My Kingdom Hearts Story: Apocalyptic War

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Chapter 45: The Imperial Regalia

      My friends and I and the emperor are rather curious about this Matthew we see standing before us. He seems trustworthy as he did save us from the thugs of Luxu's. However, I just want to know more about him and I think it would be wise we do not do anything until he opens up to us.

      "Before we go anywhere, tell us who you are exactly," I said. "How also can you get to the regalia?"

      "I am a descendant of a Dandelion," he said. "A faction of Dandelions took a different path of escaping the Keyblade War. They came to Earth all scattered and blended in with the people of the world. My ancestor came and settled down as well. After Erabareshimo became Keyblade Emperor, Nintoku turned to another boy servant and told him he will be the one to guard the imperial regalia and everyone after him will be successors to this."

      "So you are the guardian of the imperial regalia?" Invictus asked.

      "Yes I am," he replied. "Now who are you guys?"

      "I'm Ben."

      "Adrian."

      "I'm Shane."

      "Name's Jack."

      "Hey you four are the Supreme Elite aren't you?" Matthew said. "Yeah I have seen your images or likenesses so many times. Not only is it my duty to protect the regalia, but also lead the Supreme Elite to it so the prophecy about Earth's keyhole can be fulfilled."

      "Yeah we also go by those names too," I said. Matthew then looked at Invictus.

      "And who are you?" he asked.

      "I am Invictus, the Keyblade Emperor," he replied. Matthew froze with shock on his face. This is his king, his emperor, his ruler he answers to. The Keyblade Emperor is the ruler over all Keyblade wielders and now he meets his emperor. He then went on one knee and bowed to Invictus.

      "Your majesty, my emperor," Matthew said with reverence.

      "Rise," Invictus said and Matthew stood up. "I am pleased that we know you are one of our own and on our side. Unfortunately, we cannot tell friend from foe."

      "Those guys that attacked you had been trying to get to the regalia for a while," Matthew said. "I have had to keep an eye on them. They have tried multiple times to get the regalia through different means with some becoming violent. I needed to intercede when necessary and merely beat them back. I couldn't kill them in public so you happened to be exactly what the doctor ordered."

      "So tell us, where are the regalia and how do we get them?" I asked straight to the point.

      "That is where it gets tricky," Matthew replied. "Unfortunately, as sacred as the regalia are, getting them will not be easy. The sword is located at Atsuta Shrine, the mirror at the Ise Grand Shrine, and the jewel at the Three Palaces Sanctuary in Tokyo, which is also known as the imperial palace in Tokyo."

      "Whoa wait, one of these is at the imperial palace?" Shane asked.

      "Yes one is," Matthew said.

      "And explain how we could possibly get it," I said slightly condescendingly. "If you have an idea on how to get it along with the rest of the regalia, please share. We are all ears."

      "Uh... yeah..." Matthew said unsure and put his hand behind his head in nervous thought. I thought so. I knew it the moment he mentioned the imperial palace.

      "So we are facing possible imprisonment if go after these," Jack said. Matthew kept quiet.

      "Okay then, so let me ask you this, how do we know you are not setting us up?" I asked. Matthew remained silent, but then spoke.

      "I am supposed to help you get the regalia," Matthew said sternly. "Whether the officials that protect the emperor and his family believe us, I will get that sword and the mirror and jewel too. I swore when I took up the mantle to fulfill the duty. I will make sure it happens, I promise you that."

      "Alright, but if this fails, the fate of the universe is in the balance and you will be held responsible, by royal command you will be," Invictus said.

      "Yes your majesty," Matthew replied. "First, we will try the easier part of this: getting the sword. That is at the Atsuta Shrine which is about a couple hours from here. We will take a look around and scout the ins and outs. Second, will be heading to the Ise Grand Shrine where the mirror is stored and do the same there. The final step of getting the sword will be the hardest part of it all. We may have to use our magic to get in and out of the imperial palace." I sighed and shook my head.

      "You don't know how much I would prefer not to do things this way," I said, "but if you insist, we will do it. I just hope it doesn't go wrong."

      "Well if it does, we will have to find a way to convince them to allow us to see the emperor," Matthew replied. We went into a corridor and came out in Nagoya near the shrine. We my friends and I changed into our normal forms and Invictus changed out of his armor. We walk a bit and see to our left the shrine itself. It is amazing to come to such a place as it is pretty spread out. We head to the treasures building called the bunkaden and walk inside looking like regular tourists. We look around and come across an exhibit like a sanctuary with two lights inside. There doesn't appear to be much inside, but Matthew bumped me and nodded to the sanctuary.

      "It's there," he said. "Can you feel it?" I closed my eyes for a second to feel it. I felt an energy like it is calling out to me. I open my eyes and look in the exhibit.

      "I feel it," I said. My friends concurred with my sentiment.

      "I can too," Invictus said.

      "We come back after closing," Matthew said. "The entrance closes 4:10 pm and close the entire Treasure Hall closes at 4:30. We arrive at 4 pm, stick around past the entrance closing, obtain the sword, then we get out." We all nod and then leave. It was about noon Japan time when we left the hall. We came back at around quarter til four in the afternoon and hung around until after the entrance closing. After the entrance closed leaving only people who have not finished walking through the hall, we went to the exhibit again this time in our Elite form and the emperor with his armor. We stood in front of the exhibit looking in at it.

      "Now in order to obtain the sword, it needs to be awakened," Matthew said. "For it to come to you through the glass, you need to have your heart reach out to it."

      "Is there anything we should say to get it to come to us?" I asked.

      "Your heart will speak to it and if your heart can successfully do that," Matthew explained, "it will come to you."

      "Before you do so," Invictus interjected, "it may not decide to answer to you at first since it is the imperial regalia of Japan and would answer to royalty. If it indeed is not obeying your call, by command of the emperor, I order it to obey your call. It will know it is the Keyblade Emperor it must obey." I nodded in understanding at the instruction. I then closed my eyes and raised my right hand palm facing the exhibit. I then used my mindfulness I learned from my martial arts master to get in the moment and block out all around me.

      Sword of legend, sword of the emperor, I call upon thee, I said using my heart. I felt the pulse like it awakened. Awaken sword of legend and come to me. I sensed it refused my call. I am kind of not surprised.

      Sword of legend, by order of the Keyblade Emperor, come to me and fulfill your purpose, I said with my heart again.

      Who are you that you know my emperor? the sword asked.

      I am Polemistis, Supreme Elite of yore and one of four that live, I responded. It became more cooperative.

      You who are foretold to open the keyhole, take my power and fulfill my first master's quest, the sword responded. I open my eyes and from above the altar that was in the middle of the sanctuary, the sword appeared in a glow of light. It was just as the images that have been assumed to be what the sword looks like. It floated through the glass and I grabbed the handle of the sword.

      Suddenly, visions appeared before me. I saw a man slay a multi headed monster and that monster disappeared. I learned from the sword that this man was named Susanoo, a god in Japanese mythology, and the monster was orochi. I realized that Susanoo and orochi were not what the legends say they were. After the monster disappeared, a sword was left behind, which is the very one that I am holding. Then the vision shifts to Susanoo handing me the sword. He is smiling at me warmly and holding the sword in two hands as he hands it to me. I reach out and grab it and hold it. I then look at him.

      "This sword was produced by the Earth's heart and sent to me through orochi," he told me. "Go and unite kusanagi with her counterparts and open the keyhole." Then the vision disappeared and I am standing with my friends, Invictus, and Matthew.

      "I see you got the sword," Invictus said. "However, what happened? All of a sudden, you froze." I continued staring at the kusanagi in my hand with awe.

      "I saw Susanoo," I said. "The myths misunderstood him. Susanoo was a Keyblade wielder and was given this sword by the Earth's heart. He defeated a heartless named orochi and obtained the sword. Susanoo told me that and told me to unite it with its counterparts."

      "The mirror yata no kagami and the jewel yasakani no magatama," Matthew said.

      "When touching the sword, I also learned so many other things," I said. "I learned that the regalia have had different copies exist before them, but every time the originals were lost, the power transferred. This is the true sword and the other counterparts are in the places where Matthew has described."

      "So it has responded to your call and now we know the real story behind it," Matthew said. "We have two more to go. Let's find the mirror." We knew that a void would be noticed in time. It depends on when. For now, we covered up the sword within our clothing and went out of the hall quickly. We enter a corridor and head to the Ise Grand Shrine. There was still day light, but the sun was toward the west, though not just yet to set. We head to the steps that lead up to the shrine while staying on the sides out of respect for those that believe the middle of the stairs is for the goddess Amaterasu. We get up to the fence and Matthew stops us.

      "The mirror is inside, but it is forbidden for people to take pictures and the security is extremely tight," Matthew said. "We will have to do this at night." We nod in reply and then bide our time by staying at the bottom of the stairs. When the place closed and it was dark, we sneaked in by jumping over the fence without being caught by the guards. Inside, we head to the main shrine, go inside, and find the compartment that had the mirror. We saw it displayed this time in the midst of a shrine dedicated to Amaterasu and see the mirror in a compartment. I use the kusanagi to call out to the mirror and it glowed with light and came to me and I hold it in my hand. I just smile and nod at my friends.

      As we turn around, we see guards telling us to freeze in Japanese. We were caught. Great, just great. The sword and mirror disappeared subtly. We put our hands up in surrender and they arrest us.

      "Wait! We need to see the emperor!" I shout in Japanese. Since all languages of Earth come from Atlantean and Atlantean is a sibling of the Keyblade wielder language, I am able to speak it.

      "You will see mere images of him in jail!" they reply in Japanese.

      "If you don't, we will destroy the regalia!" Matthew threatened in Japanese. The guards paused at the threat, though we did not mean it. Quick thinking made me realize that we can see Akihito and find a way to get the jewel.

       "You will see him tomorrow then," the guards acquiesced and then led us away into detention. We also used our leverage to force them to put us under house arrest and keep this between us and the emperor and police agency. We were in detention for the night and then the next morning the National Police Agency came to our quarters and escorted us to the imperial palace in Tokyo. We were led through different places and halls. We couldn't keep track of where we were and what we went through. They just led us quickly throughout the palace and pushed us along strictly if we tried to look around. We were eventually brought to the office of the emperor and there was the emperor Akihito. He was sitting at his desk with hands folded. My friends, Invictus, and Matthew and I all were lined up like kids in the principal's office. The emperor motioned for the guards to leave not allowing them to say a word.

      "Welcome to my office," Akihito said in the Keyblade wielder language. We all had our mouths open wide with shock written on our faces. But... how? How could he know any of the language? He just smiled and laughed some.

      "I know a little bit of the language," he said with a smile. That's right, he knows English fluently too.

      "Welcome Supreme Elite," he said to my friends and I. "I believe you have the mirror and the sword." I bowed my head in resignation and with my magic, made the sword and mirror appear and placed them on his desk.

      "Your majesty, my friends and I have-" I began to explain before the emperor cut me off.

      "I know what you seek," he said. "Believe me, the stories of Nintoku and his discovery have been passed down from my ancient ancestor to me and I have passed them down to my son, heir to the throne. It is the duty of emperor of Japan to pass down the tale to their heir so that one day, the prophecy may be fulfilled."

      "Your majesty, I am Invictus, Keyblade Emperor of the Pillar built by my first ancestor, Erabareshimo," Invictus said introducing himself. Akihito's eyes widened when he heard this and so he stood up and bowed to Invictus the way the Japanese bow.

      "I am Matthew, guardian of the imperial regalia," Matthew followed. Akihito bowed the same way again to Matthew.

      "The destiny is coming together," Akihito said to himself. "I would like to know first how you obtained the sword and mirror."

      "Well your majesty, I told them all where the regalia were," Matthew said.

      "We found the sword first," I said. "I felt it in the Atsuta Shrine and then I called out to it. It awoke, but did not heed my call to it, but when I told it who I was, it answered me and came to me. When I grabbed it, I had a vision where I saw Susanoo and how the sword came to be."

      "You saw the god?" Akihito asked excitedly.

      "Yes, but he was not a god," I replied. "He was a Keyblade wielder that lived in ancient times and the story about how he obtained the sword is true, but the orochi he fought was a heartless. However, when the heartless was destroyed and defeated, the sword was left behind. The heart of Earth formed it and gave it to him hoping it can be used to one day help unlock the Keyhole in some way. Then I saw Susanoo hand me the sword and told me to unite it with its counterparts. Then the vision disappeared."

      "And what about the mirror?" he asked.

      "We had to... take it..." Matthew said uncomfortably. "I suggested the idea because we figured no one would have believe us with our stories."

      "And you would have been right because the stories are unknown to the world," Akihito said.

      "We assume the mirror was forged by the Earth's heart and given to an ancient Keyblade wielder as well," Adrian said.

      "Ninigi-no-Mikoto, or Ninigi as you would call him," the emperor said.

      "That leaves only one left, the jewel magatama," Shane said.

      "And you will need that," Akihito said looking rather concerned. We all just nodded.

      "Your majesty, we have darkness approaching and an Apocalyptic War is coming," Jack reasoned. "I know it will be hard to do such a thing to such sacred objects, but there is a prophecy that a predecessor of Invictus's that speaks of them."

      "Uranaishi foresaw what would happen," Invictus said.

      "Plus, it has been foretold that one of us Elite will sacrifice himself to save the light and universe," I said. There was silence for a bit. It felt like forever, but Akihito spoke up at last.

      "I understand that the time has come," Akihito said. "With that said, let the regalia unite together and may the seal be opened." He then motioned us to follow him and we followed him through different corridors to the outside and he led us through a courtyard and we walk into a nearby shrine and there, the emperor went inside the shrine leaving us to wait for him outside. After a couple of minutes, he comes back out with the jewel in hand. It is exactly as an artist rendition showed it to appear. I had the sword and mirror in hand and gave the mirror to Matthew while I held the sword. Akihito, Matthew, and I all had the regalia touch each other and a white glow from each of them appeared on them for a few moments before it disappeared.

      "The regalia are one now," Akihito said. "I shall have the national police guide you to the Daisen Kofun. Go and unlock Earth's Keyhole and save the world."

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Gahhh, the Earth's Keyhole is about to be unlocked! Big things are coming, I can feel it! The hype is real!!!

 

I just love how you blended in Japanese culture and history within the story of yours, it really adds depth to the situation and the plot! Great work man, I look forward to the next chapter, as always!

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Chapter 46: The Keyhole

      We immediately left the imperial palace with the sword, mirror, and jewel in hand. We traveled with the emperor and his escort while keeping the regalia hidden from public eyes. Should anyone see these, it will become a worldwide covered incident and for sure we will place a target on our backs if not get attacked with the emperor. The emperor, Invictus, Matthew, and us Elite first traveled by plane to Osaka airport from Tokyo. Then, we were all in a limo being driven to the Daisen Kofun from the airport. It was a large limo and there were seats along the side of the interior allowing us to all sit across from each other and next to each other. The royal escort picked up from the airport as the escort in Tokyo communicated with the escort in Osaka. Akihito spoke to us as we traveled to our destination.

      "My ancestor longed to see the keyhole opened," he said. "Alas he never saw it for the time had not come. It is a privilege to see it happen. Now I must tell you something you must know as you open the keyhole. You will unlock Earth's power, but that is not the only thing you will do. You will also summon the seven lights of Earth. They are seven Keyblade wielder that have been chosen by pure will of the Earth. It is not not something that is passed down like the dynasties of seven lights of yore. These seven are the ones that reside with one on each continent of Earth. Yes, every light lives on each of the continents. Unlocking the keyhole will summon these seven and they will see and sense the summoning. They will be under your command and will fight by your side."

      "Your majesty," I said "who exactly are these people though?"

      "There is nothing about them," he replied. "Once one of them passes on, Earth chooses the successor. It can be any Keyblade wielder, but only one per continent. Their duty is to protect Earth and the light. Just as there are seven lights from the kingdoms and from the heart of the founder of the kingdoms, so there are seven lights." We understood what was to be expected and were ready. Approaching the entrance to the kofun, we took the wrapped up sword, mirror, and jewel and got out of the limo.

      "Thank you your majesty," Invictus said and bowing a Japanese bow. The emperor smiled and bowed as well.

      "I have all the confidence in the world you can save us all," Akihito said. He bade us farewell, went back into the limo, and was taken back to the airport leaving us Elite, Matthew, and the Keyblade emperor. We went to the public relations firm for the park and asked for the guide that helped us last time. He came out from an office, saw us, and nodded knowing where we wanted to go and what to do. We went to the dock and hopped into the boat with him and crossed to the other side landing at the same spot as last time. There we got off and trekked through the woods coming upon the entrance to the tomb.

      "You have the regalia?" Jack asked. I merely showed them all together. I gave the mirror to Jack, the sword to Shane and kept the jewel on hand.

      "So now all that is left is to put the regalia in their respective places," Invictus said. I put in the jewel first in the slot in the doors and Jack put the mirror in the stone with the the circular hole in its side. Shane was the last one with the sword ready to put it in the slot meant for it. We all took a deep breath in as we were about ready to unlock the door and then come face to face with the keyhole of Earth.

      "You guys ready for this?" Shane asked.

      "Let's do it," Adrian replied determined. Jack and I nodded as did Matthew.

      "Unlock the door," Invictus said. Shane raised the sword pointing down at the slot and then put it in the slot. Suddenly, a light beam came from the bottom of the same stone that hit the top left corner of the door frame. It then was directed to the left column of adamantite, reflected to the right column, directed to the adamantite piece above the center of the doors, reflected to the mirror and then the light from the mirror traveled to the jewel causing it to glow. The jewel glowed its bright green hue and then the light beam disappeared leaving the jewel glowing on its own. The writing on the doors glowed as well in the same hue and then the doors themselves opened up. I felt chills go up and down my body and could tell my friends feel the same way. The six of us then proceeded to enter through the entrance and enter a pitch black hallway that quickly turned that way as we walked on. Invictus summoned his Keyblade and had it glow just so we could see. There were torches on the walls so he waved his hand and they caught fire lighting up the hall. Invictus waved his hand again so as to make sure every time we came across more torches, they lit up automatically.

      The hallway slightly declined as we walked on. It was obvious why it was so as the tomb was farther up ahead and surely had to be ground level as this was an artificial mound made by men in Nintoku's time. It eventually became level and we walked on. When the hallway no longer declined, we saw on the walls some writing all in Japanese. There were no pictures at all which we found a little strange. The writing was referring to the emperor buried here in this tomb and about his life as known by historians of this modern day and of details that have been lost to time that have been forgotten. We keep walking and come across the Keyblade wielder writing all over the walls. This speaks about the emperor, his connections to the keyhole, the Keyblade Emperor, the purpose of the imperial regalia, and the guardian of the regalia. Even the seven lights that Akihito spoke of were written about on here. Eventually I came across one line that grabbed my attention and it went as follows: For in saving the light, sacrifice must be made. The bearer of the Key shall become one with the Light in saving the light. Only then can the darkness be dispelled. The words 'key' and 'light' had the first letters capitalized. It clear was referring to the χ-blade as the Key and Kingdom Hearts as the Light. And becoming one with the light meant that whomever among the four of us bears the χ-blade will have to become one with Kingdom Hearts and then they can save the universe from darkness. It was interesting to see what exactly must happen in order to defeat the darkness. I am just curious as to what exactly 'becoming one' means. That might not be something we will ever learn until it happens.

      We walk into a room that is circular with a diameter of fifteen feet across. Torches along the wall light up as we stepped into the room. Looking straight in front of us is none other than the keyhole of Earth. It was like the keyhole found in Agrabah, but much smaller. Along the wall are seven different symbols carved into the wall with ancient Keyblade wielder writing below the symbols as captions. They were the names of the different continents. North America, South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, and Antarctica were all written below each symbol clearly describing which symbol symbolized their respective continent. These can't really be described as they are things I have never seen before nor can make similarities with anything I have seen before.

      "Wow..." was all I could say. We have found Earth's keyhole. The shape of the tomb was no coincidence. Nintoku is buried here. It is just a matter of where the sarcophagus.

      "So Matthew where is the-" I said before realizing as I look around the room that he isn't there. "Oh great. Where on earth could he be?" My friends and Invictus also looked around and saw he isn't there.

      "Great, he's gone," Adrian said. "Invictus, give me a reason I shouldn't be looking for him or thinking he set us up."

      "I do not think you should nor is it the case," he replied. "I kept quiet on my thoughts about him, but in the time we have spent with him, I have had a feeling there was something about him he did not tell us."

      "What do you mean? He basically opened himself up to us by telling us about himself and his roots," Shane said.

      "Yes, but I may be suspicious in saying this, but I sense that there is something about him that he did not tell us that relates to what we see on the walls," Invictus said.

      "You mean you think he is one of the seven lights?" Jack asked. Invictus nodded.

      "Well, I probably am being a bit paranoid so I would not take my suspicion with my value," he said. "Now, the time has come to unlock the Earth. Supreme Elite, you have obtained the Mark of Kye and are the ones foretold to awaken the power of Earth. Go and fulfill your destiny." Us Elite nodded and so we stood side by side in a line in this order: me, Shane, Jack, and Adrian. Invictus was just off to the left side with his armor on. We raised our hands toward the keyhole and gathered our power together. The keyhole was clearly not active when we showed up so we have to awaken it. The Mark of Kye then appeared on ourselves and glowed in the Kingdom Hearts blue hue. Just then, the keyhole itself glowed in the same hue. We looked at each other with excitement as we awakened the keyhole. We summoned our Keyblades and pointed them at the keyhole. Light beams then erupted from the tips and traveled to the keyhole. The keyhole glowed brighter as the beams hit it. We unsummoned our Keyblades and waited. Nothing really happened for a second, but then the symbols on the walls glowed in the same hue as the Mark and keyhole. Four streams of light came out of the keyhole and floated around for a bit before rushing towards the Mark on our chests and entered into us. It felt like we had a rush going through us. It was like we got hit by a truck, but we still are getting hit. It was an indescribable feeling as all the power of Earth was unlocked and flowed right into me. My friends were feeling the same thing as I can sense also their mentality. We soon got used to it and closed our eyes and controlled ourselves. The feeling we embraced and the power we made our own.

      Once the power finished entering into ourselves, we had auras like flames around us that were the blue color like before. We opened our eyes and they glowed the same blue. Invictus took off his mask and awe was written all over it. The flame auras disappeared after a few moments and our eyes turned back to their normal colors. We then exhaled and took our breaths deliberately. It would take some getting used to feeling like you just got a shot in the arm of stimulus. It kind of was like when Noctis obtained the royal arms from his predecessors' tombs. Now, we have the power of Earth.

      "Now that you have Earth's power," Invictus said, "the seven must be summoned here."

      "How do we do that?" Jack asked.

      "Remember the way in which I summoned the seven lights composing of Sora and company?" he said. "That is how you will do it. You will line up facing the symbols of the seven continents. You will say the incantation and then in the motions I did at the pillar in summoning the seven guardians of light, you will do the same with the seven lights on Earth."

      "What do we say though? We can't just make up stuff," Adrian reasoned.

      "Your heart will know and when it does, then you will speak the right words," Invictus said. We looked at each other unsure of this, but we took his word for that face value. We stood side by side like before, but each of us facing the symbols. The shape was a curve to be precise. We closed our eyes and opened our hearts. Then it came to us.

