The screen flickers for a bit before that author appears…playing a Switch before putting it away.
*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 and welcome back to another chapter of From No One to Someone.*
*I know I promised this chapter out in December, and than January. But you know issues with real life, backlog, that and I decided to take a few breaks from writing. Yet here we are now, the first of a whole bunch of chapters this year for this story.*
*And to make up for the delay I am adding an omake to this chapter, first in a while and I hope that you all enjoy it.*
*Let's move onto the chapter, shall we.*
*In this chapter Aqua and Roxas fight for their lives before heading towards the heart of the conflict on this world, Vanitas and Maleficent prepare their plan, and a new element is thrown into the mix with Vanitas preparing for it. I hope that you all will enjoy this chapter.*
*But first, I do not own Kingdom Hearts.*
*Finally just sit back, relax, maybe put some music on, and enjoy. I will see you all at the end of the chapter.*
The author snapped his fingers while pulling the Switch back out and the screen turned to static as the chapter begins.
Dark Dawn
Roxas braced himself as the Husks rushed towards them, one of the Unversed combining it's axes into their polearm form.
"Ice Barrage!" Aqua casted, training Rainfall at the polearm wielding Husk. Causing the ground underneath it to glow a light blue and frost to gather before a pair of ice crystals emerged and sent it flying into the air. Followed by a few more smaller crystals emerged to strike it, before being sent flying into the air.
"Roxas can you keep the Husk busy for a few moments." Aqua said as she charged electricity at the tip of her Keyblade.
"Alright." Roxas said as rushed forward towards the closest Husk.
He other one struck it's polearm into the ground and landed safely before rushing forwards the two Keyblade wielders with the other Unversed.
The Nobody ducked under the Husk swinging it's axes before swinging Destiny Rewritten into it's shoulder and training it's tip at the Unversed's chest.
"Aero!" Roxas casted, the burst of air pushing the Husk back a little bit.
Yet the Unversed was undeterred and coated it's axes with a green aura.
It charged at Roxas, who immediately activated his Keyblade's barrier to avoid getting poisoned. However to his surprise the attacks were immediately causing cracks to form in the barrier.
Aqua finished charging her Shotlock before the crow like Unversed tried to peck at her. She just jumped out of the way and trained Rainfall at the Husk that was still working on breaking through Roxas's barrier.
"Thunderstorm!" She casted, unleashing several thunderbolts towards the Unveresd. One of them striking and felling the crow like one Unversed as it tried to peck at her again.
The pair of Floods quickly hid behind the closest Husk as it was battered by the Shotlock. The Husk facing Roxas stopped attacking as it was bombarded with lightning. Roxas dispelled his barrier and casted a silent Fire spell at the Unversed before rushing back to Aqua.
It collided with the Husk's head and pushed it back as another lightning bolt sent the Unversed sprawling into the ground before another lightening bolt struck it as the Shotlock ended.
As the Keyblade Master prepared to cast another spell onto the downed Unversed, the other Husk charged at her with it's polearm gaining a blue aura. Knowing what this meant Aqua hastily raised her barrier, but the torrent of darkness unleash was strong enough to push her back.
Roxas tried to attack the Husk, but the pair of Floods got in his way while the larger Unversed stopped it's attack and charged at Aqua.
He cut down the Floods, but soon raised Destiny Rewritten to block an axe strike. Finding himself soon engaged into clash of blades with the other Husk.
With Aqua she dispelled the barrier before cartwheeling away as the Husk tried to slash at her with it's polearm.
She jumped back and casted a silent Blizzard at the Husk, which just spung it's polearm around and deflected the spell downwards before lighting the ends of it's weapons aflame. It launched a pair of fireballs at the Keyblade Master.
Aqua dodged out of the way of the fireballs and trained her Keyblade at the Husk.
"Triple Blizzaga!" Aqua casted, launching three large ice crystals at the Husk. It split it's polearm into axes and tried to dodge out of the way and throw them at her, but the spells landed and was half frozen.
But not before it managed to throw an axe and it struck Aqua in her leg. She bit back a scream of pain before falling onto the ground.
The Husk generated a shockwave to blow the ice off of it before charging at Aqua with it's Keyblade with a green aura covering it. Aqua got up and formed her barrier as the Husk tried to strike her, the axe bouncing off it. She dispelled the barrier as the Unversed tried to attack again.
"Wishing Edge!" Aqua shouted as she swung her Keyblade and jumped into the air, hitting the Husk three times before blasting it into a nearby tree with a silent Thunder.
It's quickly recovered and retrieved it's second axe before charging at Aqua.
She created a barrier around herself as it hacked at her with it's axes before it decided to reform it into a polearm and started to swing wildly against barrier. While this was happening Aqua began to gather water around the tip of Rainfall.
"Bubble Blaster!" Aqua casted as she lowered the barrier.
The Husk swatted away at the bubbles with it's polearm, but a few of them managed to hit the Unversed.
"Thundaga!" She casted before the Husk cold retaliate, striking it with bolts of lightning. The Husk tried to power through but the combination of the Shotlock and spell caused the Unversed to falter. But it unleashed a shockwave that flung the Keyblade Master away from it.
However Aqua covered herself in a barrier mid air and charged right back at the Husk.
"Payback Surge!" Aqua shouted as she slammed into the Husk as sparks was still coming off of it. With the Unversed being sent flying and crashed into a nearby tree.
"Triple Firaga!" She casted, sending three fireballs towards the Unversed's direction. However the Husk jumped into the air as it was grazed by the first fireball. In the air it's polearm glowed with a green aura which it tried to bring down on Aqua.
