Chapter 26: The Key to Power

Last Time: I sighed, turning back to Luna, Melissa, and Sumire. “Welp, let’s go see what Ed has for us.”

We all emerge from the Tower to find… well, I’m honestly not sure exactly WHAT we found, since initially, nothing was there.

“Didn’t he say to meet him outside?” Sumire asked with a hint of confusion.

I nodded. “He’s not exactly one to be cryptic, maybe…” I trailed off, noticing bolts of electricity arcing from a point in the air ahead of us. “Get back!” My warning almost came too late as a portal opened moments before a train came plowing through the space we previously occupied.

The crimson train came to a lurching halt with a hardy squeal causing us to cover our ears. Ed jumped off the front of the train and walked over to all of us.

“Sorry, I’m late,” he flicked a pick of grain slime off his coat sleeve. Sumire raises a finger, “It better you don’t ask little one. Let’s just say trouble and leave it at that. First I have these for all of you,” he snapped and the rear car of the train opened up to reveal a few boxes with everyone’s initials to indicate which boxes went to who. “It's new gear and weapons. I need to do some final adjustments before I can show you the reason I’m here, Kairi. You and your friends open your gifts,” he said as he went inside the train.

We glanced at each other before we each went to our boxes. Luna was the first to open her box. Inside, she found a strange-looking Keyblade. The teeth and head are black with a white outline and possess a round, cog-like shape. The handle is white and the guard has the same coloration and cog-like shape as the teeth. The shaft is predominately white, with black chains wrapped around it, and gear-like shapes along the shaft. It has two black and white reptilian eyes, located in the head of the blade and one embedded in the hilt. Its Keychain consists of three small, gray gears and ends in a charm resembling two halves of a gear arranged in an S-shape.

“Void Gear,” I murmured before turning directly to Luna. “Be very careful with that blade. Its powerful, especially when using the Darkness, but that sort of power always tends to draw the wrong sort of attention.”

The blue filly nodded. “Don’t worry, I understand. I’m not too keen on the Darkness anyway.” She then turned back to her box and noticed that there were some new clothes as well. Clothes that looked suspiciously like the original Kairi’s Kingdom Hearts 2 attire. “What? Why are there clothes here?”

“He probably noticed you had grown a bit after what happened with Asta,” Melissa commented, looking over Luna’s shoulder.

I blinked. Now that she mentioned it, Melissa was right. It looked almost like Luna had aged about two years, to the point where her current clothes no longer fit quite right. I had heard a theory at one point, that for Alicorns, their physical age reflected their mental age, and with what happened in Asta’s mind, this seems to confirm the theory. I chuckled. “You should head back in and get changed quick. I have a feeling Ed has something in mind that’ll involve A LOT of movement.”

My sister nodded with a smile, before tearing off into the Tower as Melissa turned to her own box. Opening the lid, she found… three empty hilts? “Ooook, I suppose this is some sort of joke?”

I shrugged. “No idea, but I’m sure he’ll explain when he gets back.”

A slight gasp caught my attention. I turned to Sumire, who was staring into her box in shock. I watch as she reaches in and pulls out a very familiar hand cannon with a black spade painted on the barrel.

“The Ace of Spades,” I breathe in awe. The Destiny 2 nerd in me was having a meltdown as the redhead examined the legendary weapon in an equal amount of awe. She then looks back into her box and pulls out a new rapier that seemed to have an ammo chamber built into it.

I tore my eyes away, and finally looked into my own box. I reach in and pull out a Keyblade I had never seen before. It vaguely looked like the basic Kingdom Key, but had quite a few differences, such as the head being red, the main shaft being gold, the upper guard being blue, and the base of the handle sporting flowers and a heart. The name popped into my head as I pulled it out. “Oath’s Reunion…”

“Indeed,” Ed said right behind me, causing me to yelp. “Gotcha,” he smirked. “Do you all like your new gear?”

I nodded, getting my heart rate to drop. “Yeah, though we’re kinda confused by what you gave Melissa.”

“You mean the techie hasn’t figured out the tech I give here with the recent upgrade I gave here?” Ed gave a snarky smile, “They’re basically hard light weapons based on hard light dust weaponry from RWBY, oh yea,” he snapped and a red bolt of lightning struck in front of Sumire, scaring the hell out of all of us. As soon as the smoke cleared we saw a set of twin Seaman's sabers, “Dust sabers for you dear. I just finished them. You need a close-range weapon after all, hehehe…”

“Now… where was I again,” Ed scratched his head.

“Explaining how these work,” Melissa replies, holding up her so-called hard light blades.

“Oh yeah,” Ed smiled, causing Sumire to look at me a little more than nervous, “The controls are on the handles,” he pointed, “The can range from a hard light katana to a buster sword as well as a shield and blasters. That explanation suffice?”

The blonde nodded, already examining the device in her hand as I turned back to the alchemist. “So what exactly did you need us for? I seriously doubt you only came to help with Asta and give us new gear.”

“Actually a bit of both,” Ed said, “Follow me, and watch out for rocketing children!”

“Eh?” My sound of confusion was followed quickly by Luna tackling me to the ground, a playful smirk on her face, and Melissa and Sumire giggling like schoolgirls.

“Gotcha!”

I chuckled. “You certainly did. Mind letting me up now?” With a nod, Luna gets off me, and then helps me up before we turn back to Ed, following him onto the train.

“Round two is a go!” Ed said as he walked on.

I raised an eyebrow and was immediately tackled again, “Auntie Kairi!” I heard two familiar voices and looked down to see Ed’s twins.

Ed looked over his shoulder and smiled, “Let her up two,”

“K!” they said in unison as they got off and helped me up, “We heard you met uncle Asta!”

I laughed at their antics, brushing myself off. “I sure did. Had to pull his butt out of the fire as well.”

“That’s enough you two,” I heard Ed’s Luna walk out and the kids rush to their mother, “Sorry about them Kairi. They’re growing up so fast, literally, and they have their father’s smarts. How have things been for you?”

“Oh, you know,” I shrugged. “Good things, bad things, and calamitous things.”

My Luna nodded next to me. “The Elements had to go through a war simulation.”

I frowned at the blue filly a bit. She really shouldn’t have said anything about that, heck, she shouldn’t even KNOW about that.

“It wasn’t a simulation of an actual war,” I quickly explained, praying that Luna hadn’t overheard what I told Asta earlier. “Just a simulation of Final Fantasy Type-0.”

“No need to hide it from them,” I looked and saw Celestia coming out with another filly, but a unicorn and not an alicorn, “This is Sunny Days, and they’ve seen what their father can do and are no stranger to his stories.”

“I’d rather them know about me and what I’ve done and judge me than hide it from them,” Ed sighed as a holo displayed popped up in front of them, and he started to type on it. “Sunny isn’t immortal either but she will live much longer than a normal pony. I’ll be heavily upgrading your Tower's systems while I’m here and adding in a medical bay as well as working with the Doctor.”

I nodded. “The security and medical facilities certainly need an upgrade. And you may want to seek out the Doctor of this universe since he knows far more about the systems in the Tower.”

“Currently already working with him in the Tower in his lab,” Ed said as he typed on his keyboard, “Sumire, want more power?”

