The Four Heroes

Fairy Tales of Remnant

Chapter XIII

The Great Calamity

Amongst the many disasters to occur during the Great Calamity the Shattering of the Moon was perhaps the greatest and the one that nearly saw the end of all life. For when the moon shattered, pieces of it fell to the world, breaking apart the land and even causing the tide to sink much of the continents. It was said that our world once was much bigger before the Calamity but when the moon shattered, the ocean rose up and claimed much of the land, sinking deep into the darkest depths. The land shook and the old world was changed beyond recognition forever.

One would think that those living back then would have perished and it was close. Fortunately, those with a strong desire to live often find a way…

Xxx

The world had suffered a great change and so far none of it was good.

Magic was gone.

The Gods had abandoned the people.

Even the Moon was shattered.

That had actually been the worst of what had happened. The moon's shattering released dozens of comets on the planet, destroying most of the continents and causing the surviving ones to break apart while at the same time many other were swallowed by the ocean. Many kingdoms were destroyed along with their people while many others were desperately trying to survive against what was rising in the destructive wake the Gods had left behind.

A new force was rising and with it, new monsters that were on the prowl.

People were frightened but that rightful fear brought the Grimm.

There was only one obstacle in their way…

A pair of women who walked in the path of a Grimm horde…

And walked completely through it.

The Grimm snarled but did nothing as the women walked past them.

"You were right. They can't attack you….Or rather they won't attack you." Artura said to Aqua as they continued walking.

"Erebus may have been darkness incarnate but looks like he kept his word." Aqua replied. "May I ask where we are going?"

"We need a way to reach Surtr and destroy him. If he really is like the Grimm now, my eyes can destroy him." Artura answered. "But we'll need warriors. We'll need an army."

"Whoa." Aqua grabbed Artura's shoulder, stopping her. "That is a bad idea."

"How? You saw that tower. It's going to be heavily defended. We can't get there on our own." Artura faced Aqua.

"I am not going to drag innocent lives into this. People are dying already." Aqua stated.

"They are already dying. With no magic to defend themselves, they can't hold off the Grimm." Artura argued. "We gather them together we can-"

"It would be an army just waiting to die." Aqua cut the former king off. "You said it yourself, they're not experienced enough to fight without magic. Against Surtr they would be targets, just waiting to die. I won't allow that."

"You won't allow it? May I remind you that Surtr only came back because of his deal to kill you." Artura retorted hotly. "You and Ozma didn't just kill him when you had the chance and now we're all paying for it."

"You would have paid for Salem's actions if I hadn't convinced Erebus to spare everyone who wasn't involved in trying to kill him and his brother." Aqua pointed out. "He was going to wipe out the entire human race if I hadn't intervened."

"And this is any better?" Artura gestured all around them. "Defenseless and hunted? This is what we should be grateful for?"

"I didn't ask for this either, Artura." Aqua shook her head. "I couldn't convince them not to do this. It's just what their nature is."

Artura lowered her arms and walked past Aqua. "And this is our nature, Aqua. We either die screaming in fear or we can die fighting."

"Those are not options of someone who wants to save the world." Aqua turned and looked at Artura's back. "You've already given up and just want an excuse to die."

"And what do I have left?!" Artura spun, facing the Keyblade Master with tears in her glaring eyes. "What is there left, Aqua?! My Kingdom destroyed, my people scattered or killed! What do I have left?!"

Aqua slowly walked up to Artura and placed a hand over her chest. "You have this, Artura."

"I don't-"

"Your Heart." Aqua answered. "You were King of the Emerald Kingdom but it wasn't your skills or intellect that made you a king. It was your Heart which cared for the hearts of the people you were sworn to protect. It gave you the strength to be both a King and a Knight."

Artura looked down at the hand over her heart.

"I know what's like to lose everything, I truly do but you cannot lose yourself to the despair, rage and hate I know to be lurking in your Heart. You owe it to your people and kingdom to ensure their lives are not lost in vain. As long as you and any of your people survive, your kingdom is not fully gone" Aqua stated, a soft look appearing on her face as she lowered her hand. "If you lose yourself to the darkness…then your kingdom truly is gone."

Artura just stared at Aqua, looking thoughtful before turning away. "And what would you have me do then, Aqua? How can we stop Surtr by ourselves?"

"I honestly don't know yet. I know that if the Grimm don't attack us, we can pretty much walk into Surtr's tower. I doubt he'll be expecting it so we'll have the element of surprise." Aqua answered truthfully.

"There's still only the two of us. We need allies at least." Artura pointed out.

"Do you know of a place where we can find warriors? Even ones that are at least skilled enough to fight with a sword would be enough." Aqua questioned.

