Phantom Monsters

Chapters

A Keyblade's Chosen One
Ponyville
Meeting the Rulers
Day One in Canterlot
Battling the Heartless and Aftermath
The Awakening

A Keyblade's Chosen One

Author's Note

Hello, everyone! I've had this idea for a bit since I was playing Kingdom Hearts II for the first 25 minutes. I thought, "What if I was following in Sora's footsteps as the Keyblade wielder?" And so, this story came in mind.

Now, let me first tell you; my English is not perfect. I'm a Danish resident, which means my English is a bit terrible in comparison to native speakers. If anyone can help me out to be so kind as to point of errors, I'll fix them right away as they are spotted.

This'll be a long story, which has been split into nine continuing "seasons"--the chapters are "episodes" that follows each other despite being a new story separated from this one.

Enjoy the first chapter of "Phantom Monsters: Season One", my fellow ponies! Have a good week!

A Keyblade's Chosen One

(Earth, distant city: Year, 2013)

I walked down the road of my city as I got time off of school today. My blue eyes looked ahead in front of me to where I was going. A calm breeze swept by, blowing against my brown hair as I sighed.

I wore a black jacket with red trims on the shoulder and bottom of it. I also wore black jeans, and I wore black gloves on my hands.

My name is Daniel Black. I’m a fifteen year old boy who has been born immature after my big brother. I’ve been the target of most of the older kids in nearly all of the schools I’ve attended to learn and get friendships.

Let’s just say, making friendship has been taking a hard time for me after being bullied throughout my life. I’ve not been feeling well for some time now, and all I need is a decent break from this hellish life on Earth.

But, that’s just in made up stories. I mean, how can anyone even make it to other worlds? It’s basically impossible for it to be happening in real life. Those stories—in those books and fan made works—they’re not reality. They’ve never been that at all. It’s just fiction.

I sighed, lowering my gaze a bit before stopping near a scrap container as I leaned on it with my back resting against its metallic surface. I folded my arms as I did so.

All of this: the bullying, the reality of me being abused even by my own family. I hate it. I hate it all. Why can’t I just have a long vacation away from it and stay in my own way of life? Did God forbid it for me? Or was he not interested in such a weak human like me?

For my entire life, I’ve endured the whole thing: the abuse, for the most part.

I want a new life. I want a life to have something to have refreshment to me. I want something to make me feel loved by them. I want to make me feel the need of being in assistance. I want that kind of life.

Not one of these.

But, as I stated before, all of that is just fiction. It cannot be real.

It’s a sad thing, truly.

I need to go away. I want to be far away from this place, far away from this so-called home.

As I started to walk again, I turned a corner around the wall of a building and headed to where the edge of the city was to be.

I continued to walk, and it wasn’t much until I felt something in me that needed to freeze myself up in a frozen state while I tried to make my body move.

Shaking my head to get this sensation away, I brushed it off before continuing towards the city’s edge. I really need to get so far away from this hell hole as much as possible.

I don’t belong here. Not anymore.

While I was walking down the streets, I saw multiple people in the daylight as they minded their own business. Good, they haven’t noticed me yet…

“Ah, there you are.”

Me and my Goddamn mind…

I looked frozen, and I saw a gangster coming up to me with a ‘friendly’ smile on his expression. His appearance was that of a muscular thug with black hair, and he wore a dark blue suit with crimson trims running down where the zipper was.

“I was wondering where you were,” he spoke to me. “Come with me. I have something to show you.”

I was still frozen, unmoving before I was dragged away from the crowded area by the gangster. The crowd was minding their own business.

The gangster pressed me against the wall of a warehouse - as it was here he dragged me to - and he looked straight at me with his reddish brown eyes. “I looked all over for you,” he said icily and unfriendly to me. “You really had to disappear on me, didn’t you?”

“Well, my instincts told me to mind my own thing,” I stated to him with a dry tone in my voice.

“Right,” he mockingly nodded. “While I looked for you, I had my gang come to your house, and they did it ever so kindly to you, my boy.”

I had my blood run cold at his darkened tone. My forehead dripped with sweat as he chuckled darkly.

D-Did they kill my abusive family? Despite their uncaring treatment to me, they were still family to me, and I couldn’t get to school without them.

“Looks like he’s taking it well, Splinter,” said a member of the warehouse gang as he came up to us. He was another muscular thug with blonde hair instead unlike Splinter. His black eyes looked at the gang leader with expectation. He wore a short-sleeved jacket and blue jeans.

“Indeed,” Splinter - the one who was holding me by my jacket’s collar - nodded to his fellow gangster. He looked back to my sweating form. “Ah, gotten cold have we, kid?” He smirked.

I didn’t say anything. My sheer shock and fear of hearing my family’s death terrified me to the core. H-How could they do such a thing?!

“Well, you’ll be joining them in Hell or Heaven soon, kiddo,” Splinter told me. “Oh, but first, I must ask you one thing.”

“W-Wha-What is it?” I was too terrified to utter the word in my normally calm voice.

Splinter smiled; and this was not a normal smile, mind you. His smile was cruel and dark. “Let us get your stuff, kid,” he spoke. “We want your money and video games. Heck, even your head. We could use them as our trophies over your death.”

My blood seemed to stop there. Those things...they were the only things I could live with; my games for spending the time, and my money for food and other stuff.

“No words?” Splinter raised a brow at me. “You’ve gone into a deaf silence, I see. You want your death quick, then.”

With that, he raised his hand into the air and closed it into a fist. He was prepared to punch me…

When I suddenly screamed and kicked his guts before he skidded backwards in surprise. I tried to run away from them, but the whole gang blocked my only escape routes.

“You’ve got nowhere to run now, you bastard!” I heard Splinter’s yell. “You’ll pay for that, you know!”

I was scared. I was scared out of my bloody mind at being surrounded by murderers.

I saw one gangster run to me from the corner of my eye. I ducked under his fist he threw at me, and I kicked him on his leg, and he cried out in pain before I delivered a punch to the face, causing him to stagger backwards.

I ducked underneath another thrown fist from a thug, and I gave him a punch to the guts. He let out a painful cry before I delivered several punches to him on his stomach. He coughed up saliva from his mouth before he held his belly with his hands.

“A not-so skilled fighter, are you, kid?” I heard Splinter call from behind me as he grabbed the collar on my jacket tightly.

I gasped for air before he punched me on the back with hard hits. I coughed up saliva, the coughing worsening as I received another series of punches on my stomach by a second gangster. I tried to resist the hits, but they were so strong that I couldn’t manage it.

Suddenly, out of literally nowhere, a bright shining light came from between the thugs hitting me with their fists. This made them stop their assault and let go of me while I fell to my knees and gasped for air.

“What was that just now?!” Splinter demanded loudly.

He received no answer from his men as they were all in shock while they watched me.

Or, more specifically...what was in my hand.

Heck, even I was shocked out of my mind as I stared at the weapon I held. It looked like a big, key-shaped weapon that had the form like that of…

“A Keyblade…” I muttered to myself, a bit audible for the thugs to hear. It basically looked like the shape of Roxas’s Keyblade from the sequel game, which was pretty cool.

The gangsters didn’t know what I mumbled in words, as they were uninterested in the weapon. Their gazes returned to me.

“You think your key-like weapon can stop us?!” Splinter called out to me. “Get ‘im, mates!”

His men obeyed their leader’s order without questions.

“Let’s see what this Keyblade can do,” I told myself low, and I raised the blue-silver Keyblade into the air as I uttered: “Fire!”

A fiery ring formed around me as I looked at the flames in astonishment and amazement. I did not know I would be chosen by the Keyblade. I only thought it was fiction and in a game called Kingdom Hearts.

Yet, here I was. I was holding an actual and real Keyblade. And I uttered one of its many magic powers in self-defense against these murderers.

The gangsters were afraid of the flames surrounding me, and they stopped dead in their tracks after Splinter had ordered them to attack me.

I gave them a grin on my expression. “Surprised, you motherfuckers?” I called them from my position in the fire ring.

“How did-?” Splinter yelled angrily, “How are you able to do magic, kid?!”

“I’m as confused as you are, Splinter,” I replied to him over the burning flames.

I was just in pure shock that I, a mere boy from Earth, had been chosen by the Keyblade to possibly fight off evil and its darkness. I couldn’t express the amount of words I can put into this development.

I could feel the emotions of excitement, amazement, astonishment, fear, anxiety.

Just after it appeared in my hand, I felt those emotions come out of me with the Keyblade I was holding. But, I was worried that I might have to fight for my life against Heartless and the Nobodies, if they truly exist.

In my emotional state, the flames disappeared as Splinter saw his chance and charged me while I was preoccupied.

But, at the last second, I noticed him from my eye’s corner and ducked under his fist. I decided to play fair with him, and let the Keyblade vanish from my hand and deliver a punch to Splinter’s stomach.

Not much damage came from it.

A laugh escaped the gangster as I gulped nervously.

“A puny attack like that is nothing compared to the pain you’re about to feel, boy,” Splinter spoke to me in a voice that sounded cruel. “Prepare to feel pain!”

He gave me a punch that was hard on my chest, and I flew off my feet and crashed into the wall of the warehouse. I screamed in pain before falling to my knees. I let my hands on the ground’s surface and started to exhale for breath. I saw him raise his foot and lashing out with it at me. I was kicked back as another kick from Splinter came. Then I was grabbed by the collar of my jacket up a bit.

I could see the satisfying grin on Splinter’s expression as he began to speak again.

“It looks like you’ll never be able to wield that strange key again, boy. You’ll wish you never crossed our path either. Your regret will be in for a painful sight. Your world will be plunged into darkness, and with it, your death.”

I groaned and struggled in his tight grip on my collar. “You…” I started to say.

“Yes?” A gleam of a strange light in Splinter’s eyes came for a split moment. “Continue.”

“You’re...going to…” I continued in my struggle. “Regret...this...Splinter…”

Laughter came from him after my short response. “Those will be your last words, kid,” Splinter told me. He raised his free hand…

Shit! I forgot about his other arm!

He had taken out a knife from his pocket, licking his lips in excitement. “I feel a sense of thrill coming from my veins,” he said to me. “Do you feel fear, Danny? I do. It tastes delightfully for us gangsters to hear your horrifying screams of pain, and the sorry excuse of a family will soon meet you in the afterlife.”

