The Red Queen

"So it seems my journey has come to an end here. It was…a nice break."

An elderly man in grey robes stood on a beach, looking out across the ocean and staring up at the two suns. He had grey eyes and a white beard, wearing a white shirt and faded white pants alongside a belt with yellow lines and a strange golden mark underneath the grey robe with black boots. A grey pointed had covered his face from the two suns and even obscured one of his eyes.

"Amazing how after all that happened; I feel the slight bit of nostalgia for home." The old man whispered. "At the very least I know that the outside world will be safe now in the hands of my former apprentices…No, they are Masters in their own right. I know now peace is possible after seeing it so many times out there but it cost greatly. A new generation must always be ready to achieve and defend that peace. I only hope they are truly ready."

He walked away from the beach, entering a strange forest and up ahead was a massive tree in the center of the mysterious island. Along the bark of the tree were strange markings and at the base of the tree sat a pedestal with a strange sword like weapon embedded in a pedestal.

It looked more like a giant key than a sword.

"This will keep the darkness both inside and outside contained until one day, one finds this place and brings it back to me. Until then, I will no memory of this life or place to avoid the temptation of returning and exposing this and the other worlds to her. I will also unfortunately lose what magical reserves I had in this life since the source of it will be remaining here." The elderly man whispered as he sat down, staring at it. "I am quite sad to leave you like this, Gungnir. Aside from my students you were my companion through these long years. However I am hoping when I return my other companion is where I have left it."

He knew his time was drawing near. He had live so long in this form. Well over a hundred years last he recalled.

Actually maybe even a hundred and thirty years during which time, his friend appeared and traveled with him through the rest of his years.

Who keeps counting when you reach a certain age?

He had seen so many wonders, seen what it was like not fighting countless wars, suffering endless betrayals and struggling to keep a single alive in an almost fruitless battle.

He had regained hope again…

Even if he was about to lose it again.

"I am sad I will not be able to remember all of this." He cast one last look around the island he was on, taking in the forest, the massive tree, the sky and even the two suns. "But I cannot allow temptation to blind me again."

And so the elderly man lied down, staring up at the sky.

His form was engulfed by a golden light that slowly transformed into a swarm of glowing particles that resembled fireflies. The particles scattered all across the surrounding forest before coming together at the base of the tree.

There was flash of light and then all was silent.

Only the weapon named Gungnir remained.

Xxx

"Hello there."

A young man with dark hair perked up from his book at the sound of his voice. "Who is there?"

"My name…it used to be Master…No, it was King Oswald."

"Oswald…the former king of Vale Oswald?" The youth questioned. "But he died years ago."

"Yes, he did. And when he did, a great responsibility that he carried with him was left for someone else to carry out."

"A…responsibility?"

"One that we both now share, young Mr. Ozpin." The voice continued. "Don't be afraid through…Let your heart…be your guiding key."

Xxx

Aqua stepped into the familiar surroundings of the interior of the tree known as Yggdrasil, or Drasil as she preferred to be called.

"You are back."

Speaking off…

Aqua watched as the spirit of the tree herself appeared. "I am."

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Drasil asked with a kind smile.

"I found many things, but not exactly what I was looking for." Aqua answered as she walked up to the spirit. "You sent me back in time."

"Back in time?"Drasil questioned with an inquisitive look on her face. "To do that I would have to be part of time itself."

"I saw you…or rather what Izanagi called you." Aqua explained.

"Ah." Drasil smiled. "Right, your name for my creator, the God of Light and my physical form. The first from which life would spread in one of many worlds."

"I don't understand." Aqua said, looking confused.

"Jinn told you how I am the system for which humanity was able to wield magic, correct? The God of Light first created life through water, plants and animals. My physical form on the first world was that of a tree and from there, life would spread. When the Gods created the world they did so by imparting parts of their own power, weaving the world together until it became the world you saw." Drasil explained, spreading her arms out. "The world was made from their very essence and when they made humanity they did so by linking them with the world and the world with the very source of their magic. The realm of the Gods."

Aqua listened carefully to Drasil's explanation. "The Realm of the Gods?"

"Correct, a realm from which the Brothers were originally from. A source of unlimited power that was linked to the first ones through their very souls." Drasil continued and gestured to herself. "I am that link, born from the first tree that gave life and eventually my essence evolved into this."

"And what is this realm? I first thought it to be in the Realm of Darkness but now I don't think that's the case. Jinn said this world existed outside of reality as I understand it." Aqua recalled.

"You're right, it does. The world you were just in a nexus, born in the center of a dark world where nothing existed. When the Brothers departed that world, they would seek out other worlds, to either make or explore the ones you spoke of." Drasil noted the surprised expression on Aqua's face. "They learned, just as the God of Light who you call Izanagi said they would and started…experimenting. They eventually came here, outside of the known realms to this place to be a link between all the worlds they have created."

