Ruderford "Rudy" Tucker has no idea what's weirding him out... the fact that he went to bed wearing only his polka-dotted boxers only to open his eyes to find out that he is fully clothed or the fact that he is falling down into the pit of darkness.
Either way, one thing's for sure, he is having a weird dream.
Rudy crosses his arms, "Men... this is so stupid." he grumbled in annoyance as he continues to fall down to God knows deep pit of abyss.
Looking up, he saw himself falling slowly down in the middle of a faint ray of light. The fall quietly ended as his feet touched solid ground. The floor immediately erupts into doves that departed into the black skies, leaving him in the middle of a glass platform.
Weird and confused, Rudy looks around to see the glass portrayed a princess with an apple in hand. Surrounded her are many forest animals and seven men, each one expression different emotions, "Okay…" he muttered in awe, "Uh, where the fuck am I?" he asked in annoyance when he realized something, "Oh yeah... I am dreaming...'' he mumbled when he heard a voice.
So much to do, so little time.
A voice seemed to speak from everywhere and nowhere, scaring the shit of the nimrod, "Eeek?! Who said that?!" he cried in fear.
Can you approach the light? At least do that.
"The light?" he repeated as he wasn't sure what the voice meant as he knows walking towards the light is a bad juju but he did so anyway.
The voice spoke again.
Power sleeps within you.
Three pedestals arose from the platform as the voice continued.
If you give it form, it shall give you strength.
Three weapons appeared on each pedestal in a flash of light: a Sword, a Staff, and a Shield, all suspended in mid air.
"Cool! Those are some sweet weapons!" Rudy cheered before merrily walking towards the sword.
Power of the warrior. Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction. Is the power that you seek?
Upon hearing the words 'terrible destruction', Rudy immediately steps away from the sword and walks towards the staff.
Power of the Mystic. Inner strength. A staff of wonder and ruin. Is this the power that you seek?
"The sword is one thing but a staff?'' Rudy pointed out indecorously. He then steps away from the staff and turns his attention to the shield.
Power of the Guardian. Kindness to aid friends. A Shield to repel all. Is this the power you seek?
"I guess this one is good." Rudy commented as he grasped the shield as the shield bursts into severally balls of light as the voice spoke again.
Your Path is set. Now what will you give up in exchange?
Rudy thought about it and decided to walk towards the sword.
Power of the warrior, Invincible courage. A sword of terrible destruction. Is this the power you give up?
"Definitely." Rudy replied with a blank look as the sword vanished, however instead of showering him in light, the light simply faded away.
You have chosen the power of the guardian. You have relinquished the power of the warrior. Is this the path you truly wish?
"I'm still confused of what's going on... but yeah." Rudy replied as the pedestals began to fall, sinking into the platform as it began to shatter, causing him to fall further into the blackness as he let's out a shrieked.
As the screaming nimrod continues to descend down, another platform came into view. The nimrod closed his eyes, wanting to avoid the incoming crash landing, only to feel his fall slow down to an easy drop. Rudy opened his eyes just as he landed on his feet before letting out a sigh of relief. A new princess was depicted on this platform. On the violet glass was a sleeping woman in an elegant dress; a vivid staircase and scenes of castles and chariots around her.
You have gained the power to fight.
"You've got to be kidding me? Me? Fighting only with a shield?!" Rudy replied indecorously as he began to swing around his unlikely weapon, thinking it's a sword or a lance.
All right! You've got it! Use this power to protect yourself and others. There will be times when you have to fight.
"Fight what?" Rudy asked in confusion as he looks around the platform until he spotted several black creatures with glowing eyes was moving flat along the glass on its own, "Great... I'm facing some unidentified weird and creepy looking creatures." he grumbled in annoyance.
Rudy watches the creatures rose up from the floor and quickly leaps towards him but he quickly reacted by swinging his shield to defend himself. Thankfully, he managed to block it and strike back, knocking the creature away. It attack again, only Rudy was ready this time. Dodging the flying strike, he struck back with a simple combination of swings. Repeated bashing with the shield caused the creature to vanish in a haze of darkness.
When in battle, always keep your surroundings in mind.
Look out!
Rudy heeded the warning managed to dodge a second of the creatures. Looking at his surroundings, he watch as two more appeared. The first shadow rushed to swipe at nimrod, causing him to use the shield to block the shadows claws. Like a bat, he knocked the shadow out the air. A few more bashes and swings, had all three shadow creatures knocked into a pile. Just like the first one, they become nothing more than a haze of darkness after their defeat.