I gritted my teeth, briefly closing my eyes for a moment before I sensed Splinter raise his knife into the air and was about to strike me, when…

When suddenly, he screamed painfully and loosened the grip on my collar and I fell down on my knees as I coughed for air and gasped to breathe.

That was close. Too close for comfort. But...who saved me?

We all looked at the savior who came to my rescue, and all of our eyes widened in shock. It was like a shadowy creature which had claws invisible from the sight. It had a strange standing position, as if it was the weirdest thing ever. It stood upright, though, like a human. Except for one thing; it had blood red eyes that looked creepy as Hell. The pupils, it didn’t have any. Its ears were longer than a human’s, and the ears curved forward.

“Is that a Heartless?” I asked the gangsters.

“What’s a Heartless?” They all asked in unison back.

“It’s a creature from a game called...never mind,” I shook my head.

“I have come to...take you, boy,"the creature, from what I heard in my head, spoke to only me.

“Huh?” I tilted my head in confusion. “Why?”

The gang to my left looked at me, confused.

“Your time...has come…”the creature told me in its dark voice.

“What? Am I really going to abandon Earth, or what?” I demanded the creature, summoning my Keyblade in my right hand.

“Keyblade-wielder,”the creature growled dangerously. “You’ve shown yourself.”

I don’t understand what it is saying to me, but I haven’t given up my fight yet. I can be able to defeat both this creature, and then the gangsters, by myself.

“A key to open the door…”

Huh? Did I just hear a voice in my head?

“This world has been connected…you understand nothing.”

What the Hell? Why am I hearing voices all of a sudden?

The creature took its chance at my startled state, and it charged me with lashing out its black claws. I managed to notice its movement, and I dodged to the side and blocked the next strike from the black creature.

The gangsters just looked on in confusion. “What in the world of God is going on?!” one of them demanded.

You tell me, thug.

I blocked a new claw strike from the creature, and I jumped away from it to see what this Keyblade can do. I raised it and pointed its end at the creature, before I shouted: “Fire!”

A fireball came from the tip of the Keyblade as the fiery ball soared through the air towards the black Heartless-like creature. I saw, however, that it jumped faster than I could see when it took notice of the flaming ball’s incoming movement with its blood red eyes.

Out of nowhere, on the ground and near the creature, more Heartless-like beings came from the dark portals that were surging with black energy, from what I could sense from them.

There appeared to be over sixty of them. My eyes widened in pure fear and worry.

“You...must pay the price...Keyblade-wielder,”the apparent leader of the creatures spoke to me darkly.

Oh, shit just got real! This wasn’t fiction after all! Now I am in real danger from having threatened that Heartless creature.

It gave me a dark chuckle, having apparently read my thoughts. “We’re not...Heartless...human,”it told me. “We are...Phantoms!”

What in Hell is that name for something as dark as you, creature?

Oh.

It’s their species. My stupidity got in the way.

The gangsters, from the corner of my eyes, took their chance to charge me. I was surrounded, literally on all sides.

How am I going to defeat all these enemies?!

Wait...the Keyblade...what if I do this?

I raised my Keyblade into the air. I uttered: “Thunder!” Bolts of thunder came then shooting down from the sky and electrocuted the gangsters as they screamed in pain and fell to their knees. I looked at the Phantoms, with my Keyblade still in the air. “Blizzard!”

A harsh blizzard came from the tip of the Keyblade, and the attack managed to catch some Phantoms to freeze like statues. Others were lucky to have evaded the blizzard by going underground in their shadows.

I looked briefly at the gangsters that were in pain on the ground, and that was when I heard some beeping of several cars coming to the warehouse location.

I widened my eyes in shock. The police!

“Halt!” One policeman ordered us. They then noticed the shadowy creatures around me, and their eyes locked on them as they pointed their guns at them.

“Wait!” I tried to stop them, but they did not hear my call as they began to shoot bullets at the Phantoms.

The bullets just pounced off the creatures; surprising the policemen as they were unaware their weapons had no effect on the Phantoms - which they had not realized were after only me.

The Phantoms growled in unison at the policemen, and the police grew worried with fear on their expressions. Then, what I saw was unexpected and rather bloody.

The policemen were ripped off with their arms torn away from their bodies and legs were also ripped off the bodies while the heads were cut off by the Phantoms’ sharp black claws.

I was horrified, let me tell you.

“That was...for interfering with our affairs,”the leader of the Phantoms snarled at the dead policemen. It looked back at me with its deadly eyes. “Come with us, wielder of the Keyblade.”

I was angry. I roared in response. “You killed innocent people. I won’t let you hurt more of us!”

The Phantom gave a dark chuckle. “Foolish human, we’ve already dealt with your species,”it told me with an evil voice.

I widened my eyes in horror. No...They couldn’t have...Could they? We are almost ten billion humans! How can they manage to kill all of us?

The Phantom chuckled evilly. “We are...more than you ever could hope, boy...we are into the millions as well,”it spoke to me. “The heart; it is a tasteful thing to devour while in the midst of fear.”

I then realized how they could kill the humans: the heart! How can I be so stupid?! They are basically monsters with Heartless-like features and abilities!

“So, I’m the only one left?” I hesitantly asked the leader.

“Yes,”it nodded. “You must come and see the Master at once. He has...plans for you, Keyblade-wielder.”

“Forget it!” I growled at it in anger. “I’m never going to go with you! Not in my life!”

The Phantom ‘sighed’. “So be it, human,”it decided as it raised its black claws into the air. “Attack him!”

I growled angrily as I ducked under the claws of a Phantom monster and jumped above another strike from the next monster. I chose to make my move now, and I slashed at my two attackers as they disappeared into nothingness with the hits of my Keyblade. I continued to dodge, block, jump, and strike at the Phantoms as much as I possibly could do.

However, more and more Phantoms came out of their black portals around the place. I was soon cornered against the wall of the warehouse, my Keyblade pointing at the monsters in warning. The Phantoms just cackled darkly to me in response. Then, the first Phantom in front of me raised its dark claws into the air and was prepared to strike me.

I blocked the strike, and then quickly I slashed at the black chest of the Phantom as it screeched in pain as it disappeared from the view. I growled, and finally, I recklessly charged into the horde of Phantoms with only my Keyblade and its magic as my defense. I struck out to a Phantom, slashing its side as it screeched before disappearing into nothingness.

I continued to attack them with my Keyblade, with some managing to block my attacks with black shields and nearly landed hits on me. I rolled to the side before they could hit me, and I slashed at their chests one after the other with my weapon, as they disappeared like the others I managed to defeat.

I narrowly ducked under a claw strike from a new Phantom that was attacking me. I did something I hadn’t guessed I could do; I did a jump into the air, rolling as I did, before roaring out as an icy frost came from my body and froze some of the Phantoms surrounding me. I was surprised, and I grinned before I used my next magic attack.

“Aero!” I called out as the frozen statues of the Phantoms around me flung into the air with a gust of wind. I took my chance in this move, and jumped on each Phantom that was frozen before I cut their heads off with my Keyblade, one by one as the body statues fell back down on the ground, shattered to pieces as they crashed down.

I grinned giddily at this, as I never expected to be using magic at all. I thought I was a weak human with no talent. I was dead wrong.

I then realized I was still in the middle of the fighting with the Phantoms. I ducked under the strikes of a claw attack from a Phantom creature, and I struck its head with my Keyblade as it screeched in pain before disappearing into nothingness.

I fought the creatures off one by one as I was soon panting for breath while there was one last standing in front of me. It was the leading Phantom. I grinned at its ‘shocked’ eye expression while it looked at me.

“Not bad,”it complimented me.

Wow, first compliment from an enemy.

“You’ve clearly shown capability to wield that Keyblade, human,”the Phantom continued. “However, all light must come to an end with darkness in its stead. You’ve just entered the war between the Light and the Dark, boy.”

So, I need to fight for my survival, then. That was just perfect.

Yeah, I’m not cool about this, let me tell you.

“So, what if I did?” I questioned the Phantom. “I am just hoping for my own survival. If I need to fight for it, so be it. I can win against you; I just proved myself here.”

It chuckled. “That, you did, boy. However, the proof of you able to unlock the door is far from being true,”the Phantom reminded me. “You’re only a boy. There’s nothing special about you.”

I growled. “I’m not special? Well, let me prove you wrong, Phantom!” I challenged as I pointed the tip of my Keyblade at it. I uttered: “Fire!”

A fireball soared through the air and managed to hit the Phantom, and it screeched in pain slightly before it regained its balance.

I continued to bombard the remaining Phantom with fireballs from my Keyblade, which seemed to be working until it disappeared into nothingness after the tenth fireball had landed on its chest. I panted heavily, holding my hands on my knees while I stood there in my victory against the Phantoms.

That was…awesome! I was, unexpectedly, shown as being capable of using my Keyblade on that horde of creatures. I was happy and excited. Happy for being alive and I was excited for being a Keyblade wielder.

Then, something broke above me in the sky. I looked up as I watched in horror as a black whirling vortex was sucking everything in it from the area I was standing. Realizing this, I took hold on a broken wooden plank to try my best in keeping myself from being sucked in the vortex.

My fingers were slowly loosening their grip, as I was then thrown into the air above after a moment had passed. I screamed in fright as I had no idea where I would be making an appearance to.

Ponyville

(Equestria)

Ow…

Ow…owowowow...

Okay, maybe I shouldn’t have made that fall through that vortex...I am in too much pain right now, that my head was aching along with my body. I felt it was time to wake up, so my eyes opened slightly.

Big mistake on my part.

I hiss in annoyance, and closed my eyes again. I could feel irritation from the bright shining sun’s sunlight hitting down on my face, and I felt it annoying to my eyes. I just need to rest again, but that was when I heard someone talk while I had my eyes closed.

“Is it alright?”

“I don’t know; it looks a bit odd.”

“Rainbow, don’t say such a thing!”

Voices…I could hear some voices from people…or was it…horses? I can only hear the galloping sounds of hooves nearby.

“Look; it’s waking up!”

‘It’…I’m not an ‘it’, thank you very much for that.