She stepped out of the way as one of the polearm's ends became buried into the ground. The Husk separated the other end into it's axe form while the blade still glowing green. Aqua cartwheeled out of the way as the Husk tried to swing and then threw the axe at her.
While it tried to pull it's axe out of the ground, Aqua coated herself in fire and cartwheeled into the Unversed. Sending it flying into a nearby bush.
As she surveyed her surrounding area for the Husk she knocked aside, Roxas continued his blade struggle with the other Husk.
Before it charged a fireball at the end of one of it's axes and shot it at the Nobody.
Roxas dodged out of the way, but was blindsided as the Husk reformed it's polearm and slammed one end into his face. He fell to the ground and quickly rolled out of the way as the Husk jumped into the air and raised it's polearm up, the ends glowing with a green aura.
The Husk impaled the ground where Roxas had been as he trained his Keyblade at the Unversed.
"Aerora!" Roxas casted, causing a wind lance to slam into the Husk and pushed it back a bit.
Yet it quickly recovered and lunged at Roxas with it's polearm glowing green. But he just summoned Destiny Rewritten's barrier and blocked it's attack.
The Husk continued to batter away at Roxas's barrier for a few moments until it generated a shockwave to blast him back. It split it's polearm into axes and tried to havk into Roxas, only for him to teleport away.
Before the Husk could locate Roxas, a fireball smacked into it's head followed by Oblivion.
Roxas slammed both Keyblades into the Unversed's chest before dispelling Oblivion. The Nobody then slashed at the Husk with Destiny Rewritten before it regained it's composure and blocked the Keyblade with both axes.
However Roxas was prepared for that.
"Thunder! Aero!" Roxas caster, the chain of lightning shocking the Husk before the wind spell blew it back into a tree.
He rushed forward, but the Husk used an explosion of energy to propel itself forward. Slamming into Roxas, getting the Nobody to stumble back before a green aura covered axe struck him in the back.
The Husk tried to strike him with it's other axe, but a silent Blizzard struck it's head and froze it in a block of ice.
"Esuna!" Roxas casted as he leaned against his Keyblade, purging the poison from his body.
As the Husk tried to free it's head from the ice, he took the chance to fall back and pulled a potion from his bag.
Back with Aqua she had been keeping an eye on the surround shubbery as the Husk had popped back up from time to time to unleash a fireball before falling back before she could land a spell on it.
It hadn't strayed that far from it's fallen axe and the Keyblade Master had been trying to keep an eye on the Unversed.
However when she noticed that the Husk Roxas was facing had freed itself while he was drinking a potion, she charged up a bit of electricity at the tip of her Keyblade towards it.
Only to turn around as the other Husk charged at her with it's axe raised.
"Thundaga Shot!" Aqua casted, blasting the Husk point blank. But not before it managed to strike her in the gut.
Aqua doubled over as the Husk was sent crashing into the ground.
She stood back up as the Unversed picked up it's other axe and combined them into it's polearm.
"Ignite!" Aqua casted, a ring of small flames appearing at the end of Rainfall before they vanished.
The Husk soon found itself wreathed in fire, but it didn't care in the slightest as the end of it's polearm glowed a dark blue. It unleashed a large stream of darkness, forcing Aqua to summon a barrier to prevent herself from being consumed by it.
With Roxas as soon as he was done drinking the potion saw what was happening with Aqua and rushed towards her.
Only for the Husk he was facing off against to throw both of it's axes in front of the Nobody and charge with it's feet covered in a dark brown aura.
"Reflect!" Roxas casted, summoning a barrier around himself as the Husk jumped onto it. The Unversed discharging a burst of energy, shattering the spell and propelling itself into the air to repeat the process.
Yet was struck by Destiny Rewritten midair and sent crashing back down to the ground.
As Roxas caught his Keyblade he looked towards Aqua to see that the area around her and the still flaming Husk was blackened and scorched. With the Keyblade Master still holding her barrier up as it battered away at it with green aura covered axes.
Seeing that she was alright for now, the Nobody turned his attention back to his opponent. It picked itself off the ground and gathered it's axes. Forming it's polearm and sending a pair of fireballs at Roxas.
He dodged out of the way from them, but barely stepped out of the way as the Husk jumped down onto him with it's weapon raised.
One end of the polearm sunk into the ground as the Unversed used it to swing towards Roxas, it's feet glowing a dark brown aura as it launch itself towards him.
Roxas dodged the flying Husk as it's feet collided with a tree, reducing it to splinters in a burst of energy.
As the Husk stood back it it mad a mad dash towards it's polearm.
"Blizzaga!"
Only for Roxas to launch an ice mine above the polearm. By the time the Husk had reached the weapon the spell detonated. Freezing the Unversed in a block of ice.
Roxas rushed forward, both hands grabbing his Keyblade as a violet sphere formed at the end.
The Husk unleashed a burst of energy to free itself from the ice, but it was too late.
"Gravity Break!" Roxas casted, slamming the sphere into the Unversed's midsection. It exploded in a burst of magic and sent the Husk crashing into a nearby tree.
Roxas took a second to brace himself from the recoil.
With his ability to use magic he found that it was much easier to deal with the Husks now then the one Vanitas had unleashed back at Castle of Dream. Still they were pretty durable and Roxas dreaded to imagine if Vanitas had anything like the Silver Recluse hiding inside them.
It was only a matter of time until these Unvered were dealt with.
The Husk stood back up and split it's polearm into axes, charging towards the Nobody as they were covered with a green aura.
As the Husk charged towards him, the tip of Destiny Rewritten was trained towards it.
Before Roxas shifted his Keyblade away from it.