      "Seven lights, guardians of Earth," we said in unison, the sigils started glowing and acted up as we spoke, "the Earth has awakened. Fulfill your duty and save the world. By command of the Supreme Elite..." we open our eyes "come to us!" Then like Noctis in Final Fantasy XV and Invictus at the pillar, we snapped our right hands out summoning our Keyblades, raised them over our heads, and then stab them into the floor. Like meteors coming to earth, seven Keyblades came through the ground above our heads and landed in front of the symbols of the continents. Corridors then opened up and out of them came seven Keyblade wielders: four males and three females. They had their eyes closed and heads bowed as they came out of the corridors, but then after a few moments, they opened their eyes and looked at us. My friends and I unsummoned our Keyblades as we saw them. There was silence between us Elite and the seven for a while. I look around at them and then notice one of them.

      "What?! Matthew?!" I exclaimed shocked. He was standing in front of one of the sigils. He smiled a little bit.

      "Surprise," he said slightly sheepishly. Invictus then stepped forward.

      "Welcome seven lights of Earth," he said.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Wait, what!? Seven Guardians of the Earth? That's just crazy! Just when I thought that this story couldn't get any more exciting, and you throw this into the mix! Gahhh, all the pieces are lining up together perfectly! Wow, this was an awesome chapter, keep it up, man!

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Chapter 47: The Pieces Begin to Align

      Even though Invictus seemed fine greeting the seven, I needed a little time getting used to this. It was a sight to see. The seven still looked at Invictus and bowed to him.

      "Your majesty," they all replied. As strong as they are, they still are subjects to the Keyblade Emperor. They stood back up fully and then looked at us.

      "You must be the Supreme Elite who summoned us," a male Keyblade wielder in front of the North American sigil said. We just nodded.

      "I might as well introduce the rest of us," Matthew said. He then introduced the all of the lights. Since he was the farthest left, he went from left to right in order. "As you know, I'm Matthew, guardian of Asia; this is Alena, guardian of Antarctica; Jesse, guardian of North America; Brendon, guardian of South America; Brianna, guardian of Africa; Chloe, guardian of Australia; Alexander, guardian of Europe. We are all the seven guardians of Earth, the other seven lights."

      "What an honor to be in your presence Supreme Elite," Alexander said. If you were to see the gathering of the Dandelions in χ Back Cover, it looks like seven of them were taken from that gathering and plopped right here on Earth.

      "Seven lights," I addressed them, "I'm afraid that you are destined to fight your counterparts, the thirteen darknesses. Luxu has gathered together six lights from the kingdoms and a light from a man called Walt Disney left behind in a lamp and his thirteen darknesses as well."

      "The Writer you mean," Jesse said. I was a bit confused, but then it made sense to me. "Walt Disney was called The Writer because he wrote it all down through his animations and his parks, or rather, his kingdoms. He knew it all was real, but no one here really knew. He was known well to all Keyblade wielders and remains an honored figured to us. He has been called The Writer since his animations first came to be. We also knew he put his light within the lamp before he died."

      "Now that light is in Luxu's possession, yes?" Alexander asked. I nodded in the affirmative.

      "Yeah and now a war that will spread everywhere and affect everyone is coming," Shane said. "It's called the Apocalyptic War and not just Earth, but all worlds will have this war come to them."

      "Luxu is after the χ-blade and he wants seven lights and thirteen darknesses to fight," Jack said.

      "If that is the case, then he means us and not the fifth generation," Chloe said. "He surely told you that the seven lights would fight the thirteen darknesses again, but it isn't the seven you are used to that will fight them. It's us and once those thirteen are defeated, they will be united with the seven lights he obtained."

      "He will obtain the χ-blade in the end," Brendon said.

      "Then how do we possibly beat him?" Adrian asked.

      "That is what you must do," Brendon replied.

      "You now have Earth's power," Brianna said. "You four are the strongest Keyblade wielders that live right now. You now fully able to stand up to him completely and defeat him."

      "What about the kingdoms?" I asked. "How did they become beacons of light? How do they have a consciousness?"

      "Don't children visit every year?" Matthew asked rhetorically. "You understand how the Realm of Light was rebuilt. Is it not the same for the kingdoms? Even adults have the light of children within them. Some understand and see it and some do not. Every time a family decides to visit one of these kingdoms, the light is built up. It becomes more than just parks, it becomes alive like living beings. The kingdoms have in a way become one with Kingdom Hearts and the light. They feel and think the same way and as you saw not that long ago, fight against the darkness the same way... with light." Now all the dots have been connected from the beginning of history to today. Everything about Earth and the Realm of Light and Kingdom Hearts has been connected together. From the prehistoric times of Atlantis and the beginnings of the Realm of Light to the ancient times of ancient Egypt and Daybreak Town and to the modern times of today. Now it all has come together.

      "So now that you guys have gathered together, now what?" Jack asked them.

      "Follow us," Matthew replied. We walked with them down the hall again and out of the kofun, but then we were walking around to the other side of the tomb.

      "You know this is a tomb right?" Matthew said. "We must find where the emperor is buried. Where he is buried is also a very important location." We walk around to the round side of the kofun. This is directly across from the entrance to the keyhole we found. Here on the other side, the round part of the mound, we come across an entrance. This one is not like the other one. It has a mere keyhole on the front of two large doors. There is no need for any regalia or special item(s) to open it. However, I can tell only these seven are the only ones able to enter. They summon their Keyblades and point them at the keyhole. Each one of their Keyblades is shaped and designed differently and it is clearly based on the different continents and their main features. All seven of them fire beams of light that enter the keyhole, which glows with light. Then the doors slide open parting like the Red Sea did with Moses and the Israelites. Once again, another dark passage and Matthew leads us in.

      This time, the walk was not as long and soon we entered a round room. The torches on the walls lit up on fire once we stepped into this room. Looking all around, we see seven bricks with letters seen in the Book of Prophecies inscribed on them circled around the room. I could tell these represented places where the seven lights here are supposed to stand. Behind these are statues that appear to be the first seven guardians of Earth. They reminded me of the Lucian kings of yore that Noctis saw surround him when he began his sacrifice as these statues were all of armored figures. In the center of the room is what looks like a statue standing on a sarcophagus.

      "Is that what I think it is?" I asked the seven.

      "Yes, that is the sarcophagus of Emperor Nintoku," Alexander replied. The sarcophagus had writing along the sides in ancient Japanese along the top and standing on it was a statue. It clearly was the emperor as he is holding a Keyblade, the Royal Radiance, but with ancient Japanese influences in style. We have seen his Keyblade, but of course artists even of then make sure to depict everything they have seen as ideal according to them. The statue has the Keyblade pointing up.

      "Yes Nintoku wanted to make where the keyhole was his burial place and so was buried on the other side of it," Jesse said. "The reason we are here is to awaken all awareness to our gathering. With this, the Apocalyptic War will truly be unavoidable and everyone will know that we have gathered." The seven lights of Earth stood in front of their respective statues and summoned their Keyblades. They are facing the sarcophagus and statue that sit in the middle of the room. The statue stands on a wide cylinder that has keyholes around it facing the very places the seven are standing at right now. The seven closed their eyes, breathed in, and pointed their Keyblades up while having the handles in front of their faces. The torches went out and this time, all in the room that had writing glowed with light and all things with lines and corners were glowing with light. The sarcophagus and statues were glowing with light as well. The seven then stabbed their Keyblades into the floor and light started pouring into them. It clearly is the power from the seven continents, or lands if you will, entering into them. Then the seven pull their Keyblades from the floor and point them at the keyholes and fire light beams into them. At that moment, all glowing light traveled its way up into the statue of the emperor and into the Keyblade. From the top of that, a powerful burst of light energy shot up into the roof of the room. We knew it went high into the sky.

      Just then, we felt it. It was a strange sensation, but we knew very well that this was the awareness awakened within us and surely will be felt throughout all worlds. We know that the seven guardians of light, the Foretellers, the Lucians, the Keyblade Emperor's warriors, everyone knows that the seven guardians of Earth have gathered together. We also know that Luxu and all of his allies know that the seven guardians of Earth have gathered. A breeze swept through the room for a few moments. It was no ordinary breeze. It can be described like an inaudible whisper that only the heart hears. And surely, that whisper has reached all corners of the Earth and beyond our world.

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      Luxu gasped a bit. He felt it and he knew it. It was what he was waiting for all this time. He longed to feel this sensation, he longed to feel such awareness awakened. Now, it happened and he is not the only one that knows. He was still in the Keyblade Graveyard when he felt it. He had no need to go out to find allies. He knew what he needed to do and knew what was to come.

      "The seven have awakened and gathered," a voice said to him. It was Nikitis.

      "Yes, at last they have," Luxu replied.

      "So when will the war begin and how will both the light and dark gather?" Nikitis asked.

      "Remember how the Keyblade War began?" Luxu asked. Nikitis swallowed hard at the question. How could he possibly ever forget?

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      All light disappeared and the torches lit up again. Meanwhile, my friends, Invictus, and I are in silence amazed with what we saw.

      "How incredible..." Invictus said. I second him in that regard. That's all I can think of right now. I got my senses together and moved passed it.

      "So now what happens?" I asked the seven.

      "The entire Earth, all of the Realm of Light, and all of Eos knows that we have awakened and gathered," Chloe explained. "Now we enter the final stage before the war."

      "How will we know it will begin?" Adrian asked.

      "And with that one strike, a bell that tolls for the end will sound and the war shall begin," Matthew replied. "Does that sound familiar to you?" It was a line from the Book of Prophecies. This was how the Apocalyptic War will begin: a bell's toll. I got chills just thinking about it. As the first Keyblade War began with a bell toll, so will the Apocalyptic War.

      "But there are bells all over the world, how will we know which one?" I asked.

      "A bell silent since birth shall ring and all will hear its sound," Brianna said. "Then will everyone know that the time has come." A bell silent since birth? What does that mean?

      "What does that mean?" Shane asked.

      "A bell that has never been rung will ring and its sound will be heard throughout the Earth, Eos, and the Realm of Light," Brendon replied. "A bell that has never been rung before is the Tsar Bell in Russia. It is the heaviest bell in existence, but it was destroyed and damaged beyond repair before it could be rung. Some at a university in America gave an impression of what it could sound like, but none have ever heard it truly. Only when the war comes will it ring and all will hear it and know it is no ordinary bell."

      "So then there is only one thing we can do isn't there?" Jack asked rhetorically. The seven nodded.

      "What?" I asked not picking it up. I'm assuming there is something more. Jack looked at me.

      "Ben, we prepare for the war," he replied. "We're going to have to face this head on and in order for us to face it completely, we have to ready ourselves." I nodded in understanding.

      "So what will you do?" I asked addressing the seven.

      "We will be gathering our allies together," Matthew replied. "We will of course meet with Yen Sid and the seven lights. If I may suggest your majesty and Supreme Elite, I would go and prepare yourselves in any way possible. It would be best if you lived your lives as you have before until the time comes. To quote a verse, 'therefore, stay awake. For you do not know the hour'." That was a quote from one of the Gospels from the Bible. I nodded and we all left the room walking out back into the outdoors. The seven bowed to us and went on their way into a light corridor leaving my friends and I with Invictus.

      "While they go gather allies from the Realm of Light, I will be going to gather my soldiers and subjects together," Invictus said. "You know that now all Keyblade wielders of Earth have been connected again and so I will need the ability to gather them." The four of us raised our hands like a blessing and Invictus emitted an aura for a moment.

      "Thank you Supreme Elite," he said. "I suggest you four go and do whatever you need to do to fully prepare yourselves for this coming apocalypse. I will see you all again soon." We bowed to the emperor in response. He then disappeared into a light corridor and went on his way preparing for the war.

      "I think we need to go home first to the school and then to our families," I said.

      "Good idea," Shane replied. "The guys back at the school have been without us for a while. We need to see them." The rest of us nodded in agreement and so opened a light corridor and went on our way back to the academy. After a few minutes walk, we come out of the corridor standing at the front of the school. We sighed, opened up the doors, and walked in. There was no one in the hall, but we made our way to the throne room and there, we see the students training and socializing together along with our comrades Soraxan, Derron, Braxon, and Axeron. The latter turned around and saw us and shock and joy came upon their faces.

      "Oh my goodness! The Supreme Elite have returned!" Axeron exclaimed jubilantly. The students all turned and saw us. Gasps came from them and they all began clapping and cheering for our return. I was choked up hearing this. I missed home as I think about it and my friends and I have been away from them for so long. The students clapped and cheered loudly and we just smiled and looked out at them all. I turned and addressed our four comrades.

      "Thank you so much for caring for them," I said.

      "It was an honor to serve you and the Supreme Elite, Master Polemistis," Axeron replied and he bowed. I nodded in return. The students then gathered around us, but not like a mob. They were mingling with my friends, but I was not so much. I wanted to find someone and so was looking around. A female student then spoke to me.

      "Oh master! We are so happy you're back!" Kate said.

      "Thank you, it's good to be back," I replied. "Have you seen Wyatt?"

      "Oh yeah, he's outside training," she said.

      "Thank you," I replied and was about to go when she grabbed my wrist.

      "Wait master, you need to know something," she said. I immediately grew curious and also concerned. "Wyatt has become like a lone wolf. He has changed too. Ever since that time when he found you after you separated from your ancestor, he hasn't been the same. We usually finding him doing all sorts of training alone. Plus, we think his power has taken on new form and new life."

      "How has he behaved?" I asked.

      "Well an example is long after the sessions end and we all are up in our rooms, he is still outside," she explained. "I have once gone out to tell him to call it quits until tomorrow. He told me 'I have to be the best and be ready. Resting now will not help me.' Master, his personality has changed somehow." I nodded and thanked her for the heads up. I walked to the doors leading to the outside, pause for a second to take a breath, and then open them and walk outside. There I see in the courtyard is Wyatt training. He never turned around or anything; he just trained. I smiled slightly and walked closer to him and stood about five steps away from him and watched him for a few seconds.

      "Hello Wyatt," I said. He froze like he was trapped in ice. He turned around and faced me. He then stood straight up and bowed to me. I bowed my head to him as he bowed to me. He then stood upright.

      "Hello master, it's good to see you come back," he said. He did not smile nor change expression. It was the same one with a frown as before. I continued to smile gently.

      "I have just heard you lately have been training alone," I said. Wyatt nodded affirming.

      "Yes master," he said, "I have been training alone and for a while."

      "Why after you found me in New York City?" I asked. There was a pause and then he answered.

      "I was so hoping to find you," he said. "I was concerned and knew you were in danger. I find you only to find an everyday Keyblade wielder and someone who tossed aside who he was. I felt angry at seeing it because it made me feel like all that I saw in you and valued was separated and put into someone else like you decided not to be my master anymore. I decided to take my anger out on my training and trained alone. I also convinced myself that you would come back as the master I know and had to be ready for your return." He paused, took a deep breath, and then spoke again.

      "Master... you have always been a role model," he continued. "To watch my role model throw away everything I hoped to be like hurt me and undercut me. I figured I would have to become what I looked up to myself. That's why I have gone solo." I was slightly choked up and didn't know how to react at that moment. It meant a lot to me. I put a hand on his shoulder and smiled warmly.

      "I am flattered Wyatt that you have viewed me as a role model," I said. "I also apologize if I somehow undercut everything you felt. However, when becoming a Keyblade master, you become your own person with your own characteristics. I don't you to be me, I want you to be you. I want you to be your own master. I merely provide an example and teach you what you need to know to become one. The rest is up to you. You have potential and have capabilities that not many have. You sense things the common Keyblade wielder would not sense. That makes you unique in your own way. That is the path you should go." Wyatt smiled and nodded. We then grabbed each others hands and gave them a shake. Then we went inside the building where everyone was and socialized for a while.

      Later on, us Elite and our apprentices met when the students were in their rooms. We had to tell them what was coming before we tell the students. This was after we told them of our journey after we left the academy.

      "Guys, we had one hell of a journey," I summarized after my friends and I told them our journey. "It was a rather stressful one."

      "I'll say you did," Axeron said. "So what is it that we need to know?"

      "There is a prophecy about us foreseen by a Keyblade wielder called the Keyblade Emperor," I said. "This wielder is the ruler over all Keyblade wielders on Earth and now in the universe. Because of us four obtaining the Mark of Kye, we gathered them all together and connected them all. Now the Keyblade Emperor foresaw that the four of us would fight Luxu and his allies in a war surpassing the Keyblade War, the Apocalyptic War."

      "You mean the descendant of the sixth apprentice himself?" Soraxan asked stunned. We nodded.

      "So who was that Ronnie and Polemos that Wyatt ran into?" Derron asked. Wait, what? I'm confused and my friends looked confused too. The apprentices summarized what Wyatt did and who they ran into while the four of us were gone.

      "They are the two of the thirteen darknesses," Adrian said. Underneath, we were very concerned because that incident hit way too close to home and it unsettled us that it happened while we were away.

      "Luxu has the lights of the Disney Parks and the light from Walt Disney's lamp," Jack said. "He has thirteen darknesses that need to face the seven lights of Earth. When the thirteen are beaten, they will be joined with the seven lights and Luxu will forge the χ-blade."

      "What?! Isn't that exactly what we are trying to keep from happening?!" Derron exclaimed.

      "Yeah, but we can't keep it from happening," Shane replied. "He will get it."

      "So how do you fight him then if he has the counterpart to Kingdom Hearts?" Soraxan asked.

      "We were in Japan at the tomb of a Japanese emperor," Shane said. "The Earth's keyhole was there and there are prophecies that people who have the Mark of Kye would unlock it and Earth's power."

      "We did precisely that and obtained Earth's power," I followed. "Now we are on the same playing field as Luxu."

      "And... what about the seven guardians of Earth?" Braxon asked. "It was not that long ago that we sensed that they gathered and knew who they are even though we never knew the latter nor that such seven existed. Plus, the students asked about it not knowing who or what it was."

      "They are seven Keyblade wielders that protect Earth," I said. "Each one resides on one of the continents and is the guardian of that continent. Together, they protect the Earth. Earth chooses whomever it wills to be their respective successors. After we summoned them to the tomb of Nintoku, they then awoke that sensation within you. They basically used their power to tell the who universe that the seven lights of Earth have gathered together. Now, the stage has been set for the Apocalyptic War."

      "...and when will that begin and how will we know?" Axeron asked after a few moments of thought.

      "A bell will ring and when it does, the war will start," Adrian replied.

      "What bell? There are countless in the world," Axeron asked in response.

      "Do you know how the Keyblade War began?" I asked rhetorically. They nodded. "The seven told us that too is how the Keyblade War will begin. 'And with that strike, a bell that tolls for the end will sound and then will the war begin.' The bell they said would ring would be 'a bell silent since birth will sound and all will hear and know the time has come.' To be precise, the largest bell in the world is the Tsar bell in Russia. It is the largest non working bell in the world. It was meant to go in a cathedral, but a fire severely damaged it beyond repair and it became a museum. It will ring with no assistance and when it does, its sound will be heard throughout the Earth and throughout the universe. Eos and the Realm of Light will not be exempt from hearing its ring."

      "So what do you wish to do Supreme Elite?" Soraxan asked.

      "We prepare for the war," I told them all. "We prepare for the end."

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Oh snap, we are finally about to approach the final stage of this thrilling trilogy! Everything has been leading to this, and now, everyone in the worlds and the universe knows that the Apocalyptic War is gonna go down! It's going to be something to see, I'll say that much! Excellent work on this chapter, man! Amazing work as always!

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Chapter 48: Prepare for the Bell Part 1

      "What about the students? What will be done about them?" Axeron asked. "Some of them will not be anywhere close to ready and we have yet to test some for the Mark of Mastery." That was a good question and a good point. We haven't had the academy open for long and here we are months later with an apocalypse coming. It took the four of us a while to determine what to do with them.

      "Supreme Elite, will any of them fight at all?" Soraxan asked. We looked at each other and just shook our heads.

      "They can't fight at all," Adrian said. "None of them are ready yet. I am sure that you agree that even though it has been a while since we were last here, none of them look ready to test for master's right?" The four nodded with some somberness. They may not be Keyblade Masters, but they don't need to be ones to see the students are not ready.

      "They stay here and just... brace themselves," I said. Darkness was bound to cover all worlds and snuff out all light. I can't imagine what hideous scene would play out on Earth with the dark cover over the Earth. It happened once and things started going down hill quickly. I can only guess what is in store for when the war comes and darkness spreads.

      "Then it's settled then," Shane said. "We just keep them here and batten down the hatches here."

      "What will you four do to prepare though?" Derron asked. We just looked back and forth between each other.

      "Um... well..." I said unsure what to say.

      "I think we will be doing our own things," Jack said. I was a little surprised at his answer.

      "We are?" I asked.

      "Well you remember what Matthew said to us," Jack reasoned. "We should live out our lives until the bell rings." I nodded and we ended the meeting there and returned back to the students.

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      Yen Sid was in his office thinking. He felt it and was sure he felt it. He knew about them and yet never heard nor spoke of them. Yet why does he all of a sudden know of them? The seven lights came into his office all at once with Sora leading the way.

      "Master Yen Sid, we came to you now because we just felt something strange," he said. Yen Sid nodded in reply.

      "I too felt it. It is unlike anything I have sensed before," Yen Sid said. "I fail to comprehend what this is... or rather, who they are."

      "Maybe we can help explain," a male voice said. Behind the seven, a light corridor opened up and out came seven Keyblade wielders of four males and three females came out of the corridor.

      "Who are you guys?" Sora asked.

      "Hello Master Yen Sid, seven lights," Matthew said, "it is a pleasure and honor to meet you all. We are the seven guardians of Earth. Or if you will, we are the seven lights of Earth."

      "Seven lights?" Sora wondered.

      "Indeed. You may wonder what that strange sensation is and why you felt it," Matthew said. "Allow us to explain who we are." He and the rest of the seven of Earth then told their story and their interactions with the Supreme Elite.

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      Later that day after the sun went down and everyone went to their rooms, we went to our rooms there at the school and hit the hay. I tried to get some sleep, but I couldn't and I saw it was about midnight. I huffed and decided to get up, get my clothes on. The reason why I couldn't sleep is because of all the thoughts going on in my head. The war, the chaos and ruin coming, and the prophecy that one of us Elite will be chosen by Kingdom Hearts and its counterpart to use the ?-blade and defeat Luxu while becoming one with Kingdom Hearts. The latter really was on my mind and I decided to head outside and just think about it. Luckily there was a full moon and it was bright enough for me and the trees to cast shadows. I walked out and just looked around and just slowly walked toward the edge of the pavement and sat on the stone with my feet on grass looking out over the hill. It is dark out, but there is some light out over the valley before me. I just sat and let myself get lost in my thoughts. I needed to enter reflection over what is coming. Not just that, but everything else that comes with it and all the people that will be affected. After being with Bahamut and being able to request his and the astrals assistance, he told me to enter into reflection. I never did that until now and why not now when it is peaceful and quiet? It may not be like this again.

      "Master?" I heard someone behind me call out. I look behind me and see Wyatt walking towards me. The moon is so bright I can see his face and body in the moonlight.

      "Wyatt? What are you doing here? Why are you up?" I asked. We were both speaking in soft voices in order to not disturb the peace.

      "I just couldn't sleep and I was awake when I saw you get up and walk out here," he replied. "I watched you come out here, but kept my distance not wanting to bother you." I merely nodded and turned back around to my original position my elbows on my knees and facing towards the darkness of the night. Wyatt came up and sat next to me which didn't bother me at all.