I groaned as my consciousness finally returned to me while I had my hands on the yellow ground…wait, ground? I could picture myself having fallen to Hell already. Where was I? Someplace I was unaware of? Well, if I was, it would only be my greatest surprise if I was truly in Hell to meet my dead family.

I grumbled as my eyes finally opened to the sunlight that shone the earth, as well as shining directly into my eyes. I groaned in irritation at the sun, and I heard the voices again.

“Are you alright, sir?”

Huh? A polite question from a girl, as I could hear the voice from, that was new.

I blinked my eyes to have them fully open before I looked at six colorful horses that were staring concerned back at me. I stared at them for a long silence moment until the rainbow colored horse broke the ice.

“What are you?” she asked.

“Um…” I heard their gasp of amazement while I cocked my head in confusion. “Who are you?” I countered the question from the rainbow horse.

“Who are we? We’re the Elements of Harmony, of course!” This time, the purple winged horse exclaimed to me. “You haven’t heard of us?”

“Should I?” I tilted my head in response. I then muttered to myself, “Talking horses…what is this? Is it some kind of a cartoon in real life? I’ve died, haven’t I?”

The winged unicorn seemed to pick up on my mutter. “Sir, you’re in Equestria, or most specifically, Ponyville,” she told me. “Why do you think you died?” She cocked her head a bit to the side at that.

Okay, seriously, what is going on here?

“I fought against a whole horde of monsters back home,” I tried to explain. “I managed to kill all of them…well, ‘kill’ isn’t the word for that...defeated them is the correct word for it. They vanished into darkness…why am I telling you this?”

“You want to know how you got here,” the white horse replied to me in a sweet voice.

“Whoa, wait!” the rainbow horse hurried over to me. “You fought monsters? Seriously?! That is awesome! Wish I could’ve seen that.”

“Rainbow, get back,” the winged unicorn scolded her. “He might be dangerous if he fought monsters.”

Rainbow, from what I heard, gave a sigh and returned in line to the other five mares.

But…Ponyville and Equestria…I’ve officially gone to Hell, have I not? God help me, why am I magically talking to horses that have no idea who I am?

“Twilight, what do you think of him?” the orange mare asked the one called Twilight.

“Well, he hasn’t done us physical harm,” Twilight replied. “So…he seems alright for now…”

Then, we heard a loud, dramatic gasp from the pink pony. “I totally forgot! I need to prepare for a party!” Aaaand…she was gone in the blink of an eye.

Okay…that was weird...totally weird.

“Never mind her, sugarcube,” the orange mare told me with a shake of her head. “Pinkie always wants to welcome newcomers to Ponyville, even despite they’re strangers to the town.”

“Oookay…” I couldn’t quite speak today, could I? Well, I am speechless for speaking with colorful ponies. So, how can I not be?

“Why don’t you tell us your name?” Twilight asked me. “That way, we can introduce ourselves to you.”

“I can live with that,” I nodded, albeit a bit skeptical, to her. “My name is Daniel Black, I am a fifteen year old human from my old home that is now gone.”

They blinked in surprise at me.

“You’re a…human?” Twilight asked, as if she wants clarification. “What’s that?”

“It’s my species,” I explained. “We’ve always been that.”

“Now that you’ve introduced yourself,” the winged unicorn cleared her throat. “Let us introduce ourselves. Applejack, would you do the honors?”

“Absolutely, Twi,” the orange pony nodded and looked at me. “Hello, sugarcube. I am Applejack, as mentioned by my friend over here. I run the Sweet Apple Acres in Ponyville. Ya can visit us anytime ya like, Daniel.”

I nodded to her as the rainbow mare then introduced herself.

“I’m Rainbow Dash, and I am the fastest flyer in all of Equestria,” she smiled smugly at her proclamation. “I can’t wait to be friends with you, Dan. I can say we’re going to be great friends.”

A friend…that is something I’ve never had back home.

“I’d like that, Rainbow,” I smiled at her as the white mare started her own introduction.

“My name is Rarity, and I run the Carousel Boutique in Ponyville,” she gave me a friendly bow. “It’ll be nice if you can meet my sister later today, Sir Daniel.”

Whoa, alright, I like her politeness…but, sir? That may be overdoing it.

“Um, you can drop the ‘sir’ part, Rarity,” I told her. “I’m not worthy of such titles.”

“As you wish,” Rarity nodded.

Then, it was the yellow Pegasus’s turn. I gave her a gentle smile, and she gave a small ‘eep’ and hid behind her mane.

I was confused.

“Oh, sorry, Fluttershy is very shy around new creatures,” Twilight apologized to me for her friend.

“It’s okay,” I nodded to her.

Fluttershy…I kind of like that name. Makes up for her shyness, from what I get it.

“And now all that’s left is Pinkie for introducing herself,” Twilight said. “I wonder if she’s preparing your party as of right now, Daniel.”

“I’m sure she is,” I chuckled.

Wow, to think that I’ve been welcomed by these ponies was something I never expected to be. I feel something in my heart to slowly repair itself with their generous and kind offer.

After the introductions, I followed the girls into town as I felt something in me I missed, and that feeling was: happiness.

I could hardly believe myself. Here I was, talking and walking with these six - well, make that five - ponies as we made our way to what is called Sugarcube Corner.

When we arrived there, I was surprised that the other ponies were smiling at me with a welcoming presence. I...don’t have words...I mean, I am a complete stranger to them, why am I treated as if I belong here? It makes no sense.

Twilight saw my confusion as she chuckled. “Pinkie must have announced you to them, Daniel,” she told me.

“I see.”

Yes, that was the only response I had. ‘I see’, okay? Can we move on now? Good. Now, where was I?

I followed the ponies into the Sugarcube Corner building as I saw darkness while I looked around for Twilight and the others. “Hello? Are you there? Girls?”

Click

“SURPRISE!!”

I was given a heart attack by the shouting. I fell on my butt as I was met with the pink pony...right in my face!

“Hi and welcome to Ponyville, Daniel! I hope you like it here!” she spoke at a hyperactive pace that I couldn’t understand her. “When I saw you with the others, I knew that I just had to throw you a ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party. And so, here you are!”

I blinked in utmost amazement. How can someone...or was it somepony?...like her talk so quick?

“Uhh…” I looked at Twilight. “Can you understand her? I didn’t quite catch what she was saying.”

Twilight chuckled. “That’s just Pinkie Pie, she is usually excited to meet new folks,” she said.

“Oh…” I looked back at Pinkie, who had a big giddy smile on her expression. “Um...nice to meet you too, Pinkie...why did you do this?”

“I thought of making friends with you, of course!” the party pony replied.

Okay, I understand that, but throwing me a party? I’ll admit, I’m not exactly a party person who just goes in and expects a party to be made for me. This...is a bit too fast for befriending others.

“You know that interaction needs to be made before making friends, right?” I asked her.

“Silly, I know that,” Pinkie gave me a grin. “We are interacting now, aren’t we?”

“Well...that’s true,” I reluctantly agreed. “I...just don’t expect to befriend others so quickly, not that I’m saying I don’t want to be your friend, of course. It’s just...I’m taken a bit off-guard by all of this. I’ve got no idea how I even got here in the first place, either.”

Pinkie nodded in understanding to me. “Of course, take your time, Danny,” she smiled at me.

Danny? That was not what I had in mind to be called by this pony.

I was maybe just taken aback by how quick things went for me. That may just be it.

I looked at Twilight as she cleared her throat. “Let us welcome our new friend, everypony!” she called out as every pony was cheering before I managed to stand back up on my feet while I was blinking.

Soon, everypony in the building had greeted me with warm hands - um, excuse me, hooves - and I was warmed up in my heart by them as I felt a shining light in my empty hole of the heart I had thought I lost to the darkness by the Phantoms.

Oh.

I mentally slapped myself while I was partying with the ponies.

How could I be so stupid as to forget about the Phantoms?! They are still on the loose, and if I get these ponies caught in the Light and the Dark war, there’s no turning back from it. If there could just be a chance I can avoid my new friends from getting in the crossfire…

“Daniel?” I heard Twilight ask me as I was snapped out of my thoughts by her sweet voice. “Are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost, or something.”

We were excusing ourselves from the crowd as they continued on with their party.

“It’s just…” I sighed as I then told her: “I’m worried about something that’s been on my mind since I got here.”

“What is it?” the winged unicorn - from what she had told me before we made our excuse, was called an alicorn - asked, as if she was worried over it with what I’m about to tell her as well.

“It’s just...that I’m afraid something might happen to you all,” I sighed to her.

“It’s alright,” Twilight smiled warmly to me. “We’ve been through some hard times ourselves.”

“Well, this thing with me is different,” I tried to explain. “I...hold some sort of a key that’s the center of attention with dark creatures.”

Twilight perked up at that. “What’s with this key? Is it to open some kind of a door?” she asked.

“Yes,” I nodded in affirmation. “This key - it’s unlike anything you’ve seen - it is what attracts creatures of evil to its Light. It is called...a Keyblade.”

“What’s a Keyblade?” the princess asked, curious to know more.

“It’s a weapon meant to seal Keyholes,” I explained. “I’m kind of the center of attention to creatures known as Phantoms - which looks like a humanoid shadow being, just with blood red eyes.”

“Okay…” Twilight nodded slowly. “I can understand your words, but...why are they after you?”

“I hold the Keyblade,” I explained, as a matter-of-factly. “I’m a Keyblade wielder, fighting for the Light and its good people. If you see any of those creatures I mentioned, run. They’re dangerous, murderous beings with no reasoning to them. They thirst for the heart and its light. What I’ve seen they can do, it’s horrifying.”

Twilight sweat dropped by my explanation. I can’t blame her, she is most likely scared for the Phantoms with my mentions.

“Alright, if we see those...Phantoms,” Twilight started to say, “I will call for anypony who is hopeless and get them to safety.”

“Good,” I smiled at her, pleased. “Now, shall we return to the party?” I gave her my warm smile as she nodded before we returned to the waiting ponies.

This is going to be a hopefully good day for me.

I was tired. Very tired after the party came to its conclusion. I was happy, and that was a joyous thing they’ve done to me since my arrival in Ponyville. I was lucky to have Twilight understand my explanation to the situation I was in, and that it was simple and clean to her.

