Chapter 33: Secrets of the Dragon Flame part 2
Sky made his way through the hallways upon hearing that his parents had arrived to see his performance, knowing his father can be… stubborn but hoping with the situation the Magic Dimension could be in would be enough to warn them of Tezzeret and the Grimm. He was fortunate his friends came along to support him to reason with the king.
Ben came along with him alongside Macbeth and surprisingly Master Yen Sid to speak with the royals. Feeling appreciate they came along with him to meet his parents, but hoping things go well in their favour.
Saladin stood by the main gates alongside two guards with him. "Prince Sky, your parents have arrived and eager to see you."
Sky stepped forward to answer so Brandon doesn't need to play the role anymore. "Thank you, I'll go see them while I have time."
Saladin was at first confused until Yen Sid spoke. "He has informed us of his true identity, Saladin as I request an audience with the Eraklyon royals."
"Of course, right this way and explain everything on the way." Saladin leads them through the hallways and learned about Sky revealing his true identity to his friends, the surprising news about Bloom as the princess of Domino surprised him but relieved that not all of the Sparks Royal family had perished. To add more good news was that they have received solid evidence of the Trix being involved with Tezzeret and on their way to capture them with Griffin's support.
But to capture Tezzeret would not be easy for he has been able to be one or two steps ahead of them, especially when he had used a barrier to stall the keyblade masters for his plans to succeed.
"I hop truly hope the princess finds what she is looking for, to hear about the Dragon's Flame right under our noses is startling news and fear for her safety." Saladin shared his thoughts with them in worry for the girl.
"She's in good hands with Taren, they should be at the palace by now." Ben told him. "I just hope they are okay."
"We all do, Ben." Macbeth said.
They reach the main office but stopped to hear a loud stern voice. I demand to know where my son is after I heard reports of more of these… creatures that have appeared frequently on Magix. If he's been hurt or worse I-"
"Erendor, calm down. I'm certain the Headmaster wouldn't put our son in danger if he couldn't defend himself."
Both Sky and Brandon stopped when they heard the two voices. "Oh, boy. Looks like the news about the Grimm have reached home and your dad sounds mad." Brandon said and turned to the prince. "You sure you got this?"
The blonde gulped and nodded, he had to avoid being hesitant. "I got to, and need to explain to him of the situation."
"Somehow I doubt it, as a former king myself I had experiences with other royals." Macbeth shared with the prince. "If you try to convince him to listen, always stand firm and not hold back.
Takes his advice and sighs, it was now or never and need to think of his friends. The headmaster opens the doors to find Cadatorta with two people. One man with a potted belly with dark brown curly hair and beard, wearing a gold crown on his head with short red robes, a cape and tan pants tucked into his knee-high brown boots. Beside him was a woman with long red hair, light green eye shadow, wearing a gold tiara with a light green to represent her royal status, gold and light green earrings. She wears a light green dress with a short dark green poncho.
Cadatorta took noticed of the headmaster alongside the keyblade master himself and the students. "Ah, headmaster Saladin, glad you brought our guests. King Erendor and Queen Samara have arrived unexpectedly."
Sky cleared his throat and approached them. "Uh, hello, mother… father. I didn't know you be here so sudden."
Samara gave a warm smile and embraced her son. "You look well and no need to be formal. We are just glad to see you."
"But I would like to know is why wasn't I informed about monsters running amok in Magix City." The king didn't sound approved of this and narrowed his eyes at the nervous Brandon. "Squire, I would like an explanation."
Brandon bowed his head before the king in respect while Ben and Macbeth shared a mutual thought of his attitude to Brandon. However Sky came to his aide to speak up. "He only did what I told him, father, the fault is my own since I needed to play the role of a squire and been training to fight against the Grimm."
"The Grimm? That the name of these beasts?" The king asked him.
Sky nods his head. "Yes, and they are used by a group of witches called the Trix, who have teamed up with a dangerous person named Tezzeret."
He saw the surprised and utterly shocked faces of his parents as if they know the named. "Tezzeret?! That's impossible! That villain was last seen in battle against the late king of Domino and a hero many years ago."
"I assure you, your majesty, we would never make such false claims under such dire moments." Saladin tried to reason with him. "He is creating an army, an army of beasts known as the Grimm and already attacked several worlds but has been focused his activities on the world of Magix. We have learned that he has allied with several factions for possible all out war."
"If he is still alive, Eraklyon will not be frightened by mere creatures." The king stated.
"Father, he speaks the truth! What about the attempted attack at the palace by one of your enemies." Brandon stated the facts. "We were attacked by his Grimm a few times and faced him as well. None of us could lay a finger on him."