"…The surrounding kingdoms that were allied with mine. They might have survived. Hopefully long enough for us to reach them and ask for their best warrior."

Xxx

The Ocean Knight was the title bestowed upon the fallen king's remaining friend and ally, gifted with a special knowledge. When the monsters rose to take the land, this knowledge along with her kindness and belief in justice helped the people to fight them. And the Ocean Knight would temper their fears with a kindness and wisdom, showing them that with patience they could see the weakness of every monster and exploit it…While she and the fallen king would work to banish all the monsters from the world…

Xxx

The Grimm roared as they approached another village, full of the humans that their father/creator had favored over them.

It would be a great pleasure to kill them all.

Only a single figure stood in their way.

A single man covered in armor with a single arm holding a sword.

Easy prey.

That was what the Grimm thought as they charged at him…

With a few quick slashes it was over and the single man triumphed over the pack of monsters.

He said nothing to the people he had saved.

He only accepted their money and moved on.

He never stayed in one place.

He was not a warrior fighting for the rights and freedoms of others.

He only fought for his own interest.

He then traveled onto the next village; looking for worthy opponents to fight but had no clue he had caught the eyes of someone…or something.

He spun around, facing a giant dark wolf that lunged at him with a snarl. He barely had time to jump out of the way, knowing the beast could flatten him with its giant paws. He faced the Great Big Wolf as it snarled, the two now circling each other. He readied himself, staring at the snarling beast as it licked its own teeth, likely looking forward to making a meal out of him.

Fat chance of that happening.

The Big Wolf lunged at him again and he jumped to the side, slashing at its nearest paw. The Wolf howled, not in pain but in anger and spun around, slashing at him with its claws. He managed to block but the sheer strength of the beast pushed him back. He plunged his sword again to halt his skid back and jumped aside as the Wolf tried to bite down on him.

A snarling sound made him glance behind and he saw more Beowulf Grimm, surrounding him and the Wolf in a circle but not moving to attack.

Almost as if they were waiting.

He took a step back and the Grimm snarled, ready to pounce.

They had lured him into a trap.

Uh, that was unexpected.

The Wolf howled and the Beowolves did so as well, showing him that it could somehow control and lead the Grimm. Then one by one the Grimm attacked him on all sides, forcing him to defend himself as he spun, kicked and slashed his way through the trap.

Until he was caught.

Just as he slashed one Beowulf down, the Wolf managed to slam its paw down on him, pinning him down onto the ground.

He looked up at the wolf as it opened its mouth, preparing to bite his head off…

And then suddenly a blur shot out and stabbed it in the side, making it howl in pain as it hopped off him.

Xxx

A blademaster who traveled the world alone, in search of worthy opponents to battle learned of the darkness covering the land…He traveled along wherever evil dwelt and banished it with sheer skill. He did not fight for righteous reasons but to test the strength and might of warriors in combat and claimed the lives deemed unworthy. Even the monsters eventually grew to fear this man for even though he had lost an arm in battle he thwarted them at every turn. He had a great love of combat but would almost meet an end when the monsters had set a trap.

He would surely have perished that day were he not saved by a young man and maiden who sought him out.

Xxx

"You okay?"

He looked up see a dark haired man standing before him with a young woman standing a few feet behind. The man had dark hair with deep blue eyes and bangs. His jaw was square shaped and he wore a long blue robe with buttons down the front, black sandals, a black cape, a guard on his left forearm and shoulder and blue silk shawl around his hips attached to a strap across his chest.

The woman had short blond hair held to the side with a hair clip. She wore a diamond shaped headband across her forehead. She had blue eyes and wore a long white dress and white gloves and a red floor length cape fastened with a golden clip. Finally she wore a golden necklace with three circular ornaments.

The Wolf roared, snarling at the intruders who dared to interrupt its kill. The man moved, slashing at the Wolf who snarled and howled. He leapt back up to help, not wanting to be left out of a fight that had begun with him. They attacked the Wolf on all sides, dodging its teeth and claws while slashing at any part of it closest to them.

The Wolf finally had enough, deciding to retreat for now.

He watched as it fled, debating whether to follow or not but the man who had helped him seemed to make the choice.

"Well, that was a thing." The man said, looking at him. "You are Gilgamesh, aren't you? The blademaster."

He said nothing.

"I heard you were the silent type." The man said dryly. "I am Somnus Caelum. My friend over there," He gestured to the woman who slowly approached. "Is Aera. She told me we needed to find you."

He looked to the woman who bowed politely to him before he finally spoke. "And what do you want with me?"