The redhead blinked. “More than you’ve already given me? What’s the catch?” She glances at me, seeing my surprised face, and rolls her eyes. “I know enough mythology, both from my home and from other nations, to know that no gift comes without cost, so what’s the catch?”

“You have yourself a good one here Kairi,” He looked at me then hit a key, and then three pedestals appeared in front of us. On two were containers that held…. Eyeballs and the middle one had a strange fruit, “Chakra fruit,” he points, “Byakugan,” he pointed to the left, “or Sharingan,” he pointed. “The catch is it's your choice and you only get one.”

Sumire brings a hand to her chin, stroking it thoughtfully. “And how exactly would I use either the Byakugan or the Sharingan without chakra?” she questions, pointing out a loophole.

“Nice try little girl but I’m fifteen thousand years your senior,” He smirked causing Sumire to swallow hard, “As soon as you get the eyes transplanted, the chakra network will grow throughout your body,”

The redhead shrugged. “Worth a shot.” She then turned back to the pedestals. “The chakra fruit. Byakugan and Sharingan users relied far too heavily on their doujutsu, and I will not become reliant on a tool.”

Ed clapped, “And you pass,” he said, “Kairi the eyes are yours to do with as you want. Sumire, take the fruit, and be prepared for the highest high you’ll ever have for all of a minute.”

Sumire nodded and took the fruit.

“I’ll help train you in jutsu later but on to the real reason I’m here,” Ed said as he typed on his keyboard, “I was traveling through the void in an area that a universe that had recently been reclaimed by the void and came across this,” he hit a key and the train’s second car opened and out of it floats a gigantic piece of crystal.

I looked at him as I walked closer, “Yes it’s crystalized Stopza magic,” he said as he walked up and broke a piece of the crystal off and it floated above his palm, “Too powerful to leave there but it's not why I brought it to you, but what’s inside it..”

I got closer and leaned into the crystallized magic and looked at him in disbelief.

Ed nods as he joins me, “She’s a keyblade wielder and the sole survivor of her universe…”

I looked over the frozen form of none other than Sunset Shimmer.

“As soon as she’s freed she’ll need immediate surgery to keep her alive,” Ed looked at me, “That's where I come in, but what you have to think about is if you want to free her?”

I aimed a flat look at Ed before summoning Destiny’s Embrace, using it the same way that I did with the crystal that Haley was originally trapped in. The Stopza crystal shattered, leaving Sunset to fall to the ground, her breathing shallow.

“I’ll take her in and start surgery,” he said as he suddenly vanished alongside Sunset. “In the meantime, you can speak with this me,” I heard from behind, causing me to jump. “Other than the earlier incident today, how have things been going in this universe?”

I quickly got my heart rate down after that spook, before turning back to the voice. “We’ve been preparing. For the most part, the rest of the ponies of Equestria, aside from Celestia and the Elements know nothing about what's coming.”

Luna’s eyes narrowed. “So there IS something coming.”

I blinked, going back over what I had said before sighing in resignation. “Yes, there is, but you REALLY don’t need to know right now.”

“Bu-”

“Not now!” I hissed with the slightest touch of venom in my voice. “I don’t want you ANYWHERE near what’s coming!” Instantly, I knew I had made a mistake, the hurt plainly visible in her eyes as she fell silent. “Luna, you have to understand, you’re everything to me,” I tried to explain after composing myself. “If I lost you…”

“I understand,” Luna said quietly, wrapping me in a hug. “You can’t keep me out of it forever though. I’ve known something was coming for a long time now.”

“You must understand she’s only trying to protect you, dear,” came a new voice. We both looked and saw a silver Ninetails glowing with a rainbow aura. “Hello, this isn’t necessarily our first time meeting but it is to speak personally. I am Faust, or at least the version from Ed’s universe.”

“I thought you were sleeping, Mother,” Ed actually rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“Oh, I was until I woke up!” She gave a toothy smirk, “But back to you two. Luna, you must understand she is trying her best to protect her little sister. But you Kairi must also come to terms that she's not necessarily the child you make her out to be. Every time Luna steps onto the battlefield she is just as much the warrior of Light as her elder sister is. The longer you wait to tell her the deeper that rift we’ll be,” she stood up, “My girls are the same way. I may not technically be the Faust of this world but I am still Faust and you are Luna, making you one of my children and you too by extension Kairi. Please don’t try and shut her out to protect her,” she looked at Luna, “And please be a little more patient. Kairi is not wrong in that you are not ready for what’s to come. You both must grow much stronger. Do you both understand what I am saying to you?”

We glance at each other before nodding. I see Luna opening her mouth, but I gently cut her off. “Later, when we can have some privacy.”

The blue filly’s mouth closed with a click before she nodded.

“Excellent,” Faust nods, “Now, I hunger!” She laughed in a puff of smoke.

“I don’t know what to do with that female,” Ed groaned, “But she’s always been that way. Even when she was still an Alicorn about thirteen thousand years ago.” He looked at both of us, “She is right that you need to grow stronger. You all do and seeing as you all need to get familiar with your new weapons. So you know what that means!” He smiled very widely and evilly at all of us.

We all paled. A spar with Ed is… to put it lightly, absolutely TERRIFYING!

“Um,” I swallowed nervously. “There’s really no need for that.”

“Yeah, I mean, that’s what we have the simulator for,” Melissa agreed, sweating bullets.

We glanced at each other before looking back at Ed, his grin still in place. “There’s no getting out of this, is there?” Sumire asked tentatively.

“Sadly no,” Celestia said, “But this is necessary too. You have all fought the strongest foe you’ve ever faced today and even at your peak of power could beat him,” she said causing all of us to look down, knowing full well she was right. “Edward is easily stronger than the leaders of your foes and holds most of the powers to even replicate their abilities. You’d be very smart to take the opportunity to face him.”

“A simulator can only take you so far,” Luna added. “Real battle with the intent to end one's life or end your opponent's life in order to survive is what is needed to push yourselves to even greater heights,” she motioned outward, “Even our brother-in-law demonstrates this. Even if he fights in a sparring match he doesn’t hold back.”

“Asta goes into every fight as if he won’t come out of it,” Ed adds, “It’s what makes him truly dangerous as a fighter under any circumstances, it's one of the main reasons why he and his Void Sen are, and were so strong. I won’t force you to fight me if you don’t really want to but unless you truly are willing to embrace a warrior’s mentality, or at least experience it, you’ll never be able to truly grow as a Warrior of Light.”

We all looked at each other and nodded before turning back to the alchemist. “We’ll do it,” we said as one.

“Good,” Ed nods, “But first let’s go and see Sunset. First though,” he looked at me, “She lost everything Kairi, and I mean that quite literally. There may be one other from her universe still out there but it's nigh impossible to track him down. Her former master but I doubt he’ll make his presence known, even with my help. I’d rather not prod him either. Back on track, Kairi,” he got serious, “Would you be willing to let her live here with all of you?”

“Of course,” I replied without hesitation. “This Tower was originally a sanctuary for those that needed it. I would be honored to use it in the way it was originally intended.”

“In her universe, she was originally human so she’ll probably stay here most of the time,” Ed led the way into a door he created. “She also achieved the rank of Keyblade Master and defeated the leader of her universe. It was her friends that poured their magic out to save her, this is why she was encased in the crystal.”

