“Are you alright Zeke?” Thomas asked. I felt rather light headed after all that.

“Heh. Yeah, I’m just a bit… that took more out of me than expected.” I said softly. Why am I so...tired?

“Hey, Stay awake there Zeke.” Patches said, shaking me. “Come on, there's more of these things beyond this point. Stay with us.”

“Heh. Not dying Patches, just...tired…”

A storm is gathering, in time, it's winds will uplift all we hold dear and bring it to ruin.

What do we do then?

Fight. It's all we can do.

Lake...if you can hear me… please…. Help.

...Drezke?

Lake?!

“Ugh…” Trixie grunted as she stirred, and quickly realized she was in control of her shared body. “Why...Zeke?”

“Do not fret,” Trixie looked up, seeing the Maiden, the one who bound Zeke to her, standing in front of her. She looked around, she was still in the Armored Spiders area, Thomas and Patches by the archstone. “This was to be expected.”

“What? What was?” Trixie asked.

“Zeke is now thin soul, your body and heart may be similar to his old, but they still need to synchronize.”

“Synchronize? Wait! Will Zeke-”

“Fret not. Zeke will be fine. This is to be expected if one of you two are in controle for too long, or stress the body too much. Who is in control at the time will pass out, and the other will take over.”

“O-oh.” Trixie said, relaxed at Zeke was only sleeping. “How long… will he be out?”

“It depends. From what those two told me, I expect him to awake within several hours.”

“Hours?!” Trixie said, jumping up to her feet. “We need Zeke now! We can't do this without him!”

“Trixie, the power Zeke revived through my aid is now imbued into you.”

“But… I barely have any training. I can't fight those things.”

“You have strength, and power beyond imagine.” The maiden said, beginning to fade into the air like a ghost. “Just summon the bravery to use them.” She finished, gone from sight with that last sentence ringing in Trixie’s head.

Can I? Can I really… Can… Trixie pounded the wall. Anger filled her. “I’ve been a fake my whole life… I’m finally going to be a somebody.”

“Oh, you awake?” Patches, Zeke called him, came up to Trixie. Kneeling in front of her. “So, overheard the Maiden say you’re not Zeke, but the owner of that body he’s using.”

“Borrowing.” She started, getting up and dusting herself of cobwebs and dirt. “Well, more like sharing.” Trixie clarified, summoning the X-blade. A weapon of mass power, in the hands of an unlikely wielder. Trixie didn’t know what to think of this. Her heart somehow one of the rare, worthy ones capable to wield this legendary weapon.

“So, what can you bring to the table?”

What can I bring? Trixie thought as she shook her head, tossing all doubts aside. No, no room for doubt or fear. “I’ll bring what I have” She stated firmly.

“Oh? And what is that?”

Trixie looked Patches dead in the eyes, chuckling as she gave him a genuine smile of confidence. “I have no idea.”

Patches stared at her for a time, before laughing. Not his typical sinister laughter of victory over tricking the greedy. It was genuine. True, and honest. A type of laughter long since forgotten by him, till now. “Oh I like you.” He stated with joy. “Well then, let’s head on off. This mine won’t empty itself of these creatures.”

“Heh, fair enough.”

The trio headed off, unversed in this area consisted of the Arachnophobias and Bruisers, and a few Scrappers. They were easily dealt with, Thomas managing to take out the Bruisers fairly well, but Trixie or Patches helped often, striking them when they tried to take aim at Thomas.

As they finally exited the mine, and into a cliff side section near a lake of lava. Patches, to Thomas’s and Trixie’s surprise, took a seat on the ground, and let out a heavy sigh. “Patches?” Trixie asked.

“This is where I first met Zeke.” He said, keeping his eyes closed in remembrance.

Thomas and Trixie shared a look, nodding in understanding as they each took a seat on each side of Patches. “How did that go?” Thomas asked.

