It was a bright and sunny day in Hamilton Ontario as Conbravo was going on. Two individuals entered to main convention hall one being pushed in a wheelchair by the other. The boy in the wheelchair was named Warrick and the girl pushing the chair his sister was named Jane.

“Thanks for bringing me Jane,” Warrick said, looking up at his older sister with a smile.

“No problem” She said looking around “So where do you want to go? The Completionist is having a panel over there” She said pointing to the door

“It’s not the same since Greg left,” he sighed a little, “Jirard tries way too hard now. He should have just had Alex co-host with him.”

“Okay well I hear Linkara is doing a panel here too.” she said reading the guest list before realising that it won't be for another hour “Oh wait that’s in an hour.”

“You wanna just go around the floor unit it starts?” he asked, before tapping his chin, “Maybe see if they’re having a costume contest. You made some pretty good ones this year,” he complimented, gesturing to his own costume.

“Of course I did,” she replied with a smug smirk before a more genuine smile replace it. “If you’re feeling up to then, then let’s do it. But first, let’s detour through the market and kill some time,” she said pushing his chair towards the stands. The market was full of other con goers, a good portion of them cosplaying as various characters. After a short time of wandering they encountered a small table with all sorts of assorted replicas ranging from television to comics and games.

“Woah,” Warrick said, his eyes widening at the sight of the table, “Look at all that stuff,” he pointed out, “Hey, I think they even have Azula’s hairpin,” he looked up at her, giving her a smile. “Be a nice replacement for yours.”

“Hey, it was last minute and I forgot, ok?” she replied with a pout. “I didn’t think anyone would really notice anyway. Oh hey look there’s even a keyblade.” She said, looking at the vendor, who was dressed up like Chocolina from Final Fantasy 13.

“Welcome to Chocobocolina’s cos-play emporium! See anything that catches your eye?” she asked Jane, giving them both a bright smile, “We have a little bit of everything for a little bit of everyone!”

“Woah, she’s really into it,” Warrick whispered, raising his eyebrow at the hyperactive saleswoman, who just danced in place, still smiling at them. “Um... do you happen to have the Void Gear Keyblade?” he inquired, giving her a hopeful look.

“Actually we do!” Chocolina said with a grin, turning around and rummaging through her stock before turning back to them and holding out the blade, which was rather impressive due to her cover hands.

Warrick took it, giving it the once over, “It’s really well made.”

“I hand make all my stock!” Chocolina said with an abundance of pride, “Would you like anything else or will that be all?”

“I’d also like that Avatar pin, the Fire Nation one.”

“Coming right up!” she said, grabbing it and holding it out to Jane, who took it and pinned it to her chest.

“How much?” Warrick asked, pulling out his wallet, opening it up.

“Oh no, I couldn’t charge such a lovely pair of siblings like you two. Consider them on the house!” Chocolina said, giving them a bright smile, “You need them more than I do!”

“Wow. Thank you” he said putting his wallet away. He held up the Void Gear with a grin, slashing the air with it. He blinked as on of the eyes on the blade glowed, a sharp pain starting to surge through him.

“Warrick?” Jane asked, her voice full of concern. She gasp, seeing dark tendrils erupt from the floor, wrapping themselves around the young man, pulling him into a black pool that had opened up below him.

“J-jane!” he managed to shout out before the pool consumed him, quickly evaporating.

“Warrick!” she shouted, her eyes wide with panic. “No, no no no no!” she shouted, dropping to her knees, frantically clawing at the ground, her nails scratching and pulling at the carpet. After a few more swipes, a tear opened up. Before she could comprehend what happened, her hand was sucked in, the rest of her body following, before the tear quickly resealed itself.

“Well... I hope those two can help, those ponies really need it,” Chocolina said with a sigh before putting her smile back on and greeting her next customer.

Warrick groaned, opening his eyes, blinking a few times. Every part of him ached, though the worst of it was everything below his waist. ‘That doesn’t make any sense, I haven’t felt anything down there since the accident...’ His train of thought was interrupted when he realized that his face was covered by something. It was translucent and did not impede his ability to breath or see.

“The hell?” he asked, reaching up and running his hands along the surface. It was smooth and cool to the touch, even through his gloves. “OK, this is just weird,” he mumbled to himself. Propping himself up on his elbows, he looked around, taking in his surroundings. He was in some type of forest, laying on his back. It was dark, full of gnarled trees, with a light mist covering the floor like any good horror scene. Not too far away was his wheelchair, laying on its side, one of its wheels spinning.

“Really?” he asked with a sigh. He paused, putting a hand on his throat. “This isn’t my...voice?” he asked, frowning a little. It indeed wasn’t his voice, instead belonging to the voice actor of Vanitas, the very character he had decided to dress up as.