"Fira!" "Thundaga Shot!" Both Roxas and Aqua casted, their spells striking one of the Husk's. The flaming Unversed was pushed back while the Husk facing Roxas collapsed onto the ground as electricity arched around it.
"Bind!" Aqua casted, a wave of yellow energy washing over the flaming Husk and kept it from moving.
With both Unveresed currently incapacitated both Keyblade wielders quickly regrouped away from the Husks.
"Roxas are you alright?" Aqua asked the Nobody.
"I'm fine, but I think that we should probably end this soon." Roxas said as the Husk that he had faced before picked itself back up and recombined it's axes into a polearm.
"Agreed, I think I might have a way to at least finish one of them off. We just need to incapacitate them together." Aqua said as the Husk propelled itself forward in an explosion of energy.
"I'll follow your lead." Roxas said as the two of them split up as the Husk landed where they once was and launched fireballs at the pair.
Roxas dodged the attack while Aqua used her barrier to block the fireball.
However he grunted out in pain as an axe struck him in the back.
The Bind spell had worn off of the flaming Husk and it had thrown one of it's axes at Roxas while it charged at him.
"Seeker Mine! Barrier Surge!" Aqua casted as she dropped her barrier, unleashing mines onto the Husk charging her and covering herself in a barrier. She slammed into flaming Husk and sent it into the air.
Only for it to be sent to the ground as Roxas returned the favor by throwing Destiny Rewritten on it.
"Cure!" Aqua casted as she landed nxt to Roxas, healing him as he caught his Keyblade.
"Thanks." Roxas said as the flaming Husk picked up it's axe and both Unversed charged at the Keyblade wielders. Their weapons glowing with a green aura. "Get back, Blizzara!"
The Nobody created a giant ice crystal as both he and Aqua jumped back.
One of the Husk's collided with the crystal, causing the both of them to in frozen in a block of ice.
"That will not hold them for long." Roxas said as he saw water forming at the end of Aqua's Keyblade.
"Figured, but now is a good time to end this." Aqua said as Roxas began to copy her actions and generated water at the end of Destiny Rewritten.
The Husks freed themselves in a burst of energy and both of them formed their polearms, the end glowing a dark blue aura as they unleashed two massive streams of darkness at the Keyblade wielder.
Both Roxas and Aqua barely dodged the attacks and trained their Keyblades at the Unversed.
"Watera!" "Water!" Aqua and Roxas casted, streams of water blasting into both Husks and causing them to crash into each other.
Roxas noticed that Aqua stopped in her tracks as she trained Rainfall at the Unversed, her whole body glowing with an icy blue aura as wisps of mist and ice crystals beginning to form around her.
He figured that this was what she had been planning to use to finish the Husks off.
Looking back on them Roxas saw that they were getting back up, one of them splitting their polearm into axes and throwing fireballs at the Nobody.
He weaved through them before training Destiny Rewritten at the pair. The tip of his Keyblade covered with sparks.
"Thundaga!" Roxas casted, a massive bolt of lightning came crashing down onto the soaked Husks. Both Unversed spasmed for moment before collapsing onto the ground.
Roxas felt that he was running low on magic and pulled out an ether as the Husks began to pick themselves up.
Only for Aqua to be done charging up her Shotlock.
"Absolute Zero!" She casted, the ice crystals congregated behind her and the Keyblade Master vanished.
Only for Aqua to slam into one of the Husks as an icy blue blur before jumping to the next one, leaving frost to form on the Unversed. She continued to strike and leap between the two Husks about a dozen times, leaving them covered with more and more frost. She than landed next to one of them, only for an ice pillar to send it into the air. She jumped to the other Husk and sent airborne. Aqua repeated the process another two times before landing in the middle, causing a series of ice spires to emerge and strike both Husks before they dissipated into mist.
Aqua reappeared next to Roxas, the aura and ice around her fading before the Keyblade Master planted the tip of Rainfall into the ground. She began to pant a little as she leaned against her Keyblade.
"Aqua are you alright." Roxas said as he put away his empty ether, however he briefly stepped back at how cold the air was around Aqua.
"I'm alright, I haven't fully mastered this Shotlock yet. But it looks like it did the trick." Aqua said as she pulled out an elixir from her bag and proceeded to down it as the mist cleared up.
The he could see the ground covered with frost and one of the Husks picking itself back up, the over lying down and fully frosted over as it's weapon faded away into darkness.
One down, but there was still another Husk and whatever Unversed was within the other one.
As Roxas braced himself, he got between Aqua and the Husk as she was finishing downing her elixir.
The Husk rushed forward and to the surprise of both Keyblade wielders it picked up the fallen Unversed before rushing forward in a explosion of energy.
It tossed the fallen Husk, but it bounced off of Destiny Rewritten's barrier and fell back to the ground.
The other Husk rushed to the side, splitting it's polearm into axes and covering them in a green aura. It's attack however were blocked by both Roxas's and Aqua's Keyblades.
Yet Aqua yelled in pain as a Scrapper was launched from the fading Husk's body and sank it's claws into her back.
"Thundara!" Roxas casted, creating a curtain of lightning bolts that shocked both the Husk and Scrapper, causing the latter to dislodge from the Keyblade Master's back.
He than unleashed the stored energy within his Keyblade, bisecting the lesser Unversed with an arc of violet energy.
"Cure!" Roxas casted, healing Aqua.
"Thank you Roxas!" Aqua said, before her eyes widened. "Get down!"
Before the Nobody could understand what she meant, Aqua grabbed a hold of him and created a barrier around them as the Husk unleashed a massive stream of darkness that would have struck him. It consumed the barrier for a few moments before the Unversed stopped it's attack.