Aqua was slowly starting to understand. "So because this world exists outside of the universe, you're not part of its timeline."

"Correct." Drasil clapped her hands with a giddy smile. "You catch on rather quick."

"So you are only connected to the worlds that Izanagi and Erebus created." Aqua slowly continued. "…Are they here?"

"No. They are not."

Aqua turned around, watching as another being entered the vast interior of the tree entity. "…Who are you?"

They were a dark brown robe that covered most of their body but she could see a beard and what looked like…ram horns sprouting from their head.

"Well, I'd like to say I'm a friend." The man said, raising his hands in a 'I surrender' fashion to perhaps convince Aqua he was not a threat as he hopped down from the root he was sitting on.

Aqua summoned her Keyblade and firmly pointed it at the new man. "I asked who you are."

"So you did." The man slowly lowered his hands. "Sorry if I am a little slow. It's been a long time since we've had visitors so I have to try and remember the social necessities. That weapon…It's a Keyblade, isn't it?"

"You know of the Keyblade?" Aqua asked.

"Know of it? I have seen it before. Long ago when someone else came to these shores. Perhaps you know of whom I speak…A Master Odin?" The man quarried, folding his hands behind his back.

"Master Odin…No, I do not recognize that name." Aqua replied.

"Oh, I'm so sorry then. I know I am not coming off as the most trustworthy of beings here. Is it the horns?" The man asked.

"What?"

"The horns." The man clarified, pointing to his ram horns. "Do they frighten you? Terrify, disgust you in any way."

"No, they don't but you still haven't told me your name." Aqua answered, lowering Keyblade slightly.

"Ah yes." The man held up a finger. "Right, that would be factor to contribute. Forgive me. Officially I have no name but if I were to pick one I would chose…Lokai."

"Lokai?" Aqua repeated in question.

"Yes, that." The man calling himself Lokai nodded. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss…"

"Aqua." She finished for him.

"Aqua." Lokai bowed before her, spreading his arms out. "Welcome to this lost realm."

Aqua slowly lowered her Keyblade but did not dismiss it. "Lost because it's outside of the universe?"

"This world is cut off from any other for the simple reason is that it is too dangerous." Lokai nodded. "That dragon you fought outside when you came here, being a prime example. This world is closed off by the World Tree." Lokai said, gesturing to Drasil who remained silent. "Charged with a sacred duty."

"A duty?"

Lokai nodded. "It is a long story. Allow me to bring us some refreshments."

Lokai retrieved some fresh water for him and Aqua to have while he told his story while sitting around the stone pedestal.

"It began with the two brothers, Light and Darkness. They chose to create a world to call home. The elder brother, the god of light found joy in creating life such as plants, water and wild life while the younger brother, the god of darkness would be disgusted and bring fire, drought and famine to rid their world of life. Eventually they became weary of feuding and agreed to create one last thing together, a masterpiece for both of them to be proud of." Lokai began. "Their creation would be given the gift of knowledge to understand what they were, free will so they would be given the choice to create or destroy. New life spread across their world and it all began with this tree, the World Tree."

Aqua looked at the tree. "What is its purpose?"

"Basically, the Gods infused the world with their power and the World Tree became the source of their new creation's power as well as serving for the balance of life and death that the Gods created." Lokai answered. "It also serves as a guard to creatures that were also a creation but a failed one. The Gods created and experimented many times before they finally perfected their experiment. Some lived; others were discarded and sealed in other worlds to prevent them from tainting the great experiment. The World Tree serves as a door to keep to keep them all contained."

Aqua looked back at Drasil who nodded. "And what role do you play?"

"Me? I am the one who watches over the tree. I was among the many creations of the Gods but I was deemed to be a tolerant failure and thus I was not killed or discarded. Thus I have lived here but I have also blessed the world the Gods created in my own way." Lokai nodded, pulling his hood back.

His face was that of a man with long dark hair, a beard and the ram horns sprouting from his forehead.

"I consider the children of the Gods to be my own siblings and thus I sought to help them in my own way." Lokai explained. "This island is a single world the World Tree rests on, connected to the worlds the Gods created while also holding back the failures."

Aqua was silent as she listened carefully. "And there's no way to leave?"

"Well, it is almost impossible to leave this place outside of Drasil but there have been times when others managed to miraculously arrive here." Lokai answered. "Those six kids being one example…"

"Kids?" Aqua questioned.

"Six children fell into this world, most likely abusing the power of the Gods in their world which happens to be the same world you left." Lokai clarified. "They foolishly fell here during your time away. Hmph, rather violent ones as well."

"What do you mean?" Aqua asked.

"When they arrived here, they ended fighting against the beasts kept here and against each other." Lokai remarked, gesturing for Aqua to follow him. "It's been crazy and annoying for us."