"Obviously you were just holding dear Sky back, squire." Entering the room was a young girl with wavy pale blonde hair, citron orange/amber eyes and light tan skin. She mostly wears a maroon-and-ivory corset dress with puffy sleeves and two light purple swirly bracelets that travel up her forearms. She also wears a light purple headband tiara with a large red jewel that may very well be a jasper. "Whatever it is be the problem, Prince Sky will not be scared off by mere beasts."
Erendor waved his hand to her in an attempt to calm her down before the argument grows further. "Now, now, Diaspro. I'm also confident in my son's achievements but also do worry for him as you should to one day be wedded."
"Wedded?!" Ben exclaimed and turned to Sky. "You're engaged?"
Sky scratched the back of his head and smiled nervously about the subject. Knowing he had a lot to explain to them since they revealed their true identities. "Yeah, well, it was arranged and was meaning to talk to you guys about it. This is Diaspro... my fiance..."
They watch as she approaches him, throwing her arms around the startled and nervous prince as she appears to be smitten with Sky.
Trying to take his mind from her attempts to show her affections to him, turns to his parents to introduce Ben. "We already have someone who has been helping us and new keyblade wielders that fought alongside us. This is one of my friends, Ben Florian of Auradon."
Ben did admit from the way she talked so rude towards Brandon and acted like she was important... strangely reminded him of his ex-girlfriend in a sort of way. Maybe after the situation he could ask him a bit about her, but decided to focus on other matters for now. Steps forward before Sky's parents and bowed before them in respect and formal greeting. "Greetings, your majesties. I'm actually a prince myself and from the United States of Auradon."
"I'm afraid I have not heard of this Auradon. But did Sky confirmed you are a wielder of the legendary keyblades?" Samara asked him and surprised to learn of his status as a royal prince.
"I am. But... as implied many worlds were attacked by the Grimm, including my own and came into using it to stop them along with my friends. The Specialists have been a supporting group to us and became good friends." Ben told them and gave his support to Sky and Brandon. "Alongside us is our mentor Macbeth and Keyblade Master Yen Sid."
To learn of one of the famous sorcerers in the school was a surprise to hear and almost assumed the original heroes they know of would be here. Yen Sid made his appearance before them and nods his head. "Apologies for late introduction, but as you are aware there is grave matters at stake to dealt with."
Ben felt his phone vibrate within his pocket and immediately picked it up. "If you excuse me, this might be one of them." Decided to take it out of the room. "Mal? How's it-"
"Ben! We got a problem. A BIG problem! The Trix escaped and I have a very bad feeling where they might go, unless we warn Taren and Bloom, they could be in danger!"
'Oh no.' The prince froze in horror of the news he gotten and afraid it would happen, now certain his friends were in danger and had to find a way to warn or get to them in time. "Macbeth! Master Yen Sid!" Calling out to the two to share what he was told by Mal. "We got a problem."
"I sure hope this tunnel leads somewhere." Bloom hoped when she and Taren had walking through the caverns for some time, not sure where it leads them but hoping to the castle.
Taren agreed with her and hoping find the answers they are looking for and get back to the others before the Trix or Tezzeret find out where they are. But one thing on his mind was the fact that he just recently gotten himself into an open romance with both Bloom and Flora when both decided to share him, never thought to happen but from the way Bloom explained it just did, any of his friends find out about it would have mixed reactions, most guys would kill for that spot. But wondered how would his folks feel about it? Maybe think about it after the current situation first.
"What in the world?"
Snapped out of his thoughts to see Bloom stopped and looked at something. "What, what is it?"
"Don't you notice anything different about these caves?" Bloom asked him.
Not sure what she meant but looked around and realised something was off about them. The formations of the caves became clearer and artificial.
"These are no caves, they're the corridors of the castle!" Bloom found a room and went in to find out where exactly they are. The two found themselves inside a room that was in ruins and covered in ice.
"Whatever room this was, either a fight broke out before or during the coming ice age." Taren believed and saw some damage on the walls, clearly signs of deep cuts made by a sword or a sharp object.
Bloom thought so and looked around to find out more, she brushed her gloved hand over what use to be a table and had this strange thought about this room. "I feel like… I feel like I've been here before!"
"Really? You sure?" Not want to doubt her, but if she remembered some of it that long ago it could confirm it.
"If I am the princess of Domino… it means that this was my home." Bloom strongly believed that she could be and felt more connected to this place than before.