“Very different. Very very different.” Patches said as a smile crept onto his face. “I was waiting, knowing at some point, some greedy bastard was going to come along and grab my trapped treasure. I saw Zeke come over and gave him my usual line. He looked over at the treasure, and I noticed him look at the giant bearbug above. For a moment I thought he realized my trap. Next thing I knew, he looked at me and smiled. Then, hahahahaha, the bastard grabs me by the arm and before I knew it I was dragged into my own trap with him.

“I was petrified. I thought we’d never make it out, or we’d have to somehow make a rather risky jump. Before I could think of an escape he just...started laughing. I thought he was mad. ‘Damn, best move that ugly thing’ he said. I told him he was insane. Lifting a bearbug that big was impossible. He looked at me with this grin on his face, and said ‘Let’s just see about that Patches’. Next thing I knew he grabbed its tail, and was pushing it forward. Once enough room was made he stood next to it… and KICKED it off the edge, and it rolled down into the lava lake below. I was slack jawed. If I hadn't seen it, I’d have never believed it. He then walked passed me. At this point I was shaking in my boots. He took the treasure, a club, and gave it to me. Told me it was too small for his liking. Heh, imagine that. After that I ran to the Nexus. In all my years I have never been dragged into my own trap like that. When he approached me in the nexus, he asked me how that club was treating me.

“I asked him, why he pulled me into that event. He said ‘I knew it was a trap, I just wanted to be the Karma that you’ve evaded.’ Heh, can’t say to some degree I didn’t deserve it. I respected him for that. He didn’t care about the treasures, he was… like me, in that moment.”

“How so?” Trixie asked, this story telling her about one of her new companions, as well as about Zeke.

“I swore to punish those who let greed guide them, consume them. He seems to act as karma for those who do wrong, even with good intentions. I can’t lie, it’s likely many of the ones I...tricked...killed in my past were simple folk, wanting something to hope for, something to make their lives worth something… When we had run into one another again, he pulled me into one of my own traps. Karma again. I had just kicked a clergymen into a pit of corpses and was guarded by a bloodthirsty black phantom. Twice, he brought Karma unto me, giving me a taste of my own medicine, the fear I put into others, I tasted.

“Just like before, he laughed. ‘Well, he’s going to have to go, huh Patches?’ He said, getting up and helping me up. I called him crazy. That phantom has been there forever, and no one has ever been able to best it’s speed. Zeke didn’t care, he just charged it, blocking it’s attacks with a large steel shield and slash it with a claymore. That slash decapitated it. It fell down and all that remained of it was it’s sword, which he gave to me. He just smiled as I took it with a look of confusion. He said ‘that makes two. Looks like one such as I hold less greed than thee.’ ...My world was shaken. He was right. I claim to have no need for greed...but I was. I was greedy for the thrill of punishing others for falling victim to their greed. I was a hypocrite. It took a while, but, I made my peace with it, and decided perhaps judgment was best left for god or whatever is higher.”

“Your past is past now Patches.” Thomas said, placing his palm firmly on Patches’s shoulder. “All has been forgiven.”

“Maybe. But I’ll never prove to myself that I’ve changed. I’ll never prove to all my victims I’ve changed. Even if all the world praises me a hero...I’ll know just how dark my soul is.”

Trixie felt an understanding between her and the former murdering corpse robber. After her incident in Ponyville with the Ursa minor and the Alicorn amulet, she wanted as fresh as a start as possible. It’s what led her to the Crystal Empire, a land of ponies so out of time that if she played her cards right, she’d never have to bear remembrance of her past again. Sadly, the Nobodies came, and she was sent to a world dying and the dead rising. She wasn’t alive long, and the next thing she knew, she was without memories, not even her own name. Then, Zeke came along, revived her, and made her whole again by using himself. Lacking his own, he touches so many. “Come on.” Trixie said, getting up and pulling Patches up with her. “Not done here yet. Didn’t one of you say someone lived here?”

“Sage Freke!” Thomas said, jumping up.

“Crap! I forgot about him!” Patches replied. “The old geizer can hold his own, but not for too long!”