"Oh yeah! I'm on the roll, baby!" Rudy cheered as the platform underneath him seemed to be swallowed up in a pool of darkness. Murky black pools, with occasional dark red and purple began to spread across the glass and start to drag him further down into it. Grabbing onto his leg, the nimrod tried to pull his leg from the sinking pit, trying to stay above the watery darkness. It continued to spread, pulling him further and further down, the darkness reaching up his torso and to his face. Rudy struggled to breathe, smothered an ebony coffin until he finally felt relief. No longer swallowed by darkness, he first calm himself down and opened his eyes.
A new glass platform, this one colored in shades of pink, replaced the dark pool he had sunk in. Three princesses decorated the glass, only he could make out any of their features like he could the last two.
"Stupid dream! I thought I died back there!" Rudy complained as a transparent doorway appears in the center of the platform. Examining the door, he passes his hand through it a few times before he came to an obvious conclusion, "So I can't even touch the doors, let alone open it. Hey, voice of whoever, I could use a fucking help here!" he calls out as a light descended from the sky, lighting up a chest in the corner of the platform. Smiling, the nimrod walks over to the chest and tapped it with the tip of his shield. The top of the chest flung open, showing nothing inside before vanishing into light, his smile then turns upside down.
"Thanks a lot... that was really fucking helpful." Rudy grumbled in annoyance as he turns around to see doorway gleaming a soft light before becoming solid. Curiously, Rudy ventured forward placing a hand on the doors, checking if it wasn't just a trick of the light. Pressing his hand and feeling solid wood he was about to call for joy until logic invaded his head. Rudy backs away and looked around the doorway to see that it leads to nowhere, pondering if he is going in or not when suddenly the door began to open on its own. Rudy had to shield his eyes as a harsh intense light sprang forth from the moving doors. He walked closer to the light, reaching out before his entire vision went white.
As the light dies down, Rudy looked around and finally saw something familiar. Instead of another platform with a princess, he found himself right in middle of a junkyard, a place where he considered home for years.
"So I'm back at the junkyard, huh?" Rudy mused, "Guess I do miss this place deep inside.'' he admitted.
He then noticed Helmsley "Helmz, Helmet" D. Heyman, Gino Samuels and Darius Greg scattered around the junkyard. He decided to approach Helmet whom is sitting on top of a broken fridge, the helmet-wearing nimrod turns to him, "Hey, Rudy, what do you reaaaalllyyy want out of life? To see rare sights, be a hero, or maybe you'd wanna find some romance!" he asked in a cheerful voice.
"Um... find romance... I guess...'' Rudy replied.
"Romance, huh? Your choice, Rudy.'' Helmet said as he went back to ignoring in him.
Shrugging his shoulders, Rudy decided to walks towards Darius lying down a couch, presumably having a lazy day. Darius then turns to him, "Hey forever alone, what is most important to you? Being the best, your friends, or your prized possessions?" he asked.
"Most important... friendship of course! We may not all get along well but you guys are my friends." Rudy stated.
"Friendship, is that such a big deal?" Darius replied as he closes his eyes to sleep.
Rudy shrugs his shoulders and decided to walk towards Gino whom is checking his tablet while sitting on a wooden chair, the red-haired nerd then turns to him, "What are you most afraid of: Getting old, being different, or being indecisive?" he asked.
"Being indecisive I guess." Rudy replied when the voice spoke again.
So, you are afraid of being indecisive, you want to find romance, and friendship is most important to you.
Your journey begins at midday, if you keep a steady course you shall do just fine.
Before Rudy knew it, the world turned bright white around him and he was suddenly on another platform with yet a different princess. On the red glass, the princess in the violet dress lied sleeping with a rose on her chest. Three fairies flew around her, around the thorn and roses. The same black skies, and quickly he noticed that the door he walked through was no longer there. That was when he noticed the creatures again, crawling up from the floor.
The shield appears on his right hand as he got into battle, "Come on, shitheads! Wanna peace of me?'' Rudy challenged.
The creatures all leaps at the nimrod at once, claws ready to rip into his flesh. Instead of trying to defend them all at one, Rudy rolled his way out causing them to collide into each other. Rudy quickly bashed the closest one that fell towards him with his shield turning it into a haze. He then swung his way through the waves of enemies, constantly switching from attacking to blocking. Claws swiped and bounced off his shield, stunning for a moment and allowing the blond knight to maneuver through them. Quickly spinning and swinging he attacked his way through the hordes of shadows. With a full, final arc the nimrod turned the shadowy creatures into a black mist.
"Geez... I'm really hating these freaks.'' Rudy commented as another light that lead him to a path of glass steps floating up high into the black void, "Elevator goes up!" he quipped as he ran up the path appearing in the light. Running up he saw that they were leading him to another platform, "How many more of these do I have to see before I fucking wake up?!" he yelled as he reached the top of the newest golden platform. This princess in a yellow ball gown and behind her was an angry, snarling beast. Above the two of them was a single rose. The blond knight then saw a single light shine in the center and by instinct walked towards it.