      "Master, I know there is something that is bothering you," he said. "Could you please tell me what exactly happened during your journey away?" I didn't exactly want to talk about it, especially since us Elite have not told the students just yet, which we said we would do the next day, but my heart told me it would be best especially for the future. I merely turned my gaze toward his half lit face and breathed in and out of my nose.

      "Wyatt, there is a conflict coming called the Apocalyptic War," I explained. "The Apocalyptic War is a conflict that will dwarf the Keyblade War from ancient times and the second one that happened a few years ago. Luxu, the descendant of the apprentice Luxu has seven lights from the Disney Parks and has the thirteen darknesses ready to fight the seven lights of Earth. The seven lights of Earth are seven Keyblade wielders that protect this world and live on each continent. They will fight the thirteen darknesses, defeat them, and with those darknesses, Luxu will unite them with the seven lights and forge the ?-blade. This will all happen during the Apocalyptic War. In order to stand against him, we Supreme Elite have obtained the power of Earth by finding Earth's keyhole and unlocking it. However, there is a prophecy that one of us will be the one with ?-blade in hand will defeat Luxu and purge the darkness from the universe. In doing so, we must become one with Kingdom Hearts and the light. That means that one of us sacrifices themselves in defeating the darkness and will never be seen nor heard from again." Wyatt was silent as the only thing I now heard were the sounds of the night.

      "Oh... I see..." was all he replied. "I guess I should have left you to your thoughts and to some privacy." He was about to get up, but then I immediately grabbed his wrist.

      "Please stay," I said. He sat back down with no protest nor with any inclination to object. We just sat together in silence listening to the sounds around us.

      "So... what will you and Masters Aiton, Kyrios, and Kidemonas do now?" Wyatt asked.

      "We prepare ourselves to fight," I replied.

      "...who exactly will be fighting in this war?"

      "Anyone from non-Keyblade wielders to Keyblade wielders and from all worlds."

      "Will we be fighting master?"

      "No, you will not be fighting. Myself and the other Supreme Elite along with the apprentices Axeron and company will be fighting." I then look at him with meaning and heart and emotion in my gaze. "Wyatt, I want you to do something for me. I want you to lead the students here. One of us will be gone and the rest of us will have grown older and retired the label and mantle. With that said, I want you to lead the rest of the students. Be the shepherd for this flock of sheep. They will need one and you are the right person to lead them. They will need you and rely upon you to guide them to being Keyblade masters." Wyatt did not really show much emotion when I told him my desire for him. I could sense though he was overwhelmed when he heard it and is now processing it. He looked back at me with a more concrete look in his eyes.

      "I will lead them master," he replied. "I am not a Keyblade Master yet though. How can I lead them if I am not a Keyblade Master?" I got up from my spot and walked to the middle of the courtyard.

      "Come on," I said. He looked confused as he stood up and walked to the middle of the courtyard too standing some fifteen feet away from me.

      "Master Polemistis, what are you doing?" he asked.

      "We are going to solve your problem right now," I replied. He still looked confused. I summoned my Keyblade and took stance. "You will fight me and this will be your Mark of Mastery exam. In order for me to determine if you can attain the Mark, I need to test your strength and see if that extra training you put in by yourself will pay off." Wyatt nodded ready to get going and so he summoned his Keyblade and took stance too. We then clashed and fought each other. He was strong and he was impressive. I was slightly surprised how strong he is and how good he is. I used spells and attacks that are standard for a Keyblade master to learn and know and Wyatt handled it all. He even got me a few times with his counters when he blocked. As I fought him, there was no hesitation about what he should do or where to strike. He fought naturally and powerfully and even used some attacks and spells only Keyblade masters that have been masters for a while would know. He must have looked at some books and practiced. By the end of our fight, we were half bent over and looking across from each other in our stances.

      "I'm amazed Wyatt," I said and stood up fully. "You were strong, powerful, and natural in your fighting. You are very advanced and clearly should have been made a master a while ago. Now, I correct that error."

      "'Correct the error'?" he asked. I nodded.

      "Congratulations Master Wyatt, you have shown me you have attained the Mark of Mastery," I said. "I am very pleased to make you a new Keyblade Master." I unsummoned my Keyblade and bowed to now Master Wyatt. He nodded and smiled. I then walk up to him and we shake each other's hand before we embraced each other.

      "I promise Master Polemistis, I will lead them and protect them," he said referring to the students.

      "I know you will," I replied. We then went back inside and this time we were able to fall asleep and this time stay asleep after being very tired from the Mark of Mastery exam.

      The next day came and we started up everything, but this time I had everyone gather together.

      "Everyone, I want you all to line up in formation please," I said. My friends were confused so I took them off to the side and spoke in a low voice to them.

      "Ben, what are you doing?" Adrian asked.

      "Last night I couldn't sleep," I began, "and so I went outside to the courtyard. While I was sitting there, Wyatt came out and sat with me. I had to explain it all to him that night. After I explained what is coming to him, I made him a Keyblade master." My friends were rather shocked over what I did.

      "What?! You made him a Keyblade master?!" Adrian said in as low of a voice as possible.

      "You know we didn't even have our first Mark of Mastery test yet, right?" Shane asked.

      "Yes I know," I replied. "As I was explaining things to him, it got me thinking about what is coming. If we and our apprentices are fighting and these students aren't, who is to say none of us will survive this war? Then who will lead them and care for them? They would be sheep with no shepherd so I told Wyatt to lead them and take care of them. I had to make him Keyblade master."

      "Are you sure you should have made him a master?" Jack asked.

      "Yes I am sure," I said with no second thought. "Wyatt knew that when our ancestors came back to here, they were not us even though they looked like us. He did not sense our hearts and he tried to go out on his own to find us or at least me. He stood against Ronnie and Polemos. Wyatt even did so much training by himself after finding me in New York as a regular person. He is growing so much and he was ready to be a Keyblade master. I had to test him then. We fought and at the end of it, I knew he showed his mark of mastery and I called him Master Wyatt. We should give him that respect he is due as it does take a Keyblade master to oversee the Mark of Mastery exam and there is nothing that outlines what an exam contains." My friends were silent and looking at each other waiting to see if the other has any objections. None were brought up after all.

      "You're right Ben," Shane said. "There isn't anything that says how a test should go and you are a Keyblade master and since you basically had an exam and decided he passed, we will call him Master Wyatt." I smiled and nodded and we returned back to the students and our apprentices. Just beforehand though, we discussed who should be the one to break it to them and I made myself the one because I asked them to get lined up in formation so I should be the one to tell them. It immediately grew silent when they saw us return back from our private discussion.

      "As you guys know, us Supreme Elite have been away for a while," I said. "It has been a journey with ups and downs and everything in between. We have learned the dark truths of our masters, the Foretellers and how they were their ancestors were responsible for the Keyblade War and kept it secret until today. We split from our ancestors and lived normal lives only to reunite them again. We met a powerful Keyblade wielder called the Keyblade Emperor. He is the ruler over all Keyblade wielders including you all and he showed us history of the interaction between the Realm of Light and Earth. We then found the Earth's keyhole and unlocked its power while meeting the seven guardians of Earth, or seven lights of Earth if you will. We learned also there is a prophecy that a past Keyblade Emperor named Uranaishi foresaw. Basically, a war called the Apocalyptic War will begin and all of the light and all of the dark will fight on a great battlefield and in that war, one of the four of us Elite will sacrifice ourselves to save all of the light and all of the universe from the darkness that will cover this world and others." There were some slight gasps from the students and surprise was clear on some while others had more determined expressions.

      "There is no guarantee that the rest of us will come back alive," I continued. "All us Elite could perish during the war along with the apprentices that have been with you for all the time we were gone. With that as the worst case scenario, I made Wyatt our newest Keyblade master." There were more gasps and some chatter among them. They then looked at Wyatt who did not bother with the attention and continued to keep his expression the same.

      "Wyatt, please come forward," I said motioning to him. He nodded and walked up next to my right side and faced the students. "Last night, I had insomnia because of what was coming and so went out to the courtyard and sat at the edge of the stone. Wyatt came out and sat with me and we talked about the future. I thought much about how Wyatt here had changed and what he did to grow; you all surely saw it as Kate told me how you all have noticed the change in his personality. I told Wyatt that should none of us Elite and none of your teachers come back, Wyatt must lead you all. In order for him to do so, I tested him for the Mark of Mastery and fought him. He proved to me that he is worthy of the mark and has shown me that he can lead you all. So now, he is to be called Master Wyatt and is to be treated with the respect a Keyblade master deserves. He will remain your friend though and he will lead you all like a shepherd with his flock."

      Everyone was silent and they looked at Wyatt who just looked out at them all. I could sense he was a little nervous wondering if they will accept him. Everyone, faced Wyatt and bowed to him. He breathed out of his nose trying to keep his relief as little noticeable as possible. It doesn't get passed me or my friends though. Standing upright after a second, the students summoned their Keyblades, flipped their grip to reverse grip, and then made a handing over gesture to Wyatt.

      "Master Wyatt," Mark said, "whatever you do, we'll support you always. Lead us so we can become our own masters one day and continue the legacy the Supreme Elite have created." They all then unsummoned their Keyblades and applauded for Wyatt for his success in his Mark of Mastery exam. Then they gathered around him and they all socialized with all smiles. My friends and I and our apprentices stood back and watched with pleasure feeling the hope amidst this dark time. Axeron then spoke up.

      "Master Polemistis," he said, "you know the war is coming and all of us have to be ready for it. With the students here under the care of Master Wyatt, might I suggest you go and prepare yourselves?"

      "How could we do that?" Jack asked.

      "Maybe go off and practice your skills," Axeron replied. "Maybe get your spirit ready since destiny is not something to be taken lightly and those not ready for it are the ones who do not bode well at all." I nodded in understanding. He is right. I haven't practiced my skills or magic and I have not done anything to prepare my soul for this. I look at my friends and I nod.

      "I think we split up guys," I said. "This is something that we individually need to do so when the bell tolls, we are ready to lead the light."

      "So, this is goodbye?" Shane asked.

      "For now," Adrian said. "We'll meet up again and we'll be ready when we do." There was a moment of silence between us before Jack spoke up.

      "See you all soon," Jack said.

      "See you soon," I said and we grabbed each other's hands and gave each other an embrace. Then we turned to the apprentices and they bowed to us.

      "We are ready to fight with you, Supreme Elite," Axeron said on behalf of him and his companions. They then stood upright and nodded. We then opened our own light corridors, one for each of us, and my friends and apprentices went through first. I was about to go through mine before I heard someone call after me.

      "Master Polemistis!" the voice said. I turn and see Wyatt approaching me. "Thank you for being there for me. I will lead them and protect them and I swear I won't disappoint you." I nodded and smiled warmly.

      "It has been a great pleasure... Master Wyatt," I replied. The last part surprised him a bit and I bowed to him. He smiled and we grabbed hands. Then we pulled each other into a hug knowing this could be the last time we see each other.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Wow...the tension is high in the air right now! The final battle is close at hand, and the final preparations are being set! Great job, as always!

 

Also, I loved how this chapter was about Ben passing on the torch to Wyatt. He always seemed like a worthy Keyblade Wielder, always loyal to the Supreme Elite and always showing that he had potential to be something more! And now he'll carry the legacy of the Elite as a Keyblade Master to lead the students! Emotional stuff man, powerful, just powerful! :')

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Chapter 49: Prepare for the Bell Part 2

      Leaving the academy and walking alone allowed me to think some. How could I prepare for the final battle? Yes I do need to enhance my own skills and my own power both in spirit and in physicality. Then would I enhance my own power of the Keyblade. It surely would help enhance the power of the Mark of Kye and the power of Earth that I possess. Where though could I practice without any distractions? It then hit me; I knew exactly where to go - to the place where I became who I am today. I walk out of the corridor and find myself at the entrance to Shaolin Temple.

      "This would be a perfect place to practice," I said to myself. I walked up the stairs into the temple and there, the master that my friends and I saw before was there. He noticed me and a big smile came across his face. He then faced me and bowed. I bowed to as it is respect between two martial artists and yes I still am a martial artist. Standing upright, he nodded at me.

      "It is good that you have returned," he said in the tongue of the Keyblade wielder. I was a little surprised.

      "It is good to see you too. You know the tongue of the Keyblade wielder?" I replied in the same language.

      "Yes and I do speak English," he replied.

      "Well that's good," I just replied in English. "You didn't speak when my friends and I were here last time."

      "I had no need to sifu," he said. Sifu (see-FOO) means "master" in Chinese. "I knew you would understand what needed to be done. I merely needed to be the guide by action alone and point you where your destiny tells you to go." I nodded in understanding.

      "Sifu, I am here because a great apocalypse is coming," I said. "I have attained the power of Earth and the Mark of Kye. I now need to strengthen my body and spirit and came here so I won't be distracted in doing so."

      "I know the very place you must go," he said and he took me into the temple where the monks has the mural of the Supreme Elite. No one was in the room, but he took me behind the mural and outside where there was a deck. I knew immediately what he was getting to.

      "Wait, you are leading me back to where we became our ancestors aren't you?" I said.

      "Those were sanctuaries left alone ever since the beginning," the master said. "However, after you became your forebearers, these became something more." I walked up the same staircase as the first time where my ancestor was when his heart was put to sleep. Yes I remember it was a long flight of stairs, but it didn't bother me as much as it used to. Reaching the top, there was some sort of Buddhist sanctuary set up with a statue of a figure in the middle that looked like me. It was adorned with an altar in front of it that had all these incenses and offerings. I could smell the incense as it was pretty strong. There were multiple monks already here praying in front of the sanctuary. I was amazed.

      "After you all took in your forebearers," the master said, "these places were made into sanctuaries. You know of the legend of the Four Heavenly Kings, do you not?"

      "I was told that legend came from my ancestors," I said.

      "Indeed," the master said. "It was from your ancestors that the legend came to be." Once the ceremony ended, all the monks stood up and faced me and the master. I looked at them all and the monks remembered that I am one of the four that they have prayed to before. I walked forward and they moved to make room for me to pass. I walked through the midst of them and up to the sanctuary. I looked at it up and down and saw the incense smoldering. I love the smell of incense and breathing it in really settles my spirit. I turn to face the monks and they all still face me. They then get on their knees and bow to me. I am not a god nor am to be worshiped as one. It goes against my beliefs as a Catholic because I am human and there is no god, but God alone and alone should he be worshiped. However, these men here are not Catholic let alone Christian, they are Buddhist and my ancestors and the ancestors of my friends are considered four deities in Buddhism, the Four Heavenly Kings, and I can't offend them. I have to put this gently.

      "Fellow sifus," I said and they looked up at me, "consider me one among you as an equal. Do not treat me with special favors or incense, but consider me an equal among you just as human as you are." They all stand up and bow the Asian bow and I return it. Then they all go down the hill in procession leaving me alone with the master.

      "They will continue to treat you as one of the four kings," he said. "I already told them to treat you with such respect as one gives to one of the deities; in this case, one of the four kings." I nodded and accepted it. Just as long as I am not worshiped, I am okay with it.

      "Sifu, help me with my spirit," I said. "Help me increase my spiritual power." The master nodded. I quickly said a prayer to God asking him to also help me strengthen my spirit. Although the sifu spoke in Chinese, I understood what he commanded me to do. I first stood in the middle of the sanctuary and breathed slowly with my eyes closed. He then commanded me to summon Ultimate Apocalypse my Keyblade and I did so. Then using natural instinct, I did tai chi with Keyblade in hand. The central theme was, since I already have the power of Earth, I need to become one with the light of Earth, the Earth and its heart, and the elements. Then can I enhance my spirit. I reminded myself that becoming one with the light meant also getting closer to God. He will be someone I rely on a lot to ease my spirit and accept the fact that one of us four will never see each other again and won't until the Last Judgment. I did tai chi with my Keyblade and let my heart tell me what to do. It all came naturally to me as I did what the master told me to do. We did this for about twenty minutes to half an hour. It went by quickly and I couldn't tell the time. I didn't need to since me enhancing my spirit was necessary.

      At the end, the master was about to depart and head back down the stairs.

      "Sifu, I now take my leave," he said and bowed to me. "I will leave you to your peace and will assure those below not to disturb you. If anyone wills to see you, I will only allow few to do so."

      "It's okay sifu," I replied. "Thank you anyway." He then went back down the hill and I was all alone to the silence of nature. All I heard was any birds and any wind that blew. I practice the martial arts techniques and forms I learned from back home with my Keyblade in hand integrated the art of the Keyblade with martial arts that I know. After about fifteen minutes, I see a woman walk up the stairs and approach the sanctuary.

      "Sifu," she said in greeting and bowed to me. She was beautiful and wore elegant clothing and her hair was up in a bun behind her head. She appeared to be in her thirties and was serene and gentle in appearance. She held in her hands an instrument. I realized it was a guzheng, a Chinese string instrument that came to be in ancient times. I nodded to her and she stood upright. She clearly must be one of the residents of the Shaolin Temple as a Buddhist nun.

      "Sifu, may I satisfy you and play for you as you practice?" she asked.

      "Of course," I replied warmly. She placed her guzheng down on the pavement and sat down and started to play. I stood and controlled my breathing becoming one with the feeling of the music being played. I just stood with closed eyes and controlled breathing and listened to what she was playing. Then after a minute or so, I started practicing again flowing with the music. When it was slow, I moved slowly and the same with when it was fast. Whatever speed she played, I moved at the same speed. This went on for half an hour to forty five minutes. I did not know it felt that long; it felt like only fifteen or twenty. She apparently did not seem to notice either for the times my glance fell on her during my practice, she smiled and looked at peace and happy. It felt very nice.

      Then she stopped playing and got up with her instrument, looked at me, and bowed to me. I bowed back to her.

      "Thank you. I needed that and you played wonderfully," I said to her.

      "Maybe we can do this again one day," she said and I nodded. She then went back down the hill. I went down the stairs ten minutes later too and went into the room with the mural of the Supreme Elite. I was about to look for the sifu when a bell starting tolling. It was not a deep bell and wasn't the one that was foretold to signal the beginning of the war, but it was a lighter bell. I looked around and saw the sifu and approached him.

      "Sifu, what is happening?" I asked him.

      "The prayers to the Four Heavenly Kings are about to begin," he replied. "I am afraid you must go back up the mountain to the sanctuary." It's obvious that my ancestors have been worshiped as the Four Heavenly Kings and since I am my own ancestor and am here... well it's obvious where this is going.

      "Sifu, I am a mere mortal," I pleaded gently. "As a Christian, I am not to be worshiped for I am a mere human. I may go by two identities and have two hearts as one, but I am not to be worshiped as that belongs to God."

      "According to the teachings of the Buddha, you are one of the Four Kings," he replied. "I may understand your desire, but the rest will insist and will indeed the ceremony will go forth. You may ask your God to take the prayers and offer them to him and not to you." I felt like I should just plain not do it, but I didn't want to offend these good people. It would harm them in multiple ways particularly in spirit. I nodded in understanding and just before the monks started showing up to walk up the stairs, I went back up the staircase.

      "Lord, these people do not know You," I prayed out loud to God looking up to the sky as I walked. "They pray to me acting as if I am a god coming to visit them. I do not want it Lord and You have commanded that there be no god but you Almighty and True, but I cannot insult or slight them. Take these prayers they chant to me and take them to yourself that instead of honoring me, they honor you, my Lord and God. I will take these prayers of theirs and intercede for them to You that they may come to know You and love you as I love You." I sighed and continued walking up to the sanctuary. I looked at the altar with ornaments and the statue of me that is ornamented and sighed. I hear subtly the bell used for the signal of prayers and I stand in front of the altar and bow my head and close my eyes praying to God with my soul the whole time.

      I hear them approach and continue to pray for them to God with head still bowed and eyes still closed. They approached in silence and then once all took their places, one rang the bell and they chanted again to a drum. I sensed one of them approach to just in front of me and place something down. It had a scent to it: incense. I looked up and opened my eyes and they all fell silent and bowed. Then they stand upright and chant more and I wave my hand and a flame goes to the little dish that has the offering of incense and lights in a flame. The prayers last for about ten minutes and I continuously send their prayers to God or deflecting them rather to God.

     After the prayers, the monks went back down the mountain leaving me and the master alone.

     "Thank you sifu," I said. "I must take my leave now." He nodded and smiled warmly.

     "Go forth and defend the light," he said. "May your heart be your guiding key." I put a fist to my heart and nodded. Then I open a light corridor and leave Shaolin Temple and head on my way to a different place. What the master said to me got me thinking about what is coming and I think I knew where I needed to go. I come out of the corridor and find myself in Insomnia, the royal capital of Lucis. I look up and I am standing in front of the gate of the Citadel. I open the gate and walk towards the Citadel. It is a bright beautiful day in Insomnia with the sun making the Citadel a bright marble white. I pause and look up at the Citadel for a while and sigh. I then nod, take a step forward, but then pause and sigh.

      "Something troubling you handsome?" a female voice asked me. I looked behind me and saw Aranea.

      "Aranea," I said. "Yeah actually. It's just that one of the four of us Supreme Elite will have to sacrifice ourselves to save the universe from darkness. That means one of us won't see the rest of us again."

      "Well that sounds like what his majesty pretty boy up there did," she said. "I'm afraid I am not one to get all deep and that, but all I can say is I got your back and will be fighting with you in this." I smiled at her and nodded.

      "Thanks Aranea," I said. I look toward the Citadel and there are some attendants that approach me. I cover myself in light to change my clothes to my Lucian outfit as they approached.

      "Master Polemistis," a male butler said, "what a pleasure it is to see you return."

      "The same to you too," I replied.

      "I am afraid his majesty is a little busy at the moment," the attendant said.

      "Doesn't matter. Just get him out of whatever the hell he is doing as soon as possible," Aranea sharply said. "The mrs will also have to show up too."

      "Yes commodore," he replied to her and then addressed me. "Shall we tend to any need?"

      "No thank you," I replied. "I'll just be taken inside please." The attendants bowed and led me inside. I bade farewell to Aranea and went inside.

      "Please take me to the room of the prophecy," I said to them. They appeared stunned for a bit, but then nodded and we went into an elevator and went up to that very floor. Coming out of it, I stepped out of the elevator and without turning to face them, I spoke to them.

      "Please inform his majesty I am here," I said.

      "As you wish," they replied and left in the elevator. I walked forward through the halls and went into the room. I look up at the paintings along the wall alone just losing myself to my thoughts while thinking about the prophecy of the True King. I hear voices after a few minutes and then walking into the room are Gladiolus, Prompto, and Ignis. They all notice me and stop talking apparently surprised to see me.

      "Oh Polemistis," Prompto said.

      "We weren't aware you would be visiting," Ignis said.

      "Or was the point not to tell us?" Gladio asked.

      "Hello guys," I said not looking at them.

      "Something the matter?" Ignis asked. I didn't answer immediately and they approached me as I looked at the painting depicting the True King with his three friends.

      "I have a lot on my mind in regards to what's coming," I replied.

      "It's about the prophecy about you guys right?" Gladio asked. I merely nodded. The three of them then stand next to me and look at the painting I am looking at.

      "You know, even then they knew about the rest of you," I said talking about the three other figures. "Sure they knew about the True King, but they also knew about that True King having three other friends with one of them being blind, another helping him who had facial hair, and a third on the other side with lighter hair."

