//-------------------------------------------------------// The Broken and Lost -by SK Alex- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 - Arrival //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 - Arrival Youtube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8c9vnEKzMM) The Broken and Lost Made by SK Alex Copyright - 2014. All rights reserved. -Press Start!- (Song End) Youtube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZeudd3NGls) -New Game- Load Beginner Standard -Proud- Critical Play on Proud Mode? Yes - No (Song End) After the crash and blacking out, Alex expected it all to be over from there. However, as much bad luck as he already had, it wasn't his time for him to go yet. The scene opens to where we find our 16 year old, laying in what seems to be the entrance to a forest. He slowly opens his eyes with his body still covered in many cuts and bruises. Surprisingly, most of the large wounds and the hole in his arm, was no where to be seen. His vision was still very blurry as he awoken from his unconsciousness. Son of a bitch, this hurts... He cursed in his head as he sat up. He rubbed his head in his pain. Clearing his vision, he saw that he was in an area unfamiliar to him. "Ugh...Where am I?" He said out loud as he got up. "Oh boy..." His eyes went from it's usual white outline to a bloodshot red. His maroon colored shirt seemed more like a crimson colored shirt due to the amount of blood it was stained in. His pants were stained in dirt and grass when he got up. Most off all, the boy was having a splitting headache. What concerned Alex the most was that his brother was no where in sight. He caught a sight of what seemed to be a near by town. I wonder if Ted-e made it there... Nodding to himself, our protagonist said, "That's probably my best hope of survival now." He then began limping towards his destination. After what seemed like hours of a walk, Alex had finally reached his destination. He looked up to see a sign. -Welcome to Ponyville- "Ponyville?" Alex questioned out loud. "What kind of a name is that?..." He shook his head to get his focus back on track. "What am I doing?! I need to get some help and find Ted-e!" He then sprinted past the sign and headed deeper into the town. The boy managed to make it to the heart of the town. He caught a sight of what seemed to be various muti-colored equines. This confused him and wondered where exactly he had ended up. One of the ponies caught sight of the boy and panicked. "RUN! MONSTER!" It yelled as it ran into it's home and locked the door. The rest of the community took notice and started to go in a frenzy as they looked for cover. The boy simply stood there with a surprised look on his face with a mixture of also guilt. He then spoke up when all the ponies seemed to have disappeared. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to frighten you!" Nonetheless, they stayed inside their homes away from Alex. "Alright, you pipsqueak!" A voice called out behind the boy. He turned around to see a cyan colored pegasus with a rainbow colored mane, which surprised Alex since he thought pegasi where supernatural. "You've got two choices. One, you leave Ponyville alone, or two, I'll kick your flank out of here!" She threatened the kid. Alex grew a worried expression, "I'm just looking for some help! I need to find my brother. He looks kinda like me, about ya-tall-" He described as he expressed how tall his brother was by using his arms. The pegasus wasn't buying it though. She seemed bored of Alex's attempt to convince her. "Sounds like a lot of baloney to me!" She said as she was not interested in the boy's story. "Now, I won't ask you again...Leave Ponyville before I make you leave!" Alex stood his ground. "Please!" He yelled, "I don't want this to end in more violence!" This caused the pegasus to laugh. "YOU?! You really think you can stop the one and only awesome Rainbow Dash?! I'll show ya how it's done!" She then spread her wings out and began to charge at her opponent. Alex grew more and more worried as she approached him. It seemed like everything was in slow-motion. What would Ventus do? He thought while his body reacted. He performed a perfect dodge roll to quickly get out of the way of the attack. This caused the pegasus to crash into a near by food stand. Seeing this grand opportunity, Alex bailed out of the scene and limped his way out of the town. "Yeah! You stay out!" He heard the pegasus yell out as he limped away. After another long session of running, Alex grew tired after everything that had transpired. He looked at the entrance to the forest where he started. "Looks like I'm setting up shop here..." He walked into the entrance. About 15 minutes later, he was seeing nothing but darkness. Chills ran down his spine as he trekked through the forest. A rustling in the bushes stopped Alex in his tracks. "Hello?" He called out. He looked in the direction of the rustling and noticed a pair neon yellow eyes staring at him. He gasped at the frightening sight, then the creature revealed itself. It seemed to be a wolf made entirely out of wood. Alex was going to run for it, but the wolf had other plans. In short, Alex equaled the next meal for him. It pounced on top of the boy and stared down at him. The boy screamed for help, but no one was around to hear it. The wolf opened it mouth and gave a large bite out of Alex's shoulder. He cried out in pain grabbed the wolf. -Rapidly press X to escape!- With enough determination, Alex managed to shake off the beast and quickly looked around for any weapons. He noticed a large branch that had been torn off of a tree and grabbed it with great haste. As the beast was recovering, Alex took the opportunity to attack the wolf. He smashed the beast's head with a big two-handed vertical swing to it's head, thus shattering it into various small twigs. He dropped his weapon and sat down. He gasped for breath as he was scared to death. "Oh god... I killed it." He said to himself in disbelief. He gave a sigh, "I have to keep going..." He then got up and kept moving. After about 2 or 3 minutes later, he managed to find a clearing in the forest. What surprised him even more was... "My backpack!" He said as he ran towards the center of the clearing where it laid. He grabbed it and checked what was inside. He sighed as he looked. "School work...Homework..." He then gasped. "A water bottle!" He kissed it to show his joy. "I'm saved!" It was still filled up to the top and now he had a safe place to sleep. This clearing in the woods seemed to give more life than the rest of the forest. He noticed that the plant life was actually growing and he could hear the birds chirping. He laid himself down and poured a bit of the water onto his shoulder to where he had been bit. It stung him, but it felt refreshing afterwards. He then fell into a deep slumber. Further away from him was a figure dressed in all black. He stared hard at the castle that rested in the mountains. With a nod, he jumped off and ran towards his destination in the night sky. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 - The Rogue //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 - The Rogue The mysterious hooded figure finished his business with the castle and now knew where he was. While he was at it, he managed to pick up two silver longswords. He smiled behind his hood at how well things were going for him. The only bad thing was that he may have put a larger target on his head than he expected. Nonetheless, he was ready for his next challenge. He searched in his pockets and then pulled out what seemed to be two chains. They both had a gold star at the ends of them. He took one of the long swords along with one of the chains and attached them together on the bottom end of the sword. The reactions of the blade was that is shined brightly with a light blue aura. The mysterious figure was pleased indeed. He then made his new upgraded sword disappear and left the other materials along with the other sword in his disposal. He then made his way back to town of Ponyville. - 2 Hours Earlier - This mystery man could only be described as an enigma. All we can tell is that human, given his appearance and posture. The black coat completely covering his body and face danced in the wind as he was making his way toward the castle in the mountains. He made sure to come at night so nothing would catch him in their sights. His intentions with the castle is still unknown. After about a good 30 minutes of a trek, he had finally made it to his destination without being caught. He hid behind some bushes as he examined the entrance to the massive structure. He noticed two equine guards protecting the entrance. "Guarded..." He simply said as contemplated his plan to get in. Once he was ready, he slowly got out of the bushes without detection and sneaked behind one of the guards. Press Triangle for Assassination He covered his mouth and pulled him into the bushes to where he was brutally beaten. The other guard took notice and ran to see what was going on. The mysterious figure knew this was coming, so he quickly got out the bushes and gave a swift punch to the face of the guard, thus knocking him out cold. He gave a nod to himself and proceeded to his next objective. (Song) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsc5Q5rRA7I) After properly hiding the bodies, he quietly opened the castle doors and once in, he closed them to cover any trace of him appearing there. Information: Find 2 Longswords without detection! - The figure noticed that the hallways within the castle were very long. On top of that, there were guards with flashlights patrolling the area. He quickly hid behind a large pillar as they were approaching his general vicinity. Once they noticed that nothing was in their sights, the guards began walking back. This gave the mysterious man an opportunity to plan out his movement. He could only see about three of them in this hallway. He slowly began to sneaked up behind him. He was just about to grab him when he suddenly knocked over a pot and it shattered. The pony was startled and looked down at the broken object. Press Square to avoid! The man swiftly made it behind a pillar to avoid detection. The pony looked around for any suspicious activity. He noticed nothing in his sights. "P-Probably just the wind." He says as he hesitantly goes back to patrol. You wouldn't know it, but the man sighed in relief as he didn't get caught. He then went back up to the same pony and approached him slowly, waiting for the right moment to attack. Once he was away from the others... Press Triangle for Assassination *SNAP!* He grabbed his head and twisted it, causing any communication with brain to stop. The loud cracking sound caused the other two guards to turn around. Thankfully, the man had evaded their sights. The two noticed their fellow guard's head and had expressions of worry and absolute disgust. They soon realized what they had to do. "Contact the princesses." One of them spoke, "There is a mad pony on the loose." His friend nodded and headed toward the door. The man noticed this. I didn't come all this way to get caught He thought as he swiftly ran toward the guard that was going to alert his superiors. He pounced on top of him, got up and stomped on his body. He cried out in pain, causing to grab the attention of the last guard. He was terrified at the man's appearance. "Stay quiet..." The hooded figure spoke, "I'll let you live if you just stay quiet." The guard saw that the princesses were in danger because of this new threat. His determination got the better of him. "Like that's gonna happen!" He yelled loudly. "EVERYPONY BE ON THE LOOK OUT FO- AHH" He was cut off by the man kicking his rib-cage hard, sending him from one end of the hall, to the other. "You had your chance..." He spoke as he approached the injured pony. "YOU WON'T...GET AWAY WITH THIS!" The pony said in pain. The man did not care for this pony's feelings. He simply grabbed his head and *SNAP!* went his neck. "Maybe I will... It's for the greater good." He said to the pony's carcass. (Stop Music) Bonus Obtained! -Learned Scan! He made his way to the next room. It was small and not a pony in sight. This relieved the man as he sighed. He noticed a table that was holding 2 silver longswords. The hooded figure smiled under his hood as he approached the blades. Obtained! - Longswords https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oHiaY-hmUmY/Uy1Dr_PauuI/AAAAAAAAA90/Ht7LC8JnRyo/s640/Oblivion_FineSteelLongsword.png Two silver longswords. Perfect for any melee combat. He took one of them and swung it around a bit. "These will work perfectly for what I have in store for me and him." He spoke as he admired his new blades. He took the other blade and placed it in his disposal. "And just where do you think you're going?" The figure turns around to be met by a white unicorn stallion with a blue colored mane. Along side him were reinforcements. "Don't even