"Why haven't you brought them in here like I was allowed?" Aqua asked, following Lokai through the tunnel.

"They seek to find a way back but I cannot offer one to them." Lokai answered, coming out to the front of the cave.

Aqua was about to ask why but then stopped, turning around to look back inside which Lokai immediately noticed. "Something troubling you?"

"I sense something familiar. I felt it before the last time I was here but I thought it was Drasil." Aqua explained, the strange feeling becoming stronger.

"Oh, you sense it? Drasil will be pleased." Lokai said approvingly as he gestured for Aqua to follow.

"Pleased?" Aqua followed the strange entity to a clearing in front of the tree.

Aqua stopped as they came upon an area close to the base of the tree. Unlike before there was nothing but forest, grass and a stone pedestal.

Embedded in the pedestal was a Keyblade.

"A Keyblade?" Aqua stepped forward to get a closer look.

"The Keyblade of Master Odin to be exact." Lokai nodded as Aqua inspected it.

The Keyblade in question had a three pointed end like a trident, resembling a spear of sorts with a circular curved guard around the hilt and the symbol of a clock for a keychain.

"What happened to him?" Aqua asked Lokai.

"His time had passed for him and he entered eternal sleep peacefully on these shores. He left his Keyblade here to be found by a fellow wielder to return it to its home to be claimed by another or laid to rest." Lokai answered. "Its name is Gungnir."

Aqua stared at the Keyblade named Gungnir. "…I didn't think I would find one out here."

"Well, we didn't expect another one to fall here but suppose there can be surprises, even around here."

Aqua carefully took in all she had learned. "And the Master who came here?"

"He helped during a time when the monsters tried to escape." Lokai glanced at Gungnir before looking back at Aqua.

"Is there anything he left behind to help me make my way back to my world?" Aqua asked.

"I'm sorry but no. Of course, he might have left some clue in the world the Gods formed. He had made a few friends and had an apprentice." Lokai answered, glancing at the Keyblade in the pedestal. "Of course, Drasil was able to send you to that world."

Aqua stared at the Keyblade, looking between it and Lokai. "And there's nowhere else to go?"

"This island is home to many hostile creatures unless you know how to defend yourself. Unless you prefer to be with only me for however long you might be here it is best you go to be with people who can help you." Lokai answered with a sympathetic face. "I have feeling they are responsible for you being here."

"How?" Aqua asked.

"They fell here like you did but we sensed the power of one of the four being used…Ambrosius." Lokai asked.

Ambrosius, the Spirit of Creation.

"What did they do?" Aqua asked.

"They created a point in space and time, where one exists from one side, travels through a point in another dimension and exits to another point on their world." Lokai answered. "When a dimension is created, even a pocket one it opens and creates a point which weakens the barriers between other worlds."

Aqua's eyes widened. "So the reason I fell here instead of the Realm of Darkness is because Ambrosius created a dimension I fell through? I didn't see anything."

"Of course you wouldn't. You were already falling into darkness. But since the world that holds the physical relic to summon Ambrosius was connected here and it is a nexus in the Realm of Darkness, that pocket dimension existed over this world and thus when you fell; you were swept here instead of falling into the actual of Realm of Darkness. " Lokai explained.

Aqua was beginning to understand how she ended up here now. Someone used Ambrosius to create a pocket dimension that also acted as a point where it was possible to interact with other worlds and she must have fallen through it without realizing it when she was falling into the Realm of Darkness.

"Of course, time between this world and the outside worlds are different so you arrived first." Lokai explained. "Though you were so interesting, Drasil and I had no issues with you being here. But these…children…So foolish and violent with each other. So overly emotional…even worse than but you seem to have decent control of yours."

Aqua decided to take that as a compliment. "Can you show me where they are?"

"Well, they're not together." Lokai admitted and pointed straight ahead. "The nearest one is south, near the beach."

Aqua followed his finger and then looked back to the Keyblade still embedded in the ground.

"Don't worry about that. It's been here a long time." Lokai stated with a smile.

Aqua looked between Lokai and the Gungnir a few times before sighing and walked off in the direction that Lokai had pointed.

Lokai simply watched as the young Master walked back into the forest.

Xxx

(Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep OST The Silent Forest)

Aqua wasn't sure if there was much she could do here. She had her armor and glider back so she could possibly leave this world but she wasn't sure if she could reach the Lanes Between.

She had Horn of Passage with her so she could just open a way back to the Realm of Light.

However she felt the need to meet with these people that Lokai said had fallen here like she had. Maybe she could help them return to their world before leaving. Aqua had to cover her eyes as she emerged from the forest and onto a beach similar to the one she had landed when she had first arrived here. She looked around, not seeing anyone around.

She knew that the first rule of survival was finding food and water and it looked like that both would be hard to find in this part of the island. She looked down at the ground and noticed some fresh footprints, two to be exact.