      "Heh, yeah now that you mention it, they did know about the rest of us," Prompto said.

      "Indeed, but because of what the god of the underworld did for his majesty, we are now back to our selves from before we left," Ignis said.

      "It's nice having a few years taken off," Gladio said. I just smirked and chuckled once.

      "Hey, I think you should know that speaking on our behalf," Prompto said, "we will fight with you guys until the end."

      "We're right behind you now and always bud," Gladio followed.

      "You four will not be alone going into this fight," Iggy said. "We will support you until fate takes place. With that, we will leave you to your thoughts. I assume his and her majesties will arrive shortly." I looked at them all with emotion.

      "Thank you all," I said and gave them all a hug. They didn't expect it, but gave me a hug in return. Then they left the room leaving me to myself until Luna and Noctis arrive. Luna did arrive, but I was still looking at the paintings. I knew she was with me though.

      "Hello Polemistis," she said.

      "Your majesty," I replied.

      "What troubles you?" she asked.

      "You understand what," I replied. She nodded. She did know of the prophecy about us Elite.

      "Luna, can you please tell me the prophecy of the True King?" I asked. "Can you recite what the prophecy says please?" She nodded and we walked around the room to each of the images in the room and looked at each of the related images as she recited the prophecy.

      "O'er rotted Soil, under blighted sky," she recited, "A dread Plague the Wicked hath wrought. In the Light of the Gods, Sword-Sworn at his Side 'Gainst the Dark the King's Battle is fought. From the Heavens high, to the Blessed below, Shines the Beam of a Peace long besought. Long live thy Line, and this Stone divine, For the Night when All comes to Naught." We came back to the image with the king and his comrades as she finished the recitation. I sensed Noctis approach us and stand next to me. He put his hand on my shoulder and I sighed.

      "How did you accept it?" I asked him looking down into space. "How did you understand and accept the sacrifice you were destined to make? What gave you the grace to do such a thing?"

      "I was asleep for ten years," he replied. "I had the crystal's power and then was I ready to make the sacrifice. You guys don't have ten years to do that, but I think once the time comes, you will accept it and fulfill your duty whichever among you is the chosen." He put now his arm over my shoulders.

      "No matter what," he continued, "I have your backs... always."

      "Thank you," I said and we looked at the painting in silence again.

      "Hey, why don't I help you train?" he suggested after a while.

      "I would like that," I said. I then turned to Luna. "Luna- thank you." She took my head and kissed my forehead.

      "I will fight alongside you all to save our star and all stars from darkness blight," she said. I then hugged her for a bit with heart heavy with somberness.

      Noctis and I then left the room and went down into the lower floors of the citadel and into the training room. There, Noctis and I stood across from each other.

      "I might as well tell you what I have been doing," Noct said. "I got the Crownsguard and Kingsglaive ready to fight and actually have talked to your president and Mickey about what is coming. I told your president there is not much he can do, but anyone who wants to fight can, but does so at their risk. Mickey has his soldiers ready and will be working with the Crownsguard and Kingsglaive."

      "You all have been training in the meantime right?" I asked him.

      "Yeah since that is also the only other thing we can do," he replied. "The guys and I have been training with each other all in the meantime."

      "Noct, why did you show up in my world?" I asked him switching gears.

      "I had to," he replied. "I heard about the whole floor falling out from under you because of the Foretellers and then I heard about you guys splitting with your ancestors. I wanted to see myself at least one of you guys just as regular guys. It was a little troubling to be honest. I put so much faith in you guys actually and to hear you changing who you were and then seeing it myself, it kind of made me question the people I put faith in. That's why I told you I liked how you were before and thought it was the best."

      "I'm sorry Noctis," I apologized.

      "Hey, don't be," he replied. "You were going through a lot. I should be apologizing for thinking about myself and how your change affected me. So, should we get started?" He then summoned his Sword of the Father and not the Engine Blade.

      "Yeah, let's get to it," I replied summoning Ultimate Apocalypse and we both took stances. We then charge toward each other and start fighting each other. The skills of the Lucian against the skills of the Keyblade wielder; one could argue that could be pay-per-view for people on Earth in the United States. Neither one of us gave an inch, but Noctis ramped it up and turned up the heat from previous matchups. I had to get more aggressive myself and start going offense when I would typically go defense. Then after managing to just get enough of a chance to strike him across the abdomen, we paused for a second as Noct was bent over breathing some.

      "Nice," he said and slowly stood up fully and turned his gaze to me with a rather dark look, "but you know what I do best and I don't back down." He then unsummoned his Sword of the Father and summoned the Blade of the Mystic. I could tell he is about to bring out some of the heavy duty stuff and that most likely includes Armiger Unleashed. I had to be careful because he could unleash anything on me. We clash again and this time a pulse is felt from our clash and Noctis fought harder and was warping around now. I had to use my aerials, cartwheels, flips, and other gymnastic moves along with teleporting just to move around. Noctis did start using his powers of Armiger Unleashed and used the armiger chains and their finishers. I could not keep up and the pressure he was putting on me with the consecutive use of the combos and finishers opened me up some to taking hits. After those, he started using the techniques from the least powerful to the strongest. I managed to dodge the Royal Cleave, but the Apocalypsis caused the barrier I used to protect myself to vanish. Then he used Dynasty Stance and the barrage of his attack and the attack of the incoming glaives forced me to fight two on one and with tons of speed. It unfortunately started wearing me down. That was where he wanted me and then he pulled out his big gun, Legacy of the Lucii. Here I took all the damage he could deliver as I was at my end of energy reserves. I could not do much as he performed his barrage against me, but when he was about to strike the final blow, like lightning, a great surge of energy erupted within me and I high blocked his strike and held it. Noct looked confused and shocked. I had a light aura of light blue surround me and the Mark of Kye glowing too. I then parry Noctis's sword and then attacked him. I used my Keyblade to not only strike him, but also like when Noctis summons his glaives to surround him, Keyblades of a glass like appearance appeared out of nowhere and attacked him similar to Sora in his battle against Roxas in KH2. In fact, I started using powers and attacked him in ways I cannot explain nor relate to. Finally, I gave him one final swing across his body and ended the battle.

      I stood in my stance with aura surrounding me and Noctis hit the wall hard and fell to the ground and was breathing heavily. He then managed to find the strength to get himself off the ground.

      "I guess you proved why messing with you is a mistake," he said as he slowly stood back up. The aura around me disappeared and immediately I grew weak in the knees and collapsed to the ground. I caught myself though and did not spraul out on the floor.

      "Polemist!" Noctis exclaimed using my nickname of my other name and rushed over to me. "Hey, you alright?!"

      "I'm fine," I said and managed to slowly stand back up. Noctis helped me as I did so. "Just will take some time to get used to the power of Earth."

      "Hey, it will come to you in no time," Noct said. "I had to sleep for a decade just so I can use the crystals power the right way and you showed you are stronger than me. That power will become your own and you'll soon make a fight against me child's play."

      "Thanks Noct," I said with a smile and we bumped fists the way he does with Gladio.

      "I just want to look at something here in the room for a bit," I told him. "You go on ahead." He nodded and left the training room. I turned my attention to the full on-canvas painting of the prophecy, walked up to it, and stood in front of it and just looked at each aspect of the painting carefully. It was silent as the tomb in the room as I observed the painting. Then I sense someone walk up next to me.

      "Wherefore does the Elite One ponder?" a female voice asked. I look and see Gentiana, or Shiva as she actually is.

      "Greetings Gentiana," I said. "I'm just thinking about what is coming. It's so similar if not the same as to the True King."

      "The Elite One chosen by the Light will go forth and save all stars from the darkness," she said. "With the key, he will save our star from darkness blight. To purge this scourge, the gods will be with you." I nodded in thought.

      "Gentiana, how did the Keyblade make it to Eos?" I asked.

      "A war among the keys raged in a time of fairy tales," she explained. "Some who wished to escape the darkness left the Realm of Light in all entirety and fled to other worlds. They came to our star and became one with it living among the mortals in peace. Yet the key the key they kept hidden for the sake of balance. However, the scourge that swallowed Solheim and this star came from the darkness of that war between the keys. While those who possess the key devised a way to restore the light, the Bladekeeper chose the first king and oracle to purge the darkness. Since that time, the keybearers vowed to only protect the balance in subtlety and from the forces of darkness. For when the Elite Ones come and the end is nigh, then shall they arise and make known to all mortals of this star that it is they who defend them and safeguarded the light for generations and it is with the Elite Ones that the light and the dark shall fight again." it was much to take in, but I understood it all.

      "I understand," I replied. "I am not a King of Lucis, but I do wish to plead with all the astrals and plead with them to fight with my friends and I." Gentiana then opened her eyes and looked at me and I at her.

      "If the Elite One desires to plead for the aid of the gods," she said, "he must come to the center of the star."

      "Angelgard," I said. That island is only for housing criminals until Ramuh determines their worthiness of penitence and repentance. "Gentiana, I cannot go there. Not even the royal family can go there."

      "Those whom the gods favor may approach sacred ground," she replied. "The True King has the favor of the gods as do the Elite Ones. Come to the center of the star and plead before the gods for aid." She then disappeared. I looked at the painting some more and took a breath. I need to go to Angelgard... and need to explain this to Noctis and company. So I left the training room and went back into the Citadel and returned back to the Throne Room where Noctis was along with his friends and Luna. They all noticed me as I walked in and were about to say something when they paused as they saw my expression.

      "Your majesties," I said, "Prompto, Gladio, Ignis, I have to leave for now."

      "Why must you leave?" Luna asked.

      "When I was observing the painting of the prophecy in the training room," I explained, "Gentiana approached me and we spoke." This grabbed everyone's attention now. Noctis came down from his throne to join us.

      "You spoke with the messenger?" Ignis asked.

      "Didn't expect her to show up here," Prompto said.

      "Neither did I," Gladio followed. "I mean no offense, but you aren't a Lucian by blood nor do you have any sort of royal privilege."

      "I am the 'Elite One'," I replied using her words.

      "What?" Noctis asked.

      "What did you speak about?" Luna asked.

      "First she comforted me about what's to come," I said. "Then I asked her to explain to me how the Keyblade made its way to Lucis and she explained to me that some of the Dandelions that left the Realm of Light completely went to Eos. You know how they divided into two camps with some leaving the Realm of Light completely and everything related to it and some went to the Realm of Sleep. The camp that completely left the Realm of Light split into camps heading to Earth and Eos. This happened during the Keyblade War. It was the darkness from that war that spread to Eos and became the Starscourge." It then hit me once again the effects of the first Foretellers.

      "Noctis," I said, "the first Foretellers were the reason why everything that happened to Lucis and all of Eos happened. They are the reason that the prophecy came to be and they are the reason you had to sacrifice your life. I will apologize to you for them. I am sorry they were the cause of so much pain and suffering you and the ones you loved endured."

      "Hey, it's no big deal," he said. "I think it all turned out okay in the end."

      "She told me that if I am to get the help necessary to save the light, I need to go to Angelgard," I said. There was dead silence. I could feel the shock from them.

      "A-a-angelgard?" Prompto struggled to say.

      "That island is forbidden to everyone, but to those whom the gods favor," Luna said.

      "Gentiana told me the True King and Elite Ones have the favor of the gods," I countered.

      "So you mean to tell me you have to go over there?" Gladio asked. I nodded. They all looked at each other.

      "He said that Gentiana said the gods favor me," Noct said. "If anyone then must go, I will go with him."

      "Noctis, your majesty," I said, "if you are to come with me, I ask that you only bring me there, but when I converse with the astrals, keep back and if things take a downward turn, I ask you to be my intercessor."

      "Uh... sure, no problem," he said. Noctis and I then bade Luna and friends farewell and we went to the new Regalia. It is a lot better now that it had been completely rebuilt and fixed. It had the Type F aspects of flight too and that is what Noctis activated after leaving the vicinity of Insomnia and entered countryside. It took some time before we started getting close to Cape Caem and as we did so, Noctis landed the Regalia on the road and drove the rest of the way there to the lighthouse. We park the car and go to the underground dock to find the Royal Vessel at the harbor. At this time, the sun had set and the moon was big and bright to where it actually was bright enough to light up the environment. Noctis and I get on the vessel and Noct takes the wheel and we sail off to Angelgard. I just stood looking forward at the destination. The two winged shaped rock formations of the island were visible in the moonlight. In fact, most of the island is visible in the moonlight. We approach after about twenty minutes or so and slow the boat down out of extreme caution. Nothing happens so we pull up to the dock where the Glaive once parked the vessel and park it there. We get off and head over to the place where the staves are. I know for sure I will have to be there in order to speak with the astrals.

      The entrance had been opened before when one of the Glaives proved their worth and redeemed themselves from their betrayal of the King of Lucis so I just walked through that. I motion to Noctis to stay back and he nodded. Walking to the middle of the area, I look around at my surroundings and see swords stick out of the ground like the Keyblades of the Keyblade Graveyard and see the large staves surround the field. Nothing happens, but then the astrals appear just like they did in Final Fantasy XV Comrades, but this time, Bahamut does not fight me. In fact, he floats down and stands a distance from me with arms folded.

      "Tell me Elite One, why have you come and set foot on hallowed soil?" Bahamut asked. I look at all the astrals and address them all.

      "I am here to speak with all of you," I said to them. I then proceeded to say something in the tongue of the Keyblade wielder.

      "Astrals of Eos, I Polemistis come here to plead for your aid," I said. "While I do not speak your tongue, I know fully you understand what I say now and will heed my plea." Then I switched back to English.

      "Astrals," I continued, "a great war beyond the one where you fought the Infernian is coming. A man Luxu wants to have all light and all darkness fight. He is after the counterpart to Kingdom Hearts and seeks to obtain the power the counterpart promises to give. With that, all will fall into darkness. Astrals, if this darkness is not defeated, all including you five, will fall to darkness. A prophecy foretells of the sacrifice one of the Supreme Elite will make in destroying the darkness. I plead for you to please offer your aid in defeating this darkness."

      "Elite One, may your request be satisfied," Bahamut replied. "May the gods bless you and all wielders of the key with the aid we bestow upon you and in the name of the True King. Come forth True King!" This startled me a bit, but I look behind and Noctis walks forward toward me and stands with me looking at Bahamut.

      "True King of Lucis," Bahamut continued, "your desire to sacrifice for Lucis and this star again has earned the aid of the the gods. Let it be decreed that on this day, the gods shall grant their power to the True King and the Elite Ones of the key." Bahamut then flew into the sky and disappeared. The other four disappeared as well returning back to where they came from. Noctis and I look at each other and smiled with excitement.

      "Thank you Noctis," I said.

      "It's my pleasure," he replied.

      "I think I will go home back to Earth now," I said. "I will see you again soon."

      "Yeah, see you again," he said and we bumped wrists. I then open a light corridor and return back home to my place. Light covers me and changes me into regular earthly clothing. I then walk inside the house, greet my folks, and talk about the new things I have learned and did. They were engaged and were happy I have accomplished so much. However, sorrow overtook them as the reality I may not come back came up in the conversation. I did not weep this time as I ran out of tears for that, but I did comfort them as best as I could and they eventually wiped away the tears.

      Right now, it is the afternoon around four as the days are different between Earth and Eos. There is a thin layer of clouds in the sky making the sun hazy like. I sit outside on the front porch on the lowest step looking down into space continuing to reflect on what is to come. I sat on the first step and my feet were on the brick walkway. I sensed someone was standing, but did not look in their direction.

      "Well well, look who decided to return back to mommy and daddy," a familiar voice said. I did not turn my head nor change emotion.

      "So Vanitas, it appears the Devil came back from hell," I responded. "Or did the Devil find you too evil and have hell spit you back out?"

      "Hmph," he merely replied. "So you think one of you guys will actually save the light huh?"

      "It has to happen," I said. "Like the True King of Lucis sacrificing for Eos, one of us will have to sacrifice for all the universe."

      "Heh, sounds like a waste of time," Vanitas countered. "Why bother? You know once Luxu gets what he wants it's over."

      "I will not let you tempt me Satan," I replied calmly, but with a bit of force. "I will see to it that one of us fulfills the prophecy whether it is me or one of my friends."

      "Oh really?" he asked sarcastically. "So you're going to be the hero? Well if you're the hero, I'm the villain, and villains make sure to win." He then summoned Void Gear and pointed it at me. I kept still and still did not look at him.

      "And yet it is the villains that lose in the end no matter their efforts," I countered. "If you fight me now, then you are surely going to lose and then how will Luxu get what he wants? You aren't going to fight me; you will be fighting the seven guardians of Earth."

      "Alright, you win," Vanitas acquiesced with a sneer and he unsummoned Void Gear. "Then I look forward to watching you fail in the end. You better be ready for the storm coming." I then look up with now renewed vigor and confidence, but still did not look at him.

      "Oh I am," I said. "We all are. The question is-" I then look at him sharply at his masked face, "-are you ready?" Vanitas did not answer and he merely disappeared into a dark corridor leaving me alone.

      Later that evening, I went to karate class. I figured it was best to do that since it will probably help in the long run. I don't know how, but I believe it will and I will probably figure it out. It was nice going back though and seeing the students, seeing my masters, and seeing friends. I saw Adrian there and we just nodded at each other and with that glance, we knew that this could be the last time so treat this occasion special. It was the black belt kids that had class and I instructed them. Yes they knew who I was and all that stuff. My master though told them all not to ask about that as it would be a distraction. One kid though named Nick was someone I mentored for a while. I have known him ever since he started training and have mentored him as he grew. During the class where both myself and him are attending, I am watching him practice as I was instructing and it hit me right then and there.

      At the end of class, I went up to Nick. Note: I am about 20-21, he is 13-14 years of age and about the height up to just above my shoulders.

      "Nick, can I talk with you?" I asked him.

      "Yeah of course," he replied. We went to the boys changing room and closed the door.

      "Nick, you know about me and who I am right?" I asked.

      "Yes sir," Nick said. We learned saying "yes sir/ma'am" is a display of respect of authority.

      "You know that my friends and I have to save the universe right?" I asked again.

      "Yes sir," Nick said. I then change into my Elite form right there in front of him. Nick's eyes widen with amazement as he clearly did not expect this. I then summon my Keyblade and like Terra in BbS with Riku, present the hilt to Nick except standing up.

      "In your hand, take this Key," I said. "So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking, its wielder you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend—no ocean will contain you then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love. Nick, I may not come back from what is coming. I prayed and thought about this a lot. Even if I come back, I will grow older and no longer be able to do what I once did. Nick, I want you to succeed me as the next Supreme Elite and defend the world and the light. Darkness will always continue to threaten the universe and I believe that not only do you have the power of the Keyblade sleeping inside you, I believe you are the right one to succeed myself and become a Supreme Elite. Will you do it?" Nick was in awe and just looked at the Keyblade in my hand. He then nodded with determination in his face and with his right hand, he reached out and grabbed the hilt of my Keyblade and held it for a second or two. Then he let go and I unsummoned my Keyblade.

      "This has to be a secret okay? The magic will wear off if you tell anyone," I warned. He nodded and I rubbed his head making him giggle a bit. Then I hugged him and he hugged me.

      "Goodbye Ben, I hope you come back," he said. I choked up right there and then.

      "I hope so too," I said.

      That night after I got home, I was trying to get some sleep. It was nice being in my own bed, but I had insomnia unfortunately. A full moon was out and it was pretty bright. I was laying in my bed wide awake when suddenly, a shadow passed over the moon making me snap my head toward the windows. Then a yellow light zipped around some stopping in front of my windows and then went off. I got up out of bed and looked outside. I see the shadow and yellow orb again and look closer. Wait, is that who I think it is?" I am in my pajamas so I cover myself in light and change to my Elite outfit and quietly head outside of the house. I looked around in the sky for a second and then the dark figure approaches me while flying in the air.

      "Heya Polemist," the person said.

      "Peter Pan?" I said. "What are you doing here?"

      "Well a little birdy told me about how what's coming is getting ya down," Peter Pan replied. So clearly the news is spreading. Well it isn't surprising now as I think about it.

      "I decided to leave Neverland for a bit and talk for a while," Pan continued. I nodded.

      "Sometime Peter Pan I wish I could escape this," I said. "I just wish I didn't have to lose one of my friends or even all of them."

      "Well come on!" Pan exclaimed and he floated down and grabbed my wrist. "Come fly with me to Neverland!"

      "Neverland?" I said.

      "Yeah, you'll never have to worry about any of that stuff," he said. "You and the rest of you guys will never have to grow up or even lose each other." I pulled out from his grip gently, but firmly and smirked a little.

      "But Peter, I have a family that I have here," I said. "I can't leave them behind."

      "You can join our family!" Pan responded in his classic childlike demeanor. I chuckled.

      "No Peter I can't," I said.

      "Awwww..." he complained. Tinker Bell was flying right near my face and looking all angry.

      "Tinker Bell, I can't and won't," I said. "I have a sister by the way." I said that on purpose and it worked. Tink froze, turned away like she huffed "hmph!" and flew up to Pan's side. Pan scowled at her as she flew to his side.

      "You sure Polemist?" Pan asked.

      "I thank you for the offering," I said, "but if neither myself nor my friends do this as foretold, everything will be gone including you and me. I must do this, we must do this."

      "Well it sounds like adventure and danger," Peter said giddily.

      "Peter this is universe wide and an apocalypse," I said. "This isn't an adventure."

      "It is when you can save the world," Pan quipped. "If I can save the world with you, I'm in and so is Tink. Right Tink?" Tink was still in a snit. Pan gave her a dark look and she acquiesced. He then nodded with a smile at me.

      "Thank you Peter," I said. Peter Pan then flew off into the sky and went back to Neverland. I went back inside, changed back into my regular form with my pajamas on and managed to go to sleep.

      The morning came and I woke up peacefully. I for some reason felt uneasy. It couldn't be could it? No I don't know the hour nor day so it can't be. I got ready for the day and had breakfast with my folks. I decided that I should meet with my friends. I said goodbye to my family and tightly hugged them all. I then left the house and went into a corridor and met with them. Luckily I found my friends together and found them just outside a diner we went to before.

      "Hey guys," I said. They greeted me in reply.

      "Hey Ben, what were you and Nick doing in the changing room last night?" Adrian asked.

      "Adrian, Shane, Jack, I passed down the Keyblade to Nick," I said. They froze in silence. "I also told Nick that he will be my successor as one of the Supreme Elite." They stayed quiet for a few more seconds and then they talked.

      "You know, I actually have to share this," Shane said. "I actually did the same thing."

      "Yeah and I did with a neighbor I have mentored actually," Jack followed.

      "I actually did so just before I got here," Adrian said. "He was actually one of the kids from karate and I passed it down to him."

      "Heh, seems we are pretty prepared for everything," I said and my friends nod. Then suddenly we hear a sound and we gasped. Ding...... Ding...... DIIIIIIIIIING......... DIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNG........

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Oh wow...things are really going to get crazy from here on out! What an exhilarating chapter! It was heartbreaking and at the same time epic seeing Ben train, preparing himself mentally for what's to come! 

 

I can't believe the final battle is almost here! This is the moment we've all been waiting for! I'm so hyped!