Now...where to now?

I walked through the streets of Ponyville, and I could feel my legs getting heavy while I walked down the road. I need something to sit on and rest.

Ah-ha! A bench! Perfect!

I stepped up to the bench and sat on its flat surface before I let a relieved sigh as my legs can now relax from partying the whole afternoon.

I rested my hands on the bench while I hummed as a cool breeze came by in the wind. I looked up to the blue sky that was cloudless. From what I was told by Rainbow Dash, the pegasi controlled the weather here, which was pretty cool. Wished we had some sort of weather-control back on Earth before it was destroyed…

“Um...excuse me, sir?”

A sigh escaped me as I looked over to a pony who had a lime green fur with a cyan mane and tail. Her eyes were a beautiful sunglow color.

“What is it?” I asked her.

“Are you a...human?” she hesitantly asked me.

“Last time I checked,” I confirmed with a nod.

“Now I know ponies won’t think I’m crazy,” the unicorn whispered to herself, although I could hear her loud and clear. “Humans did exist.”

“Uh, what’s this now?” I frowned, and I felt she was smiling, when…

“Lyra, what are you doing?” I heard Rainbow coming from the street.

Lyra...so that is what this unicorn is called...hmm, what could there be something she would be doing?

“Nothing, I was just asking him,” Lyra replied to the pegasus.

“About what?” Rainbow asked.

“If he was a human and all.”

“Of course he’s one,” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Why wouldn’t he be?”

Oh, I don’t know. Be magically transformed into one of you if I had the ability?

I blinked as Rainbow trotted up to me. Lyra looked as if she was hurt.

“I’m not going to take him, Rainbow,” the unicorn told her.

“Hmm,” Rainbow hummed. “Last time I heard you talk about if you saw a human, you would take him immediately home with you and keep it as a pet. That won’t happen as long as I am with Daniel, Lyra.”

What? Was she going to...steal me, or something?

Lyra’s ears fell in disappointment. “Aww...alright, Rainbow, I won’t when I see him again,” she sighed sadly.

I feel a little bad for her. I know I only just met her, but how can I not be? I am trying to help others as best as I can.

“Look,” I said as the two ponies looked at me. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I can assure you, that I have no intention of being cared for as a pet. Whether it is by mistake of saying it, or an excuse, I can say that I have no interest in it. I’m my own man; I do as I please.”

That was true. Now that I have no home at the moment, I can do whatever I want. No rules, no responsibilities. Just on my own, which is perfect.

“If you say so, Dan,” Rainbow sighed and looked at Lyra. “Sorry if I was a bit harsh there, Lyra.”

“It’s okay,” the unicorn smiled a bit at the apology.

“Good, that is settled then,” I stood up from the bench as I started to walk with Rainbow to Twilight’s home, the Castle of Friendship.

I am just in amazement that I am literally the friend to a princess. I must’ve been going to a dream in Heaven. A good feeling, I will admit.

After a while of walking with Rainbow, I stopped dead in my tracks as I felt a disturbance in my senses.

“Daniel? What is it?” Rainbow asked...when she yelped in surprise as I grabbed her and jumped to the side before a reddish black attack had struck us. “Whoa! That was close!”

“You tell me,” I agreed with her as I looked at a Phantom hiding in the ground. “Show yourself, monster!” I demanded it.

The Phantom raised itself above the ground, and I felt Rainbow sweat near me as she had her eyes widen in shock from the corner of my right eye.

“What do you want?!” I growled at it, and I summoned my Keyblade to my right hand as the Phantom growled loudly at me. I looked at Rainbow, ordering her while she had no objection to my order: “Run! I’ll take care of this thing!”

She nodded and spread her wings before flying away as fast as she could while I looked back at the Phantom with hatred.

“Coming here is a huge mistake,” I spat in disgust to the black monster.

“You’re going to...come with us, Keyblade-wielder,”the Phantom spoke to me darkly. “Or else…”

“Like Hell I will!” I shouted as I held my Keyblade tightly in my hands before charging the Phantom when I lashed out with it at the monster.

The Phantom blocked my strike, and swiped my feet with its left claws. I fell to the ground, and rolled to the side before I was struck by the monster and jumped back to my feet. I blocked its next strike with my Keyblade and jumped back before I raised my voice.

“FIRE!!” I yelled as a fireball soared through the air from the tip of my Keyblade and clashed with the Phantom, causing it to screech in pain and be vanquished from the sight. “Ah-ha! Not so smart are you, monster?!” I cheered in a short victory…

Before I saw a large horde of Phantoms coming from the black portals around Ponyville. I sweat dropped as I counted them...there’s gotta be over two hundred of them…

How am I going to defeat them all alone?!

Nevertheless, I couldn’t be like this. I need to protect the ponies in this town, and I am going to be needing my Keyblade to defeat these monsters one by one. Even if it means losing my life.

I, in my startled state of mind, was being charged by two Phantoms before I shook myself out of my worry and blocked one of them as I ducked under the claws of the second Phantom. I jumped into the air while slashing at them with my Keyblade, and I could feel as if I was truly going to die…

That was when I screamed and a burning light came from my body at the Phantoms, causing them to screech in pain as they were vanquished into nothingness by the light. I landed back down on the ground and I tightly held my Keyblade again as the Phantoms were screeching loudly before we charged both sides.

I attacked a Phantom to the head, making it screech in hissing pain before I finished it off with a slash of my Keyblade. I saw it turn to nothingness before I focused my attention on the horde again and prepared my next move.

“Thunder!” I called out as bolts of thunder came shooting down from the sky on the Phantoms, and they became paralyzed for the moment, which I took my next move quickly.

I finished off a couple of Phantoms while they were still paralyzed. I continued to slash, hack, and cut through the Phantoms until their paralyzing was gone and screeched at me loudly.

My poor ears, for God’s sake! That hurt!

I winced at the screeching that stopped at that moment. I held my ears in pain until I noticed the Phantoms charging me. Oh, clever, you monsters. But, not good enough to stop me.

I slashed at a Phantom as it was vanquished from the sight when a second one raised its black claws at me. I ducked under the swipe of the claws and slashed my Keyblade against its chest and it gave a painful screech before disappearing from the sight as well.

“Blizzard!” I shouted as a frosty blizzard came from my Keyblade towards the Phantoms and froze them to ice statues. “Aero!” A gust of wind then came as the statues flung into the air, and I took immediate action and leapt up to one frozen Phantom and cut its head off before jumping to the next, and the next, and the next before I landed on the ground while the statues plummeted to the ground and shattered to pieces.

I charged the last remaining fifty Phantoms as I clashed with one of them before I slashed its short neck and it screeched in pain before being vanquished to nothingness. I cut off another Phantom’s head with my Keyblade as I jumped away from the remaining forty eight monsters.

“Fire!” I shouted as a fiery beam came from my Keyblade and vanquished the Phantoms in a pit of fire before I concluded the battle with a Stop ability as time stopped itself with the Phantoms while I was unaffected and took care of them in less than twenty minutes before the Stop ability wore off and time returned to normal.

I panted heavily, with my Keyblade vanishing from my hand as the monsters were defeated at last. I fell to one knee while I heard Twilight and the others come up to me.

“Daniel! Are you alright? We heard a loud battle going on in this area,” Twilight said to me. “What happened?”

I merely panted in my weakened state, my Mana having decreased dramatically after using too much Magic powers.

“I’ll tell you later,” I finally said to the staring ponies after exhaling some breath of air. “Right now, I need rest...I feel like my eyes are about to shut themselves.”

Twilight nodded understandingly to me. She looked to the crowd. “Everypony, move aside. I need to take our friend to my castle for him to rest,” she told them with authority.

The ponies obliged their princess’s order and stepped aside while I walked beside a slowly leading Twilight.

“Thanks, Twilight,” I thanked her as I slowly walked alongside her to the Castle of Friendship.

“No problem, whatever has caused the noise, I need some information tomorrow,” the alicorn smiled at me.

“Sure,” I nodded. That sounded like a good idea, considering how tired I was after a long day of partying and then fighting for the town against the Phantoms.

I guess there must be something worthy here for the Phantoms to be here...besides me, of course. Whatever that is, I need to look up on it once I can begin investigating the situation further.

Right now, my mind is only thinking about one thing: sleep.

Oh, yes. A good, long sleep will be making me all warmed up tomorrow.

Author's Note

Yes, this story takes place after Season Four of the show, and before Season Five, hence why the Castle of Friendship is mentioned here. Thank you for taking interest in my work; I'll be even more grateful if you guys can help me out a bit with fixing some errors I might have made in the first two chapters.

As with a blog post I recently made, I'm currently open to world selection for this fan fiction. Yes, any world I am familiar with and can analyze from a gamer's perspective will be acceptable for my story. I've already gotten a single world selected, but if you can have more worlds for me, you can make the suggestions in the comment section to me. Thanks for your time.

Have a good day, everyone!

Meeting the Rulers

I slept soundly on the comfy bed in the bedroom I was temporarily sleeping in within the Castle of Friendship. It was so soft, that I couldn’t get up or open my eyes.

But, that turned to dismay as a ray of sunlight shone my face. I groaned in annoyance as I grumpily awoke from my well-deserved slumber.

I yawned as soon as I woke up, and I stretched my arms before looking around. It was a crystallized room with some bookshelves at the walls, and there was a balcony to my right as I sighed before unwrapping myself from the blanket I had on in my sleep.

I stood on the crystal floor while the door opened with a purple aura on its doorknob. I saw Twilight stepping inside and looked at me with a warm smile.

“You’re awake,” she noted upon seeing me.

“I am,” I nodded and I saw her trot up to me with a floating plate of breakfast. “Thanks. I needed something to eat anyway.” I took the plate from her magic aura and sat down on the edge of my bed.

“How are you holding up?” she asked me after I took several bites on my meal.

“Better than after yesterday,” I replied. “I was exhausted when I was done with the party. I could barely stand, but with the rest I have gotten, I’m in better shape.”

“That’s good,” Twilight smiled pleasantly.

I sat there in silence while I ate my breakfast, and I was soon finished with the meal before Twilight and I were walking through the hallway to meet with the others. The hallway looked perfectly shining with the crystal walls, and I couldn’t help but notice my curiosity at how this castle was formed.