The barrier stood there as the area around it was scorched. It quickly fell away as the Husk was blasted by a bolt of lightning, temporarily blinding it. When it's vision returned it saw both Aqua and Roxas rushing towards it, a look of cold furry in the former's eyes.
Before it could try and counter attack, Aqua rushed forward and slashed at it with Rainfall.
"Wishing Edge!" Aqua shouted as she jumped forward, spinning around as she struck the Husk three times and sending it higher into the air.
"Blizzard!" Roxas casted, launching an ice shard that struck the Unversed in the back. Aqua created a platform and launched herself off it while slashing the Husk sending it crashing down into the ground.
As the Husk picked itself back up, Roxas slashed at it in the back before it found Rainfall's tip lit aflame directly in the face as Aqua landed.
"Fission Firaga!" Aqua casted coldly as the spell blasted the Husk and pushed it back as it was pelted with fireballs.
The Husk however quickly recovered as it reformed the polearm and launched fireballs at the two Keyblade wielders.
Both Aqua and Roxas dodged out of the way of the fireballs as the Husk rushed towards the former, the ends of it's polearm gaining a green aura.
Aqua summoned her barrier to block it's attacks as Roxas rushed towards the Husk, but had to jump back as it launched fireballs at him. Then unleashing an explosion of energy directly into the ground, fragmenting it and creating a large crater.
The ground fell underneath Aqua's feet and she dropped her barrier to jump back.
Only for the Husk to vault using it's polearm and to kick Aqua in midair, blasting her away with an explosion of energy.
"Aerora!" Roxas casted, launching a wind lance at the Husk as Aqua corrected herself in midair.
"Payback Surge!" She casted, cloaking herself in a barrier and rocketing towards the Husk.
The spell bore into the Unversed's chest before Aqua slammed in into the ground, knocking it's polearm out of it's grasp.
"Triple Blizzaga!" Aqua casted, launching three ice shards as the Husk tried to reach for it's weapon. Freezing it to the ground.
"Firaga!" Roxas casted, launching a fireball that exploded on contact with the Unversed.
The Husk went limp as it's weapon started to fade away.
Roxas braced himself as a Blue Sea Salt emerged from the downed Husk. It launched an ice shard which he batted back to the Unversed.
As the Blue Sea Salt was disoriented, Aqua promptly incinerated it with a bolt of lightning.
With that Roxas let out a small sigh of relief as he extended his senses to try and find any other Unversed nearby, with Aqua doing the same.
"I don't sense any other Unversed, but that will not be the case for long." Aqua sighed out, getting Roxas to nod before he dispelled his Keyblade.
Knowing Vanitas this was just another one of his 'tests' and with what he said was merely a prelude to what he could be planning. Add onto what was already going on in this world, the Master's warning, and Maleficent's presence here it actually seemed like things were going to end up like Hollow Bastion…
"Roxas, here take this. You are going to need it." Aqua said, breaking the Nobody out of this thoughts as he saw the she was handing him an elixir.
"Thank you." Roxas said as he took the elixir from here and proceeded to down it immediately.
With those two Husks being a good sign that the both of them needed to be in top shape in order to survive if he sent anything stronger their way.
"Those Husks were as dangerous as you described, but I didn't expect for them to be more difficult to put down. At least there wasn't anything like the Silver Recluse you fought." Aqua said, getting Roxas to sigh.
"Yet there is no telling if he will do anything like that again. Along we have this Maleficent to worry about as well." Roxas said, getting the Keyblade Master to nod.
"We stick to our original plan, but for now take a few minutes to rest and we will spend sometime looking around for more Unversed or Ventus before heading to the castle." Aqua said, getting Roxas to nod.
It was probably the best for now incase Ven did already came to this world. If the current condition of the world along with Vanitas's and Maleficent's presence here it was probably for the best he wasn't here.
But if did arrive or was already on Enchanted Domain, Roxas hoped that and Aqua could find the truth of how Terra played a part in the world's condition.
"Honestly I expected the Husks to have lasted longer." Vanitas sighed as he leaned against a pillar in Maleficent's throne room.
They performed as well as he thought they would, but it also exposed a few minor flaws in it's fighting style. That and a severe flaw to being inflicted with burn damage.
He could correct all of that with the upgrades he was planning for the Husks to perfect them, still they were more than enough to stall for time.
And to keep Roxas and Aqua guessing at what else he was planning.
"And I thought your monster would have been more than a match for those two." Maleficent said from her throne as she stroked Diablo's plumage.
"Aqua wouldn't be worthy of being a fledgling Keyblade Master otherwise and Roxas of being any interesrt for me. Besides the Husks are a work in progress like Kier, although I think that it will surpass them eventually." Vanitas said, getting the sentient Unversed's eyes to widen.
"You really think so my liege?" Kier asked curiously, getting Vanitas to chuckle.
"The Husks will peak eventually, but with your potential to evolve than you could one day surpass them. But that is still a long way away, so just focus on surviving. Got it Kier?" Vanitas asked, getting Kier to nod eagerly.
"Of course my liege!" Kier said happily.
"While I do find this sight somewhat enduring, we should be storming Stefan's castle now." Maleficent said as Diablo flew onto her shoulder and the evil fairy got up from her throne.
"All in good time, with the Husk shaking those two up it will be easier for our plan to take effect But I suppose it I should start with keeping my end of the bargain." The ancient Keyblade wielder said as he covered his hand in a plume of darkness.
Kier jumped as an ungodly screech sounded out from outside of the throne room as a large shadow flew over the windows.
"I take it that is a new Unversed my liege?" Kier asked Vanitas.