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Chapter 50: The Apocalyptic War Part 1

      It was so recognizable. It literally took my breath away hearing it. The bell, the Tsar bell to be precise, has rung and rings now. It's ring echoes throughout everywhere. We know its sound is very much audible around the world and outside of this world. We know for sure that everyone in the Realm of Light and Eos hears it. Then, we look into the sky and far above, we see what was stars look bigger and not as bright anymore. Those aren't stars, they are planets. Actually, not just planets, they are worlds... and we recognize them. Then some wormhole colored magenta purple and sapphire blue opened up in the sky distorting the views of the worlds. Everyone that was driving or was walking stopped and looked at the hole in awe. It became clear to us then and there: there are no borders between worlds anymore. We looked at each other with calmness and nodded gently. Then light covered us changing us into our Elite forms. We then took a step forward toward the direction of the hole and stepped on an invisible plain like Roxas fighting Xion in 358/2 Days. We walked forward towards the hole knowing what we will be facing on the other side.

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      The Keyblade Emperor had some of his soldiers and his close companions of Ephemer, Skuld, Blaine, and Strelitzia with him. By now, Invictus had all Keyblade wielders of Earth and anyone willing to fight allied and waiting for the time to gather. Some of the Keyblade wielder soldiers were with Invictus and his companions at the Emperor's Pillar. As of now, Invictus summoned the predecessors of his to appear. The Keyblade Emperor spoke to them and while he could speak in the ancient tongue, he spoke in English. The many emperors of yore have appeared like the Lucian Kings of Yore: in light shaped as their statues.

      "My predecessors," Invictus said to them, "the time is nigh and as I asked for your power, I ask for strength given to me and all Keyblade wielders including the Supreme Elite." They all remained silent and waved their right hands over all sending their strength to everyone there, the Supreme Elite, and all Keyblade wielders. The emperors then returned back to Invictus giving him back the power he initially requested from them. Then, ding.... diiiiiiiinnnnnnnng... diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnng.... The four companions and soldiers all gasped where Invictus turned his masked face and looked into space just above all.

      "Is that...?" Skuld asked. No one answered immediately. Invictus did though after a few moments of listening.

      "The time... has come..." he said. Then they look off to the north and into the sky and see a wormhole open. Then, other stars grew brighter and appeared bigger and more clear.

      "That's the entrance isn't it?" Blaine asked.

      "Indeed," Invictus replied.

      "How will everyone gather there?" Strelitzia asked.

      "Everyone will see and know that it is there the war will be fought," Invictus replied.

      "It won't be confined to just there whatever is on the other is won't it?" Ephemer asked.

      "It will spread like the Keyblade War," Invictus said. "Darkness as foretold will cover all worlds and all of the universe. There are no more borders between worlds and universes to stop it. One of the Supreme Elite will take up the counterpart and free us all from the dark scourge when the time comes. We must go forth and gather together with all." And they walked up a plain to the wormhole to join with their comrades.

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      Noctis gasped and immediately ran outside. He hears the deep dinging of the bell and knew he needed to get outside the Citadel to see what is happening. He took the stairs and just about jumped down them from the upper floors of the Citedel to the first floor, ran out through the entrance, and ran down the steps. At the bottom, he looked up and around. The dinging was still very clear and echoing throughout. Gladiolus, Ignis, and Prompto ran out next to his side from the Citadel soon after.

      "The hell is that?!" Gladio asked.

      "Is that what I think it is?" Prompto asked with fear.

      "It may be," Ignis replied. Luna then came out from the Citadel and saw her husband and friends at the bottom of the stairs.

      "Noctis!" she shouted making them all turn around. She then rushed down the steps to her beloved. "Noctis, I fear that this toll is what we have been told of by Polemistis." Gentiana then appeared next to them walking a few steps.

      "The bell that tolls for the end has rung," she said. "The war is nigh. All shall gather where no borders between exist.

      "Gentiana, where could that possibly be?" Noctis asked with worry. Gentiana opened her eyes and looked up into the sky. Everyone else did the same and gasped as a large wormhole has opened up in the sky.

      "What the hell is that?!" Noctis shouted.

      "That is where all from all worlds will gather," Gentiana replied. "We must go forth and gather with the Elite Ones. Go forth Chosen King with the Lady and companions and join the side of the Elite Ones and the seven ones of light and of the Earth. The gods shall be with you at all times." She then changed into Shiva after glowing bright white light. Then Ramuh appeared above them, Titan came from the distance and landed in the city of Insomnia, and Leviathan rose up from the waters surrounding the crown city. Noctis looked at his friends and his wife and all of them nodded at him and they all summoned their weapons. Noctis nodded in reply, turned toward the wormhole, and summoned his armiger.

      "We're right behind you guys," he said referring to the Supreme Elite. Then they walk up an invisible plain and walk towards the wormhole with the astrals following behind them.

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      The seven lights of Earth met with their counterparts of the Realm of Light in Yen Sid's office and explained everything to them the first time. This time was a second meeting to discuss the coming conflict.

      "So we have gathered as many allies from Earth as we could," Matthew said. "We went into the streets to those willing to fight. In other words, non Keyblade wielders have agreed to join the fight."

      "So this will be bigger than the Keyblade War?" Sora asked.

      "Unfortunately yes," Matthew replied. "All worlds from the Realm of Light and the worlds of Eos and Earth will be a part of this. Everything will be affected." Then they hear deep loud ringing making them gasp.

      "And with that strike, a bell that tolls for the end shall ring and the final battle will begin at the destined time," Yen Sid said. He clearly was repeating the Book of Prophecies fateful line of the final passage. They all got up and went out of Yen Sid's office and went down the staircase to head outside. Sora led the way the whole time. When he opened the doors, he gasped again. The Foretellers were standing there backs turned toward them. They appeared to be looking into the starry sky above them. Sora and company went down the steps to approach them.

      "Foretellers," Sora said. The Foretellers did not turn around, but turned their heads to acknowledge the approaching of the allies.

      "Seven guardians, Master Yen Sid," Gula said. Matthew and the others from Earth stepped forward.

      "Foretellers," Matthew said, "I am Matthew and my companions and I are the seven guardians of Earth. The Foretellers immediately turned around with mouths slightly agap.

      "You are the ones that we mysteriously knew of," Invi said. Matthew nodded.

      "Yes we are," he replied. "We are the ones that were summoned to gather by the will of the Supreme Elite and are the ones that will fight the thirteen darknesses." Ira was about to say something, when suddenly, a wormhole opened in the sky cutting off the formalities abruptly. Everyone turned toward it will some gasping at the sight. Stars grew brighter and then looked like worlds nearby

      "Are we going there?" Sora asked.

      "Indeed," Matthew said.

      "What is it?" Ira asked. "What is happening?"

      "The walls that divided us from other worlds have disappeared," Yen Sid said. "Darkness will spread unceasingly with no borders to contain it and like the wind blowing the war will go everywhere its whim takes it."

      "Only when one of the Supreme Elite takes up the χ-blade will the war end and the darkness dispelled," Matthew said. "All who will be fighting will be gathering there."

      "Surely, the Supreme Elite are there as well," Aced pointed out.

      "Indeed," replied Matthew.

      "Then we have to go now," Sora said. "We can't sit here. Our friends now need us and no matter what we need to be by their side." Everyone nodded in reply. Even Yen Sid decided to take up his Keyblade and leave the Mysterious Tower, unlike before when he and the Foretellers did not fight in the Keyblade War. Everyone summoned their Keyblades and walked up an invisible plain to the wormhole with Sora again leading the way.

      "Don't worry guys, we're coming," Sora said and they marched forward ready to meet their friends and fellow Keyblade and non Keyblade wielding allies.

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      Luxu was in the Keyblade Graveyard when he heard it. His head snapped up to look around and he grinned. The dinging was deep and recognizable and echoed throughout the Keyblade Graveyard giving him the chills and exciting him with anticipation. A dark corridor opened up behind him and Nikitis and all thirteen darknesses came out of it. Nikitis approached Luxu and stood behind him.

      "Can you hear it?" Luxu asked with excitement. "Hear its deep ring. Hear how it echoes everywhere. The time has come." All of them then looked up and saw a wormhole open and stars glow brighter and become the shape of planets and worlds.

      "There! Do you see it?" Luxu asked. "It is the entrance to the Cross Between Worlds. That is where all our allies will gather and face all the warriors of the light. The Cross Between Worlds: where the borders between worlds disappear and all becomes one. The Realm of Light will become complete again and Earth and Eos will once again return home. Come, we must go there and gather with all of them." Nikitis and the thirteen nodded and they proceeded to walk up an invisible plain to the wormhole and gather with their allies to face the forces of light led by the Supreme Elite.

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      My friends and I were standing in what we realized was called the Cross Between Worlds. This is where all worlds and their realms intersect each other. Here anyone could access any world they so desire. It was an expansive plain and space was clear. There was some different colors around the plain. Far behind my friends and I was planet Earth in its splendor. Around, we see Eos and every world in the Realm of Light that exists and we have yet to visit. It became clear that Earth has finally "returned home" since all the worlds have gathered together again just like before the first Keyblade War thousands of years ago. Everyone that was here had weapons on hand at the ready including us four. Off to my immediate left and right are my friends with Adrian next to my left side and Shane and Jack on my right side. To our left, the seven guardians of light stood side by side with the seven guardians of Earth behind them and the Foretellers and Yen Sid behind the seven of Earth. The former members of Organization XIII, Donald, and Goofy were also standing behind the Foretellers and Yen Sid with the latter two standing next to Mickey. Behind my friends and I were Strelitzia, Ephemer, Blaine, Skuld, and the Keyblade Emperor Invictus Verum; the emperor stood behind me directly. Off to our right were the Lucians. Noctis and Luna stood with each other and Gladiolus, Prompto, and Ignis standing by next to the former mentioned.

      Now there were masses of people that stretched as far as the eye could see. It must have numbered in the tens of millions if not more. Behind the two groups of seven, Foretellers, former Organization members, Donald, and Goofy were soldiers of Disney Town along with all of Mickey's friends from the Disney Castle. Even Maleficent and Pete were there too. It was clear that Maleficent saw this the same way as she saw the Dark Elite: threats to her quest for power. Therefore, here she is fighting on our side. Now there were many soldiers from Disney Town. They were not the brooms that took Pete away for his defiant behavior against Minnie. These were soldiers that were of human stature. Basically, they were the Royal Knights that answered to Goofy. There were also Keyblade wielders from the Realm of Light as well and they must have numbered in the millions as well. Behind us Supreme Elite, the emperor, and his companions were Keyblade wielders from Earth that also numbered in the millions and anyone from Earth that had a weapon and wanted to fight. There were army forces from different nations with weapons in hand too that decided to fight or were sent forth as ordered from their nations' leaders. Every kind of person from Earth from just about all walks of life were in the masses as well. Behind all the Lucians were Crownsguard, Kingsglaive and armies from Lucis and Tenebrae. Although Lucis disbanded the army a long time ago and only had a defensive force, Noctis clearly rebuilt and recreated the army of Lucis and Tenebrae also had an army rebuilt and restored. There were also masses Keyblade wielders from Eos that stood along side the armies. They were particularly from Lucis and just like the numbers of the armies in the millions, so did the number of Keyblade wielders from Eos. The astrals were all together off to the side as well among the masses of forces from Eos. As this is the light, the dark was not much different. Luxu and the thirteen were front and center straight across from us Elite and as every world has its light, so they also have their darkness. On the side of darkness were dark Keyblade wielders and people from Earth that became traitors and joined the darkness. The same with those from Eos. In fact, the remnant of Niflheim gathered together again and now side with Luxu. That side too numbered in the tens of millions as well.

      Both sides were still staring each other down. No one moved an inch and no one a sound. The only sound made was from the environment around everyone. I look to my left and Adrian nods at me. I look to my right and Shane and Jack nod at me. Then, it all happened like in slow motion and with no sound. I charge forward not really feeling the steps I am taking. I have my Keyblade in hand and ready to strike. Luxu points his No Name forward as an order of attack and all his forces charge forward. Then I swing at the first opponent that reaches me and a great white flash erupts. The Apocalyptic War has begun.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

GAHHH, IT'S FINALLY BEGUN! WHAT WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR, THE CLIMAX OF ALL THIS AMAZING BUILDUP!!!! GAHHHH, THE HYPE IS ON!!!

 

Wow, I got chills reading this, especially with the music playing! And I love the concept of the Cross Between Worlds! I think it's a cool concept, and one that I hadn't thought of before, so well done on your part!

 

The sheer scale of this war...dang, this is gonna be something to see! I'm so happy to be with you here, in the end, to witness the conclusion of this amazing trilogy of yours!

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Chapter 51: The Apocalyptic War Part 2

      I charged forward preparing to swing my Keyblade. Luxu pointed his forward directing his own to charge forward. Dark Keyblade wielders were the ones that led the charge and all other kinds of their allies followed. My friends and all our allies followed our lead and charged forward as I did. I was basically gliding forward; my feet were not touching the ground. I was gliding with my Keyblade ready to swing and sure enough the first opponent that I was charging towards was a Keyblade wielder. Then we clashed and a big flash of white light erupted and war began. The Keyblade wielders on both sides led the charge and clashed first and then the non Keyblade bearing populace clashed with each other. Soon it was a mix of Keyblade wielder vs Keyblade wielder, Keyblade wielder vs non Keyblade wielder, and non vs non wielder. It all happened around me like the Keyblade War in the Magic Kingdom. I my enemy for a bit clashing with him a few times and then swiping across his stomach killing him. I then move on to the next guy that attacks me and it's the same thing except a bit longer. My friends Adrian, Shane, and Jack all stayed close to me. We will not lose each other again. No this time, we are not subjected to dark fate where darkness will attempt to destroy us again. We will not let the war separate us again and leave each of us to fend for ourselves waiting until traps catch us like unsuspecting animals in the wild. We knew feeling off of each other that we will stay together and this time, fight to the end together.

      "This remind you of anything?" I called to my friends as I fought another Keyblade wielder.

      "Yeah like we have been here and done this before," Shane replied while locked in a block with a Keyblade wielder.

      "This time we don't have to worry about darkness destroying us and separating us," Jack said finishing off his opponent slitting his throat.

      "We won't be separated from each other this time," Adrian said while fighting his opponent. "We will keep a promise for a change that we made for each other."

      "You said it bud," I replied back to him stabbing my next opponent through the stomach and luckily grabbing a breather. I turn to look at Adrian who also managed a breather. Shane and Jack just in time finished off their opponents and had breathers too and faced Adrian and I.

      "We promised to stay by each other's sides when war came," I said. "We failed the first time thousands of years ago in the Keyblade Graveyard and we failed a few years back in Walt Disney World. We will not do it again. We have a promise and until the end, we keep that promise. I will keep that promise too because Adrian, Shane, Jack, I love you all." They looked a little surprised by what I said as I looked at all of them, but they knew immediately what I meant and took it to heart.

      "I love you too little brother," Adrian said with a grin.

      "Love you too bro," Shane said.

      "Love you too," Jack said. I then looked at Adrian.

      "So Adrian with that said," I said. "As I love you and look out for you, forgive me for this." I took my Keyblade and threw it in his direction. He ducked and my Keyblade went into the throat of an armored opponent. He looked behind at the dead opponent and then at me.

      "You can do that at any time," he replied. I then gave an elbow behind me striking another enemy and fought him. Now I am fighting someone who is not wielding a Keyblade, but rather someone from Eos. It was a dark Keyblade wielder from Eos to be exact. I couldn't tell what nation, but it didn't matter. It appeared to be Niflheim, or at least was part of the underground Niflheim, but I never gave a decent look. Rather hard to do so when he is swinging at your head. I blocked every single one of his swings and even was aggressive in countering. After a couple of clashes, we lock in a stalemate.

      "So you and the rest of you Niflheim worms decide to rise back from the dead," I said to him.

      "Niflheim was never dead," he replied. "Niflheim went dormant after the Long Night came to be. After the purging of the scourge and return of Noctis, Niflheim began to take back what belongs to the empire. Niflheim will rise again and we will take over not just Eos, but all the Realm of Light and your pathetic world you call home. You will bow to the empire!" He breaks the stalemate and we begin fighting again and starts his aggression again. I had to end it because I cannot spend all my time fighting one enemy. I parry his swing, spin kick him across the face and knock him to the ground. Then I fight him as he is on the ground, expose him again by disarming him and then like a sledgehammer, I swing down onto his stomach. He screams in a blood chilling way and then dies because of how deep my blade is in his body. I pull out my blade and then look to see where my friends are. I catch them not that far away and then go to them. They finish off their opponents and then we look at each other, nod to each other and then charge forward into the chaos around us.

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      The seven lights followed the lead of the Supreme Elite and clashed with Keyblade wielders themselves. Ventus, Terra, and Aqua put their armor a while back so they were ready for this. The Foretellers, Keyblade Emperor and his retinue, and allies from Radiant Garden Lea and company followed the charge of the seven guardians of light. Yen Sid did his thing and while not running, he did use his magic as the rest were charging. Sora was the first to clash with a Keyblade wielder and everyone else clashed with Keyblade wielders. They too along with with the countless number of Keyblade wielders of light from all unions clashed with their enemies like from the Keyblade Wars before. The seven lights found themselves fighting in a war once again, but now they have to defeat an opponent that is not after them, but after their counterparts of Earth that are bound to face the thirteen darknesses.

      "We have to defeat these guys!" Sora called to the rest as he fought. "They can't fight the seven guardians from Earth! Then Luxu will have the χ-blade for sure."

      "Sora, you don't mean you seven should fight them do you?" Ira asked as he fought.

      "It makes sense!" Ventus called back. "Luxu is after the guardians from Earth. He wants them to fight those guys. If we defeat them, then he won't get the χ-blade!"

      "No! That isn't right! You can't fight them!" Ava shouted as she struck down her opponent.

      "Luxu has made it clear that if the thirteen can't fight the seven guardians of Earth, he wants you seven to fight them instead!" Gula shouted as he fought.

      "You will be walking into Luxu's snares if you fight the thirteen!" Aced followed up after Gula as he killed his enemy. "You cannot go near them and get in their way or you will give Luxu what he is after."

      "So what do we do?! Just let things happen?!" Riku shouted. "We just let them eventually make their way to Luxu's minions?!"

      "I'm afraid we cannot do much!" Invi replied as she was locked in a stalemate. "We just have to figure out something. Maybe we have no choice but to let fate take its course."

      "Invi! What are you saying?!" Ava shouted back at her. "You mean we let darkness come?! We let Luxu get his way?!"

      "Ava, do you not remember the last time the inevitable was attempted to be delayed?" Invi asked. She stabs her opponent killing them and turns to look at Ava.

      "When our ancestors attempted to delay the inevitable the first time," Invi said, "they only created more division and were the main reason as to why the first Keyblade War began. Fighting fate only expedited the process and the Keyblade War came sooner than desired." Ira then finished his opponent by slashing across their throat.

      "Ava, she is right," he said. "We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past again. Luxu may be able to get what he wants or he may not. If we get involved again, we could only make things worse."

      "We need to be comrades for the Supreme Elite," Aced said just after he kills his enemy. "They are the ones who are leading us all and the entire side of light."

      "We have to be more than comrades Aced," Gula said. "We have to be their friends. Polemistis called me a friend and has always referred to me as one even when they learned the truth. We weren't master and apprentice or student, we were equals. They have always considered us equals. It would behoove us to be their friends." Ava thought about it for a second and then came to a conclusion.

      "You're right," she replied to it all. "Our ancestors made the mistake once. We cannot and will not repeat it again." Then more enemies attacked them and they fought once again.

      "Isn't that prophecy about them though?" Terra asked as he fought a Keyblade wielder now from Eos. "The prophecy is supposed to be about one of them finishing off Luxu if I remember."

      "Yes it is," Ava replied calling back.

      "Don't lose hope," Kairi said as she fought. "Ben, Shane, Jack, and Adrian won't let us down. I know they won't! We can't let them down either!"

      "They have always remained one," Aqua said as she killed her enemy. "Even when they weren't the Supreme Elite, they always were together and never let go of each other. We have to believe that they will always be one. I believe they will come through for us and for everyone. I know it." Now all seven lights and Foretellers have managed to catch a breather and now can speak with each other and faced each other for a change.

      "So what do ya say gang?" Mickey asked them all. "Want to fight with our pals?" Everyone nodded and raised their Keyblades up as like a toast at a gathering. Then they look forward and then charge forward towards the chaos and once again fight the darkness.

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      The Lucians were all fighting the forces of Niflheim all over again. It was a mix of human soldiers and magitek as well. It was also Keyblade wielders from Niflheim that have helped and given aid to the Niflheimian forces.

      "Man, just when we thought it was over with the Nifs and here they are," Noctis said while fighting what appeared to be a general of the magitek army using the engine blade.

      "Clearly they were given a second chance at life," Gladio said as he blocked attacks from a magitek robot.

      "Couldn't they just have given up and go get a hobby?" Prompto complained as he was firing his gun at humans.

      "Darkness is never ever going to be truly defeated," Ignis called out to them as he fought. "It will always continue to lurk behind certain corners waiting to strike. We cannot be complacent and idle and expect this threat to be truly vanquished." Luna just finished off her opponent by disarming them and then stabbing them with her trident.

      "We have a duty to always be vigil," she said as she took the liberty to catch her breath. "Darkness blight will not come because of the Starscourge that once plagued our star, but it will be darkness from the Realm of Light that will come. We also must honor an oath to the Supreme Elite that we will stand with them in this effort to save our star and all the light in existence." Noctis finished off the general and looked at Luna and noticed an enemy behind her she did not notice. He warped behind her and put his blade through the enemy killing him. Luna turned around abruptly when she saw Noctis warp behind her and gasped when she saw the enemy.

      "Yeah, I know," he said to Luna, "and I will make sure that I will protect our home, our world, you, and the next heir to the throne." He looked down at Luna's waist and clearly was referring to them having a son one day. She looked where his eyes were looking and knew immediately what he meant. She smiled and grabbed his hand.

      "Sorry to interrupt, but we need some help!" Gladio shouted to them. This snapped Luna and Noct out of their moment and they saw them in some trouble. Noct and Luna ran to them and got involved. Cor also jumped in and helped them all like when they fought Ardyn's "pet" Cerberus.

      "Help me mama Ignis!" Prompto yelled. Ignis just sighed making Prompto laugh some as they fought now a mix of Nifs, Keyblade wielders, and even some enemies from Earth. Noctis used his warp strikes to hit one target after another. Luna also used her power with Noctis's to strike down many opponents as well. Then for a brief moment, everyone looked at each other, nodded to each other and charged forward into the chaos.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Good lord, the epicness of this final battle is just too much! Chaos, disorder, triumph, camaraderie, love, togetherness, darkness, light, all merging together for the final canvas on which you will paint glorious battle! Great work, man, I'm getting even more excited to see how this story ends!

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Chapter 52: The Apocalyptic War Part 3

      The war continued on and we continued to fight. I managed to get a chance long enough to look around and see that things are stalling. No progress at all in regards to our side. My friends also see the same thing. We then look towards the distance and see a large armored creature and our hearts dropped into our feet.

      "Wh-wh-what the hell is that?" Shane stuttered.

      "Ben, do you know what that is?" Adrian asked me.

      "Oh yes I do," I replied.

      "What is that?!" Jack shouted.