His eyes widened in sudden realization and he jumped up, “Jane!” he shouted, feeling his heart pounding in his chest. He had wound up in where ever this was, was Jane here too? Was she ok? So many terrified thoughts filled the young man's head that he almost didn’t realize was happening. He froze, taking a few shaky breaths before looking down. He was standing up, having paused mid-stride.

“Oh...shit...” he whispered, taking a step, and then another and another and another, until he was running through the forest. “I can walk!” he shouted at the top of his lungs, feeling tears of joy streaming down his face. He stopped when he felt a strange... draining sensation. He turned to see a black mist having appeared behind him. From out of it came several small purple blobs. As the mist vanished, they emerged from the ground, becoming toddler sized purple creatures with glowing red eyes.

‘Holy shit! Unversed!’ Warrick thought to himself as he and the Unversed, this particular variety called the Flood, stared at each other. They didn’t seem hostile, in fact, they seemed to be expecting him to do something.

“Uh...dance?” he asked, looking at them rather confused. Upon hearing his command, the Unversed started to dance, their boneless bodies allowing them to bend their forms unnaturally. “Ok, enough off that.” he said, shaking his head, watching with satisfaction as they stopped. He thought to give them another command when a realization hit him: if he created Unversed and had his voice, that meant he was Vanitas.

“Well...I could think of worse things to turn into...” he commented as he looked himself over, noting his now muscular build. He turned to the Unversed, who were still looking at him. “Go find someone, anyone that could tell us where we are.” The Unversed sank into the ground before darting off, vanishing into the fog. “Well best get moving then...” he said to himself before picking a direction and walking along it.

He walked for what felt like hours before one of the Flood returned to him. They stared intently at each other before it leapt at him, being reabsorbed into his body. “Gah!” he shouted, jumping back his mind filling up with new memories and feelings. There was a group of creatures not far from his current location, chasing after something. “Ok, weirdness aside, hopefully one of them can help me.”

He followed the Floods memories, ducking down behind a bush when voices filled the air. He parted a bit of the under brush, gazing out at the commotion.

What he saw was something straight out a fairy tail, a butter yellow pony with wings and long pink hair and tail gathering flowers and other plants into a basket. In addition, several animal critters were helping her, giving her herbs or vegetables. She was smiling and even humming a little tune in, he had to admit, a beautiful voice. What broke the serene feeling was several other ponies nearby gathering supplies as well with much more grim looks on their faces, as well as a few wearing armor and armed with spears.

“The hell am I looking at?” he asked himself, staying hidden. He stayed as still as possible, watching the... horses? Ponies? In the end, it didn’t really matter at the moment, merely watching the group go about their business, taking short, shallow breathes. Spotting movement near the pegasus, his eyes widened as one of the Flood moved over to her. The little creature looked up at her curiously, tilting its head.

The pegasus gasped in surprise, taking a few step back, before curiously stepping forwards again. “Oh my. Um, hello there. What’s your name?” she asked, a hesitant smile on her face. Curiously, she seemed to actually be waiting for an answer. “Don’t be shy, you can talk to me.”

It just stared at her, looking her over with its bright red eyes. It melted into the ground, emerging directly in front of her. As strange and dark as it appeared, it didn’t give off any indication of hostility.

Good thing they won’t attack without my command, Warrick thought. The idea of the Unversed just set to attack mode under normal circumstances was a very real possibility he hadn't considered up until now. Should I step out and talk to her?

“Lady Fluttershy!” one of the guards shouted, having taken note of the Flood. “Move away from that creature!” he shouted, pushing her back, leveling a spear at its face. It just stared at him, unfazed by the weapon.

“Mr Guard! There is no need to be so rude!” she shot back with a harsh glare, her timid voice somehow carrying power. “Just look at it! It doesn’t even understand what’s happening!” Her gaze softened and her smile returned. “Now why don’t you point that spear away from it? Please?”

The armed pony seemed to practically melt under her gaze for a moment before shaking himself out of his stupor. He sighed before pointing his spear away from the Flood. “That may be, Lady Fluttershy, but we don’t have time to play around with it. We’ve been out in the open for too long already.”

The Flood tilted its head again before diving into the ground, it darted over to Warrick, leaping back into him. He gave a shudder, shaking his head as its memories were added to his own. He groaned, shaking his head to clear it of any remaining fog.

“Who’s there?” One of the guards shouted, looking at his bush, “Come out now!”

“Alright,” Warrick said with a sigh, standing up and into view, “I’m coming, I’m coming.” He stepped out into the open, holding his hands up in a display of surrender. As he stepped forwards all the ponies gasped, even the guards who tried to look as brave as possible despite their fear, their weapons shaking. “Um… I come in peace?”

