as well, Master Ava." Aqua said before blowing on the Horn and summoning Heimdallr who immediately conjured a path back the world of Brothers.

Xxx

"You offered her a dark coat to protect her. You must consider her of great importance."

The Master said nothing, simply watching as Aqua left this world. He turned away once she was gone, walking over to his desk and picking up the Book he had been making that contained details of the future.

The future of all worlds.

Happy New Years everyone.