      "It's the creature from the Kingdom Hearts 2 Final Mix secret episode," I said. "It does not have a known name, but it was what Terra defeated in the Keyblade Graveyard in that secret episode. Now, Luxu is using it to do his bidding." The armored creature battled the forces of light making room for the forces of darkness and beating us back. Many of the light were falling because of it.

      "Oh man, what can we do?" Jack asked. I looked down into space gritting my teeth thinking. What do we do? We need help now. Suddenly, the Astrals got involved and we saw them do their thing like in Final Fantasy 15. Ramuh appeared above the monster and used his power to summon lightning on the thing creating damage, chipping off armor, and paralyzing it. The creature roared in pain. Then Shiva and her multiple selves flew towards it and lined up across horizontally. Then they all fired their ice at the creature's feet making sure it stays in place as the paralysis wore off. Leviathan then came from behind and flew above our heads towards the creature and like with the Old Wall, wrapped itself around the armored monster, squeezed it, and roared itself. Titan then ran towards it, and stopped in front of it. Then he pulled his arm back, balled his hand into a fist, and with one powerful haymaker, punched the creature right in the middle of the face sending a shockwave all around that forced its head up. The monster now was weakened and was bent down heeling. Finally, Bahamut flew in and did everything like in FF15. He summoned his main sword, gathered all his others together surrounding him, and then formed them to line up for a powerful beam. Bahamut pulled his blade back, waited as the energy charged, and then thrusted his blade forward firing the beam at the armored creature. The beam went straight through the creature and it froze still for a few moments. Then it dissipated like it did in the KH2FM secret episode.

      We watched it all happened and then Gentiana appeared next to me and we looked at her. She said nothing at first. Then she turned to us and opened her eyes.

      "Go forth and fulfill your destiny," she said and then disappeared in white light. We lost track of the war around us as we bonded with each other.

      "With us together, no one can stop us," I said. "With you guys, I'm ready for anything."

      "Even if Luxu gets the χ-blade, we will beat him still," Adrian said. "We have each other and that's the greatest power of all."

      "If anything, I would rather have you guys than have all this power," Shane said. "To tell you guys the truth, I am not anything without you guys."

      "I know we knew each other Shane, Ben," Jack said. "I know we knew each other in school, but this is different now. We are brothers and brothers stick with each other always for better or worse."

      "And now, we go forth... as brothers," I said. We all nodded and went forward continuing the fight.

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      Some time later, we were fighting more dark enemies in a mix of Keyblade wielders, Niflheim, and anyone from Earth who sided with Luxu. I just struck down some Keyblade wielder from Niflheim and just took a moment to rest when I heard someone in front of me laugh a bit.

      "Well well well, it has been a long time hasn't it Ben?" he asked. I look up and see none other than Ronnie walking towards me. His clothes are just like the first time, but, like the anti coat nightmare from HD Dream Drop Distance, has pinkish designs and colors at the end of the sleeves and his pants.

      "So Ronnie," I said, "did the Devil find you too evil and decided to spit you back out of Hell?"

      "Hmph, if only," he replied. "Luxu fueled the darkness within me. If I were to be killed by you in body, I would have a secondary option and be able to return. Oh yes, Luxu supplemented all our darkness. He is the reason why I am here, why Nick is here, why Vanitas is here, why the second thirteen darknesses exist." I gritted my teeth and growled a bit.

      "And now that I am here, why don't we bring back some good old memories?" he asked. He raised his hand and summoned his Keyblade. "This time, maybe I can right the wrong I should have gotten right years ago!" I prepared myself and we charged forward and clashed. It was just as hard as I remember him to be. I had to use the power of light. Ronnie like Vanitas is here because of the darkness and my run-ins have always been brutal. It was all hand on hand with some firing of magic. I used Arcane Shine to attempt to get an edge, but he countered with Arcane Darkness and so with each of us having light and dark composed swords, we fought each other using both hands. It remained a stalemate with neither me nor Ronnie gaining the edge against the other. We then ended up in a lock pushing against the other.

      "Aren't you the improved one?" he sarcastically said. "You surely have become much harder this time than last. Last time you were a complete loser and yet somehow escaped death. Oh, but not this time; your head with your friends' will be trophies I can show to the rest of your allies and remind them of who is the strongest."

      "You know I am glad you brought up last time," I countered. "Last time you were very tough and I did initially lose my life. Now... heh, I am actually enjoying this." I grinned tauntingly. He growled and swung his Keyblade at me regular hand on hand this time.

      "Why you..." he said and we fought hand on hand and then locked.

      "You seem to be nothing more than an amateur now," I taunted angering Ronnie. A dark aura is getting larger around him as his rage increases. "I must admit, I expected more from you. Instead, I am fighting the equivalent of a child."

      "Shut up," Ronnie said in anger and swung at me. I parried the swing and gave him a strong spin kick to the face knocking him back and forcing him to stop and feel if he is bleeding.

      "You cannot beat me Ronnie," I continued to say. He got angrier as I kept talking. "My destiny is clear and straight forward. If only there was a way to expedite the process!" I got ready to swing at his head

      "SHUT UP!" he screamed and we both swung and clashed. We continued to fight again and did not give each other an inch. Finally, I parried a swing with my Keyblade and like in slow motion, I slashed across the center of his body hitting him right underneath the sternum.

      "AHHHH!" Ronnie screamed in pain as he slid back and then went onto one knee breathing heavily. I just stayed in fighting stance and waited for Ronnie's next move. He then started to laugh a bit.

      "Alright Ben, you win," he said as he stood up straight. "Now that you have weakened me, all that's left is for the seven guardians of Earth to defeat me and the rest of the thirteen and thereby allowing Luxu to join our darknesses with the seven lights. Congratulations Ben, I am so proud of you." He then disappeared into a dark corridor with a laugh. It won't be long now before Luxu gets what he wants.

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      Jack was fighting and just struck down his opponent and took a breather while looking around at the hell that exists around him. His gaze then turns to a particular person coming towards him. Jack gasped a bit and froze knowing who that is. The person walking toward him is grinning as he walks closer to Jack.

      "It has been a long time... brother," he said.

      "Nick..." Jack said. "Why are you here? Was hell not evil enough for you?"

      "If only," Nick replied. "You know what I am. I am one of the thirteen darknesses. Luxu has kept our darknesses alive for all these years. Even when you killed me, my body may have disappeared, but my darkness still held on to my soul and Luxu brought me back. It is the same with Ronnie and Vanitas. All the thirteen darknesses are here because of Luxu. How I have missed this." He grinned more as he spoke. Jack immediately went into his fighting stance with Keyblade in reverse grip.

      "You know Jacky?" Nick said, "I realized something, I don't need mom and dad to give me any validation or convince me that they really love me or wanted what's best for me. All I need is you... dead. I almost had it last time and boy it was a beautiful thing to see you dead at my feet. And yet somehow you managed to come back alive. This time, I will make sure your head is in my hands as a trophy and to make sure you don't come back from beyond the grave. Your head belongs to me Jack." He then summoned his Keyblade.

      "So why don't we do what we did in the good old times shall we?" Nick asked.

      "Give me your worst Nick," Jack said firmly. They then charged and began fighting. They used all sorts of attacks and spells against each other. Of course Jack used light attacks and magic and Nick used dark attacks and magic. They of course did fight hand on hand. Nick was as hard as Jack remembered. He did hold his own a lot better than last time though especially since he has grown stronger and more powerful since then. Jack felt comfortable and did not falter. While neither of them gave an inch, then ended up in a lock and held it there for a few moments. Jack then broke it by turning around to his left and hit Nick in the face with the hilt of his Keyblade. Nick stumbled back a few steps grabbing his face.

      "I thought this would be tougher," Jack taunted. "Instead, it feels like I'm fighting an amateur."

      "Why you little..." Nick growled as he slowly looked back at Jack with anger rising like a thermometer.

      "I'm not losing to you Nick," Jack said. "My friends and I know our destinies. You will not and cannot change them. In fact, why don't we try and speed things up?!"

      "Shut up! You'll pay a blood price for this!" Nick shouted and they clashed again. They fought some more before Jack managed to force Nick off balance. He then started blitzing Nick with hits all over him and them gave Nick one final blow to his abdomen. The force sent Nick backwards flipping him over and tumbling. He was going to land on his stomach, but he brought his feet underneath and land. He was now on both knees breathing heavily gasping for breath. Jack in stance slowly walked towards him. Nick then chuckled and slowly stood back up.

      "Congrats my dear brother," he said with a grin. "You prepared me for my destiny as well. I may not kill you, but Luxu will. Good luck surviving... if you can." He then disappeared into a dark corridor with a laugh. Jack knew he had to keep going even though destiny took a step forward. Jack was ready though. The Supreme Elite in general were ready.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Gahh, this war just gets ever more intense with each passing second! So much epicness is happening left and right! Amazing work as always, my old friend! I think one of the scenes I liked most was when the Astrals beat down the armored creature!

 

The confrontations between Ben and Ronnie and Jack and Nick were epic as well! I can't wait for the next chapter!

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Chapter 53: The Apocalyptic War Part 4

      The seven guardians of light kept fighting and had the Foretellers next to them. They continued to struggle as the war raged on.

      "So how long before the seven guardians of Earth fight Luxu's thirteen?!" Sora called to the Foretellers as they fought.

      "That can happen at any moment!" Ira shouted back, "Once all the thirteen have been weakened, then will the two sides fight!" Everyone then struck down their opponent and turned toward each other.

      "We are not sure when the seven and thirteen will fight each other, but we do know it is soon," Ira continued.

      "How about we expedite the process then?" a darker version of Ira's voice said. They all turn and look around and find the Foreshadowers, the dark counterparts of the Foretellers walking towards them with grins on their faces. Laimar, Aplis, Apath, Thymo, and Zilev the respective counterparts to Gula, Ava, Aced, Ira, and Invi all approached the Foretellers and lights with Keyblades in hand.

      "What a legacy you possess no?" Laimar said. "And yet, it appears you cannot run away from it."

      "What are you talking about?" Gula asked.

      "Look around," Aplis replied. "See this war? All of it started with your predecessors so long ago. It was then your predecessors started the Keyblade War and you merely do the same thing again."

      "It is amazing how you fight the darkness that awaits," Apath said. "You fight it by covering up your own misdeeds hoping none may ever hear of them or learn of them so as to keep others from following the same paths. Yet here we are with darkness about to spread everywhere."

      "Yes, it is unfortunately our legacy," Aced replied. "But not anymore..."

      "Oh? And what do you mean?" Thymo asked. "You mean you are trying to change the past?"

      "Not the past, but the legacy we have created because of it," Invi replied. "It may be the legacy of the Foretellers to be the root of all the chaos and ruin that has existed throughout time, but it can be changed to be a new one: the Foretellers fighting to be the root of chaos's end."

      "You can't change fate," Zilev countered. "Luxu will obtain the χ-blade and then all will be enthralled to darkness."

      "He may get it," Ava said, "but Master Eraqus once told me 'maybe light will prevail... there is more to light than meets the eye'. As long as that hope remains-" she along with the rest of the Foretellers took stances "-we won't ever be defeated!" The Foretellers and the Foreshadowers then clashed together and fought. The seven lights were about to get involved when they had some more unexpected and undesired company.

      "Oh no you don't!" someone shouted. The seven look and they see the Dark Elite coming towards them.

      "Oh great..." Terra grumbled and gritted his teeth.

      "You guys?!" Sora shouted.

      "Surprised to see us?" Polemos asked sarcastically. "Well don't be. We have some unfinished business with you people." Then they summoned their Keyblades and took stance. The seven got ready as usual.

      "You aren't going anywhere nor helping any friends of yours," Polemos continued. "Now I have some business to finish WITH YOU!" He pointed his Keyblade at Aqua and then jumped charging at her. She gasped and then swung toward him and clashed. Thanatos, Agrios, and Tromos fought the other five except Sora charging at them and using their dark magic. Sora looked around at his friends helpless because he has no clue what to do.

      "We meet again boy," a raspy voice said. Sora gasped, looked back in the direction the Dark Elite originally came from and saw Master Xehanort walking toward him.

      "Master Xehanort!" Sora shouted. "How is this possible?!"

      "Luxu supplied my own darkness," the old man explained. "As long as he kept my darkness alive, my spirit would never cease to be. Even when you defeated me and my twelve selves, I never departed from life."

      "So you decided to come back and try it again, is that right?" Sora demanded.

      "Luxu now has taken up the mantle I left behind so long ago," Xehanort said. "Now destiny is on course in his favor to gain a prize that I have been fortunate enough to once behold: the χ-blade."

      "Yeah that's great. Not if we have something to say about it!" Sora said defiantly. He then took stance. Master Xehanort smirked and chuckled and summoned No Name.

      "You see my boy, destiny is never left to chance," the old man continued. "You and the rest of the seven light have experienced it yourselves and yet you continue to fight knowing you push it forward."

      "That may be the case," Sora said, "but I know that the Supreme Elite will come through and fulfill their own destinies. I know in my heart our friends will be, no, are the hope that keeps our light alive. Our friends are our power... and we are theirs!" Sora and Master Xehanort then clashed and fought similar to how their fought in Kingdom Hearts 3, but not as dramatic. Step for step they matched each other in power and capability. It was that way for both sides; Aqua held her own against Polemos, Mickey and Kairi held their own against Thanatos, Ventus held his own against Tromos (they both reverse wield  so you can imagine how), and Riku and Terra held their own against Agrios. No one outdid the other; everyone held their own. The Foretellers and the Foreshadowers did the same with each other too. Since their were the equal light and dark counterparts to the other, they matched each other step for step. The only way for someone to fall was if the other side saw a small opening and took advantage of it or the other side slipped up ever so slightly as to expose themselves even if it is briefly and a small target. And yet what was strange as the fight happened was the warriors of light both the seven and the Foretellers fought as if feeling off of the other. Each other them flowed together and fought with fluidity. It is as if they became of one mind and heart. As distant as they once were, they have become close with each other. Aqua for example fought Polemos before. She managed to beat off a challenge of his, but it severely weakened her. Now however, she held her own with very little issue and Polemos took notice of it and was infuriated. This Aqua that embarrassed him once is now doing it again; he cannot allow it to happen again.

      Slowly but surely, the warriors of light were getting closer to striking their opponents all at once. It went from rough and tumble motions to now swift and fluid strikes. Then all at once they absorbed light and swung at their opponents and struck them across the middle of their opponents' bodies. The Foreshadowers, Dark Elite, and Keyblade master all were on their knees or bent forward in pain and catching their breath. Then after a minute or so, they stand up fully and grin.

      "And now seven lights and Foretellers," Master Xehanort said, "destiny shall move forward. The χ-blade shall be forged again!" They all laughed and disappeared into dark corridors leaving the lights and Foretellers to themselves.

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      The Lucians continued their fighting and continued to struggle through the effort. It started becoming a drag as they kept on fighting without anything going anywhere.

      "Why can't they just get this all over with?!" Prompto bemoaned as he fought. "I would rather just rip the band aid off now than slowly peel it back."

      "You want fate to happen sooner?" Ignis asked back as he fought. "We force things forward with our interference, all will be lost."

      "Iggy's right," Noct followed. "If we interfere and try to make things go faster, we will botch this whole thing. Polemist and company will not be able to save the universe if we make things go quicker. We have to let it all happen."

      "Rgh! Then can't fate just make it happen sooner?!" Gladio shouted.

      "We have to leave it be and stand by the Supreme Elite!" Luna shouted back. "We must have faith!" The Lucians continued to fight as the war raged on. Noctis eventually struck down an opponent and had a chance to take a breather when suddenly, a dark corridor opens up and out of it comes Vanitas.

      "You're that guy that's one of the thirteen," Noctis said.

      "Yeah that's right," Vanitas replied. "And you're supposedly the king of Lucis. Hmph, some king you are." Noctis gritted his teeth in irritation.

      "What kind of king let's his loved ones die and country fall?" Vanitas taunted.

      "I take it you knew Ardyn well," Noctis claimed.

      "Oh we were good friends alright," Vanitas replied. "Such a shame you had to destroy your own flesh and blood even when he gave you a sweet reminder of daddy dearest. And even after all of that and knowing your home was in trouble, you decide to listen to that pathetic Hades and became his puppet. Oh how daddy and mommy would have been disappointed in their son." Vanitas then laughed in the same way he did in BbS after Aqua defeated him the first time. Noctis growled at this and summoned his Sword of the Father. By now, his friends and wife were standing next to him.

      "Noct calm down," Gladio said. "He's trying to get into your head."

      "You can't let him manipulate your emotions," Ignis said. "You must be undisturbed."

      "Okay then your majesty," Vanitas said, "if you are truly the great King Noctis Lucis Caelum CXIV, why don't you prove it then?" Vanitas then summoned Void Gear and took stance.

      "Or are you too scared and chicken to do it?" he asked tauntingly.

      "Bring it on," Noctis replied. Vanitas charged toward Noctis and Noctis warp struck and they clashed. Keyblade wielders are the strongest sword fighters in all the universe. The power of the Keyblade knows no equal and stands supreme to everyone else. It is not out of the equation of Noctis losing this battle, but as he fought, he gave all he had and managed to just suffice in holding his own. Although he cannot do this forever and if he fights for too long, Vanitas will indeed kill him in front of his friends and his wife and once again leave Lucis with no heir to the throne. He cannot allow it to happen. He used all he knew as a warrior and all that he learned from his time away from home from May 16th, M.E 756 (2006) to M.E 766 (2016). With the power of the Kings of Yore by his side, he knows he cannot lose and with his friends and his wife with him, he knows he can overcome anything. Soon the king and darkness clash in a stalemate.

      "Really?" Vanitas asks sarcastically. "Is this all that the great King Noctis Lucis Caelum has to offer?"

      "Don't worry, you haven't seen anything yet," Noctis replied and he broke off the stalemate and used Armiger Unleashed. Using this allowed him to keep up with Vanitas step by step, but Vanitas often took an extra step Noctis was not entirely expecting such as using his signature attack warping behind an opponent and striking them over their head and encasing himself in a dark barrier and silhouettes coming out of it and attacking Noctis. At one point, Noctis and Vanitas fought hand on hand like Jecht and Squall/Leon from Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, but with variations such as Noctis blocking and countering. Vanitas eventually kicked Noctis to the chest and slashed upward catching the left side of his face. Noctis was sent backwards and onto his knees with hand to his face.

      "NOCTIS!" his friends and his wife all shouted in unison. They were about to run to him, but he put his hand out halting them. Noctis now has his clothing slightly in tatters and now blood on the left side of his face. He chuckled thinking to himself now he knows what Polemistis experienced in the Keyblade War in the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Like the Elite, Noctis now is feeling and showing the effects of fighting.

      "How pathetic," Vanitas said walking towards Noctis. "The great king of Lucis said to be undefeatable now is about to die at my hands. And what a shame that his loved ones now stand by helpless as they see their beloved king be executed before them. Don't worry, I'll make sure this is quick. You won't feel a thing... but they surely will." Vanitas raised his Keyblade overhead and swung overhead down at Noct's head like an executioner beheading the condemned. That is exactly what Vanitas was going to do: behead Noctis. Noct's ring glowed with power and he quickly and powerfully blocked Vanitas's attack. They held it there and then Noctis looked up at Vanitas's masked face and slowly stood up. He then violently broke off the stalemate.

      "I, King Noctis Lucis Caelum CXIV," Noct said, "am swore to defend my people and defend my loved ones. I swore to stand by the Supreme Elite and ensure that they will succeed. I will not let some low life take it away from me. With the power of the Ring of the Lucii and the power of the crystal of Eos, I will not lose to you. I will not lose to anyone ever again!" He now performed his classic armiger attack, but stronger than before. He now has his friends' power, the power of the Kings of Yore, and the power of the stone of Lucis and all of it has been unlocked. He may be no Keyblade wielder, but he will not lose to anyone and especially not to someone who with his despicable so-called "relative" were in cahoots with the other. After barraging Vanitas with attack after attack, he gave one final slash with energy that went through Vanitas. Vanitas was left standing in instability and then he fell onto the ground onto his knees bent over. Noctis was now gasping for air as he was very weak. He did it though. He defended his own and for the first time ever, a non Keyblade wielder defeated a Keyblade wielder. Noctis himself collapsed onto his knees making his friends and wife run to him. They tended to him and then looked back at Vanitas. The dark boy then slowly stood up.

      "Congratulations Noctis," Vanitas said, "you have officially done it. And now the seven guardians of Earth and the thirteen darknesses can fight. The χ-blade will be forged!"

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Graaaahhh, this is too epic! The war is ever increasing in its intensity and in the stakes involved for everyone! I loved the showdown between Sora and Xehanort and Vanitas and Noctis! I can feel that things are going to come to a boiling point in the next few chapters! I'm so hyped! Excellent chapter!

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Chapter 54: The Apocalyptic War Part 5

      The seven guardians of Earth have been trying to keep up with the Supreme Elite and company. Unfortunately, they lost track of the Elite and so had to fight on their own. They plowed their way through all of the chaos and insanity around them.

      "Surely this war has spread to every world," Alexander spoke loudly as he fought.

      "For a while now," Matthew replied in the same tone. He managed to get in a lock with an opponent and had the chance to quickly look around. As this is the Cross Between Worlds, the worlds were now connected with no barriers between them. Matthew saw that there are dark stains on all worlds including unfortunately Earth with the stains over where the Disney Parks would be. These stains are getting larger too. In this crossroads, things are looking darker because of the war although it likely will change once Luxu gets his prize. He will surely send all into darkness.

      "So how much longer must we fight?" Jesse asked.

      "As long as it takes," Chloe replied as she struck down an opponent. "We have no choice. Until they approach us, we fight." Everyone nodded in agreement and continued to fight. It was not long before everyone had struck down their opponents and caught a breather. Then, before them, dark corridors opened up and the thirteen darknesses appeared out of them. All of the lights gasped at the sight. The time has come.

      The Foreshadowers, the Dark Elite, Ronnie, Nick, Vanitas, and Master Xehanort all came out of the corridors and everyone had a grin on their faces. The seven guardians looked around at all of them. Then, Luxu came out of a dark corridor in between the guardians and darknesses.

      "Seven guardians of Earth," he said to them, "the time has come for destinies to come together. The thirteen are ready to be fought and united with the seven lights of Earth. Thanks to your allies the Supreme Elite, the seven lights, the Foretellers, and the Lucians, I will finally obtain the prize the gazing eye once foresaw." He then left in a dark corridor. The thirteen then summoned their Keyblades and got ready; the guardians of Earth took stance themselves. Both sides were silent and just glared at each other. Meanwhile, an area of spaced cleared out for them around them. It isn't certain why, but fighters of both sides fought each other away from the seven and thirteen. Seconds felt like hours as the two sides stared down each other. Then, they both charged toward each other and clashed sending off a huge shockwave. They seven and thirteen are fighting each other once again.

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      My friends and I just struck down our own opponents when all of a sudden, a powerful shockwave came through with a powerful blast of wind. We were knocked down as it was strong and we were not expecting it.

      "What the hell was that?!" I shouted. We got up and looked around. Then Shane points at what he sees.

      "Look! Over there!" he exclaims and the rest of us look.

      "Oh no, don't tell me it's happening," Jack said.

      "Yup, the seven guardians and thirteen darknesses are fighting," Adrian said.

      "Matthew and the gang are fighting right now," Shane pointed out.

