The Age of Fairy Tales:

The Fairy King V

"The lone famer, having lost his home and family to the Fairy King, was left with nothing but the feeling of loss and despair. Stricken with grief, he called and prayed to the Gods for a sign, a miracle, something to heal his wounds or to even strike against the Fairy King. And in his hour of grief, the Gods answered his prayer."

Something had happened.

Emmanuel's eyes flashed for a brief instant and suddenly, everything changed.

A brave warrior, wielding a scepter with a green gem…

A girl locked in a tower…

A young woman with eyes and hair matching the color of the ocean…

Twin deities, one golden and radiant, the other hollow and dark…

The Emerald Warrior replaced by a Pretend God, starting a family with the Dark Witch

The elderly man broken by the loss of his family…

And the Fairy King-

The Fairy King?!

Emmannuel was not sure, but he felt something, something connecting with his soul and these images…they were memories.

Revelations.

As time passed, he began to understand the old soul's memories that may be the only chance to help him achieve his goals.

And realize something else: a friend that possessed great power that may have a chance to end the tyrannical tyrant.

He tried reaching out, mentally reacting with knowledge of abilities that were not his and yet now belonged to him to find this friend…

When she opened her eyes again, she blinked to see she was standing in the center of a village.

A burnt down village.

Houses were torn apart, the wood scorched black and the smell of something rotting filled the air. Looking down at the ground, her eyes widened at the sight of a skeleton.

It wasn't the only one.

Bones could be seen all around the desolated town.

Aqua stepped back with a horrified look on her face, hands covering her mouth.

'What happened here?' She thought, quickly moving to get away the horrible sight. 'Grimm?'

She looked at the ground and noticed that it was scorched black, like it had been burned. Not like a typical fire but the kind that came from an explosion. Being an expert in magic, including fire type spells, Aqua knew all too well what to expect when wielding any fire based magic.

Something had caused an explosion.

But what?

She knelt down and picked up a small bit of dirt. "This was magic."

A very familiar type of magic.

She had been around Remnant long enough to know that its brand of magic was similar but also different compared to the magic that she and other Keyblade Wielders used. All of the Semblances made from the Aura of Remnant's people, they were all minor and literal remnants of the magic they once wielded which gave Aqua a clue to how powerful they really could have been. She was just lucky that a Keyblade was a natural conduit for magic, so much that even someone with no formal training with magic could preform it on the level of a mage.

So if a unskilled wielder could go up against a magic, what was a fully trained master capable of?

'I think I answered that question when I faced down Salem's army.' Aqua smiled to herself, remembering the fight with army of magical users Salem had gathered to fight against the Brother Gods.

There was no doubt they were all powerful but were rather simplistic in how they fought. They only attacked by hurling bolts of magical energy at her while Aqua was a little more creative in her approach. If they had been as creative as she had been, Aqua wasn't sure she would have walked away from that fight without a scratch.

'So who is left that can do magic like this?'

As far as Aqua knew, Salem was still imprisoned in that crystal and unless someone used the Staff of Creation, she couldn't break free.

There was Oz, but Aqua doubted he would caused something like this without good reason.

And then there is…

"Oberon." Aqua narrowed her eyes.

Poppy's former love, now turned into a tyrant by the Kingdom Hearts forgery that had appeared. He must be trying to take over all of Remnant.

'If Oberon is behind this, I need to find him and stop him.' Aqua stood up. 'I won't let this world suffer my mistakes any longer.'

She may have agreed to help restore Remnant's balance but her main motivation had always been to make up for her past failings and in doing so, she had unintentionally made more mistakes and people had suffered from them.

Not anymore.

'Okay, I need to figure out how long it has been since I was last here.' Aqua took a deep breath and composed herself. 'I'll have to try and find another village that hasn't burned to the ground.'

And hopefully find Oz.

It stands to reason that he would be reincarnated by now since she was back. If she could just find him they could think of some kind of plan…

Aqua paused as her senses screamed at her, immobilizing her. 'What is this? I sense…an overabundance of light!'

(Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep OST Shaded Truths Starts)

Aqua spun around, seeing a horse galloping towards her and someone was on its back. She watched with weary eyes as the horse stopped a few feet from her, the man jumping off. He was a young man with tanned skin, wearing a modern-looking green coat, brown trousers and black-gray shoes. He stood up, facing Aqua with a golden scepter with a blue crystal orb resting at the top.