"Before magic was stripped from us, I was a Seer. My family specialized in Divination and we worked to understand the future. For a long time, we had visions of a Great Calamity, brought forth by the Gods who are betrayed by the very people they created. We thought they would wipe out all mankind but then something was changed and a new world appeared." The woman named Aera explained. "A world born of darkness, the rise of a demon and only a small group can stop it. Him,"

She pointed to Somnus first. "A founding king."

She then pointed to Gilgamesh. "The blademaster skilled beyond all others."

She then stepped back. "And we'll need two others."

"And who are those?"

"The Ocean Knight and the Emerald King." Aera answered.

"Hmph." Gilgamesh turned away. "Why would I assist? All that matters is finding worthy opponents to face."

"And Surtr is not worthy enough?" Aera asked. "The demon lord who now sends monsters to every corner of the land, who is now attempting to take the power of the gods for himself. If something is not done soon, he will be too strong to be stopped. I would have thought that would be reason enough for you to fight as it gives you perhaps the greatest challenge of all."

Gilgamesh paused before looking over his shoulder. "…Very well."

Xxx

The maiden who traveled with the young man who would be the Founding King claimed to have foreseen the Great Calamity and the darkness that would spread across the land before the loss of her magic. She proclaimed 'We cannot destroy this evil alone. We need the Emerald King and the Ocean Knight.' Her visions would be what gathered the four warriors together to banish the demon lord. When they finally gathered, they would journey to the Dark Tower.

Xxx

"A flame that can never burn out."

Surtr carefully observed the Great Flame that had rejuvenated his body as it continued to burn in the center of his throne room. This Flame had rejuvenated the bodies of his generals, even though he didn't fully resurrect them.

That made it a great source of power.

The problem was the Flame itself didn't burn.

Actually it healed.

He wanted a weapon of immeasurable power to ensure his dominion over this world, now that the Gods were gone.

Something to make him so powerful that nothing could even hope to stand in his way.

Surtr then looked around his throne room, seeing the magical weapons that had been brought in along with the artifacts.

A Scythe to control Earth.

A Fan to control Wind.

A Spear to control Ice.

And his own sword, Twilight which can control Fire.

He looked at the Flame again, a thought coming to his mind as he raised his hand, summoning the Earth Scythe to him first while also taking out his Twilight.

"Perhaps if I can create a powerful object of power on my own then perhaps I can create it out of what the Gods have left." Surtr mused.

He pointed the scythe at the Flame and the blade glowed before summoning earth itself, wrapping around the Great Flame, sealing it even as it tried to burn through the earth that was deeply compressing around it. Surtr kept summoning more earth as he raised his Twilight and released a stream of fire at the compressed sphere, burning it deeply to the point it melted into magma. Surtr then discarded the Earth Scythe and summoned the Ice Spear, releasing a blast of ice at the compressed Flame. Steam blasted from the burning sphere even as Surtr continued channeling fire through Twilight to keep flames alive as they clashed with the Ice Spear's power.

Finally he lowered Twilight and replaced it with the Fan of Wind, releasing a gust on compressed Flame, helping the Ice Spear cool the magma down. Once the last of the fire died out, Surtr ceased using the magical relics and watched as the steam faded to reveal a frozen and blackened boulder. Surtr walked up to the boulder and slammed his fists down on it again and again, wanting to see what he had done with the power inside.

The boulder cracked open and inside Surtr could see a glowing light. Surtr stared at the light and moved aside more rock to reveal a gem letting off a glow of blue and white with a fiery orange light glowing at the center of the gem.

"Beautiful." Surtr whispered as he grasped the gem, feeling an unnatural aura from the strange gem.

It was identical to that of the Flame which he could sense in the center.

He could feel the power flowing through him and let out a shuddering but pleasure filled sigh.

"Forged from the Great Flame by the four elemental relics the God of Darkness left behind." Surtr stared at the gem. "The Brother's Jewel…I think I shall call it the God Stone."

He felt the power flowing through him as he reached up and removed the Gem of Sidorak from his armor, tossing it aside and placed the God Stone in its place.

The power was exhilarating.

"Yes, the endless power…" Surtr grinned underneath his mask. "I CAN FEEL IT!"

The endless power flowing through him created a dense magical aura around him that seemed to spread out, lighting up the entire fortress.

Xxx

"Well, that is not good." Overlooking the Dark Tower was a familiar man in a familiar dark coat, the Master of Masters with the Darkness appearing behind him. "He's really gone and done something with that flame."

"The combined power of those magical weapons imprisoned the Flame inside. The Flame's own power interacted with the magical energy of those weapons, creating an enchanted crystal around the Flame." The Darkness observed. "The crystal or rather this God Stone has become an endless battery for divine magic."