“This castle was made after me and my friends defeated Lord Tirek,” Twilight informed me as we made our way down the hallway to the throne room.

“Tirek?” I asked. “Who is that?”

“A powerful, evil magic-hungry creature who sought to conquer Equestria not so long ago, but I managed to send him back to Tartarus with my friends’ help,” Twilight explained.

“So, basically a demon from Hell,” I said as I jumped to the conclusion at the mention of Tartarus.

“You can say that,” the alicorn gave me a single nod.

We arrived at the throne room, and it was surprisingly big enough to be fitting with the crystals that lit the place up with their blue color. I could see six thrones at the round circle in the middle - reminds me a bit of the Camelot legend with the six knights.

“You’re here!” I heard Applejack speak as she trotted up to me. “How ya holdin’, partner?” she asked.

“Better,” I replied with a smile. “More than I could think of, actually.”

Applejack nodded, satisfied with my answer as we made our way to the other Mane Six.

“You need to inform us on how you know about those monsters you fought yesterday, Daniel,” Twilight told me with a ‘need-to-know’ look to me.

“Yeah,” Rainbow agreed with Twilight. “And don’t just make drama or tension while you’re at it, Dan.”

“Alright,” I nodded as they took their seats while I stood beside Twilight’s throne. “The monsters that I fought yesterday, is a dark creature that seeks to swallow the heart’s light,” I explained to the mares. “They thirst for power, and they want to conquer the Light with their Darkness. They are called Phantoms, a type of Heartless that want chaos and destruction throughout the worlds.”

“What’s a Heartless?” Rarity asked.

“Basically, a being without a heart,” I replied to her. “They also thirst for the Light in the hearts of every living thing, be them human or animal that is organic. There are variations of the Heartless that are stronger than the normal ones.”

“Alright,” Twilight said, looking down for a moment to think. “And, what’s with that strange Key that you’re holding?”

“Ah, the Keyblade,” I smiled as I began to think of if I should show it to them.

“What’s a Keyblade?” Rainbow asked, curious about my weapon.

Instead of answering, I summoned the Keyblade to my hand as they all marveled at the craftsmanship of the blade. I held it in the air. “This is the Keyblade,” I told them. “I am its wielder - which means that only I am able to summon it to my will and pure heart. It’s the weapon that I used to defeat those evil Phantom creatures back in town and in my old destroyed home.”

“Wow,” Twilight breathed, marveling at the sword-like weapon. “So, can you use magic with it?”

“I sure am able to,” I nodded as they looked at me in amazement. “The Magic from this Keyblade will be utilized whenever I speak of a word from Firaga, Blizzaga, Thundaga, and last but not least, Aeroga. Those abilities are the main powers from the Keyblade; there’s also healing from Curaga, where I can heal wounds and the like if I take damage.”

“Whoa, dude!” Rainbow gasped. “You can do all of THAT?! Awesome! You’ve got to show us!”

“Sorry, but it’s limited,” I sighed, lowering the Keyblade. “I can only use it in defensive matters, such as when I am battling against the forces of evil and other beings with Dark Magic.”

“Hmm,” Twilight hummed, staring at my Keyblade before she asked, “And why is your old home destroyed?”

That gave me a sting to my body for some reason. I lowered my head in sadness while they looked worried.

“Phantoms,” I spat in disgust. “They killed off my entire species, AND they destroyed my home of Earth within the blink of an eye after I threatened them with my Light and the Keyblade. They said they were going into the millions as well when I was frozen during my fight against them. I was very afraid when I was pulled into a dark vortex after I destroyed the leader of that group of Phantoms and I was here. In Equestria, after that.”

Rainbow looked sympathetic to me while Twilight looked sad. “Wow, we didn’t know,” the pegasus breathed, while the alicorn’s ears fell.

Fluttershy, on one hoof - yeah, I get their ways of mentioning things by staying here - was deeply saddened by my explanation of how I got in their home.

“But,” They looked at me as I spoke again, “I’m happy.”

“You are?” Rarity asked.

“Yes,” I nodded. “I made a bunch of friends while I was here for only a single day. I was greatly surprised by this development, but at least there’s something to be happy about, isn’t there?”

“Of course,” Twilight agreed with my statement. “Making friends doesn’t hurt to have, especially if you’re skeptical of making such fast friends like us.”

“I wasn’t skeptical,” I protested. “I was just surprised, that’s all.”

“Well, anyway, we…” Twilight started until a letter appeared before her with a puff of white magic. “Oh! A letter from the Princess!”

She unwrapped the letter and began to read it to herself. I was curious; were there other princesses here? Not just one?

“Well? What’s it saying?” I asked the alicorn as she stopped reading the letter when she was finished.

“It seems that Princess Celestia wants to have a word with you, Daniel,” Twilight told me. “She is curious about how you were able to come here, and helped save Ponyville from those Phantoms.”

“Oh, alright,” I slowly nodded. “I’m not going to be sent away, am I?”

Twilight giggled. “Don’t worry; Princess Celestia is very understanding and wise, she won’t be sending you away from saving our town.”

That’s good enough for me, I guess.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” Rainbow spoke up as she hovered in the air. “Let’s go to Canterlot!”

Canterlot? Yep, definitely a common name with Camelot from the Arthur legend. Sounds very similar, too.

After we were done with our conversation at the throne room in the castle, we and Spike - who I was surprised at was actually a dragon - made our way to the train station to get to Canterlot.

Twilight told the train’s conductor that I was with them and their Princess had personally requested my presence. The conductor nodded and we were on the train with a couple of ponies sitting in our ride.

We finally arrived at Canterlot after half an hour had passed. I was taken by surprise that the city was well constructed and organized on the side of a mountain. The city was white and it was something of a spectacular sight to behold.

When I walked with the girls to the castle in Canterlot, I got a couple of strange looks from the nobles in the city. I was shy by the way they were looking at me. But, as long as Twilight was with me, they didn’t say anything or try something I wouldn’t like.

We were at last at the castle gates, and there were two golden clad pegasus guards standing in front of the gates as they looked at me with suspicion in their eyes.

“He was requested by the Princess herself,” Twilight announced to the guards and they stepped aside to let us through.

Whew, I was glad she was quick on it.

The halls within the castle were big, and there was a red carpet on the floor that led directly to the room we needed to be at. There were pillars at the walls that stood high, and a couple of paintings were also on the walls displaying the princesses that were here.

I followed the girls to the double sized door that was, from what I presumed, that led to the throne room as two of the pegasus guards stepped aside to let us through like earlier.

The door opened with Twilight’s purple magic aura, and I blinked upon entering the room with them. There were six windows at both sides of the walls, and there were two thrones at the back of the room which had two marks of the sun and the moon on them. Standing from the thrones, were two alicorns that looked white and dark blue, respectively.

So, the white one must be Celestia, I can guess. And, who is the dark blue one?

“Ah, Twilight Sparkle, you’re here with our guest,” the white alicorn smiled at the purple alicorn with a kind expression.

“Yes,” Twilight nodded to her. “This is the one I wrote to you about.”

So, she wrote a letter to Princess Celestia? And told her about me?

“You’re just like the description she described,” the shorter alicorn noted upon seeing my appearance. “Although, I can say, that you’re unlike anything we’ve seen.”

“Not the first comment I got from my arrival,” I joked with a humored tone in my voice. “Anything else you expected me to be, Princess?”

“Yes,” she nodded. “A little more muscular.”

Huh, I guess she made a point. When I checked on my arms, I noticed they didn’t have a lot of muscle on them.

“Anyway,” Celestia spoke up, and I looked at her. “Can you explain your situation here? We would like to know what is chasing and fighting you.”

I then began to explain everything - well, almost everything - to Celestia and Luna, who was the dark blue alicorn I had spoken to. From how I was fighting for Earth, my home, against the Phantoms, how I was pulled from the face of the planet by a vortex in the sky, and how I was able to save Ponyville from them. I even showed them the Keyblade I was wielding, and explained my Magic powers, at which they were generally surprised to hear.

And then I explained my situation. Apparently, I am in a war between the Light and the Dark, with something called Kingdom Hearts in the midst of it. I tried to explain what Kingdom Hearts was in reality - from my view, not a game anymore - and they accepted my explanation. I also added that I needed to seal Keyholes in other worlds to prevent the Phantoms and Heartless from causing chaos in that specific world.

“And that is what is going on with me,” I finished as my long explanation was now done.

I needed to breathe; that sure was a long thing to explain.

“Well…” Celestia started to say. “I am not exactly sure how to proceed with this information…”

“Me neither,” Luna agreed with her sister. “That is a lot to take in, considering a child like you is in a war.”

“I’m not a child,” I huffed at her with irritation, folding my arms. “I’m almost a young adult.”

“I was just saying,” Luna smiled humoredly. “Don’t take it with offence, Daniel.”

I rolled my eyes in slight annoyance.

Celestia chuckled at me. “I thank you for explaining your situation, Daniel,” she thanked me. “We can prepare for anything should those Phantoms show up.”

Um...no, I don’t think so.

“Sorry, Princess,” I said firmly. “But, I can’t let any of you get involved in my affairs with the monsters.”

“Why not?” Twilight asked, and I looked at her with serious eyes.

“Because those Phantoms are likely going to kill all of you, like how they did with my species,” I told them. “They’re very dangerous, and I can be the judge of that since I saw it with my own eyes. So, no. You ponies cannot be involved in this war.”

“We understand your concern,” Celestia told me. “But, we’re capable of defending ourselves.”

“Sure you can,” I said with a serious tone in my voice. “I don’t want your world to be plunged into eternal darkness like it had done with mine. Your Light needs to be out of the violence in the battle.”

Luna wanted to say something, but she closed her mouth and sighed. “We get your point,” she said, with Celestia, the girls and dragon nodding along with her.

“Good,” I smiled at them. “Now, with that outta the way...anything I can do that doesn’t involve Phantoms?”

“You can stay in this castle for a bit,” Celestia smiled at the changed subject. “We’d love to have you around, Daniel. That way, you can get to know Canterlot better if you’re to accept this request.”

Eh, why not? I could use a little more acquaintances here.

“Sure, I don’t see why not,” I nodded, making her smile brighter.