"You." The man pointed at her.

"…Ozma?" Aqua carefully asked, remaining composed.

"That is not my name." The man's grip on the staff tightened. "My name is Emmanuel, but I know you…You wield a weapon of great power…And you helped create the monster that destroyed my home!"

Aqua stepped back, summoning her Keyblade. Emmanuel lifted the staff and five orbs of light appeared above him. Aqua pumped mana into her legs, allowing her to jump and land on top of the orbs so she could stab them. She jumped off one orb and landed perfectly on her feet before slashing at another before turning to face Emmanuel.

"Listen to me, I know I had a part to play in what happened but that was never what I wanted." Aqua called out, trying to stop the fight before it continued.

Emmanuel replied by pointing the scepter at her and firing an arrow of golden light that Aqua dodged by cartwheeling out of the way.

Another arrow fired and Aqua held up a hand. "Reflega!"

A domed transparent shield appeared around her which the arrow bounced off of and flew back at Emmanuel. Aqua then teleported in front of Emmanuel and swung her Keyblade, aiming to knock the scepter out of his hands. However, Emmanuel sidestepped her Keyblade and fired another light arrow, forcing Aqua to do a handstand on her Keyblade, somersaulting to dodge the attack as it sailed through the air under her. She pulled her Keyblade out of the ground and swung Emmanuel again.

Emmanuel blocked with his scepter, jumping back and fired a blast of light at Aqua who summoned a barrier like before to block. Ceasing the attack, Emmanuel held out his other hand and a beam of green light extended from it, forming what appeared to be an energy blade. A green aura surrounded him and he charged at Aqua again, his green energy blade meeting Aqua's Keyblade.

CLASH-CLASH-CLASH!

Despite Aqua's skills, Emmanuel was physically stronger and was slowly pushing her back. Aqua held out a hand, conjuring a shield-barrier that blocked Emmanuel's next slash and caused him to stagger back.

"Thunder!" Aqua called out, pointing her Keyblade at Emmanuel.

To her surprise, Emmanuel disappeared and reappeared behind Aqua as a blast of lightning erupted from the tip of her Keyblade. Aqua barely managed to catch Emmanuel's blade, raising her free hand to conjure another shield-barrier over her shoulder, catching the blade just in time. However she was unprepared for the second slash, cutting through her Aura and grazing her right side. Aqua grunted but didn't slow down as she pushed Emmanuel back.

Emmanuel's eyes narrowed and a green aura surrounded him.

Aqua stepped back as green glowing armor surrounded Emmanuel, becoming crystalline while the green energy sword became bigger and solid crystal like the armor. "…That's new."

"You had a role to play in this." Emmanuel glared. "You know the old soul that's latched onto mine. First you met him when he was…a great warrior…then when he pretended to a god, you erased his memories of you."

Aqua flinched.

"Then you helped him save his kids and let him get stabbed to death."

"I didn't let him get stabbed I was forced to disappear." Aqua retorted. "My heart is connected with Ozma's. When he dies, I disappear and when he reincarnates I reappear. I didn't ask for this but I had to."

"Why?"

"…To save this world." Aqua answered. "Look, this world gets broken, and a lot of people die because of a series of bad decisions, no balance between light and darkness that led to many people making a lot of mistakes that led their world's end. I had to become part of this to balance it out or this world is gone along with everyone part of it."

Emmanuel paused.

"I joined because I wanted to make things right…Because I wanted to make up for my own past failings…And I made mistakes too." Aqua admitted with a remorseful face. "I've made mistakes…Whatever mistakes I have made and will make will be with me for the rest of my life…But I'm not going to stop trying to make up for it."

Emmanuel stared at Aqua, his mind processing what he had been told.

The old soul…

No, the old souls inside him were conflicted.

Ozma considered her a friend.

Diggs saw her as an enemy that later became someone he needed to save his family.

Ambriose saw someone who lost everything like he had.

And Emmanuel?

He didn't know what to think of her.

He didn't know her, not really.

All he knew was that she somehow vanished and appeared whenever the old soul within him had bonded with someone.

What was she?

An ally?

A ward?

Someone bonded with the old soul inside him?

Was she just a friend or was she…closer?