We all shuffled out of the narrow hallway into a brightly lit room. In front of us in a hospital bed was laying Sunset. She was missing the lower two-thirds of her left arm and leg, as well as her left eye was gone. Around the areas, her skin seemed to have taken on a darker coloration indicating darkness, I also sensed residual darkness coming from the scars. Her hair was also noticeably shorter coming to just above her shoulders.

“Go in and say hi,” Ed held up a hand. “But be gentle with her, let her down easy, “He said specifically to me, “I have to prep for the next part of her operation if she accepts it,” he walked it into an adjacent room.

“I know there’s a group here,” we heard from Sunset. “Come into the light so I can at least see your damn faces!” She said with a bit of suspicion.

I chuckled as I stepped up next to Sunset’s bed. “Settle down there. I’m not someone out to get you.”

Sunset just stared at me and I just stayed quiet, nervously grinning with a slight twitch.

Tears started to run down Sunset’s cheek, “Kairi… you made it out too?”

“You know who I am?” I asked in shock.

“Of course, I know who you are!” Sunset smiled, “You think I’d forget the person who always had my back? You are my girlfriend after all, or at least I’d like you to be now that the bastard Xehanort has finally been dusted,” she went silent for a moment and looked at me, ”Why are you so quiet?”

I sighed. “What do you know about the Multiverse?”

“So… you’re not my Kairi afterall…” Sunset hid her eye, “The blonde already told me about what happened but I didn’t want to believe it, and once… I saw you and I had hoped… but I guess hope doesn’t always… give you what you want…” She started to tremble as more tears started to flow, “I guess I really am the only one left….” She slammed her fist on the bed rail causing it to fall off, showing even in her injured state she was more than physically strong, “Damn it… I beat him so why didn’t they survive too!?! It’s not fair!!?!”

Ed now returned and held a crystal pendant on a gold chain up to me. I immediately recognized it as the crystalized Stopza magic he broke off from Sunset’s casing earlier.

“Give it to her,” He whispered. “You’re the only one here she’ll even let close, let alone listen to right now. The crystal is made of her friends’ magic and also contains impressions of their memories she has with them.” He dropped it in my hand, “This is where you need to do what you can, princess of light,” he said with a stern but calm tone.

I looked at the pendant briefly before turning back to the sobbing Sunset. I knelt next to her, gently taking her hand and pressing the pendant into it.

“I’ve been told that while friends may be gone, they’re still always with you,” I gently told her as I held the crystal pendant out to her, “Now, I know it may not feel like it, but I hope this pendant will help.”

“Why…” she asked with true sorrow in her voice, “Why am I the only one left!?!” She glared at Ed now with darkness emitting from her wounds, “You couldn’t save anyone else!?! Any of them!?! Not even my mother Celestia, at least!?!!!!!!!”

“I’m truly sorry for what happened to you and your home Sunset,” Ed told her. I now looked at him and could tell he meant it as tears also rundown from his eyes, “But… there are things that even the most powerful beings in all of creation can not stop.”

“YOU SHOULD’VE LEFT ME THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Sunset shouted at him while clutching the pendant as tightly as she could manage to her heart.

What happened next, not even Ed foresaw, as Sumire rushed in and did what we all wanted to do but couldn’t do.

She wrapped her arms around Sunset, “I know it hurts, so, so much,” Sumire said as she held Sunset, “But don’t ever say that. They did everything in their power to save you so you could keep going on! So don’t ever say that…”

Sunset pulled her arm around Sumire and just let it all out.

“Let’s leave them be for now,” Ed said with a solemn look. “We have other things to tend to anyways. My clone will handle her operation once they part. Is there anything specific you’d like to address before training?” He looked at me.

“Probably nothing,” Melissa piped up beside me. “But, for a brief moment, after you all woke up, your eyes flashed yellow for some reason, Kairi.”

“Huh?” I started in surprise. “What shade?”

“Kind of a bright yellow.”

“So, not the sickly yellow of darkness corruption then,” I sighed in relief. “You’re probably right, most likely nothing.” But still, there was a part of me, in the back of my mind saying it was something. Something big.

“You’ll find out what it is soon enough,” Ed smirked. Melissa raised her finger, “I can see multiple timelines thanks to experimenting with Arc of Time,” he simply waved as he moved on, “But no spoilers will you ever hear from me,” he smirked.

“Someone’s been hanging out with River Song, I see,” I replied with a grin of amusement.

“No, I just steer things to the best outcome I see fit,” Ed shrugs. “At the same time, there are things I can’t interfere with no matter how much I want to because they have to happen. Like a displacement.”

“I see, so closer to Sailor Pluto then,” I mutter. “But, that’s neither here, nor there, we got a bit off track after all.”
“True,” he nods as the door in front of him opened into a very unfamiliar hallway. “I hope you don’t mind but I brought you all to my time space and home universe. Your little training room wouldn’t be able to withstand even an ounce of the power I plan to use for this session.”

“This place is, or was, my Time Chamber given to me by my master but after heavy modification, I made it my own space. It doubles as many different facilities now,” Ed explained to us as we marveled at the many doors along the hallway. “I have added many things here but its mostly used as storage for my larger machines and a vault for the more dangerous artifacts I’ve come across in my trips through the omniverse. Think of it as a pocket dimension with several universes inside it.”

“These are the bathes,” he points to a blue door. “It's mixed bathing so if you don’t want someone seeing what assets ya got then wear one of the swimsuits in the changing area, just wash it after you're done. It's an open-air mountainside hot spring bath so feel free to use it after the sessions,” he walked on. “Don’t be surprised if you see Pole or one of the others walk through here either,” he said as he came into a very spacious area with a full kitchen, sleeping area, and even a lounge.

I looked over and saw Sumire and Sunset both sitting in the lounge, with Sumire shaking slightly.

Sunset looked a bit more composed at least. Her hair was now cut very short, just above her shoulders. I could clearly see the dark flame pattern on the skin around her new left eye. Her attire was a bit on the more showy side as she was wearing mostly sportswear.

“I’m surprised you didn’t puke,” Ed commented as he looked at Sumire. “Instant interdimensional travel can do a number on your guts.”

“Not my first time,” Sunset said with a cold tone.

I nodded in understanding. “Will you be joining our training?”

“Why would I?” She looked away. “My keyblade was destroyed along with everything I cared about…”

I raised an eyebrow. “A Keyblade is not so easily destroyed. It can only be destroyed when the user’s life has ended.” I paused for a moment. “Well, there was also that one incident with Riku, but that was due to his personality changing enough for his Keyblade to outright change.”

“You’re not wrong but at the same time you're not right,” Ed added. “Keyblades are both material and magical weapons and they do rely heavily on the strength of their wielders’ hearts. So,” he said, summoning the Baku, “If that person has wavered and given up on life as if they had died then that person’s keyblade could in fact be destroyed,” he explained as the Baku vanished. “You forget she lost everything when she lost her universe, so it might as well be as if she had outright died.”

Ed looked at me, “Would you mind casting song magic over me?”

My other eyebrow rose to join its sister, before I drew on my magic, directing it at Ed.