Taren stared at her and realised something that remineded him of a story long ago. "Wow, you know… hearing this sort of reminds me of the story my mom told me and my sister. About how she was once a princess of a place called Radiant Garden before she mysterious found herself on Destiny Island with no memory of it until a few years later when my dad started going on some adventures."
"Really? Never knew we might have something in common." Bloom smiled and thought it be something to remind him of his family. Then she suddenly blushes to think about meeting them and what they would think of her. "Uh, Taren… you think, they would like me?"
Taren looked at her in wonder what she meant until he caught on to the subject about being his girlfriend. "Relax, Bloom, somehow I doubt they wouldn't and when they get to know you I think my parents would like you. Just me who would get lots of questions from my mom about it." Mentally groaning over the embarrassment of what would happen.
"And also about having two girlfriends." She added which no doubt would be a subject to talk about, like how would it work and what they know about each other to make the relationship strong. Decided to continue onwards with limited time they might have and found a wide-open area with remains of possible plants. "What a beautiful place. This must have been the courtyard." But then realized how it was now in ruins. "Or… must've been rather."
Seeing her depress and decided to cheer her up, reached out for her shoulder and smiles. "I'm sure we'll find a way to bring this place back to normal. Just my dad use to say Hakuna Matata."
"What?" Never heard of the phrase before or what it means.
"Yeah, its weird but he learned it from some friends of his years ago, means no worries." Taren said and knew he was starting to pick up traits from his father.
She smiles warmly and appreciates his efforts to make her feel a little better, Reaches for his cheek and gave a soft peck on the lips. "Least you try to care."
Taren's face flushed lightly until he found a hole within the ground, almost like something was showing him the way. "Hey, think I found something." Kneels down to see an underground below them. "Hey, it must be some underground hallway." It looked undamaged and well preserved, unlike the rest.
"Then it must lead to where we find the answers. Let's go." Bloom immediately makes her way down to the hallways to find it. Neither one of them was aware of a pair of eyes watching them.
"Looks like no one has set foot here in a long time, the Ancestral Witches might not have been aware of it." Bloom thought by studying the structure and lack of decay.
"Yeah, no footsteps, dust, snow, not even cobwebs," Taren said with his torchlight to see where they were going.
"Bloom."
Startled when Bloom heard the voice. "Did you hear that?"
Normally, Taren would have thought she was mistaken but clearly he heard it too. "Uh, you mean that voice that called your name? Cause if not then I'm not losing my mind."
"Welcome." A bright light engulfed the halls. "I am Daphne." Appearing before the pair was Bloom's long lost sister, manifesting in spirit before them.
Bloom couldn't believe it was her sister after all these years.
"We meet at last." Daphne was overjoyed to see Bloom again. "Follow me and also welcome the Wielder of the Keyblade."
Taren was taken by surprise how she knew he was a keyblade wielder but obviously didn't matter, the two followed the spirit of Daphne through the hallways. There are a lot of questions to wonder how she came into this state or how Bloom round up on Earth years ago.
"Daphne."
Her sister appeared before her and spoke to her. "Don't speak. Just listen to me. I was once the nymph of Lake Roccaluce. But it is in this castle that we were born. "As she explains to Bloom while leading the two through the hallways until they come across a pair of female statues and a large door as if they stood guard over it. "What you are looking for, you will not find here. But you will discover your origins, your past, and a great secret."
Waving her hands before the doors and they opened on their own. "Here is Domino's treasure room. Do come in"
Bloom and Taren walk into the treasure room, what they found took their breath away with countless treasures and items stored inside the room. Chests, swords, armor, jewellery, fabrics, and most of all gold, all of this belonged to Bloom's family.
"Bloom, remind me not to mention this to some of my friends. They'd no doubt want a piece of this." From what he can imagine, her family could even be richer than the famous Scrooge McDuck himself! And no doubt one of Donald's nephews would want dibs on the treasure, especially Iago for that matter. But one thing he never knew much about his mother's side of the family of their history or much if she remembered as a child back then.
"You think Stella be jealous?" Bloom couldn't help but laugh at the thought of it. Exploring the treasure room until she found a crown that rested on a table, somehow feeling she seen it before and turned to her sister.
"It is your crown, Bloom. Take it and listen carefully." Daphne explained before she came to meet Taren who by now stood and looked nervous for a moment upon meeting his recent girlfriend's sister.
"Uh, Daphne, right? I-I mean, your highness! Yeah, I-uh that is well." Feeling like a fool stuttering in front of Bloom's sister, least it wasn't her birth parents but no doubt be like this in front of Mike and Vanessa.
