Time Warp
"Where are we?" Poppy glanced around in awe.
"Welcome, Aqua."
Aqua's eyes widened in shock as in a shower of golden sparkles appeared the God of Light, the being she had named Izanagi.
WHOOSH!
Next to him appeared a pillar dark light that upon disappearing revealed the God of Darkness, the one she had named Erebus.
Aqua quickly stepped in front of Poppy who was frozen in pure shock at the sight of the two deities that had just appeared.
"It is good to see you again, Aqua. Though we are surprised to see what you have been doing since we last spoke." The God of Light folded his hands behind his back. "I believe we have much to discuss."
"Yes." The God of Darkness nodded in agreement. "Much to discuss."
Aqua looked back and forth between the two Gods with a wary look on her face and one thought came to her mind. 'This is never easy…'
Xxx
Aqua had not expected to meet the Brother Gods again so soon and to be truthful she had hoped that she wouldn't have ever met them again.
While she was on a more positive standing with both deities that didn't mean she like or even trusted them, considering how things went down the first and last few times she had met them.
She made sure to stand in front of Poppy who was staring in no small wonder at the Gods, wanting their attention kept on her and not the young woman. Given how they almost wiped out all of humanity before departing their world she wasn't sure how they would feel about a human from their world in their midst.
"Where are we?" She carefully asked, looking between the Brother Gods and the strange place they were currently in.
"This is the Relic of Time. A gateway between worlds." The God of Light answered. "Of course, perhaps it would be more accurate to call it the Temple of Time."
"A temple?" Aqua questioned slowly.
"Yes." The God of Darkness nodded. "A perfect place for us to have this discussion."
Aqua managed to keep herself calm.
"When we first met, you explained as a Keyblade Wielder you were forbidden to interfere in the affairs of the worlds you visit." The God of Light began. "And yet, not only have you lived much longer than a mortal should, you are breaking the very rules you have sworn to uphold."
"And how am I doing that?" Aqua asked, keeping Poppy behind her.
The red haired girl could only look at her in shock.
"You are taking the Relics we left behind for mankind to use to their discretion, until the day when Ozma reunites all four of them and summons us back." The God of Darkness answered. "That is blatant interference and against your own rules."
"There is much more going on than you both realize." Aqua immediately replied. "The circumstances forced me to temporarily relocate the Relics before they ended up together and summoned you back before Ozma even had a chance to carry out his take."
"His task was bring humanity together. No matter how long or short it might be, it does not matter." The God of Light replied. "Why are you breaking your oath?"
"I am not breaking my oath." Aqua said with finality in her voice while narrowing her eyes. "And the two of you have no right to acuse me of disturbing Remnant's order, not after you dragged me into your so-called 'experiment'."
The God of Darkness bristled. "You dare speak to us like this? Do not think because of your previous kindness, you are allowed to speak to us with insolence."
"I speak only the truth, Erebus." Aqua said, mockingly speaking the name she had given the God of Darkness. "If you had both let me leave without creating a reason for me to return, I wouldn't have returned and upset the nature of the world you created."
Her eyes fell on the God of Light. "I told you when we first met that I only approached you to find a way to leave your world after I explained the differences between your world and the worlds I came from. But you both forced me to involve myself against my wishes. You, Izanagi were curious about the worlds and had Heimdallr spy on me and show you the worlds I traveled to."
She then turned to the God of Darkness. "And you, Erebus saw me as a threat. You created Grimm to fight me and even sent them after me in Daybreak Town, a world completely devoid of Grimm and endangered its people. It took me facing down an entire army that wanted to kill the both of you for you to listen and consider my wishes. You know, sometimes it's better to let something play itself out than to try to control it."
Poppy was wide eyed by this point by the way Aqua was talking to the two gods.
She was almost speaking as if she was their equal.
"My reasons for everything I have done up to now is to protect this world's past, present and future." Aqua continued. "A current threat right now was created by a power I know that does not come from your world. As a Keyblade Wielder I am bound by my oath to stop it."
"And what is this threat?" The God of Light asked.
"A monster the people have named Sin. It was created by someone misusing the Staff of Creation trying to restore the use of magic but it had unexpected side effects, summoning this power I speak of that comes come from outside this world. This power created Sin and it is currently on a rampage." Aqua explained.