“Thank you,” He smiled, “Song magic is a very fickle thing. One of the very few that I have an extremely hard time using, as to why I haven’t imbued it into myself. All the same,” he looked at Sunset with soft eyes and a pleasant smile, “it somehow always knows just what needs to be said…”

Ed started to sing.

You break apart the cracks inside to find what's underneath
But there you found more questions to the answers that you seek
Your destiny is not decided by another's wants
Look in yourself and listen closely to your heart's response

You can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel
But if you keep moving, better days are to follow
Your failures are an opportunity to try again and you'll eventually
Find your way, find your way and mold your own destiny

“What’s the point to all of it if I have no one here though,” Sunset looked away.

Luna slowly sat next to the depressed Sunset, taking a hold of her hand. “Is that really true though? I mean, we’re here for you now. We may not really know each other, but we can’t just turn you away.”

I nodded. “She’s right, you know.”

“Your friends used every last bit of strength that they could muster in order to make sure you survive,” Ed tapped the crystal pendant she was clutching for dear life in her right hand.

Perfection and power are truly overrated
The peacе in one's self is sadly understatеd
To achieve your true desires, you don't have to do it alone
Look inward for what you want, this path is your own

You can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel
But if you keep moving, better days are to follow
Your failures are an opportunity to try again and you'll eventually
Find your way, find your way and mold your own destiny

“You guys aren’t my friends but different versions of them! Why are you guys going so far for me?!” Sunset looked at all of us.

“Because it's not in our nature to walk away,” Sumire replied firmly.

“And like a certain famous spiky-haired lad once said,” Ed held up a finger and cast a simple light spell. I then leaned over and opened Sunset’s hand to show the crystal, “As long as you keep them in your heart, they’re never truly gone…”

This time we all sang along.

You can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel
But if you keep moving, better days are to follow
Your failures are an opportunity to try again and you'll eventually
Find your way, find your way and mold your own destiny

Sunset looked up and saw a projection of every one of her friends from her old universe all smiling and laughing alongside her.

Hear me well, don't be so afraid
I know the choices that we make
Can feel so cemented on the path we may take
But hear me well, don't be so afraid…

“Don’t just give up and let them down,” Ed said. “Why else would they have saved you if they didn’t want you to keep on fighting?”

Sunset looked at him then back at the pendant and then at the image. She then lifted her new left hand and used it to open the clasp of the pendant before placing it around her neck.

“I understand and I thank you,” Sunset shakily got to her feet. “But this doesn’t mean I’m going to just get over losing them.”

“I didn’t think it would,” Ed snapped and a box with Sunset’s mark appeared above his left hand, “But seeing as how you yourself and your former weapons have truly acknowledged your death I took it upon myself to use a large portion of the Stopza crystal to make you this,”

The led opened to reveal a keyblade I’d never seen before. It was crafted to resemble more of a sword but was also equal parts light and dark.

Sunset reached up with her right hand, taking the sword. “I can feel them…” she said as tears started to fall, “I… What’s its name?”

“I crafted it,” Ed remarked as the box vanished, “But it is up to you to name it.”

“Then,” Sunset tightened her grip as she fully accepted her new keyblade with her whole heart., “Twilight's Rising!” She said as she held it aloft. “Thank you,” she turned and looked at us.

“I take it you’ll be joining us then?” I asked, a soft smile on my face.

“From time to time at least,” Sunset remarked as Twilight's Rising vanished and she glowed a bit. “But not in this…” she looked at Ed, “Exercise… I still have to get used to my new,” she held up her left hand and it opened to reveal a grappling hook inside it then closed, and her whole arm shifted into a blade, “The new me I guess would be a more fitting description. I apparently have a skill with darkness now. He’s going to help me train elsewhere for a while. Which is kinda sad cause I wanted to see you get your butts kicked,” she snickered slightly.

I shuddered at the reminder. “Well, I guess we may as well get this initial beating over with,” I sighed, turning back to our host. “Lead the way.”

“Sure,” Ed shrugged, “You can follow, that me,” he pointed to another himself waving.

“Yea… that’s not going to be… Ya know what, screw it,” Sunset held her head, “I don’t need the headache right now,” she lamented and followed her Ed.

“This way you one,” Ed pointed out to the vast expanse of white in front of us. We all casually followed our favorite alchemist onto the field.

“So who wants to be the first to throw a punch at me? Oh and unless you plan on going all out from the start, you’re going to die…” He smiled evilly as his words echoed throughout the empty space.

We all glanced at each other before Melissa powered up OFA to 100% before rocketing forward and throwing a punch at the alchemist’s face, who simply caught the fist before it could connect. “You did ask who wanted to throw the first punch,” Melissa shrugged before kicking him away.

“That I did,” Ed simply nods as he hopped to his feet, “Hmmm… The nanites seem to be regulating your body’s power output well,” a screen popped up in front of him, “But how’s that recoil?” he smiled as the screen closed.

I looked at Melissa who was shuddering ever so slightly.

“That’s what happens when you jump the gun,” He waved a finger at us, just as a bullet whistled past his head.

He turned to see Sumire smirking at him, smoke escaping from the barrel of the Ace of Spades, before she reached up to her mask. “Vorpal Blade!” she cried, summoning Cendrillon, and causing an invisible blade to slice at Ed a thousand times.

“Nice sneak attack,” Ed said while he dusted off his coat. “Two out of four. What will you two do?” He looked at me and Luna.

We looked at each other before turning back to Ed with a smirk. “How about a Unison Raid?” We both charge our respective magic, mine light, her’s dark, combining in front of us into a large murky orb. “MEGIDOLADYNE!” we cried, throwing the equivalent of a nuclear bomb at the alchemist, while simultaneously placing Reflega around ourselves, Sumire and Melissa.

The smoke and flames settled down to reveal a very much destroyed Alchemist, for the most part. There he still stood but as a mostly destroyed burnt skeleton.

“Much better than the others,” it spoke as it immediately healed back into a fully formed Edward. “But you two know not to try and incapacitate me with normal means. Now,” he rubbed his chin with his mettle hand, “How shall I deal with you?” he thought, “Oh yes I haven’t used that a whole lot!” He pointed up.

“HRRRAAAAAAAAA!” He shouted and a red aura erupted around him causing his hair to go all spiky.

“Kuso…” I muttered.

Ed blurred out of existence and was in front of Melissa before any of us could even react, “DOUBLE PALM STRIKE!” He roared as he buried his hands into Melissa's gut, causing her to cough up blood as she rocketed backward, “Hmmmm…. She went pretty far,” he remarked as the aura around him faded. “God ki isn’t a joke. Hehehehe…”

“Hmmm… Your turn,” He told Sumire as he held up his metal hand and it glowed purple. “Roast or burnt, I’m going with the latter so as to not kill you right away!” He said as he fired a massive purple energy discharge at her leaving a small trench in the ground.

“MAKARAKARN!” A shimmering dome of energy snapped into existence, reflecting the energy back at the alchemist. “Oh yeah! Persona skills rock!”

“You have no idea how vibranium works do you?” Ed remarked as the energy blast went right back into his arm. “What I shot at you wasn’t even a full discharge kid. I had plenty of room in this thing for about ten times that,” he looked at her as he wriggled his metal arm, “How about this,” he said as his arm opened and out popped a katana hilt.