think about running. You'll just get yourself into more trouble than you're already in." (Song) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GvCt7FPWZs&list=WL6F1F1980AEDAD39F) A smile crept across the mysterious figure's face. He then pulled out the two swords that he had just obtained and said, "Where is the fun in running without a fight?" He got into a dual-wielding fighting stance. Information: Escape the castle! - The man began by charging straight forward with his two swords in front of him. The blades met the necks of many soldiers trying to stop his rampage. "I prefer single-handed melee combat, but dual-wielding is fun too." He commented. He had ended the lives of many and had enraged the white unicorn. It shot a bolt of energy at the hooded figure, causing him to stumble back a bit. He didn't like that, so he went up to him and they were soon locked in a sword fight with each other. They clashed for a long while until they both met by the same strike and were put to a test to see who was the strongest. "This is for the princesses, and to everypony who lost their lives here!" The stallion said as they clashed. Press in sequence! ... Circle! Square! Square! X! Triangle! Circle! Failed! The man started struggling and the unicorn took advantage as he blasted him with another bolt, causing him to go from the hallway back to the entrance. He slowly got up and noticed his position. "I'm not through with you yet...But know that I'm doing this for survival! You guys led me to do this and now I realize my mistake...I'm sorry but this needs to be done in order to save him." He then ran out of the castle. (Stop Music) The unicorn simply looked down at the events that had just unfolded. All the deaths...the blood...and the stolen swords. He looked back up and knew who he had to contact about this new threat. Her younger sister and the Elements of Harmony. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 - Starter Weapon //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 - Starter Weapon The episode with the castle was over and the hooded man moved on. He now heads to the town of Ponyville again to see if he can find someone. It had been about 12 minutes since he first started to head back. No one was in sight, he started to grow tired, and he was in the middle of no where. Should have found a place to sleep before starting this... He thought as he stopped his walking. He examined his area and it seemed like there was no settlements were to be found. Instead of risking himself to bump into unwanted attention, he simply decided to spend the night on the cold bed that was the grass. Not the most comfortable of rests, but what can you do in a world that's out to get you? He thought hard about everything that had occurred today. The break-in...The two swords...The unicorn stallion...and most importantly, this person he wanted to meet. The man knew that this was going fine for him, but he put more of a bounty on his head for what he had done. He felt bad for what he had done, however he needed to do it for his plan of survival. He looks up at the moon in the night sky as he lays down on the grass. "Don't worry..." He spoke out loud. "If you're still alive...I'm coming." He then fell into a deep sleep. -6 Hours Later- The hooded figure is awakened by the sound of wings flapping and the wind blowing in his face. He sat up at the thought of being seen in the open and looked around for the source of the sound. "I wonder if this has anything to do with that thing I found in Ponyville yesterday." He heard a voice say above him. He looks up to see a carriage flying high in the air in his general direction. He couldn't get a clear look of it's passengers, nor did he desire to. All he wanted was to stay out of sight. The downside to this was that there was no hiding spots to be seen. Let's hope is on my side today. He thought as the carriage was approaching. It seemed like no one was noticing his presence, which relieved him. He began his walk back on the road where no one was to be seen on ground. The carriage had flown out of his sight. "What's that thing?" He heard voice behind him, causing the figure to flinch. Thankfully, this flinch also saved his life. He somehow managed to camouflage himself with the environment. "We're being watched... I can tell." With that note he sped off to ensure his escape. He felt a sense of worry grow over him. He had been seen and now has an even larger target on his head. He knows that whoever spotted him would tell it's friends. Nonetheless, he continued his was back to Ponyville. Earlier Elsewhere - The mind within Alex had been going crazy. He was constantly thinking in his sleep, which caused him to toss and turn. His rest didn't feel like a rest at all. It felt like another one of those wolfs had been caught on him and would not stop the biting. "Can't.....Stop.....Running..." He utters as the scene changes. (Song) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9F0d5pd1Uk) The area around the boy was completely blank. He only hears the voices lingering inside his head. Fucker! Useless Bitch! What a pussy... The 16 year old just runs endlessly as the words, hoping that they will leave him alone. "Why?... Why do you all do this?!" He yells out loud as he continues his decent. It seemed like an never-ending trek as the scene never seemed to change. The voices getting louder and felt closer as he kept going. He felt to much pain to shed tears. Instead he felt angry. The rage constantly building inside him after each step he takes. He messes up his footing at one point and falls on his face. The name-calling suddenly turns into laughs. His misfortune only caused things to worsen by the second. "WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WANT FROM ME?!" He yells as he looks up with bloodshot red eyes. He expected to get a reply, but instead he got silence. Even the laughing had stopped. This represented his life in a nutshell. Everyone's gone again... He thought in his loneliness. Not a sound was heard. Just the deep breaths the boy was taking. "What I would do..." He began as he got up from his fall. "...Just to know what having a friend is like." He lowers his head in sadness. "SURPRISE!" A voice calls out behind the boy. When he looks back, he is met with... "Bwah!" He is surprised as he is suddenly embraced by a pink colored pony. She carried a joyful expression as she hugged Alex. The boy didn't know how to react. "Uh..." He felt his heart warm for the