“Splendid!” the princess exclaimed happily. “We would like for you all to join us for dinner. We can then talk about some other matters afterward, Daniel.”

“Alright,” I heard my stomach growl loudly, and I held it with my hands as the girls and dragon snickered at me. “I guess I’m a bit hungry, after all this explanation.”

Celestia giggled. “Well then, shall we get going?” she asked us.

We nodded as we made our way to the dinner hall.

I can only think of one thing on my mind: this is going to be a great time by staying in Canterlot and know more of their ways of how their magic is used.

It’ll be something to expect, I’m sure it will.

Author's Note

This was the third chapter. I will be taking a slow approach with the rest of the chapters in Act One of Phantom Monsters. I won't be rushing through the story; that's only making it a bad story with bad narrative.

If any of you have world suggestions (which I'm still open to), then don't be afraid to write it down in the comment section. I'm happy to know more worlds from games, cartoons, movies, and books.

With that, I bid you all a good weekend, and until we meet again next week. I'll be spending some time playing KH III during the weekend, to see if I can get world ideas to use in this story. We'll see what I can come up with, won't we?

See ya all!

Day One in Canterlot

I looked over the landscape with a blue colored Siren as we watched the sun rising above the horizon while the breeze swept by us. We watched the scene before our eyes with a long moment of silence, and then embraced each other lovingly.

I could see her beautiful eyes staring into my soul, which I wouldn’t mind as she was the most beautiful creature in all of Equestria.

Then, out of the blue, a dark storm came from our moment, as we broke apart from our embrace and watched in horror as the landscape was destroyed by swarming black creatures.

I heard the Siren scream for me as I turned to her, and saw she was held by a man in a black coat with a silver zipper, and his face was unseen from the hood he wore on his head.

“Let her go!” I cried out.

“This world has been connected,” the man simply said to me, holding my beloved Siren as she cried for me.

“Why won’t you save me?”

“I am trying!” I struggled to say as I was soon caught in a pit of darkness. I gasped in terror as I saw the Siren scream in horror.

“Daniel!”

It was all I heard from her as darkness enveloped me.

I woke up from my dream and let out a gasp of shock with sweat dripping from my forehead. I noticed I was panting from the dream, which was clearly not normal. A few questions lingered in my mind at who was in it.

Who was the Siren I was in love with in the dream? And, most importantly, why did she know me? Is there anything in connection with that man in the black coat that I don’t know?

I was in my bedroom within the Canterlot castle, and I sighed in relief that it was all just a mere dream, but it seemed so real to me. Why did it, though?

I saw the door to my room being enveloped with a dark blue aura as Princess Luna trotted inside. She noticed I was up and concern came on her expression as she came up to me.

“Is everything alright?” she asked me. “I could feel a very strong disturbance from you in my night duty.”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “I am just shaken a bit.” It was still new to me, that Luna was able to see others’ dreams, even human dreams.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Luna asked gently.

“I’d rather not,” I shook my head. I mean, it is private for me. So, why should I talk about it?

“Very well,” Luna nodded as she turned to leave me in peace. “Get some sleep; it is still night outside. You need your rest before the day is out.”

I gave her a single nod before I lay back down on my bed as sleep took over me again.

A new day arrived, and I could hear birds chirping outside my room while I slept until a ray of sunlight shone my face. I grumpily woke up and took the blanket away from my body before stretching my arms out wide once I stood up from the bed.

That was some night. I had one great dream that turned into a crazy one with a Siren that I don’t know about. Why did I have it, though? It is confusing to me that I could be in love with a Siren.

I walked over to the door after I got dressed in my clothes, and I opened it to find a guard clad in dark blue armor standing in front of me. She had green eyes and wings, which could mean she was a Pegasus.

“Sir, good morning,” she saluted to me as I blinked. “Princess Luna offered to take you to the dining room as soon as you awoke.”

Princess Luna had requested her? Hmm. Alright, no reason to say no, then.

I nodded to the guard as I stepped out of my room when we made our way through the halls. After a while of walking, and trotting in the Pegasus’s case, we arrived at the dining room when the guard opened the door for me.

I saw Princess Celestia and Luna sitting on their respective cushions at a table as I walked into the room.

“Princesses, our guest,” the Pegasus guard saluted to the two alicorns.

“Good,” Celestia smiled at her lunar guard. “You can leave now, Green-Wing.”

Green-Wing bowed respectfully to her before leaving us. I looked at her, humming as I thought of her name. Green-Wing…sounds matching considering her green wing that she had instead of the normal white Pegasus wings.

I glanced back at Celestia as she motioned me to come to the table. I obliged, sitting down on my own cushion, cross-legged as she spoke to me.

“Daniel, I heard from Luna that you had a nightmare.”

Oh, did she now?

I looked at Luna, who had a sheepish expression on her face.

“You told her?” I asked the dark blue mare.

“I couldn’t resist,” Luna admitted. “Whenever somepony is having trouble sleeping, I need to inform my sister to reassure them in the morning.”

I sighed, nodding to Celestia as I spoke. “Yes, I did have a nightmare; one with a strange black coated man in it and a Siren,” I recalled.

“Which Siren?” the sun princess asked.

“A blue Siren who I don’t even know, but somehow knew in the dream,” I recalled.

Luna and Celestia looked at each other with thoughtful expressions on their faces, and then they looked back at me.

“Hmm,” Celestia hummed, briefly glancing down at the table before returning her gaze to me. “It seems you could have, and this is only a hypothesis, been in love with somepony from a thousand years ago.”

I blinked. “Is that so?” I raised a brow. “From a thousand years ago? Huh, it couldn’t be fate, could it?”

“No,” Luna shook her head. “It does seem like you and she could be destined together.”

“Huh,” I looked at my hands for a moment, a thought coming to my mind. “If it is some sort of a destiny, then how come she knew me in the dream? I am not sure if I even have the right to be with a Siren.”

“We’re not sure ourselves,” Celestia admitted truthfully. “But, let’s not dwell too much into it right now. You need to be ready for when that time comes into the future.”

Whew, for a second, I thought she was going to say I was in a rush to find the Siren.

“So, what do I do?” I asked, wanting some answers to my question.

“You can always go around the city,” Celestia offered. “To get your mind cleared from that nightmare you have had.”

You know, that doesn’t sound too bad. Maybe a walk would help me a bit.

I nodded as the breakfast was served at that moment. The door opened just then as well, and I glanced over my shoulder to find Twilight and her friends trot inside the dining room.

“Hey, girls,” I waved to them as they smiled at me and came closer. “You’re just in time for breakfast.”

“Great,” Rainbow said as she sat down on the cushion she had. “I’m also a bit hungry.”

We ate our breakfast soon after that. When I was done, I stood up to walk over to the door, when Luna stopped me.

“Daniel, I can offer you Green-Wing as a personal guard for the day,” Luna offered. “If you’re just in need of a guide around the city, and to keep you safe from the nobles who might try something nasty to you.”

I rubbed my chin, humming in my thoughts as I smiled at the princess. “Alright, I don’t see why not. I do need somepony to it anyway,” I said, accepting her offer.

Yeah, I’m growing soft and have their ways of saying things; ‘somepony’, ‘everypony’, just to recall a few.

Luna smiled, pleased with me as she stood up from her cushion. “I shall lead you to Green-Wing, then,” she spoke to me.

As we exited the dining room, Luna and I were going to where Green-Wing was located in the castle. It took a while, but with Luna’s directions, I found out which way was the easiest to find the Pegasus when she was in the garden, standing by the pond of water in the middle of the center.

“Green-Wing?” the princess spoke up to the guard, and the Pegasus looked at her princess and saluted. “At ease, my guard, I have a request to offer you.”

“What kind of a request, Princess?” Green-Wing asked her, her wings at ease as she spoke with the princess of the night.

“I have something that might get you to do something today,” Luna said. “Would you like to be on guard duty for Daniel? He needs a guide as well for his walk around Canterlot.”

I am getting a bodyguard…well; anything for interacting with Green-Wing will be just fine.

“Of course, Princess,” the Pegasus nodded, bowing respectfully to Luna. “I would be happily to guide our guest around.”

“Good,” Luna smiled, pleased with her lunar guard. “I’ll be leaving you to your thing now. Daniel,” she turned to me, “you need to take good care out there. If anypony looks even the strangest bit in your direction, don’t be hesitant to tell Green-Wing and she’ll let you into a different, friendlier area.”

“Sure,” I nodded to her as she trotted away from us. I watched her leave before Green-Wing tapped me on my leg. “Huh?” I came out of my thoughts as my bodyguard spoke.

“Shall we get going?” Green-Wing asked, pointing to the exit of the garden with a wing.

“Alright,” I nodded to the Pegasus as we made our way through the garden, and into the castle halls.

After a while of walking and trotting, we made our way to the castle gates where two sun guards opened the gates for Green-Wing and I as we stepped outside the castle. The outside of Canterlot was like the other day when I arrived with the Mane Six and Spike, and honestly, it’s a bit lively than Ponyville. Maybe that’s because it is the capital city of Equestria.

Green-Wing showed me around the city as I wanted to meet with Twilight’s parents who lived in the city near the castle. They were the first stop I wanted to see for the day, and it would be nice to meet her family anyway. It could be making me feel more at ease from how my own family treated me with their abuse back then.

“Here we are,” Green-Wing announced as I blinked my eyes in surprise. “Princess Twilight Sparkle’s house.”

It looked like a building built on a tower, with white walls and purplish lines across the rooftop. It feels like one of those calmer parts of the city, which was great, to be honest.

Green-Wing knocked on the door as we waited for somepony to answer our arrival. It came, and we saw a blue stallion in the doorway as he smiled at us.

“Welcome to our home,” the stallion welcomed us. “What can I do for you?”

“We would like to meet you and your wife,” Green-Wing replied with a calm voice. “My…friend here would like to come inside as well, and introduce himself to you.”

“Ah,” the stallion smiled brightly to me. “You must be the one who saved Ponyville. Is that correct?”

“That’s me,” I nodded to the stallion.

“Well then, come in, come in!” he motioned us in with his hoof as he stepped aside. “It will be great to talk with the one who saved our daughter’s town from monsters.”