"Yup and your ride, now stick to the plan Kier and you will get you shot at Aqua. And this time you will not be so ill prepared. Now go on, we are counting on you" Vanitas said, getting Kier to salute before sinking into the floor and speeding out of the throne room.
"You put such faith into that Unversed, but I suppose I can understand. Diablo is the only one I can count on here." Maleficent sighed out as Diablo preened at her praise.
Considering the intelligence of her minions, Vanitas could very well understand.
"Believe me, I need every edge I could get. Kier is probably the biggest one I could get at this point." Vanitas said with a shrug, anyway I bet you can't wait for what is about to happen."
"I have waited nearly 20 of your human years for this day, every passing minute is paltry compared to what I will unleash to Stefan!" Maleficent said with a smirk, the darkness inside of her heart feeling like it was burning like her hell fire to Vanitas's senses.
The sooner that they finish their deal the better.
Vanitas suddenly let out a grown and summoned a Blue Sea Salt before pulling out a sheet of parchment and began writing on it.
"Slight change of plans, seems like that extra pure light might be arriving a little earlier than I expected." The ancient Keyblade wielder sighed as he dispelled the Unversed, rolling the paper up.
He had left a number of Jellyshades in the Lanes Between to keep an eye on Ventus's arrival. Seemed like the weakling was coming in quicker than he expected. Sure he would have a majority of the Jellyshade to slow him down and bask in the weakling's annoyance, he would leave a few to control were he landed.
It would be a bad idea for him if Ventus landed close to Roxas and Aqua right now.
"i see, I already have an idea of my own in he arrives early." Maleficent said with a smirk.
Something about that unsettled Vanitas a little as he frowned under his helmet.
Looks like he would need to create more contingencies than he had first thought.
"Well whatever that is can wait until we are certain of that, best to create a way to monitor when the weakling enters your territory." Vanitas said with multiple puffs of darkness he summoned an Archraven and five Floods.
The Archraven flew away and Vanitas handed the parchment to one of the Floods.
"Head to my chamber before keep an eye out for the weakling. You know what to do." He said, getting the Floods to nod before sinking the floor and taking off.
He would need to update his plans slightly, but if this worked he could kill the weakling and pin the blame on Malefcient.
Still that fairy was planning something beyond their deal and Vanitas knew that she would harm this world just to spite one man.
Yet Vanitas could work with that as if everything went to plan, Maleficent will be practice for what he would do to Luxu and Xehanort. That is if he didn't let Roxas deal with her first.
Either way, all he had to do was wait for the signal.
And than his plan could truly begin.
Roxas held onto Aqua as they began to approach the castle from the air on her Keyblade Glider.
After resting up from their battle with the Husks they patrolled the surrounding area and the only thing that they could find was a small group of Floods, which they quickly wiped out.
Still it did not lessen the worries both Keyblade wielders, especially once they began to search over the kingdom on her Keyblade Glider for over forty minutes before deciding to head straight to the castle in order to find out just what happened to Enchanted Domain.
From where they would they could sense that most of the inhabitants in the castle where gathered in various rooms, their hearts feeling drool and still. Most likely they were people who had fallen under Maleficent's curse.
The two of them could barely see any guards patrolling the castle as Aqua looked for a place to land outside of the castle.
Although as Aqua decided to land on the bridge, Roxas noticed something.
If this castle was were the origin of the curse was and were Princess Aurora was locked in an eternal sleep, then why couldn't he sense her heart anywhere? The fact that he couldn't sense a heart of pure light on a world with Maleficent on it was a thing that sent a feeling of dread down Roxas's spine, it could only mean one thing.
Maleficent was currently in possession of Aurora's heart. And while he could probably think of several reasons how…there was one possibility that he wished that it wasn't true.
But from what Vanitas said it could very well be a reality…
"Roxas are you alright?" Aqua asked as she dispelled her Keyblade Glider and Armor as they landed, breaking the Nobody out of his thoughts.
"I am, but can you also sense that something is wrong here." Roxas said as the two of them walked towards the castle's gate.
She looked between him and the castle briefly before frowning.
"If you sense even the slightest bit of an Unversed in or around the castle, do not hesitate to draw out your Keyblade. Just make sure to stay close to me." Aqua said.
"You didn't meed to ask." Roxas said, with the Keyblade Master nodding in response.
They continued to walk toward's the castle gates in silence, keeping their sense wide open incase Vanitas decides to attack. While mainly Roxas was doing so for the most part. Aqua was mainly focusing on the castle's gate.
Sensing a mixture of apprehension and what she could guess was relief from some of their hearts as she could sense that some of their hearts as she felt one of them leave from the castle's guard in haste.
As she pondered the meaning behind this, Aqua stopped in her tracks as the gates suddenly opened up. Holding her hand in front of Roxas as she felt four strong hearts coming their way followed by the strongest heart either on could sense was in the castle.
Out of the gate came four soldiers in full armor each armed with large war shields and spears on horse back. Both Keyblade wielders braced themselves as the soldiers rode towards them. Yet the solider rode to the sides of them and came to a stop as the final heart approached them also on horse back.
He was a tall man with long black hair along with a stylized mustache and beard. He wore a black and yellow cloak with a red collar peaking underneath it and the occasional glint of armor underneath. At his sides stood a sheathed sword and a length of chain. Yet what was the most telling feature of the man was the golden crown upon his head.
Meaning that this man was the king of Enchanted Domain.
The king pulled the reines on his horse to slow down before stopping in front of the Keyblade wielder.
He looked at Roxas and than Aqua with an inquisitive gaze, seizing them up for a few moments with the both of them preparing themselves for anything.
Only for the king to sigh out in relief.