“The force is with me,” Ed chuckled as he hit a switch on the handle, and a black and red edge plasma blade erupted from it. “Getsuga Tensho!” He yelled as he rapidly fired several energy slashes at Sumire.

Having no time to throw up another barrier she did the next best thing and tried to dodge but it was in vain as the slashes hit dead on. The dust cleared to reveal Sumire on her knees panting while bleeding profusely from several cuts all over her body.

“I must say,” Ed retracted his lightsaber back into his arm, “I’m very disappointed that you didn’t take me seriously.” he raises his hand and pulled her close.

“Heh,” the Phantom Thief chuckled. “That’s where you’re wrong, MASQUERADE!” Cendrillon appeared, before charging forward, striking Ed first with a palm strike, then a kick from her bladed legs, throwing him away from her.

“Hmmm!” He flexed, stopping himself in mid-air. He then rotated to get back on his feet. “Okay, that was pretty decent,” he said as a giant skeletal silverish energy quickly grabbed a hold of her, restricting all of her movement.

“But this is…” She said through gritted teeth as she looked to see Ed’s eyes had shifted from golden amber to bright red with a black sun pattern.

“Correct,” Ed said as the construct formed into a giant with four arms joined at the elbows. “But you haven’t earned the right to see its full form yet,” he remarked as he tossed her off to the side with so much strength it sounded like an incoming missile as she crashed into Melissa, who was just starting to stagger to her feet, knocking them both unconscious.

I glanced over to Luna, who nodded, before I summoned the X-Blade once more, and Luna took on Double Form, wielding both Oathkeeper and Oblivion. I grasped both handles of the X-Blade, before separating them from each other to activate Ultima Form. This was sort of a cross between Sora’s Final Form, in KH2, and Ultimate Form, in KH3, as I floated a couple inches off the ground, allowing Oathkeeper, Oblivion, and the rest of the shards of the X-Blade to float freely around me.

I charged forward, throwing my Keyblades, and the shards at the alchemist, before unleashing various forms of magic upon him. Luna followed suit, slashing at him, trailing dark and light energy in her wake.

“Finally serious, are you?” Ed eyed us both with a wide smile. “You're going to have to get through Susanoo before you can get me though!” He yelled as the giant was starting to clad itself in heavy armor.

“Let's see if you two can match his power, Bankai!” He yelled as a large sword appeared in his hand and in his Susanoo’s. The sword was about the length of a normal sword but it was much thicker with a single edge and shimmering red guard. At the end of its handle was a large ring with a black cloud in the center with two black tails coming from it.

“Black Hole!” Ed said as his armor followed his lead and held the sword above its head and a massive black hole opened above the tip, pulling everything into it to be crushed into atoms.

Thinking quickly, I pointed at the black hole. “GRAVIGA!” Instantly, an orb of gravitational magic appeared, disrupting the black hole and causing it to dissipate.

“Not bad but I also know your Graviga spell takes a huge chunk of magic just to cast,” He remarked as he raised the sword and his armor giant did the same, “And even more strength to control with that much precision!”

He swings down, not on me but on Luna. I looked over and saw my sister just barely holding back the massive sword with Oathkeeper and Oblivion. With one hell of a push, she shoved Ed back causing him to stumble slightly but it also caused her to hit her knees panting.

Reaching behind me into a subspace pocket, I quickly pulled out an Elixir, and tossed it to Luna, who quickly chugged it down, replenishing her stamina, and bringing her back to 100%. “Ugh, remind me to not do that again,” she groaned.

“Sage art, Fire Dragon Desolation!” I heard and saw Ed weave the hand signs just before he sent a torrent of fire dragon heads at us and Sumire and Melissa. “What are you going to do? Save yourself or your friend?” He said looking down on me while his giant took to the sky.

“REFLEGA!” Both Luna and I intone at the same time, causing two shimmering barriers to snap into existence, one forming around the still-unconscious forms of Melissa and Sumire, and one forming around me and Luna.

“Hmf..” Ed scoffed. “Enough ninjaing,” he said as the Susanoo dissipated and he landed on the ground in front of Luna and me. “You seem to have forgotten about my keyblade,” he held up his hand on the Crimson Void and immediately appeared in it. “I already unsealed it remember!” he swung causing both Luna and me to try and block and did but were still sent hurtling in opposite directions.

“Tell me, girl, do you fear death?” Ed pointed the Crimson Void at me.

I grimaced as I saw all my friends on the ground unconscious. It was pretty much over.

‘Are you just gonna sit there, wallowing in defeat?’ I looked up in shock. ‘Considering how the Alchemist is going all out, you all will probably die, you know. I thought you were going to keep everyone safe. How can you do that when you’re dead?’

“I… Can’t…” I grimaced, staggering to my feet as I felt a mask form on my face. “I won’t die here!”

‘Very well. I have heeded your resolve. Vow to me. I am thou, thou art I. Thou who art willing to perform all sacrilegious acts for thine own ends! Call upon my name, and release thy power! Show the strength of thy will to protect all on thine own, though thou be chained to Hell itself!’

I reach up to the mask, ripping it from my face and allowing a thick pillar of blue flame to engulf me, changing my clothes, and blasting everything around me away.

As the flames dissipated, I stood up. My top was mostly unchanged, with only the jacket’s zipper being undone to reveal the white blouse underneath, while my skirt had been replaced with white pants, and pink boots. My mask was one I recognized as Master Ava’s Foreteller mask, and a white tail-like charm dangled off my belt behind me.

“Come! Orpheus!” I cried, pulling my mask off again, and allowing the Persona to manifest behind me. It was a feminine-looking figure, with a golden torso and a speaker embedded where her stomach should be. Her arms and legs were mechanical, with white gloves and boots. She had a red scarf around her neck and auburn hair on her head. A large harp in the shape of a heart hovered behind her.

“Cadenza!” I cried, prompting Orpheus to pull out her harp and strum a few notes. Instantly, everyone around me staggered back to their feet.

“Hehehehehehe…” Ed started to chuckle, “Finally, I can get serious!” He roared out with an overwhelming amount of not only magic but just about everything else. “Seals of Sin, release!” he cried and started to pulse several times.

“Ah… Sis?” Luna looked at me.

I glanced over to Luna before turning back to Ed. “ENDURE!” I cried, summoning Orpheus once more. Each of us gained a small aura of light, acting like a shield to keep us safe from whatever the alchemist threw at us. It’d leave us weak, but we wouldn’t be dead.

“AHAHAHAHAHA!” Ed laughed.

This was definitely not how he acted the last time we sparred. It could only mean this was what he was truly like when he was really enjoying a fight.

He quickly shifted his body forward and looked at all of us. His eye had shifted from Sharingan to a golden Sharrinnegan.

“Come on girls, let's see if you’re worthy to see the real me!” He cracked a wicked smile. “Crimson Dragon Force FUS RO DAH!” He shouted at us, sending out a massive Omni-directional roar.

“Jump you, Idiots!” I heard Sunset yell at us. We all followed her order and jumped. She swept all of us up in what looked like a giant Key-glider, “I am a master after all,” she said as she revved the engine of the machine, “Hold on!” She said as we shot up narrowly escaping the blast of Ed’s attack.