“W-what are you?” one of them demanded, glaring up at Warrick, doing his best to sound intimidating. “S-Show your face!”

“Well I was human,” Warrick said, shrugging a little, “Names Warrick and um... give me a moment here.” he said, pausing as he tried to figure out how to open the mask. He focused on removing it and right before their eyes, the glass seemed to evaporate, revealing his face. “There uh... that good?”

Many murmurs came from the nearby crowd. “What is it?” “Is it one of Solar Flare’s soldiers?” “Look at it’s eye’s. That can’t be natural.” “Is it going to eat us?”

“I’m not going to eat any of you!” Warrick snapped with a sigh, “I mean really? Do I look like I eat horse?”

“Um, we’re ponies, actually. Nopony’s seen a horse for ages,” one of them corrected.

“Thats not the point!” he sighed, dropping his hands, “Look, I’m lost, a bit freaked out and looking for my sister. Help a guy out?”

“Oh dear! You can’t find your sister!?” the yellow pegasus, ‘Lady Fluttershy’ apparently, gasped. “Oh, you poor thing!” She stepped forwards and placed a hoof on his leg. “Don’t you worry. It might take some time, but we’ll definitely help you find your sister. I promise,” she said with a comforting smile.

“Lady Fluttershy, don’t get too close to it!” one of the guards warned.

“Him! Not it!” she shot back with that soft yet forceful voice.

“Man you’re scary,” Warrick said, looking down at her. He opened his mouth to speak when the last Flood returned to his body, making him shudder. “God, that so weird...” He blinked, processing the new memories. “There's a uh... another group of ponies... wearing... blue uniforms, not too far from here.”

“‘Blue… uniforms?’” one of the guards asked, his eyes widening with fear. “H-How do you-? No, never mind that, can you be more specific?”

“All of them have wings and they seem to be looking for something,” Warrick said, looking off toward the east, “They're headed this way.”

Just like that all the ponies seemed to turn white.

“Oh sweet Luna, it’s them,” the guard said under his breath before turning to face the rest. “Everypony, grab your things and let’s get out of-!”

The guard was cut off as something rammed into him in a flash, causing him to seemingly disappear. Everyone turned their head to look for him, only for one of them to scream as they saw him nailed to a tree, a spear through his midsection, holding him to it. He twitched a few times before falling limp.

Warrick stared in horror before he tackled Fluttershy, moving her out of the way as another spear flew at her. “All of you, get to cover!” he ordered, getting to his feet, an angry glare etched into his face. “Come out now!” He was met with chuckles in response. “Stop hiding!”

“Who’s hiding?” a feminine voice asked in response.

Warrick felt something in his gut telling him to move and dove to the side, a sharp pain cutting into his shoulder as he dove followed by a gust of wind that nearly sent him tumbling. He looked up and saw one of the ponies the Flood had shown him, wearing aviator goggles and dressed in a tight blue suit that almost completely covered her yellow coat, her fire colored hair and tail peeking out. Just then, two more similarly dressed ponies joined her.

“Hey, it dodged,” one of the others noted with a smirk, a male with a sky blue coat and dark blue hair and tail. “You’re not slipping are you, Spitfire?”

“Quiet you, it just has good instincts is all,” she replied, more amused than angry, readying her dagger. “I’ll get his head next time.”

“IT’S THE WONDERBOLTS!” one of the ponies screamed.

“LUNA, SAVE US!”

“RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!”

The leader’s smirk grew into a sinister smile. “Get ‘em.”

“You're not going to hurt them,” Warrick said, his gaze darkening. He stood his ground, a dark aura growing around him. He held his hand out and in a burst of purple flame, Void Gear appeared in his hand. “Leave now, before I have to hurt you.”

“You hear this thing Spit?” the male asked with a laugh, “Thinks it can take us. US! Thats hilarious!”

“Well then, I guess we need to teach it who its deali-” the leader, Spitfire, began before shock covered her face, followed quickly by a terrifying smile. “Well look here! We hit the the jackpot! One the mare’s that traitorous Luna’s taken an interest in!”

“Oh yeah! The yellow one there! That’s the one the general wants!” the teal colored one with the white hair and tail exclaimed.

What? Warrick thought before turning to face Lady Fluttershy, who was utterly frozen in fear. No. Her? They wouldn’t!

“Forget the monkey, CAPTURE THE BITCH!” Spitfire ordered.

“My name... is Vanitas,” Warrick stated, getting their attention, “Prepare yourselves, to enter the darkness!” he shouted, his helmet closing up. Acting on pure instinct, he threw his arm up, summoning down several purple lightning bolts as he cast Dark Thundaga.