I raised a brow as we were inside the house. “Did she tell you that?” I asked him.

“Oh yes, she did in a letter,” he nodded. “She was simply amazed at how you were able to defeat those creatures from the dark world.”

I walked over to the couch as he continued.

“I must say, it is a great pleasure to meet somepony who has barely known this land and saved a town he didn’t know he would be needed to fight for,” the stallion said. “My name is Night Light, father of Twilight Sparkle and Shining Armor.” He offered me his hoof.

“The name’s Daniel Black,” I introduced myself as a gray unicorn that looked identical to Twilight stepped in the living room. “You must be Ms. Sparkle, right?”

“Why yes, I am, dear,” she nodded. “My name is Twilight Velvet but please just call me Velvet to not make confusion with our daughter when she’s here.”

I smiled at her with a single nod. Green-Wing was sitting next to me as Velvet raised a brow.

“Is she one of your friends?” Velvet asked, looking at the Pegasus.

“She is,” I nodded. “Green-Wing is one of my friends, and also a guard who is guiding me around the city.”

“I am just doing my job,” Green-Wing added with her calm voice.

“Well, that’s nice,” Night Light said. “Any friend of our daughter’s is a friend of us.”

“Indeed,” Velvet agreed with her husband.

Huh, that’s nice. I could always use some friends while I am here.

After we talked for a while, I could only hum in interest that Shining Armor was the prince of the Crystal Empire, a place in the Northern Equestria.

“He seems like a nice guy,” I noted upon hearing their son was a prince upon the marriage to Celestia’s niece.

“He is,” Velvet smiled at me. “He is one who I think you might be interested in meeting, which I’m thinking won’t be long for you two to meet each other.”

“I can imagine,” I chuckled. “Still, this Princess Cadance is also one I would like to meet. Is there a chance that I…?”

“Of course, dear,” Velvet nodded to me. “I can get Twilight to send a letter to Shining once you’ve settled down in the city.”

“That’ll be great,” I smiled as Green-Wing shifted a bit on her hooves.

“Sir,” I looked at her as she spoke. “I think that we can move on now...would you mind that we continue our tour in Canterlot?”

“Sure,” I nodded to her. I stood up from the couch as Night Light and Velvet smiled at me. “It was great meeting you, Night Light, Velvet. I can always come visit you again, right?”

“You can,” Night Light nodded. “We wouldn't mind the company. It does get lonely without our children here.”

I bid them a farewell wave as Green-Wing and I exited their house and moved on through the city.

As afternoon soon came on the horizon, Green-Wing and I were making our way back to the castle as I stopped for a moment, looking around while my guide stopped herself and looked at me with curious eyes.

“Sir? Is something the matter?” Green-Wing asked me.

I was about to answer her...when I saw a black creature jump at her from behind, and I widened my eyes and grabbed her before going to the side when the creature with yellow eyes landed on the ground from my quick reaction.

“Wh...what is that thing?!” Green-Wing cried out in surprise as I just glared at the Heartless with seriousness in my eyes.

I turned to my guide as I spoke. “Get everypony to safety, to whoever is in the area...NOW!” She was surprised at my loud call, but obediently nodded as she went to get the ponies who were watching the creature to safety.

I looked back at the Heartless, smirking. “Looks like this’ll be a piece of cake,” I muttered to myself...before my eyes widened in shock as I turned around to the path that led to the mountain and I saw hundreds of Heartless that had popped out of the ground and black portals.

Me and my Goddamn mouth!

My Keyblade appeared in my hand after the Heartless appeared, and I looked at it before madly grinning. “Bring it on, you Heartless monsters!” I called out as I took my readied battle stance while the Heartless prepared to jump.

Author's Note

This chapter is split into two parts. The reason is for the big Heartless fight I want to show in the next part. You might be surprised that I ended this chapter in such a way, but I do want to see Chapter 5 as the battle for Canterlot against the Heartless.

Anyway, I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far. Anything you want to say in the comment section is welcome, as long as it is constructive and has a meaning to it.

See you in Part 2 of the chapter!

Battling the Heartless and Aftermath

I charged the large horde of Heartless with my Keyblade ready for attacking them. I ran up to the closest Heartless near me and gave it no time to strike back as I swung the Keyblade down and struck it on the head, causing it to disappear into nothingness.

I took out another Heartless as the fight continued on between me and the horde. I sliced, hacked, cut, and swung my Keyblade around at the Heartless and took them out one by one. I blocked some of them with my only weapon, and I jumped away from an incoming Heartless as it tried to jump at me from the side. I smirked as I cut it down with my weapon, and it disappeared into nothingness.

As I continued to battle against the horde, I could see that more of them appeared from the black portals. I gave a disbelief sigh.

They never quit, do they?

Now there’s got to be over a thousand of them. Still, I attacked them with what I got. Once I got into the center of the Heartless around me, I uttered: “Thunder!” Bolts of thunder came shooting down from the black clouds above the Heartless and struck them as they were paralyzed for a few moments. I took my chance and destroyed the Heartless that were paralyzed before time was out.

“Fire!” I called out as a burst of flames came from my Keyblade’s swinging form at the Heartless, and they were burned to a crisp when the flames collided with their bodies.

I continued to block, jump, attack, and repeat when the Heartless were planning on surrounding me with their black bodies. I did not allow it, as my Light was stronger than their Darkness.

I sliced across a Heartless’s head when it disappeared from the view into nothing but darkness. I quickly reacted when I sensed another one jump from behind me, and jumped to the side as I struck it down with my Keyblade.

My fight continued on with the Heartless as I cut through one of them with my Keyblade, which I had decided to name Oathbringer for my internal promise to protect Equestria, as the battle went on for a long period of time.

I realized I was in need of a second weapon if I were to defeat the horde. I saw a gleaming silver blade that was laying on the ground near a staircase of a building. I grinned, taking the risk as I ran through the horde of Heartless, cutting some of those that stood in my way with Oathbringer as I managed to get near the blade on the ground and grabbed it in my free hand.

I now had two blades as I faced the horde again, and I was madly grinning with anticipation and excitement rushing through my entire body.

“C’mon, and bring it!” I called out bravely to the Heartless, holding my weapons ready as I charged the following enemies.

I slashed my second blade at a Heartless, while my Oathbringer was cutting another one down with its blade. I continued to slash, slice, cut, and repeat at the endless horde of Heartless that were trying to get in Canterlot.

I jumped into the air as the Heartless followed, a mad smile on my expression as I whirled around and threw my two weapons in a circular way, cutting the Heartless monsters and destroyed them before landing on the ground safely as the weapons returned to my hands.

I just did a Roxas move there, from the game 358/2 Days. Now THAT was wicked.

I continued to destroy the Heartless with my two blades as I ran through the horde, cutting them down one by one as I skidded to a stop in the center of the horde.

“Take this, you black monsters!” I called out as lightning surged through my body. “Lightning Strike!”

A booming sound of lightning came from above as lightning bolts were shooting down at the Heartless that looked unfazed at the attack before they were destroyed.

I smiled madly at the horde, shouting: “Fire Burst!” A line of roaring flames burst from my Keyblade as the flames scorched the Heartless to ashes while I continued to call out attacks. “Storming Blizzard!”

A harsh storm of blizzard came as well and froze the Heartless, and some sides of the buildings before I took the frozen Heartless out manually with my blades, shattering them to pieces as I cut through them.

“Now...Howling Wind!” I shouted as a powerful wind came from my body, spinning in a tornado and sucked the Heartless up in it while spitting them out into the air while they disappeared to nothingness.

Oh yeah, now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!

I continued to attack the horde as my Mana was about to get critically low for my Magic. I felt it since I used those four Magic abilities. So, now I’m just relying on close combat with my weapons.

I slashed at a Heartless, making it turn to nothingness as I stabbed a Heartless from behind by whirling only my Oathbringer around and not my head. I smirked, and then I slashed continuously at the Heartless that was getting low on numbers at last.

I made a series of cuts and slashes again with my blades at the Heartless, and I could feel my energy is about to get low just like my Mana.

I needed to finish this. And quickly before I get taken down by the Heartless and be turned into one.

I am about to use my last remaining Mana on one final, big attack as I wanted this to be done with. I felt my energy burst from my body, and I grunted for a bit while feeling the low Mana within me being let out.

Here we go…

“Fiery Explosion!” I shouted loudly as a burning roar of flames burst from my body, catching any nearby Heartless in its merciless flaming form as while the buildings were barely away from the explosion, being out of reach.

The Heartless was destroyed in a matter of seconds, and there was now none of them left after the smoke cleared.

I panted heavily while standing on the ground, my Keyblade disappearing from my hand as I felt my Mana was gone from my Magic usage.

I, however, saw some Mana orbs and decided to absorb them into my body, feeling my Mana being re-energized from the orbs. I also saw some Munny orbs, which I took as well.

Looks like I can buy some items once I get to one of the town worlds from the game series. That must’ve been over a thousand Munny from the orbs.

“Daniel!” I heard somepony call for me, and I looked back to find Green-Wing rushing up to me. “Are you alright, sir?”

“Yeah, a bit low on energy, though,” I nodded. “But, aside from that, I’m fine.”

Green-Wing sighed in relief. She then looked at me with widened eyes. “You sure know how to fight a large scale battle, huh, sir?”

“That, I do,” I chuckled, but then felt a sting of pain in my body as I fell to one knee. I groaned as a result of that. I saw Green-Wing trot up to me. I held a hand up to stop her. “I’m fine...I just need to rest for a while.”

I then saw the citizens of Canterlot looking at me with either frightened or happy expressions. “Is everypony alright?” I called out to them.

They simply nodded to me.

“Good, then we need to stay that way,” I said, trying to stand but almost fell if Green-Wing hadn’t been there for me. “Thanks,” I thanked her, holding onto the Pegasus for support.

“I’m just doing my job, sir,” she smiled at me.

“Well now, that was a clear show of determination!” A voice called out.

I looked back in surprise, and saw a black coated man with his face hidden by the hood he wore. “You’re…”

“That’s right,” the man clapped his hands to me. “I’m a member of Organization XIII. You’ve heard of us, Earthling.”

“Well, I did watch Sora kick your ass from a monitor,” I told him as he chuckled.