“Geez… He wasn’t kidding when he said he was a monster,” Sunset said as she looked back at Ed below on the ground.

That’s when I looked down and saw the only place that was still the original ground was the small spire where our alchemist was standing.

“Plans?” Sunset looked at me.

“Ugh, I was hoping to save this for a while, you know, work the kinks out,” I sighed, resummoning the X-Blade. “But, desperate times, and all that rot. I need you to buy us some time.”

“How long?” Sunset said, “I may have a handle on myself thanks to mister crazy’s time magic bs but that doesn’t mean I’m one hundred present in fighting shape for more than say ten minutes.”

“Give us five minutes,” I nodded. “Should be more than enough time.”

Sunset nodded before dropping us off not far from the spire, before heading off to battle the crazed alchemist. “Alright girls, gather around,” I called, planting the Blade into the ground, allowing a large, complex magic circle to manifest on the ground. “We all need to focus our energy, magic or otherwise, into this circle. I call this spell the Omega Sanction, but one of the problems with it is that I can’t cast it on my own. With just two of us, it’d take about twenty minutes to cast, but with the four of us, we can do it in five.”

The others nodded, before reaching out and channeling magic into the circle. I turned back to where I could already see Sunset and Ed dueling. “Be careful Sunset,” I muttered before turning back to the circle…

Meanwhile, Sunset prepped herself for the imminent clash between her and Ed.

She rushed forward and jumped up, bringing her keyblade down hard to collide with Ed’s zanpakuto. The Keyblade hit was such force it sent out a shockwave that rattle the entire surrounding area as it actually bit into the blade of the opposing sword nearly halfway through it. It was as if Twilight’s Rising’s wait had increased by several tons.

Ed took great notice of this and wasn’t going to risk his weapons in this fight. He took his Crimson Void and slashed at Sunset forcing the Master back a good ways, but not before she’d suddenly whirled around and kicked the damaged sword dead-center through Ed’s chest. Ed effortlessly removed his weapon from himself, then held the zanpakuto up to the light and looked it over.

“I must compliment you on that attack,” He said as his blade repaired the crack and he then dispelled his zanpakuto. “Zanpakuto are one of the few weapons that can contend with Keyblade. Had my soul actually been in this body that most certainly would’ve been a fatal move, especially if I were a human.”

“So this you is nothing but a puppet like the others then,,” Sunset stated as she readied her fire magic. “Which means I can come at you full force without any repercussions.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Edward smiled, “You have to think about the strain I’m forcing you to put that body of yours through.” he readied himself, “I must say I never expected you to have such fine control over your gravity magic to be able to increase the weight of your weapon on the fly in battle like that but then again you are Celestia’s daughter. Gravity is derivative of solar magic.”

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised with how well you know her in your universe,” Sunset shuddered a little bit at that. “But I was never really ever able to get a hold of the solar aspect of my magic. It always put too much strain on my body,” she smirked, “That is until you helped me out with your sparkly goop and helping me learn to control my new darkness powers! GIGA FLARE!”

Ed’s eyes widened as he was actually taken off guard by the use of this magic.

He raised his Crimson Void above his head and it pulsed with darkness, “Void Slash!” he yelled as she sent a dark slash that collided with Sunset’s Flare attack, and the two seemingly canceled each other out.

Sunset didn’t let up as she converted her left hand into a pistol and fired three shots at the alchemist. Ed narrowly deflected the shots with the guard of his Keyblade. This was all a distraction though as the back of Sunset’s prosthetic arm opened up and outshot a grappling hook that stuck itself in the ground at Ed’s feet.

Using her new leg to boost her her take off the young keyblade master propelled herself forward, using the grappling hook as an Anchor she swung wide around her opponent. Her weapon in the meantime shifted its shape into a flaming hand cannon.

Sunset fired relentlessly on Ed as she tried to wrap the cord of her grapple around him.

“Enough of this!” Ed shouted dispelling the flames as he easily snapped the line and grabbed onto the remains of the cord. “GET OVER HERE!” He yelled as he yanked on the cord..

“RELEASE LINE!” Sunset yelled causing her arm to acknowledge the order.

The sudden action caused her to go flying through the air. She reverted her Twilight back to its base form and slammed it into the ground, leaving a deep cut.

“Reload grapple,” she panted. Her arm immediately acted on the order. “This fight makes the last one I had with Xehanort look like a playground brawl at recess,” Sunset spat and pulled her weapon from the ground. “It’s like a four your old trying to fight a massive thirty-five-year-old fat man over a fucking chocolate bar…”

She smirked, “But it would be no fun if it was just another training session if blood was barely shed!” She laughed as she shot forward and Ed and her exchanged blow after blow.

The duo broke apart as they jumped back away from one another. Cuts cover both of their bodies from head to toe. Sunset was breathing heavily as was her opponent.

“Breathing kind of hard there teach,” Sunset pointed out. “All that power and yet I can still keep up with ya. Sucks that I can’t nullify my pain though,” she remarked as she pulled back her left hand and started to gather magic into her fist.

“Well of course,” Ed laughed. “This body may only be a puppet but it's still technically alive and needs to breathe and can get fatigued like a normal human. And don’t be fooled,” he held up his right fist and gathered his magic in it, “I still feel every single little knick to my skin, I just have a very very high pain tolerance!”

Both fighters lunged forward at each other and throw their respective punches. Their fists never met, instead stopping shy of four feet from each other. As soon as they did rainbow lighting erupted from the area in between them, lashing out wildly. Ed smiled and started to manically laugh while Sunset was gritting her teeth as she concentrated on at least getting within striking distance of the sage.

Suddenly, orangish-black started to flare from Sunset’s side of the field. The combatants were thrown back from one another, skipping across the floor of the area. Sunset stuck his keyblade in the ground to steady herself once more. She looked at her left hand and she saw an eerily familiar claw. That’s when she realized the entire left half of her body had become demonized.

“What?” She asked herself. “How? I shouldn’t be able to…”

“HAHAHAHAHA!” Ed laughed as he jumped to his feet. “So… your were finally able to tap into you darkness!”

“What?!” Sunset glared at him. You did this to me?!”

Ed wiggled his finger, “No, I had nothing to do with it, “He pointed at Sunset, “This is all you, little lady. You were the only one ever able to use an Element to its fullest without being an Element barer. Taking on a corrupted form, allowing the darkness in. You were able to free yourself and like Riku gained immunity to it but at the same time, still retained your control over it. You survived the collapse of your universe and were touched but the purest of darkness, the primordial darkness.”

Sunset clenched her fist, “So I have the same power you do!”

Ed smiled, “You are by far the most powerful single keyblade master to exist in your current universe,” he said as darkness poured over the alchemist from his keyblade and harden into a form all over his body. “But that doesn’t mean you wield the same power as I do!” He roared as his armor reveal itself.

“Come,” Ed raised his clawed hand, “Test your darkness against my own, Master Sunset!”

“Gladly!” Sunset readied herself as a set of dark red and orange-tipped fiery feathered wings erupted from her back.

The duo once more rushed forward and unleashed their power on each other. Several minutes passed the two fighters danced around one another in a clash of blades and flying sparks.