      "Well, let's get over there," I said and we took a few steps before a dark corridor halted us and out came Nikitis. We summoned our Keyblades in response.

      "Oh no no no," he said, "you four aren't going anywhere. I still have unfinished business with you." He summoned his Keyblade and took stance. He had a dark aura around him and it looked powerful. Indeed he was powerful as I went to swing at him and he blocked my swing and pushed me back powerfully making me slide on my feet back to where I came from. My friends then charged forward and Nikitis fought them all three on one. I tried getting into the thick of things as well and now it is four on one. Now one might think this is unfair (if this is someone fighting for the darkness, they probably would be pleased it is this way), but if anything, this fight felt like four on four. Nikitis held his own against all four of us sometimes getting physical with some of us kicking one of us away and then taking on the rest of us. He was fast too. When fighting four people, one has to be fast in order to be able to handle the many strikes coming their way. Nikitis did his best to keep it two on one and forcing the other two off of him. He used his dark magic in the process creating shadow versions of himself that I or my friends would have to fight before striking down. Then we would continue fighting him. After fighting for a few more minutes, Nikitis is now blocking all four of our strikes and we are all in a stalemate.

      "Alright, that's enough," he said. He broke off the block violently and then he used his magic to push my friends away leaving it just me and him. He then raised his hand like he was lifting something up and created a barrier around me and him leaving my friends on the other side.

      "In order to kill the snake, you must cut off the head," he said, "and you Polemistis are the head of this snake. Once you're dead, your friends will follow you too. I will have my revenge!" I blocked an overhead strike of his and held the block pushing against him. I look back at my friends and they nod at me giving me a vote of confidence before they found themselves fighting dark warriors. I nod back, turn my gaze back to Nikitis, and then I violently parry his strike and swing across his face giving him a cut on the right cheek. He put his hand up to feel the cut and sees the blood on his fingers.

      "Heh, I see how it is," he said. "If you want to make this bloody, I'd be happy to make it bloody. You want a Bloody Sunday? I'll rewrite the definition of Bloody Sunday!" He spun around and swung at my head and we fought once again. He was powerful and he was tough. Clearly he made an effort to get stronger and boy did he get stronger. I had to now weave in kicks and punches and basically my martial arts training. With every block I had against him, I countered with a punch or a kick. He delivered it back just as hard whenever he blocked me. After another few minutes, we were in a stalemate again.

      "So the great Polemistis is going to save the day again, is he?" Nikitis said. He then pushed my Keyblade down and slashed across my face at a downwards angle making blood splatter a bit. He then slashed across my left side creating another good sized cut that is bleeding too. I was now on the ground feeling the blood on my face and on my side and in pain. Nikitis now was walking towards me.

      "In what ways do you and your ingrate pals not want to claim glory?" he asked rhetorically and angrily. Then he strikes me across the face making me fall completely to the ground. He continued to express his rage.

      "Ever since the beginning you four were deceivers." A kick to my face. "You claimed to just save my ancestor from himself, but it was just to ensure your perceptions as martyrs!" A kick to my stomach. "Never mind you could have shown unification in the midst of chaos and possibly have changed things. Instead you four were concerned about yourselves and your own perceptions. What did Nikitis get in return? Humiliation and hurt. And then when you four came around again, I had to watch it all over again!" A kick to my right side and now I am laying on my left in agony. I am about to lift my Keyblade and swing it at him, but he just kicked my hand and my Keyblade flew out of my hand.

      "Look at me!" he shouted. He then used the blade of his Keyblade and put it in my right side now with teeth cutting into my flesh about a few millimeters. I screamed now in utter anguish. I now could just see my friends now screaming my name and trying to break through the barrier, but unfortunately to no avail. He turned me onto my back and I was now flat on my back with arms out in pain and all bloodied. My clothes are tattered now and bloodstained; I now am bruised and beat up and bloodied. I looked up at Nikitis and he just looked down at me in anger.

      "Nikitis," I managed to say, "tell me, where did your predecessor obtain this idea?" He did not give an answer. "It was Polemos wasn't it?" No answer. "You know as well as I do that he has lied so many times causing chaos and ruin wherever he and his minions went. My ancestors would have loved to have accepted yours as one of their own. They had fate taking their lives away. How could they possibly bring your ancestor into the picture and be the reason he dies? They couldn't do that. If they did, you would not be here. The first Supreme Elite were offered to join the Dandelions as well. They didn't want to leave everyone else to die in anguish in the Keyblade War. It was there that fate took them. You have to believe me." Nikitis was now just looking into space in thought. He was silent for a few moments, but then he looked back at me.

      "They are still alive though in you are they not?" he asked rhetorically. "So they were supposed to die so as not to let everyone else die in vain and yet they decide to be selfish and escape right where it matters most. Instead of following everyone else so as to not make their deaths in vain, the great Supreme Elite instead decide to leave everyone else behind to make their own graves. Refusing to think of anyone else still. Since your ancestors were supposed to be dead, we will fix that problem." He then pointed his Keyblade down over my sternum where my heart is.

      "Polemistis, prepare to face death that has escaped you for so long," he proclaimed. "You all will die as retribution for your abandonment of your fellow Keyblade wielders." He raised his Keyblade up and was about ready to stab. Suddenly, flashes of my fight with Ronnie appeared when he was about to kill me in the Keyblade War. Then, my family and friends and allies all flashed in my visions. All of a sudden, the vision ended and a strong surge of power and energy. Nikitis went to stab and I responded literally grabbing the front of his Keyblade. I slowly stood up as a powerful light blue aura surrounded me while holding his Keyblade.

      "I reasoned with you," I said, "I did all I could to get you to mend your ways and have you understand. You still resist anyway with nothing, but hatred and darkness in your heart. I will not do it again, I will not be killed the same way as the first time." I strongly pushed him away making him stumble. He looked at me with fear and confusion. Then, I raised my hand and summoned my Keyblade once again. The power of Earth that I have obtained has awoken to save my life.

      "You had your chance to make things right," I continued, "and to choose the right way. You decided to follow the way of hatred and revenge. I will not allow someone who has hatred and revenge in their heart defeat me. The way you chose leads to a path of self-destruction. Your choice is your downfall and I will be your end!" I swung at his head and he swung back at mine. The power of light and dark clashing made a strong shockwave. We clashed a few more times before I opened him up and began letting him have it striking him with my Keyblade over and over again. A powerful uppercut with my Keyblade sent him high into the air where I jumped up and continued my assault. I strike him across the chest and then push off of him making myself fall back a bit towards the surface. I then point my Keyblade at him and charge up the power the Earth gave me. In one gigantic beam of blue light, I fired it at Nikitis and it covered all around him. He froze for a moment and then he started turning into black vapors screaming in sheer anguish holding his head and body. Finally, in one burst, Nikitis was no more and all that remained was dark energy bursting out replacing him with energy and dissipating into the air.

      I fell back to the ground onto my feet and went onto one knee with eyes closed and head down. The barrier that separated my friends from me disappeared and Adrian, Shane, and Jack immediately ran to me.

      "BEN!" they shouted in unison. They ran up to me and surrounded me bending down to my level. Adrian was in front of me and Shane and Jack were to my right and left respectively.

      "Ben! Are you okay?!" Adrian demanded looking into my face. I opened my eyes and looked up at him.

      "Yeah... I'm okay," I responded. I went to stand up, but grunted in some pain and my friends helped me up.

      "Oh my God!" Shane exclaimed, "Ben! You're... oh my..." He couldn't finish. He was so shocked to see me like this.

      "We saw it was bad, but we didn't think it was this bad!" Jack followed in his shock as well. They saw my wounds, bruises, and bloodstained clothes. I just looked down at them.

      "Well better some blood than being dead," I said. "Look at you guys, you're not exactly the cleanest looking either." My friends had bruises too and their clothes were half torn in some places. Adrian had a sleeve hanging off his shoulder only remaining together by some stitching, Shane had pants torn in places and he had a bruise on his forehead, Jack had his sleeves and pants looking like a tattered flag at the ends and in the stitching and he also had a bruise, but on his right cheek. He probably had hidden severe bruises under his clothing and it appears that he has a slit in his pants above the tattered part towards his quadriceps and it appears he has a cut there that is bleeding slightly.

      "I tried to convince him," I told them. "I tried to reason with him. He chose revenge instead. I had to kill him. He was a friend once and our ancestors wanted to let the first Nikitis live so he can help rebuild the Realm of Light. They did not want him to be the reason for his death. Where did it go wrong?"

      "It went wrong when he refused to listen to you," Adrian said. "Yeah Polemos tempted his relative to think otherwise, but he had a last chance to change that. It went wrong for him there."

      "Ben, if you think about it," Shane said, "recklessness ran in his DNA. His relative was going to be reckless and he was reckless. It was his recklessness that cost him."

      "He had a chance to change that and he refused," Jack followed. "Don't be so hard on yourself. You saved us actually and we can't thank you enough for that." I looked at him and smiled.

      "Thank you Jack," I said. "Thank you guys." They all nodded and let me go to stand on my own. I am not in so much pain anymore, but I am still bloody and beaten.

      "We have to head over to the seven guardians," I said and my friends nodded and we looked to where they were fighting the thirteen and rushed as quickly as we were able to. When we got there, we saw the seven standing and the thirteen on one knee... struck down. Chills ran up and down my spine at the sight.

      "No..." I said softly and shaking my head. Luxu then appeared behind them and then raised both hands. The darknesses then stood up with maniacal grins.

      "Congratulations seven guardians of Earth!" Luxu said giddily. The seven lights, Foretellers, Lucians, and Keyblade Emperor and his guard now all gathered behind us and gasps were audible from among them.

      "Now the thirteen darknesses with the seven lights from the kingdoms shall be united!" Luxu exclaimed. "And now, the prize I have so yearned to obtain SHALL BE MINE!" The thirteen turned into balls of dark energy and rose up into the air altogether. The seven lights from the parks and lamp also rose into the air opposing the darknesses. Luxu then clasped his hands together and in a blink of an eye, the seven lights and thirteen darknesses clashed and a flash emitted from the clash. Suddenly, a powerful rushing wind came out from where the two sides clashed and blinding light came out from it. All of us had to cover our faces while trying to see what was going on and avoid being blown away. We could feel the universe being shaken around us as the power of the two sides uniting emitted. Then, like in Birth by Sleep, the orb shrunk down and exploded upwards far above into the endlessness. After a few seconds, it all disappeared and looking above Luxu, I saw it. I was now in stunned silence. I couldn't think nor speak. I know that all of us are feeling that way. Above Luxu was the ultimate weapon, the counterpart to Kingdom Hearts: the χ-blade.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

And now things have come into their most absolute worst! The X-Blade is forged, and now things are looking pretty bad for the heroes! I'm sure they'll be able to pull off a win, somehow! But dang...these battles are just insanely good! Excellent work man, and I felt bad for Nikitis's descendant, but since he would not back down from his dark path, Ben had no choice but to kill him! Poor guy! D:

 

I can't wait for more!

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Chapter 55: It All Ends Here

      The mighty counterpart that split apart into those infamous pieces now has been forged and to its true composition. It slowly floated down toward Luxu's open hand. Myself and all of my allies were awestruck at the sight. Again, the χ-blade once again appears and now this time, Luxu has possession of it. It is composed of the thirteen darknesses of the Dark Elite, Foreshadowers, old enemies, and two of the original thirteen darknesses and the lights of the six Disney kingdoms and light from Walt's heart that came from the lamp in Disneyland. Now all of the pieces have come together and here is the result. Luxu grabbed the handle and just looked at his prized possession that he now owns. He was silent and just looked at it over feeling it and analyzing it.

      "Look at this," he said. "Look at its majesty. This my friends is the second half to Kingdom Hearts, the counterpart. Before now, it has been forged once using its original composition and not by pure light and pure darkness clashing. Nay, for the second time in recorded history, the χ-blade as it originally was has been forged and completed once again." He then looked up at all of us and looked around at us.

      "And now, to renew and rebuild this imbalanced universe, so all shall fall to darkness," he said, " and may balance under my watchful eye rise in its place." He pointed the weapon upward and thrusted it upward. My allies and I looked around at the worlds we see visible. The dark spots now grew rapidly and eventually covered the entire worlds. Even Earth with it having multiple dark spots had those grow exponentially and was covered with darkness as well. It was a blackness that made these worlds into like black balls floating in space. That darkness then infiltrated the Cross Between Worlds and everything around us became black. We were still able to see each other and other people. We looked back at Luxu and he had a dark aura surrounding him and the χ-blade and was now floating.

      "What happens now?" I asked him.

      "Everything starts anew," he replied. "All that you see will be destroyed and then it will be rebuilt in my image of balance."

      "Where you're put on top?" Sora asked condescendingly.

      "And what if some don't go with your so-called vision?" Invictus followed.

      "Then you will fall to the power of Kingdom Hearts!" Luxu replied.

      "No, everything you are doing is to enslave us all and destroy everything that is good!" I shouted. "You will destroy the light! With the power of Earth and the Mark of Kye and with the power of our friends and family, we will beat you and take back the light!"

      "Very well then!" Luxu replied. "If you wish to challenge me, let it begin then!" My friends and I looked at each other and nodded knowing that now it has come down to the four of us. We then look at our allies and nod to them. They all nod in return with expression that they too know that it's time for the Supreme Elite to make the final stand for all of the universe. We turn around back to Luxu and the Mark of Kye appears and blue light aura covers us and emits from us as we awaken Earth's power. We then jump up floating at Luxu's level above everything and everyone. Then we find ourselves standing on something invisible above the entire conflict. Before us stands Luxu in stance with the Kingdom Hearts counterpart in hand. We take stance and prepare ourselves. Then both sides charge toward each other and clash like balls of light and darkness crashing into each other and exploding. Indeed, when my friends and I did clash with Luxu, there was an explosion from where we clashed. We briefly held a lock and then it was us fighting him. He handled his own somewhat with ease. We meanwhile did all we could while using our power fighting him. It is because of all four of us fighting him that we have been able to stand against him. Also, the power of Earth and of the Mark of Kye helped immensely.

      With every strike I attempt to get him with, I am immediately thinking of everything that has happened. Everything from the Keyblade War a few years back, to the Dark Elite last year, to now was part of Luxu's plan to obtain his prize. The harm he caused, the people who died because of him, the chaos and ruin he wrought, everything that has happened was because of him. Yes Master Xehanort had his ambitions that did cause the Keyblade War, but it is Luxu who used it all to his purpose. In the end, he was responsible for everything that has happened and everyone who has died. Mike, the students that all died in Tomorrowland, everyone who fought on our side; Luxu was responsible for it all. What difference is it now compared to then? His ancestor of his name was tasked by the Master of Masters to just watch everything play out and keep everything moving forward in the way the grandmaster foresaw. All so it comes to this: Luxu creating a universe in his image. No, he will destroy everything that is good if he gets his way. Everyone who wants the right thing will perish. In general, all that is good will be destroyed. Whether it is good people like my family, or the Roman Catholic Church, the institution God himself created and has promised to remain until the end of time. Luxu will surely do what he can to make sure the gates of Hell prevail against the Catholic Church, my beloved faith and sanctuary. He may fail in destroying the Church, but everywhere else will be chaos, ruin and darkness. It will not happen and my friends and I will save everyone and all we hold dear.

      Luxu and us four fought with our might and our power. It felt like forever and this battle wouldn't end. Soon, we end up in a lock with Luxu.

      "You four have fought valiantly," Luxu said to us, "but there is no happily ever after for you. There is only one destiny and only one. The world is destined to be balanced again and someone must do it. I will balance the world once again."

      "Just like how your ancestor attempted to do so?" Adrian countered. Luxu chuckled.

      "You know Kyrios," Luxu said, "it's funny you bring him up because I am curious: who was it that put a piece of his heart into your ancestor during the first Keyblade War?" Adrian was confused about the question.

      "What? What are you talking about?" Adrian asked.

      "Did you ever wonder who that dark lord was that took over the body of your ancestor?" Luxu asked. "I remember from stories that he wore a black coat." Then it hit Adrian. The first Luxu was the one who put a piece of his heart into Adrian's ancestor Kyrios during the first Keyblade War. It angered Adrian at that moment learning the truth after all this time. He put more into his fighting, but then, Luxu blocked his strike and kicked him back, Jack struck, but Luxu repelled him, Shane swung overhead, but he was kicked, and I swung across his abdomen and for a brief moment held it in a lock. However, he parried my strike and with his free hand he sent a powerful pulse in my direction like Xehanort in HD3D and sent me backwards as well. All of us ended up on our stomachs or sides taking a hit. Luxu just looked at us and slowly walked into our midst. We were spread out and he was closest to me.

      "What a sight before me," he said. "The great Supreme Elite lying on their stomachs and sides hurt. I thought they were the greatest Keyblade wielders ever to have existed?" He then looked at me and put the point of the χ-blade on my throat.

      "So... Master Polemistis," Luxu continued, "do you understand now? Balance must come to the universe. Good and evil are not balanced at all. You understand well it has been a battle between both since Adam and Eve ate from the tree. For all of humanity's existence, they have struggled between good and evil, light and dark. Now, for all time, I can restore balance to the universe with the χ-blade. You have two options: accept it and submit or die." I just put my Keyblade against the blade of the χ-blade he holds and slowly stand up just looking into the blackness of his hood where his face is.

      "And what is your definition of balance?" I asked him. "Is all of this balance? Does this look like balance to you?! And if you do balance everything, where does that leave the rest of us?" I didn't need to wait for an answer. "I know your goals. A universe in your image is one where we are on the bottom tormented and tortured while you remain on top. No you will destroy everything and everything will perish permanently." I push him off making him take a few steps back. My friends now were standing up next to me and a blue aura surrounded us. Earth's power has fully awakened now and makes me and my friends stronger than ever. Strong enough to be able to at least take the weapon out of Luxu's hands. All of us just glared at him.

      "We will defeat you Luxu," I said, "and we will save the universe from you. Adrian, Shane, Jack, all my brothers, will defeat you. With the power of our friends and families, we can and will defeat you Luxu!" Luxu just nodded and was silent for a bit. Suddenly, he bellowed out loudly.

      "VERY WELL THEN!" he bellowed. His voice echoed. A dark aura then covered him and the counterpart. "If you wish then to defeat me and to reject what I bring, then may Kingdom Hearts and its counterpart, the χ-blade, be your judge, jury, and most importantly, YOUR EXECUTION!" He then started floating up a ways although not too high. It was just high enough to where we had to jump up to be able to get to him. We prepared ourselves and then had more blue light cover us. Then we charge and jump up and then we clash with Luxu. A blast of light and dark mixed energy erupted from the clash and instead of struggling, we held our own and stood toe to toe against Luxu. Then after a brief lock, we fought Luxu once again. However, the four of us did not do things different as we fought. No we all fought as one striking and blocking all in the same way at the same time. We truly became one now as we fought as one and thought as one.

      We continued fighting Luxu making sure he felt us and our power making sure he understood that he is not the only one with a strong power of our own. Finally, after we landed from jumping to fight him, we nodded at each other, jump up to charge again, and in unison, we all swing forcing him to expose himself and then strike his abdomen. A wave of light erupted from the point of contact and Luxu was now writhing though silently. He was weakened so much that he actually let go of the χ-blade. It left his hand and started floating away from him. He tried to reach for it, but was shaking intensely because of his new weakness. My friends and I land back down and look up back at Luxu. We gasp at the sight seeing the counterpart float away from him and towards us. It wasn't clear who it was floating towards and we just stood and watched.

      "It's free from his grasp," I said.

      "And one of us is going to be picked by it to wield it," Adrian followed.

      "And take up everything that comes with it," Jack said.

      "Whoever is holding it is saving the universe," Shane finished. We watched and waited and it continued to slowly float towards us. Then after a few more moments, it became more clear who it's floating towards... me. It hit me and I had to swallow hard for a second keeping back the tears and holding myself together. I am the chosen one, I am the one who will save the universe... and sacrifice myself in doing so. I sensed my friends noticed too. I sighed and went to take a step forward, but Adrian immediately grabbed my shoulder.

      "Ben wait," he said, "maybe I should be the one to grab it." I just looked at him with brotherly love.

      "Adrian, it's obvious now," I said. Jack followed too.

      "Maybe you don't have to," he said. "I could grab it and see for myself." I said nothing looking at him. Then Shane interjected as well and I gave him the same look.

      "How about me Ben?" he asked. "I fell to darkness myself. It would be better if I fully redeemed myself." I said nothing and looked at them all with the same look of brotherly love. Then they acquiesced. Adrian looked down, sighed, shook his head, and looked at Jack and Shane. They looked back at him and they nodded at each other. I was now curious.

      "Before you go get it, I have something to tell you," Adrian said. "When we all went on our ways after unlocking Earth's keyhole, Shane, Jack, and I actually met together and talked. Ben, we knew it was you. It was always you. You were the first to see it all happen. You were the first to see Kingdom Hearts appear in the Magic Kingdom, you were the first to wield a Keyblade. It all started with you and we knew that because it started with you, it was going to end with you. No matter what, we will be behind you, even after you are gone." A tear started to roll down Adrian's face. I looked at Shane and Jack and they too had a tear roll down their faces. I remained still emotionally.

      "Thank you guys," I said. "I love you all." I turned around and saw the χ-blade float ever closer, but it was still in the air to where I had to jump up to grab it. I unsummoned my Keyblade, jumped up, and grabbed the counterpart. Suddenly, bright white light covered me and my clothes changed color and design. All my clothes turned to white. Golden heart design all along the edges of my pants, jacket, everywhere. The Mark of Kye appeared, but it too changed into gold color and became a part of my clothing. A gold heart design had its two halves on the either side of the front of my jacket. I floated now with a white aura surrounding me and with χ-blade in hand now as the strongest being that ever lived. I floated up to Luxu's level with light all around me and he was now not shaking.

      "If this is how it ends, then so will the Master's foretelling come true," Luxu said. "May the darkness prevail, and the light expire!" He then soaked in a ton of darkness making a black and purple aura cover him and he summoned No Name. Then we clashed once again causing big waves of light and darkness being exuded from the clashes. We fought on further holding our own; I am not gaining ground on him and he isn't gaining ground on me. It could not last that way forever and I decided to take control as I can and have all the means of doing so. I kick his hand with the No Name in it knocking away the weapon from Luxu's hand. Now he tried to use his bare hand to blast dark energy at me, but I just swung the χ-blade and struck it away. I then started hacking away at Luxu striking him everywhere I could. Finally, I gathered all the power I could and pointed the counterpart at Luxu. All the light that existed rushed into me and then I fired it at Luxu enveloping him to where he could not be seen. Then once the light disappears, it is just Luxu floating still in the middle of the air. Luxu then like the counterpart to Kingdom Hearts in BbS started disappearing as all the darkness rushed out of him like the χ-blade in BbS. He screamed and yelled and shouted. The dark balls went everywhere and rushed everywhere. Finally, he gave his last breath and just like the counterpart in BbS, he shattered and disappeared and the dark energy within him rushed out of him even faster. Finally after all the chaos, the energy dissipated and Luxu was no more.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Snaaaaap! The final battle is here! This is what it has all come to! Destiny is determined here, and nothing will ever be the same afterwards! This has been a rollercoaster ride of a trilogy, and I can't wait to see how this epic story concludes! Amazing job, man!