Daphne smiled and giggled by his stuttering as did Bloom before she sighed but so far Daphne didn't seem to be offended which was a relief. "Do not worry, I know who you are. Taren Strife. And I have also been waiting to meet you since you were born and the day you have woken its power."
This surprised them to find she knew of him for a long time. "Wait, you have? But when did we…" But then his mind flashed back the moment he was being chased by the Grimm gorilla, a Beringal back on. "That voice. It was you! Back then before I was taken away from Destiny Island and first summoned my keyblade."
Daphne nods her head and surprised Bloom to learn about this. "Yes, however it wasn't just the Keyblade you awakened on that day. But all will be answered. Bloom, take the crown and listen carefully."
Follows her instructions and removes the glass dome from it, reaches for it to hold into her hands, and felt the images flooding into her mind. Taren was about to reach out to her when he felt the same effects flood his mind and felt he was being pulled someplace else.
Opening his eyes and found himself somewhere in some void, no longer in the treasure room but someplace else. Quickly recalling how the tiara seemed to have brought him into some mental projection to show him.
"Good to finally reach you, at last, kid."
Spins around to see the woman named Chandra emerging out of the mist and smiles at him. "I thought for certain we never have a full connection."
"Hey, wait… your that woman from before, Chandra right?" Taren asked her to be certain. "Where am I exactly?"
"When princess Bloom touched the tiara, you also linked up to the flame that resides in you." She answered his question.
"So Bloom would be looking into her own mental thought when…" Blinks his eyes and looked at her with a baffled expression. "Say that again? "
Chandra stared at him for a moment. "You mean you still haven't figured it out? Oh, geez." She sighed and brought her gloved hand to her face. "Come on, kid, think back when the time you somehow found yourself flying from Destiny Island to Earth?"
"I know how! I summoned the keyblade and some magical force pulled me away, I thought maybe it was Daphne since she was probably the previous user of the Dragon's Flame." Taren responded and always hated that moment when he was taken from home, almost thinking he would never see his family again.
"Well, least your memory is still good, but she didn't do it." Chandra informed him which confused Taren more.
"She didn't then who?" Taren asked, but only to groan when he asked a completely dumb question judging by the look she was giving him and finally understood the answer. "Wait.. hold on now… no way-are you serious?"
Slowly begins to smile and crossed her arms. "Finally, and I thought the future generations were losing intelligence. That's right red. Think back when you felt visions. Or the time that Grimm got petrified."
He had no idea what she was talking about, all this didn't seem to happen to him or try to remember any of this. But then he started to figure out the precious moments, the visions he saw.
Destiny Island before the settlement.
The King Taijitu turning to stone.
Seeing Daphne in visions.
Fighting the dragon and the Grimm.
His eyes widen and absorbed what she means and couldn't believe it if it was. Looks straight at her with the smile on her face. "That's right, there's another Dragon Flame and none of those witches or even Tezzeret figured it out. And you are the latest vessel out of all of us."
Surrounded by several figures around them, he can clearly see them better, they all have the same eyes as his and also a different type of keyblade… or close to a weapon.
"And... who are they?"
"Those who came after me and before you." Chandra explained. "You see, this flame has been passed down to me and to all those after me as the Keepers of the Flame, just as how the Sparks royal family that passed down theirs."
"Wielder of the Flame? Sparks" Those are the words he was not familiar with.
"The name of which your girlfriend is descended from. Think of it like the wielder of the keyblade but mixed as we see ourselves as guardians or something." She explained to him. "But we don't have much time, much I can explain but should start from the beginning as no doubt the sisters will know this too."
Eager to know with so many questions to answer, he looks towards her for them. "Tell me, I want to know."
She accepted and nods her head. "Alright. As you know, my name is Chandra, and I will tell you how I became one with the Dragon's Flame alongside the Sparks' ancestor. I was from the time of what became one of the dark pages of history, not just in the Magic Dimension but the Keyblade wielders as well." Gave a sadden expression and continues. "Before the last Keyblade war, the worlds between our own were created not just by Kingdom Hearts but other powerful forces such as the Dragon's Flame."
"So then, the two were not the only ones?" Taren asked her.
"Got it, there's a whole multiverse out there and each one has their own origins. But that's for another topic. It started here, on Domino." Showing him the image of the world when it was much more beautiful, greener and great oceans to form continents. "This was not just home to those with magic and fairies, but another group who possess incredible gifts and close to magic as their neighbors." Appears before a village and noticed many with families, working on daily lives. Something caught his curiosity, they all had something in common and that was… "Those eyes… They-"
"They were the Drocahren, which are referred to as the Dragon Eyed folk cause of their unique abilities." Chandra says. "They developed a great culture and respected dragons do to their close bond with them, but were once sometimes rivals to the kingdom that will be Domino. I was actually born in this world believe it or not. But then one day after some monsters came and attacked when I was just a teenager, the keyblade masters appeared before me and offered to train me."