With a sound force push, Ed sent Sunset back a good ways

“You’ve lasted much longer than I’d initially thought you would,” the demonic armored alchemist gurgled, “Let’s see how well you can handle multiple weapons coming for you! Arc Of Creation! Keyblade Rampart!”

A Silver spell matrix appeared behind the alchemist and dozens of keyblades Sunset had never seen before martialized into existence. They then launched themselves at the keyblade master did her very best to either dodge or knock weapons away. Sunset was left breathing heavily as the keyblades stop their onslaught.

“Hhehehehe,” Ed giggled. “FANTASTIC BUT HOW LONG CAN YOU KEEP THAT UP!”

More keyblade suddenly materialized above the alchemist. Sunset didn’t even think and rushed forward, grabbing the nearest keyblade to her as she did.

“KEYBLADE RAMPART!” Ed laughed.

Sunset rushed forward and didn’t miss a beat as she used both keyblade to knock the incoming artillery fire away. What Ed didn’t see was that while this was happening hat Sunset had activated a long enchant activation on her weapons.

She finally made it within striking distance of her foe, “You’re easily ten times stronger than Master Xehanort from my universe without even trying!” Sunset yelled with a smirk, “Mega Flare blade!” she cried out as twin flames pillars cover her keyblades and coalesced into gigantic blades of fire.

“I see,” Ed smirked under his helmet, “You used the God’s Arms skill to acquire the other keyblade and the arcane enchanter skill to ably your Magna flare as to the blades. Quite the spell work, but what good will a high-level spell do if it doesn’t hit?!”

Ed pointed out as he started to get ready to charge.

“Now bind all my enemies in place, hold them still so I may reap justice upon their wicked souls!” Sunset chanted, “Gravia Chains!”

Purplish-black chains erupted from the ground around the alchemist and bound him in place.

“MY TURN TO FINISH THIS!” Sunset roared as she dashed forward, “ZETA CROSS!” She yelled as she slashed Ed across with her blades, leaving a flaming cross behind.

She quickly retreated knowing that wasn’t enough to kill the bastard but it was damn well good enough to do a good bit of damage.

“Not bad…” the alchemist huffed as he walked forward to reveal himself. While chunks of his armor were missing, while what was left on him was flaking off in ashes. A wicked smile plastered on his charred and burnt body. “Not bad at all…”

The circle beneath us flashed, the power reaching a crescendo as I drew the X-Blade from the ground, pointing it towards the alchemist. “Kairi no nanioite. Hikari no wa yo,-ryoku o tokihanate. Fūjikome, haishutsu shi, hakai suru. OMEGA SANCTION!” The magic of the circle channeled itself through me and my X-Blade, before blasting towards Ed, encapsulating him within a Reflega orb. Almost immediately after, I began to feel power being added to my magical core, as Ed’s reserves were drained. It wasn’t long before the power in that body was depleted, allowing the final part of the Omega Sanction to take effect, dissolving the alchemist into his component atoms.

Suddenly everyone around me fell to their knees with blood starting to pour from their eyes, noses, mouths, and ears. I then felt the reason why everyone collapsed as a surge of mana ran through my entire body, wreaking havoc within me as it did. I barely managed to keep myself up on my weapon as I looked forward where our feet had stood, and that’s when I saw them. Ed’s metal arm and leg were still there on the ground where he’d been hit and if they survived then that also meant so had the alchemist.

“Kuso,” I groan, falling to my knees. “I thought I fixed this problem…”

“Oh, whats the matter?” I heard Ed’s voice but didn’t see him. “Having trouble taking in such a massive amount of foreign into your body? Hehehe… It took me the better part of a hundred years before I was even able to stand even a fraction of that power within myself, so you should feel proud that your group are just on your hands and knees,”

I looked up and saw the alchemist’s arm rise into the air and the leg standing up under it.

“Bravo,” the hand started to make a clapping motion as Ed reformed from nothing in a crackle of red electricity. “I really am impressed you were able to completely atomize my puppet like that but if the attack is going to give you and the others such a bad backlash, you shouldn’t use it on n opponent that you know can regenerate nearly instantly or t least make sure every part of them is gone,” he shrugged, “But don’t feel bad as my arm and leg can’t be destroyed by normal displaced or even high-level void dwellers either.”

I nodded with a grimace, the slight movement nearly forcing my last meal out of my stomach, as I pulled out a potion from my pocket. After chugging it down, I staggered back to my feet and cast a Curaga to heal everyone and get them back on their feet.

“Ugh, still need to work out some bugs with that spell,” I groan out, turning back to the alchemist.

“Obviously,” Ed threw up a hand as he materialized a pair of pants on his lower half before his muscle tissue could start to form, “Aren’t you going to help your friends?”

“Don’t let your guard down,” I heard Sunset as she flew down beside me, “Heal who you can, I’ll help where I can as well,” she said as she kept her gaze on Ed. “He’s far from done…” she huffed as green magic covered the others.

“Of course he isn’t,” Melissa groaned, seeing the feral grin Ed gave us.

“I can wait till all of you can hold a weapon at least,” Ed chuckled and threw up a hand.

Melissa adjusted her glasses, before pulling out her new Dust Saber, activating it. “Let’s get started then.”

“Aren’t you forgetting two others?” Ed deadpanned.

I grinned as a rapier and Void Gear crossed in front of Ed’s throat. “No, no she didn’t.”

“False,” Ed flicked me in the forehead, sending me flying as he then proceeded to block a strike from Sunset with his metal pointer finger, sending a loud thrum throughout the space.

“Just how powerful are you!?!” Sunset roared.

“You really don’t need to know that,” Ed remarked with a slight tone of annoyance in his voice as he grabbed the young woman by her ankle and tossed her into me. “I’m starting to get a little bored with this actually. Perhaps Clipeum would like a crack at you five?”

“Clipeum?” Sumire asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, I’m so glad you asked!” Ed smiled while everyone else just looked at the red-head with spite as a Bastidon appeared in the area next to Ed. “This is Clipeum, my Bastidon partner!”

“Don,” the large yellow and gray prehistoric pokemon called out. It seemed a bit annoyed and bored at the same time as it stared at the girls.

“What the f*** is that thing?!” Sunset pointed at the new creature.

I glanced over to Sunset as I got back into a battle stance. “Remind me to introduce you to Pokemon later.”

“Uh…” Sunset looked at me.

“Now,” Ed smirked again while holding up a set of three crystals, “Your choice my dear friend,” he asked the pokemon, “Primal, x, or y?”

My eyes Shrank as I realized what Ed just asked the pocket monster.

“Bastiodon,” it replied.

“Nice choice,” Ed held up the amber sphere amongst the gems and tossed it to his partner.

Clipeum glowed and started to grow as black smoke and magma erupted from its body and covered its form as it hardened into a black shell.

“Awaken!” Ed called out, “Primal Bastiodon!”

The shell blew apart while oozing magma to reveal the old, or new pokemon.

We all took a stance, gulping nervously as we mentally prepared ourselves for some training from hell.

“Oh, we’ve only just started…” Ed smirked as a Gate of Truth appeared behind him, opening to reveal… something utterly horrifying.

I climbed back to my feet, panting as I glanced around the chamber, seeing each of my friends, my family really, climb back to their feet as well, carefully watching our tortu- uh, I mean, our trainer, for any tricks.