Edited September 26, 2018 by The Transcendent Key

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Chapter 56: A New Beginning

      I watched as the darkness came out of Luxu and watched him dissipate and disappear. I stared into that space for a while after he disappeared. It's over. He has been defeated. After all that has happened, all the pain, all the suffering, the blood, death, all the darkness, after everything, he has finally been defeated. That means the war is now over. No more fighting anymore. The forces of darkness and those that serve darkness now either surrender or follow the same fate as Luxu. Now, here I am the last one standing unchallenged and unrivaled in power. I hold the power of light now, I hold the balance in my hands, I am now the master of Kingdom Hearts... I am now the one to set things right. I floated down back to the normal level where all my friends are and where the war was being fought. It is now quiet and there is no more fighting. The warriors of darkness have mostly surrendered with a few deciding to run away only to be caught and forced to surrender. I slowly turn around and face my friends and allies. All of them looked back at me with slight smiles on their faces. The definitely noticed my clothing and the χ-blade that I am holding in my right hand. I unsummon it and walk towards my brothers Shane, Jack, and Adrian. They look me up and down and chuckle a bit with some smiles.

      "Seems you got some new clothes," Adrian said.

      "Looking fresh bro," Shane said.

      "Yeah it looks badass on you," Jack said. I smiled and nodded. I knew what time it was. It was that time. I first walk over to the Lucians all gathered together in their group. I looked at all of them with a small smile. They all stand at attention and bow like how they bow to Noctis, the king of Lucis. I go over to Gladio first.

      "Gladio... keep up with everyone could you?" I said with a smile.

      "Huh, everyone needs to not fall behind," he replied with a smile. We bumped wrists then and held it for a second or two. I smiled slightly choked up while Gladio was getting misty and his eyes were watering up a bit. I then turn to Prompto next.

      "Prompto... make some memories and be the memorymaker," I said.

      "I would like one just before you go if that's okay," he replied. I nodded and he grabbed his camera and he took a selfie. We nodded to each other; Prompto's smile turned upside down with now sorrow on his face. I went to Ignis next.

      "Guide them... be their wisdom... no matter what..." I said.

      "Your command is my oath... majesty," he said and then bowed to me. I nodded and we shook hands and held each other's for a second. He had a tear roll down his face as we held hands. Then I move on to Luna and bow to her.

      "Your majesty," I said. She walked up to me, gently grabbed the sides of my head, and kissed the top of my head. I stand up fully and she gently smiles at me.

      "The fate of our star rests with you now," she said. I nodded and then finally stopped at Noctis. He was looking down and away and looked antsy. He is not the one to be sentimental.

      "Your maj-" I said before he cut me off.

      "No formalities," he said and looked into my eyes. "Noct... please..." I acquiesced. I just looked at him after than while he continued to look down and away and be antsy.

      "I'll miss you..." I said. He just nodded. I raised my fist up so we could bump wrists, but instead he stood there and did not do anything. I felt a little stung and put my fist down. However, just as I was about to turn, suddenly, he just ran up to me and embraced me tightly. I was definitely caught off guard especially since Noct is not one to hug. I embraced him tightly as well.

      "Thank you... for everything," he said softly into my ear. I could feel him starting to sob a little. I had to keep my composure for obvious reasons. Then we let go of each other and give each other one more nod. He had tears rolling down his eyes. I then turn and walk to the Foretellers. They all face me and I face them. Then they all stand straight with hands at sides and bow like I am their master. I bow to them in return as they were my superiors and made me master. All those wounds have now healed and I want them to know that.

      "Thank you all," I told them. I then walked up to Master Gula.

      "I remember learning how your ancestor and you have prayed that I and Polemistis would one day forgive you," I said. "We did. I did. In fact, I am proud you were my master." He now really got choked up and we hugged each other.

      "Never have I been more proud to have a student like you," Gula said softly. We then let go and I turn towards Mickey, Donald, and Goofy. They all had sadness on their faces.

      "Donald, Goofy... protect the key," I told them while glancing down at Mickey referring to that key. They nodded at me and understood who I meant. I then bent down on one knee in front of Mickey.

      "Mickey... thank you," I said. He reached his hand out to me.

      "See ya real soon," he said. I grabbed it and then hugged him. I then let him go and then turn to face Invictus and his guard Ephemer, Skuld, Strelitzia, and Blaine. They all bowed to me the same way they bowed to the Keyblade Emperor. I nod at them in return.

      "Master Polemistis, one more thing," Invictus said. "There is one last thing that was foretold that I did not tell you or the rest of the Supreme Elite: When the light is restored, then will the Keyblade Emperor become the symbol of the greater. When you fulfill your purpose, then I will become nothing more than a symbol of a greater ruler. My title of Keyblade Emperor will become symbolic while the true title become yours." I nodded in understanding.

      "Guide them Invictus," I said.

      "Of course, your majesty," he replied and bowed. I looked at Ephemer, Skuld, Strelitzia, and Blaine, and I nodded to them and they returned it. Then I reach the seven guardians of Earth and they bow to me. I nod in return and move on to the rest of the seven guardians of light. I first address Ventus, Terra, and Aqua. They all have tears in their eyes. I don't say anything to them and we only group hug.

      "I always will call you my role models," I said to them. They don't reply, but only squeeze me tighter. Then we let go, nod to each other, and I move on to Sora, Riku, and Kairi.

      "Kairi, keep them on the straight and narrow," she smiled and nodded. She then gives me a charm, but it is different than what she gave Sora.

      "Here, your own charm made for you," she said. I now shed a tear for Kairi's kindness.

      "It will be with me always," I said. I then put it in my pocket and then walk over to Riku.

      "Be the way to the dawn for everyone," I said to him.

      "Thanks Ben," he said nodding. He remained stoic, though I could tell he was struggling because I saw his lower lip quiver. We grabbed hands and then we let go. I walk over to Sora and he is basically weeping in front of us all. I now was starting to really struggle keeping myself together.

      "Sora..." I said. He then wiped away the tears and pulled himself together.

      "No, I'm okay," he said. He then looked me up and down. "No, you'll come back. I know you will." I just smiled and we embraced. We then let go and I approach my friends last, but not least. I group hug all of them together.

      "I love you all," I told them. They remained silent and we let go. Behind me, a portal opens up. I know where it will lead me; it will take me to a part of the Cross Between Worlds where I am truly at the center of all and there I restore the light. I see the portal and take a few steps toward it. I look behind me at everyone; they all smile at me with some nodding in encouragement. I smile back at them, face the portal entrance, and step through. I come out and there is nothing, but black around me. I am in a different part of the cross between worlds. I turn around to face where I came from. A side of me wishes I could see them one last time, but alas, it already happened and the portal is gone. I exhale and think and then pray out loud.

      "Lord God, all this power I have within me," I said, "all that I have been given, I did not go seek it. I have been granted it. Lord, I do this not for myself, but for everyone who relies on me. You said that there is no greater love than to lay down a life for a friend; I do this for everyone because I love them all. Give me peace and hope that I will see my family and friends again when you come to judge the world." After I prayed, I then spoke out loud about my family and friends staring down into space.

      "I love you all, mom, dad, sis, guys, everyone," I said. "You do not need to sacrifice anymore. Now-" I then snap my head up "-it's my turn." I then snap my right hand out summoning the χ-blade and then I send out an orb of white light. Then I send out another and another, more and more where they spread all over the place and were rushing everywhere around me. I flowed like I was dancing sending all the light within me out all around. The light rushed into every world and began beating back and destroying the darkness that covered every world. Then after a minute or two, I then gather my power together, concentrate it, point the χ-blade up and then, I send a wave of white light out all around me and all the darkness vanishes away and all worlds are purified and cleaned. All worlds are saved and the Realm of Light is free. I then exhale and feel completely exhausted and worn out feeling emptied with nothing more to give.

      Then, light comes down and shines on me from above. I look up and see white light shining on me with a silhouette like a heart. I then am enveloped with light and it shines all around me. I close my eyes and feel the warmth envelop me as I become one with Kingdom Hearts. I open my eyes and see nothing more than a white landscape around me. There are no earth-like features. All is just light around me. I see I have now become one with the true Kingdom Hearts. Then I am spoken to in the ancient Keyblade wielder's tongue.

      "Well done, faithful servant of the light," the voice said. I knew how to respond as I too speak in the language.

      "Who are you?" I asked.

      "I am the heart of all," it replied.

      "Are you the true Kingdom Hearts," I asked wondering if I truly am speaking to Kingdom Hearts. I know it has a consciousness of its own as I wrote about it in my journal.

      "Yes I am. You Master Polemistis have fulfilled everything foretold and have fulfilled your purpose."

      "What do I call you?"

      "Call me master." Made sense since I was subordinate to the light.

      "Master, I ponder everything that has happened in recorded history," I said. "I wonder about when the first Keyblade War happened all the way until now. Why was it that the Master of Masters foresaw it all?"

      "Defending the light is not a selfish task, but a selfless one," Kingdom Hearts replied. "When the fight over my light becomes selfish, to gain status over others, dark desires enter the heart and stain it. When those who have power over others defend the light in their own way and believe their way alone is the right way, then will division and chaos ensue."

      "How then does one defend the light?" I asked.

      "To defend the light, one must not do so for themselves," it replied. "The light must be defended because they wish to save others, not just to save themselves. You understand this well, do you not?" I remembered the gospel verses very well. Jesus did say "whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will preserve it" and the only reason why I did all of this for the past few years is because I desire to save the universe and save others.

      "I must show you something," Kingdom Hearts told me. Then in front of me, a painting made in the same style as the painting of the prophecy in the Citadel in Insomnia appeared and on it, a person holding what appears to be an "X" shaped key sword pointing up in his right hand while his left hand is sending light down. Below, three people look like his friends with key shaped swords are commanding many others to charge. towards the lower parts of the painting, evil looking people and creatures are being beaten back by dozens of people holding key shaped swords.

      "This painting is the prophecy foretelling how the one I will choose to save the world will defend it by leading forth other servants of light in battle against the darkness." It made sense to me. It looks like it was painted a long time ago, but never was revealed to anyone and so this is what became of it. Then it disappeared from my sight.

      "Master, now that I saved the universe from darkness, what now?" I asked.

      "You have become one with me and have restored the balance in the image of what you saw fit, which I too see fit," it replied. Now, you will watch over all and keep the balance of light and darkness. I assume you will accept this, yes?" I then thought some more about this and what I do now. I look at the χ-blade in my hand and think. I now have the counterpart to Kingdom Hearts, I am one with Kingdom Hearts, and now I watch over the universe and forge the balance as how I see fit and it sees fit. I also now have all the power in existence in my control and command. I basically became a god. The more I think about it, the more I do not like it at all. Suddenly, something that I once said came into mind: it is up to us whether to accept fate or not.

      "Master, I have to be honest, I do not like this at all," I said. "I understand very well what fate had in store for me, but I did not desire power. I basically became a god and I refuse to be treated like one. The first commandment of the Ten Commandments is as follows: I am the Lord your God, you shall not have other gods before me. I would be the very thing God himself commanded not to exist. I am a faithful Roman Catholic and I followed the words of Jesus: no greater love than to lay down a life for a friend. I laid down my life so my family, friends, and others can live. I do not want this power at all and I stand before you refusing this power. I understand all that was foretold before, but I was foretold to have my body destroyed by darkness too. I decide my fate, God decides my fate, not prophecies. All I have heard were foretellings of gaining power. It was power that was the source of the first Keyblade War and it was the source of the second Keyblade War and the Apocalyptic War; I will not repeat these mistakes ever again." There was silence for a little while. I wondered if I disappointed Kingdom Hearts. Then it spoke to me again.

      "Such wisdom Master Polemistis," Kingdom Hearts said. "May your request be granted unto you." Then a bright flash of light surrounding me and I found myself back with my friends and looking at them. Everything in the Cross Between Worlds was clean and all the worlds have been purified from darkness. My friends and allies all gasped and all cheered and ran to me. I started hugging all of my friends Adrian, Shane, and Jack and then everyone else. I was so overjoyed seeing everyone again. Then I was given a chance to explain.

      "How did you come back?!" Adrian asked.

      "Well, first, a little special guest," I said. Then behind me, the true Kingdom Hearts shown in its glory in its heart shaped silhouette. Everyone gasped again at the sight. Then I explained.

      "First, I was shown a painting in the style of the one in Lucis," I said. "It depicted me with the χ-blade in hand summoning the power of light and telling everyone to charge against the darkness. Then, I learned that the reason why defending the light wrought so much chaos and ruin was because the first Foretellers defended the light out of self-interest. In order to defend the light, you have to be selfless and desire to save others and nothing more. A third thing is this: it was power that was the source of it all. The wars of before started all because of a lust for power and me becoming one with Kingdom Hearts meant I gained power. I basically became a god. There is nothing in gaining power, no value, no satisfaction, nothing that will gain me anything. I remember that we made a promise in Epcot a while back to defend the least among us. I did not promise to gain power to save everyone.  I even remembered something that Sora clearly remembered before I did: we decide whether to follow fate or not." I smiled in his direction and he grinned and nodded at me.

      "So what are you going to do now?" Invictus asked. I summoned the χ-blade and then sent it behind me up into the air to float.

      "You remember that this is composed of the lights from the Disney parks and lamp right?" I said. "It is time they have their light back. I then summoned Ultimate Apocalypse and in a quick flash, I slashed through the χ-blade. The weapon then was covered in light and then split apart into its pieces. The seven lights returned back to every Disney park and Walt's lamp while the darknesses just disappeared and dissipated with nothing to supplement their existence. Kingdom Hearts then spoke to us all now in plain English.

      "Polemistis has made very clear his intentions and that is why I let him return," it said. "I also recall a very private intention from his heart." My brothers looked at me confused.

      "I have always wanted to have our ancestors to live their own lives," I confessed. Then suddenly, four flashes of light like bullets entered into us and from within us, the hearts of our ancestors came out and then light covered the hearts and once again our ancestors came to be like before. They stand before us as complete beings. They look around again seeing that they once again stand among us as one of us. Kingdom Hearts then spoke again.

      "As separate as the Supreme Elite and their descendants are, so shall they also be as connected," it said. "Whenever you wish, you can unite once again. Both ancestor and descendant can live independently while remaining ever united and ever connected."

      "Well Ben, you have shown us why you and your friends have surpassed us once again," Polemistis said to me. Kingdom Hearts then gave a last message.

      "Well done, faithful servants of light," it said. "You will continue to pass your legacy down to your own heirs. Continue to always guard against evildoers and always stand ready and vigil." Then the heart shaped light silhouette disappeared and multiple light corridors opened up.

      "These get us home," I said. We then bade farewell to all of our friends the seven guardians of light and the Foretellers. Everyone in the Cross Between Worlds now was going home to their own worlds. My friends and I, the seven guardians of Earth, and the Keyblade Emperor and his guard went through a corridor and came out at the Emperor's Pillar. Invictus took his seat at his throne and the rest of us just looked at him waiting for him.

      "Congratulations, all of you," he said. "You have done well. Now we must consider our own successors to carry on protecting the light."

      "Invictus, thank you," I said bowing. My friends and I bowed with the Supreme Elite.

      "No, I need to thank you," he said. "You have said us all and we are forever in your debt. I will be sure those after me know to tell the story." I nodded in thanksgiving and he returned it. My friends and I bade farewell to the guard of Ephemer, Skuld, Strelitzia, and Blaine, and went home in a light corridor. We come out back at the academy where we see everyone inside. We go into the school and everyone just cheers for our return. We celebrate with them and explain what happened all this time. Then later after celebrating, my friends and I had a moment's peace.

      "Darkness won't be gone for long," I said.

      "That's why we all have successors," Adrian said.

      "They will continue what we started and keep our legacy going," Shane followed.

      "I think they will be ready for it," Jack said.

      "We'll be ready too whenever they need us," I said. We gave each other a big hug and then bade farewell to our ancestors. They bowed to us.

      "Remember, we always will have each other," Polemistis said. "Let's make a promise that we will find a way to return back to each other no matter what." We all agreed. I then went back home in a light corridor after saying goodbye to my friends, my brothers. I come out of the corridor and see my house all okay with everything as I last saw it. I walk up the driveway and enter though the garage and then through the door leading into the laundry room, and then into the kitchen.

      "Mom? Dad?" I said. Suddenly, I hear quick steps and my family is rushing into the kitchen with eyes all red and tear filled. They all grab me and start hugging and kissing me. I do the same now crying myself.

      "I'm so happy you're home!" mom said. I am happy too. Never have I been happier to return back home to my normal life.

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

Oh my lord...I can't believe that this journey has ended...what an amazing and heartfelt ending to an amazing saga!

My friend, this was a spectacular trilogy that you concocted, and it's crazy how I was here with you along the ride during the course of your trilogy! I remember that three years ago,  you decided to start your own story, as I remembered you following my own Kingdom Hearts Trilogy! And here you are, three awesome stories later, with your very own trilogy, an outstanding story that you created and was viewed by thousands upon thousands of people! Congratulations on reaching this achievement, man, I'm proud of you and this story! Excellent job, and again, great work on this emotional ending!

May your heart be your guiding key!

Edited October 20, 2018 by The Transcendent Key

[KingdomHearts3 2,591]

Epilogue

      My friends and I remained separate from our ancestors. They lived their own lives while we lived our own. We remained connected with them and whenever they they decided to return to us, they did so. I decided to live a normal life now. As I am older now, I know I need to have a career. I did end up going to college. Yes I was a bit older, but it was the right thing to do so I can attain a job for myself and start a career. Jack and Shane did the same and they went off to college too. Adrian went straight into the workforce and is doing his thing. Meanwhile, our former apprentices became masters after testing under the supervision of the Foretellers. They continued to lead the Keyblade academy training new students and grooming Wyatt to one day take over. Nick, my protege from karate class and successor, now has obtained power of the Keyblade and needed instruction. He met Anthony (Tony), James, and Logan, the respective successors of my friends Adrian, Shane, and Jack. The seven guardians of light and of the earth all went back to their own ways in their own worlds. With the Land of Departure having returned to its former glory, Ventus, Terra, and Aqua all returned to their original home. Sora, Riku, Kairi returned back to their island and Mickey went back to Disney Town. The Foretellers in subtlety continued to keep an eye on the worlds. Earth and all of the Realm of Light were restored completely and rebuilt again. However, the two became every closer along with Eos. All three now are connected. The citizens of each cannot really travel between, but they know of the existence of each and means of travel between each world are being developed. A people divided so long ago in primitive times now is reuniting once again.

      Invictus Verum was sitting on his throne with his guard of Ephemer, Skuld, Blaine, and Strelitzia by him. Master Polemistis of the Supreme Elite was there as well. He was there because the Keyblade Emperor summoned him there.

      "So the Realm of Light, Earth, and Eos, have all reunited once again," Invictus said.

      "Yes your majesty," Polemistis replied, "a people born from an Adam and Eve reuniting again after epochs of division and separation."

      "I never thought I would ever witness such an important phenomenon in human history," Invictus said.

      "I understand your amazement," Polemistis said, "but I would like to know why you called me here alone." He was alone as Kyrios, Kidemonas, and Aiton were not with him. Invictus wanted to speak with Polemistis alone.

      "Master Polemistis, I have been thinking," Invictus said, "my predecessors have always chosen someone to replace them carrying on a tradition that comes down to me today in protecting this world. I realized that I need a successor myself for before I know it, I too will come to a point where I must pass away. That is why I asked you to come here alone. I ask if you could succeed me and become the new Keyblade Emperor." Polemistis was shocked into silence. He did not know what to say. He had to think for a bit.

      "I understand what it carries," Invictus continued, "but I thought long and hard and realized that you are the perfect successor to rule over all Keyblade wielders." Polemistis was in silence for a bit longer and then spoke up.

      "I understand your reasons and I thank you for the consideration, but I must decline the request," Polemistis replied. Invictus now sat up straight more attentive. "Your majesty, I remembered something Ben taught me about power. I realized that I do not need power or rather more of it. I share the power Ben has obtained through Earth and through the Mark of Kye. I do not chase after power, those with dark intentions do. There is also another side why I say no. If I do this, I will have to dissolve the Supreme Elite and no long can be connected with my relative. Remember, I am basically an ancient grandfather of Ben's. I put my blood into Areti and it ran through his veins making him and I related. That made its way all the way down to Ben. I love him and I want to remain connected with him and never lose him. My brothers agree with this sentiment and we all made a promise to remain together. I cannot and will not break a promise." Invictus now was silent and needed a few moments, but he ended up nodding.

      "I fully understand," he said. "I understand your desires and intentions. I will find another to replace me. I do have another name as a replacement in case you decided against my request. I just rely upon you like the Keyblade wielders of yore did and those of now do and needed you here also to console me." Polemistis now tilted his head sideways now confused.

      "What troubles you?" Polemistis asked.

      "I once faced two Keyblade wielder twins," the emperor said, "and they were named Phobos and Deimos."

      "Those are the names of Greek gods whose names mean respectively 'fear' and 'terror'," Polemistis said.

      "And they were exactly like the Greek gods," Invictus said with some worry in his voice. "They were everything like those sons of Ares and I had to face them before. It was the only way that kept this throne safe from them and grabbing power. I fear that they will eventually come again and create their havoc far more widespread than our previous trials."

      "Worry not your majesty," Polemistis said. "Ben, Adrian, Shane, and Jack have all chosen heirs of the Supreme Elite to take up the mantle. They will be the ones who will protect the light." Invictus seemed calmer now.

      "I have heard their names," he replied. "Are these four new boys good?"

      "They can be masters within a few years," Polemistis said with a smile. Invictus nodded in response.

      "Thank you Polemsitis," he said. "Well, now I will call forth the heir who will be the new Keyblade Emperor and will work with the new Supreme Elite." A light corridor opened and a boy of about eighteen years of age appeared wearing clothing colored in a mix of dark and light colors with a majority being dark. He had dark hair with redish highlights and styled similarly to Polemistis. He said not a word and looked at Invictus alone.

      "Out of many, one is chosen," Invictus said, "and one is chosen out of many. Kyodaina, the great one, to you, the title of emperor shall be given. When my time draws near and my breath leaves me, then you shall take up this throne and become the ruler over all Keyblade wielders."

      "Yes your majesty," Kyodaina said in an older teenage boy voice. With this, a new era and new generation to protect the light has arrived. When the time comes, they will be ready and the light will be in good hands.

 

 

Author's Note

      Wow...... I cannot believe that I reached the end of my saga. It all started with an idea. I knew someone in high school that was a big Kingdom Hearts nut. She dressed up as Marluxia and I asked about it and she got all excited. From there, we would talk Kingdom Hearts and talk about how real it would be and could be. That was where the idea came from. While the main characters I used are not real people, they are based on real people. I have written stories before, or tried to, but they ended up being unread and went nowhere. Then came this. I asked The Transcendent Key to read and share what I have written. Little did I realize the impact my saga would have on people who did read. I never thought I would create such an impact with other people. It is because of all of you that I have written this saga and completed it. It was an honor and privilege. Almost four years later at the posting of this author's note, this journey comes to an end. I am glad I went on it with you. Please, I am open to feedback and messaging on what you think. I hope you liked my saga that I have written. Please share with others. I am a bit sad this journey has ended, but I am glad I went on it with you the fans who have followed along all these years later. I am forever indebted to your loyalty and support. Thank you all. God bless you all. May your heart be your guiding key.