“Ah, that Sora, always the kind-hearted man with a warm heart,” the man spoke.

“Just tell me what you want,” I growled at him.

“Hey now, don’t give me that,” the Organization member raised his hands up in defense. “I’m just here to congratulate you for taking on that horde while putting others’ safety first. I guess that’s one way to say you’re a well made fighter, hmm?”

“I did get it from Sora’s fighting skills,” I said, unfazed by his comments. “What is it you want?”

“Why, to simply tell you that you’ve entered an inevitable battle, of course,” the man smiled under his hood. “Your Light is strong, don’t get me wrong. Friendship is a powerful force to be reckoned with, but that friendship will eventually be turned against you.”

“Yeah right,” I scowled at him. “My friends are not like that. They’re my power, but I’m not using them for any greedy things.”

“So you say,” the member chuckled. “I wish you luck with finding your heart’s inner strength, Daniel. Your heart is our connection towards others, as you may know. Farewell, dear boy of the light.”

He then vanished into his black portal as I watched him leave. Then I sighed.

“Who was that?” Green-Wing asked me.

“I...don’t know,” I shook my head. “He’s just a member of some Organization who is after the hearts of others. I haven’t seen them being that cheerful of my victory.”

“Well, whatever they’ve planned, you can pull through,” my guide told me with a warm smile. “I just saw you take on that horde of monsters for saving us with your bravery and courage. That was some heroic act, sir.”

“I guess,” I sighed, looking at the crowd watching with confused expressions while I could see Princess Celestia and my friends near them. “I must better go back to the castle,” I told her. “Are you coming?” I smiled at her as she returned it with a nod.

We made our way to Celestia as she smiled thankfully to me. “That was something of a display of heroic deeds, Daniel,” she told me.

“That you had, darling,” Rarity agreed, her eyes sparkling with brightness.

“Eh, just doing my job in saving you all,” I shrugged. “They were nothing compared to me. They were simply just idiots.” I had my second blade on my belt as my next weapon choice if I were to lose Oathbringer.

“But, that was wickedly awesome!” Rainbow said in admiration as we made our way to the castle while the crowd dispersed. “You doing all of those moves was just so cool. You must let me know your secret fighting skills!”

“Uh, I just watched from a monitor,” I replied unsure. “Nothing as exciting as this.”

“Still though,” Rainbow continued. “You were just great out there in the fight.”

“Alright Rainbow, give our friend some space,” Twilight finally spoke to the Pegasus as Rainbow sighed.

Celestia turned to me, and I expected her to say something regarding the Organization XIII member. But, she didn’t say a word about it and just kept her mouth closed while we were finally at the castle gates.

This was some of a tired day...I’d better get some decent sleep after all that fighting.

Author's Note

Alright, short fight, but they don't need to be dragged on for too long, right? Besides...I might get some longer fighting going on in the future as I get a refreshment for doing them over the course of the story.

Ten chapters left and Act 1 will be finished...exciting to get to the last chapter of the act before moving on with Act 2 where the adventure truly begins. Almost there, guys.

Also, about those moves Daniel used...let's just say they are upgrades to Sora's Magic attacks from the games. Who needs to have similar attacks for a KH protagonist if I want to do something different?

Lightning Strike - An upgraded version of Thunder and an attack in Thundaga.
Fiery Explosion - An upgraded version of Fire and an attack in Firaga.
Howling Wind - An upgraded version of Aero and is another attack in Aeroga.
Storming Blizzard - Upgraded version of Blizzard from Blizzaga.

There, I hope that cleared something from the attacks my character used. See you in Chapter 6!

The Awakening

I opened my eyes as I could see I wasn’t in my room in the Canterlot castle, but rather a dark place with a stained glass that was the only area in the place. I looked around, confusion taking my expression as I could only utter one word.

“Huh?”

Where am I? Or, more specifically, where was I? Is there a reason for why I’m here?

You’re here…

I jumped at the voice that echoed in the place. What was that? Who are you, voice?

Who, me? I’m...your other half…

My other half? What do you mean by…

I felt my Keyblade manifest in my hand as I saw three shadowy blobs coming from the star-shaped stained glass, which was what I guessed it was from how I could see the glass from my position on it.

I got into a fighting position as the Heartless jumped out of the ground and began their attack on me. I rolled to the side, and then attacked the first Heartless with Oathbringer while the Heartless screeched in pain as it vanished into darkness.

I barely managed to duck under an incoming strike from behind me by the second Heartless. I took my chance and struck it with my Keyblade as the creature was vanquished. I saw the remaining Heartless about to attack me again, and I let out a burning light that caused it to screech in a high pitch that damaged my poor ears as it vanished to darkness.

I rubbed my ears from the volume of the Heartless’ screech. Man, that hurt.

You tell me…

That voice again...why are you here? Is there anything I need to know?

Yes...you may need...answers for...the Keyblade you wield…

Huh, I do need some answers from a couple of questions I had since it manifested in my hand back on Earth.

I looked down at Oathbringer as I heard the voice speak again.

You may have known...that you’re its chosen one...correct?

Yes...I guessed that correctly when it came to my aid in my dire need of a weapon against the Phantoms back then. However, there’s still some questions left unanswered in me that I need to let out.

You can ask...as long as you’re asleep in the Real World…

I’m still asleep? But…I feel this is where I am in my awakened state.

You still don’t understand...this is one where we’re in your...heart…

In my heart? Strange, I don’t feel like it was this much darkness in it. Can I turn the Light on to show me where we are?

No...you cannot. We’re...in the deepest depth in your heart...where your Light cannot be reaching down...you’re in the darkest piece of your heart...Daniel…

Huh? How’d you know my name?

Simple, I am...your other half…

I get that. But, how did you know my name? Aside from being my other half, that is.

You can say...luck...and a bit of truth from...your birth…

We’re not going to talk about my dead family, voice. I’m done being their ‘property’.

Very well...what about your new...family?

The ponies? Well, that’s what I am going to find out for myself, and they showed me kindness and support when I arrived in Equestria.

I could sense the voice was chuckling from the sound of it.

You’ve grown soft…

I have. You can thank those ponies for it.

Indeed...now, as for your...Keyblade...let’s just say...you’ve been the chosen warrior of the Light since your birth and subsequent life with it…

Ugh...are we going to skip my human family’s part of the story? Get to the point, thank you.

Very well...the reason you were chosen...was because Master Eraqus wanted to see...a special child from the world which created this so-called game series...you called it, ‘Kingdom Hearts’, correct?

Yes, my people are creative...why are we going to that topic? I don’t get it.

It’s just...to prove you’re worthy...for being a Keyblade wielder...Daniel…

Hmm...alright. I can take that. So...what of it?

You see...there is much to Kingdom Hearts...than more than meets the eyes…

You mean, it’s very real and not a game, right? I got it after I explained it to the ponies I befriended during a single day of being here in Equestria.

Yes...that’s the point...you’re thinking quick on this, Daniel…

Call it something of a quick mindset of things.

The voice seemed to be enjoying itself again as it talked with me.

I saw a staircase appear from in front of me as it probably led to a different stained glass in my heart.

Go forth...see what your heart has...in store for you…

I stepped onto the staircase as I was soon on the second stained glass platform in my heart. When I looked down, I saw it looked like Princess Twilight and the others with their heads in the glass while I had my Keyblade as I saw my eyes were closed.

Kind of like that with Sora in the first game…

I felt my Keyblade manifest itself in my hand again as I saw more Heartless come out of the ground and prepared to jump at me...when the ground shook with the Heartless vanishing quickly after they appeared.

I was confused, yet surprised.

This is a testament of your...strength and love...for your friends, Daniel…

So, a test to see I’m worthy of Oathbringer, then. Well, let’s see if I can prove myself to the voice, shall we?

The larger creature with yellow eyes was much stronger than the normal Heartless. Maybe that’s because this is Darkside? The one that appears before Sora in his heart?

I readied myself in a fighting stance as the large Heartless raised its arm up and prepared to lash it out at me. I jumped barely in time to the side before it had hit me, which would end up really badly if it did.

I saw my chance when the arm was stuck in the glass floor, and I ran towards the creature’s right arm as I struck it many times in a row with my Keyblade while the Heartless roared in pain before retreating its arm. I saw it had black orbs from its two arms ready as it threw them to the floor of the stained glass.

A couple of smaller versions of the Heartless appeared from the orbs, and I smirked before charging at the jumping enemies.

I was slashing, cutting, slicing, and struck each Heartless down with relative each with Oathbringer, and I could feel my Light getting stronger by the amount of determination and care I had in my heart.

The bigger Heartless reared its arm back again, and it lashed out at me before I jumped away from the strike while the arm was stuck again on the stained glass floor. I took my chance and ran up to it like before and continuously struck the Heartless many times when it roared in pain once more.

I felt my Light being stronger than before, and I took the final shot at striking Darkside down once and for all as I want to wake up in the Real World. My body started to light up with a bright white aura, and Darkside hissed in pain from the amount of light I was giving out before I pointed my Keyblade’s blade tip at Darkside and I let out a powerful beam of light at the Heartless, with the beam clashing with Darkside’s body as it roared in a painful way when it was vanquished from sight.

I lowered my Oathbringer and heard the voice again.

Well done...you truly are worthy of the Keyblade, Daniel...may your heart be your guiding key, my dear other half…

Huh? Where’d that come from?

The voice was gone as I couldn’t hear it anymore.

I felt it was time to wake up to the Real World, and I saw a shining light coming from the far ahead in the darkness...

Author's Note

A short chapter, and the final one for the first half of Act 1. And also today's second chapter posted. I wanted this to be a sort of "awakening" to Daniel's Light within the darkest bottom of his heart. I hope I did it right, when I showed where he was in the scene.

I have a feeling we'll be hearing the voice in his heart again once we get further into the plot of the story. I have a great sense we will at the end of this season.

I'll be taking a break from writing six chapters in a short time. I need my energy re-energized with ideas to what the next nine chapters will be about. If you got any ideas I can use, I'll see to it. Thank you all for enjoying the work! I'm grateful for you to like what I write, especially since it's my first 1st person view story in a long time. I hope you will enjoy the second half of Act 1, my friends. :twilightsmile:

See you till next week!