"You mean this?" The God of Darkness waved a hand and conjured an image of Sin. "This is the threat you speak of?"
"Yes." Aqua nodded.
"An interesting creature that I wish I had created myself." The God of Darkness brought a hand to his chin while Poppy gasped from behind Aqua. "Still, this creature was born on the First World so I do not believe this to be loophole in your rules, Aqua."
"But I do." Aqua argued. "The power that created Sin does not come from Remnant and if it is not stopped it will destroy the entire world. How will Ozma complete the task you have given him if the world is destroyed?"
"What the humans will do with the powers left behind to guide them is up to them." The God of Darkness said dismissively. "It is still a violation."
"And why would you care even if it is?" Aqua pointed out. "You both left Remnant after its people turned on you. Why would you care about what I do there or not?"
"We care because you are interfering in our business. Something you swore you would not do." The God of Darkness retorted.
Aqua clenched a fist.
"We have not forgotten your contribution, Aqua but you must understand we believe in the rules of balance as much as you do." The God of Light stated diplomatically.
"I was left with no choice. As a Keyblade Wielder, I am sworn to protect and save worlds from the darkness. Sin is not Remnant's only threat. There is also Salem." Aqua stated.
"That woman?" The God of Darkness scoffed. "We already know what she is capable of."
"Then you know she becomes a Heartless in the future." Aqua immediately said.
This caused both deities to pause for a moment and then the God of Light spoke. "What do you mean?"
Aqua sighed, taking a deep breath before beginning to explain herself. "A lot happened after we last met. I returned to Drasil's realm where I found she was plotting to merge the Ever After with Remnant. With the help of my friends we stopped her…but Salem appeared. Apparently sometime in the future, the Heartless will appear and destroy Remnant."
"Show us." The God of Light requested.
Before Aqua could give a reply, the Lamp of Knowledge rose up into the air and a blue mist emerged from it, forming into Jinn.
"You called for me, my creators?" Jinn asked humbly as she bowed her head.
"Jinn, we seek the knowledge behind Aqua's explanation." The God of Light stated.
"Very well." Jinn summoned a blue mist that engulfed the chamber.
"Once upon time, a lost defender of the worlds found herself on a strange shore."
The mist conjured images of the past, such as when Aqua first appeared in the Ever After.
Aqua picked up the sea star and noticed how similar it was to her Wayfinder and the ones she made for her friends.
"What is this place?" She asked quietly but felt glad to be hearing her own voice.
"She was lost, seemingly alone and wished to find a way to return to her home."
"Do not fear me, child. I mean no harm to thee."
Aqua stared carefully at the orb that continued to glow, the light not blinding enough for her to see its full features. Whatever she sensed from the tree was now all around her but its presence was largely focused on the orb.
"I see you are weary. Perhaps this will help."
The light of the orb grew even brighter as a bright blue mist surrounded it. This is mist began to take shape, forming arms, legs, a torso and a face with the transparent features creating a smiling visage with light misty lips. The mist began to thicken; condensing itself as it slowly became more solid. It was female in shape, taking the form of a young girl as the transparency gave way to solid pale blue flesh.
Elongated ears poked out from under light blue hair, eyes dark blue sclera and pupils and light blue in the irises blinked at Aqua. Her form appeared nude but then clothing appeared in the form of a white dress with a golden belt.
The girl smiled and bowed as a white staff appeared in her hands with another orb appearing at the top. "Greetings, I am Drasil, granter of the hopes and dreams of mankind. The collective unconsciousness."
Aqua stared in stunned silence a second before composing herself. "I am Aqua. Can you tell me where I am?"
"Well, you are in the world…between worlds." The girl named Drasil answered, much to Aqua's confusion.
"World between worlds?" The lost master echoed.
"That is right." Drasil nodded. "This is a world created as part of a system by the Gods of Light and Darkness, connected to their worlds."
She banged her staff on the ground and around them appeared nine golden doors.
Aqua stared at the doors and then looked back at Drasil. "Do you want me to pick a door?"
"Do you want to go somewhere?" Drasil questioned.
"I…I still do not understand where I am." Aqua explained. "All I remember before appearing here was falling into darkness and then waking up on the beach of this island."