"And in the hands of a dark lord like him, that's a bit of a problem." The Master said, conjuring up an image of Aqua. "She's still needed, especially in the future."

"A future you have gleamed through the Gazing Eye and wrote down in the Book of Prophecies." The Darkness noted.

"Yep. While I don't doubt she stands a chance of winning, the problem is I can't picture her walking away without being seriously wounded in that fight." The Master admitted. "And I need her up and one hundred percent to make sure the future isn't altered."

"So what will you do?" The Darkness asked.

The Master leaned back on his chair with a sigh, making a few muttering sounds. "Guess there's no other way. Plus if that guy is left his own devices, he might call forth and spread darkness over this world too if he finds out."

"Does that mean…"

"Yep. We're calling in the reinforcements."

Xxx

Aqua and Artura stopped as they looked down at the former location of the Emerald Kingdom, now a giant hole with the Dark Tower sitting in the center the sunken kingdom down below.

"Do you feel that?" Aqua asked, glancing at Artura.

"Yes. Even though I've lost my magic I can still feel it." Artura nodded. "There's a great power inside."

Aqua sighed, knowing it would not be an easy battle. "This might be too dangerous for the both of us. If you decide you can't do it now, I won't think less of you."

"I've already lost everything that mattered. A king who loses the entire kingdom, has nothing to fear at the end." Artura remarked with a hardened face. "The only thing left for me to do is to smite the one who took it all away."

"Sounds like something we can get behind."

The two young women spun around, facing three newcomers who were walking up to them.

"Who are you?" Aqua asked, summoning her Keyblade and pointing it forward.

"Easy, easy. We're not here to fight…You at least." The dark haired man raised his hands in a disarming fashion. "You the Ocean Knight and the Emerald King?"

While Aqua was confused Artura stepped forward. "I am. King Artura of the Emerald Kingdom…Or what was the Emerald Kingdom."

"Really, the warrior king was a little girl?" The man said with an amused face before the woman next to him elbowed him in the ribs. "Ow! Okay, sorry about that."

"I ask again, who are you?" Aqua repeated her question.

"I am Somnus Caelum." The man introduced himself and then to the woman. "This lovely lady is Aera and the silent one is Gilgamesh."

The one armed man simply stared at the two.

"As for why we're here…It has to do with the demon in that tower down there." Somnus pointed at the Dark Tower down below. "If you're planning on going down there to take him down…You wouldn't happen to room for two more?"

Xxx

"Master, you called for us?"

The Master turned around, looking at his Foreteller apprentices and the dark coated one with them. "Yep, right on the dot, Ira. Now, remember that little Aqua lady? Well, everyone has had a turn sparring with her, except you."

The other Foretellers were silent but they all glanced at Ira who nodded. "Is it time for me to test her?"

"Not exactly."

"Master?" Ira was now confused.

"Turns out the world she is on, has got a big problem with the potential of turning into a massive problem for us." The Master clarified. "Meaning that the darkness contained on that world could spread to this one if something is not done."

"You want us to face this darkness?" Aced immediately asked.

"Close. What I need is for you six to team up with the fair Lady Aqua and three good guys she's with to take down that nasty darkness." The Master answered.

This surprised the Foretellers, all of them whispering to each other for a second before Ira spoke up. "Is it that serious?"

"Yup. This evil Aqua is rushing to take down is a big no-no and she's a fellow Keyblade Wielder. The math seems pretty simply from where I am standing." The Master nodded. "And after that, you'll have your chance to finish her testing, Ira. Just wait and give her some time to breath. I might pop in to try and ease the tension but I know you five got this. Luxu,"

The apprentice in the dark coat perked up. "Yes, Master."

"I am giving you the important job of watching this fight carefully. When the darkness is defeated, it will and will try to escape. Your jobs will be with Aqua to seal it away." The Master instructed. "The combined power of seven Keyblades will be enough to lock it away so tight, it can almost never get out…Unless someone were to pick up and somehow use seven Keyblades all at once and it's a pretty tall order. Two is pushing and three is like way so seven is pretty much our lucky number."

Xxx

The power the demon lord had amassed was greater than ever imagined. Though valiant, the Four were not enough to end the demon lord's reign. Then six keys appeared, offering their aid against the demon lord while stealing the magical weapons the demon lord had hoarded, offering them to the three magicless members of the Four.

The Ocean Knight agreed.

The four, now backed by six keys were able to match the demon lord's strength…And they managed to imprison the demon lord within the depths of his dark kingdom. Together, they made sure only seven keys could undo the prison…