"I take it that you are Aqua than." The king said, surprising the Keyblade Master.
Neither of them were expecting that kind of response.
"That is correct, how did you know that?" Aqua asked, although she had a suspicion on how he did so.
"I know your description from Terra, alongside Roxas's own. And that if he was still with you then you came before he could find you." The king said, shocking Aqua and Roxas before he faced the former. "I am Stefan, the king of this land. And from what Terra said only you or your master might be able to fix what had happened."
"What did Terra mean by that and where is he?" Aqua asked, her concern and worries bleeding into her tone.
"He left to look for you or your master and a man named Xehanort. As for what he had done." Stefan sighed out as he turned his horse back to the castle's gates. "He asked me to show you, saying you would make better sense of it than I could. As for my men, ride to the four corners of the kingdom, report back any new developments in the surround villages, and take note of what supplies they need before riding back!"
"Yes Your Highness!" The soldiers shouted before they turned around and rode off on their horses.
Getting their king to sigh.
"I am so glad that you two are here, I was just about to send a messenger to Ulstead. While they would have helped, I dreaded what Queen Ingrith would have done for repayment for using their armies." Stefan said with a chuckle before he began to have his horse walk towards the gates with both Keyblade wielders following him.
"Terra what did you do?" Aqua asked to herself with a solemn expression on her face.
Vanitas was telling the truth, if at least partially from the king's expression. He had done something to have triggered the world's current state, at least partially.
But what did he do?
Aqua was dreading the possibility, but maybe…
"Aqua I don't think that Terra has fallen into darkness." Roxas said, breaking Aqua out of her thoughts and the light to flicker around her. "Remember what I said last night about having faith."
The Keyblade Master began to recall last night, before taking in a deep breath. With a sigh the light around her faded away.
"You're right. If Terra had fallen to darkness he would have left Enchanted Domain without telling Stefan anything. Including that he was looking for us. Still we need to find out exactly what he did here?" Aqua said as she and Roxas walked up to the castle gates.
"And we will." Roxas said with a nod as he followed her.
Although the Nobody now had proof of what he dreaded was true.
Riku wasn't the first Keyblade wielder that she had steal a heart from the Princesses of Heart, Terra wad.
Up on a tower a large Unversed dug it's talons into the roof as it watched the two Keyblade wielders enter through the castle gates.
It knew that if it wasn't cloaked by it's liege, than it would be an easy target and ruin it's lieges plan. All it could do was guard the abnormal Unversed in the tower below. It's liege saying to keep an eye on it incase it went after the Keyblade Master early.
But while it was also given the task of signaling the arrival of the swarm, it was eager to fight. It's wings bristling at the chance of battle.
'So seems like I made you a little too bloodthirsty there.' Vanitas said through their connection. The Unversed tensing up at hearing its king's voice. 'At ease, just letting you know that we are delaying the plan by a few minutes, the weakling has arrived on Enchanted Domain. I already have some of the swarm ready to take care of him, but I have another job for you when the time comes. After that you can fight the Keyblade wielders for the rest of your life. Think you can handle that?'
The Unversed let out a low growl as it flapped it's wings.
'Good. I'll let you know of everything shortly.' Vanitas said before the connection was cut.
The Unversed bent down into a crouch as it awaited its new orders.
"Finally, free of them!" Ven said as he exited a gateway that closed behind him before dispelling his armor.
Why was it always Jellyshades? Ever since he left the Dwarfen Woodlands he had alway ran into swarms of those Unversed in the Realms Between.
The less said about the one he encountered outside of the Castle of Dreams the better.
Still he had just barely escaped from another such situation by finding flying into the closet gateway onto this world before they could catch up to him.
Looking around Ven saw that he was in a forest with the only other to note was a cottage off in the distance. At least he was his normal size here.
Ven quickly pulled out his journal real quick, flipping through the pages before stopping.
"Enchanted Domain, this should be the last world on this cluster. Hopefully Terra is here this time." Ven said as he put his journal away and began to walk deeper into the forest.
The youngest apprentice was thankful for the foresight to bring his journal with him. It had everything he had written down, including instructions to many of his Master's lessons. And thanks to its properties he was learning about the Unversed and where he was.
Though he did wish he had a map to bring.
He hadn't left the Land of Departure since…he first awakened there. And it was the only place he could remember. Any other worlds he knew about to look form were ones he heard of from his friends and Master.
Ven knew that he didn't have much to go on, and beyond this cluster he would be flying blind.
But this was probably his last chance to find Terra here before he would be leaving the cluster. He knew he had been at Dwarfen Woodlands and there had been no sign of him on Castle of Dreams. He would go back to that world if he could not find a trace of Terra on Enchanted Domain.
After that…he would figure that out when it would happen. But right now he needed to find Terra before it was too late.
Ven walked through the forest until he saw what appeared to be what he thought were fairies being attacked by a trio of Floods.
He summoned Wayward Wind and coated the Keyblade in light.
"Spark Raid!" He casted, getting the Unversed's attention as he threw the Keyblade. It collided with one of the Floods before detonating into beams of light, wiping all three of them out.
The fairys looked at him in surprise before Ven's Keyblade returned to his hand before dispelling it.
"Are you three okay?" Ven asked, jumping back in surprise as a shower of red, green, and blue sparks erupted in front of him.
When the sparks died down the fairies were now human sized. They all appeared to be short older woman with two of them having grey hair and the shortest one having black hair. All three of them wore a conical hat with a cloth chinstrap, long sleeved dresses, and a cape except they were all a different color for each fairy. One with red, one with green, and one with blue. They also each had a golden wand and a small pair of wings on their back.