"Ah, so you seek knowledge." Drasil pointed to a door on her right which opened. "Step through this door and you will be transported to Fantasias, the land of spirits. There you will be able to seek out the spirits of knowledge, creation, destruction and choice."
"And soon enough she would journey through the realms of the spirits."
The mist changed, showing Aqua meeting Jinn, Ambrosius, Nimue and then Janus.
"She gained Knowledge, wielded Creation, tamed Destruction and was offered Choice."
The past Aqua was shown standing in a vision conjured by Jinn showing Remnant's history followed by her briefly merging with Ambrosius, fighting Nimue and then ended with Janus offering her to show her the futures based on the choices she will make.
"When she returned, Yggdrasil offered to help her by sending her to the First Age."
Aqua was then shown meeting and conversing with the God of Light for the first time.
"From the God of Light, she gained two gifts. One with the power to open a portal to any world and the other to sail through the barriers between worlds."
The God of Light then conjured the Horn of Passage and the Sail of Heaven for past Aqua to use.
"She went on many adventures."
The images then showed Daybreak Town with Aqua exploring and then facing the Heartless, the Foretellers and the Grimm that the God of Darkness sent after her. She was then shown to be fighting Maleficent and Salem's army, leading up to the battle with Surtr.
"But was no closer to returning home. Then she returned to the Ever After where her next journey would begin."
Jinn then showed Aqua meeting Neo, the four Maidens and Oscar reincarnated in Jaune.
"Upon her return to the Ever After, the Lost Guardian came upon four Maidens, their hearts broken by the loss of their world."
The Four Maidens: Weiss Schnee the Winter Maiden, Yang Xio Long the Spring Maiden, Blake Belladonna the Summer Maiden and Ruby Rose the Fall Maiden.
One by one Aqua faced them, eventually teaming up with Neo and Oscar.
"In an effort to save their people, the four along with Jaune Arc and the boy who eventually took on the soul of Ozma used the power of the Staff of Creation, creating a pathway between dimensions to deliver the people of a besieged kingdom to safety. Only they fell into the Ever After, trapped with creatures they found to be strange with the knowledge that a dear friend had been lost."
Ruby was shown mourning the loss of Penny, whose sword she held and Jinn even conjured a reflection of Penny in the blade.
"With the knowledge of their loss, for a time the four would wonder if they indeed were meant to be the ones to stop the great evil ravaging their world. Then came the tragedy."
One by one, Ruby and her friends awoke with tears dripping from their eyes…which were set ablaze with magical fire.
"With the gift of the four seasons came the knowledge that their world had been swallowed by darkness, breaking their hearts and eventually the four drifted away. The Winter Maiden would seal herself in a castle of ice in an effort to close her heart away."
Weiss was shown in her icy castle with a cold and empty look on her face.
"The Spring Maiden would simply leave and spend her time in isolation out of shame for her actions."
Yang was shown hiding in a cave, crouched down in front of a fire with a look of despair on her face.
"The Summer Maiden, unable to cope with the guilt of failure and the knowledge that her close friend had kept dangerous secrets from her, broke under the pressure."
Blake was shown in the woods, holding her head with a heartbroken look on her face that soon changed into a demented smile and her cries soon turned to laughter.
"And the Fall Maiden, a simple and honest soul who felt the weight of the world on her shoulders and believed she had failed, along with the feelings of loss of her friends and family…What was once a pure heart only seeking to do good in life, now broken by grief and madness. Her only recourse of action left was to seek retribution on the last one she could blame before herself and her friends."
"OFF WITH YOUR HEAD, NEOPOLITAN!" Ruby shouted, holding Crescent Rose above her head with red flames blazing around her eyes.
She chased Neo all across the Ever After, coming close each time to killing her before Aqua arrived.
"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.
"Until the Lost Guardian returned, having been brought here by their very actions. Opening a pocket dimension between other dimensions caused the Lost Guardian to fall into the Ever After and thus set in the chain of events leading up to this moment."
Jinn then conjured images of Aqua traveling to the Realm of Darkness to restore Remnant, followed by meeting Ansem and giving Neo her own Keyblade, freeing Terra's heart which the bonded with his armor, up to returning to the Ever After to face Drasil and the Maidens.
"Yggdrasil sought to use the power of the Maidens to open a bridge to the First World which was now named Remnant and merge it and the Ever After into a brand new world where she would be its new goddess."