“Eh, you know you can’t hide those thoughts from me,” Ed chuckled and I winced. “But enough is enough. You’ve all grown quite strong enough to handle anyone one of the uppers in a one-on-one fight long enough till your friends can come in and help you. I think I’ve taken as far as I need to, for the time being at least, don’t you?”

I nodded, each of us dismissing our weapons. “Agreed.”

“Then I’ll take you all back to the tower,” Ed turned and a simple wooden door appeared in front of him.

“Hey,” Sunset placed a hand on my shoulder, “I… ah…. Don’t think I’ll be sticking around for long if that’s okay with you.”

“Stay as long or as little as you need, Sunset,” I reply with a smile. “The Tower will always be open to you and anyone else you may or may not befriend.”

“I… I still have things I need to do,” Sunset sighed. “Ed told me… I’m not the only one who survived. He told me Master Xerra made his way here to your universe. If I can find him I know he’ll be a big help to our cause in his… own dark way… I also think there’s more to Tash’s plan than just... Whatever he’s doing that you’ve been fighting against. A lot more actually. I feel it and my keyblade is telling me it has something to do with the keyholes out there of the other worlds in this universe.”

“I passed my mark of mastery already and have the glider ability so I can move around a lot more freely than you guys can on my own so I’m going to use that and the fact that there's another Sunset here that he didn’t expect to throw a bit of a wrench in his plans,” She smiled at me with a glint of hope in her eyes. “I’m going to start my investigation on the Destiny Islands. Seems like the best place to get any good leads about my master as any.”

I nodded. “You should also check in with Master Aqua as well. She currently resides in the Land of Departure.”

“I never got to meet the Master Aqua of my universe,” Sunset thinks, “She died before I even came to study under Master Xerra. Still, I heard she was quite… playful and always looked out for her friends. Does she stay there because she wants to or does she have some other motive?”

I shrugged. “I never met her, but according to Celestia, she simply stays there to guard the Land of Departure, since it's a neutral ground between Light and Darkness.”

“I wonder how it would affect me then…” Sunset looked at her prosthetic arm. “I think she should be my first stop, then the Island.”

“We’re here,” Ed said, catching us off guard as we stood outside the Tower.

I turned back to the alchemist with a smile. “Thank you for the training, Ed-Sensei. We learned quite a bit.”

“I’ve retro-fitted your Tower with all sorts of new tech and goodies,” Ed said, “Including a hanger for gummi ships and a flight simulator for practice. I’ve also overhauled the systems alongside your lab,” he looked at Melissa. “Including a nanite fabricator for the really tough stuff, or just plain fun toys.”

An unholy glint shone in Melissa’s eye, causing us all to take a step back. “Ooohhh, you better believe I’m gonna have some fun with that!”

“I also included an updated game list for your training room,” he looked at me, “Also here,” he held up a hand allowing a small cloud of nanomachines to come from his arm, and soon they coalesced into a mini-Edward. “This is a chibi-Ed. They’re an AI nanite colony and basically an artificial lab on the go. They have access to my void network and most of its info, no matter what world you on he can access it. There are blocks that need my permission to be unlocked for obvious reasons. If that happens usually it turns into a screen to contact me or I show up. He can also change into anything you want once he’s registered you as a primary user.”

Ed floated the Chibi him into my hand and he immediately dinged.

“And the registration is complete,” Ed walked on. “The Doctor and the me left here have come up with a wide array of interesting projects that I think you’ll like. If there are any questions, ask them now.”

“Honestly, I can’t think of any,” I shrugged.

“Did you leave a list of all the upgrades?” Melissa cut in.

“Where would be the fun in that?” Ed chuckled as our eyes all shrank. “Relax,” he snapped and we soon all had nanotech watches appear on our wrists. “These allow for better communication than say a cell phone and also function as a mini- mini lab. There’s a list of everything done in the notes app.”

Melissa nodded in satisfaction, starting to play around with the watch.

I turned back to Ed. “Thank you again, I think we’ve covered everything, but is there anything else you want to teach or give us?”

Suddenly everything turned gray and everyone but Ed and myself froze in place, “Arc of Time, he said to me.

“Listen Kairi,” he looked me square in the eye, “You can’t keep denying your own darknesses. I gave you the x-blade because it's a balanced version of the weapon. Unlike the other version, it’s because I’m aware of the conflict you're going through. It's still early but I know you can’t keep it down forever. I don’t want you to end up like me,” he sighed. I remembered the monstrous form he used in our training, “But at the rate you’re going that’s where you’ll be if you keep it up. Personally, I would like to leave myself here at the Tower full time but that would be too much intrusion. Know that I've destroyed many universes in order to keep the spread of evil darkness from spreading over the void. You’re my friend, hell I consider you almost family but that doesn’t mean I’ll hesitate to wipe this universe out or you for that matter if it means saving this universe from the same fate as Sunset’s. I’m trusting you with her, and so is Celestia. We wanted her to come with us but she’s a grown woman who doesn’t need her parents or foster parents to constantly look after her anymore. Can I trust you with her and to do what you need to?”

“Of course,” I nodded. “I also understand the dangers you’re talking about. I’ve always believed that balance should be kept in all things. Light and darkness are no different.” Even as I said that, I knew I was lying to myself. As much as knew it, I had a tough time believing it.

“As long as you’re aware of it and the steps I’m willing to take,” Ed turned slightly while motioning his face upward while still looking at me with one eye. “I will say no more.”

Time then resumed.

“I believe my time is up here,” Ed said. “If you ever have a question or just need to talk,” he looked at us, “any of you, I’m no more than a call away,” he said as he started to walk and soon faded into nothing.

“I’d be scared if I ever had to face him in a real fight to the death…” Sunset let out a sigh of relief as she flopped down on the ground. “I think I need a nice long soak…. Gonna miss the huge outdoor bath from the Time Chamber.”

“Agreed,” Sumire sighed. “Oh well, I’m sure we’ll find something similar around here.”

I grinned. “What? I didn’t mention the large bathtubs each of the rooms have in their bathroom?”

The redhead whirled around with a glint in her eyes. “Really?” I nodded, immediately prompting her to zoom off to her room for a soak.

“A similar sauna to his in the Chamber was added by Edward,” the chibi spoke up. “It’s not a pocket dimension but is narrowly similar. Shall I change my form now?” He looked at me.

“Well, I know where I’m headed,” Sunset shot up, “Nothing like soaking butt naked in an open-air bath!” she stretched with a big smile.

“Go right ahead,” I replied with a shrug to the chibi. “You have free reign of the Tower, and if you think we need help with something, please ask before doing anything.”

“As you wish mistress,” He said, “In the meantime, I shall pair with the tech junky in her lab and the Doctor in his as well,” he bowed then floated off into the tower. Melissa chuckled as she followed the chibi back to her lab.

I stretched as I heard some footsteps come up behind me.

“Hey, Kairi, did I miss something again?” Haley asked.

“Uh, oops?”

Aaaaaand, its done!

Whew! That took A LOT longer then I initially thought to finish this chapter! Anyway, enjoy, and I'll see you all next chapter, though it might be a while yet before its done.

Until next chapter!

EDIT: Oh my gosh! We finally got featured on 1/4/2023! I can't believe it! Thank you all so much!