Aqua knelt down by them and examined them closely. "Both were wearing boots…One pair is high heeled…"

She looked up and saw they led back into the forest but a fair distance from where she had come from. Aqua slowly followed the footprints back into the forest, taking note of some trees sporting cut marks and branches that had been cut down.

Someone was carrying something big and sharp.

She carefully followed the trail, noting that in some places it looked like a battle had taken place. Several trees were cut down, deep cut marks in the ground. She also noticed evidence of a campsite, a pile of burnt sticks for a fire along with discarded fish bones.

Someone was camped here and brought in fish for food.

Again the camp looked as cut up as the other battlegrounds she had seen. It looked like someone…

…was being hunted.

That was when Aqua's senses screamed as her and she spun around, summoning her Keyblade and slashed it through something that shattered into what looked like glass. Aqua then sensed something behind her and raised her Keyblade over her shoulder, projecting a barrier that protected her back as something kicked at it.

(Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep OST The Silent Forest Ends)

(Kingdom Hearts OST Unforgettable)

Aqua spun as the barrier protected her knocked back whoever was attacking her. It was a short young woman, her hair a mix of brown and pink with white streaks. She wore a white vest and pants with the vest having a pink interior with a grey scarf and a black bowler hat, all of which were torn in a few places. Surprisingly, in addition to her mutl-colored hair she had two different eye colors, her left eye colored brown and the right one being pale pink.

"Who are you?" Aqua asked, pointing her Keyblade at the strange woman.

The woman said nothing as she charged forward, brandishing a sharp blade she likely fashioned out of stone.

It did very little against the Keyblade, aside from shattering on impact.

The woman jumped back as Aqua swiped at her. Seeing she was now lacking a weapon, the woman tossed the remains aside and grabbed onto the Keyblade, allowing the momentum to swing her off her feet and she planted both feet on Aqua's chest, pushing off her and knocking her down. As she in the air the woman twisted her body, aiming her feet up to slam it down on Aqua while she was done. However Aqua rolled away in time, leaving the foot to crash into the ground and jumped to her feet.

The woman turned her head to Aqua as the Keyblade Master slashed at her and she immediately back-flipped to avoid the attack. Landing on her feet she glared at Aqua who glared right back. So far, Aqua could tell the woman was fast, agile and very skilled.

And there was still that glass shattering strangeness that she had yet to figure out.

The woman charged forward again, picking up a rock but Aqua had enough. "Thunder!"

A bolt of lightning rained down and hit the woman head on. She let out a wordless cry, her mouth opening but no sound was made and a pink energy field of some kind surrounded her. She was stunned by the attack and left open as Aqua followed up with several strikes that immediately broke the field. With a final strike, Aqua knocked the woman down and she crashed onto the ground. Looking up, the woman saw Aqua holding her Keyblade directly at her face.

"That is enough." Aqua said sternly. "Now who are you and why are you attacking me?"

The woman said nothing, only glaring at her.

Aqua frowned, seeing the woman was not talking. She wasn't sure what else to do since she wasn't planning on striking the woman down.

A dash of red caught Aqua's eyes and her ears picked up a voice. "NEO!"

The woman immediately kicked Aqua's Keyblade away and rolled away as someone swung something large down. Aqua stepped back, her eyes widening as she spotted a large black and red scythe swinging down on where the woman had previously been.

It was a girl.

She wore a long red cloak, short black spiky hair and silver eyes…Red rimmed eyes filled with pain, agony and hate.

Aqua could tell that the girl had been crying by how red her eyes looked and she looked at the other woman with rage.

And red fire.

The woman stepped back, glaring back as the woman's scythe morphed into a rifle and she fired bullets that ignited into fire. The woman quickly rolled out of the way, taking shelter behind Aqua who immediately conjured a barrier to block the fire balls.

"Enough!" Aqua shouted.

"Get out of my way!" The girl shouted, her rifle shifting back into its scythe form. "She has to pay!"

She turned into a spiral of petals that split into two as they flew around Aqua and reformed into the girl, swinging her scythe at the woman.

"Gravity!"

The girl was suddenly held down by a powerful force, surprising her and the woman.

Aqua kept her Keyblade trained on the girl as she slowly stepped in between the two. "Now what is this about?"

The woman charged at the girl, kicking her scythe out of her hands and punched her in the face. Both girls started strangling each other as they rolled around on the ground.

"Hey!" Aqua barked, surprised by how they just kept on fighting.

She then noticed a mist beginning to surround them and remembered this when she first got here. The girl screamed out as wind started twirling around them both. The girl let out another scream as a blast of fire knocked the woman back.

Aqua's eyes widened as she realized that the girl had magic and dangerous magic from the looks of it.

Just what in the world was going on?

(Kingdom Hearts OST Unforgettable Ends)