The old soul seemingly reacted to his thoughts and feelings, telling him that she hadn't been anything other than a close friend.

Yes, they had fought.

Yes, they had done questionable things.

And yes, they had made mistakes.

But the old soul knew that Aqua was someone who could be trusted.

Because she was just like him.

(Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep OST Shaded Truths Ends)

The magic armor surrounding Emmanuel disappeared and he staggered forward, almost falling…but was caught by Aqua.

She placed his arm over her shoulder, helping her stand up. "I got you, Oz."

"My name is…Emmanuel." He managed to say.

Aqua smiled. "My name is Aqua. It's nice to meet you, Emmanuel."

Strangely enough, he was feeling the same way now as she helped him walk to wherever they might be going now.

"Emmanuel's desire for answers came in the form of a knight dressed blue and silver armor, having appeared with the Staff of Light to offer her assistance. Emmanuel was rightly suspicious as though having never met the Silver Knight, he knew she had made her share of mistakes that had played a role in what had happened to him. The Silver Knight admitted her mistakes and promised she would rectify these mistakes by confronting the Fairy King."

Far from Aqua and Emmanuel's location, a bell rang, overlooking a kingdom that had literally been built into a mountain.

"What is it?"

"The scouts have detected two magical signatures. I believe them to be the Silver Knight and Ozma."

"Shall we inform His Majesty?"

The guards looked at each other and nodded.

"The kingdom of the Fairy King was grand and marvelous, a statement of his might and formed to be the perfect kingdom in his mind. He ruled with complete assurance in himself, never doubting that he and his kingdom would endure any dangers of the world. All would pay tribute to him…or be made an example of."

At the very same time, a shadowy woman appeared inside a majestic imperial corridor. She 'walked' down the hallway, passing through several corridors before reaching what was obviously the throne room.

To say it was massive would be an understatement.

It was enormous with the ceiling thousands of meters high. At the end of the room was a giant throne, perched on a golden pedestal that was hundreds of meters high. Sitting on the golden room was the Fairy King himself, Oberon.

Oberon had changed very little over the years, aside from wearing a golden crown.

"Shadow Queen, you appear before me." Oberon greeted stoically.

"I do." The Shadow Queen bowed. "I come with news."

"Speak."

"My Seer has detected two familiar magical signatures. I believe them to be Ozma and Aqua having returned."

"Oh, them." Oberon snickered. "Hardly something to worry about."

"Remember, Your Majesty that one of them is a wielder of the divine weapon that can still harm you." The Shadow Queen reminded.

"Then it's a good thing I have you, Fenrir and Kur along with my Divine Generals to protect me." Oberon stated. "However, this is an opportunity?"

"An opportunity?"

"It is likely that their presence will reveal the last magical users left in this world. Contact the Generals and inform them I want them to lead a strike against Ozma and Aqua."

The Shadow Queen bowed her head. "As you wish."

Her shadow underneath lengthened as she seemingly melded with it, vanishing from the room and leaving the Fairy King alone. Oberon sat back on his throne, thinking to himself that he finally had the last of his enemies in reach.

'They will be crushed and the final victory will be mine.' He thought with a smile.

"Lord Oberon?" A voice came from behind the throne.

Oberon turned around and smiled. "My Queen."

Stepping out of the shadows, the person was revealed to be none other than Poppy, Aqua's first apprentice.

Only she didn't go by the name anymore.

No longer the young, compassionate woman who wanted to make the world a better place, Oberon had transformed her into his Queen Titania. She wore a golden elaborate robe with a similar golden crown that resembled the one Oberon wore with a red ruby embedded into it.

"My Queen," Oberon greeted humbly as he stood up from his throne. "What can I do for you?"

"I heard that the Shadow Queen had come to speak with you. She wouldn't have done that unless it was urgent." Titania stated.

Oberon smiled. "Yes, something has happened." He walked right up to her and kissed her, waiting a moment before giving her the news. "Ozma has returned and with him, your old mentor Aqua as well."

Titania's eyes flashed with red light, rage present in her eyes. "Aqua…"

"Yes, the one who left you behind." Oberon nodded.

"I…hate her. She should be killed before she even has the chance to set foot in your kingdom and defile it with her filthy presence." Titania snarled.

"Perhaps but she still has something we need." Oberon pointed out. "A way to use the Keyblade since the one you had left you."