Quickly, the trio rushed down the pathway, dealing with a few Bearbugs and Unversed, namely Scrappers. Inside the tunnel there oddly were no Unversed, which put the trio even more on edge. Patches led them to a short cut to the old sage, Thomas and Patches taking a long jump down with a safe landing. Trixie wasn’t that brave. Yet She settled for the small jump to a platform and ladder.

Once they made it into a large cavern with bones, full skeletons Trixie recognized as those of Dragons. She’d seen some in museums as a foal, but none of them were this big. Further along they came across a large open area, hot as molten lava flowed freely. In the center of this large area, laid on the ground an old man, adorned in long robes. “Freke!” Thomas shousted, running up to the older man and looking him over. “Oh thank the lords above he’s breathing.”

“Take him back to the Nexus fast Thomas. We’ll stay here and see if we can find whatever did this to him. It can’t be too far ahead.” Patches said, Thomas nodding as he lifted the sage, and carried him back to the arch stone.

As Trixie and Patches looked around, Thomas felt Freke begin to stir. “Huh, what?” He said faintly, weakly.

“Shh. Save your strength old timer. We’ll have you safe and healed up soon.” Thomas said, walking back into the large tunnel with the dragon bones.

“What? No, NO! It’s a trap!”

“What?!” Thomas, shocked, turned around in time to see what looked like a glass honeycomb of magic materialize behind him, trapping Trixie and Patches inside the large area.

“What?!” Patches shouted, running towards the barrier, Trixie nt far behind. “Thomas! Freke!”

“It’s a trap Patches!” Thomas warned. “Find a way out-” As Thomas was speaking, he looked up, seeing Arachnophobias climbing down from the ceiling. “Oh shit! I’ll be back!” He said, running out as he carried Sage Freke away from the danger.

“Ah crap.” Patches said as he and Trixie turned around, seeing another Minic Master, or maybe the same one. They know the last one left. “This ars again.”

It opened its book as before, and dark energy began swirling from the very ground of the room. From the ground, a massive creature made from flames emerged, the symbol of the Unversed upon its chest, and it’s flaims changed from a hot red to a bright blue. It then roared at the two, unleashing a melting wave of heat as it’s maker vanished.

“... Zeke please wake the hell up.” Trixie muttered, she and Patches reading their Keyblades. “So, scared?”

“Always.” Patches admitted. “You?”

“Terrified.” Trixie admitted, the flame monster beginning a slow walk sideways. Looking for the right moment to strike. “Think Thomas will be back in time?”

“Nope.”

The monster roared, charging towards the two. Patches rolled to the side while Trixie side stepped it’s claw attack. The heat from being near it made her instantly soaked in sweat. It’s attention was immediately drawn to Patches, trying to claw at him more. Trixie saw her chace and went for it, slicing it across it’s back as it roared, blasting them back with it’s sudden burst of flames. Trixie slammed into the large rib of a dragon long dead. She grunted, winced, and struggled to move as the pain radiated in her back. She opened her eyes, seeing Patches barely getting up as the creature was ready to pounce on him. “Gah! No!” She huffed, using the X-blade to aid in her standing back up. “Damn it…” She looked up again, seeing it now above Patches, slamming him back to the ground as blood was hacked from his mouth. “Damn it! I WON’T BE USELESS!” She screamed, a light shining from the pouch Zeke made them wear. This caught the monsters attention, it turning around and looking at her.

Trixie was surprised, reaching into the pouch and pulling out Zeke’s Wayfinder. It’s glow radiated with a warm, kind light. The monster was growling at this. Trixie noticed this, and smiled. “What? You don’t like it?” The monster roared, confirming Trixie’s suspicion. “Then come and get it you ugly mother fucker!”

The monster roared, charging at her as she gripped the Wayfinder tightly, it’s light glowing ever brighter as she raised the X-blade up for a strike. Once the monster was in range, she swung it, a powerful shockwave of light blasting the monster across the room. Painfully, Trixie took this time to head over to Patches. “Is there anyway to heal you? Zeke hasn't taught me spells yet.”