They stood in a building to find a young Chandra with a few people, but what surprised Taren was none other than Tezzeret! But he looked much younger and without cybernetic augments. "Tezzeret?!"
"Yes. He was my mentor who taught me many things of magic and became a strong fighter." Gave a soft chuckle. "Practically been by my side to stop in battles when I was reckless and run into random worlds."
"But then he showed his true self. Didn't he." Taren knew when he learned this from Macbeth and can tell she was hurt when bringing up bad memories about him.
"Yes. He not only hunted and killed many Earth Tribe Fairies but what he did and experimented on keyblades was not the only thing he did." She tried to fight off the tears from her face and the surroundings changed, instead of the same peaceful town.
It was up in flames, people running and screaming in terror. Taren stood and could do nothing but watch in horror as they were in the middle of a massacre. Some tried to fight back but were killed by dark keyblade wielders. Families clutching their loved ones. He saw a beam of light struck down and burned more buildings as a large serpentine monster flew over them, too fast to see it. From afar another large shape stomped the ground, firing blasters and gave a mechanical roar.
"My people… hunted and slaughtered like animals. Earlier today, someone from the Dominion territory knew something was wrong and warned his family, then came to warn them but was too late." Chandra said in a pained tone. "They didn't saw it coming."
"But what made him go this far?" Taren asked her.
"According to some sources, he and the group he was part of were told of a prophecy that one with the eyes of the dragon will receive a great gift that could defeat them and restore the balance." She explained to him. "I didn't know what it meant until I met the prince."
Listens to her tale and the more he learned about Tezzeret, the more he despised him for the genocide of the innocent people. To go so far because of some prophecy about someone having the common traits of their people, it was an act of cowardly. Taren swore, he would not let this happen again and stop the mad man.
"They gave themselves a name. The Fallen Blades as we called, something I came up with as how they forged the blades together from the fallen." Chandra explained and was disgusted. Taren shared her thoughts and couldn't believe it.
"The Drocahren Massacre as it became forever engraved in our history over the loss of a culture, despite being rivals and enemies in history, many mourn for their loss as did our family." Daphne explained with sorrow in her voice to show her sister the history. "This was almost considered dark as the fall of Domino by the Ancestral Witches."
Bloom was in a different state of vision and was shown the beginning of the war, to learn there were two dominant cultures on Domino long ago until she saw the horrifying scene of the slaughter of the innocent.
"Those poor people." She gasped and unable to hold back the tears, no doubt if Taren was watching he might start to despise Tezzeret even more to stop his plans. "How could he and those monsters go so far over a prophecy?! None of them deserved it!"
Daphne shared her sister's fury and anger but remained calm. "Many would go to great lengths to prevent their demise, they committed genocide but thankfully with the arrival of our ancestors. Koris Sparks, who came to save many and helped Chandra the keyblade wielder who fought against her former master."
"We found the flame much active and spoke to it." Chandra sighed and smiled softly. "It was amazing, like feeling its warmth not by fire but care and kindness washing all the hate you had inside you. The Dragon's flame somehow knew what was about to happen and both of us." Showing him the image of the surprised Chandra and the prince surrounded by fire as it took forms of a dragon, gazing upon them. "We thought it would prevent the keyblade wars from becoming worse and prevent more lives lost."
Taren watched as the dragon flew towards the pair, watched as it flew through them and the fires extinguished slowly with both given the power. Then he heard a new voice that startled him.
"I feel your sorrows, the pain and anger burning within you. But your goals and ambitions for selfless reasons and protect the innocent has shown me that you both, shall earn the final breath of my flames. Protect the Magic Dimension and restore the balance of the Kingdom Hearts."
Hearing these words that surprised him that even the dragon itself knew of Kingdom Hearts just to stop the Fallen Blades.
"Was that...?"
"The message of the Dragon's Flame, yes. And we did, with it guiding us on how to use it, we gained an advantage to stop them. To stop them we set up a plan with the help of the keyblade masters and powerful fairies, we gathered the keyblade masters. On our final confrontation before they would begin the invasion on what would be called Earth, we fought them hard and turned the tides against them."
"How?" If they were defeated, maybe something he could learn of how to defeat them.