first time in a while. He was actually enjoying the moment. Is this what having a friend feels like? He wondered to himself? "Hey! Wake up!" A voice echoed out, causing the boy to look up. Then the scene grew really bright, blinding Alex. (Song End) He expected after that heartwarming scene to wake up peacefully, but instead someone was waking him up. His eyes burst open as his thought returned to reality. He quickly gets up and spots a person behind him wearing an all black coat. "Who are you?" The boys asks the mysterious figure, expecting to get an answer. The hooded man simply shakes his head and says, "I will reveal myself in due time. For now, I am here to bring you a message." Alex raised an eyebrow. "Message? What are you talking about?" He questioned. Nonetheless, the man simply began his message. "Me and you are the only humans on this world." He began, "I have come here to warn you about the dangers that await you in the near future. You will need to defend yourself, which is why you need a weapon. Thankfully, I already have that covered. What I really need to tell you is that we have a target on our heads. We're on the run. These ponies may seem like any everyday ponies back on Earth, but they carry a powerful force once they work as a group." He comes closer to the boy. "If we work together, we will be able to survive. Neither of us can make it through this without each other's help. I have learned that this area is controlled by some sort of royalty." "How did you find out?" Alex asked. "I went to their home, at the castle." He points towards the mountains. "That is where I got this for you." He pulls out a silver longsword and hands it to the boy. He examines the blade as the hooded man continues. "This is just the base of what you will be fighting with." He hands him a chain with a star attached to it. "Connect the blade with it and you see the effects." Alex then takes the chain and connects it to the bottom of the blade, causing it to glow a bright blue aura. "Excellent." The man says, "You have successfully improved your sword's capabilities." "What does the chain actually do?" The boy asks. "It makes the blade indestructible and contains more power than the average longsword." The man points to the star. "You see that?" He asks the boy. Alex gives him a nod. "That key chain is what gives the sword that power. There are many more types of these that you will have to discover on your own." Key chains... Why does this seem so familiar? Alex wonders in his head. Nonetheless, he looks at the man. "Thank you for this. I won't forget it. Is there anything else I should know?" "These ponies may be sending their forces after us." The man replies, "Just be sure you're ready for anything." He begins to take a couple steps back. "Before I go, I must ensure that your progress with your blade grows. You must chose a so called, Path to Victory." Alex wasn't sure about this, but he allowed him to continue. "I'm listening, go ahead." "Is it battle that strives you to keep going? The intense rush of adrenaline coursing through your veins as you strike your foe down. If you wish to be better physically, the Path of the Warrior is your destiny." "Do you wish to learn the secrets of the energy around you? The ability of magic of each element at your command. Both offensive and defensive magic at your side. If you see yourself fond of this, then the Path of the Sentinel is your destiny." "Or does technicality suit you? The ability to plan and think at the speed of sound. You will also gain access to a variety of abilities that will help support you when things look bad. If you would enjoy this, then the Path of the Guardian is your destiny." "Now...Which path do you think would best suit you?" Warrior Path Sentinel Path - Guardian Path Alex thought hard about his choices then came to a decision. "I wish to learn more about the art of magic, the Path of the Sentinel." "Are you sure?" The man asks. "Once your path is set, there is no going back." Choose the Path of the Sentinel? Yes - No "I am sure." Alex confirmed. "I want to take the Path of the Sentinel." "Very well..." The man said. He raised his arms up and conducted them in electricity. He then directed the electricity at the boy and it shocked him. While there was no pain to be felt, his body shook insanely. Once it was all over, the man looked at the boy hard. "The beings within these woods will prove to be good practice targets." He then began to walk away. "As long you continue to wield that blade, we will be forever connected. Farewell, hero. We will meet again in due time." He then ran away, leaving Alex wondering what he should do next. I guess I should start looking for necessities to stay alive. One water bottle isn't gonna keep me alive forever. He looked at the exit of the clearing, then back at his sword. I should probably test out this sword. He then sped of into the darkness of the woods. Obtained! - Newborn's Crest https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-BXmZy7hwe4A/UzDha-T_PCI/AAAAAAAABGk/DYnA5OAg5yY/w480-h640-no/Newborn%2527s+Crest.png The key chain you started out with. It well balanced in both Strength and Magic. Obtained! - Blizzard Element Shoot icy crystals at your enemies. Cost: 10 MP //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 4 - The Sorrow //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 4 - The Sorrow Stats: Lv. 1 - Need 40 EXP. Life - 30/30 MP - 100/100 AP - 2 FP - 0/0 Strength - 5 Magic - 8 Defense - 3 The need for food and water was the first thing on Alex's list for survival. Thanks to the help of the robbed figure, he already has a weapon. He examined it closely, observing the intense blue aura emanating from it. The chain of the sword rattled as he trekked through the depths of the now dark forest. He traveled without his bag since he felt that it wasn't of use to him anymore. No school, no rules. The boy thought. While he was walking, he couldn't help but question what the hooded man did to him before he left, as well as how he said that they will be forever connected. Sounds awfully familiar to Kingdom Hearts in my opinion...I wonder what kind of magic I can control right now... He thought curiously. The environment around him could simply be described as deathly. No sounds of animals, the crickets chirping in the grass, and the wind that was slowly drifting by. It was almost too clear for the boy to be walking around. He ensured to himself that the incident with that wolf will not be