“His bag.” Patches spoke through dripping blood. “Look for a black herb.”

Rushing, Trixie searched through the larger-on-the-inside bag, pulling out a black herb the glowed with a faint magical aura. “This?” She questioned.

“Yes.” Patches said, taking the herb and consuming it. No sooner did he swallow did his wounds heal, and he looked less pale. “Heh, better than mother’s milk.”

Trixie gave him a smile, and began to search for one for herself. Sadly, this was not to be, as the monster rushed towards her, and swiped her away. SHe crashed into the same rib, this time, breaking it and falling on the inside of the rib cage of the dragons bones, unconscious from the impact. “Trixie!” Patches yelled, barely having time to noticed it’s second swing and realizing his Keyblade lay on the ground behind it. “Crap!” He yelled, dodging another swing of it’s claws. ”I have to get to her!” He thought, fearing the worst.

Quickly, he got up, and managed to throw a throwing knife he kept for emergencies, and this more than qualified. It flew right into the monster’s left eye, it’s roar of pain and efforts to remove it gave patches the time to run over the half equine woman. Quickly, he shook her, but no response. The monster made listening for a breath hard, so, Patches, wit a great deal of blush, placed an ear just above her breasts, and to his relief, heard a heartbeat. “Oh thank the whatever.” He said in relief, letting go of some of his worry. Sadly, he turned around, and saw the monster was still there, clawing out it’s own eye to remove that knife.

Anger filled Patches. For most of his life, he saw people die. From demons, from other humans, by his own hands… “No more.” He said, standing up and making sure Trixie was still alright as he exited the rib cage, the monster having finally clawed the small knife out of its left eye, as well as it’s entire left eye. The two stared at one another for a while, before Patches took a single, firm step forwards. “No. More. DEATH!” He shouted, his Keyblade flashing away in a flash of light, and appearing in his hand. “I have seen too much death, by demons, by people, by monster! My family, murdered for our land, my love, murdered for her necklace… countless lives, murdered for their souls!” As he spoke, his rage took form, in the appearance of flames coating his body and Keyblade. Without knowing it, Firestorm was triggered. “I tried to be above all this greed. Yet in that search, I became a hypocrite! I understand now. Greed is in all, and I am no acception!” Patches declared, readying his Keyblade as the monster roared, ready to fight again. “Right now. I am being greedy. I want this woman, and the friend of mine that is her soul to live. I want to put my past behind me. I want to become a new person. Patches the Hyena is dead. From now on, I’m Patches, Patches the Greedy!” He charged, slamming his Keyblade into it’s gut and flung it a good seven feet to the side. “I am greedy, because I want all those around me to live!”

He charged again, the monster not even having a chance to dodge or swing. Patches unleashed a flurry of combos. While the fire did little harm to the monster, the speed of his attacks, made up for that. Soon, Patches had the monster by its legs, it’s flame glowing bright, almost blinding him from seeing it’s body as it unleashed a powerful burst of fire. With Firestorm, the intense heat, felt like a warm breeze to Patches. With a final swing, Patches unleashed a wave of fire, ending Firestorm. The attack staggered the monster, giving Patches enough time to jab his Keyblade into it’s skull, all the way to it’s hilt. “I know now. Not all greed is evil. Just like people, there are exceptions.” He said as the beast fell dead, dissolving back to the darkness from where it was formed.

The exaction hit Patches like a brick wall, or a good punch from Zeke. He fell to his knees, exhausted. Slowly, he stood back up, and walked back over to Trixie. She was still out cold. But he could see her breathing. In this state, she can’t consume any Darkmoon grass. She’d need to awaken first, then be fed it carefully. Patches took a seat on the nearby ribs, and waited. “I wonder...will Zeke wake up, or will Trixie wake up? Or both?” He pondered, wondering who of the two within the bod will awake first and take over. “Heh...Patches the Greedy… I kind of like it.”

Author's Notes:

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