"They opened a dimensional void to sneak through and we used it to our advantage after facing him in battle and cut off the portal, trapping them for good and used the magic we learned to seal them in." Chandra said and showed him the final moment of Tezzeret being pulled in and his forces trapped in a dimensional realm they were trapped in. "As for those they allied with such as the Ancestral Witches, they fled but the Keyblade War carried on."
"With the barrier up, both had agreed in reluctance to protect the Dragon's Flame. They went on their separate ways." Daphne showed Bloom Chandra and Koris stood before the portal. "The two departed and had to keep the dragon flame they each possess, knowing one day in the future the two will be reunited and change everything."
He saw both Chandra and the prince gave one last look as if they were never going to see each other again, embraced each other and she walked through and faded. "I was fortunate to have found survivors, enough to restart a new but with a new role as Keeper of the Flame, I had to take them someplace safe. Make it as if our people were wiped out to the universe. I took them to one place you would know."
Showing him the island as the people pass through the portal and recognized it instantly.
"Destiny island!"
This startled him and looked at her in shock upon learning of the realization. "Then the people who settled here… we're the descendants!"
"That's right. It was something my… well special person at the time named before it got serious." Chandra confirmed. "But… I knew the last of my people would not save yet, and decided to do something drastic, changing our eyes and hide our cultures, history and everything until the day they were ready to remember." He saw the islanders build an underground vault, drawings and stored their records until it was preserved using whats left of the magic they had.
"So all this time we had a history of… our ancestors right under our feet and never even knew." Taren awed as it now explained everything and where the door would be. "Oh, man, I bet mom and dad never knew they were just by the gate, wonder how they would find."
"Even by the time the war ended, many worlds were out of balance and I couldn't have done it on my own with the dragon's flame, unable to make my promise to bring balance." Chandra explained as they see her as an older Chandra, still somewhat lively but with greying red hair and knelt before a child. "I knew then that I could pass it down to a successor and chose to pass it on to my family/. For many generations, each one passed on the knowledge I learned to the next and guide them to the right path. And also… to connect with them beyond life should they need us." The elderly and dying Chandra passed on her power to a small boy, watching the dragon spectral pass on into him.
"Over generations, it grew and each one was a keyblade wielder or mage to use it to help others." Revealing several people or the previous keepers who came after Chandra. "I knew that Tezzeret would perhaps return or didn't but if he did I used a plan to defeat him but need you to trust me on it." She turned to Taren.
"There's one more thing, how am I connected to all this?"
She looked at him almost surprised and laughed. "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you figured it out but I guess I didn't make it clear. I gave it only to my family. And that… makes you my direct descendant."
Looking at her more speechless than before and looked around, all these spirits were in fact his entire family from previous generations, all those who passed on the Dragon's Flame to the next. But then something came back to him about that man from before. A flashback of a photo of a man, holding a child with spiky brown hair laughing with a young mother. He saw it before and now remembered. "Then that man... he was my grandfather!" He spotted the man from earlier, looking at him with a fond smile and nods his head to him. Taren smiled back and wanted to speak to him but focused on Chandra to know more before their time is over.
"That's right. Kollin was the previous Keeper of the Flame and keyblade master before his untimely death. Its always a tragic to see a member of your family die." Chandra sighed. "And before you, your father unexpectedly awoken it. Sora never knew it but it safed his live many times and helped him where he was needed to go."
"So dad had it? How did he not know?" Taren asked.
"It only awakens when it feels needed and let your father learn just like all of us have. It was what protected him from losing his humanity when he was a Heartless until your mother brought him back and also when he used the Power of Waking after the war." Chandra explained to him of the events that happened and showed him how his father used a portion of it without knowing at all until she spoke out once more. "Taren, I know you have questions and much to ask but right now you must listen to me. You have to stop Tezzeret from using the flame and release the Fallen Blades, or Domino and maybe Magix is just the beginning of the destruction they will unleash across countless worlds with the army of darkness under their command."
Taken into her advice and now knew what he needed to do. Then the surroundings began to change and felt his mind being pulled back. He wanted to ask them so many things but feels it would be for another time. One for certain, he really wishes his parents or friends from home were here right now.
"So the flame was passed down to our family and also Taren's as well? This is amazing! I never knew it to be possible!" Bloom listened and couldn't believe it, not sure how long they've been in this mental state of mind but felt long and started to understand it.
"Indeed, they took the name Strife as we used Sparks for our own. Our family somehow kept a link to theirs and recorded their heroic deeds and inspired some to follow their example." Daphne said with praise in her tone, much as she wanted to explain it all they had limited time. "Bloom, there is one last thing to show you, the last moment before the fall of Domino, about our parents. Are you ready for this?"