repeated again. Fighting back would be obvious choice. Chills went down his spine after each step he took. Deeper and deeper into the forest he went, hoping to find the exit again. No predators were in sight. The boy decided to stop moving at this feeling. "Something is DEFINITELY not right here." Alex thought out loud. "I expected this place to be infested with monsters after that wolf showed up. That guy even said that there were some animals here that I could use for practice." He looked around for any signs of life. Nothing came to his eyes or ears as the forest remained in its current state of silence and deadly vibes. "There obviously isn't anything here for me to do." He said as he continued his walk. *Rustle Rustle* He spoke too soon. The sound of the shrubs moving caught his attention. He watched them closely as they swayed. He gripped his sword tightly with both hands, ready for anything that coming for him. A familiar pair of glowing eyes were in his sight. He knew what was coming for him. (Song) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63oIVYiCXaM) The wolf slowly walked out its hiding spot and set it's sights on the boy. This creature was different from the other wolf however. It's wood color was different, a dark shade of purple to be exact. It's eyes glowed a deep red and gave a growl at him, however his expression didn't change. "Not today, Woody." The boy commented. The wolf then gave a loud howl, causing the area to shake. Alex covered his ears at the noise and how loud it was amplified. When it seized, more wolves of the same kind surrounded Alex. He gave a more determined look at this new challenge. "Fine then, I'll take you all out!" Information: Defeat all enemies! Alex waited for one of his opponents to strike him. His strategy was to leave them vulnerable for an easy hit. The wolves simply circled around him, stalking his every move. The boy grew worried at the sight. They're going to strike as a group. He thought while still keeping a close eye. One of the wolves grew impatient and decided to attempt to pounce the human. His plan ultimately ended in failure as he noticed the animal heading straight for him. He quickly dodged out of the way and gave the wolf a large jumping strike. The impact caused the wooden predator to fall apart and disintegrate in a shadowy puddle. The boy got up from his attack and noticed he left himself open. He looked behind to see that the rest of the pack charging at him. With no time to react, he simply braced himself for impact. This is gonna leave a mark... He thought as they were inches away. They all leaped and prepared to strike while Alex brought his arms up to himself, expecting to feel pain... ...but it never came. Instead, he opened his eyes to see himself in a barrier. He relaxed his arms, which deactivated the barrier. Magic shield...I'll take it! He thought as he noticed the wolves attempting to recover from the impact of the defense of Alex. Now's my chance. He thought as he ran toward the group of downed wooden creatures. He furiously swiped them with his blade, the chunks of wood flying everywhere with each and every blow delivered. When they hit the floor, they all disappeared into the depths of the dark puddles. Alex stopped his slashing and relaxed himself... ...only to be caught off guard by the sound of growling behind him. One more wolf remained. His sword glowed a cyan light at its tip. Alex felt the temperature around him change as it brightened. Cold... He thought. I know what that means. He aimed his blade at the wolf. "Freeze!" He yelled as a chunk of ice was released from his sword. It impacted with the last of the wolves and knocked it down. He noticed that the remains of the wolf started to frost and soon was frozen solid. The battle was won. (Song End) Alex surveyed his area once more to ensure that this was truly over. After a minute, he stepped out of his combat stance and relaxed. "Got 'em." He said to himself in victory. Impressive... The sudden voice caused the boy to step back a bit. However, he recognized it as the hooded man's deep voice. "Where are you?" Alex called out. Your key chain. Alex looked down at his sword and noticed that the star at the end of it sparkled a bit. I told you that as long you wield this blade, we will be forever linked. "Yeah, but I didn't think you meant it literally." commented Alex. I always mean what I say, remember that. The man replied. Anyways, that won't be the last you see of those creatures. "What do you mean? What are they and what do they want from me?" Alex asked. Well first, these creatures are formed and feed on the negativity and sadness around us. The man began, They are called Sorrow. The Corrupted Timber Wolves you battled are only a piece for what is in store for you in the future. Sorrow come in many different sizes and forms, but they all have the same objective. That is to hunt down those with strong hearts. "So you mean us?" Alex asked. Precisely. He answered. That is why I need your help to find whoever is causing this and stop them. "Of course...But first, if I'm able to ask, who exactly ARE you?" Alex questioned, hoping to finally get an answer. Instead of getting one, he was met with, As I said before, you'll learn in due time. "I see..." Alex began, "Well, thanks for your help. I should get going." Actually He stopped him, before you go, there is something else you must know... That bond that we formed, I think my magic still needs some work. I'm actually asleep right now. "Erm... Why is that such a big deal?" The boy asked. Well you see, I can only wake up when you fall asleep. So don't worry if you feel troubled while resting. I'll have my eyes opened. "Wow, interesting." Alex commented, "Thanks for the info, where do I go next?" You need to find the exit of this forest. Afterwards, search for an orchard nearby. This will solve your hunger problems. Nodding his head and putting away his sword on his back, Alex resumed his trek through the forest. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 5 - Controls - Item Get! //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 5 - Controls - Item Get! Stats: Lv. 1 - Need 12 EXP. Life - 30/30 MP - 90/100 Drop - 30 Minutes Remaining AP - 2 FP - 0/0 Strength - 5 Magic - 8 Defense - 3 Current Time - 6:30 P.M. (Song 1) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGJNOBckwW4) Basic Controls: You've already learned to swing your sword with Circle. You can also perform a spin attack to attack multiple enemies surrounding you by holding down Circle for a few seconds then releasing or by rotating the Left Analog Stick and pressing Circle. Use the Right Analog Stick to move your camera around. You can toggle inverted camera controls in the Options menu within the Pause menu. To use Magic, Special Attacks, or items, press Select to open the Shortcuts menu. Here, you can set things to Left D-Pad, Right D-Pad,  and Down D-Pad, to set them for easy access. Once pressed in-game, you can use Triangle to use the equipped item. You can also easily set something to Triangle through the Shortcuts menu. Pressing R1 will focus the camera to where Alex is facing. Keep holding it to strafe around. You will also pull out your shield if you have one. You may also use this to lock onto people, objects, and enemies. While locked on, you can use L2 and R2 to switch what you're locked onto. Pressing L1 will allow you to toggle a first person camera view to better see your environment. You automatically jump by running off the edge of something. Slowly walking towards the edge will allow you to grab onto it. Press Square to activate your Barrier or to preform a Shield Bash if you have a shield equipped. X is used as your Action Button. Use it to preform various different actions such as pushing large objects or opening doors or treasure chests. You can also use X to roll if there is no actions available and you're moving. Pressing X while R1 targeting will allow you to preform a Jump Attack. It does twice as much damage as to what your strength is set to depending on your level. You gain Experience (EXP) by defeating enemies. Gaining enough Experience will allow you to Level Up. Leveling up increases your stats and you may also learn new abilities. Your Life Meter displays your health. Once your health reaches 0, it's Game Over. You will learn how to increase your maximum life energy later. Since you picked the Sentinel Path, you have a Magic Meter. This displays your magic power. Magic power is consumed once you use magic-related abilities. Once your Magic Meter reaches 0, you cannot use any magic-related abilities until the meter is refilled. Your Drop Meter displays how much time you have before you fall asleep. Keep an eye on it to see how much time you have left. Once your Drop Meter reaches 0 Seconds, you will fall asleep and you will be forced to stop any current quests you are on. Press Start to access your Swords, Shields, Learned Abilities, Journal, Options and other various stuff. It took some doing, but the boy managed to find his way out of the dark depths of the forest. His eyes still needed some adjustment from the amount of sunlight in his eyes. After his vision refocused, he headed up the trail in search for the orchard the man had spoken about. His stomach growled, obviously anxious to finally have some food. On his way toward the orchard, he noticed a cottage near the forest entrance. He gave a confused look while staring at the home. Someone here is actually sane enough to live near this place? Alex wondered in his head. I give them props for that. I wonder if sleeping has been a problem around here with all these monsters around...Naw! They're probably the bravest person out there, so they're used to it. His stomach interrupted his thoughts. He was in dire need for some food right now. Sighing to himself, Alex continued along the road. As he continued, he began to think among himself. Is this actually all for real? Did God actually give us a second chance? Am I even alive? What's the connection between me, that man, and the Sorrow? Why does this seem like something out of a video game? Out of all the questions he asked himself, he only needed two answered. ... Where is my brother?... And who exactly is that man in the black coat? His watch on his right wrist beeped twice. He looked at the time. "6:30." He says, "Man... Time certainly does fly by." He looked back up at the road and stopped. There was a fork in the road that went in two different directions. He looks to the left passage and noticed that it lead back to the town he was in. "Ponyville." The boy remembered while shaking his head. "Don't wanna cause anymore trouble there." Alex then looks to the right and sees apple trees off in the distance. He smiled and gave a nod to himself confirming his destination. Before he began his walk, he noticed a circle blooming with light and two sphere flowing around its edges. "Oh," Alex began, "I don't wanna lose track of stuff that's happened so far." He then approached the circle and shined brighter as he stepped into it and the sphere went faster. He felt completely free of any pain and his strength fully recharged. If only it cured hunger. MAX HP MAX MP This is a Save Point. Press X to use these to save your game. It's important to save often. If something goes wrong, you can easily resume progress from your last save point. Save Points also fully restore health and magic, as well as cure all negative status effects. (Song 1 End) After that small detour, Alex resumed his progress to his new destination... (Song B) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRGii05yILI) ...Only to be interrupted by a herd of Sorrow. These creatures where not like the last ones however. These had the appearance of a water droplet with arms and red eyes. The boy quickly pulled out his sword. "Guess it's that time again." He said to himself. He ran over to strike his enemy, but failed when it seeped into the ground. It circled around him and splashed out. As it came out, he quickly struck the monster multiple times. It fell to the ground after finishing a combo. It vanished in a dark puddle and left a small green jar. He picked it up. Youtube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvjNYNDUI4Y) Obtained - Magic Jar Instantly restores 50 MP. As he used the jar, he was quickly pierced in the back by one of the Sorrow. It left a small blood mark on the boy's back. He countered this by performing a swift spin attack. The attack knocked down all enemies around him giving him the advantage. Alex quickly destroyed his opponents as they laid on the ground. They all disappeared in the dark puddles in which they came from. Level Up! - Lv.2 Strength Increased (Song B End) Noticing that all his foes where defeated, Alex withdrew his sword back on his back and continued to press forward. "Man this so beats my old crappy life." He commented to himself. "... But I can't be too joyful about this. This looks like a game, but