The closer you get to light, the greater your shadow becomes.
"My Shadoooo-oooh my fucking shit!" Rudy shouted as turned around and scrambled back as he saw his own shadow had grown and started to rise from the ground much like the creatures before, towering over the him. The shadow continued to share his likeness until its features began to distort into a new form.
But don't be afraid.
"Easy for you to say! This motherfucker is gigantic!" Rudy cried in panic.
Thin black and curly feet landed on the ground, leading up to the colossal shadow. Its shorter legs led to a large muscular body with a hole in the shape of a heart in his chest. It had long black arms, almost reaching the ground, small twisted wings spread from its back and its face with hidden by dozens of thin, black, threads. The only thing not black, were the glowing yellow eyes staring back at Rudy, who let's out a small squeak.
And don't forget...
Rudy kept on backing up until his foot felt nothing and almost fell from the platform into the darkness below. After righting himself he turned and saw the giant moving closer towards him. Looking down at his shield, he got prepared for what may be the fight of his (dream) life.
That you hold the mightiest weapon of all.
"All right! Here goes nothing!" Rudy shouted as he managed to roll away before the creature slammed its fist down where he was standing. A dark energy gathered from its fist, creating a pool of darkness and summoning the same creatures that he fought earlier, and he realized that this colossal creature was the one making them. It was also the one who tried to pool him into the darkness.
"Time to bring hell to you!" Rudy exclaimed as he took care of the smaller creatures easily enough, but that's when he saw the colossal creature got down on its knees, and gather a pale light within the center of its chest.
"Uh-oh...'' Rudy thought as his suspicion was correct: it was three energy blasts, similar to a dust spell, and they were coming right at him. He managed to block with his shield, but the recoil actually knocked him to the ground. The creature fired three more shots, and quickly getting to his feet he blocked the blast with more success. But the nimrod needed to think of a way to counterattack instead of trying to tank the hits with his shield and aura.
Running towards the giant, the nimrod rose his shield up in time to deflect an energy blast away, sending it flying into the darkness. Liking his results he angled his weapon to fire the Colossus' shots back at its head, causing the giant shadow to rear its head back in pain. The Colossus decided to fire multiple shots at one in order to pressure the moron more.
Not wanting to risk getting overwhelmed by the blasts, the nimrod stopped and held his ground in order to black the creature's assault from behind his shield.
Peeking from behind his shield, Rudy had to roll away as he was barely able to roll out the way of the Colossus' fist. Another familiar pool of darkness opened up and from it, hordes of the smaller shadowy creatures began to rise and target the young nimrod.
"Great! You get to bring your friends along." Rudy grumbled as he began to knock away the ones that attacked him immediately.
Thinking fast, Rudy began to use the chance to attack the giant arm while ignoring the smaller threats. Bashing the colossal shadow with his shield, few swipes at the arm, sparks flew from the giant's arm causing him to draw his limb away from the nimrod. The creature quickly swiped at him; creating distance for itself as backed away to avoid the flailing limbs. Crossing its arms it began to fire another round of energy from its chest, attempting to overwhelm its tiny adversary. Already used to monster's timing, Rudy quickly deflected all the blast back at the Colossal causing it to stagger backwards. With that window of opportunity, Rudy vaulted, using the creature's legs and struck a harsh blow to its head.
The monster howled in pain and anger all while the nimrod landed back on the platform. Rudy, filled with confidence, got ready to attack, until his weapon vanished in his hand and the platform began to rumble, the force toppling him to the ground. The pools of darkness returned and ensnared him all the while the creature stepped ominously towards him.
Do not be afraid
The yellow eyes bore down on Rudy as he struggled to get out of the sinking pool of darkness. Pulling against the black vines that were binding him, the distance between him and the creature quickly disappeared
And remember...
Rudy couldn't even come up with a retort as he was being cocooned by the darkness around. The giant also sinking into it, but unlike him it didn't struggle. It seemed to become one with the murky ebony around them, staring down at him with those soulless glowing eyes. He continued to struggle to the end, with no weapon of any sort to help him get out of this situation. Soon his vision and everything began to fade to black.
That you are amongst... to open the door
Rudy sat up from his bed as he let's out a frantic breath, he let's out a sigh in relief, "Whew... I thought I was done for...'' he mused, "Men... that was one weird dream.'' he stated.
"Tucker-san! Breakfast is ready! You should wake up!" Sanae Kochiya calls out from outside his room.
"Coming!" Rudy replied as he got up from his bed and began to change clothes. Unbeknownst to him, a red, green & silver keyblade is seen under his pillow.
Note: This is originally written by nothing2read, so all props and credits goes to him.
A/N: Inspired from someonestupED, damnlastwords, Hope the Victor and Ace Neptune. All OCs and concepts not created by moi were given permission for me to use by it's respected creators.