"That despicable thing…How dare it betray me? It's just Aqua. These Keyblade Wielders just hoard power for themselves, leaving the rest of us to fend for ourselves in a world that would see us die. The gull…the arrogance…She must be punished!" Titania clenched a hand into a fist. "Aqua and anyone else with a Keyblade will fall!"

"Indeed, they will." Oberon nodded in agreement. "My Generals will see to it."

"The Fairy King Oberon and his Queen Titania were beyond confident they would triumph over any obstacle before them. However, we learn very quickly that we are not always as flawless as we like to believe."

A golden glowing figure appeared behind him, bowing in submission. "You called for me, Giver of Light?"

"I have a task for you." He held out the golden staff. "Seek out the one called Ozma and gift him this staff."

The acolyte took the staff with both hands. "As you wish."

And now he had one last idea.

If he could not return to the Remnant to deal with the Fairy King, he would create something…or someone in his place.

A Warrior…of Light.

Golden glowing hands were raised and the entity focused on its power of creation.

He had not done this since he and his brother created the first branch of humanity together on the First World.

And even then, this one would be unique.

Slowly but surely a light appeared before him and was shaped into something humanoid. The light began to fade, giving way to something solid.

"Yes, arise my Warrior of Light."

The light soon faded, revealing a tall man, dressed head to toe pale blue armor with gold, yellow, and white details, a horned helmet, and a yellow cape. He had aquamarine eyes and long, silver hair. In one hand, he held a long blade with two small protrusions above the guard, and a yellow handle and guard with a small orange stone. In the other hand was a shield that had a simple silver-gray and blue color scheme.

"Welcome into existence, my child." The Brother of Light lowered his hands. "You are the first human to be born directly of my power in eons. You were made to carry out a single purpose: to strike down the Fairy King who threatens everything my brother and I have worked for. I have already sent a weapon one who has already been chosen for another task I gave him, but you are different. A noble warrior that fears no one and faces any foe gallantly you shall have the gift of magic, and you are to be skilled in all aspects of combat."

The Warrior said nothing but bowed his head to the light-based deity.

"The Warrior of Light huh?" Terra mused. "Does he have a name?"

Aqua shook her head. "There's no mention of him having a name here. Maybe it was forgotten by the time this book was written."

"Guess so. After all, going only by Warrior of Light would make you think someone thought really high of themselves." Terra mused.

"No more than someone who one day wishes to be called 'Master'." Aqua replied with a soft smile.

"Hey, that's different. For one, I am working to earn that title and two, you are hoping the same as me." Terra retorted playfully.

"I wouldn't ask to be called 'Master' day and night. It would probably get tiresome very quickly." Aqua laughed.

"I don't know. I guess it depends on how nice it sounds. Like…Master Terra." Terra said, rubbing his chin. "I could stand be called that a few times a day."

"Just try not be so happy from it all the time." Aqua shook her head. "Otherwise, you might forget to keep your eyes in front of you and walk right into a tree."

"So, Keyblade Master Aqua just doesn't for it you?" Terra raised an eyebrow. "So, what would? Grandmaster? Your royal highness?"

"Ugh…" Aqua flinched. "If I am forced to be called anything like those I might just scream and hide."

"You literally have no ambitions, don't you?" Terra laughed. "What exactly is your plan? Become a master and then what?"

"I don't know. Unlike you, I plan by how things happen in the moment, not far off into the so-called future. Besides, who knows if we'll actually pass our tests." Aqua shrugged.

"Come on, we've worked hard since we were little. You know that we're more than ready." Terra replied, hands on his hips.

"We think we're ready, Terra. That's a big difference there." Aqua closed her book. "And didn't our Master warn us that even if we succeed our exams and become Masters, it's not a guarantee that we'll know and be ready for everything. He said that the life of a Keyblade Wielder can be a hard one even if we are ready."

"Maybe but I know we'll make it." Terra said as he turned away.

"How do you know?" Aqua asked skeptically.

Terra looked back with a smile. "Because as long as you and Ven are there waiting for me, I know we'll handle anything that comes our way."

Aqua blinked, unable to say anything and simply watched as Terra walked away. "…As long as we're there waiting for you…"

Funny, Aqua could imagine herself believing the same thing.

'I guess as long as I believe you and Ven are waiting for me too, I think I can handle any hardship I might have to face.'