“Oh shit!” the male shouted, barely dodging a bolt, “That thing has magic!?!”

“Looks like we need to take it down first! Crossfire formation!” Spitfire ordered as she shot up into the sky, leaving a trail behind her, as the other two split in opposite directions before diving into the forest. She then came streaking down right at him, her dagger ready

Warrick raised his hand, about to cast another bolt, when that gut instinct told him to move, jumping back as the other female came shooting out from the trees, barely missing his chest before turning at a sharp angle back into the forest. Just then he felt a sharp pain across his back as the male cut him and disappeared. Just then Spitfire sliced at his head, leaving a mark along his helmet as he leaned out of the way, before darting into the forest herself. They all continued the hit and run assault, coming at every angle and retreating before he could get a bead on them.

Getting rather tired of the game, he let Spitfire hit him, vanishing in a burst of darkness. He reappeared above her, catching her in the back with his keyblade, hitting her with a blast of Blizzaga, freezing her solid.

“SPITFIRE!” the male shouted in alarm, breaking off from attacking Warrick to grab her and retreat into the air, the other female following soon after, looking equally concerned. He used his dagger to chip the ice away from her head until her own struggles broke it free, the rest of her body still encased.

“F-F-Fall, b-b-back,” she ordered, her teeth chattering. “W-W-We n-n-n-need-d m-m-more t-t-to b-b-beat it-t-t.”

The other two glared at Warrick before flying off.

“WE’LL K-K-KILL Y-Y-OU F-F-FOR THIS, M-M-M-MONKEY! YOU H-H-HEAR ME!?” she called as they faded from sight. “N-N-NOP-P-PONY B-B-BEATS THE W-W-WONDERB-B-B-BOLTS!”

“Yeah well, I just did,” he said panting a little, opening up his helmet. He turned to the ponies, ignoring the wounds he had suffered. “You guys ok?” he asked, trying not to look at the poor guy who was pinned to the tree.

All of them just stared at him slackjawed.

“He just drove off the top three Wonderbolts,” one of them muttered.

They all stared at each other for a moment before cheering.

“Thank you so much!”

“That was amazing!”

“Did you see how he took Spitfire!?”

“Well, I guess that answers my question...” he mumbled moving over to the pinned pony, looking him over, “Is he uh.... you know...”

The cheering almost immediately stopped as they all looked at the dead stallion. Many hung their heads, some looking ready to puke. Nearly all of them we’re on the verge of tears.

“Um, Mr. Vanitas, was it?” Lady Fluttershy asked. “I hate to ask this, but… could you please… pull him off?”

Warrick’s first reaction was to protest, but seeing her wide eyes, tears streaking down her face and desperately trying to hold back her sniffling, he couldn’t bring himself to say no. “Yeah... I got ya...” he said nodding. He grabbed the spear shaft with both hands and with a single heave, pulled it out, sending the body to the ground. He tossed the spear away, grabbing the limp form and slinging it over his shoulder.

“Set him down here, please,” she said, having rolled out a tarp. He gently placed the body on the cloth and she then proceeded to gingerly roll it around the body.

“Shouldn’t we bury him?” he asked.

“Yes, but his family will want to see him first,” she answered.

After nodding and indicating that she was finished the other guards had everyone else gather their things and started walking away.

“I’m sorry, but I think we’ll have to look for you sister later. You should definitely meet with Princess Luna for now.”

“It’s ok,” he said nodding, starting to follow them, “You guys just lead the way.”

“YOU WHAT!?” the General shouted at the three.

Spitfire, Soarin, and Fleetfoot hung their heads and winced at their superior’s voice, the shame of defeat almost as bad as the fear of discipline.

“MY THREE BEST AND MOST EXPERIENCED WARRIORS DRIVEN OFF BY ONE ENEMY!?”

“We have no excuse. We didn’t take it seriously enough and we were caught off guard. Forgive us, ma’am,” Spitfire replied meekly.

The General grit her teeth before taking in a deep breath before exhaling.

“You three have served me and our Queen well, especially you, Spitfire. Your failures are few and far between, and your loyalty to me and each other exemplary. If this creature was truly able to drive you off, it must be powerful indeed.” She paused for a moment before turning away from them. “I want a detailed report on this creature and it’s powers by sunrise tomorrow. We need all our forces ready to defeat it should they come across it.”

“Of course, ma’am.”

“You may go, but don’t forget, your good standing with me and our Queen will only protect you so far. If you fail again,” she paused to turn and glare at them, “there will be punishment. And if you do, pray that I am the one who disciplines you, and not our Queen.” She turned away from them again. “Dismissed.”

The three pegasi stood straight and saluted, sighing internally with relief. “Thank you, General Rainbow Dash.”