They stared at him for a few moments before the red fairy began to fly towards Ven.
"Who are you?" The red fairy asked as she hovered around the young Keyblade wielder.
"My name is Ventus. But you can call me Ven." He said.
"He seems nice enough, he even has a heart of pure light like our precious Rose." The green fairy said, surprising Ven.
There was another person with a heart of pure light on this world?
It seemed like they were at least person with one on every world he had been too had someone with one. Both Snow White and Cinderella had been targeted by the Unversed and Terra was blamed for what happened to the former as the dwarves refused to listen.
Hopefully nothing has happened to this Rose as well, or that Terra was involved as well.
"Is this Rose you know alright?" Ven asked, getting the fairies to look at each other and briefly huddle together speaking in hushed whispers that he could barely decipher.
Before they all nodded and split up, with the red fairy shaking her head sullenly.
"I am afraid not, Rose's true name is Aurora. We call her Rose since we have been looking out for her Aurora's entire life. She is the princess of this kingdom and she had her heart stolen." The red fairy said, shocking Ven.
Someone had stolen someone's heart? He knew that such a thing was possible, but to hear a real example was another matter entirely.
"Who stole her heart?" Ven asked in shocked, getting the blue fairy to humph.
"You really must not be from anywhere around here then. Everyone knows about the rotten old witch Maleficent! She cursed Aurora since she was only a year old and has been plaguing the kingdom for years!" The blue fairy shouted with fury clearly evident in her tone.
"We have watched over Aurora to prevent the curse from coming to pass, but we failed to prevent it. Now Aurora is in an eternal slumber and we had placed everyone in the castle asleep until we can break the curse." The green fairy said sadly.
"But now it she has spread the curse throughout the whole kingdom, waking up most of those in the castle and sending half the kingdom into the same slumber after taking Aurora's heart. Letting those monsters run free." The red fairy said.
Hearing all of this Ven briefly wondered what to do before nodding. Having made up his mind.
"I take it that you three are going to end the curse?" Ven said, getting the fairies to nod. "Then I will help you and bring her heart back." He said surprising the fairies.
"Maleficent's home is on the Forbidden Mountain and it will be crawling with monsters. It will not be safe for you." The green fairy said, getting Ven to shake his head.
"There is no way I can leave Aurora and the kingdom in this state without doing anything I can. I can help, believe me." Ven said, getting the red fairy to nod with a small smile.
"You are right, now stay close to us Ven. We woulnd not want you to get lost now." She said, getting Ven to nod as the fairies covered themselves with sparks before flying off with the Keyblade wielder following them on foot.
Ven hoped that he could get some answers on if Terra had been here or not.
But for now this world was in disarray, the Unversed roaming around the kingdom, and this Maleficent had stolen someone's heart. And given that she was still asleep somewhere on this world he could return her heart back. Otherwise he wouldn't be much of a Keyblade wielder if he would let this continue.
This is what he and his fellow apprentices had been training for, he couldn't stand it if he couldn't at least do something to help out this world before searching for Terra again.
As Ven and the fairies went deeper into the forest, a single Flood watched them before sinking into the ground and taking off.
It and the rest of it's pack had split of in the forest to find Ven. Now that they knew where he was, it was time to reunite them for what their highness had prepared to eliminate the weakling.
The screen flickered for a bit as the chapter ended and the author reappeared.
*Hey guys Hakuorofan7 here and I hoped that you all enjoyed this chapter and I'll keep things short.*
*The Husks were more than a match for Roxas and Aqua together and giving them trouble. Yet between Aqua's magic and Roxas's experience fighting one already they were able to be defeated. However Vanitas has said they were incomplete andonce improved would be more of a threat.*
*And later meeting up with King Stefan. And it seems like Terra had indeed at least learned something this time around, but it is still too late at least here…*
*Also it seems like Vanitas and Maleficent are making their move, while the former has been making preparations for Ven's emergence onto Enchantment Domain with the intent to kill him if possible as his plans are starting to come to fruition.*
*Next chapter things get worse for everyone as Maleficent and Vanitas finally invade and Ven has to deal with what the former has prepared for him.*
*From there the chapter after that will have Ven's trial by itself while the chapter after that will be Roxas's and Aqua's conflict before Maleficent makes things a whole lot worse for the world itself. How so you might ask…well just wait and see.*
*And I hope that you all will enjoy the chapters when the come out.*
*Now onto the omake, decided to create it after diving into a branch of Square Enix's games that left me terrified. And that is not common. That and it gave me an idea to try so I hope that you all enjoy it. So with everything out of the way, let's start.*
The author snapped his fingers, getting the screen to flicker as omake began.
Omake
Origin of the Replica Program
"Ienzo I am going to need for you to head behind the blast shield for the next test." Even said, getting the youngest of Ansem's apprentice's to nod before he quickly.
He knew better than to stay around her when Even was testing with her, knowing that even a blast shield wouldn't be better. At least he could hide behind Braig incase something went wrong.
"Is this really necessary Even?" A young woman in her mid teens said looking at potted plants that had been set up in front of her. "Having to use that…"
She looked to be tall, yet deceptively thin with long brown hair, greenish-brown eyes, and wearing a red dress.
"Believe me I don't like either, but this is a part of you now. That and your replicated kidney. A side effect maybe, but it is better to learn about it in a controlled environment and your new powers alongside the toll it has on your body. That way I can perfect it in order to avoid creating a new transplant Melissa." Even said, trying to reassure the girl.
"That and undo whatever the hell that quack Klamp did." Braig said, getting Melissa to grow as her eyes began to glow green.