Not waiting for a second and nods her head. "Please, Daphne, I want to know." Shows her the image before her as when she was a baby, crying out as she was being prepared to be the next Keeper of the Flame. A voice spoke to her as a message of the events before the fall of Domino.
"Bloom, your destiny has always been to be the keeper of the Dragon Flame, the power which keeps the Magic Dimension safe from the forces of evil." The next showed her three ancient-looking old crones with black capes and long greying hairs. They were joined by several dark figures in various forms, too dark to know their appearance while the evil forces launched an attack on the castle. "The three ancient witches, the first creatures of evil known to the dimension, and the Fallen Blades, once loyal heroes corrupted with darkness and evil, tried to steal the power of the flame for their own purposes but failed. However, they did succeed in destroying Domino." Grimm creatures attacked, monsters and corrupted keywielders attacked the soldiers and overpowered them.
Daphne carrying her baby sister to safety as she cried in her arms, chasing after they were the Ancestral Witches. Flew passed the princess and took the chance to conjure a portal that led to the planet Earth. "The witches eventually overpowered Daphne, but before they could do so, she managed to save your life. The King and Queen of Domino convinced they had lost both their daughters, chose to go into exile to grieve. Today, they still pine for their beloved girls.
Returned back to the real world, it was as if nothing much happened before Bloom took the crown but clearly their minds were taken to show what happened. Taren saw Bloom in tears and came to her support. "Bloom. What happened? What did it show you?"
Bloom sniffed and looked to him with tears running down her face. "My mother. My father." Without second thoughts she threw herself into his arms, burying her face into his chest and cried.
Taren held her and stroked her hair, obviously, she saw something terrible to upset her this much.
Daphne let her have this moment until she spoke. "You've been shown the shocking truth, but you must be strong,"
Bloom lifted her head from his chest and nodded when she had a point.
"I saw something I didn't know, what he did, the Drocarhen. And my family's heritage." Taren told them what he learned. "But what about you? Did she told you about your parent?"
"I just learned about my sister's great sacrifice." Bloom tearfully answered and didn't want to pull away from him. "How she saved my life. I also found out about my birth parents. They're still alive, but I don't know where they are." Looks to her sister as she rubs her tears from her eyes. She made a vow for what she would do next. "Daphne, I swear to you, as soon as I'm done with the evil Trix and Tezzeret, I'm off to find them!" Promising her to one day be reunited with her family no matter what it takes.
Hearing this made Daphne smile with pride in how much her sister has grown. "That's how a princess should talk. I'm proud of you, Bloom. And Taren Strife."
Hearing his name from the princess, wondering what she wanted to say to him. "Uh, yes?"
"I thank you for being by my sister's side since you two met. And I can see she truly fallen for you, for all you have done to make her happy, you have my blessing." Daphne smiled fondly, already seeing her sister's face turned to red upon the last moment but somewhat gave her a smile to appreciate her accepting him.
"Well, I mean, no problem. I promise to do what I can to help her find your parents. And maybe a way to restore your form." Taren knew it was a big promise to keep but somehow feels that his family had done this sort of thing for a living to help others in times of need. Without warning, his keyblade appeared in his hand and surprised him. "Wah! What the-"
Bloom was surprised when he summoned his keyblade and wondered what he was doing. "Taren, what are you-" She was cut off when a keyhole appeared on a wall before them. His Light of Rebellion shot a beam towards the keyhole and seals it.
Unable to believe it was possible but Taren just done his first seal on a keyhole. "But... how? I thought that-"
"Your keyblade sealed the keyhole of our world, preventing the darkness from ever coming." Daphne explained to the confused Taren. "Just because this world wasn't made by Kingdom Hearts, doesn't mean our hearts can't be connected. I must go now, Bloom. My work here is done." The two watch as Daphne's spirit fades away. And once she was gone, his keyblade changed its form. The blade was wielded in reverse, with red/orange color with flame-like fines sprouting out, along with the teeth taking shape of sapphire blue fairy wings formed the tip of the blade with one guard in shape of a white dragon around the grip. The Keychain at the was blue and had Blueish flower with red lining.
"Wow, I don't believe it. It's a new keyblade!" Taren was in awe and looked at his new keybalde, lifting it up in his hands to look at it.
Bloom was awed and never seen this before. "Wait, so you get a new one? How?"
"If a Keyblade Wielder seals a keyhole to safe a world from falling into darkness or back into balance, they get a new keyblade with new abilities." Taren explained to her and smiled.