Blue mist came again, showing Aqua along with Terra, Neo and Oscar facing Drasil and defeating her.
"With the defeat of Yggdrasil, all would be made right…Or it should have been."
Then came Salem as a Heartless, appearing in the Ever After and setting in motion to destroy Remnant again with the plan of destroying every world created by the Brother Gods until she found them and destroyed them.
Both Deities were silent but from their movements, Aqua could see none of them were happy to see Salem again, especially in her new form.
"Salem, once a mortal turned Queen of the Grimm now a Heartless and her curse allowing her to become a Queen of Darkness, more powerful and dangerous than before."
Then came the battle.
Penny's eyes snapped open as her body was enveloped in a powerful white light in addition to the blue glow of Yggdrasil's magic.
Just as Salem knocked the four Keybladers away, a great light appeared in the corner of her vision that was almost blinding. "What?!"
Salem turned to face the light and was enraged.
This power...
'It rivals- neigh- surpasses that of the Brothers...'
"That's not Penny's Yggdrasil's power..." Neo widened her eyes.
"That light-!" Aqua gasped. "Is she the Princess of Heart?"
"No! I saw this back when Ansem first fought Sora in Hollow Bastion! It's more like Ruby's heart connected with Penny's! Just like how Kairi's hid within Sora!" Terra replied.
Penny levelled Salem with a cold hard glare. The blue glow of Yggdrasil and the light of Ruby's heart swirling around her like flames.
"This is MY home..."
She summoned her knives, which spun around rapidly.
"And you..."
A ball of energy formed within the spinning blades.
"Are not welcome here!"
With one last cry, Penny unleashed the power at Salem, who let out one last roar as it began disintegrating her...
And she didn't heal...
Salem's eyes widened despite the pain.
'No... this cannot be... I... I WON'T BE DENIED MY VENGECE ON OZMA! ON THE GODS! ON-'
"SILVERRRRRRRR EYESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!"
And just like that, Salem, Queen of the Grimm, the darkness of Remnant... was no more...
The power of a Princess of Heart, a fragment of the X-Blade, was a power parried by few and surpassed by even fewer.
Even the curse of the Gods couldn't hope to stand up against such power.
The Brother Gods were stunned to see Salem destroyed by the strange light.
"However, the damage was done. Salem brought the Heartless to Remnant a second time and thus it would be destroyed again. Forcing the Lost Guardian to make a choice."
"It's called the Power of Waking. An ancient method that Keyblade Wielders used to reach other worlds or wake sleeping hearts from a deep slumber or even death." Oscar began. "It involves the user using their sheer will to use their Keyblade to open a way to other worlds within someone's heart."
Aqua, Terra and Neo simply stared at Oscar as he explained what this Power of Waking actually was before Terra spoke up. "How come we never learned this power?"
"Because only a true Master of the Keyblade can wield this power and it fell into rare use as Keyblade Wielders learned how to create gliders from their Keyblades and the armor. That was a safer method than the Power of Waking." Oscar answered.
"Penny…" Aqua ignored him for the moment. "If I do this, will Ansem, Terra and I…Will we see our friends again? Will we have our own new beginnings?"
"And thus, the Lost Guardian began her journey. Linking her heart to the first one to be born in the world's deep past."
Aqua then appeared in the realm between the living and the afterlife, watching as Ozma accepted the God of Light's offer.
"And will begin her long journey."
The blue must faded away along with Jinn, leaving the four in the same chamber as before. The God Brothers stared at Aqua who remained silent while Poppy looked at Aqua in complete and utter silence, eyes wide and barely able to grasp what she had learned.
The Brothers remained silent before the God of Darkness spoke up. "It appears we have our answer, Brother."
"Yes." The God of Light sounded…sad. "Perhaps we cannot salvage anything from the experiment."
Aqua raised an eyebrow. 'What do they-?'
"Salem eventually grows powerful enough to challenge and destroy us if she can destroy entire worlds and humanity will fail to unite in the future and that other power that the girl who becomes the new Yggdrasil becomes greater than ours. Perhaps you are right and we should end this now. Humanity cannot be redeemed so we will end them now to stop what will come in the future and Salem will be left to wander the Remnant alone until the end of days to prevent either of them from becoming a threat to us."