"He should be thankful that wolves got to him first and not me." She said, before one of the plants spontaneously combusted before Even put it out with his magic. "Not again…"
"And that is why we are conducting these tests, the sooner you do this Melissa the better the chance you can live a normal live as you wish." Even said, getting her to sigh as the glow in her eyes died down.
"I know." Melissa said with a sigh.
"You have been making great progress over the past year, at the least you stopped setting my coat on fire." Even said, getting Melissa to laugh and smile a little. "See you are doing better. Now let us preform some more tests and one more screening before you can go home for the day, alright."
Melissa looked down for a few seconds before nodding.
"Alright." Melissa said as she raised a hand towards one of the plants.
"Hopefully she doesn't light anything else on fire like last time." Braig muttered as Ienzo ran away from him.
"Indeed that she does." Ansem said as he entered the room, Ienzo immediately clinging to his leg.
"So Master, how is Lightning's little limpet doing?" Braig asked with a smirk.
"No new developments with Aya aside what we already knew, although I think in the future she might become a new apprentice in a few years time." Ansem said as Melissa began to slowly light the plants on fire.
"I would think so, better keep an eye on Lightning incase she tries to teach her how to fire a gun already." Braig said jokingly.
"Indeed." Ansem said before he looked onto Even and Melissa. "It is still impressive that Even was able to create a replicated kidney even a year later."
"Still needs to figure out the issue of it's longevity, toning down the energy absorption on the user, and make available to those beyond Melissa's altered biology and he could revolutionize medical science forever." Braig said, getting Ansem to nod.
"Considering what my former apprentice tried to do, this would be the best course of action. It might take several years yet you are right Braig. Who knows, I might make him my successor." Ansem said, getting Braig to scoff with a grin.
"Yeah right, we can barely get him out of the lab enough when he isn't working on helping someone. That and you are too stubborn to retire Master." He said, getting Ansem to laugh loudly at that.
With that Braig looked back at the experiment, smiling as Even helped Melissa guide in controlling the flames she produced via combustion. Before her eyes glowed green, the potted plants exploded, and Melissa nearly fainted before Even caught her.
"Alright I think that is enough for today." Even said, before seeing Melissa grabbing her side. "I see that I would have to replace it once again."
"I can't keep doing this…" Melissa said as Even set her down onto a chair.
"This new kidney lasted for over 5 months, far more than any I created previously. I should be able to make a longer lasting one within the week. You have managed to get this far Melissa, we just need some more time." Even said.
"Braig keep an eye on Ienzo, I'll assist Even with Melissa." Ansem said as he walked over to the pair.
"Got it." Braig said with a sigh.
Still it seemed like a long time before Even would be able to create the Replica Program and he knew it. Very few in the worlds would have been able to create such a thing like he does in the future, although Luxu had to admit he respect it's origins and original purpose.
To replace lost organs and limbs exactly how they were without an artificial prosthetic, functioning based on the user for the best results.
Though even years into the future he could still not figure out how to get rid of the replicas absorbing energy.
A trait that would result in the programs being twisted in the near future and by Xehanort's interest.
Still it was a good place holder for now in replacing Melissa's kidney without the potential risk of infecting this world.
A case of a biological time bomb the Master had seen ravage entire worlds both in their time and the future. One that a newly appointed apprentice on Ansem had tired to use.
Everyone disliked him and after finding out what he tried to do and what Luxu had secretly exposed, the quack had been run out of the kingdom. That and the Foreteller had been delighted to lure the man to his doom.
Good riddance.
After that Even was able to study the source and complete the first steps at creating Replicas. Although he had admitted that a kidney was much easier to create than replicating smaller and more intricate body parts without side effects.
Meaning at the very least Aya still had the original strain, but Luxu knew that the little girl was probably just a stubborn as Lightning. So she was probably safe.
As for the original source…the body had been cremated and the infected kidney was set to do the same thing after Even had dissected it to hell and back. Although Luxu had other ideas…
With a snap of his fingers Luxu had set the infected kidney and it's container aflame. He thought he heard silent screaming before using gravity to crush it, grabbing the container and squeezing it his hands before unveiling a small crystal.
"Sorry, but there can only one crime against nature terrorizing this world soon enough." Luxu said before pocketing the gem and leaving a fake kidney and container behind.
Months later and he still could not find a use for such a magically charged gem.
Maybe he could pawn it off on Vanitas or Roxas…
Braig was shaken from his thoughts as Ansem was checking up on Melissa and Even dug into his notes, with a concerned Ienzo pulling on his coat while looking at the later.
"You're worried about Even huh, well I believe it is safe to see him. Just stick close to me kid incase of anything else is accidentally set on fire." Braig said, getting Ienzo to nod as he stuck close to him.
Braig looking at him with a small smile.
Honestly Luxu was going to miss this place when it was gone, but it was only a matter of when now. He just needed one more sign to know if this was the correct time before everything could begin.
The screen flickered again before the author reappeared.
*Hope you guys enjoyed the omake and yeah, I dived a bit into Parasite Eve. Kingdom Hearts already has characters from Final Fantasy and The World Ends With You so I thought I branch out with more Square Enix. Should be interested to see where this goes.*
*Along with a possible origin to the Replica Program and a bit more on Luxu in the modern era. For the former I mean Even could have at least conceptualized creating replicating organs like people are trying to do in real life before that desire evolving and twisting over the years before creating Replicas. As for Luxu he at least enjoys his current life, but is committed to what he has planned.*
*As for what all will be revealed soon enough, but that is all for now.*
*If you have any questions leave a review or PM me. I will get back to you as soon as I can.*
*So until next time, ciao!*
The author waves goodbye as the screen fades to black.