I need to understand that this is my reality now... Whatever happens in this world, happens. I don't wanna risk myself by going into danger not ready. I should probably have some more practice to better my skills." The rich smell of apples caused the boy's mouth to water. He looked up at the trees around him. He was fascinated by how great of a number of trees there were and all were growing fresh apples. He stopped to look at some. "Too bad these aren't ready to be picked yet." He said to himself, "They're all too small and probably not ripe enough to be eaten yet." The road beyond him felt endless after each step he took. What seemed like an eternity was only around 20 minutes. His desire for food was rapidly growing and his energy to keep going was slowly depleting. Night was slowly making its way up which meant little time for Alex. He picked up the pace a bit to reach his objective faster. However, he quickly stopped his walking when he heard the sound trotting. He quickly hid inside a nearby shrub to avoid being detected by anyone. The sound came closer and closer and eventually passed him by. He peeked out to check for anyone passing. Thankfully, no one was in the boy's sight. Alex gave out a relieved sigh and jumped out of the shrub to continue his walk. "So glad that I have great hearing and fast reflexes." He said to himself. Drop - DANGER! 5 Minutes Remaining (Song 2) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4QJhgznvHw) "Wow..." Alex was amazed at the sight of the farm in front of him. He had finally arrived at his destination with the moon slowly rising creating a dark pink sky. He looked around him to make sure no one was watching. He set his sights for the barn in the very middle. With a nod, he said, "There's got to be something useful there... Better be careful not to catch the attention of anything here. After all, it is a farm." He slowly made his way toward the entrance of the barn, hoping not to make the slightest of noise. What is it with me and stealth missions? Alex wondered to himself as he recalled his past history playing video games. Nonetheless, he made it to the front without detection and slowly peeked through the door. He wish he could see what was inside, but is was dark and he could risk something finding him. I guess I should look for my own source of light... He thought in his head as he carefully closed the door. (Pause Song 2 - Replay Song B) But before he could have time to plan, he was again attacked by a small group of Sorrow. These monsters instead resembled small bats. "Don''t I ever get a break?" He said to himself in annoyance as he drew his sword. "Now don't make too much noise." He said playfully to his enemies as he quickly destroyed one of them in a single stab. Another rammed it's body toward the boy causing some more minor damage to him. He countered by giving the bat a huge jump attack that cut it in half. He did the same to it's friend and they both left a large pool of purple blood as they disintegrated into nothing. (Stop Song B - Replay Song 2) As Alex put his blade away, a small circle of light grew in front of him and slowly started to materialize. Youtube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84Bne8XZ2lE) As it died down, it created a large treasure chest. The boy smiled at his prize. "Hope it's something good." he says to himself as he slowly opened the chest... Youtube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icL93EUQi8Q) ... and he claimed his prize from the chest, which was... Youtube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xISEnAhfynI) Obtained - Lantern Used to light dark areas up and to burn or light flammable objects. Be sure to look out for how much oil is left. When oil is empty, you can refill it using Lantern Oil from a bottle. You can set this in the Shortcuts menu using Left D-Pad, Right D-Pad, Down D-Pad, or Triangle. "Ha, how lucky!" He said as he claimed his prize. Drop - 0 Seconds Remaining However, his luck changed when he suddenly felt very dizzy. "Wha..." He struggled to keep his composure but alas he fell down. "Why... am I... so... sleepy?" He asks himself as he laid down on the cold ground. Before he passed out, he saw a figure approaching him, then he blacked out. //-------------------------------------------------------// Prologue - The Death //-------------------------------------------------------// Prologue - The Death The final bell had rung at North High School. Alex had gotten up from his seat and grabbed his backpack that was decorated with various accessories of his favorite video game series, Kingdom Hearts. He then headed for the door and ran past all the other students that were frantically trying to exit the building. The 16 year old student never liked being late to his bus at the bus stop that always took him home, so that's the reason why he always ran. Plus he always got to see his older brother after class. He admired his brother so much in his life. His name is Ted-e, nickname Ted. He was 18 years old and, very soon, a high school graduate. Whenever Alex was stressed or saddened by something, he was always there to fix the problem. The solution being through his great words of advice or his strength of heart in his actions. He may over do it sometimes, but he always means well. Alex sees him as the only hero in his life. Ted may see his younger brother as hyperactive around him sometimes. Alex's appearance consisted of a dark maroon colored shirt with blue jeans and black shoes. He had brown eyes and had black puffy yet combed back hair. He was about 5'' 11 inches and weighed about only 95-100 lbs. Ted's appearance was composed of a black shirt with dark colored jeans, white shoes, and a Chicago Bulls cap that he wore backwards. He also had brown eyes like Alex's, but he didn't have puffy hair like him. Instead, he had his hair combed to the side. You don't see it since he usually has his cap on. He also has a tattoo on his back of the last name of their family, Gomez, in old english font. He was about 6'' 1 inches and weighed about 120-125 lbs. Whatever the case, Alex ran from one end to the school to the other so he could catch his bus. He managed to make it to the outer sidewalk surrounding the school and headed to the side of the school where his bus stop was. He nearly tripped when he got there and his brother caught sight of him. "That's what happens when you run." Ted commented, "You're gonna get your knees scraped again." Alex just rolled his eyes at his advice to be careful. "That was only one time." He said, "And besides, it's not like I did fall." "But you almost fell, that's the point." His brother replied. At this time, the bus had arrived to pick up the students. They all pushed and shoved each other as they tried to be the first inside. Because of this, the bus driver was impatient and ordered the children to calm down. They obeyed and continued their way into the bus. -Route 29 - Eastbound - To...56th St.