"Really? That's amazing." Bloom gave a bright smile to learn more about them. "Does it have a name?
Taren wanted to think of a name for it to fit it. "I think I'll name this one... Royal Sparks, what do you think?"
Smiles over the thought of it. "I think it sounds great and fits, I can just imagine when our friends see it."
"Oh, yeah." He can just imagine rubbing this on Mal's jealousy to show how he got himself a new keyblade before her. "I can just see the look on their faces.
Somehow Bloom had a clear idea of what he was thinking and could not help but roll her eyes, no doubt to ignite some competition between him and Mal. "Come on, you can play with it later." Grabs his arm and make their way to the exit to find a way back to Alfea.
With the discovery of the Dragon's Flame completed, the two decide to make their leave and return to Magix, it was unexpected to learn about not just Bloom but also Taren's family secret as another group of keepers. Which means he needs to be careful if the Trix find out and their allies would love to finish him off after they try to drain the magic out of them both.
"We need to go tell them what we found and stop the Trix before they get the Dragon's Flame!" Bloom said and determined to keep it from falling into their hands.
Taren nods his head"Right, but somehow I think the witches are the least of our worries, Chandra told me about what Tezzeret and his friends might be up, and if he gets it... I don't want to know what he has plans."
He wasn't the only one worried about it, even Bloom could tell from what he's done in the past has shown how far he's beyond the Trix. "Taren. Did you saw-"
"I did." Taren said and stood where he was before stepping out of the palace. "I know it was history but... it felt so sudden and those people. If what I learned is true, he could do the same to my people on Destiny Island all over ago. I won't let that happen." Gripping his fists and swear to stop him. But felt a pair of hands reached out to hold his and looked to Bloom.
"You won't be alone. Whatever they throw at us, we'll face it. Together." She promised him with a sincere smile.
"Awww, how sweet."
The moment between them was ruined by the surprising entry of the Trix hovering above them alongside Seneschal with a couple of goons in grabs and weapons in their hands. "Seems we found two love birds in a winter wonderland." Icy openly mocks them. "My sort of place."
"Guess the Ancestral Witches had a party before they vanished." Stormy said.
"And who would have thought the last princess would come to her home, and be her grave." Darcy added.
Icy narrows her eyes at Bloom. "Here's the deal, you give what we want and will leave you alone. Nothing personal, but we got a deadline to finish."
Bloom glared at them for coming into her home and hardly believed she would agree to leave them be if they were going to get what she had. "You think after all the times you attacked me and my friends, tricked me into thinking I was a witch and used the monsters to do the dirty work? Well, guess what! I know what it is and you won't get a single piece of it! Not after what the Witches did to my home!"
This surprised the Trix and the Cyber Lord that the princess already discovered her lost heritage. "Ah, so you know then. This will be much easier and save the time to explain it all."
Taren came to her aide and summoned the Royal Sparks grip. "Think you heard the princess, leave."
'A new keyblade? This is unexpected.' Seneschal did not anticipate this but hardly matters now with the princess without her friends to help, but keeping the keyblade wielder is another issue. "I believe it be best to take her now, if you be so kind."
"You know us." Icy smirked with excitement.
Bloom knew she had no choice but to fight them, but with Taren by her side, this could be in their favour. "TIme we settled this." Transforms into her Winx form and ready to teach them a lesson.
And done! Thus reveals some answers, I wanted to add a bit more about Taren's family history but thought to leave some out for later and not get too distracted. Don't worry I got ideas for how Sora could have rounded up in Magic Dimension in the past since the KH3 came out would be a good chance to add ideas to it.
Now we are on the battle which will no doubt be interesting and have in mind how the Trix will get it. I was having trouble coming up with a name for the evil corrupted keybladers and came up with "Fallen Blade". Now we have Sky's parents and his... fiance. It will be interesting how this will turn out and have something in mind for the next chapter.
Taren has a new keyblade! Which I bet none of you expected! I thought to give a surprise and add more elements of Kingdom Hearts and got more surprise in store! Especially for new powers and upgrades I will have in mind for the characters for future adventures.
The pairings I have in mind and something I got planned for Diaspro since Bloom is taken and no doubt will work on some character development for her without trying to be the jealous type in the series. Any worlds you want them to explore for adventures pm me or leave a review for suggestions.
An important note as should be found by any other fanfics: If any reader has an account, please use that to review. If you do not wish to sign in to review, please at least put your account name so I can tell who you are. If you do not have an account, then please at least use a consistent name instead of 'Guest', as that makes the reviews seem impersonal to me.
from now on will be added on each chapter and story I post on this sight.