- Our two protagonists then entered the vehicle, which was very packed due to the amount of teenagers within it, and hung onto the handle bars for the people that stand. The bus' doors then shut, thus beginning the ride back home. Alex had been thinking about what to do when he and his brother got home. To be honest, he never really did like how his parents treated him. They figured he would be mentally sound if they gave him what he wanted. Obviously they are wrong. His mother always tells him to think positive and forget the bad things in life. She believes that simply saying that will make him feel better. It has only caused the two to have fights about what he should do in life. He also never grew a father-son relationship with his dad since he was so afraid of him. He was an alcoholic and was out of place sometimes. While he seems at fault already, he can be nice when he wants to be, same goes with his mother. Unlike his mother though, his father can be quite harsh to him as he calls him names and blows him off for other people. Alex erased that thought from his head and looked to where he wanted to do when he got home. -Approaching...24th St. - Transfer to...Route 70- This was only the first bus the two boys had to take when they got home. They got off and changed their direction north. They sat at their next bus stop. While sitting there, Alex got his backpack, unzipped it and pulled out his sketchbook. Alex loved to draw, especially when it came to the subject of Kingdom Hearts. He would always enjoy drawing a picture of Keyblades and his favorite characters. His absolute favorite character would have to be Ventus. He loved Ventus because he reminded him so much about himself. A lost young boy who feels stressed, but can still find a reason to smile. He looked at his latest creation. It was a drawing of the Oblivion Keyblade with the Oathkeeper Keyblade crossing together. He smiled at his work and thought about what he should draw next. A tap on his shoulder interrupted his thought however. He looked up to see his brother and he spoke. "Come on, kid. Bus is coming." He pointed behind him, causing him to turn around. The bus was quickly approaching. So, he swiftly put his belongings away and waited for the bus to approach them. -Route 70 - Northbound - To...91st Ave.- The two entered the vehicle and took their seats. Thankfully since they weren't near their school, the bus wasn't jam packed with so many kids. Alex grew worried as they were quickly approaching their destination. He didn't want to see his parents since he thought they were going to get mad at him again for being on his laptop forever. Oh dear lord, what's it gonna be today? He thought to himself as the bus kept on moving. Alex decided to put his head down in stress. *HONK HOOOOONK* Alex looked up at this sudden noise and noticed a red semi-truck on the west side of the road quickly approaching. Everyone thought that the semi was going to stop at the red light. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. It ran the light and collided with the side of the bus as it tried to made it to the other side of the road. "HOLY SHIT!" The bus driver cursed out as the vehicle impacted. Alex and Ted-e had been flown out of their seats and onto the side of the bus due to it being flipped over. Alex laid almost motionless. His vision full of red as he struggled to get up. He couldn't speak words, only grunts and cries of pain. His body was covered in blood with bruises all over his chest and legs. A hole in his arm could be seen as blood rushed out of it like a fountain. Ted-e limped over to his brother's body and laid next to him. He knew that this was their final moment in life. Because of this, he started to pray. He wished for them great fortune in the afterlife. Very soon, the two drew their dying breaths. And because of this... Youtube Video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29KHZ3jVguk) ...They must now survive in a whole new world. A scene of the very terrible bus crash can be seen. When the impact was made, Alex was in an unknown area with the sun shining bright in his face. His brother in front of him with his back facing him. He calls out to him and slowly turns around. He doesn't say a word. He simply reaches his arm out for him. Alex quickly goes into a sprint to grab him. Suddenly, six mysterious figures show up beside his brother and charge at the boy. This caused Alex to begin running away with his body still partially covered in blood. The six mysterious figures were then revealed to be a group of multi-colored ponies, giving Alex second thoughts about running. He turns around and stood his ground. The group was simply staring at their opponent, same went for the boy. Out of no where, a figure in an all black coat with a hood on covering his face, shows up next to Alex and prepares for battle himself by pulling out a silver long sword. He tossed a spare sword to the human boy, then they clashed. Once the first hit was made, the scene was then changed from that great battle to a very touching scene. Alex was with the same ponies this time, but in peace rather than in blood lust. They shared their stories and such, but Alex still carried that saddened expression on his face. The pink pony of the group was the one who always made him put a smile on that face with her rather odd behavior. It was only temporary, but Alex would still carry that solemn face. He just wanted to find his brother and live the rest of his life in his care. The scene then changes to Alex sleeping in a clearing within a forest. He constantly twists and turns in his sleep. He dreams about what might go wrong during this new objective of finding his lost brother. It could be his death, his brother's death, imprisonment, and much more. All he wants is his brother to hold him and never leave his side. The scene then pans out further away from him to show the hooded figure again, looking hard at a castle. He then jumps off and heads towards it. The Broken and Lost Made by SK Alex